[Scene Thirteenth.Frier Bacons cell.]

Henrie.Raphe tels all; you shall have a good secretarie of him.—73But, Lacie, haste thee post to Fresingfield;For ere thou hast fitted all things for her state,75The solemne marriage day will be at hand.Lacie.I go, my Lord.Exit Lacie.Emperour.How shall we passe this day, my lord?Henrie.To horse, my lord; the day is passing faire,Weele flie the partridge, or go rouse the deere.80Follow, my lords; you shall not want for sport.

Henrie.Raphe tels all; you shall have a good secretarie of him.—73

But, Lacie, haste thee post to Fresingfield;

For ere thou hast fitted all things for her state,75

The solemne marriage day will be at hand.

Lacie.I go, my Lord.Exit Lacie.

Lacie.I go, my Lord.

Exit Lacie.

Emperour.How shall we passe this day, my lord?

Henrie.To horse, my lord; the day is passing faire,Weele flie the partridge, or go rouse the deere.80Follow, my lords; you shall not want for sport.

Henrie.To horse, my lord; the day is passing faire,

Weele flie the partridge, or go rouse the deere.80

Follow, my lords; you shall not want for sport.

Exeunt.

EnterFrier BaconwithFrier Bungayto his cell.

Bungay.What meanes the frier that frolickt it of late,To sit as melancholie in his cell[1518]As if he had neither lost nor wonne to-day?Bacon.Ah, Bungay,[1519]... my Brazen-head is spo[i]l'd,My glorie gone, my seven yeares studie lost!5The fame of Bacon, bru[i]ted through the world,Shall end and perish with this deepe disgrace.Bun.Bacon hath built foundation of[1520]his fameSo surely on the wings of true report,With acting strange and uncoth miracles,10As this cannot infringe what he deserves.Bacon.Bungay, sit down, for by prospective skillI find this day shall fall out ominous:Some deadly act shall tide me ere I sleep;But what and wherein little can I gesse,15My minde is heavy, what so ere shall hap.[1521]

Bungay.What meanes the frier that frolickt it of late,To sit as melancholie in his cell[1518]As if he had neither lost nor wonne to-day?

Bungay.What meanes the frier that frolickt it of late,

To sit as melancholie in his cell[1518]

As if he had neither lost nor wonne to-day?

Bacon.Ah, Bungay,[1519]... my Brazen-head is spo[i]l'd,My glorie gone, my seven yeares studie lost!5The fame of Bacon, bru[i]ted through the world,Shall end and perish with this deepe disgrace.

Bacon.Ah, Bungay,[1519]... my Brazen-head is spo[i]l'd,

My glorie gone, my seven yeares studie lost!5

The fame of Bacon, bru[i]ted through the world,

Shall end and perish with this deepe disgrace.

Bun.Bacon hath built foundation of[1520]his fameSo surely on the wings of true report,With acting strange and uncoth miracles,10As this cannot infringe what he deserves.

Bun.Bacon hath built foundation of[1520]his fame

So surely on the wings of true report,

With acting strange and uncoth miracles,10

As this cannot infringe what he deserves.

Bacon.Bungay, sit down, for by prospective skillI find this day shall fall out ominous:Some deadly act shall tide me ere I sleep;But what and wherein little can I gesse,15My minde is heavy, what so ere shall hap.[1521]

Bacon.Bungay, sit down, for by prospective skill

I find this day shall fall out ominous:

Some deadly act shall tide me ere I sleep;

But what and wherein little can I gesse,15

My minde is heavy, what so ere shall hap.[1521]

Enter twoSchollers,sonnes toLambertandSerlby.Knocke.

Whose that knocks?Bungay.Two schollers that desires to speake with you.Bacon.Bid them come in.—Now, my youths, what would you have?201 Scholler.Sir, we are Suffolkemen and neighbouring friends;Our fathers in their countries lustie squires;Their lands adjoyne: in Crackfield[1522]mine doth dwell,And his in Laxfield. We are colledge-mates,Sworne brothers, as our fathers live as friendes.25Bacon.To what end is all this?2 Scholler.Hearing your worship kept within your cellA glasse prospective, wherin men might seeWhat so their thoughts or hearts desire could wish,We come to know how that our fathers fare.30Bacon.My glasse is free for every honest man.Sit downe, and you shall see ere long,[1523]How or in what state your friendly fathers live.[1524]Meane while, tell me your names.Lambert.Mine Lambert.352 Scholler.And mine Serlsbie.Bacon.Bungay, I smell there will be[1525]a tragedie.

Whose that knocks?

Bungay.Two schollers that desires to speake with you.

Bacon.Bid them come in.—Now, my youths, what would you have?20

Bacon.Bid them come in.—

Now, my youths, what would you have?20

1 Scholler.Sir, we are Suffolkemen and neighbouring friends;Our fathers in their countries lustie squires;Their lands adjoyne: in Crackfield[1522]mine doth dwell,And his in Laxfield. We are colledge-mates,Sworne brothers, as our fathers live as friendes.25

1 Scholler.Sir, we are Suffolkemen and neighbouring friends;

Our fathers in their countries lustie squires;

Their lands adjoyne: in Crackfield[1522]mine doth dwell,

And his in Laxfield. We are colledge-mates,

Sworne brothers, as our fathers live as friendes.25

Bacon.To what end is all this?

