THE HONORABLE HISTORIE OF FRIER BACON AND FRIER BONGAY As it was lately plaid by the Prince Palatine his Seruants Made by Robert Greene Master of Arts LONDON Printed by ELIZABETH ALLDE dwelling neere Christ-Church 1630 THE HONORABLE HISTORY OF FRYER BACON Enter Edward the first male contented with Lacy Earle of Lincolne Iohn Warren Earle of Sussex and Ermsby Gentleman Raph Simnell the Kings foole Lacie VVHY lookes my Lord like to a troubled skie When heauens bright shine is shadowed with a fog Alate we ran the Deere and through the lawnds Stript with our Nagges the lofty frolicke Bucks That scudded fore the teisers like the wind Nere was the Deere of merry Fresingfield So lustily pull'd downe by iolly mates Nor sharde the Farmers such fat venizon So frankly dealt this hundred yeeres before Nor haue I seene my Lord more frolicke in the chace And now chang'd to a melancholy dumpe Warren After the Prince got to the Keepers lodge And had bin iocand in the house a while Tossing of Ale and milke in countrie cannes Whether it was the Countries sweet content Or else the bonny Damsell fil'd vs drinke That seem'd so stately in her stammell red Or that a qualme did crosse his stomacke then But straight he fell into his passions Ermsby Sirra Raphe what say you to your master Shall he thus all amort liue malecontent Raphe Hearest thou Ned nay looke if he will speake to me Edward What saist thou to me Foole Raphe I pree thee tell me Ned art thou in loue with the Keepers daughter Edward How if I be what then Raphe Why then sirra I le teach thee how to deceiue Loue Edward How Raphe Raphe Marry sirra Ned thou shalt put on my cap and my coat and my dagger and I will put on thy cloaths and thy sword and so thou shalt be my foole Edward And what of this Raphe Why so thou shalt beguile Loue for Loue is such a proud scab that he will neuer meddle with fooles nor children Is not Raphes counsell good Ned Edward Tell me Ned Lacie didst thou marke the mayd How liuely in her country weedes she look't A bonier wench all Suffolke cannot yeeld All Suffolke nay all England holds none such Raphe Sirra Will Ermsby Ned is deceiued Ermsby Why Raphe Raphe He sayes all England hath no such and I say and I le stand to it there is one better in Warwickeshire Warren How prouest thou that Raphe Raphe Why is the Abbot a learned man and hath he read many bookes and thinkest thou he hath not more learning then thou to choose a bonny wench yes warrant I thee by his whole Grammar Ermsby A good reason Raphe Edward I tell thee Lacie that her sparkling eyes Doe lighten forth sweet Loues alluring fire And in her tresses she doth fold the lookes Of such a gaze vpon her golden haire Her bashfull white mixt with the mornings red Luna doth boast vpon her louely cheekes Her front is beauties table wherr she paints The glories of her gorgious excellence Her teeth are shelues of precious Margarites Richly enclosed with ruddie curroll cleues Tush Lacie she is beauties ouermatch If thou suruaist her curious imagerie Lacie I grant my Lord the Damsell is as faire As simple Suffolks homely townes can yeeld But in the Court be quainter Dames then she Whose faces are enricht with honors taint Whose beauties stand vpon the stage of fame And vaunt their trophies in the Court of Loue Edw. Ah Ned but hadst thou watcht her as my selfe And seene the secret beauties of the maid Their courtly coinesse were but foolery Ermsby Why how watcht you her my Lord Edward When as she swept like Venus through the house And in her shape fast foulded vp my thoughts Into the Milkehouse went I with the maid And there amongst the cream-boles she did shine As Pallas mongst her Princely huswiferie She turnd her smocke ouer her lilly armes And diued them into milke to run her cheese But whiter then the milke her cristall skin Checked with lines of Azur made her blush That Art or Nature durst bring for compare Ermsby if thou hadst seene as I did note it well How beauty plaid the huswife how this girle Like Lucrece laid her fingers to the worke Thou wouldst with Tarquine hazard Rome and all To win the louely maid of Fresingfield Raphe Sirra Ned wouldst faine haue her Edward I Raphe Raphe Why Ned I haue laid the plot in my head thou shalt haue her already Edward I le giue thee a new coat and learne me that Raphe Why sirra Ned wee ll ride to Oxford to Fryer Bacon oh hee is a braue scholler sirra they say he is a braue Nigromancer that he can make women of diuells and he can iuggle cats into Costermongers Edward And how then Raphe Raphe Mary sirra thou shalt goe to him and because thy father Harry shall not misse thee he shall turne me to thee and I le to the Court and I le Prince it out and he shall make thee either a silken purse full of gold or else a fine wrought smocke Edward But how shall I haue the mayd Raphe Marry sirra if thou be'st a silken purse full of gold then on Sundayes she 'le hang thee by her side and you must not say a word Now sir when she comes into a great presse of people for feare of the Cut-purse on a suddē she 'l swap thee into her plackerd then sirra being there you may plead for your selfe Ermsby Excellent policy Edward But how if I be a wrought smocke Raphe Then she 'le put thee into her chest and lay thee into Lauender and vpon some good day she 'le put thee on and at night when you goe to bed then being turn'd from a smocke to a man you may make vp the match Lacie Wonderfully wisely counselled Raphe Edward Raphe shall haue a new Coate Raphe God thanke you when I haue it on my backe Ned Edward Lacie the foole hath laid a perfect plot For why our Country Margret is so coy And stands so much vpon her honest points That marriage or no market with the mayd Ermsby it must be nigromanticke spels And charmes of Art that must inchaine her loue Or else shall Edward neuer win the girle Therefore my wags we 'le horse vs in the morne And poast to Oxford to this iolly Fryer Bacon shall by his magicke doe this deed Warren Content my Lord and that 's a speedy way To weane these head-strong puppies from the teat Edward I am vnknowne not taken for the Prince They onely deeme vs frolicke Courtiers That reuell thus among our Lieges game Therefore I haue deuised a policy Lacie thou knowst next Friday is St. Iames And then the Country flockes to Harlston faire Then will the Keepers daughter frolicke there And ouer-shine the troupe of all the maides That come to see and to be seene that day Haunt thee disguis'd among the Countrie swaines Faine th' art a Farmers sonne not farre from
