_How Doctor Faustus kept his Shrovetide_
There were seven Students, and Masters that studied Divinity, Iuris
Prudentia, and Medicina, all these having consented were agreed to
visit Doctor Faustus and so 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 Doctor Faustus comforted his guests, excusing
himself that they stole 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 to bedward is commendable.
For you know that in great Potentates’ Courts they use as 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 out before it be day, besides, we have fifteen dishes of meat,
the which my Spirit Mephostophiles 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 it is no natural food, verily it is as
good and as pleasant as ever you ate. And having ended his tale, he
commanded his boy to lay the cloth, which done, he served them with
fifteen messes of meat, having three dishes to a mess, the which were
of all manner of Venison, and other 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 almost eaten all
their good cheer, they began to sing and to dance until it was day, and
then they departed each one to his own habitation: at whose parting,
Doctor Faustus desired them to be his guests again the next day
following.