Gosport tragedy, or, The perjured ship carpenter/The Scots Bonnet

THE SCOTS BONNET.

'TIS in vain to diſpute of a ſhoe or a boot,
⁠The Muſes infpire my ſonnet,
My aim is to ſing of a much better thing,
⁠And the thing that I mean is a bonnet, brave boys,
And the ſubject I chuſe is a bonnet.

I mean not to ſpeak in Latin or Greek,
⁠Nor on Gælic, nor Irſh upon it,
Good people attend, I mean to commend,
⁠And to be in the praiſe of a bonnet, brave boys,
⁠And not in diſprute of a bonnet

The Spaniard in pride, with ſword by his ſide,
⁠Like Quixote may ſwager and Don it;
The helmet and crown, tho' names of renown,
⁠May rank with their equals a bonnet, brave boys,
⁠May not bluſh to rank with a bonnet.

⟨S⟩ay don't take me wrong, the theme of my ſong,
⁠Iſn't that with flounces upon it,
⟨w⟩hich Ladies ſo fair, doth commonly wear,
⁠I mean that the Scots wear a bonnet, brave boys,
⁠Who ne'er was aſham'd of a bonnet.

⟨Th⟩is a bonnet of worth, tho' come from the North,
⁠And worthy a much better ſonnet,
⟨Th⟩e bonnet I ſing, is fit for a King,
⁠Nor care I who laugh at my bonnet, brave boys,
⁠Nor value who banners my bonnet

⟨Th⟩en don't take it ill, that I with my quill,
⁠Have flouriſh'd encomiums upon it,
⟨Sin⟩ce Turban & Turk have ne'er caus'd ſuch work,
⁠As Donald has done with his oner, brave boys,
⁠As Donald has done with his bonnet,

⟨Th⟩e hat may pretend with the cap to contend,
⁠And Critics nay ſay much upon it,
⟨Bu⟩t neither ſhall dare in the laſt to compare,
⁠Or candidates fond with the bonnet, brave boys,
⁠Or vie with your litters a bonnet.