r his men, whereupon were slain sixty
thousand. Also he deceived King Solomon, that worshipped the gods of the
heathen: and there are such spirits innumerable, that can come by men,
and tempt them, and drive them to sin, and weaken their belief; for we
rule the hearts of kings and princes, stirring them up to war and
bloodshed, and to this intent do we spread ourselves through all the
world, as the utter enemies of God and his Son Christ--yea, and all that
worship them, and that thou knowest by thyself, Faustus. How have we
dealt by thee?"

To this said Faustus: "Then thou didst also beguile me?"

"I did what I could to help thee forward, for as soon as I saw how thy
heart did despise thy degree taken in divinity, and didst study to
search and know the secrets of our kingdom, then did I enter into thee,
giving thee divers foul and filthy cogitations, pricking thee forward in
thy intent, persuading thee thou couldst never attain to thy desire till
thou hadst the help of some devil; and when thou wast delighted in this,
then took I root in thee, and so firmly, that thou gavest thyself to us
both body and soul, which thou canst not deny."

Hereat answered Faustus: "Thou sayest true; I cannot deny it. Ah, woe is
me, most miserable Faustus! How have I been deceived! Had I not had a
desire to know too much, I had not been in this case; for having studied
the lives of the holy saints and prophets, and thereby thought to
understand sufficient heavenly matters, I thought myself not worthy to
be called Dr. Faustus if I should not also know the secrets of hell, and
be associated with the furious fiends thereof; now, therefore, must I be
rewarded accordingly."

Which speeches being uttered, Faustus went very sorrowful away from his
spirit.

CHAPTER XV.

_How Dr. Faustus desired again of his Spirit, to know the Secrets and
Pains of Hell; and whether those damned Devils, and their Company,
might ever come to the Favour and Love of God again._

Dr. Faustus was pondering with himself how he might get loose from so
damnable an end as he had given himself unto, both soul and body; but
his repenting was like that of Cain and Judas--he thought his sin
greater than God could forgive; hereupon resting his mind, he looked up
to heaven, but saw nothing therein, for his heart was so possessed of
the devil that he could think of nought else but of hell and the pains
thereof.

Wherefore in all haste he called unto him his spirit