THE
HISTORY
OF
JACK AND THE GIANTS.
PART I.
Of his Birth and Parentage and what passed between him and the Country Vicar, &c.
IN the reign of King Arthur near the Lands end of England, namely in the county of Cornwa l there lived a wealthy farmer, who had one only son, command known by the name of Jack He was brisk, ⟨and⟩ of a lively ready wit: so that whatever he could not perform by strength, he completed by ingenious wit ⟨and⟩ policy; never was any person heard of that could worst him, nay, the very learned, many times, he baffled by his cunning, sharp, and ready inventions
For instance, when he was no more than seven years of age, his father the farmer sent him into the field to look after his oxen, which were then feeding in a pleasant posture A country vicar, by chance one day, coming across the field, called Jack and asked him several questions; in particular how many commandments there were? Jack told him there were nine. The parson replied, there are ten. Nay quoth Jack, master parsons you are out of that; it is true they were ten, but you broke one of them ⟨with⟩ your own maid arge y The parson repled, thou art an arch wag Jack Well master parson quoth Jack, you have asked me one question, and I ⟨have⟩ answered it; I beseech you let me ask you another. Who made these oxen? The