in with Towres Welcome my Lords welcome braue westerne Kings To Englands shore whose promontory cleeues Shewes Albion is another little world Welcome sayes English Henry to you all Chiefly vnto the louely Eleonor Who darde for Edwards sake cut through the seas And venture as Agenors Damsell through the deepe To get the loue of Henries wanton son Castile Englands rich Monarke braue Plantagenet The Pyren mounts swelling aboue the clouds That ward the wealthy Castile in with walls Could not detaine the beautious Eleanor But hearing of the same of Edwards youth She darde to brooke Neptunus haughty pride And bide the brunt of froward Eolus Then may faire England welcome her the more Elinor After that English Henry by his Lords Had sent Prince Edwards louely counterfeit A present to the Castile Elinor The comly pourtrait of so braue a man The vertuous fame discoursed of his deeds Edwards couragious resolution Done at the holy Land fore Damas walls Led both mine eye and thoughts in equall links To like so of the English Monarchs sonne That I attempted perils for his sake Emperour Where is the Prince my Lord Henrie He posted downe not long since from the Court To Suffolke side to merry Fremingham To sport himselfe amongst my fallow Deere From thence by packets sent to Hampton house We heare the Prince is ridden with his Lords To Oxford in the Academy there To heare dispute amongst the learned men But we will send forth letters for my sonne To will him come from Oxford to the Court Emp. Nay rather Henry let vs as we be Ride for to visit Oxford with our traine Faine would I see your Vniuersities And what learned men your Academy yeelds From Haspurg haue I brought a learned Clerke To hold dispute with English Orators This Doctor surnam'd Iaques Vandermast A Germane borne past into Padua To Florence and to faire Bolonia To Paris Rheims and stately Orleans And talking there with men of Art put downe The chiefest of them all in Aphorismes In Magicke and the Mathematike rules Now let vs Henry trie him in your Schooles Henry He shall my Lord this motion likes me well Wee le progresse straight to Oxford with our traines And see what men our Academy brings And wonder Vandermast welcome to me In Oxford shalt thou finde a iolly Fryer Cald Fryer Bacon Englands only flowre Set him but Non-plus in his magicke spels And make him yeeld in Mathematicke rules And for thy glory I will bind thy browes Not with a Poets Garland made of Bayes But with a Coronet of choicest gold Whilst then we sit to Oxford with our troupes Le ts in and banquet in our English Court Exit Enter Raphe Simnell in Edwards apparell Edward Warren Ermsby disguised Raphe Where be these vagabond knaues that they attend no better on their master Edward If it please your Honour we are ready at an inch Raphe Sirra Ned I le haue no more poste-horse to ride on I le haue another fetch Ermsby I pray you how is that my Lord Raphe Mary sir I le send to the Ile of Eely for foure or fiue dozen of Geese and I le haue them tide sixe and sixe together with whip-cord Now vpon their backs will I haue a faire field bed with a Canopy and so when it is my pleasure I le flee into what place I please this will be easie Warren Your honour hath said well but shall we to Brazen-nose Colledge before we pull off our bootes Ermsby Warren well motioned we will to the Fryer Before we reuell it within the towne Raphe see you keepe your countenance like a Prince Raphe Wherefore haue I such a company of cutting knaues to wait vpon me but to keepe defend my countenance against all mine enemies haue you not good swords and bucklers Enter Bacon and Miles Ermsby Stay who comes here Warren Some Scholer and we 'le aske him where Fryer Bacon is Bacon Why thou arrant dunce shall I neuer make thee good scholer doth not all the Towne crie out and say Fryer Bacons subsiser is the greatest block-head in all Oxford why thou canst not speake one word of true Latine Miles No sir yes what is this else Ego sum tuiu homo I am your man I warrant you sir as good Tullies phrase as any is in Oxford Bacon Come sirra what part of speech is Ego Miles Ego that is I mary nomen substantiuo Bacon How proue you that Miles Why sir let him proue himselfe and a will I can be heard felt and vnderstood Bacon Oh grosse dunce Here beate him Edward Come let vs breake off this dispute between these two Sirra where is Brazen-nose Colledge Miles Not farre from Copper-smiths hall Edward What doest thou mocke me Miles Nor I sir but what would you at Brazen-nose Ermsby Mary we would speake with Fryer Bacon Miles Whose men be you Ermsby Mary scholler here 's our master Raphe Sirra I am the master of these good-fellowes maist thou not know me to be a Lord by my reparrell Miles Then here 's good game for the hawke for here 's the master foole and a couie of Cockscombes one wise man I think would spring you all Edward Gogs wounds Warren kill him Warren Why Ned I thinke the deuill be in my sheath I cannot get out my dagger Ermsby Nor I mine Swones Ned I thinke I am bewitcht Miles A company of Scabbes the proudest of you all draw your weapon if he can See how boldly I speake now my master is by Edward I striue in vaine but if my sword be shut And coniured fast by magicke in my sheath Villaine here