THE HISTORY OF Doctor JOHN FAUSTUS; Compiled in Verse, very pleasant and delightful.  
 
London, Printed by E. coats, and are to be sold by Charles Tyus at the Three Bibles on London-Bridge, 1664.   

To the Reader.  

READER, I would not have you think,  
That I intend to waste my ink,  
While Faustus Story I rehearse,  
And here do writ his life in verse,  
For seeing friar Bacons Story,  
( In whom Oxford still may glory)  
For want of better pen comes forth,  
composed in rhymes of no great worth:  
I called my Muse to task, and penned  
Faustus life. and death; and end.  
And when it cometh forth in print,  
If you like it not, the Devil's in't.   
Veni Come Doctor Vide See Faustus Fuge. and hate, wretched State.   

CHAP. I.  
Of Doctor Faustus birth,  
And how he gave his heart  
To leave off fair D●vinity,  
To study the black Art.  
MY Muse assist me now, for I intend  
To writ the life& death, and fearful end  
Of Doctor Faustus, whose ill gotten name  
May well compare with friar Bacon's famed.  
Faustus was born at Rhodes, which town doth lie  
Within a Province of fair Germany;  
His Father was a Husbandman, did live  
On what the earth to him did freely give:  
Yet he at Wittenberg an uncle had,  
Who took 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 Art.  
Thus he in secret studied conjuration,  
Yet being found by acts and disputation,  
To be well learned, they did all agree,  
To make him Doctor of Divinity.  
But having once obtained that high degree,  
He ill deserved it, as you shall 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 bend,  
To necromancy and much time did spend,  
In casting figures, making Inchantations;  
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 you  
May learn such wicked courses to eschew;  
That we thus seeing him ruled by the Devil,  
May pray to be delivered from all such evil.   

CHAP. II.  
How Doctor Faustus conjured up  
from out a Globe of fire,  
The spirit mephistopheles,  
that came like to a friar.  

NOw Faustus purposing alone to try,  
The power of this his magic mystery,  
He did repair unto a little Wood,  
And not far off from Wittenberg it stood;  
Where he did make a circled with his wand,  
And thus with charms his spirit did command▪   

mephistopheles I say,  
quickly rise and come away:  
By Lucifer I charge thee here,  
that thou forthwith do appear.   

With this a murmur in the wood was heard,  
That Doctor Faustus grew himself afraid;  
The wood with lightning seemed on a flamme,  
And loudest thunder, terror did proclaim:  
Till Doctor Faustus in his magic rob  
Looking about him, spy d a fiery Globe:  
And at the last, from this same Globe of fire,  
The spirit came in likeness of a friar;  
Who lightly round about the circled ran,  
And thus to speak to Faustus he began:   

Faustus ( says he) I now am come,  
Speak thy will, and it is done.   

When mephistopheles did thus kindly greet him,  
Then Doctor Faustus bid the Spirit meet him  
The next day at his house; the spirit did consent,  
And back again then Doctor Faustus went.    

