A Song in Praise of the Leather Bottel.
Shewing how Glasses and Pots are laid aside,
And Flaggons and Noggins they cannot abide;
And let all Wives do what they can,
Tis for the Use and Praise of Man:
And this you may very well be sure,
The Leather Bottel will [l]ongest endure;
And I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell,
That first devised the Leather Bottel.
To the Tune of, The Bottel Makers Delight, etc.
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GOD above that made all Things,
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The Heavens, the Earth, and all therein,
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The Ships that on the Sea do swim,
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To keep the Enemies out that none come in;
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And let them all do what they can,
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Tis for the Use and Praise of Man:
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And I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell,
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That first devised the Leather Bottel.
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Then what do you say to these Cans of Wood?
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In Faith they are, and cannot be good;
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For when a Man he doth them send,
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To be filled with Ale, as he doth intend;
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The Bearer falleth down by the Way,
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And on the Ground the Liquor doth lay;
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And then the Bearer begins to ban,
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And swears it is long of the Wooden Can:
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But had it been a Leather Bottel,
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Although it had fallen, yet all had been well:
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And I wish, etc.
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Then what do you say to these Glasses so fine?
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Yes, they have no Praise of mine;
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For when a Company they are set,
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For to be merry as we are met;
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Then if you chance to touch the Brim,
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Down falls the Liquor and all therein;
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If your Table Cloath be neer so fine,
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There lies your Beer, Ale, or Wine:
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It may be for a small Abuse,
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A young Man may his Service lose:
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But had it been in a Leather Bottel,
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And the Stopple in, then all had been well:
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And I wish, etc.
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Then what do you say to these black Pots three?
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True, they shall have no Praise of me,
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For when a Man and his Wife falls at Strife,
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As many have done I know in their Life;
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They lay their Hands on the Pot both,
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And loath they are to lose their Broth;
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The one doth tug, the other doth ill,
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Betwixt them both the Liquor doth spill;
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But they shall answer another Day,
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For casting their Liquor so vainly away;
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But had it been in the Leather Bottel,
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They might have tugd, till their Hearts did ake,
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And yet their Liquor no Harm could take:
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They might have tugd till their Hearts did ake,
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Then I wish, etc.
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Then what do you say to the Silver Flaggons fine?
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True, they shall have no Praise of mine;
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For when a Lord he doth them send,
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To be filled with Wine as he doth intend;
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The Man with the Flaggon he doth run away,
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Because it is Silver most gallant and gay;
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Oh, then the Lord begins to ban,
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And swears he hath lost both Flaggon and Man;
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Theres never a Lords Serving-Man, or Groom,
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But with his Leather Bottel may come:
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Then I wish, etc.
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A Leather Bottel we know is good,
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Far better than Glasses or Cans of Wood,
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For when a Man is at Work in the Field,
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Your Glasses and Pots no Comfort will yield;
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Then a good Leather Bottel standing him by,
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He may drink always when he is dry;
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It will revive the Spirits and comfort the Brain,
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Wherefore let none this Bottel refrain:
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For I wish, etc.
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Also the honest Sith-man too,
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He knew not very well what to do,
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But for this Bottel standing him near,
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That is filld with good Houshold Beer;
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At Dinner he sits him down to eat,
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With good hard Cheese, and Bread or Meat;
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Then this Bottel he takes up amain,
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And drinks and sets him down again;
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Saying, good Bottel stand my Friend,
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And hold out till this Day doth end:
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For I wish, etc.
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And likewise the Hay-makers they,
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When as they are turning and making their Hay,
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In Summer Weather, when as it is warm,
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A good Bottel full then will do them no Harm;
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And at Noon Time they sit them down,
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To drink their Bottles of Ale Nut brown;
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Then the Lads and Lasses begins to tattle,
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What should we do but for this Bottel?
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They could not work if this Bottel was done,
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For the Days so hot with the Heat of the Sun:
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Then I wish, etc.
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Also the Leader, Lader, and the Pitcher,
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The Reaper, Hedger, and the Ditcher,
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The Binder, and the Raker and all
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About the Bottels Ears do fall;
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And if his Liquor be almost gone,
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His Bottel he will part with to none.
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But says, My Bottel is but small,
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One Drop I will not part withal:
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You must go drink at some Spring or Well,
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For I will keep my Leather Bottel:
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Then I wish, etc.
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Thus you may hear of a Leathren Bottel,
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When as it is filled with Liquor full well,
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Though the Substance of it be but small,
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Yet the Name of the Thing is all.
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Theres never a Lord, Earl, or Knight,
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But in a Bottel doth take Delight;
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For when he is hunting of the Deer,
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He often doth wish for a Bottel of Beer,
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Likewise the Man that works at the Wood,
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A Bottel of Beer doth oft do him Good:
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Then I wish, etc.
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Then when this Bottel doth grow old,
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And will good Liquor no longer hold,
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Out of the Side you may take a Clout,
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Will mend your Shoes when theyre worn o
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Else take it, and hang upon a Pin,
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Will serve to put many odd Trifles in;
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As Hinges, Awls, and Candle Ends,
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For young Beginners must have such Things:
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Then I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell,
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That first devised the Leather Bottel.
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