Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (15).pdf/31

                             O F  G E O R G E  B U C H A N A N.       31 would give no anſwer, but took good-night of George. Three merchant pedlars (as they profeſſed to be) came with a pack of goods to put a trick upon a widow woman, who kept an Inn upon the high way ſide; after they had drunk very hearty, they deſired the woman to lay up the pack ſecurely, and charged her ſtrictly before witneſſes, to deliver it to none of them, unleſs they came altogether for it again. And in about three weeks thereafter, two of them returned, and deſired the woman to give them the pack; telling her, That the other man was gone to ſuch a fair with another pack, where they were all to meet; and that they were fellow-travellers, conjunct in trade, and how they had all aright to the pack alike: Whereupon, the poor ſimple woman, not dreading any further harm, gave them the pack. So, in a few days thereafter, the other man comes and demands the pack; thc honeſt woman told him plainly, that the other two men had been there before, and had got it away; then he began to demonſtrate to the woman that great danger ſhe was in, and forthwith raiſed a proceſs againſt her by law, which coſt the poor woman a vaſt ſum of money to defend, as the plea continued more than two full years; and a great court being one day to ſit upon the proceſs to decide it, which would undoubtedly have been done in favour of the purſuer, the proof being ſo clear, and the woman herſelf not denying what the bargain was, when ſhe got the pack to keep. The poor woman being in great ſtraits, her purſe being turned empty, her attorney told her plainly, as her money was done, he could no longer defend her; the woman once more pluckt up her heart, and went to London to employ a new attorney to ſpeak for her; but for want of gold, ſhe could get none to undertake it. George being in a houſe, where he heard the poor woman making a mournful complaint to one of her attornies, who gave her no comfort nor ſatisfaction; for when ſhe told him ſhe had no money to ſpend, or give in defence of it, the attorney went away, and would hear no more of the woman's grievous complaint, which made George laugh very heartily, while the poor widow ſat weeping like one in diſtraction, Poor woman, ſays George, You need not think that man will ſpeak a word for you, or any elſe, unleſs you had brought him a purſe of gold to looſe his tongue; but as I