The History of Doctor John FaustusAuthorAnonymousEncoderTaylor LongEmily RosanoBrendan MurphyPrimary editorKristen Abbott Bennett
Kristen Bennett and Scott Hamlin
2018
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Transcription keyed by students in LC 347A at Stonehill College, under the supervision of Kristen Abbott Bennett and Scott Hamlin. Transcription prepared from a digital surrogate of a microfilm.
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TO the READER.
REader, I would not have you think,That I intend to waſte my ink,While Fauſtus ſtory I rehaearſeAnd do write his life in verſeFor ſeing Fryer Bacons ſtory,(In whom Oxford ſtill may glory)For want of better pen comes forth,Compos’d in Ryme of no great worth:I cal’d my Muſe to task and pen’d Fauſtus life, and death, and end:And when it cometh forth in print,If you like it not, the devi'ls in’t.Veni, Vide,Fuge.Come, See,and hateDoctor Fauſtuswretched ſtate.CHAP.
35
CHAP I.
Of Doctor Fauſtus birth.and how he gave his heartTo leave off fair Divinity,to ſtudy the black Art.MY Muſe, aſift me now, for I intendTo write the life & death & featful endOf Doctor Faustus, whoſe ill gotten name,May well compare with Fryer Bacons fame.Fauſtus was born at Rhodes, which Town dorWithin a province of fair Germany :His Father was a husband man, did liveOn what the earth to him did freely give:Yet he at Wittenberg an Uncle had,Who toke young Fauſtus, being but a Lad,And ſent him to the Univerſity,That he might ſtudy there Divinity:But he did quickly there addict his heart:To leave fair ſtudies for the foul black ArtThus he in ſecret ſtudied conjuration,Yet being found by acts and diſputationTo be well learned, they did all agreeTo make him Doctor of Divinity:A2rThe History of 36But having once obtained that high degreeHe ill deſerved it, as you ſhal ſee,For now my pen doth tremble for to tell,How like a devil from all grace he fell,For now his contemplation he did bendTo Negromancy, and much time did ſpendIn caſting figures, making incantations,With all the wicked helps of conjurations,Leaving thoſe ſtudies which are moſt divine,And to theſe helliſh arts he did incline:I therefore here have drawn his life, that youMay learn ſuch wicked courſes to eſchew:That we thus ſeeing him ruled by the devil,May pray to be delivered from ſuch evil,
CHAP. II.
How Doctor Fauſtus conjur'd up,from out a globe of fire,The ſpirit Mephoſtophiles,that came like to a frier.Now Fauſtus purpoſing alone to tryThe power of this his Magick myſteryHe did repair unto a little wood,And not far off from wittenberg it ſtood:There he did make a circle with his wand,And thus with charms his ſpirit did command,Mephoſtophiles, I ſay, quickly riſe, and come away:ByA2vDoctor John Fauſtus. 37By Lucifer I charge the here,that thou forthwith do appear.With this a murmure in the woods was heardThat Doctor Fauſtus was himſelf afear'd:The wood with lightning ſeemed on a flame,And loudeſt thunder terror did procliam,Till Doctor Fauſtus in his Magick robe,Lookin about him ſpy'd a fiery globe;And at the laſt from this ſame globe a fire;The Spirit came in likeneſs of a Fryer:Who lightly round about the circle ran,And thus to ſpeak to Faustus he began:Fauſtus, ſayeth he, I now am come,Speak thy will, and it is done.When Mephoſtophiles did thus kindly greet himThen Doctor Fauſtus bid the ſpirit meet himThe next day at his houſe; the ſpirit did cóſentAnd back again then Doctor Fauſtus went.
CHAP. III.