CHAP. III.  
How Doctor Faustus made  
a Contract firm, not good,  
To serve the Devil, which  
he writ with his own blood.  
THe time appointed, in a blustering day,  
The spirit came to him, and thus did say:  
I mephistopheles am ready now,  
And thus to be your Vassal I do vow;  
Entreating you that you would let me know,  
What is your pleasure that you call me so.  
Faustus herewith some questions did propound,  
Which mephistopheles did soon expound.  
At last the matter did begin to frame,  
And to these friendly articles they came:  
That Doctor Faustus should a Spirit be,  
Both in his outward shape and quality:  
That he should be invisible to all,  
And mephistopheles ready at his call.  
And whatsoever 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 Spirit did for his master take,  
These sad conditions, which would even fear  
A tender-hearted Christian for to hear;  
That Doctor Faustus while he now did live  
Himself to his Lord Lucifer should give;  
And for to make the contract firm, not good,  
He did agree to writ it with his blood;  
Which in a saucer on the fire he set,  
He in the same his wicked blood did heat:  
And writ therewith that he would always be  
A foe unto all Christianity.  
These sad conditions when that you do red,  
I know that it will make your heart to bleed.  
Yet wretched Faustus made himself the band,  
And thereunto did set his desperate hand:  
And to these covenants he gave consent,  
Which after( though too late) he did repent:  
But being sealed, he doth the same deliver  
To mephistopheles, 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 did  
in every thing obey  
IT happened now that Faustus in the end  
The devil with a question did offend,  
Which was, that he would know how God did frame  
The world& all things which it doth contain.  
But Lucifer not able this to tell,  
Because himself from his creation fell;  
Was with the Doctor very much displeased,  
Nor could his anger quickly be appeased:  
And therefore Lucifer to increase his fear,  
In ugly shape to Faustus did appear,  
With other of his black infernal rout,  
Who in an antic manner danced about.  
Hereat poor Doctor Faustus was amazed,  
And yet upon their hideous forms he gazed:  
Thinking those troops of fury now were come,  
To fetch him thence before his glass were run,  
Or ere his twenty four years did expire:  
During which time the Spirit like a friar,  
Carrying a little bell within his hand,  
Was bound to be still ready at command.  
But afterward when those 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 perceived his sadness,  
He laughed out for very gladness.  
Faustus, says he, I do now well perceive  
That you our first agreement would deceive;  
Yet I would have you know it is in vain,  
For no repentance can you purge again.  
Besides, you know(& therwith shew'd his band)  
That to these covenants you have set your hand.  
And for to make this Obligation good,  
yourself hath written it with your own blood:  
Be quiet then in mind and take your rest,  
For thou ere long must be great Pluto's guest:  
In the mean time to recreate thy leisure,  
Sit down and I will 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 command  
For to appear, who straightway were at hand:  
First came in Belial like to a Bear,  
With flaming eyes, and shaggy rugged hair,  
Then beelzeebub came flying in with wings,  
Whose mouth was filled with a pair of stings;  
Then came Asteroth of coal black hue,  
And after him a Serpents tail he drew.  
Then Chanigasto lightly skipped in,  
Who was attired in a Hedgehogs 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 threatening forks 'gainst Faustus they did shake;  
As if they meant at him to run a Tilt,  
That Faustus thought his blood should then be spilled.  
Lucifer seeing Faustus thus dismayed,  
Began to cheer him up, and thus he said:  
Faustus, how dost thou like this nimble sport,  
For with this company thou must consort.  
But Faustus sweeting thought it was hot weather,  
Being afraid to see them all together:  
And did entreat his Devilship that he  
Would sand away his fearful company:  
At which great Lucifer dismissed them all,  
Excepting seven of the principal.  
Now Faustus having gotten breath again,  
Did ask for mephistopheles by name;  
Which having spoken as he did desire,  
Came mephistopheles like to a friar;  
Then Faustus to entreat his spirit begun,  
That he would teach him( as himself had done)  
How to transform himself to any shape,  
Either of Dog, or lion, 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 through a hundr. various shapes did range.  
Sometimes 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 fell  
Poor Faustus, that he thought himself in hell;  
And to his Spirit then he cried for woe,  
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 music was to him conveyed,  
Which cheered up his heart, though much dismayed.   

CHAP. V.  
How Doctor Faustus  
was carried through the air,  
That he might view the world,  
the sky and planets fair.  

AS Faustus lay one day upon his bed,  
Whiles divers fancies came into his head;  
He did begin to vex himself, that Art  
Could not the secrets of the heavens impart:  
For he had noted that their observations,  
Were not confirmed by certain demonstrations,  
judging of things as Authors were inclined  
But yet in knowledge all of them were blind.  
And thus while in his bed he musing lies,  
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 enfold:  
And then unto the airy region fly,  
And see the Meteors both could and dry.  
Faustus at this same news was much refreshed,  
And thought himself in the discovery blessed;  
For thus the Devil at the first began,  
When he with hope of knowledge tempted man.   

Faustus 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,  
I promise here that I will go with thee:   

Which word once spoken, he did straightway view  
A waggon which two fiery dragons drew:  
And then the voice to him did say,  
Get up with me, and let us both away.  
Thus mounted on the waggon forth they went  
To view the world and upper firmament;  
And as they thus did travail through the air,  
His mephistopheles did to him repair;  
And fitting in the Chariot hard by him,  
To please his Master he this song did sing.   

COme you Spirits mount  
upon your nimble wing,  
And your chiefest notes  
be sure that you do sing:  
While my Faustus here and I,  
swiftly wander through the sky.   

We will travail over Mountains,  
over park, and over pale,  
Over Cities and high Steeples,  
over hill and over dale:  
While my Faustus here and I,  
swiftly wander through the sky.   

Then we will to sea again,  
and there laugh when we do hear  
How the Mariners exclaim  
when a sudden storm they fear:  
While my Faustus here and I,  
swiftly wander through the sky.   

Faustus thou shalt now be  told,  
what thyself didst most desire;  
How the Stars about are rolled,  
some are lower, some are higher:  
All this shalt thou view, while I,  
wander with thee through the sky.   

