Page:History of Jack and the giants (6).pdf/3

3 me aſk you another. Who made theſe oxen? The Parſon replied, God. You are out again, quoth Jack, for God made them bulls, but my father and his man Hobſon made oxen of them. Theſe were the witty exploits of Jack. The Parſon, finding himſelf fooled, trudged away, leaving Jacks in a fit of laughter.

How a Giant inhabited the Mount of Cornwall, and ſpoiled the country there about.

N thoſe days, the mount of Cornwall was kept by a huge and monſtrous Giant, of twenty-ſeven feet in height, and about three yards in compaſs, of a grim countenance, to the terror of all the neighbouring towns and villages. His habitation was a cave in the midst of the mount, neither would he ſuffer any living creature to inhabit near him: his feeding was upon other men's cattle, which often became his prey, for whenſoever he had occaſion for food, he would wade over to the main land, where he would furniſh himſelf with whatever he could find. For the people, at his approach, would forſake their habitation, then he would take their cows and oxen, of which, he would make nothing to carry over on his back, half a dozen at a time: and as for the ſheep and hogs, he would tie them round his waiſt like a bunch of bandeliers. This he had for many years practiſed in Cornwall, which was very much impoverisſhed by him.

But one day coming to the town hall, when the Magistrates were ſitting in conſternation about the Giant, he aſked what reward they would give to any perſon that would deſtroy him? They anſwered, he ſhall have all the Giant's treaſure in recompence. Quoth Jack, then I myſelf will undertake the work.