Pardoners were granters of papal indulgences, which means penance in exchange for charitable donations to the church.(The Canterbury Tales. By Nevill Coghill.pp. 11.) The Pardoner was a church official who had the authority from Rome to sell pardons to those charged with sins. He had just returned from Rome with a bag full of pardons, which he planned to sell to the ignorant at a great profit to himself.(World Masterpieces. By Sarah Lawall ed. pp.1531.)
             Of course many pardoners took to collecting profits for themselves, as this one did, however he was a master at it. He carried around a bag full of fake relics, for example, he claimed to have the veil of the Virgin Mary, (World Masterpieces pp.1531.) And with these he would get donations , even from the poor. "He made the person and the people his apes." (The Canterbury Tales. pp.17) He had a loud, high pitched voice, long yellow flowing hair, and was beardless. It is stated that he would never have a beard. (World masterpieces pp.1531.) Chaucer believes he was a "gelding or a mare," (World Masterpieces pp.1531.) which suggests that he was a homosexual. Clearly Chaucer finds the Pardoner to be the most distasteful of the travelers, both because of his obvious fraud, and his physical characteristics, the long greasy hair and disheveled clothes. This was generally associated with being untrustworthy and sneaky.(World Masterpieces pp.1531) Still he has a gift for prea!
             ching when he does make it into church. There was no one as good at his profession as him. He knew how to sing and preach and frighten everyone into buying his pardons at a great price.
             The Pardoners prologue is in the form of a confession. He says that the "love of money is the root of all evil," (World Masterpieces pp.1573.) But with each of his relics he emphasizes how it will bring the purchaser more money and he gains more money for himself.
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