Vandermast and make a Spirit of his owne carry him into Germany THE King of England after hée had taken in the Towne shewed great mercy to the Inhabitants giuing some of them their liues fréely and others hée set at libertie for their Gold the Towne hée kept as his owne and swore the chiefe Citizens to be his true Subiects Presently after the King of France sent an Ambassadour to the King of England for to intreat a peace betwéene them This Ambassadour being come to the King he feasted him as it is the manner of Princes to doe and with the best sports as he had then welcomed him The Ambassadour seeing the King of England so free in his Loue desired likewise to giue him some taste of his good liking and to that intent sent for one of his fellowes being a Germane and named Vandermast a famous Coniurer who being come hée told the King that since his Grace had béene so bountifull in his loue to him he would shew him by a seruant of his such wonderfull things that his Grace had neuer séene the like before The King demaunded of him of what nature those things were that hée would doe The Embassadour answered that they were things done by the Art of Magicke The King hearing of this sent straight for Fryer Bacon who presently came and brought Fryer Bungey with him When the Banquet was done Vandermast did aske the King if hée desired to sée any Spirit of any man deceased and if that he did hée would raise him in such manner and fashion as he was in when that hée liued The King told him that aboue all men hée desired to sée Pompey the Great who could abide no equall Vandermast by his Art raised him armed in such manner as hée was when hée was slaine at the Eattell of Pharsalia at this they were all highly contented Fryer Bacon presently raised the ghost of Iulius Caesar who could abide no Superiour and had slaine this Pompey at the Battell of Pharsalia At the sight of him they were all amazed but the King who sent for Bacon and Vandermast said that there was some man of Art in that presence whom hée desired to sée Fryer Bacon then shewed himselfe saying It was I Vandermast that raised Caesar partly to giue content to this royall presence but chiefely for to conquer thy Pompey as he did once before at that great Battell of Pharsalia which he now againe shall doe Then presently began a fight being Caesar and Pompey which continued a good space to the content of all except Vandermast At last Pompey was ouercome and slaine by Caesar then vanished they both away My Lord Embassadour said the King me thinks that my Englishman hath put downe your German hath he no better running then this Yes answered Vandermast your Grace shall sée me put downe your Englishman ere that you goe from hence and therefore Fryer prepare thy selfe with thy best of Art to withstand me Alas said Fryer Bacon it is a little thing will serue to resist thée iâ— this kind I haue here one that is my inferior shewing him Fryer Bungey try thy Art with him and if thou doe put him to the worst then will I deale with thée and not till then Fryer Bungey then began to shew his Art and after some turning and looking on his Booke he brought vp among them the Hysperian Tree which did beare golden Apples these Apples were kept by a waking Dragon that lay vnder the Trée Hée hauing done this bid Vandermast finde one that durst gather the fruit Then Vandermast did raise the ghost of Hercules in his habit that he wore when that he was liuing and with his Club on his shoulder Here is one said Vandermast that shall gather fruit from this Trée this is Hercules that in his life time gathered of this Fruit and made the Dragon couch and now againe shall hée gather it in spight of all opposition As Hercules was going to plucke the fruit Fryer Bacon held vp his wand at which Hercules stayed and séemed fearefull Vandermast bid him for to gather of the fruit or else hée would torment him Hercules was more fearefull and said I cannot nor I dare not for here great Bacon stands whose charmes are farre more powerfull then thine I must obey him Vandermast Hereat Vandermast curst Hercules and threatned him But Fryer Bacon laughed and bid him not to chafe himselfe ere that his iourney was ended for séeing said he that Hercules will doe nothing at your command I will haue him doe you some seruice at mine with that hée bid Hercules carry him home into Germany The Deuill obeyed him and tooke Vandermast on his backe and went away with him in all their sights Hold Fryer cried the Embassadour I will not loose Vandermast for halfe my Land Content your selfe my Lord answered Fryer Bacon I haue but sent him home to sée his wife and ere long he may returne The King of England thanked Fryer Bacon and forced some gifts on him for his seruice that hee had done for him for Fryer Bacon did so little respect money that he neuer would take any of the King How Fryer Bacon through his wisdome saued the endangered liues of three Brethren THE Peace being concluded betwéene the King of England and the King of France the King of England came againe into his Countrey of England where he was receiued very ioyfully of all his Subiects But in his absence had happened a discord betweene thrée Brethren the like hath not béene often heard This it was A rich Gentleman of England dyed and left behinde him three Sonnes Now for some reason which was best knowne to himselfe he appointed none of them by name to be his heyre but spake to them all after this manner You are all my Sonnes and I loue you all as a Father should doe all alike not one better then the other and cause I would alwayes doe rightly so néere as I can I leaue all my Lands and goods to him that loues me best These were his last words that he spake concerning any worldly affaires After he was dead and buried there arose a great controuersie betwixt them who should inherit their Fathers Goods and Lands euery one pleading for himselfe how that hée loued his Father best All the cunning Lawyers of the Kingdome could say nothing to the purpose concerning this case so that they were inforced to begge of the King a grant for a combat for they would not share the Lands and Goods amongst them but euâ—ry one desired all or else nothing The King séeing no other way to end this controuersie granted a combat the two eldest being to fight first and the conquerour to fight with the yongest and the suruiuer of them was to haue the Land The day being come that was set for these combatants they all came in armed for the fight Fryer Bacon being there present and seeing such thrée lustie young men like to perish and that
