France with a great Armie where afâ—er many victories hee did besiege a strong Towne and lay before it full thrée moneths without doing to the Towne any great damage but rather receiued the hurt himselfe This did so vexe the King the hée sought to take it in any way either by policy or strength To this intent hee made Proclamation that whosoeuer could deliuer this Towne into his hand hée should haue for his paines ten thousand Câ—ownes truely paid This was proclaimed but there was none found that would vndertake it At length she newes did come into England of this great reward that was promised Fryer Bacon hearing of it went into France and being admitted to the Kings presence hee thus â—pake vnto him Your Maiestie I am sure hath not quite forgot your poore subiect Bacon the loue that you shewed to mee being last in your presence hath drawne mée for to leaue my Countrey and my Studies to doe your Maiestie seruice I beséech your Grace to command mée so farre as my poore Art or life may doe you pleasure The King thanked him for his loue but told him that hée had now more néed of Armes then Art and wanted braue Souldiers more then learned Schollers Fryer Bacon answered Your Grace saith well but let mée vnder correction tell you that Art oftentimes doth those things that are impossible to Armes which I will make good in some few examples I will speake onely of things performed by Art and Nature wherein shall be nothing Magicall and first by the figuration of Art there may be made Instruments of Nauigation without men to rowe in them as great Ships to brooke the Sea onely with one man to steere them and they shall sayle farre more swiftly then it they were full of men Also Chariots that shall moue with an vnspeakable force without any liuing creature to stirre them Likewise an Instrument may be made to flye withall if one fit in the midst of the Instrument doe turne an Engine by which the wings being Artificially composed may beat ayre after the manner of a flying Bird. By an Instrument of thrée fingers high and thrée fingers broad a man may rid himselfe and others form all Imprisonment yea such an Instrument may easily be made whereby a man may violently draw vnto him a thousand men will they nill they or any other thing By Art also an Instrument may bée made wherewith men may walke in the bottome of the Sea or Riuers without bodily danger this Alexander the Great vsed as the Ethnick Phylosopher reporteth to the end he might behold the secrets of the Seas But Physicall Figurations are farre more strange for by that may be framed Perspects and Looking-glasses that one thing shall appeare to be many as one man shall appeare to be a whole Army and one Sunne or Moone shall seeme diuers Also perspects may be so framed that things farre off shall séeme most nigh vnto vs With one of these did Iulius Caesar from the Sea coasts in France marke and obserue the situation of the Castles in England Bodies may also be so framed that the greatest things shall appeare to be the least the highest lowest the most secret to bée the most manifest and in such like sort the contrary Thus did Socrates perceiue that the Dragon which did destroy the Citie and Countrey adioyning with his noysome breath and contagious influence did lurke in the dennes betwéene the Mountaines and thus may all things that are done in Cities or Armies be discouered by the enemies Againe in such wise may bodies bée framed that venemous and infectious influences may be brought whether a man will In this did Aristotle instruct Alexander through which instruction the poyson of a Basiliske being lift vp vpon the wall of a Citie the poyson was conuayd into the Citie to the destruction thereof Also Perspects may be made to deceiue the sight as to make a man beléeue that hée séeth great store of riches when that there is not any But it appertaineth to a higher power of Figuration that beames should be brought and assembled by diuers flexions and reflexions in any distance that we will to burne any thing that is apposite vnto it as it is witnessed by those Perspects or Glasses that burne before and behinde But the greatest and chiefest of all figurations and things figured is to describe the heauenly bodies according to their length and breadth in a corporall Figure wherein they may corporally moue with a daily motion These things are worth a Kingdome to a wise man These may suffise my royall Lord to shew what Art can doe and these with many things more as strange I am able by Art to performe Then take no thought for winning this Towne for by my Art you shall ere many dayes be past haue your desire The King all this while heard him with admiration but hearing him now say that hée would vndertake to win the Towne hée burst out in these spéeches Most learned Bacon doe but what thou hast said and I will giue thée what thou most desirest