453. The famous Captain Fitzpatrick, who married ’Squire Western’s
niece, and was reckoned an excellent hand at making bulls, was walking
one day with two or three ladies, a little way out of West Chester, with
his hat under his arm; the wind blowing very hard, one of the ladies
said, I wonder, captain, you will be so ceremonious to walk bare-headed
in such boisterous weather; pray, sir, put on your hat. Arrah, by my
shoul, dear madam, answered the captain, I have been after trying two or
three times already, and the wind is so high, that I can’t keep my hat
upon my head any longer than ’tis under my arm.
454. The same gentleman being with the aforesaid ladies, in a nobleman’s
garden, where there was a large iron roller, told them, he thought it
was the biggest iron rolling-stone he had ever seen in his life.
455. A philosopher being blamed by a stander-by, for defending an
argument weakly against the Emperor Adrian, replied, What! would you
have me contend with a man that commands thirty legions of soldiers?
456. A painter turned physician; upon which change, a friend applauded
him, saying, You have done well, for before, your faults could be
discovered by the naked eye, but now they are hid.
457. Bishop Latimer preaching at court, said, that it was reported the
king was poor, and that they were seeking ways and means to make him
rich; but he added, For my part, I think the best way to make the king
rich, would be to give him a good post, or office, for all his officers
are rich.
458. Zelim, the first of the Ottoman Emperors that shaved his beard, his
predecessors having always worn it long, being asked by one of his
bashaws, why he altered the custom of his predecessors? answered,
Because you bashaws shall not lead me by the beard, as you did them.
459. It being told Antigonus, in order to intimidate him, as he marched
to the field of battle, that the enemy would shoot such volleys of
arrows, as would intercept the light of the sun. I am glad of it,
replied he, for it being very hot, we shall then fight in the shade.
460. A sailor having received ten guineas for turning Roman Catholic,
said to the priest who paid him the money, Sir, you ought to give me ten
guineas more, because it is so hard to believe transubstantiation.
461. One seeing an affected coxcomb buying books, told him, His
bookseller was properly his upholsterer, for he furnished his room
rather than his head.
462. An arch wag once said, That tailors were like woodcocks, for they
got their sustenance by their long bills.
463. A complaint being made to the court of Spain of a certain Viceroy
of Mexico, the Secretary of State, who was his friend, wrote him word,
that he was accused at court of having extorted great sums of money from
the people under his government; which I hope, said the Secretary, is
true, or else you are undone.