THE
HISTORY
OF
JOHN CHEAP
THE
CHAPMAN.
PREFACE.
JOHN CHEAP the Chapman, was a very comical ſhort thick fellow, with a broad face and a long noſe; both lame and lazy, and ſomething leacherous among the laſſes: He chuſed rather to ſit idle than work at any time, as he was a hater of hard labour. No man needed to offer him cheeſe and bread, after he curſt he would not have it: for he would bluſh at bread and milk, when hungry, as a beggar doth at a bawbee. He got the name of John Cheap the Chapman, by his ſelling twenty needles for a penny, and twa leather laces for a farthing.
He ſwore no oaths but one, which was, Let me never ſin!
He gave bad counſel to none but children, to burn the bone-combs, that their mother might buy another when he came again.
He never fought with any but dogs, and the good-wives' daughters in their daſſing, and that's not dangerous.