is my fist Strike him a boxe on the eare Miles Oh I beseech you coniure his hand too that he may not lift his armes to his head for he is light-finger'd Raphe Ned strike him I le warrant thee by mine honour Bacon What meanes the English Prince to wrong my man Edward To whom speakest thou Bacon To thee Edward Who art thou Bacon Could you not iudge when all your swords grew fast That Fryer Bacon was not farre from hence Edward King Henries sonne and Prince of Wales Thy foole disguis'd cannot conceale thy selfe I know both Ermsby and the Sussex Earle Else Fryer Bacon had but little skill Thou comest in poast from merry Fresingfield Fast fancied to the Keepers bonny Lasse To craue some succour of the iolly Fryer And Lacy Earle of Lincolne hast thou left To treat faire Margret to allow thy loues But friends are men and Loue can baffle Lords The Earle both wooes and courts her for himselfe Warren Ned this is strange the Fryer knoweth all Ermsby Apollo could not vtter more then this Edward I stand amazed to heare this iolly Fryer Tell euen the very secrets of my thoughts But learned Bacon since thou knowest the cause Why I did poast so fast from Fresingfield Helpe Fryer at a pinch that I may haue The loue of louely Margret to my selfe And as I am true Prince of
Wales I le giue Liuing and lands to strength thy Colledge state Warren Good Fryer helpe the Prince in this Raphe Why seruant Ned will not the Fryer doe it Were not my sword glued to my scabberd by coniuration I would cut off his head and make him doe it by force Miles In faith my Lord your manhood and your sword is all alike they are so fast coniured that we shall neuer see them Ermsby What Doctor in a dumpe tush helpe the Prince And thou shalt see how liberall he will proue Bacon Craue not such actions greater dumps then these I will my Lord straine out my magicke spels For this day comes the Earle of Fresingfield And fore that night shuts in the day with darke They 'le be betrothed each to other fast But come with me wee le to my study straight And in a glasse prospectiue I will shew What 's done this day in merry Fresingfield Edward Gramercies Bacon I will quite thy paine Bacon But send your traine my Lord into the Towne My scholler shall goe bring them to their Inne Meane while wee le see the knauery of the Earle Edward Warren leaue me and Ermsby take the foole Let him be master and goe reuell it Till I and Fryer Bacon talke a while Warren We will my Lord Raphe Faith Ned and I le Lord it out till thou commest I le be Prince of Wales ouer all the blacke pots in Oxford Exeunt Bacon and Edward gos into the study Bacon Now frolicke Edward welcome to my Cell Here tempers Fryer Bacon many toyes And holds this place his Consistory Court Wherein the deuils pleade homage to his words Within this glasse prospectiue thou shalt see This day what 's done in merry Fresingfield Tvvixt louely Peggie and the Lincolne Earle Edward Fryer thou gladst me now shall Edward trie How Lacy meaneth to his Soueraigne Lord Bacon Stand there and looke directly in the glasse Enter Margret and Fryer Bungay Bacon What sees my Lord Edward I see the Keepers louely lasse appeare As bright-sunne as the Paramour of Mars Onely attended by a iolly Fryer Bacon Sit still and keepe the cristall in your eye Margret But tell me Fryer Bungay is it true That this faire courteous Country Swaine Who sayes his father is a Farmer nye Can be Lord Lacy Earle of Lincolnshire Bungay Peggie 't is true 't is Lacy for my life Or else mine Art and cunning both doe faile Left by Prince Edward to procure his loues For he in greene that holpe to run your cheese Is sonne to Henry and the Prince of Wales Margret Be what he will his lure is but for lust But did Lord Lacie like poore Margret Or would he daine to wed a Countrie Lasse Fryer I would his humble hand-maid be And for great wealth quite him with courtesie Bungay Why Margret dost loue him Margret His personage like the pride of vaunting Troy Might well auouch to shadow Hellens cape His wit is quicke and ready in conceit As Greece affoorded in her chiefest prime Courteous ah Fryer full of pleasing smiles Trust me I loue too much to tell thee more Suffice to me he is Englands Paramour Bungay Hath not each eye that viewd thy pleasing face Surnamed thee faire mayd of Fresingfield Margret Yes Bungay and would God the louely Earle Had that in esse that so many sought Bungay Feare not the Fryer will not be behind To shew his cunning to entangle Loue Edward I thinke the Fryer courts the bonny wench Bacon me thinkes he is a lustie churle Bacon Now looke my Lord Enter Lacy Edwards Gogs wounds Bacon here comes Lacy Bacon Sit still my Lord and marke the Comedy Bungay Here 's Lacy Margret step aside a while Lacy. Daphne the Damsell that caught Phoebus fast And lockt him in the brightnesse of her lookes Was not so beautious in Apollo's eyes As is faire Margret to the Lincolne Earle Recant thee Lacy thou art put in trust Edward thy Soueraignes son hath chosen thee A secret friend to court her for himselfe And darest thou wrong thy Prince with trecherie Lacy Loue makes no exception of a friend Nor deemes it of a Prince but as a man Honour bids me controll him in his lust His wooing is not for to wed the girle But to intrap her and beguile the lasse Lacy thou louest then brooke not such abuse But wed her and abide thy Princes frowne For dye then see her liue disgrac'd Margret Come Fryer I will shake him from his dumpes How cheere you sir a penny for your thought Your early vp pray God it be the neere What' are come from Beckles in a morne so soone Lacy. Thus watchfull are such men as liue in loue Whose eyes brooke broken slumbers for their sleepe I tell thee Peggie since last Harlston faire My minde hath felt a heape of passions Margret A trusty man that court it for your friend Woo you still for the Courtier all in greene I maruell that he