Part 49

_Lacie._ Frier, content.--Peggie, how like you this?

_Margret._ What likes my lord is pleasing unto me.

_Bungay._ Then hand-fast hand, and I wil to my booke. 140

_Bacon._ What sees my lord now?

_Edward._ Bacon, I see the lovers hand in hand, The frier readie with his portace there To wed them both: then am I quite undone. Bacon, helpe now, if e'er thy magicke servde!-- 145 Helpe, Bacon; stop the marriage now, If divels or nigromancie may suffice, And I will give thee fortie thousand crownes.

_Bacon._ Feare not, my lord, Ile stop the jolly frier For[1361] mumbling up[1362] his orisons this day. 150

_Lacie._ Why speakst not, Bungay? Frier, to thy booke.

BUNGAY _is mute, crying,_ 'Hud, hud.'

_Margret._ How lookest thou, Frier, as a man distraught? Reft of thy sences, Bungay? shew by signes, If thou be dum, what passions[1363] holdeth thee.

_Lacie._ Hees dumbe indeed: Bacon hath with his divels 155 Enchanted him, or else some strange disease Or appoplexie hath possest his lungs: But, Peggie, what he cannot with his booke, Weel twixt us both unite it up in heart.

_Margret._ Els let me die, my lord, a miscreant. 160

_Edward._ Why stands Frier Bungay[1364] so amazd?

_Bacon._ I have strook him dum, my lord; &, if your honor please,[1365] Ile fetch this Bungay straightway from Fresingfield,[1365] And he shall dine with us in Oxford here.

_Edward._ Bacon, doe that, and thou contentest me. 165

_Lacie._ Of courtesie, Margret, let us lead the frier Unto thy fathers lodge, to comfort him With brothes, to bring him from this haplesse trance.

_Margret._ Or els, my lord, we were passing unkinde To leave the frier so in his distresse. 170

_Enter a_ Devill _and carrie_ BUNGAY _on his backe._

_Margret._ O, helpe, my lord! a devill, a devill, my lord! Looke how he carries Bungay on his backe! Let's hence, for Bacons spirits be abroad. _Exeunt._

_Edward._ Bacon, I laugh to see the jolly frier Mounted upon the divell, and how the earle 175 Flees with his bonny lasse for feare. Assoone as Bungay is at Brazennose, And I have chatted with the merry frier, I will in post his me to Fresingfield, And quite these wrongs on Lacie ere it be long. 180

_Bacon._ So be it, my lord: but let us to our dinner; For ere we have taken our repast awhile, We shall have Bungay brought to Brazennose. _Exeunt._

[Scene Seventh. _The Regenthouse at Oxford._]

_Enter three doctors_, BURDEN, MASON, CLEMENT.

_Mason._ Now that we are gathered in the Regenthouse,[1366] It fits us talke about the kings repaire; For he, troopt[1367] with all the westerne kings, That lie alongst the Dansick seas by east, North by the clime of frostie Germanie, 5 The Almain monarke and the Saxon[1368] duke, Castile and lovely Ellinor with him, Have in their jests resolved for Oxford towne.

_Burden._ We must lay plots of stately tragedies, Strange comick showes, such as proud Rossius[1369] 10 Vaunted before the Romane emperours, To welcome all the westerne potentates.[1370]

_Clement._ But more; the king by letters hath foretold That Fredericke, the Almaine emperour, Hath brought with him a Germane of esteeme, 15 Whose surname is Don Jaquesse Vandermast, Skilfull in magicke and those secret arts.

_Mason._ Then must we all make sute unto the frier, To Frier Bacon, that he vouch this taske, And undertake to countervaile in skill 20 The German; els theres none in Oxford can Match and dispute with learned Vandermast.

_Burden._ Bacon, if he will hold the German play, Will[1371] teach him what an English frier can doe; The divell, I thinke, dare not dispute with him. 25

_Clement._ Indeed, mas doctor, he [dis[1372]]pleasured you, In that he brought your hostesse with her spit, From Henly, posting unto Brazennose.

_Burden._ A vengeance on the frier for his paines! But leaving that, lets hie[1373] to Bacon straight, 30 To see if he will take this taske in hand.

_Clement._ Stay, what rumor is this? The towne is up in a mutinie: what hurly burlie is this?

_Enter a_ Constable, _with_ RAPHE, WARREN, ERMSBIE, _and_ MILES.

