_Angellike semblaunce beauties ornament,

Whose Vertue quels all wrath and rancor deepe,

Whose life Heauens grace and death would monument

Vertue thy life aie.[66]

How many wounded hearts thou makst to tremble,

And I of many one cannot dissemble,

How farre into in that eie-sore._

_So were thy beauty but deseruing praise,

So were thy beauty but as feminine,

Then could my quill his straine so high arrayse,

Then could with it compare the masculine,

Thy beauty praise thy bounty past diuine,

No straine no quill such wonderments assaies,

Then Poets pen shall to thy power his power resigne._

_What words may wel expresse such excellence,

No humane thought thy beauties may comprise

And wordes may tell all humane insolence

All humane words and witte thy gifts surprise.

To satisfie my selfe in my pretence,

Our pen vnto the heauens must wander hence.

And fill it selfe with dew of heauenly Sapience._

_And I my life shall to your hands resigne,

Which liue to serue a humane Sainct so past deuine._

_Se dacolei.

Che poco ingegno adhor adhor mi lima._

This Sonnet was ended with as much praise as it began with desire, and

one of them copied it out, and so it was made common to the rest, and

made a good sort of them Poets, rectifying their gross conceits, with

so sweet a matter. He told them that this was but a preparative to

wondering in respect of his choice makings. Then he shewed them this

Epigram, which he made when as before the Duke his Father, a brace of

fair English Greyhounds fell down at the Hart’s heels stark dead (the

Hart also lying not above six yards off dead too) with chasing, having

outstripped the rest of the dogs above half a mile.

Then he reckoned unto him the delight he took in Limning, and shewed

them very many fine devices of his own handiwork. The scholars

singularly delighted with the view of the reliques of so great a

Prince, approved by silence that excellency which by speech they

could not. In fine there he reckoned up enough to be praised, and

peradventure more than was true, but not more than is desired. There he

set forth with great and ardent Emphasis other qualities, as his skill

and hardy demeanour at the Tilt tourney, how he could manage the sturdy

steed, leap, run, vaunt, dance, sing, play on divers Instruments, and

talk with amiable speech amongst fair Ladies which we call courting,

in all his actions full of gentle familiar affability, still reserving

to himself the due honour belonging to his personage. He concluded

in fine that he was the most qualified Prince and absolute Gentleman

that day in all Christendom: saying if they knew his humanity, justice

and liberality, you would say in him were all humanity, justice and

liberality; And as the greatest thing that the world can shew is

beauty, so the least thing that is to be praised in him is beauty, you

would say no less than I have spoken could be in his person, if you

did but see him. Thus far the digression came in the commendations

of this Alphonsus, which truly I was weary of, fearing the great

insufficiency of the description, but yet he had not done. I would to

God (quoth he) you would come to Vienna and I promise you such lodging

and entertainment, that next to the sight of him should be worthiest

of your thanks. Wherefore you shall not sorrow that your friend Wagner

departeth unless you will seem to envy rather his felicity than his

departure. I would we were even all of us as we sit at the Table in the

Duke’s Court, and here again with a wish, and herewith there knocked

one at the door, Wagner craftily feigning that he himself would rise

to see him that knocked so, desiring them all to sit still in any

case, and opening therewith the door, there entered two young Lords of

Tergeste and Moravia, bearing torches, and next there came the Duke of

Austrich, as they thought, and Wagner talked with him bare-headed (the

Pursuivant, thinking verily it had been his Master, would have done his

duty unto him, but that the rest hindered him): on his head he wore a

little Hat of blue velvet, with a rich band of pearl, stone and gold,

and a long white feather, his cloak of blue velvet, round guarded with

gold lace, edged with Orient pearl, and betwixt the gards oylet[67]

holes whereout hung by small silk threads long bugles, all the sleeves

in the like order: by his side a golden-hilted Rapier, and on his

Rapier his hand, his Buskins of the fine Polonian leather, richly

embroidered on the turnings down with costly Goldsmith’s work, all his

apparel whatsoever most beautiful and princely, he had no sooner passed

by (which was not until he was distinctly viewed of them) but that

Wagner spake unto them in such manner: saying that that Honourable,

this man’s Lord had sent for him, whose commandment I will in no wise

repugn. Wherefore I beseech you to take it as you would my greatest

advancement. This his description of his feature, judge how rightly he

hath said, for my part I confess that they are rather less than the

truth, than not as he hath reported, and herein to satisfy you the

more, I have caused my spirit Akercocke to take his shape upon him.

Now (quoth he) it is time to depart, but because it shall be the last

night of our meeting, none of you shall depart, for I have lodging

enough for you all, and for you shall not be forgetful of Wagner when

he is gone, let every man wish his woman, and so to bed my masters.

They began all to laugh merrily, not as hoping or wishing, but as if

they had heard a merry purpose, and therefore they laughed because

it was merry, and such mirth they always liked of. Wagner was almost

angry, and yet for that he was almost, he was not angry, sending out a

great oath as the Prologue of his Comedy, bidding his Boy go prepare

their beds and chambers, and bid them wish whom they would, he would

their wishes should be performed. Then rose up one of the scholars

persuading himself of Wagner’s earnest, and yet doubting, because he

feared he was not in earnest. Why (quoth he) if you mean in very deed,

my friend Kit, I would I had such a woman, I believe beside herself

there is none fairer then the fairest in this town. Why weenest thou I

jest (quoth Wagner), go thy ways, yonder she is upon pain of my head,

and so it was indeed: then everyone strove who should wish first, and

he that wished last had his first wish, so everyone took his Damsel

and for that night departed to their beds, who are witnesses of that

night’s great pleasures, and in the morning they arose wishing that

every morning were the morrow of such a night. Every one gat him a

Hackney, and brought him on the way a day’s journey, where they with

great grief left him, who rode till he came to Vienna, and they till

they arrived at Wittenberg. Thus still you see these Pot-meetings are

ended amongst these puffed-cheeked Hannikins[68] with bed dalliances,

rightly describing their lives most bestial and Epicure-like.

[Footnote 66: The Letters were worn out in this place.—_[Translator’s

Note._]]

[Footnote 67: Eyelet.]

[Footnote 68: German _Hänschen_.]

