bestowe a talente of siluer. Aboute the seconde, twenty Markes, and aboute
the thirde litle or nothing. There be certaine Pheretrers, [Footnote:
Query, _ferretrers_, carriers.] whose facultie it is to sette forthe
burialles, whiche learne it of their fathers and teache it their children.
These when a funeral happeneth, make vnto him that is doer for the deade,
an estimate of the exequies in writing, whiche the doer may at his pleasure
enlarge or make lesse. When thei are ones fallen at appoyncte, the bodye is
deliuered to the Pheretrer to bee enterred accordyng to the rate that they
agreed vpon. Then the bodie beyng laied foorthe, commeth the Phereters
chiefe cutter, and he appoincteth his vndrecutter a place on the side
haulfe of the paunche, wher to make incision, and how large. Then he with a
sharpe stone (whiche of the country fro whence it commeth, they call
Ethiopicus) openeth the left side as farre as the lawe permitteth. And
streight with all spiede ronneth his way from the company standing by,
which curse him and reuile him and throwe many stones aftre him. For they
thincke there yet remaineth a certeine hatred due vnto him that woundeth
the body of their frinde. Those that are the seasoners and embalmers of the
body (whome they calle poulderers) they haue in greate honour and
estimacion, for that they haue familiarite with the priestes, and entre the
temples together with them. The bodye nowe commen to their handes, one
emong all (the reste standing by) vnlaceth the entrailes, and draweth them
out at the foresaid incision, all sauing the kidneis, and the harte. These
entrailes are taken by another at his hande, and wasshed in wine of the
country Phenicea, wherin are enfused many soote [Footnote: Sweet. "They
dauncen deftly, and singen soote, / In their merriment." _Spenser's
Hobbinol's Dittie_, _Sheph. Kal._, Apr. iii.] odours and drugges. Then
enoincte they the whole bodye ouer, firste with Cedre and then with other
oynctementes, xxx. daies and aboue. Then do thei ceare it ouer with Mirrhe
and Cinamome and suche other thinges as wil not onely preserue it to
continuaunce, but also make it soote smelling. The Corps thus being