How Doctor Fauſtus madea contract firm, not good,To ſerve the Devil, whichhe wrote with his own blood.THe time appointed, in a bluſtring day, The ſpirit came to him, and thus did ſayA3rThe History of 38I Mephoſtophiles am ready now,And thus to be your vaſſal I do vow:Entreating you that you would let me knowWhat is your pleaſure that call me ſo?Fauſtus here with ſome queſtions did propone,Which Mephoſtophiles did ſoon expone.At laſt the matter did begin to frame,And to theſe friendly articles they came,That Doctor Fauſtus ſhould a ſpirit beBoth in his outward ſhape and quality:That he ſhould be inviſible to all,And Mephoſtophiles ready at his call,And whatſoeever he did once command,That he ſhould bring it quickly to his hand,And that he ſhould at any time appear,When once the voice of Fauſtus he did hear.Thus Fauſtus did this black agreement make,While that the ſp’rit did for his maſters takeT heſe ſad conditions, which would even ſearA tender hearted Chriſtian for to hear,Himself to his Lord Lucifer ſhould give,That Doctor Fauſtus while he now did live,And for to make the contract firm, not good,He did agree to write it with his blood;Which in a Sawcer on the fire he ſet,He in the ſame his wicked blood did heat.And wrote there with that he would always beA foe unto all Chriſtianity.Theſe ſad conditions when that you do read.IA3v39Doctor John Fauſtus.I know that it will make your heart to bleed:Yet wretched Fauſtus made himſelf the band,And thereupon did ſet his deſperate hand,And to theſe covenants he gave conſent,Which after, though too late he did repent,But being ſeal’d, he doth the ſame deliverTo Mephoſtophiles to keep it ever.Thus by degrees he added ſin to ſin.And now the practiſe he did firſt begin.
CHAP. IV.
How Fauſtus firſt began,his cunning to aſſay;And how his ſpirit didin every thing obey.IT happened now that Fauſtus in the endThe devil with the queſtion did offend : ( frameWhich was that he Would know how God didThe World & all things Which it doth containBut Lucifer not able this to tell,Becauſe himſelf from his creation fell,Was with the Doctor very much diſpleas’d,Nor could his anger quickly be appeas’d,And therefore Lucifer to increaſe his fear,ug’y ſhape to Fauſtus did appear,With other of his black infernal rous,Who in an antick manner danc’d about,HerA4r8 The History of40Hereat poor Doctor Faustus was amaz’d,And yet upon their hideous forms he gaz’d;Thinking theſe troups of fury now were comeTo fetch him thence before his glaſs were run,Or ere his twenty-four years did expire;During which time the ſpirit, like a Fryer,Carrying a little bell within his hand,Was bound to be ſtill ready at command;But afterward, when theſe ſame years did end,Then Faustus ſhould on Lucifer attend.And now this fearful ſudden operation,Did fill his heart with grief and contrition:But when that Lucifer perceiv’d his ſadneſs;He laughed out then for very gladneſs.Faustus ſaid he I now well perceive,That thou our firſt agreement would deceive,Yet I would have you know it is in vain:For no repentance can you purge again.Beſide you know & there with ſhewed his band,That to theſe covenants you have ſet yourAnd for to make this obligation good, (handYour ſelf hath write it with your own blood:Be quyet then in mind, and take your reſt,For thou ere long muſt be great Pluto’s gueſt :In the mean time to recreat thy leaſure,Sit down & I wil ſhow thee some new pleaſure.So Fauſtus and the devil together ſate,But ſtill he thought his company too hot.Then Lucifer did other fiends commandForA4vDoctor John Faustus.419For to appear, who ſtraightway were at hand,Firſt came in Belial like to a Bear,With flaming eyes, and ſhaggy rugged hair,Then Belzebub came flying in with wings Whoſe mouth was filled with a pair of ſtings,Then came Aſteroth of coal black hew,And after him a ſerpents tail he drew.Then Chanigaſto lightly skipped in,Who was attyred in a hedge-hogs skin,At laſt came Anobis like to a dog,And in his body ſhaped like a hog.Theſe ugly Maskers did themſelves advance,And in ſtrange meaſures did begin to dance.And as they did their ſeveral changes make,Their threatning forks 'gainſt Fauſtus they didAs if they meant at him to run a tilt, (ſhakeThat Fauſtus thought his blood ſhould then beLucifer ſeeing Faustus thus diſmaid, (ſpilt.Began to cheer him up, and thus he ſaid,Fauſtus, how doſt thou like this nimble ſport?For with this company thou muſt reſortBut Fauſtus ſweating, thought it was hot wea-Being afraid to ſee them altogether; (ther,And did intreat his devilſhip that heWould ſend away his fearful company;At which great Lucifer diſmiſs’d them all,Excepting even of the principal.Now Fauſtus having gotten breath again,Did ask for Mephoſtophiles by name; which A5r10 The History of 42Which having ſpoken as he did deſire,Came Mephostophiles like to a Fryer:Then Fauſtus to entreat his ſp’rit begun,That he ſhould teach him as himſelf had doneHow to transform himſelf in any ſhape,Either of dog, or lyon, cat, or ape,With this great Lucifer gave him a book,On Which this Fauſtus did no ſooner look;But he to divers forms himſelf did change,And throgh an hundred varied ſhapes did rangeSometimes like to a dragon, hog, or worm,Then to a bat he would himſelf transform:But at the laſt being changed to a man,To ſport himſelf great Lucifer began,And ſent a ſwarm of Bees, which to ſting fellPoor Fauſtus, that he thought himſelf in hell.And to his ſpirit then he cry’d for wo;While Lucifer went laughing thence, Ho, ho.And having left tormented Fauſtus there.As ſoon as he was gone, the day grew clear,And ſweeteſt Muſick was to him convey’dWhich cheared up his heart, though much diſmaid.