_Constable._ Nay, maisters, if you were nere so good, you shall before the doctors to aunswer your misdemeanour. 35

_Burden._ Whats the matter, fellow?

_Constable._ Marrie, sir, heres a companie of rufflers,[1374] that, drinking in the taverne, have made a great braule, and almost kilde the vintner.

_Miles._ _Salve_, Doctor Burden![1375] This lubberly lurden,[1376] 40 Ill-shapte and ill faced, disdaind and disgraced, What he tels unto vobis mentitur de nobis.

_Burden._ Who is the maister and cheefe of this crew?

_Miles._ _Ecce asinum mundi fugura_[1377] _rotundi_, Neat, sheat[1378] and fine, as briske as a cup of wine. 45

_Burden._ What are you?

_Raphe._ I am, father doctor, as a man would say, the belwether of this company: these are my lords, and I the Prince of Wales.

_Clement._ Are you Edward, the kings sonne? 49

_Raphe._ Sirra Miles, bring hither the tapster that drue the wine, and, I warrant, when they see how soundly I have broke his head, theile say twas done by no lesse man than a prince.

_Mason._ I cannot believe that this is the Prince of Wales.

_Warren._ And why so, sir?

_Mason._ For they say the prince is a brave & a wise gentleman.

_War._ Why, and thinkest thou, doctor, that he is not so? 56 Darst thou detract and derogat from him, Being so lovely and so brave a youth?

_Ermsbie._ Whose face, shining with many a sugred smile, Bewraies that he is bred of princely race. 60

_Miles._ And yet, maister doctor, to speake like a proctor, And tell unto you what is veriment and true: To cease of this quarrell, looke but on his apparell; Then marke but my talis, he is great Prince of Walis, The cheef of our _gregis_, and _filius regis_: 65 Then ware what is done, for he is Henries white[1379] son.

_Raphe._ Doctors, whose doting nightcaps[1380] are not capable of my ingenious dignitie, know that I am Edward Plantagenet, whom if you displease will[1381] make a shippe that shall hold all your colleges, and so carrie away the niniversity with a fayre wind to the Banke-side in Southwarke.--How sayst thou, Ned Warraine, shall I not do it? 72

_Warren._ Yes, my good lord; and, if it please your lordship, I wil gather up all your old pantophles, and with the corke[1382] make you a pinnis of five-hundred tunne, that shall serve the turne marvellous well, my lord. 76

_Ermsbie._ And I, my lord, will have pioners to undermine the towne, that the very gardens and orchards be carried away for your summer-walkes.

_Miles._ And, I, with _scientia_ and great _diligentia_, 80 Will conjure and charme, to keepe you from harme; That _utrum horum mavis_, your very great _navis_, Like Bartlets[1383] ship, from Oxford do skip With colleges and schooles, full loaden with fooles. _Quid dices ad hoc_, worshipfull _Domine_ Dawcocke?[1384] 85

_Clement._ Why, harebraind courtiers, are you drunke or mad, To taunt us with such scurilitie? Deeme you us men of base and light esteeme, To bring us such a fop for Henries son?-- Call out the beadl[e]s and convay them hence 90 Straight to Bocardo:[1385] let the roisters lie Close clapt in bolts, untill their wits be tame.

_Ermsbie._ Why, shall we to prison, my lord?

_Raphe._ What saist, Miles, shall I honour the prison with my presence? 95

_Miles._ No, no: out with your blades, and hamper these jades; Have a flurt and a crash, now play revell dash, And teach these sacerdos that the Bocardos, Like pezzants and elves, are meet for themselves.[1386]

_Mason._ To the prison with them, constable. 100

_Warren._ Well, doctors, seeing I have sported me With laughing at these mad and merrie wagges, Know that Prince Edward is at Brazennose, And this, attired like the Prince of Wales, Is Raphe, King Henries only loved foole; 105 I, Earle of Sussex,[1387] and this Ermsbie, One of the privie chamber to the king; Who, while the prince with Frier Bacon staies, Have revel'd it in Oxford as you see.

_Mason._ My lord, pardon us, we knew not what you were: 110 But courtiers may make greater skapes than these. Wilt please your honour dine with me to-day?

_Warren._ I will, maister doctor, and satisfie the vintner for his hurt; only I must desire you to imagine him[1388] all the forenoon the Prince of Wales. 115

_Mason._ I will, sir.

