Page 592
GROUP H. FRAGMENT IX.
§ 1. THE MANCIPLE'S HEAD-LINK.
PETWORTH MS.
And þus bygynnes þe manciples tale. [on leaf 266, back]
WEte ȝe not where stont a litel toune [¶ The prologe/]
Which þat is cleped bob vp and doune
Vnder þe blee in Caunterbery waye
Ther gan our hooste to Iape and playe
Line 4
And saide Sirres donne is in þe myre
Is þer no man for preiere ne for hyre
That wil awake our felawe behinde
A theef myȝt hym robbe and bynde
Line 8
Se howe he nappeþ for goddys bones.
Awaite he wil falle from his hors at ones
This is a coke of london wiþ meschaunce
Do hym come forþ he knoweþ his penaunce [folio 267a]
Line 12
ffor he shal telle a tale be my fay
Al þouȝe it be nat worth a botel of hay
Awake þou coke god ȝeue þe Sorowe
What aileþ þe to slepe so by þe morowe
Line 16
Hast þou had fleen to nyȝt or þou art dronke
Or hast þou al nyȝt wiþ som quene yswonke
So þat þou maist not holde vp þine hede
This Coke þat was [ful] pale and no þing rede
Line 20
Saide to oure hooste so god me blesse
As þer is holden on me such heuynesse
That I not wheder me were leuer sclepe
Than þe best Galon wyne in chepe
Line 24