Nugæ venales, or, Complaisant companion being new jests, domestick and forreign, bulls, rhodomontados, pleasant novels and miscellanies.

LYES, AND IMPROBABILITIES.

A Fellow swore that he had seen a Base-Viol as big as the Duke's Theater; one demanding how it could possibly be play'd on? well enough (quoth the other) for he that own'd it, made a two-handed Bow about a Fur∣long in length; and he and his Wife drew it on the Strings, while ten of his Children ran two and fro upon the Stops or Frets, observing with their feet as exact. Time, as any could do with their fingers.

A Romanist swore he swallowed a Pin, and presently making a Cross upon his Leg, pull'd it out there.

A Soldier swore desperately, that being in the Wars between the Russian and Polonian; there chanced to be a Par∣ley between the two Generals where a River parted them, at that time it froze so excessively, that the words were no sooner out of their mouths, but they were frozen, and could not be heard till eleven days after, That a Thaw came which dissolved them, and made them audible to all.

One protested that on Salisbury plain, he started a Hare, and having a Horse under him that was very fleet, coursed her, and gave her four turns at least, at length his Horse growing weary and he vext to the heart that he could not tire her, threw his Hat at her; which lighting just before her, she ran into it, and turned over and over it so long, That he had time enough to alight from his Horse and take her up.

A notable arch Crack in Paris, got a bag of Ashes and carried them to a man whom he knew to be a great admirer of Reliques, who askt him twenty pound a Peck for them, swearing, That they were

the ashes of those coles which burnt St. Lau∣rence.

A Fellow swore that he ran a Gray∣hound Bitch great with whelps at a Hare, who taking a Hedge, and the Bitch making after her, she lighted on a Stake which rent her belly up, and that the whelps which were within her ran after the Hare and kill'd her. I loved (said he) this Bitch so well, that I made a pair of Buskins of her skin, which had the power to endue me with such swift∣ness; That if at any time a Hare started in my way, I could not rest till I caught her.

A Keeper swore he shot a Buck's right foot and left ear at one shoot with a single Bullet, And being asked how he could pos∣sibly do it, (he answered) that the Buck was lying and scratching his left ear with his right foot when he shot him.

Strada reports that a fellow lived in his time, whose Nose was so long, he could not hear himself Sneese.