The  Pedler  goes  on  to  add  that  this  is  a  matter  in  which
he  can  be  judge,  having  some  skill  in  it  himself;  where-
upon they  elect  him  umpire  and  proceed  to  try  their  skill.
There  is  not  time  for  detail,  and  we  must  come  to  the
main  point,^

Presently  the  Poticary  happens  to  remark,  quite  inciden-
tally and  merely  as  a  sarcastic  exclamation,  to  the  Palmer,
Forsooth  ye  be  an  honest  man^  whereupon  the  others  cry  out

1  See  the  subsequent  chapter  on  "The   Doctors  of  Shakspere's  Time"
for  a  catalogue  of  quaint  drugs  here  enumerated  by  the  Poticary.
!!  i;  I.  !.'  M  '  >  I    r  II  ,


-J


A  View  of  the  Pit's  Mouth
From  the  "  Coventry  Mysteries'''


DOMESTIC  LIFE  OF  SHAKSPERE'S  TIME   107

that  that  is  certainly  the  most  prodigious  falsehood  that
could  be  told ;  but  it  is  after  discussion  adjudged  not  to
count,  as  being  an  unpremeditated  accident,  and  the  Par-
doner proceeds  to  vaunt  a  wonderful  rescue  of  a  soul
which  he  recently  performed ;  and  this  is  the  reason  of
being  of  the  play.
Well  syr  then  marke  what  I  can  say :
I  have  been  a  pardoner  many  a  day,
And  done  greater  cures  gostely
Than  ever  he  dyd  bodily.
Namely  thys  one,  which  ye  shall  here,
Of  one  departed  within  thys  seven  yere.
A  female  friend  of  his  had  died  suddenly.
.   .   .  Nothynge  could  relese  my  woe
Tyll  I  had  tried  even  out  of  hande
In  what  estate  her  soule  dyd  stande.
He  goes  first  to  Purgatory,  but  she  was  not  there :  so

...   I  from  thens  to  hell  that  nyght

To  help  thys  woman  yf  I  myght.
And  fyrst  to  the  devyll  that  kept  the  gate

I  came  and  spoke  after  this  rate.
