Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (17).pdf/28

 don't you remember that an aſs was made an advocate, and ſpoke againſt Balaam? The lawyer to this would give no anſwer, but took good night of George.

Three merchant pedlars (as they profeſſed to be) came with a park of goods to put a trick upon a widow woman who kept an inn on the highway ſide. After they had drunken very hearty, they deſired the woman to lay up the pack ſecurely, and charged her directly before witneſſes to give it to none of them unleſs they came all together for it again. And about three weeks there after, two of them returned and defi ed 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 they were fellow travellers conjuct 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. The honeſt woman told him plainly that the other two men had been there before and got it away. Then he began to demonſtrate to the woman what great danger ſhe was in, and forthwith raiſed a proceſs againſt her by law, which coaſt the poor woman a vaſt of money to defend, as the plea continued more than two full years; and a great court one day being 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 not denying what the bargain was when he got the pack to keep. The poor woman being in grate ſtraits, her purſe being turned empty, and her attorney told her plainly as her money was gone, he could no longer defend her. The woman once more plucked 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 widow making a mournful complaint to one of the attorneys who gave her no comfort or ſatisfaction, for when ſhe told him he 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, woman ſat weeping like one dectracted. Poor woman ſays George you need not think that man will ſpeak a word for you or any one elſe, unless you had brought him a purſe of gold to loſe his tongue; but as I have got a ſcheme of the matter, you may go home and have patience till the time come, and then my life for yours poor wman, I will ſend you an attorney who will do your buſineſs for