_Raphe._ And upon that I will lead the way; onely I will have Miles go before me, because I have heard Henrie say that wisedome must go before majestie. _Exeunt omnes._

[Scene Eighth. _The countrie-side; Fresingfield._]

_Enter_ PRINCE EDWARD _with his poiniard in his hand_, LACIE, _and_ MARGRET.[1389]

_Edward._ Lacie, thou canst not shroud thy traitrous thoughts, Nor cover, as did Cassius, all his[1390] wiles; For Edward hath an eye that lookes as farre As Lyncœus from the shores of Grecia. Did not I sit in Oxford by the frier, 5 And see thee court the mayd of Fresingfield, Sealing thy flattering fancies with a kisse? Did not prowd Bungay draw his portasse foorth, And joyning hand in hand had married you, If Frier Bacon had not strook him dumbe, 10 And mounted him upon a spirits backe That we might chat at Oxford with the frier? Traitor, what answerst? is not all this true?

_Lacy._ Truth all, my lord; and thus I make replie: At Harlstone faire, there courting for your grace, 15 When as mine eye survaid her curious shape, And drewe the beautious glory of her looks To dive into the center of my heart, Love taught me that your honour did but jest, That princes were in fancie but as men; 20 How that the lovely maid of Fresingfield Was fitter to be Lacies wedded wife Than concubine unto the Prince of Wales.

_Edward._ Injurious Lacie, did I love thee more Than Alexander his Hephestion? 25 Did I unfould the passion[s][1391] of my love, And locke them in the closset of thy thoughts? Wert thou to Edward second to himselfe, Sole friend, and partner of his secreat loves? And could a glaunce of fading bewtie breake 30 Th' inchained fetters of such privat freinds? Base coward, false, and too effeminate To be corivall with a prince in thoughts! From Oxford have I posted since I dinde, To quite a traitor fore that Edward sleepe. 35

_Margret._ Twas I, my lord, not Lacie stept awry: For oft he sued and courted for your selfe, And still woode for the courtier all in greene; But I, whome fancy made but over fond, Pleaded myselfe with looks as if I lovd; 40 I fed myne eye with gazing on his face, And still bewitcht lovd Lacie with my looks; My hart with sighes, myne eyes pleaded with tears, My face held pittie and content at once, And more I could not sipher out by signes, 45 But that I lovd Lord Lacie with my heart. Then, worthy Edward, measure with thy minde If womens favours will not force men fall, If bewty, and if darts of persing love, Are not of force to bury thoughts of friendes. 50

_Edward._ I tell thee, Peggie, I will have thy loves: Edward or none shall conquer Marg[a]ret. In frigats bottomd with rich Sethin[1392] planks, Topt with the loftie firs of Libanon, Stemd and incast with burnisht Ivorie, 55 And overlaid with plates of Persian wealth, Like Thetis shall thou wanton on the waves, And draw the dolphins[1393] to thy lovely eyes, To daunce lavoltas[1394] in the purple[1393] streames; Sirens, with harpes and silver psalteries, 60 Shall waight with musicke at thy frigots stem, And entertaine fair Margret with their laies.[1395] England and Englands wealth shall wait on thee; Brittaine shall bend unto her princes love, And doe due homage to thine excellence, 65 If thou wilt be but Edwards Marg[a]ret.

_Margret._ Pardon, my lord: if Joves great roialtie Sent me such presents as to Danaë; If Phœbus [']ti[r]ed[1396] in Latonas webs, Come[1397] courting from the beautie of his lodge; 70 The dulcet tunes of frolicke Mercurie-- Not[1398] all the wealth heavens treasurie affoords,-- Should make me leave Lord Lacie or his love.

_Edw._ I have learnd at Oxford, then, this point of schooles,-- _Ablata_[1399] _causa, tollitur effectus_: 75 Lacie[1400]--the cause that Margret cannot love Nor fix her liking on the English prince,-- Take him away, and then the effects will faile. Villaine, prepare thy selfe; for I will bathe My poinard in the bosome of an earle. 80

_Lacie._ Rather then[1401] live and misse faire Margret's love!-- Prince Edward, stop not at the fatall doome, But stabb it home: end both my loves and life.

_Marg._ Brave Prince of Wales, honoured for royall deeds, Twere sinne to staine fair Venus courts with blood; 85 Loves conquests ends, my lord, in courtesie: Spare Lacie, gentle Edward; let me die, For so both you and he doe cease your loves.