CHAPTER X

_A lamentable history of the death of sundry students

of Wittenberg_

Not long after it was reported and blazed abroad that Wagner was

departed, divers Scholars guessing that he had left his Books or the

most part behind, determined to send for Harmarvan, which they did,

who by no persuasions could be won to let them have his master’s

Keys, so they devised amongst themselves to bind the Boy as he should

go home to his Inn, whereat his Master had put him to board till his

return. And night drawing on, Harmarvan went to his lodging, by the

way Scholars to the number of seven met him and bound him, and beat

him sore until he gave them all the Keys, which he carefully carried

about him sewed in a wide German slop,[69] which when they had (they

being all muffled and disguised strangely with vizards) they loosed,

and then they ran hastily to Wagner’s house, as if they had fled from

followers, or else followed some hastily flying, where being come,

they opened the gates, and being entered shut them again, this being

about eleven of the clock in ye night, and in they went, where they

found two Barrels of mighty strong March English Beer of two years

old, which they broached, and sat so long drinking till they were

all well drunk. And then down they get into a back Court, and having

lighted Tapers, having injuriously framed all the circles, squares,

triangles, etc., and apparelled with all the conjuring robes that

the Art requireth, there they begin in a most dreadful confusion of

hellish syllables to inform the Fiend, and after these words followed

as if there needs must such things follow after such words, a terrible

roar, and then so bright a smothering thick fiery fume ascended out of

the earth as if it would have made an eternal night, then a vehement

flame followed which with continual motion, ran about the brims of the

circle, until as weary it left moving (all this while they continued

reasonably constant, and continued their invocations without any fear),

then from beneath was heard most lamentable outcries, from above huge

trembling, thunder, and round about nothing but fear and death in a

thousand diverse shapes, then they began to quail a little, but yet by

encouragement grew hardy by reason of the number, then round about was

sounded alarms with drums, and on set with Trumpets, as if there all

the World had conflicted, then ye flame which all this while ran about

the circle became a body, but such a body, as, if it had been but a

Picture, would have madded anyone. At whose sight they wholly overcome

with deadly fear forgot the use of their Pentacles or any such gear,

but even submitted themselves to the small mercy of the Fiend, who with

great violence rent them and tore them most lamentably. Harmarvan who

had raised a great many to the intent to follow them suspecting that

which indeed was, was after long wandering (for they had caused a Devil

descryer to void all within a certain circuit) with his company brought

to the house, where round about they might see in the Court wherein

these seven were conjuring, huge flames as if some great pile had

been made to the burial of a noble Hero, climbing up in huge volumes

up into the Air, or if some great store of stubble had been fired, so

vehemently furious was the flame that no man there (and there were

above thirty) was able once to draw near to any part of ye House, the

cry was carried into the City of this fire, whereupon the whole town

was assembled with hooks, buckets, ladders, etc., where in vain they

emptied many a large Well, till divers learned Preachers falling down

submissively on their knees, with good faith appeased this seeming

fire which indeed was none, but a mere diabolical illusion, then they

entered into the house, where they found the Barrels brought a bed

and delivered, the cups, the whole furniture clean destroyed, broken,

and thrown about the House, but drawing near unto the most rueful and

lamentable spectacle of all, coming into the yard or grove which was

moated about and enclosed with a thick Wall of trees very exceeding

high, as Fir trees are, so very thick that no light was pierceable into

it, in the very midst whereof was a round plot of some one hundred foot

any way from the Centre, there found they the religious Circles, there

the strange Characters, names of Angels, a thousand Crosses, there

found they the five cross hilted Daggers for the five Kings of Hell,

there many a strong bulwark builded with rows of Crosses, there found

they the surplices, the stoles, pall, mitres, holy water pots broken,

their periapts, seats, signs of the Angels of the seven days, with

infinite like trash and damnable roguery, the fruits of the Devil’s

rank fancy. But the most lamentable sight of all, the seven Scholars

utterly torn in pieces, their blood having changed the colour of the

ground into a dark Crimson, all their bodies as black as any coal, as

if they had been scorched with a material fire, their flesh violently

rent from the bones, and hanging down in morsels like the skirts of a

side-coat, their bones all broken, their veins cut in sunder, and their

bowels broad shed upon the earth, their brains poured out and covering

the red grass all over, their noses stumped, their eyes thrust out,

their mouths widened and slit up to the ears, their teeth dashed

out, and their tongues starting out betwixt their gums, their hair

clean singed off, in brief imagine with yourselves in your minds,

and propound a picture in your thought, the most deformed, torn, and

ill-favoured that you can think on, yet shall it not compare to the

most lachrimable sight and shew of them, surpassing as much all credit

as my skill duly to describe them, whom when they had buried without

tarriance, razed the house to the ground, and filled up the moats with

earth, heaping upon the place of this murther the stones of the house

defaced, then they returned home discoursing with lamentable judgment

upon the high and severe revenge of God’s indignation upon them which

durst presume to tempt his glorious Majesty. And finally, unless

repentance breed a more speedy remorse, such is the fatal end of such

proud attempts. And surely this is most true, for I myself have seen

the ground where the house stood, and yet the moats dammed up and the

Water breaking through the stones even to this day, there did I see a

skull and a shank bone of them not yet rotten: and there did I see the

huge heap of stones wherewith they are covered, a fearful example of

God’s wrath and justice against such infidel Christians.

[Illustration: A CARICATURE OF THE POPE]

[Footnote 69: Baggy breeches.]

CHAPTER XI

The great Turk called Soldan, Alias Chan, comprehending as many

victories in his sword as some Emperors in their thoughts, arrived at

length afore Vienna, having made his preamble with the destroying and

burning of the country before him, thinking upon the ancient politic

rule, _Better it is to have a spoiled country than a lost_, with a

brave prepared Army of two hundred thousand Saracens, horse and foot,

and so many it is certain he had, because they doubted not but there

were 300,000. The mighty Cham having erected his royal Pavilions, and

entrenched himself to besiege the noble Vienna, munified his camp with

Artillery and deep ditches, and then he sent a Letter of defiance unto

the honourable Alphonsus, as being principal in his own City, who was

environed within the walls of the City expecting the day of battle, for

to this intent the states of Italy and the Emperor of Germany, with

the Dukes of Saxony, Bavaria, and the other Provinces near assembled

(for now necessity bred unity) with a brave company of Soldiers to

exterminate this monster out of their confines: unto the Duke of

Austrich only (for he had no intelligence of their assembled forces)

he directed his Letters with defiance, meaning to conclude his long

travails with a certain victory; fearing neither the peril which so

many gallant soldiers thoroughly resolved might bring, nor that ever

God or fortune (as they call it) would once shew him any disfavour,

whose only favour is only in show. Nor yet that the heaven’s great God

would not with severe revengement chastise the Leviathan’s insolency

and slaughter of so many Martyrs, rather deferring than forgetting so

just a punishment.

CHAPTER XII

About this time the Messenger and Wagner arrived at Vienna very late

in the night and passed through the Turkish Sentinels, and arriving

at the City, and for that night they lay at the Pursuivant’s house;

no sooner had the approaching Sun sent afore him the Marshals of the

morrow light, and a new morning ministered occasion of new matter,

but up those two arose and being ready departed for the Court, and

now the day was almost in the greatest beauty, when the Messenger was

admitted into the Duke’s presence, unto whom he recited whatever was

seen and done in that time of his absence (only I forgot to tell you

how Wagner raged and stormed, and thundered, when Akercocke brought him

word of the destruction of his House at Wittenberg as he was in the

way to Austria), wherewith the Duke was wonderfully both delighted and

astonished. And having welcomed Wagner very graciously and accordingly

rewarded, he dismissed them till further leisure, commanding the

Pursuivant to shew him all the pleasure he mought.

CHAPTER XIII

After all these most excellent Princes were come into the counsel

chamber, the Herald sounded his trumpet after the Turkish summons, then

did all the states draw into the Great Hall, wherein a high Imperial

throne richly ordered with shining cloth of Gold, every noble and

estate placed correspondently to his degree, where in presence of them

all the Herald was admitted, who coming with his coat of Arms lying

upon his right arm into the bottom of the Hall, made three obeisances

down with the right knee unto the ground, with a loud and distinct

voice spake unto the Duke only, telling him that his sovereign and

Master Sultan Alias Chan, the son of Murad Chan, the son of Rabeck

Chan, the son of Mahomet Chan, and so upwards till he came to their

great Prophet Mahomet, God on the earth, and Emperor of all the East.

And then he began to reckon five hundred titles, with a long etc....

Unto thee Alphonsus Arch-Duke of Austrich, and there he declared the

whole effects of his message, and at last with a great Bravado ended,

and then he did on his gay coat of Arms, expecting their answer. When

as the Duke craving licence of the Emperor to speak, answered ye Herald

in most gallant and triumphing terms, commanding him to say unto the

proud Turk his Master, that ere five days came about, he would trample

his victorious horns under his feet, and ride in triumph upon his

stubborn neck, and that in defence of himself and of brave Christendom

he would leese[70] the uttermost drop of his blood, and to make it

good he would not be in quiet till he had met his Master in the midst

of the field, and therewith he drew out his sword, and all they with

him, crying God and Saint Michael for the right of Christendom: then

stood up the Emperor and avowed all that they had said afore him,

commanding moreover the Herald to say to the proud Usurper, that seeing

the quarrel would breed great effusion of blood, and yet he never the

nearer, that he a man every way equal to himself, not only for the

speedier advance of his battles, but also to have a certain end to such

an uncertain enterprise, he would fight with him body to body, armed at

all points after their own guise at any time within this fortnight, and

Herald, bring me word (quoth he) that he will so do, and by my Honour

I promise to give thee for thy tidings 10,000 Ducats. Then the Herald

being highly rewarded was dismissed, and reported their brave answers

unto the Turk, with all the great majesty of the Christian Princes, who

presently went to counsel together, and so continued till other like

necessary business called them away.

[Footnote 70: Lose.]

CHAPTER XIV

In this Chapter (Gentlemen) part of the Dutch copy was wanting, and the

other part so rent that it could not be read, yet by some circumstances

I conjecture that the Duke of Austrich had divers and dangerous

conflicts with the Turk, yet being supported by the English men and

other Christians, with the help of Wagner, who standing in a high tower

to see the conflicts, caused by his Magic such a storm to arise that no

man was able to abide, the Turk was still discomfited.

CHAPTER XV

_The gifts of Wagner to the Duke, and three Devils

retained for Soldiers to the same Prince_

In the next morning Wagner presented himself to the Duke in presence

of all the whole Princes of the Christians, whom very graciously he

entertained as he might for his good service, and there in presence of

them all he desired the Duke to take at his servant’s hands a small

gift, which he condescended unto, and then Wagner caused a Chest

to be brought in of fine Iron, wrought and enamelled with gold and

colour most curiously, then he opened it and took out a whole armour

of fine bright steel so light as a common Doublet, but so subtly and

excellently framed, that it passed all comparison of hardness, there

was a Musket shot at every piece whereon remained no great notice of

a blow, but as of a little touch, plain without any broider work or

otherwise carved, but so exceeding bright as would well have dazzled

the long beholder’s eyes, a shield of the same fashion, made like a

tortoise shell, a sword of the like fine temper, with all the furniture

of a soldier, then took he out a Plume which he had no sooner put

into the crest, but he that stood behind could not see no part of his

back, nor he that stood before of his breast, so that thus it made him

invisible, there he told him it was fetched out of the great Turk’s

armoury, which they say was Mahomet’s, but I say more truly Alias

Chan’s, which for himself caused it to be made, having called together

the most excellent Philosophers and workmen that were to be found in

all his wide Empire. The great rewards the Duke would have given him

for it he refused, he was only contented with thanks and favour. And

then might they see from the door of the chamber three most gallant

men to enter, which were his three Familiars, whom Wagner taking by

the hands presented unto the whole assembly of Princes, but more

directly to the Duke, assuring them that they were the most fortunate,

most valiant, strong, hardy, and puissant men that in the World were

to be found, and indeed they seemed to be as goodly swart men as any

eye beheld, he told their several names: Mephostophiles he termed

Mamri, Akercocke he termed Simionte, Faustus he called Don Infeligo,

shewing that they were born in those fortunate Islands, wherein the

Poets feigned the Elysian fields to be, joining by West upon the end

of Barbary, being from Vienna to those fortunate Islands 35 degrees of

longitude and eight minutes, and 48 degrees and 22 minutes from the

Equator or Equinoctial, in latitude not then found out. So were they

most graciously entertained of all the Nobles, and entertained in the

Duke’s most Honourable pay. Wagner said that they three left their

country and sought adventures, and by chance coming this way, I knowing

of it by secret intelligence, met them and certainly assured of their

high valours, thought good to shew them to you, for he that first had

spoke to them had been first served, nor cared they whether to serve us

or the Infidel.

