Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (11).pdf/9



9

than he said, Indeed, my Sovereign, I threw his hat over the bridge, but his head was in it. Geordy, Geordy, says the king, thou wilt never give over till thou be hanged.

A nobleman in England agreed with the King, how to put a trick upon George to try his manly courage in sending him to a certain place for a bag of money. On his way home through St. James' park, they caused a sturdy fellow attack him on the way, and take the money from him. The fellow being armed with sword and pistol, came up briskly and attacked George with these words, You, sir, deliver what money you have, or you are a dead man. To which, George answered, Sir, I have some, indeed, but 'tis not my own, and therefore do not like to part with it; nevertheless being determined as you seem to be, to exchange blows for it, pray do me the favor to fire your pistol through the flap of my coat, that the owners may see I have been in danger of my life before I parted with it: which he accordingly did. No sooner had he fired the pistol, than George whips out his hanger from below his coat, and with one stroke cut off the fellow's right hand, wherein he held the sword, so that both sword and hand fell to the ground: but George lifted his hand and carried it to the King. No sooner did he come before them, but they asked him, saying, Well, George, did you see any body to trouble you by the way? None, said he, but one fellow, who was going to take the money from me; but I made him giev [sic] 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.