Page:Famous history of the learned Friar Bacon (2).pdf/9

⟨reſerve⟩ to eat in a corner, which Bacon knew ⟨by⟩ art, and reſolved to put a trick upon him. It ſo happened on Good Friday in Lent, a ſtrict faſt was held, and Miles ⟨seemed⟩ very devout; for when his maſter bid him, however, take a bit of bread, and a ſip of wine, early in the morning to keep him from fainting, he refuſed it, ſaying, he was a great Sinner and therefore ought to do more than this for his mortification, and to gain abſolution, making a great many pretences of ſanctity, and how well he was inclined to keep the holy faſt. 'Tis well, ſaid the Friar, if I catch you not tripping; whereupon Miles went to his cell, pretending to pray but indeed to eat a fine pudding he had concealed; which he had no ſooner put into his mouth at one end, but it ſtuck there: He could neither eat it, nor get it out. The uſe of his hands failed, and he was taken with a ſhivering all over, ſo that thinking he ſhould have died preſently he cried piteouſly out for help: whereupon Friar Bacon, calling the ſcholars together, went in to ſee what was the matter; and perceiving him in that plight, ſaid ſmiling, Now I ſee what a penitent ſervant I have, who was ſo conſcientious he would not touch a bit of bread, but would willingly have devoured two pounds of pudding to have broke his faſt. He piteouſly entreated him to diſolve the charm, and deliver him, and he would never do ſo again.