Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (17).pdf/9

( 9 ) ſhamefully, ſwearing the Scots had gone through all the nations in the world to learn their language, o the devil has taught them it, for we have no ſhare here but ſhame.

After George had ended the diſpute with the Engliſh clergymen, he ſtript off his ſhepherds's dreſs and up through England with all the haſte imaginable, ſo that he arrived as the place from whence they ſet out, three days before them, and went every day aſking if they were come, that he might not be ſuſpected. Now upon their arrival all they that were concerned in the matter, and many more, came crowding to know what was done.-No ſooner had the three gentleman declared what had paſt between the clergy men and the ſheperd whom they found on the border, but the Biſhop, made anſwer, and think you, ſaid he, that a ſhepherd could anſwer theſe queſtions? It has been the devil, for the Scots miniſters themſelves could not do it, they are but ignorant of ſuch matter's a parcel of heardleſs boys. Then George thought it was time to take ſpeech in hand. Well my Lord Biſhops ſays he, you call them a parcel of ignorant breadleſs boys you have a great long beard yourſelf my Lord Biſhop, and if the grace of God were meaſured by b ards, you biſhops and the goats would have it all, and that will be quite averſe from the Scriptures. What, ſays the Biſhop, are you a Scot? Yes. Tays George, I am a Scot. Well, ſays the Biſhop, and what is the difference between a Scot and a Sot? Nothing at preſent, ſays George, but the breadth of the table, (ther being a table between the Biſhop and George.) So the Biſhop went off in a paſſion, while the whole multitude were like to ſplit their jaws with laughter.

About this time there was an act of parliaments for the benefit of murderers, that any perſon who comm tted murder, if they forfeited five hundred merks, which went under the the name of Kin Boot, becauſe ſo much of this fine went to the murdered perſon's, neareſt relations, as the price of blood, and the murderer got, a remit. Now George knowing this to be contrary to Moſes's laws, was very much grieved to ſee ſo many pardons ſealed with the king's hand for murder, almoſt one every week; it being ſo uſual for the king to ſubſcribe them that he did not read them, no, enquire what they were; for which cauſe George wrote a right to the crown, and ſent it to the king to be ſubſcribers which he actually did, and never looking what it was returned it to George: no ſooner had he received it, but he