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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)

    1695Enter Emperour, Castile, Henrie, Ellinor, Ed-
    ward, Lacie, Raphe.
    Emper. Now louely Prince the prince of Albions wealth,
    How fares the ladie Ellinor and you:
    What haue you courted and found Castile fit,
    1700To answer England in equiuolence
    Wilt be a match twixt bonny Nell and thee.
    Edw. Should Paris enter in the courts of Greece,
    And not lie fettered in faire Hellens lookes,
    Or Phoebus scape those piercing amorits,
    1705That Daphne glaunsed at his deitie:
    Can Edward then sit by a flame and freeze,
    Whose heat puts Hellen and faire Daphne downe,
    Now Monarcks aske the ladie if we gree.
    Hen. What madam hath my son found grace or no.
    1710Ellinor. Seeing my lord his louely counterfeit,
    And hearing how his minde and shape agreed,
    I come not troopt with all this warlike traine,
    Doubting of loue, but so effectionat
    As Edward hath in England what he wonne in Spaine.
    1715Castile. A match my lord, these wantons needes must loue,
    Men must haue wiues and women will be wed,
    Lets hast the day to honour vp the rites.
    Raphe. Sirha Harry, shall Ned marry Nell.
    Henry. I Raphe, how then.
    1720Raphe. Marrie Harrie follow my counsaile, send for frier Ba-
    con to marrie them, for heele so coniure him and her with his
    Nigromancie, that they shall loue togither like pigge and lambe
    whilest they liue.
    Castile. But hearst thou Raphe, art thou content to haue El-
    1725linor to thy ladie.
    Raphe. I so she will promise me two things.
    Castile.Whats that Raphe.
    Raphe. That she will neuer scold with Ned nor fight with
    me, Sirha Harry I haue put her downe with a thing vnpossible.
    1730Henry. Whats that Raphe.
    Raphe. Why Harrie didst thou euer see that a woman could
    both hold her tongue and her handes, no but when egge-pies
    growes on apple-trees, then will thy gray mare prooue a bag-
    piper.
    1735Emperour. What saies the lord of Castile and the earle of
    Lincolne, that they are in such earnest and secret talke.
    Castile. I stand my lord amazed at his talke
    How he discourseth of the constancie,
    Of one surnam'd fot beauties excellence,
    1740The fair maid of merrie Fresingfield.
    Henrie. Tis true my lord, tis wondrous for to heare,
    Her beautie passing Marces parramour:
    Her virgins right as rich as Vestas was,
    Lacie and Ned hath told me miracles.
    1745Castile. What saies lord Lacie, shall she be his wife,
    Lacie. Or els lord Lacie is vnfit to liue,
    May it please your highnesse giue me leaue to post
    To Fresingfield Ile fetch the bonny girle,
    And prooue in true apparance at the court
    1750What I haue vouched often with my tongue.
    Henrie. Lacie, go to the quirie of my stable,
    And take such coursers as shall fit thy turne,
    Hie thee to Fresingfield and bring home the lasse,
    And for her fame flies through the English coast,
    1755If it may please the ladie Ellinor,
    One day shall match your excellence and her,
    Ellinor. We Castile ladies are not very coy,
    Your highnesse may command a greater boone,
    And glad were I to grace the Lincolne earle
    1760With being partner of his marriage day.
    Edward. Gramercie Nell for I do loue the lord,
    As he thats second to my selfe in loue.
    Raphe. You loue her, madam Nell, neuer beleeue him you
    though he sweares he loues you.
    1765Ellinor. Why Raphe.
    Raphe. Why his loue is like vnto a tapsters glasse that is bro-
    ken with euery tutch, for he loued the faire maid of Fresingfield
    once out of all hoe, nay Ned neuer wincke vpon me, I care not I.
    Hen. Raphe tels all, you shall haue a good secretarie of him,
    1770But Lacie haste thee post to Fresingfield:
    Eor ere thou hast fitted all things for her state,
    The solemne marriage day will be at hand.
    Lacie. I go my lord. Exit Lacie.
    Emperour. How shall we passe this day my lord.
    1775Henrie. To horse my lord, the day is passing faire,
    Weele flie the partridge or go rouse the deere,
    Follow my lords, you shall not want for sport.
    Exeunt.
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