The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-08-03
AMECDoTE OF KING JAMES y

.4NECDOT'E OF KING JAMES Y.
This monarch, during his residence
in Stirling Castle, often amused himself
by travelling the country incog.-Many
are the traditional tales that are told OF
these excursions, besides those already
immortalized by his own poetic pen.
Among the former, we may mention
the following Having one day sailed
out in search of adventure, the first he
encountered was a soldier, who of
course, did not suspect being in the
presence of bis grand master. As they
journeyed along together, they pnrposed
having pot OF beer in house on the
highway, where they drank till as the
soldier supposed they had not left
!" wherewlthal 10 rub against each 9th
en-" Unwilling TO relinquish SO jovial
a companion, the soldier would have
sold his wife, had he found merchant
for her, 10 procure another pot. The
King, 10 order to carry on the joke, told
him of smith in the neighborhood,
who purchased old iron, steel, &c. and
gave as much for that article as any he
knew-in that case he might sell his
sword, and renew the fiddle. The sol.
der, afraid OF the consequences, nuao
some hesitation, telling him the King
would punish him severely were the
fact discovered. 1t may lever be dis
covered, retorted his Majesty have
an old sheep head in my pocket, which
we can aflix 10 a wooden blade, and you
know your swords are not once in a
month from their scabbards, aud | am
informed you will all be dismissed by
that time. The advice Of the facetious
monarch prevails-the sword is sold
the fiddle renewed. and the scabbarc
filled. But, alas, pleasure is borne on
fitting wing, and The happiest friends
are doomed to separation. The soldier
returns to his quarters, and the king tc
his palace. In few days after, his Ma
jesty visited Edinburgh, where the reg.
iment to which the soldier belonged
was also called. A petition was there
presented for soldier, who, by tht
laws of his country, was sentenced {,
be beheaded the following day, by th,
hands of the common executioneF.--A
a mitigation of punishment, his Msjest,
ordered that one of bis own coat shout,
be bis decapitator, and for that purpose
he would attend in person and nominate
the man. The day accordingly arrives
and the soldiers are drawn up, where il
front he soon recognized his old friend
and pitched upon him as beheader. Tn
soldier was now at his wits end, bein
ordered out to perform the painful op
Grafton, and not, as yet, suspecting tina
he who commanded him was that illus
trious parsonage who, not macy day
before, had SO gloriously conjured tn
ghost of the great Roric More with hir
IN an ale house. Finding delays and re
monstrances useless, he al length star
To the spot, and raising his hands I
heaven, exclaimed, o Lord, if he VIII
now stands trembling on the brink Of a
awful eternity be not worthy of dealt
may the sword which is about to b
drawn from lis scabbard, turn 10 tim
mer," and, with these words, brandish,
on high the wooden falchion, to the 4
small establishment of every beholde
except the king, who laughed hearth
at his ingenuity, and at the same tin
pardoned the criminal with acaution
future behaviour, and his friend not
sell his sword any more, /" lest his I'M
| uities should find him outs
From the North American Reyiew.l
Il .ALLIGATORS.
Il Cant Cochrane in hia Trnvnls in q