A Song in Praise of the Leather Bottle,  

Showing how Glasses and Pots are laid aside,  
And Flagons, and Noggins they can't 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 Leatherbottle 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.  
 

GOD above that made all things,  
The Heavens the Earth, and all therein,  
The Ships that on the Sea do swim,  
To keep the Enemies our that none come in▪  
And let them do all they can,  
'Tis for the use and praise of Man,  
And I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell,  
That first devised the Leather Bottle.   

Then what do you say to these Cans of wood,  
In Faith they are, and cannot be good;  
For when a Man he doth them send  
To be filled with Ale, as he doth intent;  
The bearer falleth down by the Way,  
And on the Gound the Liquor doth lay,  
And then the bearer gins to ban,  
And swears it is long of the wooden Can,  
But had it been in the Leather-Bottel,  
Although he had fallen, yet all had been well,  
And I wish, etc.   

Then what do you say to those Glasses fine?  
Yet they shall have no praise of mine;  
For when a Company they are set  
For to be merry as we are met,  
Then if you chance to touch the brim,  
Down falls the Glass and all therein,  
If your Tablecloth be never so fine,  
There lies your Beer, Ale or Wine.  
It may be for a small abuse,  
A young Man may his Service lose:  
But had it been in a Leather-Bottel,  
And the stopple in, than all had been well:  
And I wish, etc.   

Then what do you say to those black pots three  
True, they shall have no praise of me,  
For when a Man and his Wife falls at strife,  
As many have done (I know) In their life;  
They lay their Hands on the Pot both,  
And loath they are to lose their Broth:  
The one doth tug, the other doth ill,  
Betwixt them both the liquor doth spill;  
But they shall answer another Day,  
For casting Liquor so vainly away,  
But had it been in the Leatherbottle,  
They might have tugged till their hearts did ache,  
And yet their Liquor no harm could take;  
Then I wish, etc.   

Then what do you say to the silver flagons fine  
True, they shall have no praise of mine:  
For when a Lord he doth them send  
To be filled with Wine as he doth intent;  
The Man with the flagon doth run away,  
Because it is Silver most Gallant and gay;  
O then the Lord gins to ban,  
And swears he hath lost both flagon and Man;  
There is never a Lord Serving man or Groom,  
But with his Leatherbottle may come,  
Then I wish, etc.   

A Leatherbottle we know is good,  
For better than Glasses or Cans of Wood,  
For when a Man is at work in the field  
Your Glasses and pots no Comfort will yield,  
Then a good Leather Bottle standing him by,  
He may drink always when he is a Dry:  
It will revive the Spirits [and Comfort the brain  
Wherefore let none this Bottle refrain:  
For i wish etc.   

Also the honest Sith Man to,  
He know not very well what to do,  
But for his Bottle standing him near,  
That is filled with good Household Beer,  
At Dinner he sets him down to eat,  
With good hard Cheese, and bread or meat,  
Then his Bottle he takes up amain,  
And drinks, and sets him down again;  
Saying, Good Bottle stand my Friend,  
And hold till this day doth end,  
For I wish, etc.   

And likewise the Haymakers they,  
When as they are turning and making of Hay  
In Summer weather, when as it is warm,  
A good Bottle full will do them no harm.  
And at Noon time they sit them down,  
To Drink in their Bottles of Ale nut brown  
Then though Lads and the Lasses gins to tattle,  
What should we do but for this Bottle?  
They could not work if this Bottle were out  
For the Day's so hot with the heat of the Sun  
Then I wish, etc.   

Also the Leader, Lader and the Pitcher,  
The Reaper, Hedger and Ditcher,  
The Hinder and Raker and all  
About the Bottles Ears doth fall;  
And if this Liquor be almost gone,  
His Bottle he will part with to none.  
But says, my Bottle is but small,  
One Drop i will not part withal;  
You must go drink at some Spring or Well,  
For I will keep my Leather Bottle;  
Then I wish, etc.   

Thus you may hear of a Leather Bottle,  
When it is filled with Liquor full,  
Though the substance be but small,  
Yet the Name of the thing is all,  
There's never a Lord, Earl or Knight,  
but in a bottle doth take delight;  
For when he is a Hunting of the Deer,  
He often doth wish for a bottle of beer;  
Likewise the Man that works at the Wood,  
A bottle of beer doth oft do him good,  
than I wish, etc.   

Then when this bottle doth grow old,  
And will good Liquor no longer hold,  
Out of the 〈◊〉 you may take a Clout,  
Will mend your Shoes when there are worn out  
Else take and hang it on a pin,  
It will serve to put odd trifles in,  
As Hinges, Awls and Candle ends,  
For young beginners must have such things;  
then I wish etc.