Page:Merry and entertaining history of the king and the cobler.pdf/23

 pleaſant and well connected ſtory, but if you don't produce this tanner, I'll leave you to the law, and if you be hanged by the law, you must take it for your pains, Joan hearing the King talk of hanging cried, good ſir, King, don't hang my poor Criſpin; he is an honeſt man, and has but one fault. What is that? quoth the King; he will not be ruled by his wife, quoth Joan. He ſhall die, ſaid the King, but I will allow him to chuſe his own death. Why, quoth the cobler, let me die the death of my grandfather and grandmother. How was that? quoth the King. It was on a death bed, replied the cobler. At which choice of the cobler's, the King. Queen, and nobles laughed bearily, and Criſpin and his wife were locked up in a room, to wait the King's pleaſure. No ſooner were they a ſecond time confined but the cobler ſaid with a trembling voice, ſweet wife, I wonder what the King intends to do with us now? quoth Joan, prithee be of good comfort, for I am perſuaded that the King and Queen, are the tanner and his kinſwoman.

Adfoot quoth the cobler, have care of what you ſay, I ſhall have you ſpeak treaſon and then we ſhall be both hang'd, i'faith after all, fear not, huſband, I can ſee as far into a mind one as he that picks it; I am ſure, though they changed their apparel, they could not change their complexion.

Whilſt they were in this diſpute, the King and Queen, dreſſed in their former diſguiſe, entered the room attended by nobler and maid of honour. The King and Queen ſaid, Criſpin ſince you could not find the tanner, I have brought him to you. At which words he fell upon his knees, and cried. Long live our royal King and Queen, Who did their royal perſons ſo demean, And in familiar ſort did joke with us And I rejoice it is no worſe.