2 Scholler.Hearing your worship kept within your cellA glasse prospective, wherin men might seeWhat so their thoughts or hearts desire could wish,We come to know how that our fathers fare.30

2 Scholler.Hearing your worship kept within your cell

A glasse prospective, wherin men might see

What so their thoughts or hearts desire could wish,

We come to know how that our fathers fare.30

Bacon.My glasse is free for every honest man.Sit downe, and you shall see ere long,[1523]How or in what state your friendly fathers live.[1524]Meane while, tell me your names.

Bacon.My glasse is free for every honest man.

Sit downe, and you shall see ere long,[1523]

How or in what state your friendly fathers live.[1524]

Meane while, tell me your names.

Lambert.Mine Lambert.35

2 Scholler.And mine Serlsbie.

Bacon.Bungay, I smell there will be[1525]a tragedie.

Enter[1526]LambertandSerlsbiewith rapiers and daggers.

Lambert.Serlsby, thou hast[1525]kept thine houre[1525]like a man;Th'art worthie of the title of a squire,That durst, for proofe of thy affection40And for thy mistresse favour, prize[1527]thy bloud.Thou knowst what words did passe at Fresingfield,Such shamelesse braves as manhood cannot brooke:I,[1528]for I skorne to beare such piercing taunts,—Prepare thee, Serlsbie; one of us will die.45Serlsbie.Thou seest I single [meet] thee [in] the field,[1529]And what I spake, Ile maintaine with my sword:Stand on thy guard, I cannot scold it out.And if thou kill me, thinke I have a sonne,That lives in Oxford in the Brodgateshall,[1530]50Who will revenge his fathers bloud with bloud.Lambert.And, Serlsbie, I have there a lusty boy,That dares at weapon buckle with thy sonne,And lives in Broadgates too, as well as thine:But draw thy rapier, for weele have a bout.[1531]55Bacon.Now, lustie yonkers, looke within the glasse,[1532]And tell me if you can discerne your sires.1 Scol.Serlsbie, tis hard; thy father offers wrongTo combat with my father in the field.2 Schol.Lambert, thou liest, my fathers is the abuse,[1533]60And thou shalt find it, if my father harme.[1534]Bungay.How goes it, sirs?1 Scholler.Our fathers are in combat hard by Fresingfield.Bacon.Sit still, my friendes, and see the event.Lambert.Why standst thou, Serlsbie? doubtst thou of thy life?A venie,[1535]man! fair Margret craves so much.66Serlsbie.Then this for her.1 Scholler.Ah, well thrust!2 Scholler.But marke the ward.

Lambert.Serlsby, thou hast[1525]kept thine houre[1525]like a man;

Th'art worthie of the title of a squire,

That durst, for proofe of thy affection40

And for thy mistresse favour, prize[1527]thy bloud.

Thou knowst what words did passe at Fresingfield,

Such shamelesse braves as manhood cannot brooke:

I,[1528]for I skorne to beare such piercing taunts,—

Prepare thee, Serlsbie; one of us will die.45

Serlsbie.Thou seest I single [meet] thee [in] the field,[1529]And what I spake, Ile maintaine with my sword:Stand on thy guard, I cannot scold it out.And if thou kill me, thinke I have a sonne,That lives in Oxford in the Brodgateshall,[1530]50Who will revenge his fathers bloud with bloud.

Serlsbie.Thou seest I single [meet] thee [in] the field,[1529]

And what I spake, Ile maintaine with my sword:

Stand on thy guard, I cannot scold it out.

And if thou kill me, thinke I have a sonne,

That lives in Oxford in the Brodgateshall,[1530]50

Who will revenge his fathers bloud with bloud.

Lambert.And, Serlsbie, I have there a lusty boy,That dares at weapon buckle with thy sonne,And lives in Broadgates too, as well as thine:But draw thy rapier, for weele have a bout.[1531]55

Lambert.And, Serlsbie, I have there a lusty boy,

That dares at weapon buckle with thy sonne,

And lives in Broadgates too, as well as thine:

But draw thy rapier, for weele have a bout.[1531]55

Bacon.Now, lustie yonkers, looke within the glasse,[1532]And tell me if you can discerne your sires.

Bacon.Now, lustie yonkers, looke within the glasse,[1532]

And tell me if you can discerne your sires.

1 Scol.Serlsbie, tis hard; thy father offers wrongTo combat with my father in the field.

1 Scol.Serlsbie, tis hard; thy father offers wrong

To combat with my father in the field.

2 Schol.Lambert, thou liest, my fathers is the abuse,[1533]60And thou shalt find it, if my father harme.[1534]

2 Schol.Lambert, thou liest, my fathers is the abuse,[1533]60

And thou shalt find it, if my father harme.[1534]

Bungay.How goes it, sirs?

1 Scholler.Our fathers are in combat hard by Fresingfield.

Bacon.Sit still, my friendes, and see the event.

Lambert.Why standst thou, Serlsbie? doubtst thou of thy life?A venie,[1535]man! fair Margret craves so much.66

Lambert.Why standst thou, Serlsbie? doubtst thou of thy life?

A venie,[1535]man! fair Margret craves so much.66

Serlsbie.Then this for her.

1 Scholler.Ah, well thrust!

2 Scholler.But marke the ward.

They[1536]fight and kill ech other.

Lambert.Oh, I am slaine!70

Serlsbie.And I,—Lord have mercie on me!

1 Scholler.My father slaine!—Serlby, ward that.

2 Scholler.And so is mine![1537]—Lambert, Ile quite thee well.

The twoSchollersstab on[e]another.

