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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.
    Raphe. Why sirra Ned weel ride to Oxford to Frier Bacon, oh
    he is a braue scholler sirra, they say he is a braue Nigromancer,
    that he can make women of deuils, and hee can iuggle cats into
    100Costermongers.
    Edward. And how then Raphe?
    Raphe. Marry sirha thou shalt go to him, and because thy fa-
    ther Harry shall not misse thee, hee shall turne me into thee; and
    Ile to the Court, and Ile prince it out, and he shall make thee ei-
    105ther a silken purse, full of gold, or else a fine wrought smocke.
    Edward. But how shall I haue the mayd?
    Raphe. Marry sirha, if thou beest a silken purse full of gold,
    then on sundaies sheele hang thee by her side, and you must not
    say a word, Now sir when she comes into a great prease of people,
    110for feare of the cut-purse on a sodaine sheele swap thee into her
    plackerd, then sirha being there you may plead for yourselfe.
    Ermsbie. Excellent pollicie.
    Edward. But how if I be a wrought smocke.
    Raphe. Then sheele put thee into her chest and lay thee in-
    115to Lauender, and vpon some good day sheele put thee on, and at
    night when you go to bed, then being turnd from a smocke to a
    man, you may make vp the match.
    Lacie. Wonderfully wisely counselled Raphe.
    Edward. Raphe shall haue a new coate.
    120Raphe. God thanke you when I haue it on my backe Ned,
    Edward. Lacie the foole hath laid a perfect plot,
    For why our countrie Margret is so coy,
    And standes so much vpon her honest pointes,
    That marriage or no market with the mayd:
    125Ermsbie, it must be nigromaticke spels,
    And charmes of art that must inchaine her loue,
    Or else shall Edward neuer win the girle,
    Therefore my wags weele horse vs in the morne,
    And post to Oxford to this iolly Frier,
    130Bacon shall by his magicke doe this deed.
    Warren. Content my lord, and thats a speedy way
    To weane these head-strong puppies from the teat,
    I
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