Part 2

* * * * * * * She had a desyre ofte to be wedde B. i. _a._ And also to lye in an other mannes bedde Lytell rought she therfore She is as softe as a lamme yf one do her meue And lyke to yᵉ deuyll wan a mā dothe her greue So well is she sette O good condycyon to her housbonde Yf he call her calat she calleth hȳ knaue agayne She shyll not dye in his dette By Saynt Jone sayd Cocke than These be fayre vertues in a woman Thou shalte be my launder To wasshe and kepe clene all my gere Our two beddes togyder shall be sette Without ony lette The nexte that came was a coryar And a cobeler his brother As ryche as a newe shorne shepe They offred Cocke a blechynge pot Other Jewelles they had not Scant shoes to theyr fete The coryer dresseth so well his lether That it wolde drynke water in fayre weder Therfore he hath many a crystes curse And tho cobeler for his cloutynge The people blesseth hym with euyll cheuynge To knytte faste in his purse A shomaker came to these other two Bytwene them two was moche a do For a pyese of lether They togged with theyr teth and gnewe it there B. i. _b._ And pulde as it had been grehondes at a hare It was a shepes skyne of a wether And than they tanned it whan they had done To make lether to hym with mennes shone And all for theyr auayle For as sone as the hemme is tore The sho is lost for euer more And it is lytell meruayle A tanner for euyll tannyng of leder They foure with sorowe Cocke dyde set togyder And neuer a good without fayle Than came one wᵗ two bolddogges at his tayle And that was a bocher without fayle All be gored in reed blode In his hande he bare a flap for flyes His hosen gresy vpon his thyes That place for magottes was very good On his necke he bare a cole tre logge He had as moche pyte as a dogge And he were ones wrothe He loked perysshe and also rowe A man wolde take hym for a shrewe I trowe And of his company be lothe Than came a gonge fermourer Other wyse called a masser scourer With hym a canyell raker Theyr presence made Cocke and his mē to spewe For as swete was theyr brethe as henkā or rewe To wasshe them they laked water On these Irysshe copel I wyll not tare B. ii. _a._ Cocke dyde set thē there as knaues sholde be Amonge the slouenly sorte Than came two false towlers in nexte He set them by pykers of the best For there sholde they abyde But before yᵗ they were plonged in the ryuer To searche theyr bodyes fayre and clere Therof they had good sporte A myller dustypoll than dyde come A Ioly felowe with a golden thome On his necke a sacke was Many sayd that he with reprefe Of all craftes was nexte a thefe B. ii. _b._ In that Cocke founde no lacke He sayd that he touled twys for forgetynge And stele floure and put chauke therin Be sherewe hym that taught hym that Cocke bad hym grynde cherystones and peson To make his men brede for a season By cause whete was very dere Than came a pardoner with his boke His quaterage of euery man he toke But Cocke wolde theyr names here The pardoner sayd I will rede my roll And ye shall here the names poll by poll There of ye nede not fere Here is fyrst Cocke Lorell the knyght And symkyn emery mayntenaūce agayne ryght With slyngethryfte fleshemonger Also fabyane flaterer And fesly claterer With adam auerus flayle swenger And fraūces flaperoche of stewys captayne late With gylys vnyeste mayer of newgate And lewes vnlusty the lesynge monger Here also baude baudyn boller And his brother copyn coler With mathew marchaunte of shoters hyll Crystofer catchepoll a crystes course gaderer And wat welbelyne of ludgate Iayler With laurence lorell of clerken well Here is gylys Iogeler of ayebery And hym sougelder of lothe bery B. iii. _a._ With wallys the wrangler Pers potter of brydge water Saunder fely the mustarde maker With Ielyan Iangeler Here is Ienkyne berwarde of Barwycke And tom tombler of warwyke With Phyllyp fletcher of fernam Here is wyll wyly the myl peker And patrycke peuysshe heerbeter With lusty hary hange man Also mathewe tothe drawer of London And sybly sole mylke wyfe of Islyngton With davy drawelache of rokyngame Here is maryone marchauntes at all gate B. iii. _b._ Her husbōde dwelleth at yᵉ sygne of yᵉ cokeldes pate Nexte house to Robyn renawaye Also hycke crokenec the rope maker And steuen mesyll mouthe muskyll taker With Iacke basket seler of alwelay Here is george of podynge lane carpenter And patrycke peuysshe a conynge dyrte dauber Worshypfull wardayn of slouens In There is maryn peke small fremason And pers peuterer that knocketh a basyn With gogle eyed tomson shepster of lyn Here is glyed wolby of gylforde squyere Andrewe of habyngedon apell byer With alys esy a gay tale teller Also peter paten maker With gregory loue good of rayston mayer And hary halter seler at tyborn the ayer Here is kate with the croked fote That is colsys doughter the dronken koke A lusty pye baker Here is saunder sadeler of froge strete corner With Ielyan Ioly at sygne of the bokeler And mores moule taker Also annys angry with the croked buttocke That dwelled at yᵉ sygne of yᵉ dogges hede in yᵉ pot By her crafte a breche maker Cocke sayd pardoner now ho and sease Thou makeste me wery