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 choſe 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 baubee. 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 uſed no imprecations, But let me neither cheat nor be cheated, but rather cheat, &c.
He gave bad council 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 wifes' daughters in their daffing, and ⟨that's⟩ not dangerous.
