Their songs and tunes were printed and sold in hundreds as broadsheets, just as pirated music-hall songs are sold to-day.

This is to be noted because it explains a great deal in the subsequent evolution of the drama.

It explains the delight in having everything represented actually on the stage, all murders, battles, duels.

It explains the magnificent largesse given by Shakespeare to the professional fool.

Work had to be found for him, and Shakespeare, whose difficulties were stepping-stones to his triumphs, gave him Touchstone and Feste, the Porter in _Macbeth_ and the Fool in _Lear_.