Joe Miller's Jests, with Copious Additions — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Joe Miller's Jests, with Copious Additions
John Stuart Mill · en
345. A book being published in Queen Elizabeth’s time that gave her much
offence, she asked Bacon if he could find no treason in it? No, madam,
said he, but abundance of felony, for the author hath stolen half his
conceits out of Tacitus.
346. A young lady being sick, a physician was sent for to feel her
pulse; she being very coy, and loth he should touch her skin, pulled her
sleeve over her hand; the doctor observing it, took a corner of his
coat, and laid it upon the sleeve; at which a lady that stood by
wondered: O, madam, said he, a linen pulse must always have a woollen
physician.
347. Tom Clarke, of St. John’s, desired a fellow of the same college to
lend him Bishop Burnet’s History of the Reformation; the other told him,
He could not spare it out of his chamber, but, if he pleased, he might
come there and read it all day long. Some time after the same gentleman
sent to Tom to borrow his bellows: Tom sent him word, that he could not
possibly spare them out of his chamber, but he might come there and use
them all day long if he would.
348. King Charles II. on a certain time paying a visit to Dr. Busby, the
doctor is said to have strutted through his school with his hat upon his
head, while his majesty walked complaisantly behind him, with his hat
under his arm; but, when he was taking his leave at the door, the doctor
with great humility addressed him thus: Sire, I hope your majesty will
excuse my want of respect hitherto; but if my boys were to imagine there
was a greater man in the kingdom than myself, I should never be able to
rule them.
349. Dr. Hickringal, who was one of King Charles the Second’s chaplains,
whenever he preached before his majesty, was sure to tell him of his
faults, and to scold him from the pulpit very severely. One day his
majesty, walking in the Mall, observed the doctor before him, and sent
to speak to him; when he came,―Doctor, said the king, What have I done
to you that you are always quarreling with me? I hope your majesty is
not angry with me, quoth the doctor, for telling the truth. No, no, said
the king, but I would have us for the future be friends. Well, well,
quoth the doctor, I’ll make it up with your majesty on these terms, as
you mend, I’ll mend.
350. In a little country town, it happened that the ’squire of the
parish’s lady came to church after her lying-in, to return thanks, or as
it is commonly called, to be churched: The parson aiming to be
complaisant, and thinking plain ‘woman’ a little too familiar, instead
of saying, O Lord, save this woman; said, O Lord, save this lady. The
clerk, resolving not to be behindhand with him, answered, Who putteth
her ladyship’s trust in thee.