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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. The knight delayed not the message; and finding him at his study, did his errand. The Friar told him he would be with his majesty, and bid him make haste or he should be there before 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; but suddenly mist arose, that he knew not which way to go; and missing the way, he turned down a bye-lane, and rode over hedge and ditch backwards and forwards, till the charm ⟨was⟩ dissolved.
