_How three young Dukes being together at Wittenburg, to behold the
University, requested Faustus to help them at a Wish to the Town of
Muncheon, in Bavaria, there to see the Duke of Bavaria's Son's Wedding._
Three worthy young dukes, the which are not here to be named, but being
students all together, at the university of Wittenburg, met on a time
all together, where they fell in reasoning concerning the pomp and bravery
that should be in the city of Muncheon in Bavaria, at the wedding of
the duke's son, wishing themselves there but one half hour to see the
manner of their jollity; to whom one replied, saying to the two other
gentlemen, "If it please you to give me the hearing, I will give you
good counsel, that you may see the wedding, and be here again to-night,
and this is my meaning: let us send to Dr. Faustus, make him a present
of some rare thing, and open our minds unto him, desiring him to assist
us in our enterprise, and assure ye he will not deny to fulfil our
request." Hereupon they all concluded: sent for Faustus, told him their
minds, and gave him a gift, and invited him to a sumptuous banquet,
wherewith Faustus was well contented, and promised to further their
journey to the uttermost: and when the time was come that the three
young gentlemen came into his house, commanding them that they would put
on their best apparel, and adorn themselves as rich as they could. He
took off his great large cloak, went into the garden that was adjoining
unto his house, and set the three young dukes upon his cloak, and he
himself in the midst: but he gave them in charge, that in anywise they
should not at once open their mouths to speak, or make answer to any man
so soon as they went out, not so much as if the Duke of Bavaria or his
son should speak to them, or offer them courtesy, they should give no
word or answer again; to which they all agreed.
These conditions being made, Dr. Faustus began to conjure, and on a
sudden arose a mighty wind, heaving up the cloak, and so carried them
away in the air, and in due time they came unto Muncheon to the duke's
court; where being entered into the utmost court, the marshal had espied
them, who presently went to the duke, showing his grace that all the
lords and gentlemen were ready set at the table, notwithstanding there
were newly come three goodly gentlemen with one servant, the which stood
without in the court, wherefore the good old duke came out unto them,
welcoming them, requiring what they were, and whence? But they made no
answer at all; whereat the duke wondered, thinking they had been all
dumb: notwithstanding for his honour's sake he took them into the court,
and feasted them. Faustus notwithstanding spake to them, "If anything
happen otherwise than well, when I say, Sit up, then fall you all on the
cloak, and good enough."
Well, the water being brought, and that they must wash, one of the three
had some manners as to desire his friend to wash first, which when
Faustus heard, he said, "Sit up;" and all at once they got on the cloak,
but he that spoke fell off again, the other two with Dr. Faustus were
again presently at Wittenburg: but he that remained was taken and laid
in prison: wherefore the other two gentlemen were very sorrowful for
their friend, but Faustus comforted them, promising that on the morrow
he should also be at Wittenburg.
Now all this while was the duke taken in great fear, and strucken into
an exceeding dumps, wondering with himself that his hap was so hard to
be left behind, and not the rest: and now being locked and watched with
so many keepers: there was also certain of the guests that fell to
reasoning with him to know what he was, and also what the other were
that were vanished away? But the poor prisoner thought with himself, "If
I open what they are, then it will be evil also with me." Wherefore all
this while he gave no man any answer, so that he was there a whole day
and gave no man a word: wherefore the old duke gave charge that the next
morning they should rack him until he had confessed; which when the
young duke heard, he began to sorrow, and to say with himself, "It may
be, that to-morrow (if Dr. Faustus come not to aid me) I shall be racked
and grievously tormented, insomuch that I shall be constrained by force
to say more than willingly I would do."
But he comforted himself with hope that his friends would entreat Dr.
Faustus about his deliverance, as also it came to pass: for that before
it was day, Dr. Faustus was by him, and he conjured them that watched
him into such a heavy sleep, that he with his charms made open all the
locks in the prison, and therewithal brought the young duke again in
safety to the rest of his fellows and friends, where they presented
Faustus with a sumptuous gift, and so departed one from another.