Page:History of the four kings of Canterbury, Colchester, Cornwall, & Cumberland (2).pdf/6

The History of the four Kings. grazing his flock near the road, ſaid to his maſter, Zur, I zee many gentlemen ride to the court at Canterbury but ne'er zee'em return again. O ſhepherd, ſaid his maſter, I know not how you ſhould, for they attempt to watch with the King's Daughter, according to the decree, and not performing they are all beheaded. Well, ſaid the ſhepherd, I'll try my vorton; zo now vor a king's daughter, or a headie ſhepherd. And, taking his bottle and bag, he trudged to court. Now in his way he was to croſs a river, over which lay a plank; down he ſits, and pulls off his ſhoes and ſtockings to waſh his feet, left the ſmell of his toes might be the means of keeping her awake; while he was waſhing his feet, a fiſh came ſmelling and biting his toes, he caught it and put it into his bag: after which came a ſecond, a third, and a fourth, which he caught, and put in his bag likewiſe; this done, and having dried his feet, he put on his ſtockings and ſhoes, and purſued his journey till he came to the palace, here he knocked loudly with his crook, he was no ſooner let in, &