Category: Humour
JOE MILLER’S JESTS; OR, THE WIT’S VADE-MECUM: being a collection of the most brilliant Jests; the politest _Repartees_; the most elegant _Bon mots_, and most pleasant short Stories in the _English_ language. First carefully collected in the company, and many of them transcribe...
53. King Charles II. having ordered a new suit of clothes to be made, just at a time when addresses were coming up to him from all parts of the kingdom, Tom Killigrew went to th...
5. Part 5237. Alphonso, king of Naples, sent a moor, who had been his captive a long time, to Barbary, with a considerable sum of money to purchase horses, and to return by such a time....
7. Part 7357. The same noble lord, when he was under the tuition of the Reverend ―, who used to call him his little chancellor, one day replied, that when he was so he would give him a g...
1. Part 1JOE MILLER’S JESTS; OR, THE WIT’S VADE-MECUM: being a collection of the most brilliant Jests; the politest _Repartees_; the most elegant _Bon mots_, and most pleasant short Stor...
8. Part 8412. When the gate, which joined to Whitehall, was ordered by the House of Commons to be pulled down, to make the coach-way more open and commodious, a member made a motion, tha...
6. Part 6305. An English gentleman travelling to France, had made choice of an abbé as reckless as himself, for the companion of his pleasures. One of his countrymen told him, That thoug...
14. Part 14765. Pierre Zapata, court jester to Charles V., being one day made a butt of by his master, that prince, expecting some joke in return, said to his courtiers, I shall be soon pa...
9. Part 9464. At a religious meeting a lady persevered in standing on a bench, and thus intercepting the view of others, though repeatedly requested to sit down. A reverend old gentleman...
10. Part 10521. The love of long christian names by the Spaniards has frequently been an object of ridicule. A Spaniard on his travels arrived in the night at a little village in France, i...
3. Part 3118. The Trojans sending ambassadors to condole with Tiberius, upon the death of his father-in-law, Augustus, it was so long after, that the emperor hardly thought it a complime...
12. Part 12634. A fellow who loved laughing better than his meat, put a number of rams’ horns into a basket, and went up and down the streets at the west end of the town, crying, New fruit...
15. Part 15829. Some one seeing a beggar in his shirt, in winter, as brisk as another muffled up to the ears in furs, asked him how he could endure to go so? The man of many wants replied,...
4. Part 4176. Apelles, the famous painter, having drawn the picture of Alexander the Great on horseback, brought it and presented it to the prince; but he not bestowing that praise on it...
11. Part 11581. An author, who had given a comedy into the hands of a manager for his perusal, called on him for his opinion of the piece. Whilst the poor author in trembling anxiety expec...
21. Part 211189. Charles the Second asked Bishop Stillingfleet how it happened that he preached in general without book, but always read the sermons which he delivered before the court. Th...
19. Part 191042. General Sutton, brother of Sir Robert Sutton, was very passionate: Sir Robert Walpole the reverse. Sutton being one day with Sir Robert, while his valet de chambre was sha...
16. Part 16886. A foolish fellow went to the parish priest, and told him, with a very long face, that he had seen a ghost. When and where? said the pastor. Last night, replied the timid ma...
20. Part 201112. A gentleman whose name was Stone, falling off his horse, in crossing a river, into deep water, out of which he got not without some danger: his companions laughed at his m...
18. Part 18991. Mr. Pope being one night crossing the street from Button’s coffee-house, when the moon occasionally peeped through a cloud, was accosted by a link-boy with, Light, your hon...
13. Part 13700. A Cantab being out of ready cash, went in haste to a fellow-student to borrow, who happened to be in bed at the time. Shaking him, the Cantab demanded, Are you asleep? Why?...
17. Part 17944. Swift having paid a visit at Sir Arthur Acheson’s country seat, and being, on the morning of his return to his deanery, detained a few minutes longer than he expected at hi...
22. Part 221253. A good fellow having tippled rather too liberally, and his head being fuller of liquor than discretion, as he went along the streets, happened in the dark to run against a...
23. Part 23Ridway robb’d Duncote of three hundred pounds; Ridway was taken and condemned to die: But for his money was a courtier found, Begged Ridway’s pardon: Duncote now doth cry, Robbe...
24. Part 24Come, gentle air, th’Æolian shepherd said, While Procris panted in the sacred shade; Come, gentle air, the fairer Delia cries, While at her feet her swain expiring lies. Lo! the...