Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (6).pdf/15

15 pent for the benefit of murderers, that any per- ſon who committed murder, if they forſesed five hundred merks, which went under the name of Kinboat, becauſe ſo much of this fine went 10 he murdered perſon's neareſt relations, as the price of blood, the murderer got a remit Now, George knowing this to be contrary to Mules' Laws, was very much gved to ſee ſo many hardons ſealed with the king's hand for murder, almoſt on every week, it being ſo uſual for the king to ſubſeribe them, that he would not read hem, nor enquire what they were; for which auſe George writes a rifle to the crown, and ſent it to the king to be ſubſcribed, which he actually did, and naver looking at it was, re- surned it to George. No ſconer had he received ent, but he goes to the king, and told him it was his time for him now to be fitting there, where- at the king, greatly amazed, ſtarted up; then George in a great haſte, ſets himſelf down in the king's chair forthwith, declaring himſelf King, ſaying, You who was king wife be my fool, for I am now the wiſeſt man The king, at this, was graatly offended, until George ſhew- ed him his seal & ſuperſcription But, from that day forth, the king know what he ſubſcribed.

3. The next pardon that came to be ſealed by the king, was to a gentleman who had killed to men before, and had gotten pardons for them by money. This being the third, the king was very ſilent in looking over the petition; George ſtanding by, a ked the king what he was going to feel now? Io which he anſwered, It is