“ I want money to buy food, pay debts, redeem my mortgag’d land, and many things more; can you help me to enough to do it? I can, said the old man, on one condition. What’s that? said the gentleman; if it be any thing tolerable I shall not refuse it; for I cannot be well worse, or in greater hardship than I am now. Why, said the other, the matter is not so much; you shall only oblige yourself when I have furnished you with money to do all you have named, and you have paid every one you owe a farthing to, to become obedient to me, and be disposed of at my pleasure. ”

“ The king, at this sight, demanded why he staid so long? and how he came in that condition? O plague, said he, take Friar Bacon, and all his devils! they have led me a fine dance, to the endangering of my neck.—— But is the dog here! I’ll be revenged on him! Then he laid his hand on his sword, but Bacon waving his wand, charmed it into his scabbard, (so he could not draw it out) saying, I fear not your anger; ’tis best for you to be quiet, lest a worse thing befal you: Then he told the king how he gave him the lye, when he told him he would be there before him. ”

“ There he profited so much, that in a few years he was sent to Oxford, to study at their charge; where he soon grew such a proficient, that his fame soon spread, not only in the University, but also over all England and came to the ears of King Edward the third, who then reigned: And he taking a progress with his queen and nobles, was desirous to see him, and have an experiment of his art; so that being at a nobleman’s house, within four miles of the city of Oxford he sent a gentleman of his bed-chamber to desire him to come to him. ”

“ At this he smiled, being well mounted, saying, scholars and travellers might lye by authority. Well, said Friar Bacon, to convince you, I will not only be there before you, ride as fast as you can, but I will there shew you the cook-maid you lay with last, though she is now busy dressing the dinner at Sir William Belton’s, an hundred miles distance from this place. Well, said the gentleman of the bed-chamber, I doubt not but one will be as true as t’other; so mounting rode laughing away, and thinking to be at the king’s quarters in a short space, he spurred his horse valiantly ”

“ Upon another's head;
Time is to make maids bellies swell,
Oh then 'tis time they’re wed.
(illegible text) ear’st thou this, goodman copper nose? scholars know when time is, without babbling: We know when time is to (illegible text) k good sack, eat well, kiss our hostess and run on the score. But when time (illegible text) pay them, is indeed but seldom.
Whilst thus he merrily discoursed, about an hour after, the same noise began as before and the head said, Time was. Well Miles, this blockish head is the foolishest thing my wise master ever troubled himself about. ”

“ Bacon upon this concluded to frame a he (illegible text) of brass; and if by their art, they could cause it to speak, and answer their demands they required that all the sea-girt 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. ”

“ Whilst his merriment passed, after a hour's noise, like thunder almost spent, the head spoke distinctly, Time is. O ho! says Miles, is this all the news you can tell me ? W (illegible text) copper nose has my master taken all pains about you, and you can speak no wiser? Dost thou think I am such a fool to br (illegible text) his sweet slum for this? No, speak wiser, or he shall sleep on. Time is, quotha ! Wh (illegible text) know time is, and that thou shalt he (illegible text) goodman kettle jaws.
Time is for some to gain,
Time is for some to lose ”