Page:History of the king and the cobler (1).pdf/2

 THE HISTORY OT THE KING and the COBLER. PART 1 CHAP. 1. How King Henry VIII. uſed to viſit the watches in be city, and bow he became acquainted with a merry Jolly Cobler. IT waſ the cuſtom of King Henry VIII late in the night, to walk the ſreets in diſguiſe, to take notice how the conſtables and watch perform- ed their duty in guarding the gates, and watching the inward parts of the city, to prevent thoſe dif- turbances and eaſusſitles which often happen by night, in great and populous cities. This he did often without the leaſt difc very: always return. ing home to Whitehall early in the morning. Once, on his return, coming through the Strand, he took notice of a certain cobler, who was conſtantly up at work, whiſtling and ſinging every morning. He reſolved to ſee him, and be segasinted with his, in order to which, he immediately knocked off the heel of his face by ſtriking it againſt a ſtone; and hav- ing ſo done, he bounced into the cobler's fall. Who's there? cries the cobler, Here's one, ſaid the King. With that the cobler opened the ſtall door, and he king asked him, if he could put on his heel. ' Yes, that I can," ſays the cobler; come in ' honeſt fellow, and it thee down by me, od I will ' do it for thee ſraight.' The cobler leraped his old does to one ſide, with his awl, to make room for the kingto fit by him.