Bungay.O strange strattagem!

Bacon.See, Frier, where the fathers[1538]both lie dead!—75Bacon, thy magicke doth effect this massacre:This glasse prospective worketh manie woes;And therefore seeing these brave lustie Brutes,[1539]These friendly youths, did perish by thine art,End all thy magicke and thine art at once.80The poniard that did end the[1540]fatall[1541]lives,Shall breake the cause efficiat[1542]of their woes.So fade the glasse, and end with it the showesThat nigromancie did infuse the christall with.He breakes the glass.Bungay.What means learned Bacon thus to breake his glasse?Bacon.I tell thee, Bungay, it repents me sore86That ever Bacon meddled in this art.The houres I have spent in piromanticke spels,The fearefull tossing in the latest nightOf papers full of nigromanticke charmes,90Conjuring and adjuring divels and fiends,With stole and albe and strange pentaganon;[1543]The wresting of the holy name of God,As Sother,[1544]Elaim, and Adonaie,[1545]Alpha, Manoth, and Tetragramiton,[1546]95With praying to the five-fould[1547]powers of heaven,Are instances that Bacon must be damdeFor using divels to countervaile his God.—Yet, Bacon, cheere thee, drowne not in despaire:Sinnes have their salves, repentance can do much;[1548]100Thinke Mercie sits where Justice holds her seate,And from those wounds those bloudie Jews did pierce,Which by thy magicke oft did bleed a fresh,From thence for thee the dew of mercy drops,To wash the wrath of hie Jehovahs ire,105And make thee as a new borne babe from sinne.—Bungay, Ile spend the remnant of my lifeIn pure devotion, praying to my GodThat he would save what Bacon vainly lost.Exit.

Bacon.See, Frier, where the fathers[1538]both lie dead!—75

Bacon, thy magicke doth effect this massacre:

This glasse prospective worketh manie woes;

And therefore seeing these brave lustie Brutes,[1539]

These friendly youths, did perish by thine art,

End all thy magicke and thine art at once.80

The poniard that did end the[1540]fatall[1541]lives,

Shall breake the cause efficiat[1542]of their woes.

So fade the glasse, and end with it the showes

That nigromancie did infuse the christall with.He breakes the glass.

Bungay.What means learned Bacon thus to breake his glasse?

Bacon.I tell thee, Bungay, it repents me sore86That ever Bacon meddled in this art.The houres I have spent in piromanticke spels,The fearefull tossing in the latest nightOf papers full of nigromanticke charmes,90Conjuring and adjuring divels and fiends,With stole and albe and strange pentaganon;[1543]The wresting of the holy name of God,As Sother,[1544]Elaim, and Adonaie,[1545]Alpha, Manoth, and Tetragramiton,[1546]95With praying to the five-fould[1547]powers of heaven,Are instances that Bacon must be damdeFor using divels to countervaile his God.—Yet, Bacon, cheere thee, drowne not in despaire:Sinnes have their salves, repentance can do much;[1548]100Thinke Mercie sits where Justice holds her seate,And from those wounds those bloudie Jews did pierce,Which by thy magicke oft did bleed a fresh,From thence for thee the dew of mercy drops,To wash the wrath of hie Jehovahs ire,105And make thee as a new borne babe from sinne.—Bungay, Ile spend the remnant of my lifeIn pure devotion, praying to my GodThat he would save what Bacon vainly lost.Exit.

Bacon.I tell thee, Bungay, it repents me sore86

That ever Bacon meddled in this art.

The houres I have spent in piromanticke spels,

The fearefull tossing in the latest night

Of papers full of nigromanticke charmes,90

Conjuring and adjuring divels and fiends,

With stole and albe and strange pentaganon;[1543]

The wresting of the holy name of God,

As Sother,[1544]Elaim, and Adonaie,[1545]

Alpha, Manoth, and Tetragramiton,[1546]95

With praying to the five-fould[1547]powers of heaven,

Are instances that Bacon must be damde

For using divels to countervaile his God.—

Yet, Bacon, cheere thee, drowne not in despaire:

Sinnes have their salves, repentance can do much;[1548]100

Thinke Mercie sits where Justice holds her seate,

And from those wounds those bloudie Jews did pierce,

Which by thy magicke oft did bleed a fresh,

From thence for thee the dew of mercy drops,

To wash the wrath of hie Jehovahs ire,105

And make thee as a new borne babe from sinne.—

Bungay, Ile spend the remnant of my life

In pure devotion, praying to my God

That he would save what Bacon vainly lost.

Exit.

EnterMargretin nuns apparel, Keeper,her father, and theirFriend.

Keep.Margret, be not so headstrong in these vows:O, burie not such beautie in a cell,That England hath held famous for the hue!Thy fathers haire like to the silver bloomesThat beautifie the shrubs of Affrica,5Shall fall before the dated time of death,Thus to forgoe his lovely Marg[a]ret.Margret.A[h], father, when the hermonie of heavenSoundeth the measures of a lively faith,The vaine illusions of this flattering world10Seemes odious to the thoughts of Marg[a]ret.I loved once,—Lord Lacie was my love;And now I hate my selfe for that I lovd,And doated more on him than on my God;For this I scourge my selfe with sharpe repents.15But now the touch of such aspiring sinnesTels me all love is lust but love of heavens:That beautie usde for love is vanitie;The world containes naught but alluring baites,Pride,[1549]flatterie, and inconstant thoughts.20To shun the pricks of death,[1550]I leave the world,And vow to meditate on heavenly blisse,To live in Framingham a holy nunne,Holy and pure in conscience and in deed;And for to wish all maides to learne of me25To seek heavens joy before earths vanitie.Friend.And will you, then, Margret, be shorn a nunne, and so leave us all?Margret.Now farewell world, the engin of all woe!Farewell to friends and father! Welcome Christ!30Adiew to daintie robes! this base attireBetter befits an humble minde to GodThan all the show of rich abilliments.Love[1551]... oh love!—and, with fond love, farewellSweet Lacie, whom I loved once so deare!35Ever be well, but never in my thoughts,Least I offend to think on Lacies love:But even to that, as to the rest, farewell.