either wealth or honour choose which thou wilt and I will be as ready to performe as I haue béene to promise Your Maiesties loue is all that I séeke said the Fryer let mee haue that and I haue honour enough for wealth I haue content the wise should séeke no more but to the purpose Let your Pioners raise vp a mount so high or rather higher then the wall and then shall you see some probability of that which I haue promised This Mount in two dayes was raised then Fryer Bacon went with the King to the Top of it and did with a perspect shew to him the Towne as plainely as if hée had beene in it at this the King did wonder but Fryer Bacon told him that hée should wonder more ere next day noone against which Time he desired him to haue his whole Army in readinesse for to scale the wall vpon a signall giuen by him from the Mount This the King promised to doe and so returned to his Tent full of Ioy that hée should gaine this strong Towne In the morning Fryer Bacon went vp to the Mount and set his Glasses and other Instruments vp in the meane time the King ordered his Army and stood in a readinesse for to giue assault when the signall was giuen which was the wauing of a Flagge Ere nine of the clocke Fryer Bacon had burnt the State-house of the Towne with other houses onely by his Mathematicall Glasses which made the whole Towne in an vprore for none did know how it came whilest that they were quenching of the same Fryer Bacon did waue his Flagge vpon which signall giuen the King set vpon the Towne and tooke it with little or no resistance Thus through the Art of this learned man the King got this strong Towne which hée could not doe with all his men without Fryer Bacons helpe How Fryer Bacon ouer-came the German Coniurer
by their owne flesh and bloud grieued very much and went to the King desiring his Maiestie that he would stay the fight and he would finde a meanes without any bloodshed to end the matter the King was very glad hereof and caused the Combatants to be brought before him to whom he said Gentlemen to saue the bloud of you all I haue found a way and yet the controuersie shall be ended that is now amongst you Are you contented to stand to his Iudgement that I shall appoint They all answered that they were Then were they bid to returne thrée dayes after In that time Fryer Bacon had caused the Body of their deceased Father to be taken out of the ground and brought to the Court the body hée did cause to be bound to a Stake naked from the middle vpwards and likewise prepared thrée Bowes and Shafts for the thrée Brethren all these kept hée secretly The third day being come came these thrée Brethren to whom Fryer Bacon in the presence of the King gaue the thrée Bowes and Shafts saying Be not offended at what I haue done there is no other way but this to iudge your cause Sée here is the body of your dead Father shoot at him for he that commeth néerest to his heart shall haue all the Lands and Goods The two eldest prepared themselues and shot at him and stucke their Arrowes in his Breast â—â—en bid they the yongest to shoot but hée refused it saying I will rather loose all then wound that body that I so loued liuing Had you euer had but halfe that loue in you to him that I haue you would rather haue had your owne bodies mangled then to suffer his liuelesse Cops thus to be vsed nay you doe not onely suffer it but you are the actors of this act of shame and speaking this hée wept Fryer Bacon séeing this did giue the Iudgement on his side for he loued his Father best and therefore had all his Lands and Goods the other two Brothers went away with shame for what they had done This déed of Fryer Bacons was highly commended of all men for hée did not onely giue true Iudgement but also saued much blood that would haue béene shed had they béene suffered to haue fought How Fryer Bacon serued the Theeues that robbed him and of the sport that his man Miles had with them IT was reported about the Countrey how that the King had giuen Fryer Bacon great store of Treasure The report of this wealth made thrée Théeues plot to rob Fryer Bacons house which they put in practise one Euening in this fashion They knockt at the doore and were let in by Miles No sooner were they in but they tooke hold of him and led him into the house and finding Fryer Bacon there they told him that they came for some money which they must and would haue ere they departed from thence Hée told them that hée was but ill stored with money at that time and therefore desired them to forbeare him till some other time They answered him againe that they knew that hée had enough and therefore it was but folly to delay them but straight let them haue it by faire meanes or else they would vse that extreamitie to him that hée would bée loath to suffer Hée séeing them so resolute told them that they should haue all that hée had