486 NURSERY RHYMES,

 

first said, “Let her be struck with leprosy in her face.” The
second, “Let an additional smell be added to her breath.” The
third bestowed on her a husband, though but a poor country
cobbler. This done, she goes on till she came to a town, and it
being market day, the people looked at her, and seeing such an
evil face, fled out of her sight, all but a poor cobbler (who not
long before had mended the shoes of an old hermit, who, having
no money, gave him a.box of ointment for the cure of the
leprosy, and a bottle of spirits for a bad breath.

Now, the cobbler having a mind to do an act of charity, was
induced to go up to her and ask her who she was. “I am,” said
she, “the King of Colchester’s daughter-in-law.” “ Well,” said
the cobbler, “if I restore you to your natural complexion, and
make a sound cure both in face and breath, will you in reward
take me for a husband?” “Yes, friend,” replied she, “with all
my heart.” With this the cobbler applied the remedies, and they
worked the effect in a few weeks, and then they were married,
and after a few days they set forward for the Court at Colchester.

When the Queen understood she had married a poor cobbler,
she fell into distraction, and hanged herself for vexation. The
death of the Queen was not a source of sorrow to the King, who
had only married her for her fortune, and bore her no affection ;
and shortly afterwards he gave the cobbler a hundred pounds ©
take the daughter to a remote part of the kingdom, where he
lived many years mending shoes, while his wife assisted the
housekeeping by spinning, and selling the results of her labours
at the country market.