A Merry New Ballad

Of all the Trades that euer I see,
There is none wt the Blacksmith compar'd may be,
For with so many seuerall tooles Workes he,
Which no body can deny.

The first that euer thunder-bolt made,
Was a Cyclops of the Black-smiths Trade,
As in an ancient Poet is said,
Which no body can deny.

When thunderingly we lay about,
The fire like lightning flasheth out,
Which suddenly with water we doute,
Which no body can deny.

The fairest goddesse in the skies,
To marry with Vulcan did deuise,
Who was a Black-smith graue and wise,
Which no body can deny.

Mulciber to doe her all the right,
Did build her a Tower by day and by night,
Which after he did Hammersmith hight,
Which no body can deny.

And that no enemie might wrong her,
He gaue her a Fort, she needs no stronger
Then is the lane of Ironmonger,
Which no body can deny.

Vulcan farther did acquaint her,
A pretty estate he would appoint her,
And leaue her Seacole lane for a Ioynter,
Which no body, &c.

Smith-field he did free from durt,
And sure he had great reason for't:
For there he meant she should keepe her Court
Which no &c.

But after in good time and tide
It was to the Black-smith ratified,
And giuen by Edmund Ironside,
Which no body, &c.

Vulcan he did make a traine,
In which the god of Warre was slaine,
Which euer since was call'd Pauls chaine,
Which no body, &c.

And Ninus bred himselfe much strife,
For which he surely lost his life,
For doting on a Black-smiths wife,
Which no body, &c.

There is a law in merry England,
In which the Smith hath some command,
When any man is burnt in the hand,
Which no body, &c.

Banbury-ale a two-yard pot,
The diuell a Tinker dare stand to't,
If once the tost be hissing hot,
Which no body, &c.

The common Prouerb as we read,
That we should hit the nayle on the head,
Without the Black-smith cannot be said
Which no body, &c.

Another Prouerb must not be forgot,
For it falls unto the Black-smiths lot,
That we should strike while the Iron's hot,
Which no body can deny.

A third lies in the Black-smiths way,
When things are as safe as old wiues say,
We haue them under locke and key,
Which no body, &c.

There's yet another which makes me laugh,
Because the Smith can challenge but halfe,
When things are as plaine as a pike-staffe,
Which no body, &c.

Another halfe to him doth belong,
And therefore do the Smith no wrong,
When one is held too't buckle and thong.
Which no body, &c.

There is one more doth seldome faile,
When we meet with naughty Beere or Ale,
We say it is as dead as a doore-naile,
Which no body, &c.

A sullen woman needs no leech,
Your Black-smiths bellowes restores her speech,
And will fetch againe with winde in her breech,
Which no body, &c.

There's neuer a slut if filth ouer-smuch her,
But owes to the Black-smith for her lether:
For without a paire of tongs no man wil touch her,
Which no body, &c.

If you cleaue to your friend when fortunes wheele
Doth make him any mischances feele,
We say such a friend is as true as steele,
Which no body, &c.

There's that's in the Black-smiths bookes,
Who suddenly for remedy lookes,
When any man is off the hookes,
Which no body, &c.

Among the Sectaries there are those,
That without the Black-smiths helpe do suppose,
St. Dunston had ne're tane ye diuell by the nose,
Which no body, &c.

The roaring boy whom euery one quailes,
And nothing but fights, & sweares, & railes,
Could neuer yet make ye Smith eate his nailes,
Which no body, &c.

Though Sergeants at Law grow richer farre,
And by their good counsell can end a farre:
Yet your Black-smith taks more paines at the barre,
Which no body, &c.

And though lawes punish seuerely still
Such as counterfeit deeds, and thereby do ill,
Yet your smith may forge what he will,
Which no body, &c.

Though bankrouts lye lurking in their holes,
And laugh at their creditors & the catchpoles,
Yet the Smith can fetch them ouer the coales,
Which no body, &c.

Though playing ye Iocky is thought a fine feat,
As to train up a horse & prescribe him his meat,
Yet the Smith knows best how to giue him a heate,
Which no body, &c.

Though soldiers haue traueld a thousand miles,
And thinke they haue all the crafts & ye wiles,
Yet your Smith can sooner double his files,
Which no body, &c.

And though he hath no Commanders looke,
Nor can brag of those he hath slaine or tooke,
Yet is he as good as euer strooke,
Which no body, &c.

Then if to know him men did desire,
They would not scorne but ranke him higher
For what he gets is out of the fire,
Which no body, &c.

Then here's a health to the Black-smiths all,
And let it goe round as round as a ball,
Let's take it though it cost us a fall,
Which no body can deny.