_How Dr. Faustus deceived the Horse-courser._
After this manner he deceived a horse-courser at a fair, called
Pheifering: for Faustus, through his conjuring, had gotten an excellent
fair horse, whereupon he rid to the fair, where he had many chapmen that
offered him money; lastly, he sold him for forty dollars, and willing
him that bought him, that in anywise he should not ride him over the
water. But the horse-courser marvelled with himself that Faustus bade
him ride over no water. "But," quoth he, "I will prove;" and forthwith
he rid him into the river. Presently the horse vanished from under him,
and he was left on a bottle of straw, insomuch that the man was almost
drowned.
The horse-courser knew well where he lay that had sold him his horse;
whereupon he went angerly to his inn, where he found Dr. Faustus fast
asleep and snorting on a bed. But the horse-courser could no longer
forbear him, but took him by the leg and began to pull him off the bed;
but he pulled him so that he pulled his leg from his body, insomuch that
the horse-courser fell backwards in the place. Then began Dr. Faustus to
cry with open throat, "He hath murdered me." Hereat the horse-courser
was afraid, and gave the flight, thinking no other with himself but that
he had pulled his leg from his body. By this means Dr. Faustus kept his
money.