Page:Famous history of the learned Friar Bacon (2).pdf/15

 well the matter, aſked the gentleman, whether he had paid the Devil any of the money he borrowed of him. No, replied he, not one farthing. Why then, ſaid he, Mr. Devil, his debts are not diſcharged; you are his principal creditor, and according to this writing, can lay no claim to him till every one of his debts are diſcharged. How! how! replied the Devil, am I outwitted then? O, Friar, thou art a crafty knave! and thereupon vaniſhed in a flame, raiſing a mighty tempeſt of thunder, lightning and rain: ſo that they were wet thro' before they could get ſhelter. Then Bacon charged him, he ſhould never pay the Devil a farthing of his debt, whatever ſhape he came in, or artifice he uſed to wheedle him out of it, and then he could have no power over him. The gentleman on this, living a temperate frugal life, grew very rich, and leaving no children at his death bequeathed his eſtate to Brazen-Noſe-College, becauſe Friar Bacon, a member of it, had delivered him from ſo great a danger of body and ſoul.



How Friar Bacon framed a Brazen Head, which by Enchantment was to ſpeak: by that means all England had been walled