Friar Bacon, reading one day of the many conquests of England, bethought
himself how he might keep it hereafter from the like conquests and so
make himself famous to all posterity. This (after great study) he found
could be no way so well done as one; which was to make a head of brass,
and if he could make this head to speak (and hear it when it spoke) then
might he be able to wall all England about with brass. To this purpose
he got one Friar Bungey to assist him, who was a great scholar and
magician (but not to be compared to Friar Bacon); these two with great
study and pains so formed a head of brass that in the inward parts
thereof there was all things like as in a natural man's head. This being
done they were as far from perfection of the work as they were before,
for they knew not how to give those parts that they had made motion,
without which it was impossible that it should speak. Many books they
read, but yet could not find out any hope of what they sought, that at
the last they concluded to raise a spirit and to know of him that which
they could not attain by their own studies.
The spirit straight obeyed, and appeared unto them, asking what they
would. He told them that with a continual fume of the six hottest
simples it should have motion, and in one month space speak: the time of
the month: or the day he knew not. Also he told them that if they heard
it not before it had done speaking, all their labor should be lost.
Then went these two learned Friars home again and prepared the simples
ready and made the fume, and with continual watching attended when this
Brazen Head should speak. Thus watched they for three weeks without any
rest, so that they were so weary and sleepy that they could not any
longer refrain from rest. Then called Friar Bacon his man Miles, and
told him that it was not unknown to him what pains Friar Bungey and
himself had taken for three weeks space only to make and to hear the
Brazen Head speak, which if they did not, then had they lost all their
labor, and all England had a great loss thereby. Therefore he entreated
Miles that he would watch whilst that they slept and call them if the
head spake. 'Fear not (good master), I will harken and attend, upon the
head and if it do chance to speak, I will call you; therefore, I pray
take you both your rest and let me alone for watching this head.'
* * * *
At last, after some noise, the Head spake these two words: 'Time is.'
Miles, hearing it to speak no more, thought his master would be angry if
he waked him for that, and therefore he let them both sleep and began to
mock the Head in this manner: 'Thou Brazen-faced Head, hath my master
took all this pains about thee and now dost thou requite him with two
words, "Time is"?'
* * * *
After half an hour had past, the Head did speak again two words which
were these: 'Time was.' Miles respected these words as little as he did
the former and would not wake his master, but still scoffed at the
Brazen Head, that it had learned no better words, and have had such a
tutor as his master; * * * * '"Time was!" I knew that, Brazen-face,
without your telling. I knew Time was and I know what things there was
when Time was, and if you speak no wiser, no master shall be waked for
me.'
* * * *
* * * * The Brazen Head spake again these words: 'Time is past'; and
therewith fell down and presently followed a terrible noise, with
strange flashes of fire, so that Miles was half dead with fear. At this
noise the two Friars waked and wondered to see the whole room so full of
smoke, but that being vanished, they might perceive the Brazen Head
broken and lying on the ground. At this sight they grieved, and called
Miles to know how this came. Miles, half dead with fear, said that it
fell down of itself and that with the noise and fire that followed he
was almost frightened out of his wits. Friar Bacon asked him if it did
not speak.
'Yes,' quoth Miles, 'it spake, but to no purpose.'