Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchannan.pdf/18

( 18 ) hat full of gold? George readily accepted, but nt the bottom out of his hat as they knew it would, and for that bout they fooled 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 returned next day, they jeſtingly aſked him if he would have another hat full of gold? he ſaid he would: They give 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 carried it of honeſty, and being afterwards proſecuted for to return it, he excuſed him, telling the judge, that he took nothing but what was given him, and there are he was honourable acquitted, and the other honeſty laughed at.

the reign of King James the VI. George dining one day with the Lord Mayor, after two or three healths, the miniſtry was toaſted but when it came to George's turn to drink, he diverted it ſome time by telling a ſtory to the perſon who ſat next him the chief magiſtrate not ſeeing his toaſt go round, called out what ſticks the miniſtry at? At nothing ns George, and ſo drank off his glaſs.

George being one day along with the king and his nobles, a humming, and being but very ſorrily mounted, when he was ſpurring up his horſe, he obſerving the horſe to have a trick of falling down on his knees, George immediately thought how he ſhould make uſe of that very thing to divert his Majeſtyː therefore pretended that his horſe would ſet hares, and known ſome hare feat, rode that way to ſhow the company the truth of what he affirmed, but when he had found the hare by giving his ſe ſpur, he immediately clapped down this be repeated ſeveral times, till he put the whole company in belief that what he had ſaid was true and of the noblemen being charmed with the performance of George's h would have George change with him, George ſeemed as firſt unwilling to part with his horſe; but at laſt was prevailed upon to part with him for the nobleman's horſe and a hundred guineas to boot. But afterwards riding through a river pretty deep, the nobleman's ſpurring his new horſe, he clapped down on his belly which George ſeeing called out to the company to return with the dogs, for the nobleman's houſe had certainly ſet a have: which ſet the whole company's laughing. The poor nobleman was obliged to leave his horſe ſet in the water, and waddle through on foot, all wet to the ſhoulder.

A gentleman being reduced to poverty, made his court to Gent to put him in a way; George told him he would, providing he would do as he directed him. There was an old m es an uſurer, and money changer hard by; George deſired the poor fellow to pretend an arrand to the miſer