THe song thus done which Faustus pleased well  
He did entreat his Spirit now to tell,  
The several regions which they passed by;  
Which mephistopheles did not deny:  
Yonder( says he) you see on your left hand  
Muscovia, Russia, and the Saxons Land:  
On the right hand, besides us here doth lie,  
Europe, Asia, the mid-land Sea, with Greece and Hungary:  
Look yonder is the hot& torrid zone,  
And Charles Wain unto the sea-man known.  
Yonder is Ursa mayor, which is but the same  
With that which we call the Charles wain.  
Thus did he point him out each constellation,  
While Faustus strucken was with admiration:  
And having shown him all the earth at last,  
Vpon his bed again he Faustus cast;  
Whereas he thought on what before he saw,  
And how the stars were governed by their law;  
And thereby to such knowledge he did climb,  
That 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 would,  
sometime in a pleasant vain,  
show many rare conceits,  
which did increase his famed.  

IT chanced now that Faustus on a time  
Did happen with the Emperour to dine;  
Who did entreat that he his Art would show,  
That thereby he might Alexander view,  
In such a shape as he did live on earth:  
And furthermore, for to increase his mirth,  
He did entreat him, that he would present  
His Paramour which bread his hearts content.  
Faustus having heard the Emperor, said no more,  
But opened strait the privy chamber door,  
And straightway in full figure there came forth  
Great Alexander of renowned worth:  
And after him his beauteous Paramour,  
Who made obeisance to the Emperour;  
Who with kind salutation thought to greet her,  
But Faustus would not suffer him to meet her:  
And after through the door by which they came  
They both of them did vanish back again;  
Leaving the Emperour who did commend  
Great Faustus skill, and called him his friend.  
But ●ou shall hear of Faustus tricks hereafter,  
which cannot choose but move you unto laughter.  
This being done, upon another time  
When Doctor Faustus did to mirth incline:  
Walking among the Courtiers he did spy,  
Whereas a Knight did at a Window lie,  
With his head out of the window, so that he  
Was fallen fast asleep, which Faustus soon did see  
And fixed a pair of Harts-horns on his head  
So large, actaeon nere was better spread;  
But when the Knight did happen to awake,  
Seeing his horns, his head began to shake;  
And though be 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 broken the pains of glass:  
And when the Emperour beholded this fight,  
He and the Courtiers laughed all outright;  
until that Faustus took his horns away,  
With which the Emperor was pleased that day.  
But not long after this same injured Knight,  
Did purpose that his wrongs he thus would right,  
That meeting Doctor Faustus on a plain  
He purposed he should never go home again;  
But then the Bushes he did arm again,  
Which came upon the Knight like armed men.  
Thus 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 Country Fair:  
And having paced his horse about a while,  
A chapman came to him which made him smile,  
And asked his price, which Faustus did unfold:  
And so his horse for forty collars sold:  
And charged him whatsoever did betid,  
That he into the water should not ride.  
But the Horse-courser wondering at his word,  
As he went home did ride into a Ford;  
And strait his Horse did vanish quiter away,  
For he no more his Horse or saddle saw,  
But there was left upon a wad of Straw.  
The Horse-courser went back unto his inn,  
And to inquire 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 murdered him:  
Whereat the Horse-courser did now begin  
To ask for mercy, and away he went,  
And for to lose his money was content.   

It happened Doctor Faustus on a day.  
Met with a Clown that driven a load of Hay;  
And asked him what he should give in scoff,  
That he might eat his belly full thereof:  
The Clown did tell him that he should  
For his 3 farthings eat even what he would.  
It was agreed, and Doctor Faustus set  
Himself to eat, and all his teeth did whet,  
That the poor clown was sorry and did grudge  
To see that Faustus did eat up so much:  
For Faustus did the Country-man so blind,  
He could not see the hay was left behind;  
And therefore did entreat him very fair,  
That Faustus would his load of hay yet spare:  
Hereat Faustus laughing went away,  
And afterward the Clown had all his hay.   

Doctor Faustus coming on a time  
unto a Tavern which did sell good wine:  
He found a company of Drunkards there  
Merrily drinking, and so loud they were,  
That Doctor Faustus who this noise did hate,  
Hearing them all thus loudly sing and prate,  
At last when they their words had newly spoken  
He conjur'd them all that their mouths stood open;  
And thus 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 expressed,  
And all the Town did laugh at this new jest.   