sues not for himselfe Lacy. Peggie I pleaded first to get your grace for him But when mine eyes suruaid your beautious lookes Loue like a wagge straight diued into my heart And there did shrine the Idea of your selfe Pittie me though I be a Farmers sonne And measure not my riches but my loue Margret You are very hasty for to garden well Seeds must haue time to sprout before they spring Loue ought to creepe as doth the dyals shade For timely ripe is rotten too too soone Bungay Deus hic roome for a merry Fryer What youth of Beckles with the Keepers Lasse 'T is well but tell me here you any newes Margret No Fryer what newes Bungay Heare you not how the Purseuants doe poast With Proclamations through each Country towne Lacy. For what gentle Fryer tell the newes Bungay Dwelst thou in Beckles hear'st not these newes Lacy the Earle of Lincolne is late fled From Windsor Court disguised like a Swaine And lurkes about the Country here vnknowne Henry suspects him of some treachery And therefore doth proclaime in euery way That who can take the Lincolne Earle shall haue Paid in the Exchequer twenty thousand Crownes Lacy. The Earle of Lincolne Fryer thou art mad It was some other thou mistakest the man The Earle of Lincolne why it cannot be Margret Yes very well my Lord for you are he The Keepers daughter tooke you prisoner Lord Lacy yeeld I le be your gailor once Edward How familiar they be Bacon Bacon Sit still and marke the sequell of their loues Lacie Then am I double prisoner to thy selfe Peggie I yeeld but are these newes in iest Margret In iest with you but earnest vnto me For why these wrongs doe wring me at the heart Ah how these Earles and Noble-men of birth Flatter and faine to forge poore womens ill Lacie Beleeue me Lasse I am the Lincolne Earle I not deny but tyred thus in rags I liued disguisd to win faire Peggies loue Margret What loue is there where wedding ends not
thence Espie her loues and who she liketh best Coat him and court her to controle the clowne Say that the Courtier tyred all in greene That helpt her handsomly to run her cheese And fild her fathers lodge with venison Commends him and sends fairings to her selfe Buy something worthy of her parentage Not worth her beauty for Lacie then the Faire Affords no Iewell fitting for the mayd And when thou talkest of me note if she blush Oh then she loues but if her cheekes waxe pale Disdaine it is Lacie send how she fares And spare no time nor cost to win her loues Lacie I will my Lord so execute this charge As if that Lacie were in loue with her Edward Send letters speedily to Oxford of the newes Raphe And sirra Lacie buy me a thousand thousand million of fine bells Lacie What wilt thou doe with them Raphe Raphe Mary euery time that Ned sighs for the Keepers daughter I le tye a bell about him so within three or foure dayes I will send word to his father Harry that his sonne and my master Ned is become Loues Morris dance Edward Well Lacie looke with care vnto thy charge And I will haste to Oxford to the Fryer That he by Art and thou by secret gifts Maist make me Lord of merry Fresingfield Lacie God send your Honour your hearts desire Exeunt Enter Fryer Bacon with Miles his poore scholer with bookes vnder his arme with them Burden Mason Clement three Doctors Bacon Miles where are you Miles Hic sum doctissime reuerendissime Doctor Bacon Attulisti nos libros meos de Necromantia Miles Ecce quam bonum quam incundum habitare libros in vnum Bacon Now Masters of our Academick State That rule in Oxford Vice-roies in your place Whose heads containe Maps of the liberall Arts Spending your time in depth of learned skill Why flocke you thus to Bacons secret Cell A Fryer newly stalde in Brazennose Say what 's your minde that I may make reply Burden Bacon we heare that song we haue suspect That thou art read in Magicks mystery In Piromancy to diuine by flames To tell by Hadromaticke ebbes and tides By Aeromancy to discouer doubts To plaine out questions as Apollo did Bacon Well Master Burden what of all this Miles Mary sir he doth but fulfill by rehearsing of these names the Fable of the Fox the Grapes that which is aboue vs pertaines nothing to vs Burden I tell thee Bacon Oxford makes report Nay England and the Court of Henry sayes Th art making of a brazen head by Art Which shall vnfold strange doubts and Aphorismes And read a Lecture in Philosophy And by the helpe of Deuils and ghastly fiends Thou meanst ere many yeeres or dayes be past To compasse England with a wall of brasse Bacon And what of this Miles What of this Master why he doth speake mystically for he knowes if your skill faile to make a brazen head yet Mother Waters strong Ale will fit his turne to make him haue a copper nose Clement Bacon we come not greeuing at thy skill But ioying that our Academy yeelds A man suppos'd the wonder of the world For if thy cunning worke these miracles England and Europe shall admire thy fame And Oxford shall in characters of brasse And statues such as were built vp in Rome Eternize Fryer Bacon for his Art Mason Then gentle Fryer tell vs thy intent Bacon Seeing you come as friends vnto the Fryer Resolue you Doctors Bacon can by bookes Make storming Boreas thunder from his caue And dimme faire Luna to a darke Eclipse The great Arch-ruler potentate of hell Trembles when Bacon bids him or his fiends Bow to the force of his Pentageron What Art can worke the frolicke Fryer knowes And therefore will I turne my Magicke bookes And straine out Nigromancie to the deepe I haue contriu'd and fram'd a head of brasse I made Belcephon hammer out the stuffe And that by Art shall read Philosophy And I will strengthen England by my skill That if ten Caesars liu'd and raign'd in Rome With all the Legions Europe doth containe They should not touch a grasse of English ground The worke that Ninus reard at Babylon The brazen walls fram'd by Semiramis Carued out