Were never better mixed."
As a parallel to the case cited by Newburiensis, I may mention the sign of the "Brown Cow," near the village of Glodwick, Oldham:
"This cow gives such liquor,
'Twould puzzle a viccar" [sic].
John Scribe.
The following verse from the sign-board of the Bull Inn at Buckland near Dover, may not be an uninteresting addition to your list of poetical tavern signs.
"The bull is tame, so fear him not,
All the while you pay your shot;
When money's gone, and credit's bad,
It's that which makes the bull run mad!"