Keep.Margret, be not so headstrong in these vows:

O, burie not such beautie in a cell,

That England hath held famous for the hue!

Thy fathers haire like to the silver bloomes

That beautifie the shrubs of Affrica,5

Shall fall before the dated time of death,

Thus to forgoe his lovely Marg[a]ret.

Margret.A[h], father, when the hermonie of heavenSoundeth the measures of a lively faith,The vaine illusions of this flattering world10Seemes odious to the thoughts of Marg[a]ret.I loved once,—Lord Lacie was my love;And now I hate my selfe for that I lovd,And doated more on him than on my God;For this I scourge my selfe with sharpe repents.15But now the touch of such aspiring sinnesTels me all love is lust but love of heavens:That beautie usde for love is vanitie;The world containes naught but alluring baites,Pride,[1549]flatterie, and inconstant thoughts.20To shun the pricks of death,[1550]I leave the world,And vow to meditate on heavenly blisse,To live in Framingham a holy nunne,Holy and pure in conscience and in deed;And for to wish all maides to learne of me25To seek heavens joy before earths vanitie.

Margret.A[h], father, when the hermonie of heaven

Soundeth the measures of a lively faith,

The vaine illusions of this flattering world10

Seemes odious to the thoughts of Marg[a]ret.

I loved once,—Lord Lacie was my love;

And now I hate my selfe for that I lovd,

And doated more on him than on my God;

For this I scourge my selfe with sharpe repents.15

But now the touch of such aspiring sinnes

Tels me all love is lust but love of heavens:

That beautie usde for love is vanitie;

The world containes naught but alluring baites,

Pride,[1549]flatterie, and inconstant thoughts.20

To shun the pricks of death,[1550]I leave the world,

And vow to meditate on heavenly blisse,

To live in Framingham a holy nunne,

Holy and pure in conscience and in deed;

And for to wish all maides to learne of me25

To seek heavens joy before earths vanitie.

Friend.And will you, then, Margret, be shorn a nunne, and so leave us all?

Margret.Now farewell world, the engin of all woe!Farewell to friends and father! Welcome Christ!30Adiew to daintie robes! this base attireBetter befits an humble minde to GodThan all the show of rich abilliments.Love[1551]... oh love!—and, with fond love, farewellSweet Lacie, whom I loved once so deare!35Ever be well, but never in my thoughts,Least I offend to think on Lacies love:But even to that, as to the rest, farewell.

Margret.Now farewell world, the engin of all woe!

Farewell to friends and father! Welcome Christ!30

Adiew to daintie robes! this base attire

Better befits an humble minde to God

Than all the show of rich abilliments.

Love[1551]... oh love!—and, with fond love, farewell

Sweet Lacie, whom I loved once so deare!35

Ever be well, but never in my thoughts,

Least I offend to think on Lacies love:

But even to that, as to the rest, farewell.

EnterLacie, Warrain, Ermsbie,booted and spurd.

Lacie.Come on, my wags, weere near the keepers lodge.Heere have I oft walkt in the watrie meades,40And chatted with my lovely Marg[a]ret.Warraine.Sirha Ned, is not this the keeper?Lacie.Tis the same.Ermsbie.The old lecher hath gotten holy mutton to him; a nunne, my lord.45Lacie.Keeper, how farest thou? holla, man, what cheere?How doth Peggie, thy daughter and my love?Keeper.Ah, good my lord! O, wo is me for Pegge!See where she stands clad in her nunnes attire,Readie for to be shorne in Framingham:50She leaves the world because she left[1552]your love.Oh, good my lord, perswade her if you can!Lacie.Why, how now, Margret! what, a malecontent?A nunne? what holy father taught you this,To taske your selfe to such a tedious life55As die a maid? twere injurie to me,To smother up such bewtie in a cell.Margret.Lord Lacie, thinking of thy[1553]former[1554]misse,How fond the prime of wanton yeares were spentIn love (Oh, fie upon that fond conceite,60Whose hap and essence hangeth in the eye!),I leave both love and loves content at once,Betaking me to him that is true love,And leaving all the world for love of him.Lacy.Whence, Peggie, comes this metamorphosis?65What, shorne a nun, and I have from the courtPosted with coursers to convaie thee henceTo Windsore, where our mariage shalbe kept!Thy wedding robes are in the tailors hands.Come, Peggy, leave these peremptorie vowes.70Margret.Did not my lord resigne his interest,And make divorce 'twixt Marg[a]ret and him?Lacie.Twas but to try sweete Peggies constancie.But will fair Margret leave her love and lord?Margret.Is not heavens joy before earths fading blisse,75And life above sweeter than life in love?Lacy.Why,[1555]then, Margret will be shorne a nun?Marg.Margret hath made a vow which may not be revokt.Warraine.We cannot stay, my lord;[1555]and if she be so strict,Our leisure graunts us not to woo a fresh.80Ermsby.Choose you, fair damsell,—yet the choise is yours,—Either a solemne nunnerie or the court,God or Lord Lacie: which[1556]contents you best,To be a nun or els Lord Lacies wife?Lacie.A good motion.—Peggie, your answer must be short.Margret.The flesh is frayle: my lord doth know it well86That when he comes with his inchanting face,What so ere betyde, I cannot say him nay.Off goes the habite of a maidens heart,And, seeing fortune will, faire Fremingham,90And all the shew of holy nuns, farewell!Lacie, for me, if he wilbe my lord.Lacie.Peggie, thy lord, thy love, thy husband.[1557]Trust me, by truth of knighthood, that the kingStaies for to marry matchles Ellinour,95Until I bring thee richly to the court,That one day may both marry her and thee.—How saist thou, Keeper? art thou glad of this?Keeper.As if[1558]the English king had givenThe parke and deere of Frisingfield to me.100Erms.I pray thee, my Lord of Sussex, why art thou in a broune study?War.To see the nature of women; that be they never so neareGod, yet they love to die in a mans armes.Lacie.What have you fit for breakefast? We have hiedAnd posted all this night to Frisingfield.[1559]106Mar.Butter and cheese, and humbl[e]s[1560]of a deere,Such as poore keepers have within their lodge.[1559]Lacie.And not a bottle of wine?Margret.Weele find one for my lord.110Lacie.Come, Sussex, ... lets[1561]in: we shall have more,For she speaks least, to hold her promise sure.[1559][Exeunt.]

