Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchannan.pdf/26

( 26 ) a for, and who knows but I say worry you. Run, run the, maſter ſheep, ſays George, and if you have eyes, guide thoſe two blind ſhepherds down ſtairs, and over ditches, but I am afraid you will all tumble in a ditch together. This raiſed ſuch an indipnation in the biſhops breaſts that they deſired no more of George's company and converſation.

One time after this, George being in the country, about twenty miles diſtant from London, and on his way homeward there came up after him a fine lded coach which George was informed belonged to the biſhop of Canterbury, and was going to London for his lordſhip George addreſſed himſelf to the coachman, for to have a paſſage with him in the coach to London; ſo he bargained with the coachman for two dollars, to carry him to the Bell Inn, on London Bridge; the one he gave him in hand, as he entered the coach, and the other he was to give him as ſoon as ever be would ſee him out of the coach door: ſo away the coachman drives for London in all haſte, in which time George wrote the following Motto:

Here fits the biſhop of Canterbury, Who at the ſchools diſdain'd to arry, Far better ſkill'd in games than preaching, And yet he lives by others teachings.

Blind leaders of the blind, indeed, 'Tis blind and lame who chariots need; Six brutes with eyes this brute doth carry, I mean the biſhop of Canterbury.

My feet being lame, I gave a dollar, To be drove in ſtate like you a ſcholar's For which myſelf I do abhor, Slume caue'e me make another door.

Theſe lines being battered upon the inſide of the coach, and when he came within a mile of London, took a knife and cut a great hole in the back ſide of the coach, where he came out, and to make his promiſe good to the coachman, that he was to give the other dollar as ſoon an ever he ſaw him come out of the coach door. The poor coachman drove en till he came to the foreſaid inn, where he alighted and opened the door to let his paſſenger out, but ſeeing the coach empty, and a great hole in the back ſide of it, the tried out he believed he had the devil is his coach, and he had taken away the back ſide of it with him. The people of the inn came all ſtocking about to ſee what a done; and then ſeeing the lines on the inſide of the coach, which the biſhop came and read himſelf, they all concluded it to be done by George, but could make nothing of it, for the