like to the portall of the Sunne Shall not be such as rings the English strond From Douer to the market place of Rye Burden Is this possible Miles I le bring ye two or three witnesses Burden What be those Miles Marry sir three or foure as honest Deuils and good companions as any be in hell Mason No doubt but Magicke may doe much in this For he that reads but Mathematicke rules Shall finde conclusions that auaile to worke Wonders that passe the common sence of men Burden But Bacon roues a bow beyond his reach And tels of more then Magicke can performe Thinking to get a fame by fooleries Haue I not past as farre in state of schooles And read of many secrets yet to thinke That heads of brasse can vtter any voyce Or more to tell of deepe Philosophy This is a Fable Aesope had forgot Bacon Burden thou wrongst me in detracting thus Bacon loues not to stuffe himselfe with lyes But tell me fore these Doctors if thou dare Of certaine questions I shall moue to thee Burden I will aske what thou can Miles Mary sir hee 'le straight bee on your pick packe to know whether the feminine or the masculine gender be most worthy Bacon Were you not yesterday Master Burden at Henly vpon Themes Burden I was what then Bacon What booke studyed you thereon all night Burden i none at all I read not there a line Bacon Then Doctors Fryer Bacons Art knowes nought Clement What say you to this Master Burden doth hee not touch you Burden I passe not of his friuolous speeches Miles Nay Master Burden my master ere hee hath done with you will turne you from a Doctor to a dunce and shake you so small that he will leaue you no more learning in you then is in Balams Asse Bacon Masters for that learned Burdens skill is deepe And sore he doubts of Bacons Cabalisme I le shew you why he haunts to Henly oft Not Doctors for to taste the fragrant aire But there to spend the night in Alcumy To multiply with secret spels of Art Thus priuat steales he learning from vs all To proue my saying true I le shew you straight The booke he keepes at Henly for himselfe Miles Nay now my master goes to coniuration take heede Bacon Masters stand still feare not I le shewe you but his booke Here hee coniures Per omnes deos infernales Belcephon Enter a woman with a shoulder of mutton on a spit and a Deuid Miles Oh master cease your coniuration or you spoile all for her 's a she deuill come with a shoulder of mutton on a spit you haue marde the deuils supper but no doubt he thinkes our Colledge fare is slender and so hath sent
loue Lacie I meant faire girle to make thee Lacies wife Margret I little thinke that Earles will stoop so low Lacie Say shall I make thee Countesse ere I sleepe Margret Handmaid vnto the Earle so please himselfe A wife in name but seruant in obedience Lacie The Lincolne Countesse for it shall be so I le plight the bands and seale it with a kisse Edward Gogs wounds Bacon they kisse I le stab them Bacon Oh hold your hands my Lord it is the glasse Edward Coller to see the traitors gree so well Made me thinke the shadowes substances Bacon 'T were a long Poinard my Lord to reach betweene Oxford and Fresingfield but sit still and see more Bungay Well Lord of Lincolne if your loues be knit And that your tongues and thoughts doe both agree To auoid insuing iarres I le hamper vp the match I le take my Portace forth and wed you here Then goe to bed and seale vp your desires Lacie Fryer content Peggie how like you this Margret What likes my Lord is pleasing vnto me Bungay Then hand-fast hand and I will to my booke Bacon What sees my Lord now Edward Bacon I see the Louers hand in hand The Fryer ready with his Portace there To wed them both then am I quite vndone Bacon helpe now if ere thy magicke seru'd Bacon helpe now if ere thy magicke seru'd Helpe Bacon stop the marriage now If Deuils or Nigromancie may suffice And I will giue thee fortie thousand Crownes Bacon Feare not my Lord I le stop the iolly Frier For mumbling vp his orisons this day Lacy. Why speak'st not Bungay Frier to thy booke Bungay is mute crying Hud hud. Margret How lookest thou Frier as a man distraught Reft of thy sences Bungay shew by signes If thou be dumbe what passion holdeth thee Lacy. He 's dumbe indeed Bacon hath with his Deuils Inchanted him or else some strange disease Or Apoplexie hath possest his lungs But Peggie what he cannot with his booke We 'le twixt vs both vnite it vp in heart Margret Else let me die my Lord a miscreant Edward Why stands Frier Bacon so amaz'd Bacon I haue struk him dumb my Lord if your honor please I le fetch this Bungay straightway from Fresingfield And he shall dine with vs is Oxford here Edward Bacon doe that and thou contentest me Lacy. Of courtesie Margret let vs lead the Frier Vnto thy fathers lodge to comfort him With broths to bring him from this haplesse trance Margret Or else my Lord we were passing vnkinde To leaue the Frier so in his distresse Enter a Deuill and carry Bungay on his backe Margret O helpe my Lord a Deuill a Deuill my Lord Looke how he carries Bungay on his backe Let 's hence for Bacons spirits be abroad Exeunt Edward Bacon I laugh to see the iolly Fryer Mounted vpon the Deuill and how the Earle Flees with his bonny lasse for feare Assoone as Bungay is at Brazen-nose I will in poast hie me to Fresingfield And quite these wrongs on Lacy ere it be long Bacon So be it my Lord but let vs to our dinner For ere we haue taken our repast awhile We shall haue Bungay brought to Brazen-nose Exeunt Enter three Doctors Burden Mason Clement Mason Now that we are gathered in the Regent house It fits vs talke about the long repaire For he troop't with all the Westerne Kings That lye alongst the Dansick Seas by East North by the clime of frostie Germany The Almaine Monarke and the Scocon Duke Castile and louely Ellinor with him Haue in their iests resolued for Oxford Towne Burden We must lay plots for stately Tragedies