Lacie.Come on, my wags, weere near the keepers lodge.Heere have I oft walkt in the watrie meades,40And chatted with my lovely Marg[a]ret.

Lacie.Come on, my wags, weere near the keepers lodge.

Heere have I oft walkt in the watrie meades,40

And chatted with my lovely Marg[a]ret.

Warraine.Sirha Ned, is not this the keeper?

Lacie.Tis the same.

Ermsbie.The old lecher hath gotten holy mutton to him; a nunne, my lord.45

Lacie.Keeper, how farest thou? holla, man, what cheere?How doth Peggie, thy daughter and my love?

Lacie.Keeper, how farest thou? holla, man, what cheere?

How doth Peggie, thy daughter and my love?

Keeper.Ah, good my lord! O, wo is me for Pegge!See where she stands clad in her nunnes attire,Readie for to be shorne in Framingham:50She leaves the world because she left[1552]your love.Oh, good my lord, perswade her if you can!

Keeper.Ah, good my lord! O, wo is me for Pegge!

See where she stands clad in her nunnes attire,

Readie for to be shorne in Framingham:50

She leaves the world because she left[1552]your love.

Oh, good my lord, perswade her if you can!

Lacie.Why, how now, Margret! what, a malecontent?A nunne? what holy father taught you this,To taske your selfe to such a tedious life55As die a maid? twere injurie to me,To smother up such bewtie in a cell.

Lacie.Why, how now, Margret! what, a malecontent?

A nunne? what holy father taught you this,

To taske your selfe to such a tedious life55

As die a maid? twere injurie to me,

To smother up such bewtie in a cell.

Margret.Lord Lacie, thinking of thy[1553]former[1554]misse,How fond the prime of wanton yeares were spentIn love (Oh, fie upon that fond conceite,60Whose hap and essence hangeth in the eye!),I leave both love and loves content at once,Betaking me to him that is true love,And leaving all the world for love of him.

Margret.Lord Lacie, thinking of thy[1553]former[1554]misse,

How fond the prime of wanton yeares were spent

In love (Oh, fie upon that fond conceite,60

Whose hap and essence hangeth in the eye!),

I leave both love and loves content at once,

Betaking me to him that is true love,

And leaving all the world for love of him.

Lacy.Whence, Peggie, comes this metamorphosis?65What, shorne a nun, and I have from the courtPosted with coursers to convaie thee henceTo Windsore, where our mariage shalbe kept!Thy wedding robes are in the tailors hands.Come, Peggy, leave these peremptorie vowes.70

Lacy.Whence, Peggie, comes this metamorphosis?65

What, shorne a nun, and I have from the court

Posted with coursers to convaie thee hence

To Windsore, where our mariage shalbe kept!

Thy wedding robes are in the tailors hands.

Come, Peggy, leave these peremptorie vowes.70

Margret.Did not my lord resigne his interest,And make divorce 'twixt Marg[a]ret and him?

Margret.Did not my lord resigne his interest,

And make divorce 'twixt Marg[a]ret and him?

Lacie.Twas but to try sweete Peggies constancie.But will fair Margret leave her love and lord?

Lacie.Twas but to try sweete Peggies constancie.

But will fair Margret leave her love and lord?

Margret.Is not heavens joy before earths fading blisse,75And life above sweeter than life in love?

Margret.Is not heavens joy before earths fading blisse,75

And life above sweeter than life in love?

Lacy.Why,[1555]then, Margret will be shorne a nun?

Marg.Margret hath made a vow which may not be revokt.

Warraine.We cannot stay, my lord;[1555]and if she be so strict,Our leisure graunts us not to woo a fresh.80

Warraine.We cannot stay, my lord;[1555]and if she be so strict,

Our leisure graunts us not to woo a fresh.80

Ermsby.Choose you, fair damsell,—yet the choise is yours,—Either a solemne nunnerie or the court,God or Lord Lacie: which[1556]contents you best,To be a nun or els Lord Lacies wife?

