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 lccherous among the lasses. He chose rathcr to sit idle than work at any time, as he was a hater of hard labour. No man needed offer him cheese and bread after hc cursed 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 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 used no impreeations but, Let me neither cheat nor be cheated, but rather cheat, &c.
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 goodwives' daughters in their daffing, and that's not dangerous.
