The history of the damnable life and deserved death of Doctor John Faustus, 1592, together with The second report of Faustus, containing his appearances and the deeds of Wagner, 1594.

by Unknown

CHAPTER XXXIV

How Doctor Faustus deceived an Horse-courser

In like manner he served an Horse-courser at a fair called Pheiffring, for Doctor Faustus through his cunning had gotten an excellent fair Horse, whereupon he rid to the Fair, where he had many Chap-men that offered him money: lastly, he sold him for forty Dollars, willing him that bought him, that in any wise he should not ride him over any water, but the Horse-courser marvelled with himself that Faustus bade him ride him over no water (but quoth he), I will prove, and forthwith he rid him into the river, presently the horse vanished from under him, and he sat on a bundle of straw, in so much that the man was almost drowned. The Horse-courser knew well where he lay that had sold him his horse, wherefore he went angrily to his Inn, where he found Doctor Faustus fast asleep, and snorting on a bed, but the Horse-courser could no longer forbear him, took him by the leg and began to pull him off the bed, but he pulled him so, that he pulled his leg from his body, in so much that the Horse-courser fell down backwards in the place, then began Doctor Faustus to cry with an open throat, he hath murdered me. Hereat the Horse-courser was afraid, and gave the flight,[37] thinking none other with himself, but that he had pulled his leg from his body; by this means Doctor Faustus kept his money.

Footnotes

[37] i.e. took to flight.

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