CHAP. V.
How Doctor Fauſtuswas carried through the air,That he might view the world,the Sky and Planets fair.A5v43Doctor John Faustus.11AS Fauſtus lay one day upon his bed,While divers fancies came into his head,He did begin to vex himſelf, that ArtCould not the ſecrets of the Heavens impart:For he had noted that their obſervationsWere not confirm’d by certain demonſtrations,Judging of things as Authors were inclin’d,But yet in knowledge all of them were blind.And thus while in his bed he muſing lyes,A ſudden fearful wind began to riſe,That with the force thereof his houſe did rock,And all the doors, as if they had no lock,Did open fly, and then a voice he heard,Which bid him riſe and not to be afraid,And he ſhould ſee the ſum of his deſire,And to the ſtarry region ſhould aſpire,And there the wonders of the world behold,The earth, the ſea, and all that they infold:And then unto the airy region fly,And ſee the Meteors both cold and dry.Fauſtus at this ſame news was much refreſht.And thought himſelf in the diſcovery bleſt:For thus the devil at the firſt began. (man.When he with hope of knowledge temptedFauſtus now whom ambition did inflame,Did anſwer to the ſpirit back again:The wonders of the world I fain would ſee,Which if thou faithfully wilt ſhow to me,promiſe here that I will go with thee.WhichA6r12The History of44Which word once ſpoke he did ſtraight wayA wagó, which two fiery dragons drew, (viewAnd then the voice to him did ſay,Get up with me, and let us both away.Thus mounted on the wagon, forth they wentTo view the world and upper firmament: And as they thus did travel through the air,His Mephoſtophiles did to him repair:And ſitting in the Chariot hard by him, To pleaſe his maſter, he this ſong did ſing. Come you ſpirits mountupon your numble wings,And your chieſeſt notsbe ſure that you do ſing, While my Faustus here and Iſwiſtly wander through the skie.He will travel over mountains,over Park, and over Pale,Over Cities, and Steeples,over hills, and over dale:While my Faustus here and Iſwiftly wander through the skie.Then we will to Sea again,and there laugh when we do hearHow the Mariners exclaimwhen a ſudden ſtorm they fear,WhileA6vDoctor John Faustus.4513While my Fauſtus here and I,ſwiftly wander through the skie.Fauſtus, thou ſhalt now be toldwhat thy ſelf did most deſire:How the ſtars about are roll’d,ſome are lower, ſome are higher:All this ſhalt thou view, while Iwander with thee through the skie.THe ſong thus done which Fauſtus pleaſedHe did intreat his ſpirit now to tell (well,The ſeveral Regions which they paſſed by,Which Mephoſtophiles did not denyYonder, ſaith he, you ſee on your left handMuſcovia, Durſſia, and the Saxons land:On the right hand, beſides us here doth lyEurope, Aſia, the mid-land ſea, with Greece andHungary,Look yonder Is the hot and torrid zone,And Charles-wain unto the Sea-man known:Yonder is Urſa Major, which is but the ſameWith that which we call the Charles-wain.Thus did he point him out each conſtellation,While Fauſtus ſtrucken was with admirationAnd having ſhown him all the earth at laſtUpon his bed again he Fauſtus caſt,Whereas he thought on what before he ſaw,And how the ſtars were govern’d by their lawAndA7r14The Hiſtory of46And hereby to ſuch knowledge he did climeThat none was like to Fauſtus in his time;And for Aſtrology, he was the beſt,And in his art did far excel the reſt.
