Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (17).pdf/6

( 6 ) George ſmilling and ſhaking his head, cried out Many men, many minds, Who knows what he deſigns?

Then they aſked George what he thought the French king meant by ſuch a letter? to which he anſwered, I ſuppoſe he wants an Invitation to come over to dinner and then go back in a friendly manner, but you are going to charge him with breach of peace, before he has given any ſignal of offence or war his letter is yet dark and miſtical, but give him an anſwer acording to his queſtion.

Now George being ordered to write the answer, it was And ye come. And ye come. And ye come. This being ſent to the French king, he admired it beyond expreſſion, ſaying it was an anſwer more valiant and daring than he expected; ſo the enmity he intended was extinguiſhed thereby and turned into love.

About this time it happened, that a malignant party in Scotland, ſent up a great ſpokeſman to the king and parliment for the ſeducing of the church: George hearing of his coming, went away and met him on the bridge, and the ſalutation that he gave him was the cutting off his head, and throwing it over the bridge; then ran to the king with all his night, falling down before him, pleading moſt earneſtly for a pardon, for without it he was a dead man. The king moſt curiouſly aſked him, what he had done now: To which he anſwered, he had only thrown the Scot's biſhops hat over the bridge, which made the king laugh to hear him aſk pardon for ſuch a ſmall fault; but he had no ſooner got the pardon ſealed by the king's hand than he ſaid, indeed my ſovereign I threw his hat over the bridge, but his head was in it. Geordie, Geordie ſays the king, then wilt never give over till thou be hanged.

After this a nobleman in England, agreed with the king, how to put a trick upon George, to try his manly courage, in ſending him to a certain houſe for a bag of money. On his way home through St. James's Park they cauſed & ſturdy fellow to go and ſet the way upon him and take the money; he being armed with a ſword and piſtol, coming up briſkly, and attcked George with theſe words, You muſt deliver up what money you have, or you are a dead man, To which George anfwered, Sir, I have money indeed, but 'tis not my own, and I am ſorry to give it; nevertheleſs, ſince I am not armed as you are to exchange blows for it,