Page:Merry and entertaining history of the king and the cobler.pdf/19

 to outſhine his poverty: for, my leige, when you offered the leather to him at a low price, he let you know it was worth much more, and therefore was loath to meddle with it, fearing you came not honeſtly by it. And what obſerve more in him it, that he has a light heart, briſk, and merry; and, for ought I know, he enjoys more comfort in his courſe and homely cottage, than a colonel or courtier, with all their accompliſhments.

Not ſo much of that, replied the King; I very well remember, that when he had me down in his lower cellar, drink a cup of his nappy ale, and eat ſome of his bread and cheeſe, all on a ſudden his wife Joan began to rouſe at of her night's reſt, and I found he began to be afraid her, for he ſaid, friend, you must begone; I would not that Joan my wife could catch you here, no not for all the shoes in my ſhop, And thereupon rather than the cobler would be cudgeled by his wife, I got away with all the seed I could.

My liege, quoth the Queen, you were hard put to it. In truth, quoth the King, ſo I was.

Then, with a ſmile her Majeſty ſaid, I would willingly see her.

She ſhall be ſent for ſaid the King, and thereupon he applied for the inn keeper, to know what he could let them have for dinner, Who told him, they had a ſhoulder of mutton, which would be ready in half an hour.

That will do, foid the King and therefore, pray call cobler and his wife, for I deſire they may both dine with me.

The innkeeper having delivered his meſſage, Joan ſet railing, ſaying, what fot is this that hath ſent for you now? I shall have you drunk again, that I ſhall.

Why, quoth the cobler, did you not tell me the other by that you would never ſcold at me again, if I would not keep your counſel; and do you begin already! go