Page:History of the four Kings of Canterbury, Colchester, Cornwall, and Cumberland.pdf/15

 she took it, returned thanks, and so proceeded, passing through groves, woods, and valleys, till at length she saw an old man sitting on a stone at the mouth of a cave, who said, Good-morrow, fair maiden, whither away so fast? Aged father, says she, I am going to seek my fortune. What hast thou in thy bag and bottle? In my bag I have got bread and cheese; and in my bottle good small beer; will you please to par- take of either? Yes, said he, with all my heart. With that the lady pull'd out her provision, and bid him eat and welcome. He did, and gave her many thanks, telling her there was a thick thorny hedge before her, which will appear to you impassable, but take this wand in your hand, strike three times, and say, pray hedge, let me come through; and it will open immediately: Then a little further you will find a well, sit down on the brink of it, and there will come up three golden heads which will speak: and what they require, that do. Then promising she would, she took her leave of him. Coming to the hedge, and following the old man's direction, the hedge divided, and gave her a passage: Then coming to the well, she had no sooner sitten down, but a golden head came up with