CHAP. VI.
How Doctor Fauſtus wouldſometime in a pleaſent vein,Show many rare conceits,which did encreaſe his fame.IT chanced now that Fauſtus on a timeDid happen with the Emperor to dine.Who did intreat that his art would ſhew.That thereby he might Alexander view In ſuch a ſhape as he did live on earth:And furthermore for to encreaſe his mirth.He did intreat him that he would preſentHis Paramour which bred his hearts contentFauſtus having heart the emperor ſaid no moreBut opened ſtraight the privy chamber door,And ſtraightway in full figure there cameGreat Alexander of renowned worth: (forthAnd after him his beauteous Paramour,Who made obeyſance to the Emperour:Who with kind ſalutation thoght to greet her,But Fauſtus would not ſuffer him to meet her.And after, through the door by which theycame,TheyA7vDoctor John Faustus4715They both of them did vaniſh back again,Leaving the Emperor, who did commendGreat Fauſtus skill, and called him his friend,But you ſhall hear of fauſtus tricks hereafter:Which cannot chooſe but more you unto lau-This being done, upon another time, (ghter,When Doctor fauſtus did to miſſh incline,Walking among the Courtiers, he did ſpy.Whereas a Knight did at a window ly,With his head out of the window, ſo that hewas fallen aſleep, which fauſtus ſoon did ſee:And ſet a pair of Hart horns on his head,So large: Acteon ne'er was better ſpread;But when the Knight did happen to awake,Seing his horns, his head began to ſhake,And thought he could pull in his head again,But all his force and ſtriving was in vain:And he by no means could bring it to paſs,But with his horns he broke the panns of glaſsAnd when the Emperor beheld this fight,He and the Courtiers laughed all outright,Until that faustus took his horns away,with which the Emperor was pleas'd that dayBut not long after this ſame unjured Knight,Did purpoſe that his wrongs he thus wouldThat meeting Doctor faustus on a plain (rightHe purpos'd he ſhould nev'r go home againBut then the buſhes he did arm again,Which came upon the knight like armed men.ThusA8r6The Hiſtory of48Thus the Knights malice fauſtus did defeat, And all that heard it laugh’d at this conceit.Another time this faustus did repair,Like to a Horſe-courſer to a countrey fair:And having pac’d his horſe about a while,A chap-man came to him which made himſmile,And askt his price, which fauſtus did unfoldAnd ſo his horſe for fourty Dollars ſold,And charged him, whatſoever did betide,That he into the water ſhould not ride;But the horſe-courſer, wondring at his word,As he went home did ride into a ford,And ſtraight his horſe did vaniſh quit away,For he no more his horſe or ſaddle ſaw:But there was left upon a wad of ſtraw.The Horſe-courſer went back into his Inne,And to enquire for fauſtus did begin:And finding him there ſleeping on a bed,He did begin to pluck him by the leg,That he did pluck it off: then fauſtus cry’d,With open throat that he had murther’d him,Whereat the Horſe courſer did now beginTo ask for mercy and away he went,And for to loſe his money was content.It hap’ned Doctor Fauſtus on a day.Met with a clown that drove a load of hay,And asked him what he ſhould give, in ſcoff, That he might eat his belly full thereof:TheA8vDoctor John Faustus.4917The Clown did tell him that he ſhouldFor his three farthings eat ev‘neven what he wouldIt was agreed, and Doctor Fauſtus ſetHimſelf to eat, and all his teeth did whetThat the poor clown was ſory, and did grutchTo ſee that Fauſtus did eat up ſo much:For Fauſtus did the Countrey-man ſo blind,He could not ſee the hay was left behind,And therefore did intreat him very fair,That Fauſtuswould his load of hay yet ſpare,Here at Fauſtus laughing went away, And afterward the Clown had all his hay.Doctor Fauſtuscoming on a timeUnto a Tavern, which did ſell good wine,He found a company of drunkards thereMerrily drinking and ſo loud they were,That Doctor Fauſtus, who this noiſe did hate,Hearing them all thus