How! gossip mine, gossip mine,
When will we go to the wine,
Good gossipes mine?

I shall you tell a full good sport,
How gossipes gader them on a sort,
Their seke bodies to comfort
When they meet
In lane or street,
Good gossipes mine. . . . .

‘Good gossip mine, wher have ye be?
It is so long sith I you see;
Wher is the best wine? Tell you me.
Can ye aught tell?’
‘Yea, full well,
Good gossipes mine.

‘I know a draught of mery-go-down;
The best it is in all this town;
But yet I wold not, for my gown,
My husband wist.’
‘Ye may me trist,
Good gossipes mine.’

‘Call forth our gossipes by and by,
Elinore, Joan, and Margery,
Margret, Alis, and Cecely,
For they will cum,
Both all and sum,
Good gossipes mine-a.

‘And eche of them will sumwhat bring,
Goose or pigg, or capons wing,
Pastés of pigenes, or sum other thing;
For we must ete
Sum maner mete,
Good gossipes mine-a.’ …

‘Now be we in the tavern set,
A draught of the best let him fet,
To bring our husbands out of det;
For we will spend
Till God more send,
Good gossipes mine-a.’ …

‘How looke ye, gossip, at the bordes end?
Not mery, gossip? God it amend!
All shall be well, els God defend!
Be mery and glad
And sit not so sad,
Good gossipes mine-a.’

‘Wold God I had done after your counsèll!
For my husband is so fell
He beteth me like the devil of hell,
And the more I cry,
The less mercy,
Good gossipes mine-a.’ …

Margret Meke said: ‘So mot I thrive,
I know no man that is alive
That giveth me two strokes, but he have five:
I am not afèrd,
Though he have a berd,
Good gossipes mine-a.’

One cast down her shot and went away.
‘Gossip’, quod Elinore, ‘what dide she pay?
Not but a peny? Lo! therfor I say
She shall no more
Be of our lore,
Good gossipes mine-a.

‘Such gestes we may have ynow
That will not for their shot alow;
With whom com she, gossip? With you?’
‘Nay’, quod Joan,
‘I com alone,
Good gossipes mine-a.’

‘Now reken our shot, and go we hens;
What cometh to eche of us? But three pens?
Pardé, this is but a small expens
For such a sort,
And all but sport,
Good gossipes mine-a.’

‘Turn down the street, when ye cum out,
And we will cumpas round about.’
‘Gossip’, quod Anne, ‘what nedeth that dout?
Your husband is pleased,
When ye be eased,
Good gossipes mine-a.’ …

This is the thought that gossipes take:
Ons in the week mery will they make,
And all small drinkes they will forsake;
But wine of the best
Shall have no rest,
Good gossipes mine-a. . . .