England's jests refin'd and improv'd being a choice collection of the merriest jests, smartest repartees, wittiest sayings, and most notable bulls yet extant, with many new ones never before printed to which are added XIII ingenious characters drawn to the life / the whole work compil'd with great care and exactness, and may serve as the witty-man's companion, the busie-man's diversion and the melancholy man's physick and recreation, calculated for the innocent spending of the winter evenings by H.C.

153.

A Nobleman having a mind to be merry, sent for his Chaplain, and tol•• him, That unless he could resolve him these, Three Questions, he should be discarded, and turn'd out of his Service; but if he cou'd, he shou'd have Thirty Guinneys▪ and the best Horse in his Stable: So he propos'd the Questions to him, which were these; First, What compass the World w••s about? Secondly, How deep the Sea was? And Thirdly, What he thought? The Poor Chaplain was in a peck of Troubles, and did not know how to

answer them, or what to say, think∣ing them very unreasonable Questi∣ons; so that all he could do was to desire a little time to consider upon them, which the Earl granted. So he going a long the Fields one day very melancholy, a Cobler of the Town, a merry Fellow (who was very like the Chaplain, both in Physiognomy and Stature) met him, and ask'd him the reason of his sadness; which with some Reluctancy he told him: O Sir, says the Cobler, don't be dejected, chear up; I've thought of a device to save your Place, and get you the Mo∣ney and Horse too; but you shall give me Ten Guinneys for my pains. So he agreed to't; and it was ••hus: Says he, I'll put on your Cloaths, and go to My Lord, and answer his Questi∣ons. Accordingly he went, and when he came before him, he answer'd him thus: To the first Question, What Compass the World was about? He an∣swered, It was four and twenty hours Iourney; and if a man could keep ••pace with ••he Sun he might easily go it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 t••at ••••me. To the Second, How deep ••••e Sea was? He answer'd, Only •• stones

throw; for cast it into the deepest place of it, and in time it will come to the bot∣tom. To the th••d, (which I fancy your Lordship thinks the most difficult to be resolv'd, but is indeed the easi∣est) which is, What your Lords••ip thinks? I answer, That you think I am your Chaplain, when as indeed I am but the Cobler of Gl••••cester. The Noble∣man was so pleas'd with his witty An∣swers, that he p••rform'•• his Promise t•• his Chap••a••n, and gave the Cobler Ten Guinneys for his Ingenuity.