CHAPTER XVI

I spake before of a challenge made by the Emperor unto the Turk, which

when the Herald had reported unto the Sultan (who certainly was a very

honorable Soldier) but there he vowed to perform it, and to set the

Emperor’s head upon the highest pavilion in view of all the City. And

thereupon the next day after this skirmish, he sent the same Herald

with purpose and commandment to declare in excellent gallant terms the

acceptance of the combat, knowing that it depended upon his honour to

shew his small fear, in not refusing so equal a Foe, whose proffer

proceeded from a most Honourable resolution: when it was reported unto

the Emperor that the same Herald returned, he caused the Hall to be

adorned with most brave furniture, his high Chair of estate placed,

and all about seats for the other Princes. The Emperor having seated

himself, full of brave thought and gallant hardihood, expecting the

answer of the enemy in such sort as it was in very deed. In all brave

manner the Herald in proud phrase uttered the purport of his message,

requesting that a peace being concluded on both parties for the space

of three days, and free egress and regress for the Nobles on both

parties, the one to view the Camp, the other the Court, and on the

third day he would, armed in his country manner, meet him in the lists,

to shew that he never refused the combat of any Christian Emperor,

albeit he knew his calling far superior to that of his. So then the

message was accepted, the Herald had his 10,000 Ducats carried to the

Turk’s camp on horse, and they in the City began to keep feasts, and

entertained the Turkish Nobles in exceeding bravery, and they theirs in

the like without damage or thought of treason.

CHAPTER XVII

During the time of this truce, these four companions, Infeligo, Wagner,

Mamri, Simionte, cast how to abuse the great Turk most notably, and

Akercocke otherwise called Simionte he would begin first, and lead them

the dance. Then he leaves them and gets me up unseen to the Turk’s

Camp, and in his Camp to his own Pavilion, and so into the place where

the great Infidel himself sat, he being then gone into the Lavatory,

which is a place wherein he three times a day doth bathe himself, which

by so doing he doth verily believe that all his sins are remitted and

washed away, be they never so horrible, Devilish, or wicked, then

Akercocke or Simionte, which ye will, goes invisibly into the Lavatory

where the great Villain was bathing himself amongst three of his most

fair Concubines stark naked, swimming as much in their dalliance as

in the water, mingling his washing with kisses and his cleansing with

voluptuousness, Akercocke in the shape of a bright Angel appears unto

him, and with a proud _magnifico_ presented himself unto the slave,

who straightways very reverently fell down upon his knees, and with

his hands high lifted up, worshipped towards him in great humility,

whilst Akercocke with good devotion fell aboard the Concubines, and

there acted them before his face one after another: when he had so

done, he takes the great slave by the tip of his picke-devant,[71] and

shaking him fiercely (who all this while with great dread and fear lay

half astonished and all naked on the ground), told him that he had

prepared a more braver place for his so good a servant than so base a

bath, and no fairer Concubines. (Now the Turk had seen how like a lusty

rank fellow this Simionte had behaved himself, at which he wondered not

greatly, because Faustus whom he thought to have been Mahomet, as well

as he did think Akercocke, had also shewed the virtue of so great a God

as Mahound, twenty times more beauty than Jupiter.) Then the Turkish

Emperor with half-dying hollow voice, as if his breath had been almost

gone or else but now coming, said that he was all at his commandment,

and so followed Simionte stark naked as he was born, who led him by the

hand round about, and through every Lane and place of his Camp, to the

great wonderment and laughter of his people, who verily thought Mahound

had commanded him to do penance before he fought with the Christian

Emperor. But for all this the people fell into such laughter that some

had well-nigh given up the Ghost at the same instant, divers Christian

Nobles saw him all this while, who effusedly laughed at so apparent

foolery. The Turk for all this not moved, for indeed he heard all and

saw nothing, went about wonderfully mannerly: like as you shall see a

Dutch Frow, with a handkerchief in her hand, mince it after ye hopping

German. Could a man devise a more notorious kind of abuse, than to make

that man which will not be seen but in great secrecy, and abundantly

and richly clad, to be not only seen openly but also stark naked, and

become their laughing-stocks whose terror he is always, but Akercocke

had not yet so left him, but down he runs to Danuby, (where there was

ready Mamri or Mephostophiles to receive him), and there having turned

himself and the vilest part of himself to the Turk’s mouth, making him

kiss and kiss it again, he took him and hurled him violently into the

Water, and then Akercocke vanished away.

[Footnote 71: Peaked beard.]

CHAPTER XVIII

_The second Mocking_

No sooner was he in but he saw then apparently how he had been misled

and abused, and there for very shame would have drowned himself in

very deed, had not Mamri come swiftly flying over and gave him a

terrible blow on the noddle with a good Bastinado, that he almost made

his brains fly out, and rapt him up by his long hair out of the water

unto the land, where he buffeted him so long till at length he came to

himself again, then Mamri fewtered himself to abuse him kindly, and

there with sweet and compassionative speech comforted him, desiring his

reverend Majesty not to take any grief seeing it was done in the sight

of all his men, in the knowledge of none. And therewith to shew ye more

pity of his misery, he seemed to shed abundance of tears, desiring him

to go with him and he would put upon him his soft raiment. The Turk

(who then had his crown upon his head or else it had not been half in

the right _Qu_[72]), seeing one lamenting his case so affectionately,

condescended unto him and promised him most large honourable promotion

and reward. Mamri set him upon his legs and led him to a little muddy

place by the river-side, and there varnished the Emperor over with most

thick, terrible, and excremental mud, not sparing either his face,

nose, eyes, mouth, nor any thing, whilst he miserable man thought he

had been in most divine contentment. Thus he led him in the view of

five thousand people (for here is to be noted that all that ever saw

him both knew him to be the great villain Turk, and could not but laugh

most entirely at him, nor his own men could do any other, nor once

think of any rescue or remedy, by the working of infernal instinct),

until he came to Vienna, and in Vienna to the most fair gates and where

greatest resort of people are always together, there at the City gate

he drew out a long tabor and a pipe and struck up such a merry note,

as the foolish ornament of all London stages never could come near

him, no not when he waked the writer of the news out of Purgatory with

the shrill noise. There at the gate stood a Carpenter, who was then

carrying a Coffin to a certain house to bury one in, him Mephostophiles

beat till he lay on the cold ground, and took the Coffin and caused

the Turk to hold it in his hand. _Memorandum_ that none of all these

Spirits were seen of any one, but felt of them which saw them. Then

from the gate he began to play, the Turk and the Coffin skipped and

turned, and vaulted, and bounded, and leaped, and heaved, and sprung

so fast and so thick together, that the Coffin rapping the miserable

man sometime on the shins, breast, thighs, head, face, that the dirty

colour was almost wiped away with the streams of blood. At this strange

sight and the unheard noise of that kind of Instrument, all the boys,

girls, and rogues in the town were gathered with this troupe, and with

this mirth he conveyed them round about the streets, and all the way as

they went, such eggs, such chamber-pots’ emptyings, such excrements,

odoure,[73] water, etc., were thrown down on their heads, that it

seemed all those vile matters were reserved for that Tempest, until

such time (then it being about two of the clock in the afternoon when

everyone is busied in some pleasant pastance[74]), as all this fair

company came to the Court, whereout at divers windows lay the chiefest

of all the Nobility, and the most brave Gentlewomen, who seeing such a

huge crowd of Boys, the great Turk and a Coffin dancing, and a tabor

and pipe played upon, they were almost amazed, thus he marched finely

round about the whole Court, till coming to the Court gate he entered

in (but the Boys were excluded), with this merry Morris there in

presence of them all, the Turk fell down dead, whom Mamri laid in the

Coffin, and then vanished away.

[Illustration: LUTHER AS A SEVEN-HEADED MONSTER

A caricature of Luther, 1529

Septicepts Lutherus, ubiqe sibi, suis

scriptis cōtrari⁹, in visitationā Saxonicā, p D.D. Ioā. Copleū, Editus

Doctor Martin⁹ Luther⁹ Ecclesiastes Suermer⁹ Visitator Barrabas

Martin Lutherus

Septiceps]

[Footnote 72: Cue (a theatrical term).]

[Footnote 73: Ordure.]

[Footnote 74: Pastime.]

