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
sinners let not your wilfulnesse take away from you that benefit which you may receiue by it fréely confesse your selfe I pray you vnto me and doubt not but I will giue your troubled conscience ease Father said this Gentleman I know all that you haue spoken is truth and I haue many times receiued comfort from the mother Church I dare not say our for I feare that shee will neuer receiue me for a childe I haue no part in her benediction yet since you request so earnestly the cause I will tell you heare it and tremble Know then that I haue giuen my selfe to the deuill for a little wealth and he to morrow in this Wood must haue mée now haue you my griefe but I know not how to get comfort This is strange quoth Fryer Bacon yet be of good comfort penitentiall teares may doe much which sée you doe not spare soone I will visit you at your house and giue you that comfort I hope that will beget you againe to goodnesse the Gentleman with these words was somewhat comforted and returned home At night Fryer Bacon came to him and found him full of teares for his haynous offence for those teares he gaue him hope of pardon demanded further what conditions hee had made with the Deuil the gentleman told him how that he had promised himselfe to him so soone as he had paid all his debts which he now had done for he owed not one peny to any man liuing Well said Fryer Bacon continue thy sorrow for thy sinnes and to morrow meete him without feare and be thou content to stand to the next mans iudgement that shall come that way whether thou doest belong to the deuill or no feare not but do so and be thou assured that I will be he that shall come by and will giue such iudgement on thy side that thou shalt bee free from him with that Fryer Bacon went home and the Gentleman went to his prayers In the morning the Gentleman after that he had blessed himselfe went to the Wood where he found the deuill ready for him so soone as he came néere the deuill said now deceiuer are you come now shalt thou sée that I can and will proue that thou hast paid all thy debts and therefore thy soule belongeth to me Thou art a deceiuer said the gentleman and gauest me money to cheat me of my soule for else why wilt thou be thy own Iudge let me haue some other to iudge betwéene vs. Content said the Deuiâ—l take whom thou wilt then I will haue said the gentleman the next man that coÌ„meth this way hereto the Deuill agréed No sooner were these words ended but Fryer Bacon came by to whom this Gentleman spake and requested that he would be iudge in a waighty matter betwéene them two the Fryer said he was content so both parties were agréed the Deuill said they were and told Fryer Bacon how the case stood betwéene them in this manner Know Fryer that I séeing this prodigal like to starue for want of food lent him money not onely to buy him victuals but also to redéeme his lands and pay his debts conditionarily that so soone as his debts were paid that hée should giue himselfe fréely to mée to this here is his hand shewing him the Bond now my time is expired for all his debts are paid which hée cannot denie This case is plaine if it be so that his debts are paid his silence confirmes it said the Diuell therefore giue him a iust sentence I will said Frier Bacon But first tell me speaking to the Gentleman didst thou neuer yet giue the Deuill any of his mony backe nor requite him any wayes neuer had hée any thing of me as yet answered the Gentleman then neuer let him haue any thing of thée and thou art frée deceiuer of mankind said he speaking to the Deuill it was thy bargaine neuer to meddle with him so long as hée was indebted to any now how canst thou demand of him any thing when he is indebted for all that hée hath to thée when hée payeth thée thy money then take him as thy due till then thou hast nothing to doe with him and so I charge thée to be gone At this the Deuill vanished with great horror but Fryer Bacon comforted the Gentleman and sent him home with a quiet conscience bidding him neuer to pay the Deuils money backe as he tendred his owne safety which he promised for to obserue How Fryer Bacon made a Brasen head to speake by the which hee would haue walled England about with Brasse FRyer Bacon reading one day of the many conquests of England bethought himselfe how hée might kéepe it hereafter from the like conquests and so make himselfe famous hereafter to all posterities This after great study hée found could be no way so well done as one which was to make a head of Brasse and if he could make this head to speake and heare it when it speakes then might hée be able to wall all England about with Brasse To this purpose hée got one Fryer Bungey to assist him who was a great Scholler and a Magician but not to bée compared to Fryer Bacon these two with great study and paines so framed a head of Brasse that in the inward parts thereof there was all things like as is in a naturall mans head this being done they were as farre from perfection of the worke as they were before for they knew not how to giue those parts that they had made motion without which it was impossible that it should speake many bookes they read but yet could not finde out any hope of what they sought so that at the last they concluded to raise a spirit and to know of him that which they could not attaine to by their owne studies To do this they prepared all things ready and went one Euening to a Wood thereby and after many ceremonies vsed they spake the words of coniuration which the Deuill straight obeyed and appeared vnto them asking what they would know said Fryer Bacon that wée haue made an artificiall head of Brasse which wée would haue to speake to the furtherance of which wée haue raised thée and being raised wée will here kéepe thée vnlesse thou tell to vs the way and manner how to make this Head to speake The Deuill told him that he had not that power of himselfe beginner of lyes said Fryer Bacon I know that thou dost dissemble and therefore tell it vs quickly or else wée will here bind thée to remaine during our pleasures At these threatnings the Deuill consented to doe it and told them that with a continuall sume of the sir hotest Simples it should haue motion and in one month space speake the Time of the moneth or day hée knew not also hée told them that if they heard it not before it had done speaking all their labour should be lost they being satisfied licensed the Spirit for to depart Then went these
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
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