There were seven Students, and Masters that studied Divinity, Iuris Prudentia, and Medicina, all these having consented were agreed to visit Doctor Faustus and so to celebrate Shrovetide with him: who being come to his house he gave them their welcome, for they were his dear friends, desiring them to sit down, where he served them with a very good supper of Hens, fish, and other roast, yet were they but slightly cheered: wherefore Doctor Faustus comforted his guests, excusing himself that they stole upon him so suddenly, that he had not leisure to provide for them so well as they were worthy, but my good friends (quoth he) according to the use of our Country we must drink all this night, and so a draught of the best wine to bedward is commendable. For you know that in great Potentates’ Courts they use as this night great feasting, the like will I do for you: for I have three great flagons of wine, the first is full of Hungarian wine, containing eight gallons, the second of Italian wine, containing seven gallons, the third containing six gallons of Spanish wine, all the which we will tipple out before it be day, besides, we have fifteen dishes of meat, the which my Spirit Mephostophiles hath fetched so far that it was cold before he brought it, and they are all full of the daintiest things that one’s heart can devise, but (saith Faustus) I must make them hot again: and you may believe me, Gentlemen, that this is no blinding of you, whereas you think that it is no natural food, verily it is as good and as pleasant as ever you ate. And having ended his tale, he commanded his boy to lay the cloth, which done, he served them with fifteen messes of meat, having three dishes to a mess, the which were of all manner of Venison, and other dainty wild fowl, and for wine there was no lack, as Italian wine, Hungarian wine, and Spanish wine: and when they were all made drunk, and that they had almost eaten all their good cheer, they began to sing and to dance until it was day, and then they departed each one to his own habitation: at whose parting, Doctor Faustus desired them to be his guests again the next day following. CHAPTER XLIII _How Doctor Faustus feasted his guests on the Ash-Wednesday_ [Illustration]