CHAPTER XIX

_The third_

Then came Infeligo or Faustus and touching him revived him to the great

wonder of the beholders, and covering him somewhat shamefastly, went

into his chamber with him, and there benotted[75] him round upon the

head and the beard, which is the foulest reproach and disgrace that can

be offered to the Turk, which done he conveyed him into the presence of

the Emperor, where he made them such sport, that unneath[76] they could

recover their modesty in three hours’ space, to see the proud Villain

plastered over with such muddy mortar, all over his head and face, his

teeth and eyes shewing like black Moors, or as a pair of eyes, looking

through a Lattice, or as they call it a Periwig, wherein if the eyes

had feet they might be set in the stocks: All his lineaments were

lineamented with this pariet,[77] he stood quivering and shaking either

for cold or fear like an Aspen leaf (as they say) whilst every man

buffeted him, he standing with a scourge stick and an old shoe, as they

do at blind man buff to see who he could hit. Thus long he made them

sport, till one told the Emperor that it was the great Turk, at which

he was exceeding wroth and sorry.

[Footnote 75: Cropped close.]

[Footnote 76: Scarcely.]

[Footnote 77: Plaster.]

CHAPTER XX

_The fourth and last_

When Wagner seeing him grieved, came and kneeled down before him,

declaring that he would undertake to heal all his wounds and other

grievances whatsoever, yea and make him utterly forget all that was

passed as if it had never been, and promised more to carry him home

himself safe and sound, which the Emperor thanked him highly for,

requesting him to perform it presently, for he would not for half his

revenues that his Foe should have any occasion to allege against him,

for to excuse the Combat. Then went Wagner up into his chamber, and

apparelled himself in white taffeta made close to his body, and there

where they use to wear round hose half a foot deep, stuck with swans’

feathers, like the skirts of a horseman’s coat, his hose, shoes (for

all were together) of the same white taffeta, and within with white

leather, at his heels two fine silver wings, and on his shoulders two

marvellous large bright silvery wings, and on his head an upright

little steeple hat (with a white feather of two or three ranges) of

white taffeta, and in his hand a Caduceus or a Mercurial Rod in the

same white silver colour, he entered into the Presence Chamber afore

all the assembly to their singular contentation, for in his Personated

garments he seemed to be a very Angel, for it was in doubt whether

Mercury was half so beautiful or no. And there opening a large casement

(as there they are very large) with a brave R’ingratio[78] departed

from them taking up his flight in the view of them all into the air,

as if he would have beaten the Azure firmament with his vast wings.

Thus he carried him lower and lower till he did light upon a great

Elm, and there he opened his sight to see in what plight he was. The

Turk seeing in what a trance he had been, began to swear, to ban and

curse, and was even then ready to have thrown himself down headlong,

but Mercury he stepped to him and bade him be of good cheer, for it

had pleased the great God Jupiter, whose servant Mahomet was, to shew

him those great abuses, to the intent he should be more wary in his

actions, and take heed how to tempt the Christians with vain battles

and such-like speech, but now (quoth he) come and give me thy hand, and

then will I lead thee to thy Pavilion, where as yet thou art not missed

of the Nobles, for in the place where thou wast taken away, hath Jove

sent one to bear thy shape. Then again he took his flight and all the

way as he went he rapped his heels against the tops of the high trees,

and beat him pitifully upon the shins all the journey, upon the tents’

tops. Now they arrived in the same place from whence he was taken, and

there he laid himself down who presently recovered his former strength

in full perfectness, and not only not felt it but utterly forgot it.

Then he continued his wonted solace and prepared himself to the battle,

whilst he was made a laughing-stock of the world, Wagner returned

through ye same path which he had made in the air before, came not yet

to the Court before they had done laughing, for there the matter from

the beginning to the end was rehearsed.

[Footnote 78: Ringrazio (Ital.) = I thank.]

CHAPTER XXI

_The process to the Combat_

The two days of the truce were passed and the third morning was come,

in which time many gallant feats of arms and activity were performed

on both parts. Now the time of the combat was come. There was in the

River of Danuby a pretty Island of a quarter of a mile long or more,

as even as ground might be all the way, in this place were the lists

prepared, and a scaffold richly hanged for the Judges to determine in.

In the evening about four of the clock (being then reasonably cool)

