The Shooe-maker's Triumph:

BEING A Song in Praise of the Gentle-Craft, shewing how Royal Princes, Sons of Kings, Lords, and great Commanders, have been Shooe-makers of old, to the Honour of this ancient Trade; as it was sung at a General Assembly of Shooe-makers, on the 25th of Octob. 1695, being St. Crispin.

To the Tune of, The Evening Ramble, &c.
Written by RICHARD RIGBEY,a Brother of the Craft.
[figure]
I Sing in the Praise of Shooe-makers,
whose Honour no Person can stain,
In every Age they dare to Engage,
and Victory still they did gain;
No Craft in the World can compare
with Shooe-making, for I declare,
Who reads but the Story, will set forth their Glory,
commending them every-where,
As Persons of honoured Fame and Renown;
Then let not their Glory be trampled down.
Sir Hugh was a Prince and a Lover,
yet learned the Shooe-making Trade,
Which yielded Relief, when Sorrow and Grief,
in Travel, had made him dismaid;
When he of his Love was deny'd,
he crossed the Ocean so wide,
Returning soon after, then with a King's Daughter
a Glorify'd Martyr he dy'd.
Thus Shooe-makers have been true Men of Renown,
Then let not their Glory for ever go down.
There's Crispine, and brave Crispianus,
both Brothers, and Sons to a King,
In Sorrow and Woe, from Court they did go,
when under a Shooe-maker's Wing
Protection and Safety they found,
for 'Prentices straight they were bound;
Disguised like Strangers, from perilous Dangers,
this Harbour of Safety they found:
Thus Princes of honoured Fame and Renown,
Hath Shooe-makers been, that was Heirs to a Crown.
Young Crispine he won the fair Daughter
of Great Maximinus, for who
Admitted could be, but verily he,
to draw on fair Ʋrsula's Shooe,
That honoured Lady of Fame,
for when to the Palace he came,
He soon was admitted, the Shooes being fitted,
this Royal Young Beautiful Dame
Besought him for Marriage, though Heir to the Crown;
Thus Shooe-makers have been brave Lords of Renown.
His Brother went forth as a Souldier,
well arm'd, to the Gallican Shore,
Where thousands he kill'd; they never beheld
such conquering Courage before,
The Work being speedily done,
and the Enemy forced to run;
Their General Gallant, Couragious and Valiant,
was likewise a Shooe-maker's Son:
Thus loaded with honoured Fame and Renown,
Then let not brave Shooe-makers Glory go down.
Sir Simon, Lord-Mayor of fair London,
he was a Shooe-maker by Trade,
Who, while he was Mayor, the Truth to declare,
a Dinner of Fritters he made,
Inviting the 'Prentices all,
who readily came at his Call;
That Day they were merry, with Bowls of Canary,
for he from his Word would not fall:
Thus good Simon Eyre, of Fame and Renown,
He was a Shooe-maker, and Lord of the Town.
Thus Valliant and Noble Shooe-makers
the City and Court did Adorn;
For Deeds they have done, a Shooe-maker's Son,
I tell you, he is a Prince born;
There's no other Trade in the Land,
had ever such Royal Command,
For Honour and Glory; then read but the Story,
then, then you will soon understand,
That Shooe-makers they have been fam'd for Renown,
Then let not their Triumph and Honour go down.

Printed for C. Bates, at the Sun and Bible in Pye-corner

☞ There is likewise newly Writ and Printed a Book intitul'd, The Shooe-maker's Glory: or, The Princely History of the Gentle-Cra [...] Shewing what Renowned Princes, Hero's and Worthies have been of the Shooe-maker's Trade, both in this and other Kingdom [...] likewise why it is call'd, The Gentle-Craft; and that they say, A Shooe-maker's Son is a Prince born. To which this Song is add [...] Price Two-pence.

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