THE SACK FULL OF NEWES; AN OLD JEST-BOOK, ORIGINALLY PRINTED IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, NOW FIRST REPRINTED, SINCE 1673, FROM A COPY SUPPOSED TO BE UNIQUE. EDITED BY J. O. HALLIWELL, ESQ., F.R.S. LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE EDITOR. 1861. 康 PREFACE. HE excessively rare, if not unique, old jest-book, reprinted in the following pages, is believed to be the only known copy of the old merriment, mentioned in Laneham's letter from Kenilworth, 1575,-" But aware, keep bak, make room now, heer they cum, & fyrst Captin Cox, an od man, I promiz yoo; by profession a mason, & that right skilfull, very cunning in fens, & hardy az Gawin, for hiz tonsword hangs at his tablz eend: great oversight hath he in matters of storie, for az for King |