Strange Comicke showes such as proud Rossius Vaunted before the Romane Emperours Clement To welcome all the Westerne Potentates But more the King by letters hath fore-told That Fredericke the Almaine Emperour Hath brought with him a Germane of esteeme Whose surname is Don Iaques Vandermast Skilfull in Magicke and those secret arts Mason Then must we all make sute vnto the Fryer To Frier Bacon that he vouch this taske And vndertake to counteruaile in skill The Germane else there 's none in Oxford can Match and dispute with learned Vandermast Burden Bacon if he will hold the German play We 'le teach him what an English Frier can doe The Deuill I thinke dare not dispute with him Clement Indeed mas Doctor he pleasured you In that he brought your hostesse with her spit From Henly posting vnto Brazen-nose Burden A vengeance on the Frier for his paines But leauing that let 's to Bacon straight To see if he will take this taske in hand Clement Stay what rumour is this The towne is vp in a mutiny what hurly burly is this Enter a Constable with Raphe Warren Ermsby and Miles Constable Nay masters if you were ne'r so good you shall before the Doctors to answer your misdemeanour Burden What 's the matter fellow Constable Mary sir here 's a company of Rufflers that drinking in the Tauerne haue made a great brawle and almost kild the Vintner Miles Salue Doctor Burden this lubberly Lurden Ill shapt and ill faced disdain'd and disgraced What he tels vnto vobis mentitur de nobis Burden Who is the master and chiefe of this crue Miles Ecce asinum mundi figura retundi Neat sheat and fine as briske as a cup of wine Burden What are you Raphe I am father Doctor as a man would say the Belweather of this company these are my Lords and I the Prince of Wales Clement Are you Edward the Kings sonne Raphe Sirra Miles bring hither the Tapster that drew the wine I warrant when they see how soundly I haue broke his head thei 'le say 't was done by no lesse man then a Prince Mason I cannot beleeue that this is the Prince of Wales Warren And why so sir Mason For they say the Prince is a braue a wise Gentleman Warren Why and thinkest thou Doctor that he is not so Dar'st thou detract and derogate from him Being so louely and so braue a Youth Ermsby Whose face shining with many a sugred smile Bewrayes that he is bred of princely race Miles And yet master Doctor to speake like a Proctor And tell vnto you what is veriment and true To cease off this quarrell looke but on his apparell Then marke but my talis he is great Prince of Walis The cheefe of our gregis and filius Regis Then ware what is done for he is Henries white sonne Raphe Doctors whose doting night-caps are not capable of my ingenious dignity know that I am Edward Plantagenet whom if you displease will make a ship that shall hold all your Colleges and so carry away the Niniuersity with a faire wind to the Bankeside in Southwarke how saist thou Ned Warraine shall I not doe it Warren Yes my good Lord and if it please your Lordship I will gather vp all your old pantophles and with the corke make you a Pinnis of fiue hundred tunne
the stout Plantagenets Bungay is learned enough to be a Fryer But to compare with Iaques Vandermast Oxford and Cambridge must goe seeke their Celles To find a man to match him in his Art I haue giuen non-plus to the Paduans To them of Sien Florence and Bologna Rheims Louain and faire Roterdam Franckford Lutrech and Orleance And now must Henrie if he doe me right Crowne me with Lawrell as they all haue done Enter Bacon Bacon All haile to this Royall Company That sit to heare and see this strange dispute Bungay how standst thou as a man amaz'd What hath the Germane acted more then thou Vandermast What art thou that questionst thus Bacon Men call me Bacon Vander Lordly thou look'st as if that thou wert learn'd Thy countenance as if science held her seate Betweene the circled arches of thy browes Henry Now Monarks hath the Germane found his match Emperour Bestirre thee Iaques take not now the foile Lest thou doest lose what foretime thou didst gaine Vandermast Bacon wilt thou dispute Bacon No vnlesse he were more learn'd then Vandermast For yet tell me what hast thou done Vandermast Rais'd Hercules to ruinate that tree That Bungay mounted by his Magicke spels Bacon Set Hercules to worke Vander. Now Hercules I charge thee to thy taske Pull off the golden branches from the roote Hercules I dare not Seest thou not great Bacon here Whose frowne doth act more then thy Magicke can Vandermast By all the Thrones and Dominations Vertues Powers and mightie Hierarchies I charge thee to obey to Vandermast Hercules Bacon that bridles headstrong Belzephon And rules Asmenoth guider of the North Binds me from yeelding vnto Vandermast Hen. How now Vandermast haue you met with your match Vander. Neuer before was 't knowne to Vandermast That men held Deuils in such obedient awe Bacon doth more then Art or else I faile Emperour Why Vandermast art thou ouercome Bacon dispute with him and try his skill Bacon I come not Monarks for to hold dispute With such a Nouice as is Vandermast I came to haue your Royalties to dine With Fryer Bacon here in Brazen-nose And for this Germane troubles but the place And holds the Audience with a long suspence I le send him to his Academie hence Thou Hercules whom Vandermast did raise Transport the Germane vnto Haspurge straight That he may learne by trauell 'gainst the Springs More secret doomes and Aphorismes of Art Vanish the Tree and thou away with him Exit the spirit with Vandermast and the Tree Emperour Why Bacon whither doest thou send him Bacon To Haspurge there your Highnesse at returne Shall finde the Germane in his Study safe Henry Bacon thou hast honoured England with thy skill And made faire Oxford famous by thine Art I will be English Henry to thy selfe But tell me shall we dine with thee to day Bacon With me my