The Cook's Tale
Folio 54r
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And gaderd him a meyne of his sorte
To hoppe & singe & maken swiche disporte
And þere þei setten steuen for to mete
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To pleine att þe dys in suche a strete
For in þe toune was þere no perntis
Þat fairer couþe cast a paire of dis
Than parkyn couþe & þere to he was fre
Of his dispense in place of piuete
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¶ That fonde his maister wele in his chaffare
For oft time he fonde his box ful bare
For sekurly a prentis reueloure
Þat haunteþ dis . riot or paramoure
His maister schal it in his schoppe a bye
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Al haue he not part of þe menstralcye
For þeft & ryot þei bene conuertible
Al conne he plaie on geterne or ribible
Reuele & treuþe as in a louhe degre
Thei bene ful wroþe aldaie as men maie see
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This Ioly prentis witħ his maister bode
Til he weer nyhe oute of his prentishode
Al were he snybbed boþe erly & late
And sum tyme ladde wiþ reuel to newgate
Bot att þe last his maister him be þouht
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Vpon a daie whan he his paper souht
Of a prouerbe þat seiþe þis same worde
Wele better is roten appel oute of horde
Than þat it rote al þe remenant
So fareþ it be a riotous seruant
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It is fuƚƚ lasse harme to latt it passe
Þan he schende al þe seruantes in þe place
Thare for his maister ȝaf him a quitance
And bad him go wiþ sorwe & wiþ meschaunce
And þus þis Iolif prentise had his leue
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Nowe lat him riote al þe nyhte or leue
And for þere is no þef wiþ owten a lowke
Þat helpeþ him to wasten & to sowke
Of þat he bribe can or borwe maye
Anone he sent his bedde & his araie
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Vnto a Couper of his owen sorte
Þat loued \dis/ & reuel & disporte
And had a wife þat helde for countinance
A schoppe & swyued for his sustenance .