the Christian Emperor issued out with above 100,000 Christians, the

rest being above 60,000 were left to defend the City (for both the

Christian and especially the Turks were increased) where he entered

into the wide plain, and coming to the bank’s side he entered into a

broad Ferry boat leaving his whole Army on the other side of the River

whilst he laboured to attain to the Island. The Duke of Austria with

his attendants Mamri, Simionte, Infeligo, and Wagner, the Dukes of

Cleve, Saxony, Campany, and Brabant, with the like number all bravely

and gloriously mounted: The Duke of Austria in his bright armour

marshalled the field, and of the Christians sat as Judges the kings

of Lusitany and Arragon with their Heralds: Now the Emperor is landed

in the Island and is mounted into his rich saddle, armed in armour so

costly, strong, curious, and resplendescent, that it seemed all the

beauty in the world had been gathered together in it, his courser so

firm, nimbly jointed, tall and large, such a one might have been the

son of Gargantua’s mare for his Giant-like proportion. Then took he his

strong and large Ashen lance, bearing in his steel head Iron death,

at the top whereof hung a fair and rich pennon, the whole shaft of

the spear double gilded over and curiously enamelled, about his neck

hung his horn shield, artificially adorned with his own achievements,

the belt whereon his sword hung of beaten gold, his caparison of pure

cloth of gold, whereon the rich stones were so ordinary that they took

away ye glittering of the metal only as if it had been the Sunbeams,

trailed along betwixt precious gutters. On his helmet was fixed a rich

Crown of the most excellent metal. In brief, for I would fain have made

an end of this idle news, there was all the richness in his Empire,

in that all the beauty of his richness, in them all ye desire of each

eye: when he had saluted ye judges he trotted twice or thrice about

the lists, and then lighted at his Pavilion which was there erected

of cloth of gold, where he sat with convenient company and refreshed

himself. Now in the mean the Turk he set forward with an army double

the Christian, and 100,000 and above still left in the Camp. And here

I must needs leave to tell you of his exceeding preparation unless I

should make a whole volume, for beside the wondrous furniture of his

Soldiers, the most rare choice of ornaments, there was nothing could be

devised, nay more than of set purpose could be devised was there. But

briefly I will turn to the Turk himself, where if I had art according,

I should sooner weary you with delight than words: But 100,000 of his

men having marched before to the banks and there embattled themselves

by the river all along, with such hideous noise of Trumpets, horns

(for so they use), drums of brass, flutes, etc., that there was more

heard than seen by far, then approached the great Turk himself, before

him rode 4000 Janissaries armed in their fashion, with a long Gown of

Scarlet-red laced with gold lace, and long sleeves of a very narrow

breadth, which was girt close unto him, under that a good armour, with

a long high cap like a milk-pail for all the world, of white Satin or

some such-like gear, with a long feather enough to come down to a tall

man’s hams, very thick laced in the brims with gold and pearl, in his

hand a short Javelin, at his side his Scimitar, at his back a great

Quiver of broad arrows, and by a string of silk hung his steel bow,

over every one hundred of these is a Boluch Bassa, a Centurion as we

call him, and these be of the Turk’s guard, and are called Solaquis

Archers, and they rode fifty in a rank, then came following them about

two hundred Peicher or Peiclers, all in one livery of very rich tissue

after their fashion, and these are of the Turk’s Laqueis[79] which

have a sharp teen[80] Hatchet sticking at their girdles, and the haft

of Brasil,[81] with this they will stand thirty paces off and cleave a

penny loaf or hit it somewhere, they will commonly stick an inch and

half deep into a very tough Ashen wood, or a Brasil, or such-like hard

wood: there in great triumph upon an Elephant richly trapped, stood a

Tower of two yards and a half high of pure silver, in the top whereof

stood an Image of beaten gold, representing their Mahomet, round about

which upon Mules Azamoglans or Jamoglans, who are children of tribute

exacted upon the Christian captives, and contributary, fine, sweet, and

the most choice picked Gentlemen brought up to sundry dainty qualities,

who with heavenly melody followed this Elephant, the religious men

going round about singing sweetly together: afore all these next to the

Janissaries went above two hundred Trumpets, and as many followed the

great Turk, who then approached, having his Chariot of pure silver of

above 20,000 pound weight, drawn with eight milk-white Elephants, round

about rode and went bare-headed, Azamoglans Peyclers most gorgeously

and resplendescent apparelled, under the Turk’s feet lay a pillow of

clear Crystal embossed at the ends with huge golden knobs, on his head

a wreath of purple with a most rich diadem as it is commonly known the

order of it, the stage can shew the making of it, but other things

they differ mightily in. Here you must suppose the exceeding glory of

his apparel, there he sat upright in the Chair with such a majestical,

proud, severe, war-like countenance, as justly became so high a throne,

before him went Aga which is the great Captain of his Janissaries, with

the Hali Bassa, the Captain of his naval expeditions, Bianco Bassa, the

Captain of his Janissarie Harquebusiers, the Zanfyretto Bassa Captain

of his Guard, with others of great authority bare-headed. After his

Chariot came sweet melody, and then five Elephants of War (an Elephant

is well-nigh as big as six Oxen gaunt and slender like a horse in ye

flanks, and of more swift foot than a man would think for, his fashion

is like no beast in England, but the ridge of his back is like that

of an horse, his feet hath five great horny toes, and a very long

snout of above two yards in length, with which he will draw by only

snuffing up a good pretty big lad, and deliver him to the Rider; this

long trunk falls down betwixt a large pair of teeth or tushes[82] of

above an Ell and a half long (as ye may commonly see at the Comb-makers

in London) bending like a Boar’s upward, his ears well-nigh from the

top to the nether tip of the hanging down above seven feet long). And

after these five Elephants, saddled and ordered for a man to ride on,

came trumpets, and all in the like manner as before, and then marched

500 in a rank, 100,000 footmen, and by their sides for wings 40,000

horsemen, so that he came to the combat with 240,000 fighting-men,

well accomplished in arms: then was the great Turk carried under a

goodly canopy upon a black Waggon on men’s shoulders into the Ferry,

which was richly prepared, where in the view of both Camps he landed,

whilst the war-like instruments echoed wide in the Air. In the Island

for Judges sat (in armour as did the others) the king of Rhodes and

the king of Pamphilia, now called Alcayr. When the Turk was landed,

there was brought to him by the hands of two kings a great Elephant

of an Ash colour, white embossed very glitteringly, whereon the great

Turk mounted by a short ladder of silver, armed very strongly and most

beautifully, then took he his Javelin in his hand and vibrated it in

great bravery (as he could handle his weapon well) and hung his quiver

of long Darts at his Back, then his Scimitar, etc., and so having

saluted the Judges retired unto the uttermost part of the field, then

mounted up the brave and puissant Emperor so lightly in his heavy

armour, as if either his gladness had lessened his weight, or the

goodness of his cause, to the great rejoicing of the Christian and

amazement of ye Turk, at whom the Christians yelled so universally and

hallooed, and other infinite kinds of gladsome tokens, that the Turk

astonished stood stone still till the Christian had done, and then as

men new risen to life, with such an horrible shout, that their voice

rebounded to the air, at which same time the Christian shouted again

with them, as if they would have committed a battle with voices, and

surely their voices did fight in the wide coasts and shores of the air.

This done the Emperors prepared themselves to the fight.

[Footnote 79: A kind of foot-soldier.]

[Footnote 80: Keen.]

[Footnote 81: Brazil wood.]

[Footnote 82: Tusks.]

CHAPTER XXII

_The Combat_

And when they were sworn that neither of them had any magic herb, charm

or incantation whereby they might prevail in their fight on their

adversary, and had solemnized the accustomable ceremonies in like

matters of combat. The Heralds gave their words of encounter, then with

loud voice and shrill Trumpets’ courageous blast, whilst all the people

were in dead night expecting the demeanour of these renowned Princes.

Now we have brought you to behold these two champions, arrived thither

with their brave followers, ready to prove their valiance in the

face of so great a multitude. Now if you will stand aside lest their

ragged spears endamage you, I will give you leave to look through the

Lattice, where you shall even now see the two Emperors, with their

brave shock, press Doubt betwixt their cruel encounterings. Now you

may see the two combatants, or but as yet champions, coming from the

ends of the field, the excellent Christian Emperor with incomparable

valour, visiting his Horse sides with his spurs, carrying his spear in

the rest with an even level, so that the thundering of the brave Steed

presaged ye dint[83] of the great thunder-clap. When Ali Chan, gently

galloping with his huge beast, came forward with more swift pace still

as he drew nearer to the Emperor. All this while you may behold them

hastening in their course, like as you see two great waves galloping

from the corners of the sea driven by contrary winds, meeting together

by long random, to make the neighbours’ shores to quake and dimmed

with their boisterous career. The Emperor being now with his greatest

fury ready to fasten his lance upon his adversary, and his adversary

ready to fasten his Javelin on him, when the Turk suddenly stepped

aside, and the Emperor thrusted his void lance into the Air, (for he

mought easily do it), for though the Elephant be but low, yet he was

higher than his horse by a yard, and yet his horse was the fairest

and tallest to be found in all Christendom, so that needs he must lay

his spear in an uneven height to break it on him. Suddenly ye Turk

stopped and with his nimble Beast followed the Emperor as he had fled,

whereat all the whole army of Turks shouted horribly clapping their

hands, and the Christian stood still in great silence, struck with just

wonder of this strange Quiddity[84] in combat, and ere the Emperor

could make his stop with a short turn, the Turk had hit him upon the

shoulder with his Javelin, which being denied entrance, for very anger

rent itself in forty pieces, and chid[85] in the Air till they broke

their necks on the ground: and had not then the Horse started, the

monstrous Elephant had over-thrown him with his rider to the earth.

But then the Horse incensed with ire for this injury, and his master

more hotly burning with disdain and furious gall, leaped, bounded, and

sent out at his mouth the foamy arguments of his better[86] stomach,

but so fast the vile Turk followed, that he had spent three long Darts

upon the barbed flanks of the Horse, which all in vain returned to

their Master. The beholding Turks so eagerly pursuing the strokes with

shouting, as if with a hidden Sympathy their training[87] had augmented

the violence of the blows. At length the good Emperor sorely ashamed

came now to make him amends for his pretty falsery: and with great

scope thronging[88] his lance forward just upward upon the Turk’s

face, and when he was almost by him, the Infidel, as if he but make a

sport of the fight, stepped aside very delivery,[89] thinking that he

should have made him run in the like order as before, but he, more

cautelous marking of purpose which way he meant to decline, turned

with him, and his learned Horse could well do it, and indeed desire of

revenge had so seated itself in his brave courageous breast, that now

he even followed him as he had been drawn with Cart-ropes, the Turk

seeing how he was circumvented, fetched a pretty compass and trod a

round, the Elephant flying from ye horse and the horse following the

Elephant, as you might see Seignior Prospero lead the way in Mile end

Green in the ringles,[90] this was a pretty sport to see the matter

turned to a play. Now the Christians having like occasion to shew their

gladness, gave such an _Applaudite_ as never was heard in any Theatre,

laughing so effusedly that they dashed their adversaries clean out of

countenance, tickling again with the long loud laughter: When they

had run not passing twice about, the Turk, seeing his time, conveyed

himself out of the ring, and then got again on his back, spending his

cowardly Darts upon his strong enemy’s armour, and so fast he followed

and so quickly the good Emperor turned back again, that his horse’s

barb of Steel out-sticking in his front, met just upon the outside of

the right eye of the Elephant, that it sticking out a foot entered in

above an inch, which ye horse perceiving made the rest follow into his

head up to the hilts (as to say) laying out his fore feet out straight,

and his hinder legs in like manner, went poking, and crowded himself

forward still gathering upon the Elephant, so that not so much with

the Horse’s force as the great beast’s cruel pain, the Elephant swayed

back above one hundred feet. Now was the Emperor glad, and with both

his hands lifting himself upon his stirrups, took his lance and struck

with the point the Turk full on the vizard so thick and so many times,

that some blood followed, with an hue and cry out of the windows of

the Helmet, to find the worker of his effusion: till the villian slave

drawing his fine sword smote the lance very bravely in two, and casting

his shield afore him, received the last stroke on the truncheon of it,

which the gentle Emperor with fell fury threw at him, that he made

him decline almost to the fall. The Turk sitting on the Elephant’s

back could not with his Scimitar reach the Christian, nor he the Turk

with his Curtilax,[91] so that now they sat and looked one upon the

other, and the people at them, and all at this strange coping.[92] The

good Horse Grauntier by chance being gored a little under the mane

betwixt the bendings of the barbs with the sharp tusk of the Elephant,

neighed with great stomach, and leasing[93] from the beast which he had

well-nigh forced to the lists’ end, being thereto forwarded with the

sharp spurs with so exceeding fury, that it was not only a marvel how

the good Prince could sit him so assuredly, and also that he spoiled

not himself, and with more eager fury began to gallop upon the Elephant

again, his mouth wide open, and horrible with the salt fume[94] which

in abundance issued from his great heart: for by how much the more

a thing is gentle and quiet, by so much the more being moved he is

iracund[95] and implacable. But the Emperor turning his reins carried

him clean contrary to the lists’ end, where stood lances for the same

purpose as the manner is, of which he chose the two stiffest, longest,

and rudest for their stature and came softly pacing to the Turk: who

stood even there still where he was, the Elephant bleeding in such

abundance, that by the loss of so much blood his meekness turned into

rage, and began to rise and bray, and stamp, and with an uncertain sway

to move, so that with much ado the Slave stayed and appeased him, then

the brave Emperor, lifting up his vizor not only to take breath but

the more freely that his speech might have passage, he told the Turk

that he had in a base cowardly manner by false fraud and unequal fight

dishonoured himself and endangered him, for which he told him _Malgrado

suo_[96] he would be gloriously revenged: and now that they had spent

a good time in uncertain Fortune, he had brought two lances, choose

which he would, and either begin the fight anew or make an end of the

old, promising upon his Honour that if he refused so to do, he would

fasten one in his beast and another in his heart. And if he dared to

do that, he bade him come down on foot and there break a staff with

him. The Turk, as he was an Honourable soldier, then presently slipped

off his Elephant, bravely answering that he came to conquer him in

sport, and not meaning to make a purposed battle, but sith he was so

presumptuous as to dare him to his face, he should soon perceive how

lightly he weighed his proud words, and then skipping to him straight

a Lance out of his hand, and went one hundred paces backwards, so did

the Emperor very joyfully, when they were come so far as they thought,

they might trust to their breath, holding their Lances in both their

hands, began to run very swiftly, and desire brought them together so

fast and outrageously, that their Lances somewhat too malapert[97]