Ermsby.Choose you, fair damsell,—yet the choise is yours,—

Either a solemne nunnerie or the court,

God or Lord Lacie: which[1556]contents you best,

To be a nun or els Lord Lacies wife?

Lacie.A good motion.—Peggie, your answer must be short.

Margret.The flesh is frayle: my lord doth know it well86That when he comes with his inchanting face,What so ere betyde, I cannot say him nay.Off goes the habite of a maidens heart,And, seeing fortune will, faire Fremingham,90And all the shew of holy nuns, farewell!Lacie, for me, if he wilbe my lord.

Margret.The flesh is frayle: my lord doth know it well86

That when he comes with his inchanting face,

What so ere betyde, I cannot say him nay.

Off goes the habite of a maidens heart,

And, seeing fortune will, faire Fremingham,90

And all the shew of holy nuns, farewell!

Lacie, for me, if he wilbe my lord.

Lacie.Peggie, thy lord, thy love, thy husband.[1557]Trust me, by truth of knighthood, that the kingStaies for to marry matchles Ellinour,95Until I bring thee richly to the court,That one day may both marry her and thee.—How saist thou, Keeper? art thou glad of this?

Lacie.Peggie, thy lord, thy love, thy husband.[1557]

Trust me, by truth of knighthood, that the king

Staies for to marry matchles Ellinour,95

Until I bring thee richly to the court,

That one day may both marry her and thee.—

How saist thou, Keeper? art thou glad of this?

Keeper.As if[1558]the English king had givenThe parke and deere of Frisingfield to me.100

Keeper.As if[1558]the English king had given

The parke and deere of Frisingfield to me.100

Erms.I pray thee, my Lord of Sussex, why art thou in a broune study?

War.To see the nature of women; that be they never so neareGod, yet they love to die in a mans armes.

War.To see the nature of women; that be they never so neare

God, yet they love to die in a mans armes.

Lacie.What have you fit for breakefast? We have hiedAnd posted all this night to Frisingfield.[1559]106

Lacie.What have you fit for breakefast? We have hied

And posted all this night to Frisingfield.[1559]106

Mar.Butter and cheese, and humbl[e]s[1560]of a deere,Such as poore keepers have within their lodge.[1559]

Mar.Butter and cheese, and humbl[e]s[1560]of a deere,

Such as poore keepers have within their lodge.[1559]

Lacie.And not a bottle of wine?

Margret.Weele find one for my lord.110

Lacie.Come, Sussex, ... lets[1561]in: we shall have more,For she speaks least, to hold her promise sure.[1559][Exeunt.]

Lacie.Come, Sussex, ... lets[1561]in: we shall have more,

For she speaks least, to hold her promise sure.[1559]

[Exeunt.]

Enter aDevill[1562]to seekeMiles.

Devill.How restles are the ghosts of hellish spirites,When everie charmer with his magick spelsCals us from nine-fold trenched Phlegethon,[1563]To scud and over-scoure the earth in postUpon the speedie wings of swiftest winds!5Now Bacon hath raisd me from the darkest deepe,To search about the world for Miles his man,For Miles, and to torment his lasie bonesFor careles watching[1564]of his Brazen-head.See where he comes: Oh, he is mine.10

Devill.How restles are the ghosts of hellish spirites,

When everie charmer with his magick spels

Cals us from nine-fold trenched Phlegethon,[1563]

To scud and over-scoure the earth in post

Upon the speedie wings of swiftest winds!5

Now Bacon hath raisd me from the darkest deepe,

To search about the world for Miles his man,

For Miles, and to torment his lasie bones

For careles watching[1564]of his Brazen-head.

See where he comes: Oh, he is mine.10

EnterMileswith a gowne and a corner cap.

Miles.A scholler, quoth you! marry, sir, I would I had bene made a botlemaker when I was made a scholler; for I can getneither to be a deacon, reader,[1565]nor schoolemaister, no, not the clarke of a parish. Some call me dunce; another saith, my head is as full of Latine as an egs full of oatemeale: thus I am tormented, that the devil and Frier Bacon haunts me.—Good Lord, heers one of my maisters devils! Ile goe speake to him.—What, Maister Plutus, how chere you?

Devill.Doost thou know me?19

Miles.Know you, sir! why, are not you one of my maisters devils, that were wont to come to my maister, Doctor Bacon, at Brazennose?

Devil.Yes, marry, am I.

Miles.Good Lord, M[aister] Plutus, I have seene you a thousand times at my maisters, and yet I had never the manners to make you drinke. But, sir, I am glad to see how conformable you are to the statute.[1566]—I warrant you, hees as yeomanly a man as you shall see: marke you, maisters, heers a plaine honest man, without welt or garde.[1566]—But I pray you, sir, do you come lately from hel?

Devil.I, marry: how then?30

Miles.Faith, tis a place I have desired long to see: have you not good tipling-houses there? may not a man have a lustie fier there, a pot of good ale, a paire of cardes, a swinging peece of chalke,[1567]and a browne toast that will clap a white wastcoat[1568]on a cup of good drinke?35

Devil.All this you may have there.

Miles.You are for me, freinde, and I am for you. But I pray you, may I not have an office there?

Devil.Yes, a thousand: what wouldst thou be?39

Miles.By my troth, sir, in a place where I may profit my selfe. I know hel is a hot place, and men are mervailous drie, and much drinke is spent there; I would be a tapster.

