Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (5).pdf/19

19 farther trial of him, and took him into a large hall where there was a great number of fine pictures, and among the rest he shewed him the picture of Christ on the cross, and asked him if he knew whom that was; but George made himself very ignorant, and answered No. Why, said the King, I will tell you if you do not know.— This is the picture of our Saviour on the cross, and that on the right hand is the Pope's, and that on the left is my own. Whereupon George replied, I humbly thank your majesty for the information, for though I have often heard that our Saviour was crucified between two thieves, yet I never knew who they were before.

George being one day travelling to London, and the weather being very cold and rainy, he alighted at an inn to refresh and warm himself; but the fire being surrounded with people he scarcely could see it. George finding this to be the case, calls to the hostler, and orders him to give his horse, at the door, half a peek of oysters. You mean oats, sir. No, no, says George, it is oysters, and base is the horse that will not eat oysters. The people at the fire hearing this, started up and ran to the door to see the horse eating oysters. The moment they left their seats George took the opportunity to plant himself before the fire with a table and cloth beside him. In a little they came back again one by one, saying this, horse will not eat oysters. Well, well, says George, he is too full or too saucy; so you may bring them in and I will eat them myself.

One time after this George being in company about twenty miles from London, and on his way homeward, a fine gilded coach came up after him, and being informed that it belonged to the bishop of Canterbury, and was going to London for his Lordship, George addresses himself to the coachman