not suffering them to come together, hurled the Turk above seven feet

of the Lances’ length, so that not one there but thought he had been

either slain, or his wind dashed out of his belly: the Prince reeled

backward above two paces and yet fell down much astonished. The people

on both sides exceedingly amazed and affrighted, especially the Turks,

who sent out such a doleful _Sauntus_[98] that it would have moved

the stones to ruth, but the dolour of the Christian was not so great,

for the moving of the Emperor revived their spirits much. In a cause

on which the beholders’ safeties do depend, the ill-success is much

feared, for it may be seen by this, that they will with a certain

alacrity and Sympathy seem to help or pity as the cause requires. On

a sudden the Emperor lifted up his head, at which the Christians gave

such an universal shout, as if even now they would have frayed[99] the

mountains adjacent. The two courageous beasts having lately heaped up

red-hot rancour in their disdainful stomachs, assaulted the one the

other with all the weapons of nature, that it had been enough for to

have delighted anyone, but the Horse had some small advantage by reason

of the Elephant’s right eye was covered with the trailing down of

the blood. By this time the Emperors rose again, and the one went to

his Horse, the other to his Elephant, having first splintered their

spears, and fenced so long as any virtue remained in the slaughtered

Lances. When each had gotten to their beasts, they began to forward

them, who with equal ire moved needed no encouragement, then did the

Emperor coming with full scope upon the Turk, smite the Elephant just

upon one of the teeth, while with great rage the Horse had fastened his

pike again in the Jaw bone, so that the Elephant still swayed back, but

neither of them being able to reach the one the other, the excellent

Prince, casting his golden shield before him and drawing his glittering

Curtelax, leaped upon the neck of his Horse, and laying one hand upon

the one tooth of the Elephant, with the other hand upon the thong, that

went across his forehead, vaulted up, and settling his feet upon the

tusks and his hand on the head of the beast, cast up himself, and laid

his sitting place where his hands were, and there rode by little and

a little till he might buckle with the insedent.[100] No sooner came

he within the reach of the Turk, but he smote the Turk so freely, who

was ready prepared for him, that he made him decline a little, there

they fought so long that the Elephant driven through pain was thrust

up to the lists, hereupon all the people Christian in a more free

manner than ever at any time before, all the while their hard-metalled

swords played upon each other’s shield, so that the glory of their

rare fight was so wonderfully pleasing to the eye, and so honourable

to the combatants, that if they had jested, one would well have been

contented to view all the long day: but the good Prince was too hard

for the other, for with his ready blows he urged the great Slave out

of his cell, and made him sit behind the arson[101] of the saddle, and

if this chance had not happened, he had surely made him sit behind

the arson of his Elephant’s Tail. For as soon as the Elephant had but

touched the lists, the Christian Marshals of the field came galloping

and parted the Combatants, holding the Turk as vanquished, whilst

betwixt the contrary and adverse part there was four Negatives,[102]

so that well-nigh they had fallen to blows, for ye case seemed to the

Christian plain, to the Turk unjust. That because the Beast whereon he

rode went to the Lists’ end, therefore the stopper should be blamed.

Well, Heralds whose office it is to deal in such royal matters, had the

discussing of it, and it was deferred to arbiters, with this condition,

that if the Turk was found vanquished, he should be yielded as recreant

(and miscreant he was). So the matter was posted off whilst it never

was concluded, and both the parties departed, the one to ye camp, the

other to the city, in no less solemn pomp than they entered accompanied

into the sands, where so rare a chance fortuned betwixt so puissaunt

Emperors. And because the matter was as strange as true, I have

sojourned a little too long in it. But in the next Inn you shall have a

better refreshment or a newer choice.

[Footnote 83: Force.]

[Footnote 84: Subtlety, trick.]

[Footnote 85: Applied to sounds suggesting angry vehemence.]

[Footnote 86: Bitter?]

[Footnote 87: Enticing.]

[Footnote 88: Forcing, pressing.]

[Footnote 89: Nimbly.]

[Footnote 90: Ring, or circle.]

[Footnote 91: Cutlass.]

[Footnote 92: Encounter.]

[Footnote 93: Releasing.]

[Footnote 94: Smoke, vapour.]

[Footnote 95: Irascible.]

[Footnote 96: In spite of himself; reluctantly (Ital.)]

[Footnote 97: Impudent.]

[Footnote 98: A form of _sanctus_; an outcry.]

[Footnote 99: Frightened.]

[Footnote 100: A person sitting on something (in this case, the

elephant’s rider).]

[Footnote 101: Saddle-bow.]

[Footnote 102: i.e. The Turkish umpires.]

CHAPTER XXIII

By chance a Knight smote Faustus a box on the ear in the presence of a

great company of brave Ladies, wherefore he swore to be egregiously

revenged on him, giving him the Field, which the Knight refused not, so

the weapons, the place, the time were ordained, and Faustus went out

to the field, and no sooner was Faustus gone out of the presence but

Signior di Medesimo, who was well-known to be a valorous and courageous

man in his kind as any was about the Court, on a sudden fell down on

his knees before all the Ladies, shaking and quivering, with a face

as pale as him which was new risen from a month’s burying, desiring

them if ever they tendered any Gentleman’s case, to entreat Monsieur

Infeligo to forgive him his trespass. At this the whole assembly

burst out into a loud laughter, to see the man that was even now in

his brave terms and vaunting words to come in all submissive manner

to entreat for a pardon so ridiculously. He yet not desisting with

many a salt tear and hands lifted up towards the Heavens, from whence

his pity came, when Faustus came blowing in like a swashbuckler with

his Rapier by his side and his hand on his Poynard, swearing all the

cross row over.[103] But when he saw the Knight in such a pickle, he

sat himself against a wall and laughed so loud and so heartily, that

all the whole rout could not choose but laugh with him, and here was

laughing, and here and there and everywhere. At length two Ladies rose,

to whom perhaps this Knight owed some particular service, and desired

Don Infeligo with very mild sermon to be friends with Medesimo again,

he told them that they could not demand the thing which he would not

readily fulfil, marry he requested this, that as the disgrace which

he had received was too great to be forgotten without some such equal

revenge, that he might use some like injury, whereby he might be

satisfied and he might again come into his grace: which they granted.

Faustus came to Medesimo and reared him up upon his feet, and then got

upon his back, and so rid twice about the Chamber, and when he had done

he took him by the chin, who had not yet forgotten how to weep, shaking

worse then any school-boy when he fears to climb the horse, and gave

him a good box on the ear and went his way. So the Knight was utterly

disgraced, and for shame durst not be seen all that day after. They

which were there had sport abundance, and Faustus was feared for his

brave valour and with his continual delight in knavery got him foes

enough too.

[Footnote 103: An incantation over the letters of the alphabet.]

CHAPTER XXIV

Another time he by chance overheard a Gentleman which was talking to

a Lady, and said that whatsoever she commanded him to do, he would do

it, if she would grant him grace. The Gentlewoman belike willing to

hear him speak so not to her, required him to build in that place with

one word a Castle of fine silver, at which the Gentleman amazed went

away confounded, Faustus followed him fast, and said to him that he had

overheard the Lady’s unjust demand, wherefore go say (quoth he) thou

wilt do it with one word. And so the Gentleman did and it was done,

whilst he ran laughing in to many nobles and lusty gallants, telling

them he would shew them the strangest thing that ever they saw, and

all they came running into the garden together, where they found the

Gentleman fast locked in a pair of stocks, and an ugly foul kitchen

wrench in his arms. O Lord, what wondrous sport did he make them there.

And when they had laughed their fill, he loosed the gallant, who went

and swore all that he could he would be revenged on him. In such

monstrous intolerable knaveries Faustus took especial felicity.

