Page:Merry humours, wise sayings, and curious adventures of George Buchanan.pdf/14

 which he actually did, and never looked what it was, returned it to George. No sooner had he received it, but he goes to the king and told him it was not time for him to be sitting there, whereat the king, greatly amazed, started up; then George in great haste, sets himself down in the king's chair, forthwith declaring himself king, saying, you who was king must be my fool, for I am now the wisest man. The king at this was greatly offended, until George showed him his seal and superscription. But from that day forth, the king knew what he subscribed.

The next pardon that came to be sealed by the king, was a gentlemen who had killed two men before, and had got pardons for them by money. This being the third, the king was very silent in looking over the petition; George standing by asked king what he was going to seal now. To which he answered, it is a remit for a man who has killed three men at sundry times, I gave him two remits before. Oh, says George he has killed but one man. And who killed the other two, says the king. You did, says George, for if you had given him justice when he had killed the first he would have killed no more. When the king heard these words, he threw down the pen, and declared that such an act to save a murderer, should be nul ever after by him.

One day, George having no money, he goes away and gets a pick and a spade, and then falls a digging at a corner of the king's palace, which the king per ceiving from his window, calls what he was wanting there? Are you going to undermine my house, and make it fall? No, my sovereign, says, George, but i is verily reported that there is plenty of money abou this house, and where can it be? says George-. cannot find it, for it is not within the house to do m