Page:Wanton Tom, or, The merry tricks of Tom Stitch the tailor.pdf/2



THE

MERRY HISTORY

OF

Of Tom Stitch's Birth, and Parentage.

In Thread-needle-street, at the upper end of Thimble Alley, lived one William Stitch, by profession a taylor, who was married to Nan Needle:

Whom many men did often thread, When they could gain her to their bed.

She keeping company with many men, to gain custom, at length she gained the French disease; which increasing, she burnt her husband's thread. This being known among her customers, they used to jeer her, and say, she was a hot Needle indeed to burn her husband's thread. And when her husband asked them for work, they answered, No, no, Do you think we will let you be our taylor, who sews with a hot needle and burning thread?

In a short time after they were married, there arose a great contention between him and his wife concerning their names; she