Page:Famous history of the learned Friar Bacon (2).pdf/16

 with braſs, if the folly of his man Miles, who was ſet to watch the Head, had not diſappointed it, not timely calling his maſter to anſwer it; for which he was ſtruck dumb many days.

Bacon being now a profound proficient in the art of Magic, and many other ſciences, contrived, with one Friar Bungey, who was his pupil, to do ſomething memorable for the good of his country, and many things they caſt in their minds: at laſt they remembered that England had often been harraſſed and invaded by the Romans, Saxons, Danes, Normans and other nations at ſundry times, to the great effuſion of blood, and often alteration of the conſtitution of governments; and if any thing might be contrived to prevent the like for the future, they ſhould thereby raiſe a laſting monument to their names.

Bacon upon this concluded to frame a head of braſs; and if, by their art, they could cauſe it to ſpeak, and anſwer their demands, they required, that all the ſeagirt ſhores of England and Wales ſhould be walled with braſs, and brazen towers be raiſed on the frontiers of Scotland, to hinder the incurſions and rovings of the hardy Scots.

They laboured to do this by art, but could not; ſo they conjured up a ſpirit, to enquire of the infernal council, whether it