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About this text

  • Title: Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (Quarto)
  • Editors: Christopher Hicklin, Christopher Matusiak

  • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Robert Greene
    Editors: Christopher Hicklin, Christopher Matusiak
    Peer Reviewed

    Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (Quarto)

    The honourable historie of Frier Bacon.

    Enter Raphe Simnell in Edwardes apparrell, Ed-
    ward, Warren, Ermsby disguised.

    515Raphe. Where be these vacabond knaues that they attend
    no better on their maister?
    Edward. If it please your honour we are all ready at an inch.
    Raphe. Sirha Ned, Ile haue no more post horse to ride on,
    Ile haue another fetch.
    520Ermsbie. I pray you how is that my Lord?
    Raphe. Marrie sir, Ile send to the Ile of Eely for foure or fiue
    dozen of Geese, and Ile haue them tide six and six together with
    whipcord, Now vpon their backes will I haue a faire field bed,
    with a Canapie, and so when it is my pleasure Ile flee into what
    525place I please; this will be easie.
    Warren. Your honour hath said well, but shall we to Brasen-
    nose Colledge before we pull off our bootes.
    Ermsbie. Warren well motioned, wee will to the Frier
    Before we reuell it within the towne.
    530Raphe see you keepe your countenance like a Prince.
    Raphe. Wherefore haue I such a companie of cutting knaues
    to wait vpon me, but to keep and defend my countenance against
    all mine enemies: haue you not good swords and bucklers.

    Enter Bacon and Miles.

    535Ermsbie. Stay who comes heere.
    Warren. Some scholler, and weele aske him where Frier Ba-
    con is.
    Bacon. Why thou arrant dunce shal I neuer make thee good
    scholler, doth not all the towne crie out, and say, Frier Bacons
    540subsiser is the greatest blockhead in all Oxford, why thou canst
    not speake one word of true Latine.
    Miles. No sir, yes what is this els; Ego sum tuus homo, I am
    your man, I warrant you sir as good Tullies phrase as any is in
    Oxford.
    Bacon.