Complete. Number LXXVII. of “Microcosmography.”

AN ORDINARY honest fellow is one whom it concerns to be called honest, for if he were not this, he were nothing: and yet he is not this neither, but a good, dull, vicious fellow, that complies well with the deboshments of the time, and is fit for it. One that has no good part in him to offend his company, or make him to be suspected a proud fellow, but is sociably a dunce, and sociably a drinker. That does it fair and above board without legerdemain, and neither sharks for a cup or a reckoning; that is kind over his beer, and protests he loves you, and begins to you again, and loves you again. One that quarrels with no man, but for not pledging him, but takes all absurdities and commits as many, and is no telltale next morning, though he remember it. One that will fight for his friend if he hear him abused, and his friend commonly is he that is most likely, and he lifts up many a jug in his defense. He rails against none but censurers, against whom he thinks he rails lawfully, and censures all those that are better than himself. These good properties qualify him for honesty enough, and raise him high in the alehouse commendation, who, if he had any other good quality, would be named by that. But now for refuge he is an honest man, and hereafter a sot; only those that commend him think him not so, and those that commend him are honest fellows.