A new merry newes as merry as can bee, from Italy, Barbary, Turkie, and Candee.

New merry newes , As merry as can bee , From Italy , Barbary , Turkie , and Candee . AS many of wonders reioyce for to heare , And many good fellows do ioy in good cheare So Poets for pleasure haue pretily fained , That gods in old time a great many raigned : As Ioue for the highest and chéefest in seate , And Mars for his courage and maiesty great : Apollo for wisedome , and Pluto for hell , And a god for each matter maruelous well . And so of like goddesses many strange fables , As Painters with properties , set out strange tables : Where minds be adicted to honor & praise , Some this way , some that waies , some contrary wais : It pleased the Pagans this curtesie to vse , To worship god Bacchus and this is the newes : Because that in Ethiop nighest the sunne , Bacchus bestoweth the wine by the tunne : Whereto all Christendome séekes to repaire , The grapes be so goodly , the vines be so faire : And glad is the Marchant can vtter his ware , To buy the good malmzey and muskadell there : The sacke , the hollocke , the iuberall tare , The romny , Robdauy , and wine of Canare . The gods perceyuing this clustring thither , They fell a shriuing there heads togither . Perceiuing chiefly by many mens faces , They got commdoities great in those places . And they that came thither as pale as a clout , Come liuelier hither , then they went out , They agreéd to haue a Parliament day , To set the decrees at an excellent stay . Wherevpon the vintners that had the first view , Stept to the gods and began to sue , That blessed saint Martin Lieutenant might be , Of the Vine presses in euery degrée , That they being vintners , and liue by the wines , might haue the preheminence first for their coyns . And they that would hold or claime any right , Vnder saint Martins Banner should fight . This sute was granted , the gods did agrée , And home came the vintners so franke and so frée . Such potsale and hotsale , was made in all places , That vpstart the Ale in noses and faces . This being long vsed , set men at such ods , That other new Marchants did sue to the gods , As Iewellers , Brotherers , and such occupations , Which said that the vintners vsurped their fashions . And there was hard hold , and chiefly at Candie , For there they inrold the matter in Malmzey . Then was there commission sent into Spaine , To know what condition so troubled the braine . Some said it was Hollock , some said it was Sack , But at last Robdauy was caught by the backe . After this done there fell such a chance , Some laid the occasion commenced in France . The gods sent to Gascoin , commission with spéed , And they sent to Burdeaux the letters to reed . And there it was found the white wine of Aniou , To Bachides bellies would neuer be true . Then went they to Orleance , and so to the Kaine , There was the whole troth returned againe . The gods then perceiuing so many great suters , Ann in euery countrey so many promoters . And such a brabling kept in all places , About the colouring of noses and faces , They told the Vintners as they did all the rest , We assure you sirs , we thinke you were best , And most expedient for you citizens all , to be vnder the gouernment of coppersmiths hall , Wherevpon the Vintners made supplication , As here ye may reade the maner and fashion .

The Vintners Supplication . IN most humble wise beséech and show , Vnto your Godheads all in a row , The Vintners remaining in all kinds of places , That where by maintaining of noses and faces : There hath béene great sale and vtterance of wine Besides Béere and Ale , and Ipocrasse fine . In euery countrey , Region , and nation , But chiefly in London at the Salutation . And at the Bores head , hard by London stone , And the swan at Dowgat a tauerne well knowne The Myter in Cheape , and then the Bull head , And many like places to make Noses red , The castal in Fishstréet , thrée Cranes in the Vintry , And now of late at S , Martins in the Sentry , And so in generall in many a good towne , Where gallants be gaging the cups vp & downe . Till that of late for lacke of good order , The colours decay in euery good border . By such as intrude , and séeme to oppresse , Forestalling the markets with drinks that be lesse And many be dealers in vtterance of Wine , That are but Alestealers and neuer plant Vine . May it therfore please your godheads of mercy & pitie , To appoynt some officers in euery citie , To apprehend , arrest , and attach in all places , All such as haue any mettall in their faces , And that euery man arested in such manner , Shall carry the kan vnder the Vintners banner . And if any man denay , thls Commission to obay : Then while his nose is hot , ye shall plie with him the pot , And banish him his ale , and set his coate to sale , Till that he haue profest , good fellowship with the rest .

