Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (15).pdf/15

 O F G E O R G E  B U C H A N A N.           15 with him if he takes his ſword. Ay, but ſays the maſter, you ſhall, or loſe the wager; take you another ſword with you. No, ſays the fellow, I never did ſwim with a ſword, nor any man elſe that ever I ſaw or heard of; I know not but that wild-like man will kill me in the deep water; I would not for the whole world venture myſelf with him and a ſword. The captain ſeeing his ſervant afraid to venture, or if he did, he was ſure never to ſee him again alive; therefore, he deſired an agreement with the drover, who at firſt ſeemed unwiliing; but the captain put it in his will: ſo the drover quit him for one hundred guineas. This he came to thro' George's advice. P A R T III. AFTER this, George being in Cornwall about ſome buſiness, where he chanced to run ſhort of money, and not knowing what to do, being acquainted with none in that country, and knowing his landlord to be loyal to the government, and a great favourite to the King his maſter: he takes a piece of brick, and brays it into a ſmall powder, mixed with a little chalk, ſo that it might ſeem in colour like Arſenick, which is ſtrong poiſon: Then tying it up in paper-writing on this direction, 'The ſtronger poiſon for the King, and on the other paper, The ſlower poiſon for the Queen' Out he goes on purpoſe, and leaves the paper lying on a table, where he knew they would be looking at them: The landlord perceived the direction; ſo in comes George in a great haſte, and calls out, 'O landlord, did you ſee two ſmall bundles I have loſt, I know not what I ſhall do, for it was my main buſineſs to take them. to London.' O murdering rogue! cries the landlord, I will have you hanged for what you intend. George at this made off, and was going to fly for it, but the landlord called for aſſiſtance; ſo he was apprehended and made priſoner of ſtate, and carried to London by a troop of horſe; when the people there began to know him and tell who he was, his guard ſlipt away ſhamefully and left him; ſo George thanked them for their good company and ſafe convoy. There was a lew made againſt wearing ſwords at balls and aſſemblies, in the reign of King James the VI. becauſe they were inconvenient on theſe occaſions: But George to be witty on the act, provided himſelf with a very long ſcabbard, and got himſelf introduced to a ball where the King