_How three young Dukes being together at Wittenberg to behold the
University, requested Faustus to help them at a wish to the town of
Menchen in Bavaria, there to see the Duke of Bavaria his son’s wedding_
Three worthy young Dukes, the which are not here to be named, but
being students altogether at the University of Wittenberg, met on
a time altogether, where they fell to reasoning concerning the pomp
and bravery that would be at the City of Menchen 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 other two Gentlemen, if it please you to give me the hearing, I
will give you good counsel that we may see the wedding, and be here
again to-night, and this is my meaning; let us send to Doctor Faustus,
make him a present of some rare thing and so 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 mind, 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 Duke his son should be married, Doctor Faustus called unto him
the three young Gentlemen into his house, commanding them that they
should put on their best apparel, and adorn themselves as richly as
they could, he took off his own great large cloak, went into a garden
that was adjoining unto his house, and set the three young Dukes on
his cloak, and he himself sat in the midst, but he gave them in charge
that in any wise they should not once open their mouths to speak, or
make answer to any man so soon as they were out, no 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 the which they
all agreed. These conditions being made, Doctor 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 Menchen
to the Duke’s Court, where being entered into the outmost court, the
Marshal had espied them, who presently went to the Duke shewing his
Grace that all the Lords and gentlemen were already 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 were all four dumb; notwithstanding for his honour sake
he took them into his court, and feasted them. Faustus notwithstanding
spake to them, if any thing happen otherwise then 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 so much
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 spake fell off again, the other two with Doctor Faustus, were
again presently at Wittenberg, 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 Wittenberg. Now all this while was this Duke
taken in a great fear, and stricken into an exceeding dump, 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 others 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 in 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 Doctor Faustus come not to aid me, then shall I be racked
and grievously tormented, in so much that I shall be constrained by
force to tell more than willingly I would do: but he comforted himself
with hope that his friends would entreat Doctor Faustus about his
deliverance, as also it came to pass, for before it was day, Doctor
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 they departed the one from the other, _etc._
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