Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (11).pdf/8



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read over before the King and his nobles they all agreed that it should be sent off: But, George smiling and shaking his head, said,

Many men, many minds; Who knows what he designs?

They then asked George what he thought the French King meant by such a letter? To which he answered I suppose he wants an invitation to come over and dine with you, and then return in a friendly manner, but you are going to charge him with a breach of peace, before he has given any signal of offence :--- His letter is indeed dark and mystical, but send him an answer according to his question. Now, George being ordered to write the answer, it was as follows: 'And ye come -- And ye come--- And ye come.' This being sent to the French King, he admired it beyond expression saying, It was more valiant and daring than he expected. So the emnity he intended was extinguished and turned into love.

It happened once that a malignant party in Scotland sent up a great spokesman to the King and Parliament, for the seducing of the church: George hearing of his coming went away and met him on the bridge and the salutation that he gave him was, the cutting off his head, and throwing it over the bridge! He then run to the King with all his might, and fell down before him, pleading most heartily for a pardon, or without it he was a dead man. The King most seriously asked him what he had done now? To which he answered, He had only thrown the Scots bishop's bat over the bridge; which made the king to laugh, to hear him ask pardon for such a small fault. But he had no sooner got the pardon sealed by the King,