loudly ſing and prate:At laſt whéwhenthey their words had newly ſpokèHe then cojured that their mouths ſtood open And this they gaping ſtood at one another, Not one was able for to ſpeak to th’ other.In this amazed manner forth they came, And then they all did ſhut their mouths again. And hereby Fauſtus Art was much expreſt,And all the Town did laugh at this new jeſt.Once Doctor Fauſtus did his friends invite,Who Scholars were unto a ſupper light:AndB1r18The Hiſtory of50And afterward he did intreat each gueſt(Meaning thereby to make a merry jeſt)That they would take the pains with him to goTo a wine-celler which he would them ſhow:They all conſented and not long they ſtay’d,To the Biſhops cellar they were all convey’dThere Fauſtus and the Scholars merry were,But now the Butler put them in a fear,Who coming haſtily to draw ſome drink,The Butler ſeeing them, did ſtraightway thinkThey had been thieves, and ſo aloud did cryFor help: but Fauſtus ſtill’d him by and by.By the hair of the head he carry’d him,Who now for fear to tremble did begin,Untill unto a lopped tree he cameAnd there he leſt the Butler on the ſame;And all the night, which was both ſharp & coldWith both his hands he by the tree did hold:Till in the morning when he did eſpyThe ſhepherds, he aloud to them did crywho wondered much what man that ſhouldwho had thus climed on ſo high a tree. (beBut when this news unto the Biſhop came,The Biſhop did go out to ſee the ſame, (therAnd asked him how that he was brought thiThe Butler that with cold did quake & quiver,Did anſwer, that he certain thieves had foundIn his wine cellar who were drinking round,And by the hair of the head they did himbring,AndB1vDoctor John Fauſtus5119And left him in that caſe they found him in.what ere they were, ſaid he, I do not know; If they were devils, they like men did ſhow.But ‘tis not here my purpoſe to recite.Or all the merry tricks of Fauſtus write,Yet ſome of them I have related here:But now his twenty four years drew near;And though in pleaſure he had ſpent his time,The number of his years did now decline,And all the ſpirits had a great deſire,To ſee when Fauſtus bond would once expire.Since he was bound by that ſame bloody ſcroul At twenty-four years end to give his ſoul To Lucifer: the time now drawing nigh, You muſt expect to hear his Tragedy.
CHAP. VII.
How Fauſtus when his time drew nigh.did make great lamentation: And to his fellow ſtudents made his funeral Oration.THe glaſs of Fauſtus time being almoſt run Having but one month of his time to He drew into a very penſive mood, (come, And now his fault he plainly underſtood:AndB2rThe Hiſtory of52And now began to curſe that wretched time,When he to ſtudy Magick did incline.To hope for mercy now it was too late.Which made him to deplore his wicked ſtateAnd his accuſing conſcience now did tell,There was no way for him but down to hell,And thus in waiting he his time did ſpend,That little time which drew unto an end,Now on the pains of hell he firſt did think;The racks and tortures chains and filthy ſtink;How Proſerpine would ſurely laugh to ſeeHis ſoul tormented in this miſerie,Then he bethought him on the whips of ſteel,Which he did know his body there ſhould ſeeThe more he thought, the thoghts increas’d hisWhich made him ſtil unto himſelf cóplain (painWhile thus he ſpent his time in grief and fearHis Mephoſtophiles did to him appear,And told him that his years were now expir’dAnd that his Maſter Lucifer deſir’dHe would prepare himſelf and make an end,For that his Maſter ſhortly did intend,On ſuch a night, to fetch him down to hell,That with th’ infernal ſpirits he might dwellWhen Fauſtus had hard this he grew ſo ſad,That with his ſorrows he grew almoſt mad.He tumbled on his bed, all reſt he did deſpiſeNo quyet ſlumber ever cloſ’d his eyes;But he was ſtill tormented in his mind, SiB2vDoctor John Fauſtus.5321Sin went before, and torture came behind.Yet ſo it was, that one that very