Devil.Thou shalt.

Miles.Theres nothing lets me from going with you, but that tis a long journey, and I have never a horse.45

Devil.Thou shalt ride on my backe.[1569]

Miles.Now surely her[e]s a courteous devil, that, for to pleasure[1570]his friend, will not stick to make a jade of him self.—But I pray you, goodman friend, let me move a question to you.

Dev.Whats that?50

Miles.I pray you, whether is your pace a trot or an amble?

Dev.An amble.

Miles.Tis well; but take heed it be not a trot; but tis no matter, Ile prevent it.

[Stoops.]

Dev.What doest?55

Miles.Mary, friend, I put on my spurs; for if I find your pace either a trot or els uneasie, Ile put you to a false gallop; Ile make you feele the benefit of my spurs.

Dev.Get up upon my backe.

Miles.O Lord, here's even a goodly marvel, when a man rides to hell on the devil's back!

Exeunt: [theDevil]roaring.

Enter theEmperourwith a pointlesse sword; next theKing of Castilecarrying a sword with a point;Lacycarrying the globe;Edward;Warrainecarrying a rod of gold with a dove on it;[1571]Ermsbywith a crowne and sceptre; theQueene; [Princess Elinor]with the faire Maide of Fresingfield on her left hand;Henry;Bacon;with other Lords attending.

Edward.Great potentates, earth's miracles for state,Think that Prince Edward humbles at your feet,And, for these favours, on his martial swordHe vows perpetuall homage to yourselves,Yeelding these honours unto Ellinour.5Henrie.Gramercies, lordings; old Plantagenet,That rules and swayes the Albion diademe,With teares discovers these conceived joyes,And vows requitall if his men at armes,The wealth of England, or due honours done10To Ellinor, may quite his favourites.[1572]But all this while what say you to the damesThat shine like to the christall lampes of heaven?Emperour.If but a third were added to these two,They did surpasse those gorgeous images15That gloried Ida with rich beauties wealth.Mar.Tis I, my lords, who humbly on my kneeMust yeeld her horisons to mighty JoveFor lifting up his handmaide to this state;Brought from her homely cottage to the court,20And grasde with kings, princes, and emperours,To whom (next to the noble Lincolne earle)I vow obedience, and such humble loveAs may a handmaid to such mighty men.P. Elin.Thou martiall man that wears the Almaine crown,25And you the western potentates of might,The Albian princesse, English Edwards wife,Proud that the lovely star of Fresingfield,Fair Margret, Countess to the Lincoln earle,Attends on Ellinour,—gramercies, lord, for her,—30Tis I give thankes for Margret, to you all,And rest for her due bounden to your selves.Henrie.Seeing the marriage is solemnized,[1573]Lets march in triumph to the royall feast.—But why stands Frier Bacon here so mute?35Bacon.Repentant for the follies of my youth,That magicks secret mysteries misled,And joyfull that this royall marriagePortends such blisse unto this matchless realme.Hen.Why, Bacon, what strange event shall happen to this land?Or what shall grow from Edward and his queene?41Bacon.I find by deep praescience[1574]of mine art,Which once I tempred in my secret cell,That here where Brute did build his Troynovant,From forth the royall garden of a king45Shall flourish out so rich and fair a bud,Whose brightnesse shall deface proud Phœbus' flowre,And over-shadow Albion with her leaves.Till then Mars shall be master of the field,But then the stormy threats of war shall cease:50The horse shall stamp as carelesse of the pike,Drums shall be turn'd to timbrels of delight;With wealthy favours plenty shall enrichThe strond that gladded wandring Brute to see,And peace from heaven shall harbour in these leaves55That gorgeous beautifies this matchlesse flower:Apollos helletropian[1575]then shall stoope,And Venus hyacinth shall vaile[1576]her top;Juno shall shut her gilliflowers up,And Pallas bay shall bash her brightest greene;60Ceres carnation, in consort with those,Shall stoope and wonder at Dianas rose.Henrie.This prophecie is mysticall.—But, glorious commanders[1577]of Europas love,That make faire England like that wealthy ile65Circled with Gihen and swift[1578]Euphrates,In royallizing Henries AlbionWith presence of your princely mightinesse,—Lets[1579]march: the tables all are spred,And viandes, such as Englands wealth affords,70Are ready set to furnish out the bords.You shall have welcome, mighty potentates:It rests to furnish up this royall feast,Only your hearts be frolicke; for the timeCraves that we taste of naught but jouissance.75Thus glories England over all the west.[Exeunt omnes.]

Edward.Great potentates, earth's miracles for state,

Think that Prince Edward humbles at your feet,

And, for these favours, on his martial sword

He vows perpetuall homage to yourselves,

Yeelding these honours unto Ellinour.5

Henrie.Gramercies, lordings; old Plantagenet,That rules and swayes the Albion diademe,With teares discovers these conceived joyes,And vows requitall if his men at armes,The wealth of England, or due honours done10To Ellinor, may quite his favourites.[1572]But all this while what say you to the damesThat shine like to the christall lampes of heaven?

Henrie.Gramercies, lordings; old Plantagenet,

That rules and swayes the Albion diademe,

With teares discovers these conceived joyes,

And vows requitall if his men at armes,

The wealth of England, or due honours done10

To Ellinor, may quite his favourites.[1572]

But all this while what say you to the dames

That shine like to the christall lampes of heaven?

Emperour.If but a third were added to these two,They did surpasse those gorgeous images15That gloried Ida with rich beauties wealth.

