Page:History of the King and the cobler (7).pdf/3

 might, in a great measure prevent those disturbances and casualities which too often happen in great and populous cities in the night, and this he did often times, without the least discovery who he was; returning home to Whitehall early in the morning.

Now in his return home through the Strand, he took notice of a certain cobler, who was constantly up at work, whistling and singing every morning. The King was resolved to see him and be acquainted with him, in order to which he immediately knocks the heel off his shoe by hiting it against a stone; and having so done, he bounced at the cobler's stall.

Who's their? cries the cobler.

Here's one, cries the King. With that the cobler opened the stall door, and the King asked him if he could set the heel on his shoe.