Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (17).pdf/7

( 7 ) you ſhall have it; but pray do me the favour as to fire your piſtol through the ſlap of my coat, that the owners may ſee I have been in danger of my life before I loſt the money which he accordingly performed, No ſooner had he fired, then George whips out his hanger from below his cloak and with one ſtroke cut off his right hand wherein he held the ſword, ſo that both his ſword and hand fell to the ground; but George lifted his hand and carried it to the king. No ſooner did he come before him, but they asked him, ſaying, Well George did you meet any body to trouble you by the way? No, ſaid he, but a fellow who was going to take the money from me; but I made him give his hand he would not do the like again. You did, ſays the fellow's maſter Yes I did, ſays George, let the work bear witneſs, throwing down the fellow's hand on the table before them all.

Now this laſt exploit of George's cauſed many of the Engliſh to hate him, and among the reſt a young nobleman fell a joking of George, in ſaying be would be as famous a champion for Scotland, as Sir William Wallace was. Ay, ay, ſays George, William Wallace was a brave man in his time. True-indeed, ſays the other, but when he came to London, we did him all manner of juſtice, and for honour of the Scots, we have his effigy is in the ſhite houſe till this very day. And do you know the reaſon of that ſays George. No, I don't, ſays he. Well, I'll tell you, ſays George, he was ſuch a terror to the Engliſhmen when he was alive, that a ſight of him yet makes them beſhit themſelves. The Engliſh took this anſwer as a great affront, aud frothwith cauſed Wallace's picture to be taken out of that place.

There was a young Engliſh girl in love with a Scotſman and petititoned him ſeveral times to marry her, which he refuſed, and upon revenge, therefore, went to a juſtice and ſwore a rape againſt him, which is death by the law, George hearing of this, went into the priſon where the young man was, and inftracted him how to behave before the judge. So in the time of the trial, George came in, while the judge was crying to the man, but never a word could he get out of him to anſwer, to tell whether he was guilty or not. After the judge had given him over to be deaf and dumb, others fell a ſhouting in his ears, but never a word wou'd he ſpeak. Then the Judge perceiving George, called to him, ſaying George do you know what is the matter with this man? Yes I do very well. What is it? ſays the Judge. Why