And so they visited , and they feasted ; and afterwards they went off to their own realm . -LRB- 3 -RRB- -LRB- 3 -RRB- Ralston . THE BLACK THIEF AND KNIGHT OF THE GLEN . IN times of yore there was a King and a Queen in the south of Ireland who had three sons , all beautiful children ; but the Queen , their mother , sickened unto death when they were yet very young , which caused great grief throughout the Court , particularly to the King , her husband , who could in no wise be comforted . Seeing that death was drawing near her , she called the King to her and spoke as follows : ' I am now going to leave you , and as you are young and in your prime , of course after my death you will marry again . Now all the request I ask of you is that you will build a tower in an island in the sea , wherein you will keep your three sons until they are come of age and fit to do for themselves ; so that they may not be under the power or jurisdiction of any other woman . Neglect not to give them education suitable to their birth , and let them be trained up to every exercise and pastime requisite for king 's sons to learn . This is all I have to say , so farewell . ' The King had scarce time , with tears in his eyes , to assure her she should be obeyed in everything , when she , turning herself in her bed , with a smile gave up the ghost . Never was greater mourning seen than was throughout the Court and the whole kingdom ; for a better woman than the Queen , to rich and poor , was not to be found in the world . She was interred with great pomp and magnificence , and the King , her husband , became in a manner inconsolable for the loss of her . However , he caused the tower to be built and his sons placed in it , under proper guardians , according to his promise . In process of time the lords and knights of the kingdom counselled the King -LRB- as he was young -RRB- to live no longer as he had done , but to take a wife ; which counsel prevailing , they chose him a rich and beautiful princess to be his consort -- a neighbouring King 's daughter , of whom he was very fond . Not long after , the Queen had a fine son , which caused great feasting and rejoicing at the Court , insomuch that the late Queen , in a manner , was entirely forgotten . That fared well , and King and Queen lived happy together for several years . At length the Queen , having some business with the hen-wife , went herself to her , and , after a long conference passed , was taking leave of her , when the hen-wife prayed that if ever she should come back to her again she might break her neck . The Queen , greatly incensed at such a daring insult from one of her meanest subjects , demanded immediately the reason , or she would have her put to death . ` It was worth your while , madam , ' says the hen-wife , ` to pay me well for it , for the reason I prayed so on you concerns you much . ' ` What must I pay you ? ' asked the Queen .
` You must give me , ' says she , ` the full of a pack XXXXX wool , and I have an ancient crock which you must fill with butter , likewise a barrel which you must fill for me full of wheat . '
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