In the City of Wittenberg was a Student, a gallant Gentleman, named N. N. This Gentleman was far in love with a Gentlewoman, fair and proper of personage. This Gentlewoman had a Knight that was a suitor unto her, and many other Gentlemen, the which desired her in marriage, but none could obtain her: So it was that this N. N. was very well acquainted with Faustus, and by that means became a suitor unto him to assist him in the matter, for he fell so far in despair with himself, that he pined away to the skin and bones. But when he had opened the matter unto Doctor Faustus, he asked counsel of his Spirit Mephostophiles, the which told him what to do. Hereupon Doctor Faustus went home to the Gentleman, and bade him be of good cheer, for he should have his desire, for he would help him to that he wished for, and that this Gentlewoman should love none other but him only: wherefore Doctor Faustus so changed the mind of the Damsel by a practice he wrought, that she would do no other thing but think on him, whom before she had hated, neither cared she for any man but him alone. The device was thus, Faustus commanded this Gentleman that he should clothe himself in all his best apparel that he had and that he should go unto this Gentlewoman, and there to shew himself, giving him also a Ring, commanding him in any wise that he should dance with her before he departed. Wherefore he followed Faustus his counsel, went to her, and when they began to dance they that were suitors began to take everyone his Lady in his hand, and this good Gentleman took her, who before had so disdained him, and in the dance he thrust the Ring into her hand that Doctor Faustus had given him, the which she no sooner touched, but she fell immediately in love with him, beginning in the dance to smile, and many times to give him winks, rolling her eyes, and in the end she asked him if he could love her and make her his wife; he gladly answered, he was content: and hereupon they concluded, and were married, by the means and help of Doctor Faustus, for which he received a good reward of the Gentleman.
CHAPTER LI
How Doctor Faustus led his friends into his Garden at Christmas, and shewed them many strange sights in his nineteenth year
In December, about Christmas in the City of Wittenberg, were many young Gentlewomen, the which were come out of the Country to make merry with their friends and acquaintance; amongst whom there were certain that were well acquainted with Doctor Faustus, wherefore they were often invited as his guests unto him, and being with him on a certain time after dinner, he led them into his Garden, where he shewed them all manner of flowers, and fresh herbs, Trees bearing fruit and blossoms of all sorts, in so much that they wondered to see that in his Garden should be so pleasant a time as in the midst of summer: and without in the streets, and all over the Country, it lay full of Snow and Ice. Wherefore this was noted of them as a thing miraculous, each one gathering and carrying away all such things as they best liked, and so departed delighted with their sweet-smelling flowers.
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.