A merry new Ballad, both pleasant and sweete,
In praise of the Black-smith, which is very meete.
To the tune of Greene sleeves, etc.
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OF all the Trades that ever I see,
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There is none with the Blacksmith compard may be,
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For with so many severall tooles Workes he,
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Which no body can deny.
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The first that ever thunder-bolt made,
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Was a Cyclops of the Black-smiths Trade,
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As in an ancient Poet is said,
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Which no body can deny.
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When thunderingly we lay about,
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The fire like lightning flasheth out,
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Which suddenly with water we doute,
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Which no body can deny.
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The fairest goddesse in the skies,
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To marry with Vulcan did devise,
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Who was a Black-smith grave and wise,
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Which no body can deny.
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Mulciber to doe her all the right,
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Did build her a Tower by day and by night,
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Which after he did Hammersmith hight,
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Which no body can deny.
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And that no enemie might wrong her,
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He gave her a Fort, she needs no stronger
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Then is the lane of Ironmonger,
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Which no body can deny.
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Vulcan farther did acquaint her,
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A pretty estate he would appoint her,
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And leave her Seacole lane for a Joynter,
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Which no body, etc.
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Smith-field he did free from durt,
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And sure he had great reason fort:
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For there he meant she should keepe her Court
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Which no etc.
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But after in good time and tide
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It was to the Black-smith ratified,
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And given by Edmund Ironside,
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Which no body, etc.
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Vulcan he did make a traine,
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In which the god of Warre was slaine,
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Which ever since was calld Pauls chaine,
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Which no body, etc.
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And Ninus bred himselfe much strife,
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For which he surely lost his life,
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For doting on a Black-smiths wife,
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Which no body, etc.
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There is a law in merry England,
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In which the Smith hath some command,
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When any man is burnt in the hand,
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Which no body, etc.
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Banbury-ale a two-yard pot,
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The divell a Tinker dare stand tot,
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If once the tost be hissing hot,
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Which no body, etc.
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The common Proverb as we read,
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That we should hit the nayle on the head,
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Without the Black-smith cannot be said
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Which no body, etc.
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The second part to the same Tune.
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ANother Proverb must not be forgot,
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For it falls unto the Black-smiths lot,
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That we should strike while the Irons hot,
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Which no body can deny.
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A third lies in the Black-smiths way,
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When things are as safe as old wives say,
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We have them under locke and key,
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Which no body, etc.
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Theres yet another which makes me laugh,
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Because the Smith can challenge but halfe,
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When things are as plaine as a pike-staffe,
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Which no body, etc.
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Another halfe to him doth belong,
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And therefore do the Smith no wrong,
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When one is held toot buckle and thong.
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Which no body, etc.
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There is one more doth seldome faile,
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When we meet with naughty Beere or Ale,
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We say it is as dead as a doore-naile,
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Which no body, etc.
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A sullen woman needs no leech,
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Your Black-smiths bellowes restores her speech,
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And will fetch againe with winde in her breech,
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Which no body, etc.
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Theres never a slut if filth over-smuch her,
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But owes to the Black-smith for her lether:
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For without a paire of tongs no man wil touch her,
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Which no body, etc.
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If you cleave to your friend when fortunes wheele
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Doth make him any mischances feele,
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We say such a friend is as true as steele,
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Which no body, etc.
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Theres thats in the Black-smiths bookes,
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Who suddenly for remedy lookes,
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When any man is off the hookes,
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Which no body, etc.
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Among the Sectaries there are those,
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That without the Black-smiths helpe do suppose,
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St. Dunston had nere tane the divell by the nose,
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Which no body, etc.
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The roaring boy whom every one quailes,
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And nothing but fights, & sweares, & railes,
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Could never yet make the Smith eate his nailes,
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Which no body, etc.
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Though Sergeants at Law grow richer farre,
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And by their good counsell can end a jarre:
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Yet your Black-smith taks more paines at the barre,
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Which no body, etc.
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And though lawes punish severely still
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Such as counterfeit deeds, and thereby do ill,
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Yet your smith may forge what he will,
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Which no body, etc.
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Though bankrouts lye lurking in their holes,
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And laugh at their creditors & the catchpoles,
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Yet the Smith can fetch them over the coales,
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Which no body, etc.
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Though playing the Jocky is thought a fine feat,
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As to train up a horse & prescribe him his meat,
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Yet the Smith knows best how to give him a heate,
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Which no body, etc.
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Though soldiers have traveld a thousand miles,
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And thinke they have all the crafts & the wiles,
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Yet your Smith can sooner double his files,
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Which no body, etc.
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And though he hath no Commanders looke,
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Nor can brag of those he hath slaine or tooke,
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Yet is he as good as ever strooke,
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Which no body, etc.
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Then if to know him men did desire,
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They would not scorne but ranke him higher
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For what he gets is out of the fire,
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Which no body, etc.
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Then heres a health to the Black-smiths all,
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And let it goe round as round as a ball,
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Lets take it though it cost us a fall,
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Which no body can deny.
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