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 three doctors: Burden, Mason, 824[and] Clement.
Now that we are gathered in the Regent House,
We must lay plots of stately tragedies,
To welcome all the western potentates.
Then must we all make suit unto the friar,
Bacon, if he will hold the German play,
Indeed, Mas Doctor, he displeasured you,
A vengeance on the friar for his pains!
6.31.1[A cry of voices.]
Stay, what rumor is this? The town is up in a 857mutiny. What hurly-burly is this?
6.32.1858Enter a Constable, with Rafe, Warren, [and] Ermsby [all three disguised as before]859and Miles.
Nay, masters, if you were ne'er so good, you shall 861before the doctors to answer your misdemeanor.
What's the matter, fellow?
Marry, sir, here's a company of rufflers that, 864drinking in the tavern, have made a great brawl and almost killed 865the vintner.
Salve, Doctor Burden. This lubberly lurdan,
Who is the master and chief of this crew?
[Pointing to Rafe]Ecce asinum mundi, figura rotundi,
[To Rafe] What are you?
I am, father doctor, as a man would say, the 874bellwether of this company. These are my lords, and I the prince of Wales.
Are you Edward, the king's son?
Sirrah Miles, bring hither the tapster that drew the 877wine, and I warrant when they see how soundly I have broke his 878head, they'll say 'twas done by no less man than a prince.
I cannot believe that this is the prince of Wales.
And why so, sir?
For they say the prince is a brave and a wise gentleman.
Why, and thinkest thou, doctor, that he is not so?
Whose face shining with many a sugared smile
And yet, master doctor, to speak like a proctor,
Doctors, whose doting nightcaps are not capable of 894my ingenious dignity, know that I am Edward Plantagenet, 895whom if you displease will make a ship that shall hold all your 896colleges, and so carry away the Niniversity with a fair wind to 897the Bankside in Southwark.-- How say'st thou, Ned Warren, 898shall I not do it?
Yes, my good lord, and if it please your lordship, 900I will gather up all your old pantofles, and with the cork make 901you a pinnace of five hundred ton that shall serve the turn 902marvelous well, my lord.
And I, my lord, will have pioneers to undermine the 904town, that the very gardens and orchards be carried away for 905your summer walks.
And I with scientia, and great diligentia,
Why, harebrained courtiers, are you drunk or mad
Why, shall we to prison, my lord?
What say'st, Miles? Shall I honor the prison with my presence?
No, no! Out with your blades, and hamper these jades;
To the prison with them, constable.
Well, doctors, seeing I have sported me
My lord, pardon us, we knew not what you were.
I will, master doctor, and satisfy the vintner for his 939hurt. Only I must desire you to imagine him [pointing to Rafe] all this forenoon the 940prince of Wales.
I will, sir.
And upon that I will lead the way; only I will have 943Miles go before me because I have heard Henry say that 944wisdom must go before majesty.
6.97.1Exeunt omnes.