Page:History of the king and the cobbler.pdf/22

 her, who wanted to know the cauſe; but Joan continued crying, 'O the tanner is gone! and my poor Criſpin what will become of thee?' Which words her husband heard juſt as ſhe was entering the door; he cried, 'Dear Joan, have you brought them with you?' 'With me' quoth Joan 'No, no, they are gone, and you are left to ſuffer: ſaw it had been better for you to mind your work, than to follow every one that ſends for you, now you may ſee what you have brought yourſelf to; nothing would ſerve you, it ſeems, the other day, but to be a courtier. ſuch was ambitious fancy; but let me tell you, if  have a fancy to hang you, that I may ſay you have made fine work on't, and I doubt not but it will be a warning to you for the future, I cannot but think how like a courtier you look now in this melancholy condition.'

While ſhe was thus inſulting poor Criſpin. the king was told of theſe tranſactions, and therefore ſent that he might be brought before him, which was accordingly done: but as the cobbler approached the preſence of the king, every joint of him trembled for he expected to find no favour. Now he came before the king, who, with an angry countenance, ſaid, 'cobbler, how came you by my ſignet?' The poor cobbler falling on his knees, and wringing his hands, cried, 'May it pleaſe your grace, may it pleaſe your honour, I had it from a tanner who ſent for me to the Bell in the Strand, to buy a parcel of leather he had brought out of the country.' And whereupon he told her king the whole ſtory, from the beginning of their meeting till his ſending him away with the letter. The king replied, 'This is a pleaſant ſtory, and well compacted together; but it ſeems you cannot produce this tanner, wherefore I'll leave