Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Protecting Brewer

Alexander Brome

“The Protecting Brewer” as printed in Rump Songs (1662).

Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics Text 56 1662 · historical text
Public domainPolitical songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Rump Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

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.

Verse 2

A Brewer may be a Parliament-man,

For there the Knavery first began,

And brew most cunning Plots he can,

Which no body, &c.

Verse 3

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 no body, &c.

Verse 4

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.

Verse 5

A Brewer may make his foes to flee,

And raise his Fortunes, so that he

Lieutenant-General may be,

Which no body, &c.

Verse 6

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.

Verse 7

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.

Verse 8

A Brewer by’s Excize and Rate,

Will promise his Army he knows what,

And set it upon the Colledge-gate,

Which no body, &c.

Verse 9

Methinks I hear one say to me,

Pray why may not a Brewer be,

Lord-Chancellor o’th’ University,

Which no body, &c.

Verse 10

A Brewer may be as bold as Hector,

When as he has drunk off his cup of Nectar,

And a Brewer may be a Lord Protector.

Which no body, &c.

Verse 11

Now here remans the strangest thing,

How this Brewer about his Liquor did bring,

To be an Emperour, or a King,

Which no body, &c.

Verse 12

A Brewer may do what he will,

And rob the Church and and State, to sell

His soul unto the devil of hell,

Which no body can deny.

Credits

Written by Alexander Brome

Words by Alexander Brome. Historical text published in Rump Songs (1662); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Rump Songs (1662), “The Protecting Brewer”

This 1662 collection (Rump: or an Exact Collection of the Choycest Poems and Songs Relating to the Late Times, 1639-1661) is credited to Alexander Brome (died 1666); every contributor died more than 330 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide, and the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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