Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay
Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (Modern)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
- Contextual materials
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- The Famous History of Friar Bacon
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- Inventions or Devices Very Necessary for all Generals and Captains or Leaders of Men
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- A Book of Magic, with Instructions for Invoking Spirits
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- A Geometrical Practice named Pantometria
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- Autobiographical Tracts of Dr. John Dee
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- The Vanity of the Eye
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- The Comical History of Alphonsus King of Aragon
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Enter Rafe Simnell in Edward's apparel, 514Edward [disguised as Rafe], Warren [and] Ermsby, disguised.
[Posing as Prince Edward] Where be these vagabond knaves, that they attend 516no better on their master?
[As Rafe] If it please your honor, we are all ready at an inch.
Sirrah, Ned, I'll have no more post horse to ride on. 519I'll have another fetch.
I pray you, how is that, my lord?
Marry, sir, I'll send to the Isle of Ely for four or five 522dozen of geese, and I'll have them tied six and six together with 523whipcord. Now upon their backs will I have a fair field bed 524with a canopy; and so when it is my pleasure, I'll flee into what 525place I please. This will be easy.
Your honor hath said well, but shall we to 527Brazennose College before we pull off our boots?
Warren, well motioned; we will to the friar
Wherefore have I such a company of cutting knaves 532to wait upon me but to keep and defend my countenance against 533all mine enemies? [To the others] Have you not good swords and bucklers?
Stay, who comes here?
Some scholar, and we'll ask him where Friar 537Bacon is.
[To Miles] Why, thou errant dunce, shall I never make thee good 539scholar? Doth not all the town cry out and say Friar Bacon's 540subsizar is the greatest blockhead in all Oxford? Why, thou canst 541not speak one word of true Latin.
No, sir? Yes; what is this else? Ego sum tuus homo: "I am 543your man." I warrant you, sir, as good Tully's phrase as any is in 544Oxford.
Come on, sirrah, what part of speech is ego?
Ego, that is "I". Marry, nomen substantivo.
How prove you that?
Why, sir, let him prove himself and 'a will. "I" can be 549heard, felt, and understood.
Oh, gross dunce!
Come, let us break off this dispute between these two.-- 553[To Miles] Sirrah, where is Brazennose College?
Not far from Coppersmiths' Hall.
What, dost thou mock me?
Not I, sir. But what would you at Brazennose?
Marry, we would speak with Friar Bacon.
Whose men be you?
[Pointing to Rafe] Marry, scholar, here's our master.
Sirrah, I am the master of these good fellows. Mayst 561thou not know me to be a lord by my reparel?
Then here's good game for the hawk, for here's the 563master fool and a covey of coxcombs. One wise man, I think, 564would spring you all.
Gog's wounds! Warren, kill him.
5.29.1[Bacon charms them by magic, so that they are powerless to draw their swords.]
Why, Ned, I think the devil be in my sheath. I 567cannot get out my dagger.
Nor I mine. 'Swounds, Ned, I think I am bewitched.
A company of scabs. The proudest of you all draw 570your weapon, if he can.-- 571[To the audience] See how boldly I speak now my master is by.
I strive in vain, but if my sword be shut,
Oh, I beseech you, conjure his hands, too, that he may 577not lift his arms to his head, for he is light-fingered!
Ned, strike him. I'll warrant thee by mine honor.
What means the English prince to wrong my man?
To whom speakest thou?
To thee.
Who art thou?
Could you not judge when all your swords grew fast
Ned, this is strange. The friar knoweth all.
Apollo could not utter more than this.
I stand amazed to hear this jolly friar
Good friar, help the prince in this.
Why, servant Ned, will not the friar do it? Were 608not my sword glued to my scabbard by conjuration, I would cut 609off his head and make him do it by force.
In faith, my lord, your manhood and your sword is all 611alike: they are so fast conjured that we shall never see them.
What, doctor, in a dump? Tush, help the prince,
[Aside] Crave not such actions greater dumps than these?--
Gramercies, Bacon. I will quite thy pain.
But send your train, my lord, into the town;
Warren, leave me; and Ermsby, take the fool;
We will, my lord.
Faith, Ned, and I'll lord it out 'til thou comest. I'll be 631prince of Wales over all the black pots in Oxford.
Now, frolic Edward, welcome to my cell.
Friar, thou gladst me. Now shall Edward try
Stand there, and look directly in the glass.
5.96.1644Enter Margaret and Friar Bungay [visible through the glass, though Edward cannot hear them].
What sees my lord?
I see the Keeper's lovely lass appear,
Sit still, and keep the crystal in your eye.
But tell me, Friar Bungay, is it true
Peggy, 'tis true, 'tis Lacy for my life,
Be what he will, his lure is but for lust.
Why, Margaret, dost thou love him?
His personage, like the pride of vaunting Troy,
Hath not each eye that viewed thy pleasing face
Yes, Bungay, and would God the lovely earl
Fear not. The friar will not be behind
[To Bacon] I think the friar courts the bonny wench;
Now look, my lord.
Gog's wounds, Bacon, here comes Lacy!
Sit still, my lord, and mark the comedy.
Here's Lacy. Margaret, step aside awhile.
5.135.1[They stand aside and watch Lacy.]
Daphne, the damsel that caught Phoebus fast
Come, friar, I will shake him from his dumps.
5.152.1[She steps forward.]
Thus watchful are such men as live in love,
A trusty man, that court it for your friend.
Peggy, I pleaded first to get your grace for him,
You are very hasty, for to garden well
Deus hic. Room for a merry friar.
No, friar. What news?
Hear you not how the pursuivants do post
For what, gentle friar? Tell the news.
Dwell'st thou in Beccles and hear'st not of these news?
The earl of Lincoln? Friar, thou art mad.
Yes, very well, my lord, for you are he.
How familiar they be, Bacon!
Sit still and mark the sequel of their loves.
Then am I double prisoner to thyself.
In jest with you, but earnest unto me,
Believe me, lass, I am the Lincoln earl.
What love is there where wedding ends not love?
I meant, fair girl, to make thee Lacy's wife.
I little think that earls will stoop so low.
Say, shall I make thee countess ere I sleep?
Handmaid unto the earl, so please himself;
The Lincoln countess, for it shall be so.
Gog's wounds, Bacon, they kiss! I'll stab them! [Edward threatens to stab the prospective glass.]
Oh, hold your hands, my lord, it is the glass!
Choler, to see the traitors gree so well
'Twere a long poniard, my lord, to reach between
Well, lord of Lincoln, if your loves be knit,
Friar, content. Peggy, how like you this?
What likes my lord is pleasing unto me.
Then handfast hand, and I will to my book.
[To Edward] What sees my lord now?
Bacon, I see the lovers hand in hand,
Fear not, my lord, I'll stop the jolly friar
Why speak'st not, Bungay? Friar, to thy book.
How lookest thou, friar, as a man distraught?
He's dumb indeed. Bacon hath with his devils
Else let me die, my lord, a miscreant.
Why stands Friar Bungay so amazed?
I have struck him dumb, my lord, and if your honor please,
Bacon, do that and thou contentest me.
Of courtesy, Margaret, let us lead the friar
Or else, my lord, we were passing unkind
Oh help, my lord, a devil! A devil, my lord!
Bacon, I laugh to see the jolly friar
So be it, my lord. But let us to our dinner,