holde thy pease A thynge tell thou to me What profyte is to take thy pardon B. iv. _a._ Shewe vs what mede is to come To be in this fraternyte Syr this pardon is newe founde By syde London brydge in a holy grounde Late called the stewes banke Ye knowe well all that there was Some relygyous women in that place To whome men offred many a franke And bycause they were so kynde and lyberall A merueylous auenture there is be fall Yf ye lyst to here how There came suche a winde fro wynchester That blewe these women ouer the ryuer In wherye as I wyll you tell Some at saynt Kateryns stroke a grounde And many in holborne were founde Some at saynt Gyles I trowe Also in aue maria aly and at westmenster And some in shordyche drewe theder With grete lamentacyon And by cause they haue lost that fayre place They wyll bylde at colman hedge in space A nother noble mansyon Fayrer and euer the halfe strete was For euery house newe paued is with gras Shall be full of fayre floures The walles shallbe of hauthorne I wote well And hanged wᵗ whyte motly yᵗ swete doth smell Grene shall be the coloures And as for this olde place these wenches holy B. iv. _b._ They wyll not haue it called the stewys for foly But maketh it a strabery banke And there is yet a chapell saue Of whiche ye all the pardon haue The saynt is of symme trollanke I wyll reherse here in generall The indulgences that ye haue shall Is these that foloweth with more At the oure of deth whan ye haue nede Ye shall be assoyled of euery good dede That you haue done before And ye shall be parte taker of as many good dedde As is done euery nyght a bedde And also ferthermore At euery tauerne in the yere A solempne dyryge is songe there With a grete drynkynge At all ale houses trewely Ye shall be prayed for hertely With a Ioyefull wepynge And the pope darlaye hath graūted in his byll That euery brother may do what he wyll Whyle that they be wakynge And the pardone gyueth you that hath the pose On your owne sleue to wype your nose Without rebuke takynge Also pope nycoll graunteth you all in this texte The coughe and the colyke the gout and the flyxe With the holsome tothe ache Also it is graunted by our bulles of lede B. v. _a._ That whan ony brother is dede To the chyrche dogges shall cary hym A ryche pal to ly on yᵉ corse late fro rome is come Made of an olde payre of blewe medly popley hosone For yᵉ worshyppe of all yᵉ brethrene Theyr knylles shall be rōge in yᵉ myddes of tēse hosone B. v. _b._ And theyr masse songe at shoters hill amonge the elmes With grete deuocyon in dede And many thynges elles shall be done The resydewe I wyll reherse soone For drynke fyrst must I nede Than Cocke cast a syde his hede And sawe the stretes all ouer sprede That to his bote wolde come Of all craftes there were one or other I wyll shewe how many or I passe ferther And reken them one by one The fyrst was golde smythes and grote clyppers Multyplyers and clothe thyckers Called fullers euerychone There is taylers tauerners and drapers Potycaryes ale brewers and bakers Mercers fletchers and sporyers Boke prynters peynters bowers Myllers carters and botyll makers Waxechaundelers clothers and grocers Wolle men vynteners and flesshemongers Salters Iowelers and habardashers Drouers cokes and pulters Yermongers pybakers and waferers Fruyters chese mongers and mynstrelles Talowe chaundelers hostelers and glouers Owchers skynners and cutlers Blade smythes fosters and sadelers Coryers cordwayners and cobelers Gyrdelers forborers and webbers B. vi. _a._ Quylte makers shermen and armorers Borlers tapstry workemakers and dyers Brouderers strayners and carpyte makers Sponers torners and hatters Lyne webbers setters with lyne drapers Roke makers coper smythes and lorymers Brydel bytters blacke smythes and ferrars Bokell smythes horse leches and gold beters Fyners plommers and penters Bedmakers fedbed makers and wyre drawers Founders laten workers and broche makers Pauyers bell makers and brasyers Pynners nedelers and glasyers Bokeler makers dyers and lether sellers Whyte tanners galyors and shethers Masones male makers and merbelers Tylers brycke leyers harde hewers Parys plasterers daubers and lyme borners Carpenters coupers and ioyners Pype makers wode mōgers and orgyn makers Coferers carde makers and caruers Shyppe wryghtes whele wryghtes and sowers Harpe makers leches and vpholsterers Porters fesycyens and corsers Parchemente makers skynners and plowers Barbers boke bynders and lymners Repers faners and horners Pouche makers belowfarmes and cage sellers Lanterners stryngers grynders Arowe heders maltemen and corne mongers B. vi. _b._ Balancers tynne casters and skryueners Stacyoners vestyment swoers and ymagers Sylke women pursers and garnysshers Table makers sylke dyers and shepsters Golde sheres keuerchef launds and rebē makers Tankarde berers bouge men and spere planers Spynsters carders and cappe knytters Sargeauntes katche pollys and somners Carryers carters and horskepers Courte holders bayles and honters Constables hede borowes and katers Butlers sterchers and musterde makers Harde waremen mole sekers and ratte takers Bewardes brycke borners and canel