Page:History of Jack and the giants (1).pdf/9

 yet he would not be persuaded against it so that he granted what he requested, which was one horse loaded with money, and another for himself to ride on; thus he went forth without any attendants.

Now after several days travel he came to a small market town in Wales, where he beheld a large concourse of people gathered together; the king's son demanded the reason of it, and was told, that they arrested a corpse for many large sums of money, which the deceased owed when he died. The king's son replied, "it is a pity that creditors should be so cruel; go bury the dead, said he, and let his creditors come to my lodging, and ther debts shall be discharged," Accordingly they came, and in such great numbers, that before night he had almost left himself moneyless.

Now Jack the giant killer being there, and seeing the generosity of the kings son, he was taken with him, and desired to be his servant; it was agreed upon, and the next morning they set forward, when riding out at the town-end, an old woman called after him, crying, "He hath owed me twopence these five years; pray sir, pay me as well as the rest," He put his hand into his pocket and gave it her, it being the last he had left: the king's son turning to Jack said, I cannot tell how I will subsist in my intended journey. For that, quoth Jack, take no thought nor care, let me alone, I warrant you we will not want.

Now Jack having a small spell in his pocket, which served at noon for refreshment, when done they had not one penny lftleft [sic] betwixt them; the afternoon they spent in travel and fameliar discourse, until the fun began to grow low, at which time the king's son said, Jack, since we have no