Page:Merry humours, wise sayings, and curious adventures of George Buchanan.pdf/10

 my life before I parted with it, which he accordingly did. No sooner had he fired the pistol, than George whipt out his hanger from below his cloak and with one stroke cut off his right hand wherein he held hi sword, so that both his sword and the hand fell to the ground; but George lifted his hand and carried it to the king. No sooner did he come before them, bu they asked him, saying, well, George, did you see any body to trouble you by the way? None, said he, bu one fellow, who was going to take the money from me but I made him give me his hand he would not do the like again. You did? says the fellow's master. Yes I did, says George; let work bear witness, throwing down the fellow's hand on the table before them all.

Now, this last exploit of George's caused many o the English to hate him; and, among the rest, a young nobleman fell a joking of George, saying he would be as famous a champion for Scotland, as Sir William Wallace was. Ay, ay, says George, Wallace was a brave man in his time. True, indeed, says the young nobleman, but when he came to London, we did him all manner of justice, and for honour of the Scots, we have his effigy in the s———to this very day. And do you know the reason of that, says George? No, I don't says he. Well, I'll tell you says George.———He was a terror to Englishmen when he was alive, that the sight of his picture yet makes them p———themselves. The English took his answer as a great affront, and forth with caused Wallace's picture to be taken out of all their s———.

A young English girl falling in love with a Scotsman, she petitioned him several times for to marry her; which he refused. So, to be revenged on him, she went to a Justice and swore a rape against him, which is death by the law. George hearing of this, went to the prison where the young man was, and instructed