But for such friends as are but friends in sight,
They do deceive; incertain is their trust;

They prove untrue, they moulder like the dust:
But ah! a friend that stands in friendly right,
He is a friend, as needs confess I must.

Now if one find a faithful friend indeed,
Then keep him still, as jewel that is rare;
Be sure of this, to have on him a care;
For why? he will remain a friend at need,

As trial tells, and truth doth well declare."

Mr. Steevens had placed a particular mark, for a very obvious reason, before a copy of "Verses written at the departure of the writer's friende Will S. when hee went to dwell at London:" but he, doubtless, found from the context that this passage could not be metamorphosed into "Warwickshire Will."

T. P.

ART. VII. The Famous History of Frier Bacon. Containing the wonderful things that he did in his life; also the manner of his death, with the lives and deaths of the two Conjurers Bungey and Vandermast.

Very pleasant and delightful to be read.

Blijdschap doel, hel leven verlanghen.

With a curious wood-cut from the story of Frier Bacon's brazen head. Black letter, without date.

This tract, containing the traditional history of this celebrated frier, the source of many a fable, is indeed "very pleasant to read," and is interspersed with many

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many chansons à boire, and jocund ballads. My reason for introducing it as an object of literary attention is to copy the following chapter; which I take to be the origin, whence the author adopted the plot of the popular farce of "No Song no Supper." "How Miles, Friar Bacon's man, did conjure for meat, and got meat for himself and his Host. "Miles chanced one day upon some business, to go some six miles from home, and being loath to part with some company that he had, he was belated and could get but half way home that night: to save his purse he went to one's house, that was his master's acquaintance but when he came, the good man of the house was not at home, and the woman would not let him have lodging. Miles seeing such cold entertainment, wished that he had not troubled her, but being now there, he was loath to go any farther, and therefore with words he persuaded her for to give him lodging that night. She told him that she would willingly do it, if her husband were at home, but he being now out of town, it would be to her discredit to lodge any man. "You need not mistrust me," (said Miles) for I have no thought to attempt your chastity; lock me in any place where there is a bed, and I will not trouble you till te-morrow that I rise." She thinking her husband would be angry if she should deny any of his friends so small a request, consented that he should lye there, if that he would be locked up: Miles was contented, and presently went to bed, and she locked him into the chamber where he lay. Long had not he been a bed, but he heard the door open; with that he 'rose, and peeped through a chink of the partition, and saw an old man come in: this man set

down his basket that he had on his arm, and gave the woman of the house three or four sweet kisses, which made Miles his mouth run with water to see it. Then did he undo his basket, and pulled out of it a fat capon ready roasted and bread; with a bottle of good old sack; this gave he unto her, saying, "Sweet-heart, hearing thy husband was out of town, I thought good to visit thee. I am not come empty handed, but have brought something to be merry withall; lay the cloth sweet honey, and let us first to banquet, and then to bed." She kindly thanked him, and presently did as he bid her: they were not scarce set at the table, but her husband returning back, knocked at the door. The woman hearing this was amazed, and knew not what to do with her old lover; but looking on her apron strings, she strait found (as women use to do) a trick to put herself free from this fear; for she put her lover under the bed, the capon and bread she put under a tub, the bottle of wine she put behind the chest, and then she did open the door, and with a dissembling kiss welcomed her husband home, asking him the reason why that he returned so quickly. He told her that he had forgot the money that he should have carried with him, but on the morrow betimes he would be gone. Miles saw and heard all this, and having a desire to taste of the capon' and the wine, called to the good man. He asked his wife who that was: she told him an acquaintance of his, that entreated lodging there that night. He bid her open the door, which she did, and let Miles out. He seeing Miles there, bid him welcome, and bad his wife set them some meat on the table: she told him that there was not any ready, but prayed him to keep

his stomach till to-morrow, and then she would provide them a good breakfast.

"Since it is so, Miles" (said the good man) "we must rest content, and sleep out our hunger;" "Nay, stay," said Miles, "if that you can eat, I can find you good meats: I am a scholar, and have some art." "I would fain see it," (said the good man) "You shall," quoth Miles," and that presently." With that Miles pulled forth a book out of his bosom, and began his conjuration in this fashion.

"From the fearfull Lake below,
From whence spirits come and go,
Streightway come one, and attend
Frier Bacon's Man and Friend."

"Comes there none yet?" quoth Miles, "then I must use some other charm.

"Now the Owl is flown abroad,
For I hear the croaking Toad,
And the bat that shuns the day
Through the dark doth make her way.
Now the Ghosts of Men do rise,
And with fearful hideous Crys,
Seek revengement (from the good)
On their heads that spilt that blood:
Come some spirit, quick, I say,
Night's the Devil's Holy Day:
Where e'er you be in dens or lake,
In the Ivie, Ewe, or Brake:
Quickly come and me attend,
That am Bacon's Man and Friend.
But I will have you take no shape
Of a Bear, a Horse, or Ape:

Nor

Nor will I have you terrible,

And therefore come invisible."

"Now he is come," quoth Miles, " and therefore tell me what meat you will have, mine host." "Any thing Miles," said the good man, "what thou wilt." "Why then," said Miles, "what say you to a capon." "I love it above all meat," said the good man. "Why then a capon you shall have, and that a good one too. Bemo my spirit that I have raised to do me service, I charge thee seek and search about the earth, and bring me hither straight the best of capons ready roasted." Then stood he still a little, as though he had attended the coming of his spirit, and on the suddain said, "it is well done Bemo, he hath brought me, mine host, a fat capon from the king of Tripoli's own table, and bread with it." "I; but where is it, Miles," said the host. "I see neither spirit nor capon," "Look under the tub," quoth Miles, "and there you shall find it." He presently did and brought (to his wife's grief) the capon and bread out. "Stay," quoth Miles, "we do yet want some drink that is comfortable and good: I think, mine host, a bottle of Malego sack were not amiss; I will have it. Bemo, hast the to Malego, and fetch me from the governour a bottle of his best sack."

"The poor woman thought that he would have betrayed her and her lover, and therefore wished that he had been hanged, when that he came first into her house. He having stood a little while, as before, said, "well done Bemo, look behind the great chest, mine host;" he did so, and brought out the bottle of sack. "Now," quoth he, "Miles, sit down and welcome to thine own cheer. You may see, wife," quoth he, "what a man of art can