The Protecting Brewer
The following ballad is a satirical look at Oliver
Cromwell's illustrious career. The text of this ballad appears in the collection
Rump Songs published in 1662.
The Protecting Brewer
To the Tune of, Greensleeves.
A Brewer may be a Burgess grave, and carry
the matter so fine and so brave,
That he the better may play the Knave, Which
no body can deny.
A Brewer may be a Parliament-man, for there
the Knavery first began,
And brew most cunning plots he can, Which
no body &c.
A brewer may put on a Nabal face,
and march to the Wars with such a grace,
That he may get a Captains place, Which
nobody &c.
A Brewer may speak so Wonderous well, that
he may raise strange things to tell,
And so to be made a Collonel, Which no
body &c.
A Brewer may make his foes to flee, and raise
his Fortunes, so that he,
Lieutenant-General may be, Which no body
&c.
A Brewer he may be all in all, and raise
his Powers both great and small,
That he may be a Lord General, Which no
body &c.
A Brewer may be like a Fox in a Cub, and
teach a Lecture out of a Tub,
And give the wicked world a rub, Which
no body &c.
A Brewer by's Excise and Rate, will promise
his Army he knows what,
And set it upon the Colledge-gate, Which
no body &c.
Methinks I hear one say to me, pray why not
a Brewer be,
Lord-Chancellor o'th' University, Which
no body &c.
A Brewer may be as bold as Hector,
when he has drunk off his cup of Nectar,
And a Brewer may be a Lord Protector, Which
no body &c.
Now here remains the strangest thing, how
this Brewer about his Liquor did bring,
To be an Emperour, or a King, Which nobody
&c.
A Brewer may do what he thinks well, and
rob the Church and State, to sell,
His soul unto the devil of hell, Which
no body can deny.
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