CHAPTER XXV

These four honest fellows Faustus, Akercocke, Mephostophiles, and

Wagner went out together into the street, and walking there by chance

espied four Gentlewomen seeming to be sisters, them they cast to abuse,

and they were never content to play any merry pranks for honest sport,

but they must be so satirically full of gall, that they commonly proved

infamous, sparing neither their good name on whom they committed

them nor any kind of villainy, so it might procure mirth: when they

had talked sufficiently with them, they did so much that they were

contented to ride abroad with them, and so each fetched his horse and

came to them masked, and the Gentlewomen were wimpled likewise (for

the men as well as women use there to wear masks). Thus they rode

to the common furlong where many Italian gentlemen were playing at

the Balloon, and there they rode round about, whole armies of shouts

accompanying them, they riding still backward and forward, whilst

these men-women had sewed their coats to their doublets, and pinned

upon their backs things of vile reproach amongst them, then rode they

to the Court not yet satisfied, where they were entertained with more

merriment and laughter. And when these men-women saw the greatest

multitude that was there likely to be, even upon a piece of ground

which was higher than all the rest, they leaped down, and by reason of

the friendship betwixt their petticoats and their doublets, they haled

them all down one after another, the horses ran away, and they lay

upon them to their great confusion and reproach, yet they thought all

well sith they were personated and masked, but the women stripped off

their women’s garments and their head attires, and there they were well

known to be four brave noble young Gentlemen brethren, and each of them

rent off the masks of Mephostophiles and his mates, and detected them

to their great shame, who neither durst revenge themselves for fear

of further displeasure, nor of revealing what they were, nor could be

moaned of any one for their notable abuses aforehand, so that whereas

in others it had been but a common jest, on them it was wonderful

strange and ridiculous. So they with shame enough went fretting in vain

to their lodging.

CHAPTER XXVI

The Emperor being some five or six days in rest within his walls,

caused, as sloth cannot dwell in true noble breasts, the whole Army to

set forward, leaving a convenient Garrison within the City of 30,000

men, marched into the fields in sundry embattles with above 130,000

men. And there in the view of the Army Mephostophiles, Akercocke,

Wagner, Faustus pricked up to the Turk’s camp, armed in complete

harness, and there challenged any four to break a staff with them, then

came there forth four Janissaries horsemen armed at all assays,[104]

and there they ran together to the singular delight of the beholders,

so gallantly they demeaned themselves, but in the cope[105] all the

four Janissaries were run quite through and through (as they say) and

there lay on the cold earth, then made these four fellows in Arms their

stop and expected a fresh revenge: which came immediately thundering

out of the entry of the Camp, with whom to occur in time they met with

the like success as before, to their singular commendations and high

praises: then gan the Turk to stamp and fret, and commanded four of

the best in his whole camp, and four more with them to run at these

villains and to captive them, where they should rue the rashness of

their presumption with long eternal torment. These eight came with all

their power together and broke their lances very hardly upon their

faces, and so did they four on theirs, then they drew their swords

committing a brave tourney, till two of the Turks were slain, and the

six fled, which were immediately hanged, at which ye Christian laughed

heartily, and these four returned thanked highly, and for that the

Enemy would not advance himself to the general Fortune of the fight,

they marched in again into the City.

[Footnote 104: Ready for every event.]

[Footnote 105: Encounter.]

CHAPTER XXVII

About two a clock in the night the Turk approached with all his whole

army unto the walls of the City, causing particular bands and Pioneers

to dig through the countermure, the Sentinels which were on the walls,

privily espying by reason the Moon gave some slender light, though she

was but three days old, gave warning without any alarm to the chief

commanders: so that the whole power of the City almost was gathered

into Arms, without any stroke of the Drum. The place wherein the Turk

was entering, was right against a street’s end of above two yards over

and not above thirty yards from the breach, they had digged a deep

trench and placed on the scarf nine double cannons thoroughly round and

charged with chain and murdering shot, and on each side of the cross

street they had erected forts of gravel, etc., like our Barricadoes

now, in each of which they placed above fifteen Culverin and Cannon.

Now the breach being sufficient, the Turk having entered above 2,000

men, gave ye onset, and sounded the bloody alarm, when suddenly the

Flankers discharged and the bulwarks shot freely together, and utterly

cut off all them that entered beyond the ditch, and betwixt those

three mentioned Forts with their terrible shot, they swept them all

out of the place, then began the Turk to thrust his men forward upon

the breach (having lost in this assault above 2,100) and ever as they

came up to the breach, the Cannon heaved them off, and the small shot

from the loops so galled them that they durst not approach. But the

Turk cared not, for the murthering of his men might weary the Cannons’

insatiate cruelty at length. Then was the alarm given through the City,

and everyone fell to their Arms, getting to the walls, and the rest to

the assembling places, whilst the Turk freshly filled the breaches with

murthered men, he enforcing himself to his power to enter, and they

to keep him out. When he saw that how he had stopped the breaches so

with dead bodies, which almost made a new red sea with their blood, in

a great rage transporting above 30,000 men over the Danuby, furnished

them with scaling ladders, whilst he with great store of cannon beat

his own slain men off the fore-named breaches, for he was a merciless

tyrant, and caused them to assault the wall itself, which they did.

Now began the morning to appear, and ye Christian came just upon the

backs of the assailants, with the greatest part of the whole power of

the city, and put them all to the sword, save those that escaped from

them by water, but killed of their own fellows. Then the Christian

marched upon the Turk, who seeing his power greatly weakened, having

lost at his unlucky assault above 23,000 men, cursing and banning his

disastrous fortune, and his Gods the givers of it, retired in a flying

pace to his camp, whilst the plenteous spoil made rich the Christian,

for upon the dead carcases were found store of jewels and gold in great

plenty.

CHAPTER XXVIII

This new victory gladded the Christians exceedingly, as much as it

grieved the Turk. The breaches now were freshly repaired with all

expedition. The Christian princes seeing the inconvenience that

followed their keeping within the City, and how great shame it were for

them to abstain from the enemy, considering their power to be not much

inferior to that of the Turks in number, much more in brave soldiery,

wherefore they made a general muster, and determined to offer the

battle to them in the plain field, which if they refused, they would

give them in their camps, concluding all under one day’s valiance, then

marched forth the English archers, of whom Wagner desired he might be

with his fellows, which when they had taken their stand, they brought

store of fletchery[106] to them in carts, which were there disburdened,

so every archer being five double furnished, the number of them now

was nine thousand, the pike being converted into them, being thereto

desirous, and having therefore made great suit, for the Emperor was

very loth to forget their first good service: Faustus counselled the

Captain to choose a plot of above one hundred acres square, where it

was open to each horseman, which they marvelled at greatly, but yet

they easily granted to stand anywhere: they were so well placed, that

they stood as well to defend the friend, as to offend the foe. Then

in due order marched out the whole armies of the Christian, and so

settled themselves, whilst the Turk brought forward his thick swarms.

Now it had been a brave sight, to see the greatest princes of the whole

world East and West, attended on by their whole forces set in array,

their gorgeous and bright armours and weapons casting up long trammels

of golden shine to the heavens, the noise of clarions, trumpets, etc.,

encouraging the fainting soldier, and increasing the boldness of the

resolute. There was at once in this Field all the terror of the world,

accompanied with all the beauty. In the City you might have seen the

remainders at the churches at prayer, solemn procession round about

the town with great devotion, etc. Well, the time was come that the

horsemen began to assault the pike, and attempting the ruptures of

their array, and the forlorn hopes fiercely skirmishing, whilst with

loud outcries the whole use of hearing was taken away: above you

nothing but smoke, round about you the thundering cannon, and sharp

horrors of sundry weapons, and at your feet death. There might you see

the great use of the eughen[107] bow, for the horse no whit fearing the

musket, or culiver,[108] as used to it, nor yet respects the piercing

of a bullet, by the thick tempest of arrows, hiding their eyes, and

hurting their bodies, overthrew the horsemaster to the ground, on that

side could not one horseman appear, but straight they fetched him down,

so that of thirty thousand horsemen of one assault, there was not one

that came within five spears’ length of the battle on foot. The great

Turk cursing heaven and earth, and all trees that bore such murthering

fruit as bows and arrows, caused a troop of five hundred barbed horses,

with twenty thousand more to run upon the archers altogether, which

they did, but when they came just upon a little ridge, not one horse

but suddenly stopped, and the riders which now had rested their staves,

lying close upon the saddle pommels, were thrown quite out of the

saddle, and either their backs broken, or quite slain. All the whole

archery with the camp wondering hereat, as ignorant of the matter,

everyone suspending his several judgment, but Faustus laughed heartily,

who knew the matter plain, for there had they buried in sand all the

way wolves’ guts, which by natural magic, as authors affirm, suffers

not the horse to come over it in any case, nor any force can carry

him over with a rider on him. For the Archers drew just upon, and so

universally shot together, that all the troops were put to flight, and

above half spoiled and murthered. To be brief, so much the Christian

prevailed upon the Turk in three hours and a half fight, that all them

were turned and fled, each one advancing forward in his flight, there

were slain in this battle and flight above seven score thousand Turks,

the great Turk himself fighting manfully on his Elephant, was by the

Emperor’s own hands slain, all his chief Bassas and men of honour, to

the number of three hundred died manfully about him: now the retreat

was sounded, and they marched home in most glorious pomp and rejoicing,

where the soldiers made rich with the great spoil of the camp, were

dismissed, and the princes returned home, and due order taken for

the safety of the City. So the Duke of Austria rid of his enemies,

gave himself to his forepassed life, and the other princes with great

joy caused general feasts and triumphs to be performed in all their

kingdoms, provinces, and territories whatsoever.

