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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.
    Onely attended by a iolly frier.
    Bacon. Sit still and keepe the christall in your eye,
    650Margret. But tell me frier Bungay is it true,
    That this faire courtious countrie swaine,
    Who saies his father is a farmer nie,
    Can be lord Lacie earle of Lincolnshire.
    Bungay. Peggie tis true, tis Lacie for my life,
    655Or else mine art and cunning both doth faile.
    Left by prince Edward to procure his loues,
    For he in greene that holpe you runne your cheese,
    Is sonne to Henry and the prince of Wales.
    Margret. Be what he will his lure is but for lust.
    660But did lord Lacie like poore Margret,
    Or would he daine to wed a countrie lasse,
    Frier, I would his humble handmayd be,
    And for great wealth, quite him with courtesie.
    Bungay. Why Margret doest thou loue him.
    665Margret. His personage like the pride of vaunting Troy,
    Might well auouch to shadow Hellens cape:
    His wit is quicke and readie in conceit,
    As Greece affoorded in her chiefest prime
    Courteous, ah Frier full of pleasing smiles,
    670Trust me I loue too much to tell thee more,
    Suffice to me he is Englands parramour.
    Bungay. Hath not ech eye that viewd thy pleasing face,
    Surnamed thee faire maid of Fresingfield.
    Margret. Yes Bungay, and would God the louely Earle
    675Had that in esse, that so many sought.
    Bungay. Feare not, the Frier will not be behind,
    To shew his cunning to entangle loue.
    Edward. I thinke the Frier courts the bonny wench,
    Bacon, me thinkes he is a lustie churle.
    680Bacon. Now looke my lord.

    Enter Lacie.
    Edward. Gogs wounds Bacon heere comes Lacie.
    Bacon.