_Edward._ Lacie shall die as traitor to his lord.

_Lacie._ I have deserved it, Edward; act it well. 90

_Margret._ What hopes the prince to gaine by Lacies death?

_Edward._ To end the loves twixt him and Margeret.

_Marg._ Why, thinks King Henries sonne that Margret's love Hangs in the uncertaine ballance of proud time? That death shall make a discord of our thoughts? 95 No, stab the earle, and fore the morning sun Shall vaunt him thrice over the loftie east, Margret will meet her Lacie in the heavens.

_Lacie._ If ought betides to lovely Marg[a]ret That wrongs or wrings her honour from content, 100 Europes rich wealth nor Englands monarchie Should not allure Lacie to overlive: Then, Edward, short my life, and end her[1402] loves.

_Margret._ Rid me, and keepe a friend worth many loves.

_Lacie._ Nay, Edward, keepe a love worth many friends. 105

_Margret._ And if thy mind be such as fame hath blazde, Then, princely Edward, let us both abide The fatall resolution of thy rage: Banish thou fancie, and imbrace revenge, And in one toombe knit both our carkases, 110 Whose hearts were linked in one perfect love.

_Edward_ [_aside._] Edward, art thou that famous Prince of Wales, Who at Damasco beat the Sarasens, And broughtst home triumphe on thy launces point? And shall thy plumes be puld by Venus downe? 115 Is it princely to dissever lovers leagues,[1403] To part such friends as glorie in their loves? Leave, Ned, and make a vertue of this fault, And further Peg and Lacie in their loves: So in subduing fancies passion, 120 Conquering thy selfe thou getst the richest spoile.-- Lacie, rise up. Faire Peggie, heeres my hand: The Prince of Wales hath conquered all his thoughts, And all his loves he yeelds unto the earle. Lacie, enjoy the maid of Fresingfield; 125 Make her thy Lincolne countesse at the church, And Ned, as he is true Plantagenet, Will give her to thee franckly for thy wife.[1404]

_Lacie._ Humbly I take her of my soveraigne, As if that Edward gave me Englands right, 130 And richt me with the Albion diadem.

_Margret._ And doth the English prince[1405] mean true? Will he vouchsafe to cease his former loves, And yeeld the title of a countrie maid Unto Lord Lacie? 135

_Edward._ I will, faire Peggie, as I am true lord.

_Marg._ Then, lordly sir, whose conquest is as great, In conquering love, as Cæsars victories, Margret, as milde and humble in her thoughts As was Aspatia[1406] unto Cirus selfe, 140 Yeelds thanks, and, next Lord Lacie, doth inshrine Edward the second secret in her heart.

_Edw._ Gramercie, Peggie.--now that vowes are past, And that your loves are not to[1407] be revolt,[1408] Once, Lacie, friendes againe. Come, we will post 145 To Oxford; for this day the king is there, And brings for Edward Castile Ellinor. Peggie, I must go see and view my wife: I pray God I like her as I loved thee.[1409] Beside, Lord Lincolne, we shall heare dispute 150 Twixt Frier Bacon and learned Vandermast. Peggie, weele leave you for a weeke or two.

_Margret._ As it please Lord Lacie: but loves foolish looks Thinke footsteps miles and minutes to be houres.

_Lacie._ Ile hasten, Peggie, to make short returne.-- 155 But please your honour goe unto the lodge, We shall have butter, cheese, and venison; And yesterday I brought for Marg[a]ret A lustie bottle of neat clarret wine: Thus can we feast and entertaine your grace. 160

_Edward._ Tis cheere, Lord Lacie, for an emperour, If he respect the person and the place. Come, let us in; for I will all this night Ride post untill I come to Bacons cell. _Exeunt._

[Scene Ninth. _Oxford._]

_Enter_ HENRIE, EMPEROUR, CASTILE, ELLINOR, VANDERMAST, BUNGAY.

_Emperour._ Trust me, Plantagenet, these Oxford schooles Are richly seated neere the river side: The mountaines[1410] full of fat and fallow deere, The batling[1411] pastures laid[1412] with kine and flocks, The towne gorgeous with high built colledges, 5 And schollers seemely in their grave attire, Learned in searching principles of art.-- What is thy judgement, Jaquis Vandermast?

