Chetwinde was originally a clothworker. Through his 1637 marriage to Mary Allot, the widow of
Second Folio publisher
Robert Allot, Chetwinde acquired rights to Allot's published works – which included the rights to a substantial portion of the dramatic output of both Shakespeare and
Ben Jonson. Chetwinde attempted to move into the publishing business after his marriage; but he faced opposition from the established booksellers and publishers, since he had not risen through the apprentice system of the
Stationers Company. Chetwinde used his rights to Jonson's works in the publication of the
Second Jonson folio of 1640–1, though that volume's publisher of record was
Richard Meighen. It was not until 1653 that Chetwinde was able to operate fully as a stationer. ==Shakespeare==