The Artificer has heard the Pedler speak and wishes to meet him. He meets with the Mariner and the Traveler, and tells them of the Pedler. When the Pedler does arrive, the Artificer is suitably impressed and agrees with everything he says. Like the Mariner and the Traveler, he asks the Pedler to eat with him, saying he should disappoint the other men. The Pedler refuses to do that, but does promise to meet with the Artficer later.
DAUGHTER
Another name for the Maid. Once her parents enter speech headings are variously "Ma." or "Daugh."
FATHER
The Father of the Maid comes looking for his wife and daughter, to find out what is keeping them from preparing dinner. He is at first suspicious of the Pedler but is quickly won over and invites the Pedler for dinner. After the Mother and Maid leave, the Father asks if the Pedler is a man of science, leading to another prophecy about wicked children before they leave.
INTERPRETER
The Interpreter enters and announces himself as one who is able to expound on the meaning of the spirit. He wants to speak to the Pedler, having heard that he is a meddler. He and the Justice immediately start an argument, each claiming that the other is corrupt and sinful. The Pedler interrupts their debate and, pretending to be someone else, insults both professions, all the while claiming to be repeating the Pedler's words. He, like the Justice and the Judge, is eventually convinced that the Pedler is actually speaking truth and that they and all men should be more honest.
JUDGE
The Judge, like the Interpreter and the Justice, is looking to arrest the Pedler for his unsolicited preaching. Like the others, he is deceived into thinking the Pedler is someone else, and moved by the sermon he claims was told him by the Pedler. All three men are eventually convinced that the Pedler is actually speaking truth and that they and all men should be more honest. The Justice states that they must go their separate ways, but first they should praise God and the Queen, which they do.
JUSTICE
The Justice enters immediately after the Interpreter, also looking for the Pedler. He and the Interpreter immediately start an argument, each claiming that the other is corrupt and sinful. The Pedler interrupts their debate and, pretending to be someone else, insults both professions, all the while claiming to be repeating the Pedler's words. He, like the Interpreter and the Judge, is eventually convinced that the Pedler is actually speaking truth and that they and all men should be more honest.
LANDLORD
The Landlord comes looking for the Artificer, announcing that he will evict the Artificer and his family unless they agree to a doubling of the rent. The Artificer begs for pity, reminding the Landlord that he has lived in the house all his life and always paid his rent on time, but the Landlord insists, claiming he is only doing what every landlord does. When the Pedler tells him that his family has turned into pigs, his tenants all to dogs and that he himself will play the part of Acteon and be torn apart by his tenants, he seems half to believe it, but is reassured by the Artificer that the Pedler is speaking metaphorically.
LORD AND MASTER
A "ghost character." At the very end, one of the characters praises "that honorable T.N. etc. of N," their "lord and master."
MAID
She is also called Daughter. The Maid wants to buy pins and needles from the Pedler, but they get into an argument because she refuses to buy without first seeing the wares. He attempts to seduce her but fails. She remains unimpressed by him, even when her parents are awed by his prophecies, but obediently follows the Mother home to prepare dinner when the Father invites the Pedler to stay.
MARINER
The Mariner enters complaining about the lack of good sailors. He is met by the Traveler and then the Artificer, who tells them both about the Pedler and his rebuke of the Mother's secret Catholicism. The Mariner is at first suspicious of the Pedler's gift of prophecy, even accusing him of being possessed by the devil and in need of hanging. However, he is convinced in the end and invites him to have dinner with the Mariners.
MOTHER
The Mother comes looking for her daughter, wondering why it is taking her so long to buy needles. She is at first suspicious of the Pedler, but is quickly awestruck by his tales of a dragon that eats old women. After the Father invites the Pedler to dinner, the Mother takes the daughter home to prepare the meal and the ale. Apparently, the Mother is still secretly practicing Catholic rites, because the Artificer describes how the Pedler rebuked her for her images and rosary, which she claimed to love better than the new gospel.
PEDLER
The Pedler begins with fantastic tales of his travels. He tells of the wonders he has collected, including a stone called Tenya, which gives him the gift of prophecy. The Maid comes looking to buy needles, but they get into an argument because he will not show her his wares before she pays. First the Mother and then the Father enter, and the Pedler overawes them both by preaching about the decline of England and dragons that eat the old. Despite the Maid's disgust, they invite him to dinner. The next day, apparently, the Pedler meets with the Artificer, who heard him rebuking Catholicism the previous night, the Traveler and the Mariner. The Artificer praises the Pedler's prophetic abilities, while the Mariner and Traveler attack it, and the Pedler then rants about the number of foreigners living in England. He leaves with the Traveler and Mariner, and when he returns, he announces that the Mariner and Traveler have agreed to go to sea together in search of magic stones the Pedler told them of. However, the Pedler claims that they will be turned into seals on the voyage. He then tells the Landlord that his family has turned into pigs, his tenants all to dogs and that he himself will play the part of Acteon and be torn apart by his tenants. When the Justice and Interpreter come looking for him, he hides his identity and insults both professions, under the pretense of repeating the Pedler's words. He keeps this pretense up when the Judge arrives, and eventually convinces all three that the Pedler is not so bad, after all. After they leave, the Pedler tells the audience that he intends to leave off meddling (preaching), but that they should think deeply on his words.
PROLOGUE
The Prologue begins by assuring the audience that although the play is about prophecy, they are well aware that there is a difference between true, divine inspiration and all other prophecy, which originates with the devil. He lists many kinds of the latter form, and then swears that the current work is a comedy only, and that only "bankerouts" and users will be offended. He then introduces the Pedler.
QUEEN
A "ghost character." The Queen (presumably Elizabeth I) is mentioned by the Judge when he asks if the Pedler speaks about or against her or her counsel. All four men then praise the Queen.
TRAVELER
The Traveler enters hoping his next voyage will be better than his last and meets the Mariner and then the Artificer, who tells them both about the Pedler and his rebuke of the Mother's secret Catholicism. When the Pedler enters, he immediately attacks the Traveler, claiming he is actually a merchant, and they argue both about the Traveler's purpose and the Pedler's ability to prophecy. The Traveler is extremely skeptical of what the Pedler says, but does agree to buy from the Pedler, asking him to meet him at the sign of the Doe (presumably an inn) for further discussion.