A Song in Praise of the Leather Bottle.
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 Praise and Use of Man;
And this you may very well be sure,
The Leather Bottle will longest endure:
And I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell,
That first devised the Leather Bottel.
To the Tune of, The Bottle-maker's 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 Enemies out, that none comes in:
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And let them do all 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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An 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 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 in a Leather Bottel,
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Although he 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 fine?
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Yes, they shall 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 Tablecloath be never 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 had been in, then all ahd 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, in faith, 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 Broath;
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The one tugs, the other's hill,
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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 Liqour so vainly away:
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Bu[t] had it been in the Leather Bottel,
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The one may have tugg'd the other have held;
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And they might have tugg'd till their Hearts did ake,
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And yet this Liquor no harm would take:
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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 doth run away,
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Because it is Silver most gallant and gay:
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O then the Lord begins to ban,
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And swears he hath lost both Flaggon and Man;
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There is never a Lord's Serving-man, or Groom,
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But with his Leather Bottle may come:
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Then I wish, etc.
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A Leather Bottle 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 Bottle standing him by,
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He may drink always when he is a dry;
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It will revive the Spirits and comfort the Brain,
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Wherefore let none this Bottle 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 his Bottle standing him near,
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That is filled 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 Bottle he takes up amain,
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And drinks and sets him down again;
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Saying, Good Bottle, 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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Likewise the merry Hay-makers they,
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Whenas 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 Bottle 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 in 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 Bottle?
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They could not work if this Bottle were done,
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For the Day is 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 Bottle's Ears doth fall;
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And if his Liquor be almost gone,
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His Bottle he will part to none,
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But saying, My Bottle 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 Leather 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 a thing is all.
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There's never a Lord, Earl, or Knight,
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But in a Bottle 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 Bottle of Beer:
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Likewise the Man that works at the Wood,
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A Bottle of Beer doth oft do him good:
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Then I wish, etc.
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Then when this Bottle 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 Shooes when they are worn out;
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Else take it and hang it upon a Pin,
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It will serve to put many odd Trifle 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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