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  • 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.
    And fore that night shuts in the day with darke,
    Theile be betrothed ech to other fast:
    But come with me, weele to my studie straight,
    620And in a glasse prospectiue I will shew
    Whats 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 go bring them to their Inne:
    625Meane while weele see the knauerie of the earle.
    Edward. Warren leaue me and Ermsbie, take the foole,
    Let him be maister and go reuell it,
    Till I and Frier Bacon talke a while.
    VVarren. We will my lord.
    630Raphe. Faith Ned and Ile lord it out till thou comest, Ile be
    Prince of Wales ouer all the blacke pots in Oxford.
    Exeunt.

    Bacon and Edward goes into the study.

    Bacon. Now frolick Edward, welcome to my Cell,
    635Heere tempers Frier Bacon many toies:
    And holds this place his consistorie court,
    Wherin the diuels pleads homage to his words,
    Within this glasse prospectiue thou shalt see
    This day whats done in merry Fresingfield,
    640Twixt louely Peggie and the Lincolne earle.
    Edward. Frier thou gladst me, now shall Edward trie,
    How Lacie meaneth to his soueraigne lord.
    Bacon. Stand there and looke directly in the glasse,

    Enter Margret and Frier Bungay.

    645Bacon. What sees my lord.
    Edward. I see the keepers louely lasse appeare,
    As bright-sunne as the parramour of Mars,
    Onely