Emperour.If but a third were added to these two,

They did surpasse those gorgeous images15

That gloried Ida with rich beauties wealth.

Mar.Tis I, my lords, who humbly on my kneeMust yeeld her horisons to mighty JoveFor lifting up his handmaide to this state;Brought from her homely cottage to the court,20And grasde with kings, princes, and emperours,To whom (next to the noble Lincolne earle)I vow obedience, and such humble loveAs may a handmaid to such mighty men.

Mar.Tis I, my lords, who humbly on my knee

Must yeeld her horisons to mighty Jove

For lifting up his handmaide to this state;

Brought from her homely cottage to the court,20

And grasde with kings, princes, and emperours,

To whom (next to the noble Lincolne earle)

I vow obedience, and such humble love

As may a handmaid to such mighty men.

P. Elin.Thou martiall man that wears the Almaine crown,25And you the western potentates of might,The Albian princesse, English Edwards wife,Proud that the lovely star of Fresingfield,Fair Margret, Countess to the Lincoln earle,Attends on Ellinour,—gramercies, lord, for her,—30Tis I give thankes for Margret, to you all,And rest for her due bounden to your selves.

P. Elin.Thou martiall man that wears the Almaine crown,25

And you the western potentates of might,

The Albian princesse, English Edwards wife,

Proud that the lovely star of Fresingfield,

Fair Margret, Countess to the Lincoln earle,

Attends on Ellinour,—gramercies, lord, for her,—30

Tis I give thankes for Margret, to you all,

And rest for her due bounden to your selves.

Henrie.Seeing the marriage is solemnized,[1573]Lets march in triumph to the royall feast.—But why stands Frier Bacon here so mute?35

Henrie.Seeing the marriage is solemnized,[1573]

Lets march in triumph to the royall feast.—

But why stands Frier Bacon here so mute?35

Bacon.Repentant for the follies of my youth,That magicks secret mysteries misled,And joyfull that this royall marriagePortends such blisse unto this matchless realme.

Bacon.Repentant for the follies of my youth,

That magicks secret mysteries misled,

And joyfull that this royall marriage

Portends such blisse unto this matchless realme.

Hen.Why, Bacon, what strange event shall happen to this land?Or what shall grow from Edward and his queene?41

Hen.Why, Bacon, what strange event shall happen to this land?

Or what shall grow from Edward and his queene?41

Bacon.I find by deep praescience[1574]of mine art,Which once I tempred in my secret cell,That here where Brute did build his Troynovant,From forth the royall garden of a king45Shall flourish out so rich and fair a bud,Whose brightnesse shall deface proud Phœbus' flowre,And over-shadow Albion with her leaves.Till then Mars shall be master of the field,But then the stormy threats of war shall cease:50The horse shall stamp as carelesse of the pike,Drums shall be turn'd to timbrels of delight;With wealthy favours plenty shall enrichThe strond that gladded wandring Brute to see,And peace from heaven shall harbour in these leaves55That gorgeous beautifies this matchlesse flower:Apollos helletropian[1575]then shall stoope,And Venus hyacinth shall vaile[1576]her top;Juno shall shut her gilliflowers up,And Pallas bay shall bash her brightest greene;60Ceres carnation, in consort with those,Shall stoope and wonder at Dianas rose.

Bacon.I find by deep praescience[1574]of mine art,

Which once I tempred in my secret cell,

That here where Brute did build his Troynovant,

From forth the royall garden of a king45

Shall flourish out so rich and fair a bud,

Whose brightnesse shall deface proud Phœbus' flowre,

And over-shadow Albion with her leaves.

Till then Mars shall be master of the field,

But then the stormy threats of war shall cease:50

The horse shall stamp as carelesse of the pike,

Drums shall be turn'd to timbrels of delight;

With wealthy favours plenty shall enrich

The strond that gladded wandring Brute to see,

And peace from heaven shall harbour in these leaves55

That gorgeous beautifies this matchlesse flower:

Apollos helletropian[1575]then shall stoope,

And Venus hyacinth shall vaile[1576]her top;

Juno shall shut her gilliflowers up,

And Pallas bay shall bash her brightest greene;60

Ceres carnation, in consort with those,

Shall stoope and wonder at Dianas rose.

Henrie.This prophecie is mysticall.—But, glorious commanders[1577]of Europas love,That make faire England like that wealthy ile65Circled with Gihen and swift[1578]Euphrates,In royallizing Henries AlbionWith presence of your princely mightinesse,—Lets[1579]march: the tables all are spred,And viandes, such as Englands wealth affords,70Are ready set to furnish out the bords.You shall have welcome, mighty potentates:It rests to furnish up this royall feast,Only your hearts be frolicke; for the timeCraves that we taste of naught but jouissance.75Thus glories England over all the west.[Exeunt omnes.]

Henrie.This prophecie is mysticall.—

But, glorious commanders[1577]of Europas love,

That make faire England like that wealthy ile65

Circled with Gihen and swift[1578]Euphrates,

In royallizing Henries Albion

With presence of your princely mightinesse,—

Lets[1579]march: the tables all are spred,

And viandes, such as Englands wealth affords,70

Are ready set to furnish out the bords.

You shall have welcome, mighty potentates:

It rests to furnish up this royall feast,

Only your hearts be frolicke; for the time

Craves that we taste of naught but jouissance.75

Thus glories England over all the west.

[Exeunt omnes.]

Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utiie dulci.

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