rakers Potters brome sellers pedelers Shepherdes cowe herdes and swyne kepers Broche makers glas blowers cādelstycke casts Hedgers dykers and mowers Gonners maryners and shypmaysters Chymney swepers and costerde mongers Lode men and bere brewers Fysshers of the see and muskel takers Schouyll chepers gardeners and rake fetters Players purse cutters money baterers Gold washers tomblers Iogelers Pardoners kȳges bēche gatherers and lether dyers There were theues hores and baudes wᵗ mortherers Crakers facers and chylderne quellers Spyes lyers and grete sclaunderers Cursers chyders and grete vengeaunce cryers C. i. _a._ Dyssymulynge beggers hede brekers borders Nette makers and harlote takers Swerers and outragyous laughers Surmowsers yll thynkers and make brasers With lollers lordaynes and fagot berers Luskes slouens and kechen knaues Bargemen whery rowers and dysers Tyburne collopes and peny pryckers Bowlers mas shoters and quayters Flaterers and two face berers Sluttes drabbes and counseyll whystelers With smoggy colyers and stȳkȳge gōge fermers Of euery craft some there was Shorte or longe more or lasse All these rehersed here before In Cockes bote eche man had an ore All tho that offyces had Some woūde at yᵉ capstayne as Cocke thē bad Some stode at yᵉ slȳge some dyde trusse and thrȳge Some pulde at the beryll some sprede yᵉ mayne myssyll Some howysed the mayne sayle Some veryed showte a very slayle Some roped yᵉ hoke some yᵉ pōpe and some yᵉ laūce Some yᵉ lōge bote dyde laūce some mēde yᵉ corse Mayne corfe toke in a refe by force And they that were abyll drewe at the cabyll Some the anker layde some at the plōpe a sayll swepe One kepte yᵉ compas and watched yᵉ our glasse Some yᵉ lodysshestōe dyd seke some yᵉ bote dyd Some made knottes of lynkes endes C. i. _b._ Some the stay rope suerly byndes Some a satte borte a stare borde Some the standerdes oute dyde brynge Some one the shrowedes dyde clyme Some couched a hogges heed vnder a hatche Some threwe out bayte fysshe to catche Some pulled vp the bonauenture Some to howes the tope sayle dyde entre Some stered at the helme behynde Some whysteled after the wynde There was non that there was But he had an offyce more or lasse Than Cocke Lorell dyde his whystele blowe That all his men sholde hym knowe With that they cryed and made a shoute That the water shoke all aboute Than men myght here the ores classhe And on the water gaue many a dasshe They sprede theyr sayles as voyde of sorowe Forthe they rowed Saint George to borowe For Ioy their trūpettes dyde they blowe And some songe heue and howe rombelowe They sayled fro garlyke hede to knaues in And a pele of gonnes gan they rynge Of colman hedge a sight they had That made his company very glad For there they thought all to play Bytwene tyborne and chelsay With this man was a lusty company For all raskyllers fro them they dyde trye C. ii. _a._ They banysshed prayer peas and sadnes And toke with them myrthe sporte and gladnes They wolde not haue vertu ne yet deuocyon But ryotte and reuell with ioly rebellyon C. ii. _b._ They songe and daunsed full merely With swerynge and starynge heuen hye Some said yᵗ they were gētle mē of grete myght That ther purses were so lyght And some wente in fured gownes and gay shone That had no mo faces than had the mone Of this daye gladde was many a brothell That myght haue an ore with Cocke Lorell Thus they daunsed with all theyr myght Tyll that phebus had lost his lyght But than came lucyna with all her pale hewe To take her sporte amonge the cloudes blewe And marcury he trewe downe his goldē bemes And sperus her syluer stremes That in the worlde gaue so grete lyght As all the erth had be paued with whyte Thā Cocke wayed anker and housed his sayle And forthe he rowed without fayle They sayled England thorowe and thorowe Vyllage towne cyte and borowe They blessyd theyr shyppe whan they had done And dranke about saynt Iulyans torne Than euery man pulled at his ore With that I coulde se them no more But as they rowed vp the hyll The bote swayne blewe his whystell full shryll And I wente homwarde to mowe shame stere With a company dyde I mete As ermytes monkes and freres Chanons chartores and inholders C. iij. _a._ And many whyte nonnes with whyte vayles That was full wanton of theyr tayles To meet with Cocke they asked how to do C. iij. _b._ And I tolde them he was a go Than were they sad euerychone And went agayne to theyr home But my counseyll I gaue them there To mete with Cocke another yere No more of Cocke now I wryte But mery it is whan knaues done mete Cocke had in his hande a grete route The thyrde persone of Englande Thus of Cocke Lorell I make an ende And to heuen god your soules sende That redeth this boke ouer all Chryst couer you with his mantell perpetuall.

AMEN.

Here endeth Cocke Lorelles bote. Imprynted at London in the Flete strete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn de Worde.

Reprinted at ABERDEEN by MILNE & HUTCHISON.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Padder, or Rumpadder, a thief.--SLANG DICTIONARY.

[2] Maunder, a beggar.--SLANG DICTIONARY.

[3] Dibdin’s Ames, Vol. II., p. 352.