and gaue to them one hundred pounds a man Herewith they séemed content and would haue gone their wayes Nay said Fryer Bacon I pray Gentlemen at my request tarry a little and heare some of my mans Musicke you are hyred reasonable well already I hope in courtesie you will not deny mée so small a request That will wée not said they all Miles thought now to haue some sport with them which hée had and therefore plain lustily on his Tabor and Pipe so soone as they heard him play against their wils they fell a dauncing and that after such a laborious manner that they quickly wearied themselues for they had all that while the bagges of money in their hands Yet had Fryer Bacon not reuenge enough on them but bid his man Miles leade them some larger measure as hee thought fitting which Miles did Miles straight ledde them out of the house into the fields they followed him dauncing after a wilde Anticke manner Then led hée them ouer a broad dike full of water and they followed him still but not so good a way as hée went for he went ouer the Bridge but they by reason of their dauncing could not kéepe the Bridge but fell off and dauncing through the water then led hee them through a way where a horse might very well haue béene vp to the belly they followed him and were so durtie as though they had wallowed in the myre like Swine Sometime gaue hée them rest onely to laugh at them then were they so sleepie when hée did not play that they fell to the ground Then on the sudden would hée play againe and make them start vp and follow him Thus kept hée them the better part of the night At last hée in pitie left playing and let them rest They being asleepe on the bare ground hée tooke their money from them and gaue them this Song for their farewell To the tune of Oh doe me no harme good man You roaring Boyes and sturdy Theeues you Pimpes and Apple-squires Lament the case of these poore knaues and warme them by your fires They snorting lye like Hogs in stie but hardly are so warme If all that cheat such hap should meet to true men 't were no harme They money had which made them glad their ioy did not indure Were all Theeues seru'd as these haue beene I thinke there would be fewer When that they awake their hearts will ake to thinke vpon their losse And though the gallows they escape they goe by weeping crosse Your Trulls expect your comming home with full and heauy purse When that they see t is nothing so oh how they 'le rayle and curse For he that loues to keepe a whore must haue a giuing hand Which makes a many knaues be choakt for bidding true men stand They were scarce any thing the better for this Song for they slept all that while so Miles left them at their rest but they had small cause to sléepe so soundly as they did for they were more wetter then ere was Scold with cucking Miles gaue his Master his money againe told the story of their merry pilgramage he laughed at it and wisht all men had the like power to serue all such knaues in the like kind The théeues waking in the morning missing their money and séeing themselues in that plight thought that they had béene serued so by some diuine power for robbing a Church-man and therefore they swore one to the other neuer to meddle with any Church man againe How Vandermast for the disgrace that he had receiued by Fryer Bacon sent a Souldier to
two learned Fryers home againe and prepared the Simples ready and made the fume and with continuall watching attended when this Brasen head would speake thus watched they for thrée wéekes without any rest so that they were so weary and sléepy that they could not any longer retaine from rest then called Fryer Bacon his man Miles and told him that it was not vnknowne to him what paines Fryer Bungy and himselfe had taken for thrée wéekes space onely to make and to heare the Brasen-head speake which if they did not then had they lost all their labour and all England had a great losse thereby therefore hée intreated Miles that he would watch whilest that they sléep and call them if the Head speake Feare not good Master said Mailes I will not sléepe but harken and attend vpon the head and if it doe chance to speake I will call you therefore I pray take you both your rests and let mée alone for watching this head After Fyer Bacon had giuen him a great charge The second time Fryer Bungy and he went to sléepe and left Miles alone to watch the Brasen head Miles to kéepe him from sleeping got a Tabor and Pipe and being mercy disposed sung this Song to a Northren tune Of cam'st thou not from New-Castle To couple is a custome all things thereto agree Why should not I then loue since loue to all is free But I le haue one that 's pretty her cheekes of scarlet die For to breed my delight when that I ligge her by Though vertue be a Dowry yet I le chuse money store If my Loue proue vntrue with that I can get more The faire