_Burd._ We must lay plots of stately tragedies, Strange comic shows, such as proud Roscius Vaunted before the Roman Emperors, To welcome all the western potentates.
_Clem._ But more; the king by letters hath foretold That Frederick, the Almain emperor, Hath brought with him a German of esteem, Whose surname is Don Jaques Vandermast, Skilful in magic and those secret arts.
_Mason._ Then must we all make suit unto the friar, To Friar Bacon, that he vouch this task, And undertake to countervail in skill The German; else there's none in Oxford can Match and dispute with learnèd Vandermast.
_Burd._ Bacon, if he will hold the German play, Will teach him what an English friar can do: The devil, I think, dare not dispute with him.
_Clem._ Indeed, Mas doctor, he [dis]pleasur'd you, In that he brought your hostess, with her spit, From Henley, posting unto Brazen-nose.
_Burd._ A vengeance on the friar for his pains! But leaving that, let's hie to Bacon straight, To see if he will take this task in hand.
_Clem._ Stay, what rumour is this? the town is up in a mutiny: what hurly-burly is this?
_Enter a_ Constable, _with_ RALPH SIMNELL, WARREN, ERMSBY, _still disguised as before, and_ MILES.
_Cons._ Nay, masters, if you were ne'er so good, you shall before the doctors to answer your misdemeanour.
_Cons._ Marry, sir, here's a company of rufflers,[200] that, drinking in the tavern, have made a great brawl, and almost killed the vintner.
_Miles. Salve_, Doctor Burden![201] This lubberly lurden, Ill-shap'd and ill-fac'd, Disdain'd and disgrac'd, What he tells unto _vobis_ _Mentitur de nobis._
_Burd._ Who is the master and chief of this crew?
_Miles. Ecce asinum mundi_ _Figura rotundi,_ Neat, sheat, and fine, As brisk as a cup of wine.
_Ralph._ I am, father doctor, as a man would say, the bell-wether of this company: these are my lords, and I the Prince of Wales.
_Ralph._ Sirrah Miles, bring hither the tapster that drew the wine, and, I warrant, when they see how soundly I have broke his head, they'll say 'twas done by no less man than a prince.
_Mason._ I cannot believe that this is the Prince of Wales.
_Mason._ For they say the prince is a brave and a wise gentleman.
_War._ Why, and think'st thou, doctor, that he is not so? Dar'st thou detract and derogate from him, Being so lovely and so brave a youth?
