Page:Merry and entertaining history of the king and the cobler.pdf/10

 loan, who was not that I ſhould loſe ſo much time from my work but I was reſolved to ſee you, and thereſore I made myſelf as fine as I could But I'll tell thee, Harry, when I came to court, I war in a peek of troubles how to find you out; but at laſt I met with a man who told me he knew you very well, and he would bring me to you; but instead of ſo doing, he brought me before the King, which had almost frightened me out of my ſeven ſenſes: But in good faith, added the cobler, I am reſolved to be merry with you, ſince I have had the good fortune to meet with you at laſt.

Ay, that you ſhall, replied the kings we all be as merry a princes.

With that he called for a large glaſs of wine, and drank to the cobler, the King's good health.

Good a mercy, ſaid the cobler, honeſt Harry, I'll pledge that health with all my heart.

Now, after the cobler had drank about four or five good healths, he began to be merry and ſell a ſinging his old ſong and catches, which pleaſed the King very much, and made him laugh heartily.

When, on a ſudden, ſeverel of the nobles came into the cellar, extraordinary rich in apparel, who all ſtood uncovered before Harry Tudor, which put the cobler into an amazement at firſt, but prefectly recovering himſelf, he looked man willfully upon Harry Tudos, and ſoon knowing him to be the king, whom he knew in the preſence chamber, though in another habit, he immediately fell on his knees, ſaying,

May it pleaſe your Grace, may it pleaſe your Highneſs, I am an honeſt poor cobler, and means no harm.' No, no, ſaid the King and full receive none here, I aſſure you.

He commanded him therefore to riſe up, and be as merry as he was before and though he knew him in be the King, yet be ſhould uſe the ſame freedom with him