On opening the box of the murdered pedlar (Fool of Quality, 1766), "they found therein silk, linen, laces," etc.
Defoe describes Sturbridge fair as the greatest of all Europe. "Nor," says he, "are the fairs of Leipsig in Saxony, the Mart at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, or the fair of Nuremburg or Augsburg, any way comparable to this fair of Sturbridge."
In 1423, the citizens of London and the suburbs being accused of sending works of "embroidery of gold, or silver, of Cipre, or of gold of Luk, togedre with Spanish Laton of insuffisant stuff to the fayres of Sturesbrugg, Ely, Oxenford, and Salisbury"—in fact, of palming off inferior goods for country use—"all such are forfeited."—Rot. Parl., 2 Hen. VI., nu. 49.
"Lingua, or the Combat of the Tongue." A Comedy. 1607.
This system of colporteurs dates from the early Greeks. They are termed both in Greek and Hebrew, "des voyageurs."
"She came to the house under the pretence of offering some lace, holland, and fine tea, remarkably cheap."—Female Spectator. 1757.