A Song in Praise of the Leather Bottle.  

Showing how Glasses and Pots are laid aside,  
And Flagons 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 besure,  
The Leather Bottle will longest endure:  
And I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell;  
That first devised the Leather Bottle.   
To the Tune of, The Bottel-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 out that none comes in;  
And let them all do what they can,  
'Tis for the Use and Praise of Man:  
And I wish in Heaven is Soul may dwell,  
That first devised the Leather Bottle.   

Then what do you say to those 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 ground the Liquor doth lay;  
And then the Bearer gins to ban,  
And swoars it is long of the Wooden Can;  
But had it been in a Leather Bottle,  
Although he had fallen, yet all had been well:  
And I wish, etc.   

Then what do you say to those Glasses fine?  
Yes, 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 Liquor 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 Bottle,  
And the Stopple in, than all had been well:  
And I wish, etc.   

Then what do you say to these 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 their Liquor so vainly away:  
But had it been in the Leather Bottle,  
They might have tugged, till their Hearts did ache,  
And yet their Liquor no harm could take:  
They might have rugged, till their Hearts did ache:  
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 he doth run away,  
Because it is Silver most gallant and gay:  
O than the Lord he gins to ban,  
And swears he hath lost both Flagon and Man;  
There is never a Lord's Serving man, or Groom,  
But with his Leather Bottle may come:  
Then I wish, etc.   

A Leather Bottle we know is good,  
Far 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 dty;  
It will revive the Spirits and comfort the Brain,  
Wherefore let none this Bottle refrain:  
For I wish, etc.   

Also the honest Sith-man too,  
He knew not very well what to do,  
But for his Bottle standing him near,  
That is filled with good Household-beer:  
At Dinner he sits him down to eat,  
With good hard Cheese, and Bread or Meat;  
Then this Bottle he takes up amain,  
And drinks and sets him down again;  
Saying, Good Bottle, stand my Friend,  
And hold out till this Day doth end:  
For I wish, etc.   

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

Also the Leader, Lader, and the Pitcher,  
The Reaper, Hedger, and the Ditcher,  
The Hinder, and the Raker, and all  
About the Bottel's Ears doth fall;  
And if his 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 at it is filled with Liquor full well,  
Though the Substance of it 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 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:  
Then I wish, etc.   

Then when this Bottle doth grow old,  
And will good Liquor no longer hold,  
Our of the Side you may take a Clout,  
Will mend your Shoes when they're worn out;  
Else take it and bang it upon a Pin,  
It will serve to put many odd Trifles in,  
As Hinges, Awls, and Candle-ends,  
For young Beginners must have such things:  
Then I wish in Heaven his Soul may dwell,  
That first devised the Leather Bottle.    

London: Printed by and for W. ●. and sold by J. Walter, at the Hand and Pen in High Holbourn.