Page:History of the king and the cobbler.pdf/17

 ſome of the cobbler's ſigurics, now his care was how to make good his promiſe, that is to ſay, how he might bring himſelf into the cobbler's company without the honeſt cobbler knowing who he was. Many thoughts came into his head, and amongſt the reſt, one he reſolves upon, which is this, the king ſends a man and a horſe down into the country, there to buy leather fit for ſhoemakers, and to ſend it to London by the carrier, who come to the ſame inn, which was over againſt the foreſaid cobbler. This was accordingly done, the king in the habit of a plain country man come to the inn with his queen, who in the dreſs of an innocent country maiden, paſt for his kinſwoman, he paſſing for a tanner that was come to receive and ſell the leather; the king having paid the carrier for bringing his parcel, calls for ſome of the beſt liquor the houſe afforded, which being brought, he asked the innkeeper whether or not he could help him to a chapman for his leather, who anſwered, 'There is on honeſt fellow of a cobbler over the way, I'll ſend for him, he'll either buy it or help you to a chapman for it no doubt.' Then the king ſaid, 'Pray thee ſend for him.' Whereupon the cobbler was called, who came capering like a morice dancer, ſaying, 'Who wants me?' 'This gentleman, ſaid the innkeeper, he has a parcel of leather to ſell.' 'I'll buy it, ſaid the cobbler, if it be for my ſum.' Now having looked over it, he aſked the price; the king not knowing what it was worth, aſked him forty ſhillings.' 'Harry! quoth he, I wiſh you may have come honeſtly by it, for though I am the buyer, I muſt tell you it is worth a great deal more.' 'That is neither here nor there, ſaid the king. I ſelling it off, which when I have done, I don't think to deal in leather for the future any more, for I am for a place at the court, and this young maid my kinſwoman, is likewiſe deſirous