Of the apparatus supplied by Merecraft for the imposture, the soap, nutshell, tow, and touchwood (Text, 5. 3. 3-5), the bladders and bellows (Text, 5. 5. 48), some are doubtless taken from Harsnet’s _Discovery_, though Darrel does not quote these passages in the _Detection_. We find, however, that Darrel was accused of supplying Somers with black lead to foam with (_Detection_, p. 160), and Gifford says that the _soap_ and _bellows_ are also mentioned in the ‘Bishop’s book’. Though Jonson drew so largely upon this source, many details are supplied by his own imagination. Ridiculous as much of it may seem to the modern reader, it is by no means overdrawn. In fact it may safely be affirmed that no such realistic depiction of witchcraft exists elsewhere in the whole range of dramatic literature. [56] Langbaine, _Eng. Dram. Poets_, p. 289. [57] _Quellen Studien_, p. 15. [58] 2. 2. 69. [59] Mentioned by Koeppel, p. 15. [60] So spelled in 1573 ed. In earlier editions ‘palafreno’. [61] _Studien_, p. 232. [62] See note 2. 1. 168 f. [63] Gifford points out the general resemblance. He uses Hutchinson’s book for comparison. [64] This book, so far as I know, is not to be found in any American library. My knowledge of its contents is derived wholly from Darrel’s answer, _A Detection of that sinnful, shamful, lying and ridiculous Discours, of Samuel Harshnet, entituled: A Discoverie, etc.... Imprinted 1600_, which apparently cites all of Harsnet’s more important points for refutation. It has been lent me through the kindness of Professor George L. Burr from the Cornell Library. The quotations from Harsnet in the following pages are accordingly taken from the excerpts in the _Detection_. 3. _Prototypes of the leading Characters_ The position of the leading characters has already been indicated. Pug, as the comic butt and innocent gull, is allied to Master Stephen and Master Matthew of _Every Man in his Humor_, Dapper of _The Alchemist_, and Cokes of _Bartholomew Fair_. Fitzdottrel, another type of the gull, is more closely related to _Tribulation Wholesome_ in _The Alchemist_, and even in some respects to Corvino and Voltore in _The Fox_. Wittipol and Manly, the chief intriguers, hold approximately the same position as Wellbred and Knowell in _Every Man in his Humor_, Winwife and Quarlous in _Bartholomew Fair_, and Dauphine, Clerimont, and Truewit in _The Silent Woman_. Merecraft is related in his character of swindler to Subtle in _The Alchemist_, and in his character of projector to Sir Politick Wouldbe in _The Fox_.