CONTENTS.

PAGE
[The History of Joseph and his Brethren][1]
[The Holy Disciple][25]
[The Wandering Jew][28]
[The Gospel of Nicodemus][30]
[The Unhappy Birth, Wicked Life, and Miserable Death of that
Vile Traytor and Apostle Judas Iscariot ]		[32]
[A Terrible and Seasonable Warning to Young Men][33]
[The Kentish Miracle][34]
[The Witch of the Woodlands][35]
[The History of Dr. John Faustus][38]
[The History of the Learned Friar Bacon][53]
[A Timely Warning to Rash and Disobedient Children][56]
[Bateman's Tragedy][57]
[The Miracle of Miracles][60]
[A Wonderful and Strange Relation of a Sailor][61]
[The Children's Example][62]
[A New Prophesy][64]
[God's Just Judgment on Blasphemers][65]
[A Dreadful Warning to all Wicked and Forsworn Sinners][66]
[A Full and True Relation of one Mr. Rich Langly, a Glazier][67]
[A Full, True and Particular Account of the Ghost or Apparition
of the Late Duke of Buckingham's Father]		[68]
[The Portsmouth Ghost][70]
[The Guilford Ghost][72]
[The Wonder of Wonders][74]
[Dreams and Moles][78]
[The Old Egyptian Fortune-Teller's Last Legacy][79]
[A New Fortune Book][83]
[The History of Mother Bunch of the West][84]
[The History of Mother Shipton][88]
[Nixon's Cheshire Prophecy][92]
[Reynard the Fox][95]
[Valentine and Orson][109]
[Fortunatus][124]
[Guy, Earl of Warwick][138]
[The History of the Life and Death of that Noble Knight
Sir Bevis of Southampton]		[156]
[The Life and Death of St. George][163]
[Patient Grissel][171]
[The Pleasant and Delightful History of Jack and the Giants][184]
[A Pleasant and Delightful History of Thomas Hickathrift][192]
[Tom Thumb][206]
[The Shoemaker's Glory][222]
[The Famous History of the Valiant London Prentice][227]
[The Lover's Quarrel][230]
[The History of the King and the Cobler][233]
[The Friar and Boy][237]
[The Pleasant History of Jack Horner][245]
[The Mad Pranks of Tom Tram][248]
[The Birth, Life, and Death of John Franks][253]
[Simple Simon's Misfortunes][258]
[The History of Tom Long the Carrier][263]
[The World turned Upside Down][265]
[A Strange and Wonderful Relation of the Old Woman who was
Drowned at Ratcliffe Highway]		[273]
[The Wise Men of Gotham][275]
[Joe Miller's Jests][288]
[A Whetstone for Dull Wits][295]
[The True Trial of Understanding][304]
[The Whole Trial and Indictment of Sir John Barleycorn, Knt.][314]
[Long Meg of Westminster][323]
[Merry Frolicks][337]
[The Life and Death of Sheffery Morgan][341]
[The Welch Traveller][344]
[Joaks upon Joaks][349]
[The History of Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of
Cloudeslie]		[353]
[A True Tale of Robin Hood][356]
[The History of the Blind Begger of Bednal Green][360]
[The History of the Two Children in the Wood][369]
[The History of Sir Richard Whittington][376]
[The History of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw][382]
[The History of Jack of Newbury][384]
[The Life and Death of Fair Rosamond][387]
[The Story of King Edward III. and the Countess of Salisbury][390]
[The Conquest of France][392]
[The History of Jane Shore][393]
[The History of the Most Renowned Queen Elizabeth and her Great
Favourite the Earl of Essex]		[396]
[The History of the Royal Martyr][398]
[England's Black Tribunal][403]
[The Foreign Travels of Sir John Mandeville][405]
[The Surprizing Life and Most Strange Adventures of Robinson Crusoe][417]
[A Brief Relation of the Adventures of M. Bamfyeld Moore Carew][423]
[The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders][427]
[Youth's Warning-piece][429]
[The Merry Life and Mad Exploits of Capt. James Hind][433]
[The History of John Gregg][437]
[The Bloody Tragedy][439]
[The Unfortunate Family][440]
[The Horrors of Jealousie][441]
[The Constant, but Unhappy Lovers][442]
[A Looking Glass for Swearers, etc.][443]
[Farther, and More Terrible Warnings from God][444]
[The Constant Couple][446]
[The Distressed Child in the Wood][447]
[The Lawyer's Doom][448]
[The Whole Life and Adventures of Miss Davis][449]
[The Life and Death of Christian Bowman][453]
[The Drunkard's Legacy][455]
[Good News for England][458]
[A Dialogue between a Blind Man and Death][459]
[The Devil upon Two Sticks][461]
[Æsop's Fables][463]
[A Choice Collection of Cookery Receipts][472]
[The Pleasant History of Taffy's Progress to London][475]
[The Whole Life, Character, and Conversation of that Foolish
Creature called Granny ]		[478]
[A York Dialogue between Ned and Harry][479]
[The French King's Wedding][481]
[Appendix][483]

CHAP-BOOKS
OF
THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
THE HISTORY OF
JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN.

The first printed metrical history of this Biblical episode is the book printed by Wynkyn de Worde, a book of fourteen leaves, and entitled "Thystorie of Jacob and his twelue Sones. Empȳrted at Lōdon in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Sonne by Wynkyn de Worde" (no date). It is chiefly remarkable in connection with this book, as mentioning Chapmen.

"Now leaue we of them & speak we of the Chapman

That passed ouer the sea into Egipt land.

But truely ere that he thether came

The wind stiffly against them did stand;

And yet at the last an hauen they fand.

The Chapman led Joseph with a rope in the streat

Him for to bye came many a Lord great."

A metrical edition is still used in the performance of a sort of miracle play, entitled "Joseph and his Brothers. A Biblical Drama or Mystery Play." 1864. London and Derby.

The action of this piece is reported to be somewhat ludicrous, the performers being in their everyday dress, or, rather, in their Sunday attire. There is no scenery, and very little life or motion in connection with the dialogue, the quality of which may be judged by the following specimen:—

"(Joseph, weeping, offers Benjamin his goblet.)

Here, my son,

Drink from my Cup; the sentiment shall be

'Health and long life to your aged father.'

(Benjamin drinks.)

Now sing me one of your Hebrew Songs

To any National Air; for we in Egypt

Know little of the music of Chanaan.

Benjamin. If such be your wish, I'll sing the song

I often sing to soothe my father's breast

When he is sad with memory of the past.

(He sings.) Air, 'Phillis is my only joy,' etc.:—

Joseph was my favourite boy,

Rachel's firstborn Son and pride:

His father's hope, his father's joy,

Begotten in life's eventide," etc.

THE HISTORY
OF
Joseph and his Brethren,
WITH
Jacob's Journey into Egypt,
AND
HIS DEATH AND FUNERAL.

Illustrated with Twelve Cuts.