Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (17).pdf/10

( 10 ) goes to the king and told him it was not time for him now to ſit there; where at the king was greatly amazed and ſtarted up; then George in a great haſte ſets himſelf down in the king's chair, forthwith declared himſelf king, ſaying, You who was king, muſt be a fool, for I am now the wiſeſt man. The king at this was greatly offended, until George ſhewed him his ſeal and ſubſcription, but from that day forth he knew what he ſubſcribed.

The next pardon that came to be ſealed to the king, was a gentleman that had killed two men before, and had got pardons for them by money. This being the third, the king ſeemed ſilent in looking over the petition. George ſtanding by, aſked the king what he was going to feel now? To which he anſwered, it is a remit for a man that has killed three men at ſundry times; I have given him two remits before. O lays George he has killed none but one man. And who killed the other two? ſays the king. You did, ſays George; for if you had given him juſtice when he killed the firſt, he had killed no more. When the king heard theſe words, he threw down the pen, and declared that ſuch an act to ſave a murderer ſhould be null ever after him.

One day after this, George having no money, he goes away, and gets a pick and ſpade, and then falls to digging at a corner of the king's palace, which the king perceiving from his window, calls what he was wanting there? Are you going to undermine my houſe, and make it fall? No, my ſovereign, ſaid he, but it is verily reported, that there is plenty of money about this houſe, and where it can be, ſays George, I cannot find, for it is not within the houſe to do me ſervice, then ſurely it-muſt be below it. O George, that is a crave after the new faſhion; what money you want, I'll order it to you. Then my ſovereign, I'll dig no more.

One day after this, George being in the country, he came to an inn where he alighted to refreſh himſelf and his horſe; the inn keeper charged him double price for every thing he called for George never grumbled at this, but gave him all his demands, and away he goes on his journey: and where he quartered the night following, he was uſed after the ſame manner, if not worſe. Now George came to the inn where he refreſhed himſelf the day before; ſo when he alighted, the boy, aſked him, Sir, what ſhall I give your horſe? What you will boy, ſays George. No ſooner had