Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (11).pdf/17

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to mock him, asking him, Why he did not keckle like the hens? But, George, whose wit was always ready, told him, he was afraid to keckle lest he would come and snatch up the egg.--Which rebuff made the squire walk off as mute as a fish.

 George was met one day by three bishops, who paid. him the following compliments. Says the first, Good-day, father Abraham.-- the second, Good-day, father Isaac.-- the third, Good-day father Jacob. To which he replied, I am neither father Abraham, father Isaac, nor father Jacob: but I am Saul the son Kish, sent out to seek my father's asses, and lo! I have found three of them. Which answer convinced the bishops that they had mistaken their man.
 There was a bell at Dalkeith, which the Popish clergy made use of to extort confession from the ignorant people, in the following manner: They told the persons whom they suspected guilty, the bell would rive at the touch of a guilty person; but if not guilty

it would not. By these means they generally frightened the ignorant into confession: for if the bell would rive the person was then to be condemned to death. But they managed the matter so, that the bell was never brought to trial, till George did as follows: he was imprisoned for saying, That the Pope was falliable himself; and could not pardon the sins of others. George owned he said so, but would refer to the bell whether he was guilty or not. The priests, tho' unwilling, were obliged to comply.--George touched the bell, repeating as before, The Pope is falliable, and cannot pardon sin: moreover added, The Pope and the Popish clergy are imposters: and