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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.
    I thought goodman head, I would call you out of your memento,
    Sit down and
    knocke
    your
    head.
    passion a God I haue almost broke my pate, Vp Miles to your
    taske, take your browne bill in your hand, heeres some of your
    maisters hobgoblins abroad. With this a great noise.

    1615The Head speakes.

    Head. Time is.
    Miles. Time is, Why maister Brazenhead haue you such a
    capitall nose, and answer you with sillables, Time is: is this all
    my maisters cunning, to spend seuen yeares studie about Time is:
    1620well sir, it may be we shall haue some better orations of it anon,
    well Ile watch you as narrowly as euer you were watcht, and Ile
    play with you as the Nightingale with the Slowworme, Ile set a
    pricke against my brest: now rest there Miles, Lord haue mercy
    vpon me, I haue almost kild my selfe: vp Miles list how they
    1625rumble
    Head. Time was.
    Miles. Well frier Bacon, you spent your seuen yeares studie
    well that can make your Head speake but two wordes at once,
    Time was: yea marie, time was when my maister was a wise man,
    1630but that was before he began to make the Brasen-head, you shall
    lie while your arce ake and your Head speake no better: well I
    will watch and walke vp and downe, and be a Perepatetian and a
    Philosopher of Aristotles stampe, what a freshe noise, take thy
    pistols in hand Miles.

    1635Heere the Head speakes and a lightning flasheth forth,
    and a hand appeares that breaketh down the
    Head with a hammer.

    Head. Time is past.
    Miles. Maister maister, vp, hels broken loose, your Head
    1640speakes, and theres such a thunder and lightning, that I warrant
    all Oxford is vp in armes, out of your bed and take a browne bill
    in