is oft vnconstant the blacke is often proud I le chuse a louely browne come fidler scrape thy crowd Come fidler scrape thy crowd for Peggie the browne is she Must be my Bride God guide that Peggie and I agree With his owne Musicke and such Songs as these spent he his time and kept from sleeping at last after some noyse the Head spake these two words Time is Miles hearing it to speake no more thought his Master would be angry if hee waked him for that and thereâ—ore hee let them both sleepe and began to mocke the Head in this manner Thou Brazen-faced Head hath my Master tooke all this paines about thee and now dost thou requiâ—e him with two words Time is had hée watched with a Lawyer so long as he hath watched with thee he would haue giuen him more and better words then thou hast yet if thou can speake no wiser they shall sléepe till doomes day for me Time is I know Time is and that you shall heare good-man Brazen-face To the tune of Daintie come thou to me Time is for some to plant Time is for some to sowe Time is for some to graft The horne as some doe know Time is for some to eate Time is for some to sleepe Time is for some to laugh Time is for some to weepe Time is for some to sing Time is for some to pray Time is for some to creepe That haue drunke all the day Time is to cart a Bawd Time is to whip a Whore Time is to hang a Theefe And time is for much more Doe you tell vs Copper-nose when Time is I hope we Schollers know our Times when to drinke drunke when to kisse our Hostis when to goe on her score and when to pay it that time comes seldome After halfe an houre had passed the Head did speake againe two words which were these Time was Miles respected these words as little as he did the former and would not wake them but still scoffed at the Brasen head that it had learne no better words and had such a Tutor as his Master and in scorne of it sung this Song To the tune of a rich Merchant man Time was when thou a Kettle wert fill'd with better matter But Fryer Bacon did thee spoyle when he thy sides did batter Time was when conscience dwelled with men of occupation Time was when Lawyers did not thriue so well by mens vexation Time was when Kings and Beggars of one poore stuffe had being Time was when office kept no Knaues that time it was worth seeing Time was a bowle of water did giue the face reflection Time was when women knew no paint which now they call Complexion Time was I know that Brazen-face without your telling I know Time was and I know what things there was when Time was and if you speake no wiser no Master shall be waked for mée Thus Miles talked and sung till another halfe houre was gone then the Brazen-head spake againe these words Time is past and therewith fell downe and presently followed a terrible noyse with strange flashes of fire so that Miles was halfe dead with feare At this noyse the two Fryers awaked and wondred to sée the whole roome so full of smoake but that béeing vanished they might perceiue the Brazen-head broken and lying on the ground at this sight they grieued and called Miles to know how this came Miles halfe dead with feare said that it fell downe of it selfe and that with the noyse and fire that followed hée was almost frighted out of his wits Fryer Bacon asked him if hée did not speake yes quoth Miles it spake but to no purpose I le haue a Parret speake better in that time that you haue béene teaching this Brazen head Out on thée villaine said Fryer Bacon thou hast vndone vs both hadst thou but called vs when it did speake all England had bin walled round about with Brasse to its glory and our eternall fames what were the words it spake very few said Miles and those were none of the wisest that I haue heard neither first he said Time is Hadst thou call'd vs then said Fryer Bacon wée had béene made for euer then said Miles halfe an houre after it spake againe and said Time was And woulst thou not call vs then said Bungry Alas said Miles I thought he would haue told me some long Tale and then I purposed to haue called you then halfe an houre after he cried Time is past and made such a noyse that hée hath waked you himselfe mée thinkes At this Fryer Bacon was in such a rage that hée would haue beaten his man but he was restrained by Bungey but neuertheles for his punishment he with his Art struck him dumbe for one whole months space Thus that great worke of these learned Fryers was ouerthrown to their great griefes by this simple fellow How Fryer Bacon by his Art tooke a Towne when the King had lyen before it three months without doing to it any hurt IN those times when Fryer Bacon did all his strange trickes the Kings of England had a great part of France which they held a long tâ—me till ciuill warres at home in this Land made them to lose it it did chance that the King of England for some cause best knowne to himselfe went into