Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (11).pdf/12



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to know what was done. No sooner had the three gentlemen declared what had past between the bishops and the shepherds, whom they found on the Scots border, but the old bishop made answer, And think you, said he, that a shepherd could answer these questions? It has been none else but the devil, for the Scots ministers themselves could not do it, they are but ignorant of such matters, a parcel of beardless boys. Then George thought it was time to take speech in hand. Well, my Lord Bishop, says George, you call them a parcel of ignorant beardless boys—-- You have a great long beard, yourself and if grace was measured by beards, you bishops and the goats, would have it all and that will be quite averse to Scripture What says the bishop, are you a Scot? Yes, says George, I am a Scot. Well, says the bishop, and what is the difference between a Scot and a sot? Nothing at present, says George but the breadth of the table: there being a table betwixt the bishop and George. So the bishop went off in a high passion while the whole multitude were like to split their jaws with laughter.

About this time there was an act of Parliament for the benefit of murderers, that any person who committed murder, if they forfeited five hundred merks, which went under the name of KIK-BOOT, because so much of this fine went to the murdered person’s nearest relations, as the price of blood, the murderer got a remit. Now, George knowing this to be contrary to Moses’ laws, was grieved very much to see so many pardons sealed with the King’s hand for murder, almost one every week, it being so usual for the King to subscribe them, that he would not read them, nor enquire what they were; for which cause George writes a wright to the crown, and sent it to the King