Frederick of Prussia had a great mania for enlisting gigantic
soldiers into the Royal Guards, and paid an enormous bounty to
his recruiting officers for getting them. One day the recruiting
sergeant chanced to espy a Hibernian who was at least seven
feet high. He accosted him in English and proposed that he
should enlist. The idea of a military life and a large bounty so
delighted Patrick that he at once consented.
“But unless you can speak German the king will not give you so
much.”
“Oh, be jabbers,” said the Irishman; “sure it’s I that don’t
know a word of German.”
“But,” said the sergeant, “I know you can learn in a short
time. The king knows every man in the guards. As soon as he
sees you he will ride up and ask you how old you are; you will
say, ‘twenty-seven years’; next, how long you have been in the
service; you must reply, ‘three weeks’; finally, if you are
provided with clothes and rations; you answer, ‘both.’”
Pat soon learned to pronounce his answers, but never dreamed of
learning the questions.
In three weeks he appeared before the king in review. His
Majesty rode up to him. Paddy stept forward with “present arms!”
“How long have you been in the service,” said the king.
“Twenty-seven years,” said the Irishman.
“How old are you?” asked his Majesty.
“Three weeks,” said the Irishman.
“Am I or you a fool?” roared the king.
“Both,” replied Patrick, who was instantly taken to the
guard-house, but pardoned by the king after he understood the
facts of the case.--_Judge’s Magazine._
(1497)