THE Famous Historie of Fryer BACON Containing the wonderfull things that he did in his Life Also the manner of his Death With the Liues and Deaths of the two Coniurers Bungye and Vandermast Very pleasant and delightfull to be read Of the Parents and Birth of Fryer Bacon and how he addicted himselfe to Learning HE was borne by most mens opinions on the West part of England was sonne to a wealthy Farmer who put him to Schoole to the Parson of the Towne where hee was borne not with intent that he should turne Fryer as he did but to get so much vnderstanding that he might manage the better that wealth hee was to leaue him But young Bacon tooke his Learning so fast that the Priest could not teach him any more which made him desire his Master that he would speake to his Father to put him to Oxford that he might not lose that little learning that hee had gained his Master was very willing so to doe and one day méeting his Father told him that hee had receiued a great blessing from God in that he had giuen him so wise and hopefull a child as his sonne Roger Bacon was for so was he named and wished him withall to doe his duty and to bring vp so his Child that hee might shew his thankfulnesse to God which could not better be done then in making of him a Scholler for he found by his sodaine taking of his learning that hee was a childe likely to proue a very great Clerke hereat old Bacon was not well pleased for he desired to bring him vp to Plough and to the Cart as hee himselfe was brought yet he for reuerence sake to the Priest showed not his anger but kindly thanked him for his paines and counsell yet desired him not to speake any more concerning that matter for hee knew best what best pleased himselfe and that he would doe so broke they off their talke and parted So soone as the old man came home he called to his Sonne for his bookes which when he had he lock'd them vp and gaue the Boy a Cart whip in the place of them saying to him Boy I will haue you no Priest you shall not be better learned then I you can tell now by the Almanack when it is best sowing Wheat when Barley Pease and Beanes and when the best libbing is when to sell Graine and Cattell I will teach thée for I haue all Faires and Markets as perfit in my memory as Sir Iohn our Priest has Masse without Booke take mee this whip I will teach thée the vse of it it will be more profitable to thée then this harsh Latin make no reply but follow my counsell or else by the Masse thou shalt féele the smart hand of my anger Young Bacon thought this but hard dealing yet would he not reply but within the whole world had bin there prepared in the best manner that Art could set them out whilst hée feasted thus their smelling hée waued his wand againe and there came diuers Nations in sundry habits as Russians Polanders Indians Armenians all bringing sundry kinds of Furres such as their Countries yéelded all which they presented to the King and Quéene these Furres were so soft in the touch that they highly pleased all those that handled them then after some odde fantasticke dances after their Countrey manner they vanished away then asked Fryer Bacon the Kings Maiesty if that hée desired any more of his skill the King answered that hée was fully satistied for that time and that hée onely now thought of something that hée might bestow on him that might partly satisfie the kindnesse that hée had receiued Fryer Bacon said that hée desired nothing so much as his Maiestice loue and if that he might be assured of that hée would thinke himselfe happy in it for that said the King be thou euer sure of it in token of which receiue this Iewell and withall gaue him a costly Iewell from his necke The Fryer did with great reuerence thanke his Maiestie and said as your Maiesties vassall you shall euer finde me ready to doe you seruice your time of néede shall finde it both beneficiall and delightfull But amongst all these Gentlemen I sée not the man that your Grace did send for me by sure he hath lost his way or else met with some sport that detaines him so long I promised to be here before him and all this noble Assembly can witnesse I am as good as my word I heare him comming with that entered the Gentleman all be durted for he had rid through ditches quagmires plashes and waters that hée was in a most pittifull case hée séeing the Fryer there looked full angerly and bid a pore on all his Deuils for they had led him out of his way and almost drowned him Be not angry Sir said Fryer Bacon here is an old friend of yours that hath more cause for shée hath tarried these thrée houres for you with that hee pulled vp the Hangings and behinde them stood a Kitchin-maide with a hasting ladle in her hand now am I as good as my word with you for I promised to helpe you to your swéet-heart how do you like this So ill answered the Gentleman that I will be reuenged of you Threaten not said Fryer Bacon least I do you more shame and doe you take héede how you giue schollers the lye againe but because I know not how well you are stored with money at this time I will beare your wenches charges home with that she vanished away the King Quéene and all the company laughed to sée with what shame this Gentleman indured the sight of his greasie swéet-heart but the Gentleman went away discontented This bone Fryer Bacon tooke his leaue of the King and Quéne and receiued from them diuers gifts as well as thankes for his Art he shewed them How Fryer Bacon deceiued his Man that would fast for his conscience sake FRyer Bacon had one onely man to attend on him and hée too was none of the wisest for hee kept him in charity more then for any seruice he had of him This man of his named Miles neuer could indure to fast as other religious persons did for alwayes hee had in one corner or another flesh which hee would eate when his Maister eat bread only or else did fast and abstaine from all things Fryer Bacon séeing this thought at one time or other to be euen with him which he did one Fryday in this manner Miles on the Thursday night had prouided a great blacke-pudding for his Frydayes fast this pudding put he in his pocket thinking belike to heate it so for his Maister had no fire on those dayes on the next day who was so demure as Miles hee looked as though hee would not haue eat any thing when his Maister offered him some bread hée refused it saying his sinnes deserued a greater penance then one dayes fast in a whole wéeke his Maister commended him
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