The end of this Supplication . THis Supplication being red , Bacchus remembring in his head , The Vintners bare him great good will , to kéepe him in his honour still , And yet he did consider then , The Chalenge made by other men . How some did claime by Sockage hold , and some did claime by déede inrold . And some did claime by Parentage , and some did claime by mariage . And some did claime by Comminaltie , and such a maruellous companie , Of tytles strange in many cases , as touching change of many faces . God Bacchus thought it good forthwith , To elect and chuse the Coppersmith , Imperiall Prince of high and low , Of all the Vines and Grapes that grow . And yet vnto the Vintners bill , He gaue and bare a great will , and made Commission out of hand , To the Coppersmiths in euery land , that they should be the Vintners ayd : And therewithall God Bacchus sayd . We will decrée that we thinke méete , And that shall be in all things fit : And therewithall did counsell take , Good orders in this case to make , Which orders héere all men may sée , That subiect vnder Bacchus bée .

Heere followeth the Commission sent to the Copper-smiths . BAcchides the goddesse of wines , With the consents of their concubines , Incensing firie faces , Sends greeting forthwith , To Towlie the Copper-smith : From their almighty Graces , That where there doth remaine , In England , France , and Spaine , Italy , Barbary , Turky , and Candy , As goodly red noses and faces as can be . With pimple and pumple to furnish the place , To set forth the glory of the nose and the face , With colours most liuely and lusty of hew , As crimsen in graine , purple and blew . Be it therefore enacted and made , That such as doe vse the Vintners trade , And shall héereafter sée any one passe , Hard by his doore with copper or brasse , In any part of his nose or his face , He shall fill a quart , and hie him apace , Strait for to gréete him , As soone as they méete him , With a cup of good wine , To kéepe his colour fine , Vpon paine for to lose , The custome of a copper nose . This also inacted by the toritie aforesaid , That good inquiry and héede shall be made , By all manner of person or persons , that for our honour doe occupie wine tunnes , that they search among their guesse , that sit at euery messe , that they that haue the richest faces , May be set in the highest places , And haue contribution , By the Coppersmiths Commission . For we perceiue and sée , For déedes of charitie , Red noses be a very great reléefe : For to giue , they néede not to care , they haue enough to spare , Without any gréefe . And if néede requier , Such a nose may serue a Dier , to die a liuely hew , A crimsen in graine , that will neuer staine , A purple or a blew . These gifts and many mo , The very truth is so , Are giuen to goodly faces , Besides a merry heart , And a truth that will not start , From friends in friendly places .

The Armes . BE it also enacted by the toritie aforenamed , That there shall be an Armes framed , That shall be warranted by this our Commission , And let Heralds deuise that haue erudition : Thrée copper funnells standing on a tunne , Thrée vine branches riping in the sunne , Thrée tall fellowes filling copper kettles , And Towles the Coppersmith trying out of mettles And on the left side , three brazen faces , To set out the Armes according as the grace is : Blazed in a gréene field among goodly vines , Because red noses are nourished with wines : Also it is enacted and made , By the toritie aforesaid , That the Coppersmiths of euery Nation , May take prentizes to this occupation , To carry wine-pots for yeares two or thrée , And as they waxe able , to make them all frée . Prouided alwaies that none come in cleare , But shew a red nose once in a yeare . Prouided further , if any doe chance , To claime the fréedome of the Old Hance : His nose must be as ragged as a rocke , Full of blew veines , of an antient stocke , And euery such one must pay at his entry , A quart of red wine , at St. Martins in the Centry . and at their admittance to continue their troth , A brother of the company must giue them their oath , Holding their fingers fast on the pot , Taking good héede they forget it not : Or at least waies lay hold on the cup , and when they haue doue , drinke the drinke vp : And what euery such shal be charged to sweare , The gods haue decréed the oath ready to heare .

