The Honorable Historie of frier Bacon, and frier Bongay. As it was plaid by her Maiesties seruants. Made by Robert Greene, Maister of Arts. London, Printed for Edward White, and are to be sold at his shop, at the little North dore of Poules, at the signe of the Gun. 1594, 4to. This play was reprinted in 1599, 1630, and 1655; and forms a part of the viiith vol. of the new edition of Dodsley's Old Plays. I have not thought it necessary to mark all the variations of the later 4tos. DRAMATIS PERSONE. HENRY THE THIRD, KING OF CASTILE, LACY, Earl of Lincoln, WARREN, Earl of Sussex, RALPH SIMNELL, the King's Fool, ELINOR OF CASTILE, MARGARET, the Keeper's Daughter, JOAN, a Country Wench, HOSTESS OF THE BELL AT HENLEY. THE HONORABLE HISTORY OF FRIAR BACON AND FRIAR BUNGAY. Enter EDWARD the First,* malcontented, with LACY, Earl of Lincoln, JOHN WARREN, Earl of Sussex, and ERMSBY, Gentleman; [and] RALPH SIMNELL, the King's fool. LACY. WHY looks my lord like to a troubled sky, When heaven's bright shine is shadow'd with a fog? Alate we ran the deer, and through the lawnds + 'Stript with our nags the lofty frolic bucks, That scudded 'fore the teasers § like the wind. Ne'er was the deer of merry Fressingfield, So lustily pull'd down by jolly mates, Nor shar'd the farmers such fat venison, So frankly dealt this hundred years before: Nor have I seen my lord more frolic in the chase, And now chang'd to a melancholy dump. WAR. After the prince got to the keeper's lodge, And had been jocund in the house awhile, *Edward the First] During the play, however, he is only Prince of Wales. † lawnds] i. e. lawns: "this youthful Lord of the Lawnds.” Nash's Pierce Pennilesse, ed. 1595, Sig. F 4. 'Stript] i. e. outstript. teasers] "But these Teazers, rather to rouze then pinch the game, onely made Whitaker find his spirits. The fiercest dog is behind, even Bellarmine himself," &c. Fuller's Holy State, p. 66. ed. 1642. VOL. I. L |