Lord and while I fit my cheere See where Prince Edward comes to welcome you Gracious as the morning-starre of heauen Exit Enter Edward Lacie Warren Ermsby Emperour Is this Prince Edward Henries Royall sonne How martiall is the figure of his face Yet louely and beset with Amorets Henry Ned where hast thou beene Edward At Framingham my Lord to trye your Buckes If they could scape the teisers or the toile But hearing of these Lordly Potentates Landed and progrest vp to Oxford towne I posted to giue entertaine to them Cheefe to the Almaine Monarke next to him And ioynt with him Castile and Saxonie Are welcome as they may be to the English Court Thus for the men But see Venus appeares Or one that ouermatcheth Venus in her shape Sweet Ellinor beauties high-swelling pride Rich natures glorie and her wealth at once Faire of all faires welcome to Albion Welcome to me and welcome to thine owne If that thou dain'st the welcome from my selfe Ellinor Martiall Plantagenet Henries high-minded sonne The marke that Ellinor did count her aime I lik't thee 'fore I saw thee now I loue And so as in so short time I may Yet so as time shall neuer breake that so And therefore so accept of Ellinor Castile Feare not my Lord this couple will agree If loue may creepe into their wanton eyes And therefore Edward I accept thee here Without suspence as my adopted sonne Henry Let me that ioy in these consorting greets And glory in these honours done to Ned Yeeld thankes for all these fauours to my sonne And rest a true Plantagenet to all Enter Miles with a cloth and trenchers and salt Miles Saluete omnes Reges that gouerne your Greges in Saxony and Spaine in England and in Almaine for all this frolicke rable must I couer the table with trenchers salt and cloth and then looke for your broth Emperour What pleasant fellow is this Henry T is my Lord Doctor Bacons poore Scholler Miles My master hath made me sewer of these great Lords and God knowes I am as seruiceable at a table as a Sow is vnder an Apple tree 't is no matter their cheere shall not be great and therefore what skils where the salt stand before or behinde Castile These Schollers know more skill in Axiomes How to vse quips and sleights of Sophistrie Then for to couer courtly for a King Enter Miles with a messe of pottage and broth and after him Bacon Miles Spill sir why doe you thinke I neuer carried two-penny chop before in my life By your leaue Nobile decus for here comes Doctor Bacons pecus being in his full age to carry a messe of pottage Bacon Lordlings admire not if your cheere be this For we must keepe our Academicke fare No riot where Philosophy doth raigne And therefore Henry place these Potentates And bid them fall vnto their frugall cates Emp. Presumptuous Fryer what scoft'st thou at a King What doest thou taunt vs with thy peazants fare And giues vs cates fit for Country Swaines Henrie proceeds this iest of thy consent To twit vs with a pittance of such price Tell me and Fredericke will not grieue thee long Henrie By Henries honour and the Royall faith The English Monarke beareth to his friend I knew not of the Fryers feeble fare Nor am I pleas'd he entertaines you thus Bacon Content thee Frederick for I shewd thee cates To let thee see how schollers vse to feede How little meate refines our English wits Miles take away and let it be thy dinner Miles Mary sir I will this day shall be a festiuall day with me For I shall exceed in the highest degree Exit Miles Bacon I tell thee Monarke all the Germane Peeres Could not afford thy entertainment such So Royall and so full of Maiestie As Bacon will present to Fredericke The Basest waiter that attends thy cups Shall be in honours greater then thy selfe And for thy cates rich Alexandria drugges Fetcht by Carueils from Aegypts richest straights Found in the wealthy strond of Affrica Shall Royallize the table of my King Wines richer then the Gyprian Courtisan Quaft to
Lacy which contents you best To be a Nun or else Lord Lacies wife Lacy. A good motion Peggie your answere must be short Marg. The flesh is frayle my Lord doth know it well That when he comes with his inchanting face Whatsoere betide I cannot say him nay Off goes the habit of a maidens heart And seeing fortune will faire Fremingham And all the shew of holy Nuns farewell Lacy for me if he will be my Lord Lacy. Peggie thy Lord thy loue thy husband Trust me by truth of Knighthood that the King Stayes for to marry matchlesse Ellinor Vntill I bring thee richly to the Court That one day may both marry her and thee How saist thou Keeper art thou glad of this Keeper As if the English King had giuen The Parke and Deere of Fresingfield to me Ermesby I pray thee my Lord of Sussex why art thou in a browne study Warraine To see the nature of women that be they neuer so neere God yet they loue to dye in a mans armes Lacy. What haue you fit for breakefast we haue hied and poasted all this night to Fresingfield Margret Butter and cheese and humbles of a Deere Such as poore Keepers haue within their Lodge Lacy. And not a bottle of wine Margret Wee le find one for my Lord Lacy. Come Sussex let 's in wee shall haue more for shee speakes least to hold her promise sure Exeunt Enter a Deuill to seeke Miles Deuill How restlesse are the ghosts of hellish sprites When euery Charmer with his Magicke spels Cals vs from nine-fold trenched Phlegiton To scud and ouer-scoure the earth in poast Vpon the speedy wings of swiftest winds Now Bacon hath raisd me from the darkest deepe To search about the world for Miles his man For Miles and to torment his lazy bones For carelesse watching of his brazen-head See where he comes Oh he is mine Enter Miles with a gowne and a corner cap Miles A Scholler quoth you mary sir I would I had been made a bottle-maker when I was made a scholler for I can get neither to be a Deacon Reader nor Schoole-master no not the Clarke of a Parish