The Cook's Tale
Folio 62r
2 of 2 folios
For sikerly a prentys Reuelour
That haunteþ dys ryot or paramour
His maister schal it in his schoppe abeye
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Al haue he not part of þe menstralcye
For theft and riot þei ben conuertible
Al conne he play on gyterne or Rubible
Reuel and trouthe as in a lougħ degre
Þey been ful wroþe alday as men may se
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This Iolif prentys with his maister bood
Til he were neigh out of his prentyshood
Al were he snybbed boþe erly and late
And som tyme lad with Reuel to Newgate
But atte last his mayster him biþoughte
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Vpon a day whan he his paper soughte
Of a prouerbe þat seiþ þis same word
Wel bette is roten appul out of hord
Þan þat it rotye al þe remenant
So fareþ it by þe riotous seruant
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It is ful lasse harm to late it pace
Þanne he schende aƚƚ þe seruantz in þe place
Therfore his mayster ȝaf him a quitance
And bad him go with sorwe and with meschance
And þus þis Ioly prentys hadde his leue
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Now lat him riote al þe night or leue
And for þer nys no þeef wiþouten a lowke
That helpeþ him to wasten and to sowke
Of þat he brybe can or borwe may
Anon he sente his bedde and his array
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Vnto a Coupere of his owne sorte
That louede dys and Reuel and disporte
And hadde a wyf þat heeld for contynance;
A schoppe / and swyued for hire sustynance
LIthen & lesteneþ and herkeneþ aright
And ȝe schulle heeren of a doughty knight
Sire Ioħn of Boundys was his name
He couþe of norture and mochil of game