Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchannan.pdf/19

( 19 ) and when he came to the table where the heaps of money lay, to iſt his hand among the gold, bus to lift nou and run off. This the pair fellow did, and was chaſed by the miſer and his ſervants, who ran after him into the ſtreet calling ſtop the thief. The poor fellow was ſtripped as George had deſired him let them catch him, George appearing in the mo, and went alang with the poor fellow, who was carried before a judge, where 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 deſiring him to go to the ſame place, and thruſt in both his hands, and lift up as much as he could, and run off. This he did, but the miſer told him, he was not ſuch a fool as to follow him, for he knew he only deſigned to play the fool to have him fined again. But by this means the poor fellow was enriched, and afterwards lived very honeſtly.

George being at dinner one day, when the broth was exceeding hot, burnt his mouth, and at the ſame time, letting go a loud fart. It is well for you, ſays George, that you made your eſcape, for I ſhould live burnt you alive has you ſtaid.

PART IV.

A YOUNG curate, with more pertneſs than wit or learning, being aſked in company, how became to take into his head to enter into the miniſtry of the church? Becauſe, ſaid he, the Lord had need of me. That may be, replied George, who was preſent, for I have often heard that the Lord had once need of an aſs.

After this, George being ſent with the Britiſh Ambaſſador into Italy, by the way of Paris, and as they were viewing the beautiful ſtatutes and large buildings of that ſpacious city, the king and many of his nobles in company; as they were walking through the king's garden, among the images of the ſaints, they came to the image of the Virgin Mary, who ſtood in a melancholy picture with the babe in her arms: one of the noblemen ſays to the Britiſh Ambaſſadors don't you think that ſhe looks as if ſhe were angry? O e, ſays George, ſhe's angry when ſhe has Engliſhmen and reaching in friendſhip and unity it with another. No, ſays the French king, the lever nothing better than the reconciliation of enemies peace and unity is her delight. Then George puts in below the ſtatue, and looks up; O ays George, I know what is the matter time, for ſomebody as driven a nail in her arſe, I ſee the head at it ſticking out, I would vex my living, bu a piece of wood. At the ng was greatly enraged at George for ſaying ſo, for cal- her a piece of wood; and nothing would ſatisfy the g unleſs George would fall down and worſhip the