Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (15).pdf/21

 O F G E O R G E  B U C H A N A N.    21 ſet the whole company a laughing. The poor nobleman was obliged to leave his horſe ſet in the water, and waddle thro’ on foot, all wet to the ſhoulders. A Scotſman being reduced to poverty, made his court to George to put him in a way; George told him he would, providing he would do as he directed him. There was an old miſer, an uſurer and money-changer hard by; George deſired the poor fellow to pretend an errand to the miſer, and when he came to the table where the heaps of money lay, to thruſt his hand among the gold, but to lift none and run off. This the poor fellow did, and was chaſed by the miſer, and his ſervants, who ran after him into the ſtreet, calling, Stop the thief: The poor fellow was ſtopt (as George had deſired him to let them catch him.) George appeared in the mob, and went along with the poor fellow, who was carried before a judge, where he was ſearched, and nothing being found upon him, he was acquitted, and the miſer fined in a large ſum for accuſing him. Afterwards, George deſired him to go to the ſame place, and thruſt in both his hands, and lift up as much as he could, and run off. This he did, but the miſer told him he was not ſuch a fool as to follow him, for he knew he deſigned to play the fool, to have him fined again. By theſe means the poor fellow was enriched, and afterwards lived honeſtly. George, being at dinner one day where the broth was exceeding hot, burnt his mouth, at the ſame time letting go a loud fart. It is very good for you, ſays George, that your eſcape, for I ſhould have burnt you alive had you ſtaid.

P A  R  T      IV.

A Young Curate, wi-h more pertneſs than wit or learning, being aſked in company, how he came to take it into his head to enter into the miniſtry of the church? Becauſe, ſaid he, the Lord hath need of me. That may be, replied George, who was preſent, for I have often read that the Lord had once need of an aſs. After this, George being ſent with the Britiſh embaſſador into Italy, by the way of Paris; as they were viewihg the beautiful ſtatues and large buildings of that ſpacious city, the King and many of his nobles in company,