Page:History of Jack the giant killer.pdf/3



the reign of King Arthur, near the Land's-end of England, in the county of Cornwall, there lived a wealthy farmer, who had one only son, commonly known by the name of Jack. He was brisk, and of a lively ready wit; so that whatever he could not perform by strength, he completed by wit and policy. Never was any person heard of that could worst him; nay, the learned he baffled by his cunning and ready inventions.

For instance, when he was no more than seven years of age, his father sent him into the field to look after his oxen, a country Vicar, by chance, one day coming across the field, called Jack, and asked him several questions; in particular, How many commandments were there? Jack told him, there were nine. The Parson replied, there are ten. Nay, quoth Jack, master Parson, you are out of that; it is true there were ten, but you broke one of them with your own maid Margery. The Person replied, thou art an arch wag, Jack. Well, master Parson quoth Jack, you have asked me one question, and I have answered it; let 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. The Parson, finding