Heere followeth the Oath . YE shal sweare to be true to the kan & the cup , and if it be a full pot ye shall drinke it vp : And if you do chance to drinke with your brother , that hath a red nose , and you haue another , Part , and part like you must equally pay : And if any one step in by the way , that hath any mettle flush in his face , Make him to settle , and say you a grace . And in any wise looke to your daily drinke , That your own colours be not suffered to shrink . And sée ye performe M. Towles Commission , And shew your selues ready in euery condition . Ye shall to these things substancially looke , So help ye god Bacchus , now sweare by the book .

The end of the Oath . ANd because this company shall not decay , But to the gods and goddesses pray : And doing their duty solemnly appeare , Be it enacted that once in a yeare , they haue a great dinner with great discretion , And afore dinner a generall procession , And afore the procession , looke wel to your losse , And sée that Nose autem doe carry the crosse , And Nose Gloriare shall kéepe the whole quier , And Libra Nose , set Sencers afire : And Ne Nose shall be the holy water Clarke , Let Salua Nose light lamps in the darke : Iustifica Nose , shall say , Deprofundis , ●etifica Nose shall pray for Iocundis : O Beata Nose shall begin to say grace , While thy nose & my nose set countenan e in place . and euery one that mis. to goe on procession this , Shall forfet to the place , all the mettell in his face . And this Commission shall be at all times , A warrant to the coppersmith and his assignes , Any prouiso , couenant , clause , Order , matter , or other cause , To the contrary notwithstanding , But to be executed with good handling .

Giuen at Candie : Among the good Malmesey . VNder the shadow and shape of the Vines , And sealed which the signet of our copper coines , In the day of birth of the man in the Moone , When Bacchus and Venus was set ouer shoone .

Here followeth a song . GOd be with Alsinadon , That made the Tankards long agone , For sure he was a merry man , And liued many a day : And Ienkin was his iourney man , A verie good companion , For he would drinke with euery man , And thus was woont to say : To whom drinke you , Sir knaue to you , with hey ioly Ienkin , I sée a knaue a drinking And trole the bole to me . ●nd Ienkin would be married than , ●o Good-ales daughter of the Swan , ●is Nose was like a Copper pan , and that very gay : When Ienkin and his wife was wed , ●ey had no light to go to bed , But as God would Ienkins nose was red , ●●d led them both the way . To whom drinke you , &c. When Ienkin did awake at night , ●e saw his Chamber very light , ●e told his wife there was a Sp●ight , 〈◊〉 Made all his chamber shine : ●nd I was in a dreame , quoth shée , ●…e Sprite was in the Buttrie , But I beléeue the light you sée , ●ommeth from your nose and mine . to whom drinke-you , &c. ●he good wife made no more delay , ●ut coniured straight the sprite away , ●…d Ienkin got a goodly boy , 〈◊〉 Of Copper-nose his wife : ●…d hauing money ynough wherewith , ●e put him to the Copper-smith , ●o bring him vp into the pith , ●ho loued him as his life . To whom drinke you , &c. ●he Copper-smith like an honest man , Sent Ienkins sonne to Candy than , To buy some malmsey if he can , Where Ienkin was wel knowne . He neuer came in any place , But men did maruaile at his face , So rested with the Copper mace , And set with pearle and stone , To whom drinke you , &c. And Ienkin went to sée his sonne , Woe worth the time that he begunne , He was drowned in a malmzey tunne , alacke and well away : Now Gentlemen with the copper Nole , I pray you drinke to Ienkins soule , and gentle Drawer fill the bowle , And tell vs what to pay . To whom drinke you , &c. W. Elderton . Finis .