POEM On the most Ancient, Honourable, and Necessary THE HAMMERMEN— TRADE  
THIS TRADE all other Trades doth far Outvey;  
For it surpaslech in Antiquity,  
All we can name, The Sacred Page is clear  
That lubal Cain was an Artifiicer.  
In Brass, and Iron, and that his Skill was such  
That way, that Others he the same did Teach;  
And it Tradition we may but believe,  
Which Authors to the several Trades doth give,  
And them for their Invention highly Praise,  
And in due Order doth them Canonize;  
We find that the first Author of this Trade  
Was before 〈…〉  
For 〈…〉  
Doth Vulcan aptly sound, whose Trade it was  
To be a SMITH to Jupiter, and He  
Was the first worshipped for a Deity.  
'Mongst all the Authors of the Trades, which shows  
That as he was Anteriour to those  
In time, likewise his Trade in Dignity  
Was so in Judgement of Antiquity,  
And justly: for no Trade's more necessary;  
Whether it be in Time of Peace of War;  
The Scripture doth Remark when Israel  
Was most distressed in the Reign of Saul,  
That there was no SMITH found throughout the Land,  
That neither Sword nor Spear was in the Hand  
Of any of the People, to mantain  
Their Liberty against the Philistine.  
No wonder then that they were in a straight  
For want of SMITHS, they wanted Arms to Fight;  
And if we view the Numerous Arts that are  
For Ornament, or Highly necessary.  
We find that Tools for These cannot be had,  
Without th' Assistance of this Noble Trade.  
The Gardener can ne'er use for his Life,  
His Trade without a Spade, and Prunning Knife  
The Husband Man to whom so much we Owe,  
Needeth a Coulter and Share to his Blow.  
The Tailors need a Knife, a Goose, and Sheers,  
The Mason Irons and a Mattock bears  
The Wright his Cousin, needs an Axe and Saw,  
The Flesher needs a Knife, to cut the Maw,  
The Weaver needs for Stenting Temple Heads,  
For cutting Thrumbs, and Ends, a Knife he needs,  
baxter's the Scraper and the Rake, Furryers',  
Wakers, and Glover's cannot want such shears,  
Skinners a Woodie, and Round Scraper have  
For Leather, Tanners have a Knife to shave,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and a Mortar, and doth ●●ay  
The Gardener with a Knife Pates away  
The Leather▪ And the Litster cannot Dress  
The Cloth, without a Cauldron and a Press  
His Brother needeth Wires (it's understood)  
To make the Ancient Covering for the Head.  
Thus every One of all the Trades I mind,  
Beholding to the Hammer-Men I find.  
It addeth to the Honour of this Trade,  
That the most Precious Things that Nature made,  
It hath for Objects, Silver, Gems, and Gold,  
Than which what weighs more, and lesle bulk doth hold?  
What's of more General Use? with them we buy  
The Things that are of greatest Dignity,  
And Usefulness, for Meat and Drink; and All  
That necessary for Human kind we call.  
We buy for Gold and Silver; which is more,  
Some sell Themselves for These, and them Adore;  
I like the Object of the Art so well,  
That I accounted them Happy who it Feel,  
And Handle oft, and have the Liberty  
It to Engrave upon, or Liquify:  
In Fine, it addeth to the Trade's Renown,  
They wear for Ensigns Hammer and the CROWN,  
FINIS.   

EDINBURGH, Printed by JOHN REID, in the Year 1698.