CHAPTER LII
How Doctor Faustus gathered together a great army of men in his extremity against a Knight that would have injured him on his journey
Doctor Faustus travelled towards Eyszleben, and when he was nigh half the way, he espied seven horsemen, and the chief of them he knew to be the Knight to whom he had played a jest in the Emperor’s Court, for he had set a huge pair of Hart’s horns upon his head: and when the Knight now saw that he had fit opportunity to be revenged of Faustus he ran upon him himself, and those that were with him, to mischief him, intending privily to shoot at him: which when Doctor Faustus espied, he vanished away into the wood which was hard by them. But when the Knight perceived that he was vanished away, he caused his men to stand still, where as they remained they heard all manner of war-like instruments of music, as Drums, Flutes, Trumpets, and such-like, and a certain troop of horsemen running towards them. Then they turned another way, and there also were assaulted on the same side: then another way, and yet they were freshly assaulted, so that which way soever they turned themselves, he was encountered: in so much that when the Knight perceived that he could escape no way, but that they his enemies laid on him which way soever he offered to fly, he took a good heart and ran amongst the thickest, and thought with himself better to die than to live with so great an infamy. Therefore being at handy-blows with them, he demanded the cause why they should so use them: but none of them would give him answer, until Doctor Faustus shewed himself unto the Knight, where withal they enclosed him around, and Doctor Faustus said unto him, Sir, yield your weapon, and yourself, otherwise it will go hardly with you. The Knight that knew none other but that he was environed with an host of men (where indeed they were none other than Devils) yielded: then Faustus took away his sword, his piece, and horse, with all the rest of his companions. And further he said unto him; Sir, the chief General of our army hath commanded to deal with you according to the law of Arms, you shall depart in peace whither you please: and then he gave the Knight an horse after the manner, and set him thereon, so he rode, the rest went on foot until they came to their Inn, where being alighted, his Page rode on his horse to the water, and presently the horse vanished away, the Page being almost sunk and drowned, but he escaped: and coming home, the Knight perceived his Page so bemired and on foot, asked where his horse was become? Who answered that he was vanished away: which when the Knight heard, he said, of a truth this is Faustus his doing, for he serveth me now as he did before at the Court, only to make me a scorn and a laughing-stock.