Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchannan.pdf/21

( 21 ) Now, the Ambaſſador havine done his buſineſs in Italy, was returned homeward, and on their way, the ambaſſador began to queſtion George how he thought to eſcape Paris wat committing idolatry. N, m, ſays George, I never diſt worſhip any image, nor never ſhall, but I ſhall make them worſhip the worſt that is in my guts. No ſooner ways they arrived in ta, but George leaves the Ambaſſador, ad goes directly to the Virgin Mary, jumped in over the railing to the l ly ground, they warmed it) wherein ſhe ſh d, where few durſt go but prieſts and friarst; and there he looſed his breeches, and made ſuch a groaning eaſing himſelf, that he was heard at a diſtane by the prieſts and friars who were walking near by; and they perceiving this heinous abomination ran upon him like a pack of hounds, and carried him before the cardinals and father confeſſors, where he was allowed to ſpeak for himſelf, which he did as follows:

"May it pleaſe your moſt excellent worſhips to hear my reaſons before you pronounce my ſentence to be put in execution againſt me. It was my fortune to be paſſing through this is a few months ago with the Britiſh Ambaſſador on our way to Italy; and our day being walking in the King's garden in preſence of the King and many of his Nobles, who can bear witneſs to the truth of the ſame; I being ignorant of your traditions and rites of religion, fooliſhly offended, reproaching the Virgin Mary to her face; and ever ſince ſhe has plagued me with boundneſs in my belly that I have voided nought but clean h ſo now on my return, I went and implored her to open my fundament, and ſhe has done ſo, I being overjoyed with the miraculous healings in getting a paſſage in her preſence, leſt it as a memorial of the miracle in that place." When hearing this, they all with one co nt, lifted up their hands and bleſſed the Virgin Mary, for the wonderful miracle the had done, and ordered George to about his buſineſs, and d care unto all what was done unto his by the baly Virgin, for the confirmation of their religion. So all the devoted Romans came to view is dung, and worship over it in preſ ner of many people, and alſo cauſed a holy day to be oferred through all his dominions, for the miraculous cure.

Now, George being a long time abſent free Britain, he th he b to go and viſit the king and his court in diſguise e meeting with an old man, driving two old horſes headed with coals to fell, George here made a bargain with the ſum t the of his cloathes, his horſes, and coal- , everything to complete him as a real drive; ſo away dreſs until he came before the king palace, with an audible v, uy than harrow. Now, king with his