Here begynnyst the kok of lundene hi tale [[painting of the Cook]]
[Nearly all leaf 193 of Camb. MS is cut out. Only He l. 4372, As 4373, We 4374, At 4375, H 4376, ff 4377, and bits of O and T, 4378-9, are left, and se of plase, l. 4410, and aunce 4412.]
A Prentis whilom dwellid in oure citee [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 50b]
And of a craft of vitalers was he
Gaillard he was as gol-fynche in þe schawe
Broun as bery. a proper short felawe
Line 4368
With lokkes blake I-kempt ful fetisly
Daunce he kouþe so wel and Iolyly
That he clepid perkyn reueilloure
He was as ful of loue and paramour
Line 4372
As is þe hive ful of hony swete
Wel was þe wenche with him myght mete
At euery bridale wold he synge and hoppe
He louede bette þe tauerne þan þe shoppe
Line 4376
ffor whan þer any ridynge was in chepe [Sloane MS. 1685 folio 51a]
Out of þe Shoppe þeder wold he lepe
Til þat he had al þe sight I-seyn
And daunced wel wold he not come a-gayne
Line 4380
And gedrid hym mony of his sort
To hoppe and synge and make suche disport
And þere þey setten steuene for to mete
To pleyn at þe dys in suche a strete
Line 4384
ffor in þe toun nas ner no prentis
That fairer couþe cast a peyre of dys
Then perkyn couth and þerto he was free
Of his dispence in place of pryuyte
Line 4388
That fonde his maister wel in his chaffare
ffor ofte tyme he fonde his box ful bare
ffor sikirly a prentis reuelour
. . . . . [no gap in the MS.]
Line 4392
His maystir shuld it in his shep abye
Al haue not part of þe mynstralcie
ffor theft and riot þei ben conuertible
Al can he pleye on geterne or rubible
Line 4396
