Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (5).pdf/21

21 George went into the mint one day, when they were melting gold. One of them asked George if he would have his hatful of gold? George readily accepted, but it burnt the crown out of his hat, as they knew it would, and for that bout they foiled George. However, George to be even with them, bought a fine large hat, and caused a plate of copper to be put betwixt the hat and the lining; and returning next day, they jestingly asked him if he would have another hatful of gold. He said he would. They gave it red hot, and George now laughed at them in his turn, telling them, that this new hat was a good one, and stood fire better than the old one. And so he carried it off honestly; and, being prosecuted to return it, he excused himself, telling the judge that he took nothing but what was given him; and therefore he was honourably acquitted, and the other heartily laughed at.

A Scotchman being reduced to poverty, made his complaint to George to put him in a way to get money. George told him if he would follow his directions he would try it. There was on old miser, an usurer and money changer hard by, George told the fellow to pretend an errand to the miser, and when he came to the table where heaps of money lay, to thurst his hand among the gold, but to lift none, and to run off. This the poor fellow did, and was chased by the miser and his servants, who ran after him, crying, Stop the thief!, The poor fellow was stopt, (as George had desired to let them catch him,) George appeared in the mob, and went along with him, who was carried before a judge, when he was searched, and nothing being found upon him he was acquitted, and the miser fined in a large sum for accusing him. Afterwards, George desired him to go to the same place, and thrust both his hands, and liſt up as much as he