dayOn which the devil ſhold fetch him quite awayHe ſent unto his friends, intreating for his ſakeThat of his Banquet they would all partake.As merry Banquet is, it ſoon befell,As afterward in due place I will tellThe Students being come, he made them allAs welcome as he could when he himſself didInto a ſudden dump, nor could he be (fallMerry in their ſo beloved company:So calling them into another room,He did unfold to them his fearful doom.Doctor Fauſtus his Oration to his Friends and Fellow-ſtudents.MY friends, I muſt begin my Oration,With a confeſſion of my conjuration:Since all of you do know my firſt beginning.And how I grew ſtill worſe and worſe in ſin-And unto Magick Arts I was ſo bent, (ning,I ſought alwayes to further mine intent,And leaving better ſtudies did applyMy ſelf unto the helliſh myſtery.Thus did I live twenty four years and more,Who ſad expiring I muſt now deplore:For ſo it is, to purchaſe my content,WhichB3R22The History of54Which was, when twenty four years once didWhich time in conjuration I did ſpend. (endThe devil ſhould have my body and my ſoul:And did confirm it by a bloody ſcroul:And now the diſmal term of years is done,And night beginning, my hour glaſs is run:This night I look that he for me ſhould ſend,And this my life will have a fearful end,And now, my friends this banquet I did makeThat I of you my laſt farewel might take,Deſiring pardon where I have offended,Since my laſt act of life cannot be mended,And for thoſe practices which I have wroughtBy conjuration, and thereby have broughtMy heavy ſoul to grief and ſad deſpair,My life is written in a writing fair,Which lyes within my ſtudy: ſo that youMay learn thereby ſuch courſes to eſchew.And if that I do you my counſel give,And uſe that little time I have to live;Be ſure that you forſake all conjuration,And pray to be delivered from temptation:And let my death a warning be to all,Since by deſire of knowledge I did fall;For now to give my ſpeech a ſad concluſion,This night I muſt expect my own confuſion:And yet, my loving friends, I do requeſt,That you will go to bed, and take your reſt?Let nothing trouble you, nor do not fear,B3VDoctor John Fauſtus.5523If any trembling noiſe you chance to hear,Be ſure you do not riſe out of your bed:But when that I to Plutoes court am fled,If that you find my body the nixt day,Be ſure that you to earth do it convey. And ſo, my friends I wiſh you all good reſt:Pray go to bed my ſoul is much oppreſt:When as his friends had heard what he did ſayThey counſel'd him that he to God ſhold pray:But Faustus felt the weight ſo of his ſin;That how to pray, he knew not to begin,At laſt the ſtudents having pray'd did weep,And after went to bed, but could not ſleep.For Fauſtus in the hall did ſtay alone (groan:Where they might hear how he did ſigh andAnd ſo with wakeful eyes they did attend,Expecting ſtill to hear his fearful end.At laſt between the hours of twelf and one.At wind did riſe, the like was never known,It was ſo violent, which when they once didThe hoſt & Students both began to fear, (hearFor Doctor Fauſtus in the hall did lyWhece they might hear his fearful TragedyFor now the hall and upper rooms did ſhake,And they did hear a hiſſing like a ſnake,And then the hall door fiercely did fly open,And Fauſtus murther cry'd which being ſpokenThey heard no more, ſo that the SchollarsNow Doctor Fauſtusis to hell convaid, (ſaid,TheB4R2456The History of D. Fauſtus.The next day when they came into the hall,They might behold a fearful funeral.His blood & brains were ſprinkled on the groũdAnd ſuch a ſight as might the ſenſe confound,Here lay his teeth, and there his eyes did ly,A ſpectecale of helliſh cruelty. (mourn,Which when his friends beheld, they all didAnd found his body in the dung hill torn.To which his friends did Chriſtian burial give,Although himſelf did like a devil live,Thus I this Story of his life have penn'd.That we may ſee his life, and hate his end.FINIS.B4V