Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (15).pdf/29

                           O F  G E O R G E  B U C H A N A N.      29 witty expreſſions; ſo George happened one night to be called into a company, where there were two biſhops, alſo a prieſt who wanted to be licenſed by them. One of the bithops aſked George, Why the people in Scotland did not love biſhops. Becauſe, ſays George, they are like old beggars advanced to be rulers over barrow-men, ſtill inſtructing them in things they know not themſelves, ordering them to carry ſtones to the builders, which they will not receive, and which they then themſelves had never power to move; the Scots having knowledge of this, hate to ſee the biſhops have great lordſhips for their ignorance, and the poor labourer have little or nothing for his toil. One of the biſhops looking at George with an angry countenance, anſwered, ſaying, You Scot muſt be made a biſhop yourſelf, and we bishops made prieſts, and that will ſerve well for your turn. No, no, ſaid George. That will not do; for if I be made a biſhop, I will have no broken biſhops to ſerve as prieſts under me, for they are ſuch bad maſters, they'll become the worſt of all ſervants. At this the two bishops left the room in a great paſſion, leaving George and the young prieſt only by themſelves. Now, now, ſays George, this proves the biſhops to be but hirelings and not to be ſhepherds, pointing to the young prieſt, You ſee they are ſied for their own ſafety and here they have left you a lamb, before the mouth of me a fox, and who knows but I may worry you. Run, run too maſter ſheep, ſays George: and if you have eyes guide thou blind ſhepherds down ſtairs, and over ditches, it I am afraid you will tumble all in a ditch together. This raiſed ſuch an indignation in the biſhops' breaſts, that they deſired no more of George's company nor converſation. One time after this, George being in the country, about twenty miles diſtant from London, and on his way home ward a fine gilded coach came up after him, which George being informed, belonged to the biſhop of Canterbury, and was going to London for his Lordſhip, George addreſſes himſelf to the coachman to have a paſſage with him in the coach for London. So he bargained with the coachman for two dollars to carry him to the Bell-inn on london bridge; the one he gave him in hand as he entered the coach, and the other he was to give him as ſoon as ever he would ſee him come out at the coach door; ſo away the away the