Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchannan.pdf/7

( 7 ) Scotland, ſent up a great ſpokeſman to the king and parliament, for the ſeducing of the church George hearing of his coming went away and met him on the bridge, and the ſalutation that he gave him, was the cutting off his head and thing it over the bridge that to the king with all his might, falling down before him, pleading moſt earneſtly for a pardon, for without it he was a dead man. The king of curiouſly aſked him what he had done now: To which he anſwered he had only thrown the Scots Biſhop's that over the bridge which made the king laugh, to hear him aſk pardon for ſuch a ſmall fault, but he had no ſooner put the pardon ſealed by the king's hand, than he ſaid, indeed my ſovereign, I threw his hat over the bridge but his heed was in it. Geordie, Geordie, ſays the king, the wilt never give over till thou be hanged.

After this a nobleman in England, agreed with the king, how to put a trick upon George, to try has manly courage, in ſending him to a certain houſe for a bag of money. On his way home through St. James's Park, they cauſed a ſturdy fellow to go and ſet the way upon him, and take the money; he being armed with a ſword and piſtol, coming up briſkly, and attacked George with the words, you, Sir, deliver up what money you have, or you are a dead man. To which George anſwered, Sit, I have money indeed, but it is not my own, and try to give it; nevertheleſs, ſince I am not armed as you are to exchange blows for it, you ſhall have it; but pray to me the a as to fire your piſtol through the a of my cloak, that the owners may se I have been in danger in my life before I loſt the money; which he accordingly performed. No ſooner had he fired, then George whips out his hanger from below his cloak, and with one ſtroke, cut off his right and, wherein he held the ſword, ſo that both his ſword and hand fell to the ground; but George lifted his hand and carried it the king. No ſome did he come before them, but they aſked him, ſaying, Well George, did you meet any body to trouble you by the way? No, ſaid he, but a fellow who was going to take the money from me; but I made him give his hand he would not do the like again. You did, ſays the fellows maſter; Yes, I did, ſays George, let the work bear witneſs, throwing down the fellow's hand on the table before them all.

Now the laſt exploit of George's cauſed many of the Engliſh to hate him, and among the reſt a young nobleman fell a joking of George, in ſaying he would be as famous a mpice for Scotland, as Sir William Wallace was. Ay, Ay, ſays George, William Wallace, was a brave man in his time. True indeed, ſays the other, but when he came to