Foote, when travelling in the
far west of England, dined one day at an inn. When the cloth was removed, the
landlord asked him how he liked his fare., "I have dined as well as any
man in England," said, Foote.
"Except Mr. Mayor!" cried the
landlord.
"I do not except anybody whatever," said he.
"But you
must!" bawled" the host.
"I won't."
"You must!"
At length the strife ended by the landlord (who was a petty magistrate) taking
Foote before the mayor, who observed it had been customary in that town, for a
great number of years, always to except the mayor, and accordingly fined him a
shilling for not conforming to this ancient custom.
Upon this decision, Foote
paid the shilling, at the same time observing that he thought the landlord
"the greatest, fool in Christendom- except Mr. Mayor."
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