They hadn't been long at work when a tailor came in, and he sat
down and began to talk. 'You all heard how the two princess were
loth to be married till the youngest would be ready with her
crowns and her sweetheart. But after the windlass loosened
accidentally when they were pulling up her bridegroom that was to
be, there was no more sign of a well, or a rope, or a windlass,
than there is on the palm of your hand. So the princes that were
courting the eldest ladies wouldn't give peace or ease to their
lovers nor the king till they got consent to the marriage, and it
was to take place this morning. Myself went down out o'
curiousity, and to be sure I was delighted with the grand dresses
of the two brides, and the three crowns on their heads--gold,
silver, and copper, one inside the other. The youngest was
standing by mournful enough, and all was ready. The two
bridegrooms came in as proud and grand as you please, and up they
were walking to the altar rails, when the boards opened two yards
wide under their feet, and down they went among the dead men and
the coffins in the vaults. Oh, such shrieks as the ladies gave!
and such running and racing and peeping down as there was! but
the clerk soon opened the door of the vault, and up came the two
princes, their fine clothes covered an inch thick with cobwebs
and mould.

So the king said they should put off the marriage. 'For,' says
he, 'I see there is no use in thinking of it till the youngest
gets her three crowns, and is married with the others. I'll give
my youngest daughter for a wife to whoever brings three crowns to
me like the others; and if he doesn't care to be married, some
other one will, and I'll make his fortune.'