Page:Merry and entertaining history of the king and the cobler.pdf/6

 honeſt freedom of the cobler. So, having eaten a bit the cobler began a health, to all true hearts and merry companions: At which the king ſmiled, ſaying, friend I'll pledge thee.

In this manner they ate and drank together till it was almoſt break of day; the cobler being very free with his liquor, and delighted the King with several of his old ſtories, inſomuch that he was highly pleaſed with the manner of his entertainments when, on a ſudden, the cobler's wife Joan began to wake. I ſaith, ſays the cobler, you muſl be gone; my wife Joan begins to grumble, ſhe'll awake preſently, and I would not for half the ſhoes in my ſhop ſhe ſhould find you here.

OW as ſoon as the King came home he ſent out orders about the court, that if required for him by the name of Harry Tudor, they ſhould immediately bring the person before him, whatever he was, without any further examination of him.

The cobler thought every day a month, till he had been at court, to ſee his new acquaintance, and was troubled how he ſhould get leave of his wife Joan, for he could not get without her knowledge, by reaſon he did reſolve to make himſelf as fine a' he could, for his wife always kept the key of his holiday clothes. Whereupon, one evening at they ſat at ſupper, finding her in a very good humour, he began to lay open his mind to her, telling her the whole ſtory of their acquaintance, repeating it over and over again, that he was the honeſt fellow he ever met withal. Huſband, quoth he, becauſe you have been ſo ingenuous as to tell me the whole truth, I will gie you leave to make holliday for this once; you ſhall go to court, and I will make you as fine as I can