Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchannan.pdf/16

( 16 ) never put to the trial, till George did as follows; He was taken up for ſaying, That the Pope was falliable himſelf; and could not pardon the ſins of others.' George awned he ſaid ſo, but would refer to the bell whether he was guilty or not. The prieſts though unwilling were obliged to comply.-George touched the bell, repenting as before, 'The Pope is falliable and cannot pardon ſin, moreover added, 'The Pope and popiſh clergy are impoſters,' and thereupon toughed the bell, referring to it for the truth; but the bell not ringing the preiſts were diſgraced as impoſtors, and he was honourable acquitted and the bell was laid aſide.

George deſired a member of the College of St. Andrew's to lend him a book; the other told him, he could not poſſibly ſpare it out of his chamber, but if he pleaſed he might come and read there all the day long. Some time after, the gentleman ſent to George to borrow his bellows; but he ſent him word, he could not poſſibly ſpare them out of his kitchen, but he might come there and blow all the day if he would.

A ſcholar at the grammar ſchool of St. Andrews coming into the room where his maſter had laid down's baſket of fine cherries for his own eating; the waggiſh boy takes them up, and cries aloud, I publiſh the hands between theſe cherries and my mouth, if any know my juſt rouſe or impediment, why theſe ſhould not be joined together, let them declare it. The maſter being in the next room, overheard all that was ſaid, and coming into the ſchool, he ordered the boy who had eaten his cherries to be taken up, or so he called it, ſs'd on another boys backs, but before he proceeded to the uſual diſcipline, he cries out aloud as the delinquent had done, I publiſh the bairns between this boy's breeches and my taws, if any one know my juſt cauſe or impediment, why theſe two ſhould not be joined together, let them declare it. George paſſing by in the mean time, overheard this proclamation, I forbid the banns cried he, Why ſoǃ ſays the ſchoolmaſter; Becauſe the parties are not agreed replied he. Which anſwer to pleaſed the maſter, that the boy was ſet down without any puniſhment.

A young gentleman that wanted to be witty on the ſcripture, eating ſome cheeſe full of mites one night at a terrain; Now, ſaid he, I have done as much as Samſon, ſuch have ſlain my thouſands and ten thouſands. Yes, replied George who happened to be in his company, and with the ſame weapon too, the jaw bone of an aſs, which anſwer ſettle while company a laughing to ſee the young gentleman bent with his own weapon.

George being in company where three biſhops were preſent at dinner, they knowing George to be a great ſcholar