Once Doctor Faustus did his friends invite,  
Who Scholars were, unto a supper very light;  
And afterward he did entreat each guest,  
( Meaning thereby to break a merry jest)  
That they would take the pains with him to go,  
To a Wine-celler which he would them show:  
They all consented, and not long they stayed,  
To the Bishops cellar they were all conveyed:  
There Faustus and the Scholars merry were;  
But now the Butler put them in a fear;  
Who coming hastily to draw some drink,  
And seeing them, did straightway think  
They had been thieves, and so aloud did cry  
For help, but Faustus stilled him by and by;  
By the hair of the head he carried him,  
Who now with fear to tremble did begin,  
until unto a lopped three he came,  
And there he left the Butler on the same;  
And all the night which was both sharp& could,  
With both his hands he by the three did hold;  
Till in the morning, when he did spy  
The Shepherds, he aloud to them did cry;  
Who wondered much what mad man that should be  
Who had thus climbed on so high a three:  
But when this news unto the Bishop came,  
He did himself go out to see the same;  
And asked him how that he was brought thither,  
The butler that with could did quake& quiver,  
Did answer, that he certain thieves had found,  
In his Wine-celler who were drinking round;  
And by the hair of the head they did him bring,  
And left him in that case they found him in:  
What ere they were( says 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 writ;  
Yet some of them I have related here:  
But now his 24 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 the 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 grew 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 come;  
He drew into a very pensive mood,  
And now his fault he plainly understood:  
And now began to curse that wretched time,  
When he to study magic did incline.  
To hope for mercy now it was too late,  
Which made him to deplore his wicked state;  
And 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& filthy stink,  
How proserpina would surely laugh to see  
His soul tormented in this misery.  
Then he bethought him on the whips of steel,  
Which he did know his body there should feel,  
The more he thought, his thoughts increase d his pain  
which made him stil unto himself complain.  
While thus he spent his time in grief& fear,  
His mephistopheles did to him appear;  
And  told him that his years were now expired,  
And that his Master Lucifer desired  
He 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 the infernal spirits he might dwell.  
When Faustus had heard this, he grew so sad,  
That with his sorrow he grew almost mad;  
He tumbled on his bed, all rest he did despise,  
No quiet flumber ever closed his eyes.  
But he was still tormented in his mind,  
Sin went before, and torture came behind:  
Yet so it was, that on that very day,  
On which the devil should fetch him quiter away,  
He sent unto his friends entreating for his sake  
That of his Banquet they would all partake:  
As merry Banquet is, it soon befell,  
As afterward in due place I will tell.  
The Students being come, he made them all  
As welcome as he could, when he himself did fall  
Into a sudden dump, nor could he be  
Merry 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 sad Oration,  
With a confession of my Conjuration.  
Since all of you do know my first beginning,  
And how I grew still worse& worse in sinning,  
And unto magic arts I was so bent,  
I sought all ways to further my intent.  
And leaving better studies, did apply  
myself unto that hellish mystery.  
Thus did I live twenty four years and more,  
Whose sad expiring I must now deplore:  
For so it is, to purchase my content,  
I to a heavy bargain did consent:  
Which was, when 24 years once did end,  
( Which time in conjuration I did spend)  
The 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 sand,  
And this my life will have a fearful end:  
And now( my friends) this banquet I did make  
That I of you my last farewell might take;  
Desiring pardon where I have offended,  
Since my last act of life cannot be mended;  
And for those practices which I have wrought  
By conjuration, and thereby have brought  
My heavy soul to grief and sad despair,  
My life is written in a writing fair,  
Which lies within my study: so that you  
May 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 temptarion:  
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  
If any tumbling noise you chance to hear,  
Be sure you do not rise out of your bed:  
But when that I to Pluto's court am fled,  
If that you find my body the next 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 oppressed.    

When as his friends had heard what he did say,  
They counseled him that he to God should 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,  
Where they might hear how he did sigh and groan,  
And so with wakeful eyes they did attend,  
Expecting still to hear his fearful end:  
At last between the hours of twelve& one,  
A wind did rise, the like was never known,  
It was so violent: which when they once did hear  
The Host& Students both began to fear.  
For Doctor Faustus in the Hall did lie,  
When they might hear his fearful Tragedy:  
For 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 murder cried, which being spoken,  
They heard no more; so that the Scholars said,  
Now Doctor Faustus is to hell conveyed.  
The next day, when they came into the Hall,  
They might bebold a fearful funeral:  
His blood& brains were sprinkled on the ground  
And such a sight as might the sight confounded;  
Here lay his teeth, and there his eyes did lie,  
A spectacle of hellish cruelty;  
Which when his friends beholded they all did mourn,  
And found his body on the dunghill torn;  
To which his friends did christian burial give,  
Although himself did like a Devil live.  
Thus I this story of his life have penned,  
That we may see his life, and hate his end.   
FINIS.