HERE FOLLOWETH THE CONTENTS
OF THIS BOOK
| Page | |
| Of the parentage and birth of Doctor Faustus. | [65] |
| How Doctor Faustus began to practise in his Devilish art, and how he conjured the Devil, making him to appear and to meet him on the morrow at his own house | [67] |
| The conference of Doctor Faustus with the Spirit Mephostophiles on the next morning at his own house | [70] |
| The second time of the Spirit’s appearing to Faustus in his house, and of their parley | [72] |
| The third parley between Doctor Faustus, and Mephostophiles, about a conclusion | [74] |
| How Doctor Faustus set his blood in a Saucer on the warm ashes and wrote | [76] |
| How Mephostophiles came for his writing, and in what manner he appeared, and his sights he shewed him, and how he caused him to keep a copy of his own writing | [77] |
| The manner how Faustus proceeded with his damnable life, and of the diligent service that Mephostophiles used towards him | [79] |
| How Doctor Faustus would have married, and how the Devil had almost killed him for it | [81] |
| Questions put forth by Doctor Faustus unto his Spirit Mephostophiles | [84] |
| How Doctor Faustus dreamed that he had seen Hell in his sleep, and how he questioned with the Spirit of matters concerning Hell, with the Spirit’s answer | [86] |
| The second question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit, what Kingdoms there were in Hell, how many, and what were the rulers’ names | [87] |
| Another question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit concerning his Lord Lucifer, with the sorrow that Faustus fell afterwards into | [88] |
| Another disputation betwixt Doctor Faustus and his Spirit of the power of the Devil, and of his envy to mankind | [90] |
| How Doctor Faustus desired again of his Spirit to know the secrets and pains of Hell, and whether those damned Devils and their company might ever come into the favour of God again or not | [92] |
| Another question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit Mephostophiles of his own estate | [98] |
| The second part of Doctor Faustus his life, and practices until his end | [100] |
| A question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit, concerning Astronomy | [101] |
| How Doctor Faustus fell into despair with himself: for having put forth a question unto his Spirit, they fell at variance, whereupon the whole rout of Devils appeared unto him, threatening him sharply | [104] |
| How Doctor Faustus desired to see Hell, and of the manner how he was used therein | [110] |
| How Doctor Faustus was carried into the air up to the heavens to see the world, and how the Sky and Planets ruled: after the which he wrote a letter to his friend of the same to Lyptzig, how he went about the world in eight days | [115] |
| How Doctor Faustus made his journey through the principal and most famous lands in the world | [121] |
| How Faustus had a sight of Paradise | [144] |
| Of a certain Comet that appeared in Germany, and how Doctor Faustus was desired by certain friends of his to know the meaning thereof | [146] |
| A question put forth to Doctor Faustus, concerning the Stars | [147] |
| How Faustus was asked a question concerning the Spirits that vex men | [148] |
| How Doctor Faustus was asked a question concerning the Stars that fall from Heaven | [149] |
| How Faustus was asked a question concerning thunder | [149] |
| The third part, how the Emperor Carolus quintus requested of Faustus to see some of his cunning, whereunto he agreed | [150] |
| How Doctor Faustus in the sight of the Emperor conjured a pair of Hart’s horns upon a Knight’s head that slept out of a casement | [154] |
| How the Knight sought to be revenged of Faustus | [155] |
| A merry conceit of Faustus with three young Dukes | [156] |
| How Faustus borrowed money of a Jew | [160] |
| How Faustus deceived an Horse-courser | [162] |
| How Doctor Faustus ate a load of Hay | [164] |
| How Faustus played a jest with twelve Students | [165] |
| How Faustus served the drunken Clowns | [165] |
| How Faustus sold five Swine | [166] |
| How Faustus played a merry conceit with the Duke of Anholt | [167] |
| How he made a Castle in the presence of the Duke of Anholt | [168] |
| How they robbed the Bishop of Saltzburg his Cellar | [171] |
| How Faustus kept his Shrovetide | [172] |
| Faustus his feast to his friends on the Ash-Wednesday | [174] |
| How the next day he was feasted of his friends | [176] |
| How he shewed his friends the fair Helena of Greece | [177] |