some call me dunce another saith my head is as full of Latine as an eg 's full of oate-meale thus I am tormented that the Deuill and Frier Bacon haunts me Good Lord here 's one of my masters Deuils I le goe speake to him what master Plutus how cheere you Deuill Doost thou know me Miles Know you sir why are not you one of my masters Deuils that were wont to come to my master Doctor Bacon at Brazen-nose Deuill Yes mary am I Miles Good Lord M. Plutus I haue seene you a thousand times at my masters and yet I had neuer the manners to make you drinke but sir I am glad to see how conformable you are to the state I warrant you he 's as yeomanly a man as you shall see marke you masters here 's a plain honest man without welt or gard but I pray you sir doe you come lately from hell Deuill I mary how then Miles Faith t is a place I haue desired long to see haue you not good tippling houses there may not a man haue a lusty fire there a pot of good Ale a paire of cardes a swinging peece of chalke and a browne toast that will clap a white wastcoat on a cup of good drinke Deuill All this you may haue there Miles You are for me friend and I am for you but I pray you may I not haue an office there Deuill Yes a thousand what wouldst thou be Miles By my troth sir in a place where I may profit my selfe I know hell is a hot place and men are maruellous dry and much drinke is spent there I would be a Tapster Deuill Thou shalt Miles There 's nothing lets me from going with you but that t is a long iourney and I haue neuer a horse Deuill Thou shalt ride on my backe Miles Now surely here 's a courteous deuill that for to pleasure his friend will not sticke to make a Iade of himselfe but I pray you goodman friend let me moue a question to you Deuill What 's that Miles I pray you whether is your pace a trot or an amble Deuill An amble Miles T is well but take heed it be not a trot But t is no matter I le preuent it Deuill What doest Miles Mary friend I put on my spurs for if I find your pace either a trot or else vneasie I le put you to a false gallop I le make you feele the benefit of my spurs Deuill Get vp vpon my backe Miles Oh Lord here 's euen a goodly maruell when a man rides to hell on the Deuils backe Exeunt roaring Enter the Emperour with a pointlesse sword next the King of Castile carrying a sword with a point Lacy carrying the Globe Edward Warraine carrying a rod of gold with a Doue on it Ermsby with a Crowne and Scepter the Queene with the faire maide of Fresingfield on her left hand Henry Bacon with other Lords attending Edward Great Potentates earths miracles for state Thinke that Prince Edward humbles at your feet And for these fauours on his martiall sword He vowes perpetuall homage to your selues Yeelding these honours vnto Ellinour Henrie Gramercies Lordings old Plantagenet That rules and swayes the Albion Diademe With teares discouers these conceiued ioyes And vowes requitall if his men at armes The wealth of England or due honours done To Ellinor may quite his Fauorites But all this while what say you to the Dames That shine like to the christall lampes of heauen Emperour If but a third were added to these two They did surpasse those gorgeous Images That gloried Ida with rich beauties wealth Margret T is I my Lords who humbly on my knee Must yeeld her horisons to mighty Ioue For lifting vp his handmaide to this state Brought from her homely cottage to the Court And graste with Kings Princes and Emperours To whom next to the noble Lincolne Earle I vow obedience and such humble loue As may a handmaid to such mighty men Ellinor Thou martiall man that weares the Almaine Crown And you the Westerne Potentates of might The Albian Princesse English Edwards wife Proud that the louely star of Fresingfield Faire Margret Countesse to the Lincolne Earle Attends on Ellinour gramercies Lord for her T is I giue thankes for Margret to you all And rest for her due bounden to your selues Henrie Seeing the marriage is solemnized Let 's march in triumph to the Royall feast But why stands Fryer Bacon here so mute Bacon Repentant for the follies of my youth That Magicks secret mysteries misled And ioyfull that this Royall marriage Portends such blisse vnto this matchlesse Realme Hen. Why Bacon what strange euent shall happē to this Lād Or what shall grow from Edward and his Queene Bacon I find by deepe praescience of mine Art Which once I tempred in my secret Cell That here where Brute did build his Troynouant From forth the Royall Garden of a King Shall flourish out so rich and faire a bud Whose brightnesse shall deface proud Phoebus flowre And ouer-shadow Albion with her leaues Till then Mars shall be master of the field But then the stormy threats of wars shall cease The horse shall stampe as carelesse of the pike Drums shall be turn'd to timbrels of delight With wealthy fauours plenty shall enrich The strond that gladded wandring Brute to see And peace from heauen shall harbour in these leaues That gorgeous beautifies this matchlesse flower Apollos Hellitropian then shall stoope And Ʋenus hyacinth shall vaile her top Iuno shall shut her Gilliflowers vp And Pallas Bay shall bash her brightest greene Ceres carnation in confort with those Shall stoope and wonder at Diana's Rose Henrie This Prophesie is mysticall But glorious Commanders of Europa's loue That makes faire England like that wealthy Ile Circled with Gihen and first Euphrates In Royallizing Henries Albion With presence of your princely mightinesse Let 's march the tables all are spred And viandes such as Englands wealth affords Are ready set to furnish out the bords You shall haue welcome mighty Potentates It rests to furnish vp this Royall Feast Only your hearts be frolicke for the time Craues that we taste of nought but iouysance Thus glories England ouer all the West Exeunt omnes Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci. FINIS