Page:History of the king and the cobbler.pdf/3

 The king being hardly able to forbear laughing at the kindneſs of the cobbler, aſked him if there was not a houſe hard by which ſold a cup of good ale and if the people were up?

'Yes,' said the cobbler, 'there is an inn over the way there. I believe the folk are up for the carriers go from thence very early in the morning.'

With that the king borrowed an old ſhoe of the cobblers, & went over to the inn deſiring the cobbler to bring his ſhoe thither to him, as ſoon as he had put on his heel again: the cobbler promiſed he would; ſo making what haſte he could to put the heel on he carried it over to the king, ſaying, 'Honeſt blade, here is thy ſhoe, I'll warrant thee it will not come off again in haſte.'

'Very well,' ſaid the king, 'what muſt you have for your pains?'

'A couple of pence,' anſwered the cobbler.

'Well,' ſaid the king, 'ſeeing thou art an honeſt merry fellow, here's a teſter for thee; come ſit thee down by me. I will drink a full pot with thee; come here's a good health to the king.'

'With all my heart,' ſaid the cobbler, 'I will pledge thee were it in water.'

So the cobbler ſat down beside the king & was very merry, and drank off the liquor freely. He alſo ſung ſome of his merry ſongs and catches whereat the king laughed heartily and was very pleaſant and jocund with the cobbler, telling him withal that his name was Harry Tudor, and that he belonged to the court; and that if he would come and ſee him there, he would make him very welcome, he was ſuch a merry fellow, and charged him  be there and not to forget his name, and to ask  one about the court for him, and they would  him to him: For, ſaid the king, I am very  known there.