_How Dr. Faustus kept his Shrovetide._
There were seven students and masters that studied divinity,
jurisprudentiae, and medicinae. All these having consented, were agreed to
visit Dr. Faustus, and to celebrate Shrovetide with him; who being come
to his house, he gave them their welcome, for they were his dear
friends, desiring them to sit down, where he served them with a very
good supper of hens, fish, and other roast, yet were they but slightly
cheered; wherefore Dr. Faustus comforted his guests, excusing himself
that they had stolen upon him so suddenly, that he had not leisure to
provide for them so well as they were worthy. "But, my good friends,"
quoth he, "according to the use of our country, we must drink all this
night; and so a draught of the best wine bedwards is commendable. For
you know that in great potentates' courts they use at this night great
feasting, the like will I do for you; for I have three great flagons of
wine: the first is full of Hungarian wine, containing eight gallons; the
second of Italian wine, containing seven gallons; the third containing
six gallons of Spanish wine; all the which we will tipple up before it
be day. Besides, we have fifteen dishes of meat, the which my spirit
Mephistophiles hath fetched so far, that it was cold before he brought
it, and they are all full of the daintiest things that one's heart can
devise. But," saith Faustus, "I must make them hot again; and you may
believe me, gentlemen, that this is no blinding of you; whereas you
think that this is no natural food, verily it is as good and as pleasant
as ever you eat."
And having ended his tale, he commanded his boy to lay his cloth, which
done, he served them with fifteen messes of meat, having three dishes in
a mess; in the which were all manner of venison, and dainty wild-fowl;
and for wine there was no lack, as Italian wine, Hungarian wine, and
Spanish wine; and when they were all made drunk, and that they had eaten
their good cheer, they began to sing and dance until it was day. And so
they departed every one to his own habitation; at whose departing, Dr.
Faustus desired them to be his guests again the next day following.