_Vandermast._ That lordly are the buildings of the towne, Spatious the romes, and full of pleasant walkes; 10 But for the doctors, how that they be learned, It may be meanly, for ought I can heere.

_Bungay._ I tell thee, Germane, Haspurge holds none such, None red so deepe as Oxenford containes: There are within our accademicke state 15 Men that may lecture it in Germanie To all the doctors of your Belgicke schools.

_Henrie._ Stand to him, Bungay, charme this Vandermast, And I will use thee as a royall king.

_Vandermast._ Wherein darest thou dispute with me? 20

_Bungay._ In what a doctor and a friar can.

_Vandermast._ Before rich Europes worthies put thou forth The doubtfull question unto Vandermast.

_Bungay._ Let it be this,--Whether the spirites of piromancie or geomancie be most predominant in magick? 25

_Vander._ I say, of piromancie.

_Bungay._ And I, of geomancie.

_Vander._ The cabbalists that wright of magick spels, As Hermes,[1413] Melchie,[1414] and Pithagoras, Affirme that, mongst the quadruplicitie 30 Of elementall essence, _terra_ is but thought To be a _punctum_ squarèd to[1415] the rest; And that the compasse of ascending eliments Exceed in bignesse as they doe in height; Judging the concave circle of the sonne 35 To hold the rest in his circomference. If, then, as Hermes saies, the fire be greatst, Purest, and onely giveth shape to spirites Then must these demones that haunt that place Be every way superiour to the rest. 40

_Bungay._ I reason not of elementall shapes, Nor tell I of the concave lattitudes, Noting their essence nor their qualitie, But of the spirites that piromancie calles, And of the vigour of the geomanticke fiends. 45 I tell thee, Germane, magicke haunts the grounds,[1416] And those strange necromantick spels That worke such shewes and wondering in the world Are acted by those geomanticke spirites That Hermes calleth _terræ filii_. 50 The fierie spirits are but transparant shades, That lightly passe as heralts to beare newes; But earthly fiends, closd in the lowest deepe, Dissever mountaines, if they be but chargd, Being more grose and massie in their power. 55

_Vander._ Rather these earthly geomantike spirits Are dull and like the place where they remaine; For when proud Lucipher fell from the heavens, The spirites and angels that did sin with him, Retaind their locall essence as their faults, 60 All subject under _Lunas_ continent: They which offended lesse hang[1417] in the fire, And second faults did rest within the aire; But Lucifer and his proud hearted fiends Were throwne into the center of the earth, 65 Having lesse understanding than the rest, As having greater sinne and lesser grace. Therfore such grosse and earthly spirits doe serve For juglers, witches, and vild[1418] sorcerers; Whereas the piromantike genii[1419] 70 Are mightie, swift, and of farre reaching power. But graunt that geomancie hath most force; Bungay, to please these mightie potentates, Proove by some instance what thy art can doe.

_Bungay._ I will. 75

_Emper._ Now, English Harry, here begins the game; We shall see sport betweene these learned men.

_Vandermast._ What wilt thou doe?

_Bung._ Shew thee the tree, leavd with refined gold, Wheron the fearfull dragon held his seate, 80 That watcht the garden cald Hesperides[1420] Subdued and wonne by conquering Hercules.

_Vandermast._ Well done![1421]

_Here_ BUNGAY _conjures, and the Tree appeares with the Dragon shooting fire._

_Henrie._ What say you, royall lordings,[1422] to my frier? Hath he not done a point of cunning skill? 85

_Vander._ Ech scholler in the nicromantike spels Can doe as much as Bungay hath performd: But as Alcmenas basterd ras'd[1423] this tree, So will I raise him up as when he lived, And cause him pull the dragon from his seate, 90 And teare the branches peecemeale from the roote.-- Hercules! _Prodi,_[1424] _prodi_, Hercules!

HERCULES _appeares in his Lions skin_.

_Hercules._ _Quis me vult?_

_Vandermast._ Joves bastard sonne, thou Libian Hercules, Pull off the sprigs from off[1425] the Hesperian tree, 95 As once thou didst to win the golden fruit.

_Hercules._ _Fiat._

_Heere he begins to breake the branches._

_Vander._ Now, Bungay, if thou canst by magicke charme The fiend, appearing like great Hercules, From pulling downe the branches of the tree, 100 Then art thou worthy[1426] to be counted learned.

_Bungay._ I cannot.