Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (15).pdf/25

                       O F  G E O R G E  B U C H A N A N      25 himſelf. Now the King knowing George's voice, tho' he was in a coalman's dreſs, deſired the chaplain to all the coalman why he called ſo loud, making ſuch a terrible noiſe. The chaplain opened the window, and with great airs called unto him, You, Sir, What do you cry ſo for? Why, ſays George, I cry for people to come and buy my coals, and give me money for them: but what do you cry for; What, Sir! ſays the young prieſt, I cry for you to hold your peace. Then, ſays George, come here then and cry for me, and go fell my coals, and I will hold my peace. Sell thy coals, ſays the prieſt; do you know to whom you ſpeak! Yes, I do know, ſays George, but you do not. What are you? ſays the prieſt, I am a mortal and ſo are you, ſays George. What is your father's name, ſince you will not tell your own? ſays the prieſt. You may go aſk that at my mother, ſays George; for I was not ſufficient, when ſhe got me, to know him. What! ſays the prieſt, do you not know your own father? I know my mother, and my mother did know my father, ſays George, and that is ſufficient, and more than you can ſay perhaps. The prieſt thinking he was coming too near him, thought to put him of with a ſcriptural queſtion, by aſking him, If he knew who was Melchiſedec's father? Indeed, maſter prieſt, ſays George, Melchiſedec's deſcent was not counted, rather is yours, then who can declare your generation. The prieſt, at this anſwer, would ſtand the argument no longer, but cloſed the window in great haſte, while the king, and all who knew the prieſt to be a foundling, were like to burſt their ſides with laughing; ſo George went off with his coals, and the prieſt became more humble than he was formerly, for he thought that everbody knew whole was, when the coalman knew ſo well. One night after this, an Engliſh ſquire who profeſſed to be better verſed in poetry than George, laid a wager with another gentleman, five guineas againſt one, that George would not metre the firſt words he would ſay to him in the morning when newly awaked out of his ſleep; to the gentleman went, the night before, and told George the ſtory, and bade him be on his guard, for in the morning they would certainly come, and that right early. At midnight if ye will, ſay's George, I will order my ſevcant to let you in.