Page:Merry and entertaining history of the king and the cobler.pdf/24

 Ariſe, honeſt cobler ſaid the King and joyful be thy heart: I have tried thy patience, and will prove thy friend. The forty merks per annum which I formerly gave thee, ſhall be more by my bounty.

Thou ſhalt have fifty pounds a year in land, Which lies upon the ſouth ſide of the ſtrand: I am the royal giver, thou the taker; And I will have it called the Cobler's Acre.

Poor Criſpin and his wife were ſo tranſported at this coming off, and the more at the Queen's gift, which was a purſe of gold. Then they preſented the court with a comical farce, called the forked friends, or the Fidler and his wife, with which they finished the day, and were diſmiſſed with great applauſe. He and Joan went home; and in a ſhort time built a row of houſes, calling the place Cabler's Acre, according to the King's requeſt, which name continued after the cobler's death. At this time it is turned into a more magnificent building, and has loſt its former name.

Yet during life, the cobler at the court Was well belov'd and freely entertain'd Where he afforded much delightful ſport, So long as Harry Tudor liv'd and reign'd, The King died firſt, the cobler fullord' after, Who had ſo often fill'd the court with laughter.