Incipit fabula
APrentis whilom duelled in oure Cite
And of a craft of vitaillers was he
Gaillard he was as goldefinche in þe schawe
Broune as a bery. a propur schort felawe
Line 4368
Wiþ lokkes blake y-kempt ful fetisly
Daunce he couþe so wele. and Iolyly
þat he was clepede Perkinne reueloure
He was as ful of loue and paramour
Line 4372
As is þe hyve ful of hony swete
Wele was þe wenche wiþ him myht mete
Att euery bridel wolde he singe and hoppe
He loued bett þe tauerne þan his maistier schoppe
Line 4376
For whan þer any rydeinge was in chepe
Owte of þe schoppe þeder wolde he lepe
Til þat he hadde al þe siht yseyne
And daunced wele wolde he nouȝt come aȝeine
Line 4380
And gaderd him a Meyne of his sorte [folio 54a]
To hoppe and singe and maken swiche disporte
And þere þei setten steuen for to mete
To pleine att þe dys in suche a strete
Line 4384
For in þe toune was þere no prentis
Þat fairer couþe cast a paire of dis
Than perkyn couþe and þere-to he was fre
Of his dispense in place of priuete
Line 4388
¶ 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
Line 4392
His Maister schal it in his schoppe a-bye
Al haue he not part of þe menstralcye
For þeft and ryot þei bene conuertible
Al conne he plaie on geterne or ribible
Line 4396
