scholler; for he found by his sodaine taking of his learning, that bee was a childe likely to prove a very great clerke: hereat old Bacon was not well pleased (for he desired to bring him up to plough and to the cart, as hee himselfe was brought) yet he for reverence sake to the priest, shewed not his anger, but kindly thanked him for his paines and counsell, yet desired him not to speake any more concerning that matter; for hee knew best what best pleased himselfe, and that he would doe: so broke they off their talke, and parted.

So soone as the old man came home, he called to his sonne for his bookes, which when he had, he lock’d them up, and gave the boy a cart whip in the place of them, saying to him: Boy, I will have you no priest, you shall not be better learned then I, you can tell now by the almanack when it is best sowing wheat, when barly, pease, and beane: and when the best libbing is, when to sell graine and cattell I will teach thee; for I have all faires and markets as perfit in my memory, as Sir John our priest has masse without booke: take mee this whip, I will teach thee the use of it, it will be more profitable to thee then this harsh Latin: make no reply, but follow my counsell, or else by the masse thou shalt feele the smart hand of my anger. Young Bacon thought this but hard dealing, yet would he not reply, but within sixe or eight dayes he gave his father the slip, and went to a cloyster some twenty miles off, where he was entertained, and so continued his learning,

and in small time came to be so famous, that he was sent for to the University of Oxford, where he long time studied, and grew so excellent in the secrets of art and nature, that not England onely, but all Christéndome admired him.

How the king sent for Fryer Bacon, and of the wonderfull things he shewed the king and queene.

THE king being in Oxfordshire, at a Noblemans house, was very desirous to see this famous fryer, for he had heard many times of his wondrous things that he had done by his art therefore hee sent one for him to desire him to come to the court. Fryer Bacon kindly thanked the king by the messenger, and said, that he was at the kings service, and would suddenly attend him: but, sir, saith he (to the gentleman) I pray make you haste, or else I shall be two houres before you at the court. For all your learning (answered the gentleman) I can hardly beleeve this, for schollers, old-men and travellers, may lye by authority. To strengthen your beliefe (said Fryer Bacon) I could presently shew you the last wench that you lay withall, but I will not at this time. One is as true as the other (said the gentleman) and I would laugh to see either. You shall see them both within these foure houres, quoth the fryer, and therefore make what haste you can. I will prevent that by my speed (said the gentleman) and with that rid his way: but he rode out of his way, as it should seem; for he had but

five miles to ride, and yet was he better than three houres a riding them; so that Fryer Bacon by his art was with the king before he came.

The king kindly welcommed him, and said that hee long time had desired to see him; for he had as yet not heard of his life. Fryer Bacon answered him that fame had belide him, and given him that report that his poore studies had never deserved, for hee beleeved that art had many sonnes more excellent then himselfe was. The king commended him for his modesty, and told him, that nothing could become a wise man lesse than boasting: but yet withall he requested him now to be no niggard of his knowledge, but to shew his queene and him some of his skill. I were worthy of neither art or knowledge (quod Fryer Bacon), should I deny your maiestie this small request: I pray seat yourselves, and you shall see presently what my poore skill can performe: the king, queene, and nobles sate them all down. They having so done, the fryer waved his wand, and presently was heard such excellent musicke that they were all amazed, for they all said they had never heard the like. This is, said the fryer, to delight the sense of hearing, I will delight all your other sences ere you depart hence: so waving his wand againe, there was lowder musicke heard, and presently five dancers entred, the first like a court-laundresse, the second like a footman, the third like an usurer, the fourth like a prodigall, the fift like a foole these did divers excellent changes, so that they gave content to all the beholders, and having done their

dance, they all vanished away in their order as they came in. Thus feasted he two of their sences; then waved he his wand againe, and there was another kind of musicke heard, and whilest it was playing, there was sodainly before them a table richly covered with all sorts of delicates then desired he the king and queene to taste of some certaine rare fruits that were on the table, which they and the nobles there present did, and were very highly pleased with the taste; they being satisfied, all vanished away on the sodaine. Then waved he his wand againe, and sodainly there was such a smell, as if all the rich perfumes in the whole world had bin there prepared in the best manner that art could set them out: whilst hee feasted thus their smelling, he waved his wand againe, and their came divers nations in sundry habits (as Russians, Polanders, Indians, Armenians) all bringing sundry kinds of furres, such as their countries yeelded all which they presented to the king and queene: these furres were so soft in the touch, that they highly pleased all those that handled them, then after some odde fantasticke dances (after their countrey manner) they vanished away: then asked Fryer Bacon the king's majesty, if that hee desired any more of his skill? the king answered that hee was fully satisfied for that time, and that hee onely now thought of something that hee might bestow on him, that might partly satisfie the kindnesse that hee had received. Fryer Bacon said, that hee desired nothing so much as his maiesties love, and if that he might be assured of that, hee would thinke himselfe happy in it: for that (said the king) be thou

ever sure of it, in token of which receive this jewell, and withall gave him a costly jewell from his necke. The fryer did with great reverence thanke his maiestie, and said as your maiesties vassall you shall ever finde me ready to do you service, your time of neede shall finde it both beneficiall and delightfull. But amongst all these gentlemen, I see not the man that your grace did send for me by, sure he hath lost his way, or else met with some sport that detaines him so long, I promised to be here before him, end all this noble assembly can witnesse I am as good as my word: I heare him comming: with that entered the gentleman all bedurted (for he had rid through ditches, quagmires, plashes, and waters, that hee was in a most pittifull case) he seeing the fryer there looked full angerly, and bid a poxe on all his devils, for they had led him out of his way, and almost drowned him. Be not angry sir (said Fryer Bacon) here is an old friend of yours that hath more cause for she hath tarried these three houres for you (with that hee pulled up the hangings, and behinde them stood a kitchen-mayde with a basting-ladle in her hand) now am I as good as my word with you: for I promised to helpe you to your sweetheart, how do you like this? So ill, answered the gentleman, that I will be revenged of you. Threaten not (said Fryer Bacon) least I do you more shame, and doe you take heed how you give schollers the lye againe: but because I know not how well you are stored with money at this time, I will bear your wenches charges home with that she vanished away :