Page:History of Jack and the giants (6).pdf/9

9 heard, as poſſeſſed with ſeven evil ſpirits; but, the King, his father, advised him utterly againſt it, yet he would not be perſuaded off 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 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 their 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 King's 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 out, "He has owed me two-pence theſe five years; pray, ſir, pay me as well as he 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 you 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 to give them a refreſhment, when done, they had not one penny left betwixt them; the afternoon they ſpent in travel and familiar diſcourſe, till the fun began to grow low, at which time the King's ſon ſaid, Jack, ſince we have