The Cook's Tale
Folio 61v
1 of 2 folios
Thou seist ful soþ qd Roger by my fay
But soþ play quad play as þe flemyng seith
And þerfore herry baillyf by þi feith
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Be þou nouȝt wroth or we departen heere
Though þat my tale be of an Ostelleere
But naþeles I wol not tellen it ȝit
But or we parte I wys þou schalt be quyt
And þer wiþ al he lough and made cheere /
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And saide his tale as ȝe schal after heere
A Prentys whilom dwelled in oure Citee
And of a craft of vitaillers was he
Gaillard he was as goldfyncħ in þe schawe
Broun as a berye a propur schort felawe /
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Wiþ lokkes blake y kempt ful fetysly
Daunce he couthe so wel and Iolyly
That he was cleped Perkyn Reualour
He was as ful of loue paramour
As is þe hyue ful of hony sweete
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Wel was þe wenche with him mighte meete
At euery brydale wolde he synge and hoppe
He louede bet þe tauerne þan þe schoppe
For whan þer any rydyng was in chepe
Out of þe schoppe þider wolde he leepe
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Til þat he hadde al þe sigħt y seyn
And daunced wel wolde he not come ageyn
And gadered him a meyne of his sorte
To hoppe and synge and maken such desporte
And þere þei setten steuene for to mete
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To pleyen atte dys in such a streete
For in þe toun nas þer no prentys
That fairere couþe caste a paire of dys
Than Perkyn couþe and þerto he was fre
Of his dispense in place of priuite
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That fond his maister wel in his chaffare
For ofte tyme he fond his box ful bare