Page:Merry and entertaining history of the king and the cobler.pdf/20

 put on your beſt red petticoat and waiſtcoat, whilſt dreſs myſelf, for I do not know but we may take a walls to court after dinner, and it would be for your credit to appear before the King in your beſt apparel. Now Joan having a for of fear upon her for what he had formerly ſaid, doubting that he might out with all, poor creature ſhe was fain to bridle her unruly tongue, and turn her crabbed frowns into ſweet and pleaſant ſmiles; and with obedience to her huſband, the made herſelf as fine as London milkmaid upon May day: and Criſpin likewiſe bruſhed up his beard and then went over with Joan, pert as a pest-monger.

The King, taking his glaſs, drank to the cobler's wife; who ſimpering like firmity kettle, ſaid, I thank you, ſir.

Then paſſing the glaſs to her huſband, he filled up a bumper and drank to the Queen, with this compliment young woman, you are welcome to London, and I don' queſtion but I may help you to a ſervice that may be t your heart's content.

Now by the time the glaſs had gone round, the road was ready and ſet before them the cobler craved learn to ſay the grace, which was ſhort, and when ended, the King carved for himſelf and the Queen, and bid the cooler and his wife do the like.

Quoth Joan, I know my huſband is for the cuckold bit, and ſo here it is, ſo let him have it.

At which ſaying, the King and Queen ſmiled. He Majeſty being much more pleaſed with the mirth the the meat, fed but ſparingly, which the cobler merril ſaid, young woman, if you come to dine with the ſervant of a nobleman family adsuge, you muſt lay about you better than you do, or they will ſoon make you as sat a hen in the forehead.

With this, and the like diſcourſe they paſſed away time for an hour, and that King and Queen withdie