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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.
    25Shall he thus all amort liue malecontent.
    Raphe. Heerest thou Ned, nay looke if hee will speake
    to me.
    Edward. What sayst thou to me foole?
    Raphe. I pree thee tell me Ned, art thou in loue with the
    30keepers daughter?
    Edward. How if I be, what then?
    Raphe. Why then sirha Ile teach thee how to deceiue loue.
    Edward. How Raphe.
    Raphe. Marrie sirha Ned, thou shalt put on my cap, and
    35my coat, and my dagger, and I will put on thy clothes, and thy
    sword, and so thou shalt be my foole.
    Edward. And what of this?
    Raphe. Why so thou shalt beguile Loue, for Loue is such a
    proud scab, that he will neuer meddle with fooles nor children, Is
    40not Raphes counsell good Ned.
    Edward. Tell me Ned Lacie, didst thou marke the mayd,
    How liuely in her country weedes she lookt:
    A bonier wench all Suffolke cannot yeeld,
    All Suffolke, nay all England holds none such.
    45Raphe. Sirha, Will Ermsby, Ned is deceiued.
    Ermsbie. Why Raphe?
    Raphe. He saies all England hath no such, and I say, and
    Ile stand to it, there is one better in Warwickshire.
    VVarren. How proouest thou that Raphe?
    50Raphe. Why is not the Abbot a learned man, and hath red
    many bookes, and thinkest thou he hath not more learning than
    thou to choose a bonny wench, yes I warrant thee by his whole
    grammer.
    Ermsby. A good reason Raphe.
    55Edward. I tell the Lacie, that her sparkling eyes,
    Doe lighten forth sweet Loues alluring fire:
    And in her tresses she doth fold the lookes
    Of such as gaze vpon her golden haire,
    Her bashfull white mixt with the mornings red,
    60Luna doth boast vpon her louely cheekes,
    Her