| How Faustus conjured away the four wheels of a Clown’s waggon | [180] |
| How he deceived the four Jugglers | [182] |
| How an old neighbour of Faustus gave him counsel to amend his life | [183] |
| How Faustus wrote again the second time, with his own blood, and gave it to the Devil | [186] |
| How he made a marriage betwixt two Lovers | [188] |
| Of his rare flowers at Christmas in his Garden | [189] |
| How he gathered together a great army of men | [190] |
| How he gat for himself seven fair Ladies | [192] |
| How he found treasure in the 22. year of his time | [193] |
| How he made fair Helena his Paramour | [193] |
| How he made his Will | [194] |
| His talk with his servant | [195] |
| Five complaints of Doctor Faustus before his end | [197] |
| His miserable end, with his Oration to his friends | [201] |
A Discourse of the most famous Doctor John Faustus of Wittenberg in Germanie, Coniurer, and Necromancer: wherein is declared many strange things that he himselfe hath seene, and done in the earth and in the Ayre, with his bringing vp, his trauailes, studies, and last end
CHAPTER I
Of his Parentage and Birth
JOHN FAUSTUS, born in the town of Rhode, lying in the province of Weimer in Germanie, his father a poor husbandman, and not able well to bring him up: but having an uncle at Wittenberg, a rich man, and without issue, took this J. Faustus from his father, and made him his heir, in so much that his father was no more troubled with him, for he remained with his uncle at Wittenberg, where he was kept at the University in the same city to study Divinity. But Faustus being of a naughty mind and otherwise addicted, applied not his studies, but took himself to other exercises: the which his uncle often-times hearing, rebuked him for it, as Eli oft-times rebuked his children for sinning against the Lord: even so this good man laboured to have Faustus apply his study of Divinity, that he might come to the knowledge of God and his laws. But it is manifest that many virtuous parents have wicked children, as Cain, Ruben, Absolom, and such-like have been to their parents: so this Faustus having godly parents, and seeing him to be of a toward wit, were very desirous to bring him up in those virtuous studies, namely, of Divinity: but he gave himself secretly to study Necromancy and Conjuration, in so much that few or none could perceive his profession.
But to the purpose: Faustus continued at study in the University, and was by the Rectors and sixteen Masters afterwards examined how he had profited in his studies; and being found by them, that none for his time were able to argue with him in Divinity, or for the excellency of his wisdom to compare with him, with one consent they made him Doctor of Divinity. But Doctor Faustus within short time after he had obtained his degree, fell into such fantasies and deep cogitations, that he was marked of many, and of the most part of the Students was called the Speculator; and sometime he would throw the Scriptures from him as though he had no care of his former profession: so that he began a very ungodly life, as hereafter more at large may appear; for the old proverb saith, Who can hold that will away? so, who can hold Faustus from the Devil, that seeks after him with all his endeavour? For he accompanied himself with divers that were seen in those Devilish Arts, and that had the Chaldean, Persian, Hebrew, Arabian, and Greek tongues, using Figures, Characters, Conjurations, Incantations, with many other ceremonies belonging to these infernal Arts, as Necromancy, Charms, Soothsaying, Witchcraft, Enchantment, being delighted with their books, words, and names so well, that he studied day and night therein: in so much that he could not abide to be called Doctor of Divinity, but waxed a worldly man, and named himself an Astrologian, and a Mathematician: and for a shadow sometimes a Physician, and did great cures, namely, with herbs, roots, waters, drinks, receipts, and clysters. And without doubt he was passing wise, and excellent perfect in the holy scriptures: but he that knoweth his master’s will and doth it not, is worthy to be beaten with many stripes. It is written, no man can serve two masters: and, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God: but Faustus threw all this in the wind, and made his soul of no estimation, regarding more his worldly pleasure than the joys to come: therefore at the day of judgment there is no hope of his redemption.