Page:History of the king and the cobbler.pdf/20

 frown into a ſweet and pleafant ſmile; all with obedience to her husband ſhe made herſelf as fine as a London milk maid upon a May-day, and Criſpin likewiſe bruſhed up bis beard, and then went over with Joan as pert as a pearmonger. The king taking the glaſs, drank to the cobbler's wife, who ſimpering like a firmity kettle, ſaid. I thank you, ſir. Then paſſing it to her husband, he filled up a bumper, and drank to the queen, with this compliment, 'Young woman you are welcome to London, and I don't queſtion but to help you to a ſervice that may be to your heart's content.'

Now by the time the glaſs had gone round dinner was ready, the cobbler craved leave to ſay the grace, it was ſhort, and when ended, the king carved for the queen and himself, and bade the cobbler and his wife do the like. Quoth Joan, 'I know my husband is for the cuckold's bit, and ſo here it is, let him have it.' At which ſaying, the king and queen ſmiled, her majeſty being much more pleaſed with the mirth than the meat, fed ſparingly; at which the cobbler merrily ſaid, 'Young woman, if you come to dine with the ſervants of a nobleman's family, auſoks, you muſt lay about you better than you do, or they will make you as fat as a hen in the forehead'

With this and the like diſcourſe they paſſed away the time for an hour, and the king and queen withdrew into another room, there to conſult about finiſhing the comical adventure.

OW the king had formerly told the ſecretary of ſtate, that he would ſend his royal ſignet to him, by a meſſenger whom he ſhould ſecure in order to give an account, upon examination, how