At which speech of the cobbler’s the king had much ado to forbear laughing out, but keeping his countenance as steady as he could before the cobbler, he spoke to the yeoman of the guard.
Here, said he, take this honest cobbler down into my cellar, and let him drink my health; and I will give orders that Harry Tudor shall come to him presently.
So away they went, the cobbler being fit to leap out of his skin for joy, not only that he had come off so well, but that he should see his friend Harry Tudor.
CHAP. V.
The Cobbler’s entertainment in the King’s Cellar.
The cobbler had not been long in the king’s cellar, before the king came to him in the same habit that he had on when the cobbler mended his shoe; whereupon the cobbler knew him immediately, and ran and kissed him, saying, honest Harry, I have made an holyday on purpose to see you, but I had much ado to get leave of my wife Joan, who was loath to lose so much time from my work; but I was resolved to see you, and therefore I made myself as fine as I could. But I’ll tell thee, Harry, when I came to court I was in a peck of troubles how to find you out; but at last I met with a man who told me he knew you very well, and that he would bring me to you, but instead of doing so, he brought me before the king which almost frightened me out of my seven senses; but faith I’m resolved to be merry with you now, since I have met you at last.
Aye, that we shall replied the king, we shall be as merry as princes.
Now after the cobbler had drunk about four or five good healths, he began to be merry, and fell a-singing his old songs and catches, which pleased the king very much, and made him laugh heartily.