[Footnote 106: Goods made, or sold, by a fletcher (a maker or seller of

bows and arrows).]

[Footnote 107: Yew.]

[Footnote 108: _Caliver_, a light musket or arquebus.]

FINIS

APPENDIX A

LIST OF LOCALITIES

(_Where they vary from the modern usage_)

ACH: Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle).

ANHOLT: Anhalt.

AUSPURG: Augsburg.

AUSTRICH: Austria.

BASILE: Basle.

BASYL: Basle.

BATOBURG: Battenburg.

BETHELEM: Bethlehem.

BEYERLANDT: Bavaria.

BREAME: Bremen (?).

CAMPA DE FIORE: Campo de’ Fiori.

CAMPANY: Campania.

CATHAI: China.

COSTUITZ (COSTNITZ): Constance.

CRACOVIA: Cracow.

CULLIN: Cologne.

DURING: Thuringia.

ELVE: Elbe.

ERFORT: Erfurt.

GEUF (GENF): Geneva.

GIBLATERRA: Gibraltar.

GINNIE: Guinea.

GOSLARYENS: Citizens of Goslar.

GRACOVIA: Cracow.

KUNDLING: Knittlingen.

LIEFLAND: Livonia.

LIPTZIG: Leipzig.

LITAW: Lithuania.

LUSITANY: Lusitania, Portugal.

MAYNE: Main.

MEDERI: Madeira (?).

MENCHEN: Munich.

MENTZ: Mainz.

MILLAIN: Milan.

MISSENE: Meissen.

MOSA: Maas.

NORENBERG: Nuremberg.

NOVA HISPANIOLA: Mexico.

PADOA: Padua.

POLONIAN: Polish.

PRAGE: Prague.

RAVENSPURG: Regensburg.

RHODE: Roda.

SANDETZ: Sandec, in Galicia.

SCLESIA: Silesia.

SLESIA: Silesia.

SENA: Siena.

SHAWBLANDT: Schwabenland, Swabia.

SWEITZ: Switzerland.

S. MICHAEL’S: One of the Azores.

TERZERA: One of the Azores.

TERGESTE: Trieste.

TERRA INCOGNITA: America.

TENORRIFOCIE: Teneriffe (?).

TRENO RIEFE: Teneriffe (?).

TREIR: Trier (Trèves).

ULME: Ulm.

ULMA: Ulm.

WARTZBURG: Würzburg.

WATZBURG: Würzburg.

WEIM: Vienna.

WEIMER: Weimar.

APPENDIX B

A Ballad of Faustus, about 1670, from the Roxburghe

Collection in the British Museum. [Rox II. 235]

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD SHEWED UPON ONE _John Faustus_,

DOCTOR IN DIVINITY

Tune of _Fortune my Foe_

All Christian men give ear a while to me,

How I am plung’d in pain but cannot die,

I liv’d a life the like did none before,

Forsaking Christ, and I am damn’d therefore.

At Wittenburge, a town in Germany,

There was I born and bred of good degree,

Of honest Stock which afterwards I shamed,

Accurst therefore for Faustus was I named.

In learning loe my Uncle brought up me,

And made me Doctor in Divinity:

And when he dy’d he left me all his wealth,

Whose cursed gold did hinder my souls health.

Then did I shun the holy Bible book,

Nor on Gods word would ever after look,

But studied accursed Conjuration,

Which was the cause of my utter Damnation.

The Devil in Fryars weeds appeared to me,

And streight to my Request he did agree,

That I might have all things at my desire,

I gave him soul and body for his hire.

Twice did I make my tender flesh to bleed,

Twice with my blood I wrote the Devils deed,

Twice wretchedly I soul and body sold,

To live in peace and do what things I would.

For four and twenty Years this bond was made,

And at the length my soul was truly paid,

Time ran away, and yet I never thought

How dear my soul our Saviour Christ had bought.

Would I had first been made a Beast by kind,

Then had not I so vainly set my mind;

Or would when reason first began to bloom,

Some darksome Den had been my deadly tomb.

Woe to the Day of my Nativity,

Woe to the time that once did foster me,

And woe unto the hand that sealed the Bill,

Woe to myself the cause of all my ill.

The time I past away with much delight,

’Mongst princes, peers, and many a worthy Kt.

I wrought such wonders by my Magick Skill,

That all the world may talk of Faustus still.

The Devil he carried me up into the Sky,

Where I did see how all the world did lie;

I went about the world in eight Daies space,

And then return’d unto my Native place.

What pleasure I did wish to please my mind,

He did perform as bond and seal did bind,

The secrets of the Stars and Planets told,

Of earth and sea with wonders manifold.

When four and twenty years was almost run,

I thought of all things that was past and done;

How that the Devil would soon claim his right,

And carry me to Everlasting Night.

Then all too late I curst my wicked Deed,

The Dread whereof doth make my heart to bleed,

All daies and hours I mourned wondrous sore,

Repenting me of all things done before.

I then did wish both Sun and Moon to stay

All times and Seasons, never to decay;

Then had my time nere come to dated end,

Nor soul and body down to Hell descend.

At last when I had but one hour to come,

I turn’d my glass for my last hour to run,

And call’d to learned men to comfort me,

But faith was gone and none could comfort me.

By twelve a Clock my glass was almost out,

My grieved Conscience then began to doubt;

I wisht the Students stay in Chamber by,

But as they staid they heard a dreadful cry.

Then presently they came into the Hall,

Whereas my brains was cast against the wall,

Both arms and legs in pieces torn they see,

My bowels gone, this was an end of me.

You Conjurors and damned Witches all,

Example take by my unhappy fall:

Give not your souls and bodies into Hell,

See that the smallest hair you do not sell.

But hope that Christ his Kingdom you may gain,

Where you shall never fear such mortal pain:

Forsake the Devil and all his crafty ways,

Embrace true faith that never more decays.

Printed by and for A. M. and sold by the Booksellers

of London.

APPENDIX C

_Bibliography_

H. LOGEMAN: _The English Faust Book of 1592_. (_Recueil de Travaux de

l’Université de Gand_, 24ᵉ fascicule, Ghent, 1900).

A. E. RICHARDS: _The English Wagner Book of 1594_.

(_Literarhistorische Forschungen_, XXXV. Heft, Berlin, 1907.)

W. J. THOMS: _Early English Prose Romances_. (2nd Ed. Vol. III.

London, 1858.)

R. PETSCH: _Das Volksbuch vom Doktor Faust_. (Reprint of the first

edition of 1587. _Neudrucke_, Nos. 7, 8, 8a, 8b. Halle, 1911.)

G. MILCHSACK: _Historia D. Johannis Fausti des Zauberers_. (Reprint of

the Wolfenbüttel MS. Wolfenbüttel, 1892-7.)

W. MEYER: _Nürnberger Faustgeschichten_. (_Abhandlungen der

philosoph.-philolog. Klasse der königl. bayrischen Akademie der

Wissenschaften_, Bd. XX. Abt. 2. Munich, 1895.)

S. SZAMATÓLSKI: _Das Faustbuch des Christlich Meynenden_. (_Deutsche

Literaturdenkmale des 18. und 19. Jh., No. 39._ Stuttgart, 1891.)

J. SCHEIBLE: _Das Kloster_. (Vols. 2, 3, 5, and 11. Stuttgart, 1846-9.)

A. TILLE: _Die Faustsplitter in der Literatur des 16. bis 18. Jhdts_.

(Berlin, 1898-1904.)

K. ENGEL.: _Zusammenstellung der Faust-Schriften vom 16. Jh. bis Mitte

1884._ (Oldenburg, 1885.)

C. KIESEWETTER: _Faust in der Geschichte und Tradition_. (Leipzig,

1893.)

E. FALIGAN: _Histoire de la légende de Faust_. (Paris, 1888.)

E. SCHMIDT: _Faust und das 16. Jahrhundert_. (_Charakteristiken_, 1.

Reihe, 2. Aufl., Berlin, 1902.)

E. SCHMIDT: _Faust und Luther_. (_Sitzungsberichte_, 1896.)

E. WOLFF: _Faust und Luther_. (Halle, 1912.)

W. CREIZENACH: _Versuch einer Geschichte des Volksschauspiels vom

Doctor Faust_. (Halle, 1878.)

A. W. WARD: _Marlowe’s Tragical History of Dr. Faustus_. (4th Ed.

Oxford, 1901.)

R. ROHDE: _Das Englische Faustbuch und Marlowes Tragödie_. (Halle,

1910.)

H. LOGEMAN: _Faustus-Notes_. (_Recueil de Travaux_, 21ᵉ fascicule,

Ghent, 1898.)

J. FRITZ: _Ander theil D. Johañ Fausti Historien_. (Reprint of first

edition of _German Wagner Book_. Halle, 1910.)

Printed in Great Britain at

_The Mayflower Press, Plymouth_.

William Brendon & Son, Ltd.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES.

1. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical

errors.

2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.

3. Some of the illustrations have been moved to a different page in

this ebook edition. The page numbers, in the List of Illustrations,

have been amended.

4. It has been necessary for the localities that have two alternative

names for the same location in APPENDIX A to be reformatted in

this ebook edition.