%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> A CHOICE Pennyworth of WIT. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/27/2011 31172

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

T30620 HERE is a Penny worth of Wit, / for those that ever went astray Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 3: 474 3: 475 A CHOICE Pennyworth of WIT. A CHOICE Pennyworth of WIT. A CHOICE Pennyworth of WIT. ?-?

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic The New World travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/ crass humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/27/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America economics/ commerce infidelity maritime marriage trickery/ deceit youth/ age Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/27/2011 3:11:08 PM XBallad Doss, MacKenzie Created XML Version of Ballad 4/27/2011 3:11:08 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/27/2011 3:11:08 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/27/2011 3:11:08 PM Transcriptionist Two Fadel, Meghan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/27/2011 3:11:08 PM Transcriptionist One Foley, Christopher Transcription of ballad manuscript 1/23/2009 Bibliographer Meghan Fadel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 1/18/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
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HERE is a Penny-worth of Wit, for those that ever went astray It warning they will take by it, I will do them good another day. It is a Touch-stone of true Love, Betwixt a Harlot and a Wife, The former does destructive prove, The latter yeilds the Joys of Life. As in this Book you may behold, Set forth by Mr. William Lane, A wealthy Marchant brave and bold, Who did a Harlot long maintain. Although a Virtuous Wife he had, Likewise a youthful Daughter dear, which might have made his heart ful glad Yet them he never would come near. The Traffick which he Traded for On the tempestuous Ocean wide, His Harlot had it brought to her, But nothing to his Virtuous Bride. The finest Silks that could be bought Nay Jewels, Rubies & Dimond Rings, He to his wanton Harlot brought, With many other costly things. She still receivd them with a smile When he came from the roaring Seas, And said with words as smooth as Oil, My dearest come and take thy ease. To thy soft Bed and Linnen fine, Thou art right welcome, Love said she, Both I and all that here is mine, Shall still at thy Devotion be. He brought 200 l. in Gold, And after that 300 more, Rich Chains and Jewels manyfold, And bid her lay them up in store. Aye that I will thou needst not fear, And so embracd him with a kiss, Then took the wealth and said my dear, Ill have a special care of this. Then did they banquet many days: Feasting on Delicious Fare, Thus by her false deluding ways, She drew him in a fatal Snare. When he had livd sometime on shore He must go to the Seas again, With Traffick to encrease his store, The wanton Harlot to Maintain.
To whom he said, My Joy and Dear, What Venture will you send. A good return thou needst not fear, Ill be thy Factor & thy Friend. In Goods my dear Ill send above, Ten Pounds thou shalt take on Board I know that unto me my dear, A trible gain thou wilt afford. This said next to his wife he goes, And askd her in a scornful wise What Venture she would then propose To send by him for Merchandize. Ill send a Penny love by thee, Be sure yon take great care of it; When youre in Foreign Parts said she, Pray Buy a Penny-worth of Wit. She laid the Penny in his Hand, And said I pray now dont forget; When you are in another Land, To Buy a Penny-worth of Wit. He put the Penny up secure, And said Ill take a special care, To lay it out you may be sure: So to his Miss he did repair. And told her what he was to Buy, At which she laughd his Wife to scorn On Board he went immediately And so to Sea that very Morn. PART II. NOw they are gone with merry hearts The Merchant and his jovial Crew From Port to Port in Foreign Parts TO Trade as they were wont to do. At length when he had well bestowd The Cargo which was outward-bound, He did his Trading vessel Load With the Rich Treasure which he found. As he his Merchandize still sent, They turnd to Gems and Golden Oar, Which crownd his labour with content, He never was so Rich before. The wanton Harlots venture then Did turn to great Account likewise For eery Pound she should have Ten, Such was his lucky Merchandize. For joy of which the Merchant cry One merry bout my Lads shall have A splendid supper Ill provide, Of all the Dainties you can crave
Before we set to Sea again. Which said they to a Tavern went, Where they did drink and feast amain, Till Crowns and Pounds were spent. The Merchant then with laughter movd, Said he for Wit had never thought, My Harlots venture is improvd, But of my Wifes I never thought. One single Penny, and no more She has a venture sent by me, I was to lay it out therefore In what you think a Rarity. She bid me use my utmost Skill To Buy a Penny-worth of Wit, But I have kept the Penny still, And neer so much as thought of it. Where shall I go to lay it out True Wit is hard and scarse to find But come my Lads lets Drink about, My Wifes small venture Ill not mind. There is a Proverb often usd, Wits never good till bought full dear, Therefore I well may be excusd Theres little for a Penny here. An Aged Father sitting by Whose venerable Locks were Grey Strait made the Merchant this reply, Hear me a word or two I pray. Thy Harlot in Prosperity, She will embrace thee for thy Gold, But when in want or poverty youll nought from her but frowns behold. And ready to betray thy Life, When Wretched, Naked, Poor and Low; But thy true Hearted Faithful Wife, Will stand by thee in Wealth or Woe. If thou wilt prove the truth of this, Stript off thy Gudy Gay Array And so return to thy Lewd Miss! Declare that thou wast Cast away. Thy Riches buried in the Main, Besides as you past thought the wood One of your Servants you have Slain For which your Life in danger stood. Beseech her for to Shelter thee Declare on her you do depend, And then alas! Full soon youll see, How far shell prove a Faithful Friend. Then if she frowns go thy wife Tell her this Melancholly Theam who labours most to save thy Life, Let them be most in thy Esteem. Father the Merchant then replyd, you must this single Penny take, And when Ive past the Ocean wide, A proof of it i mean to make.
So loving Friend, for ought I know, may this single Penny prize, It may be the best I do bestow In my fine wealthy Merchandize. So taking Leave, away they went, Both he and his fine Hearts of Gold, Unto them he said, I must prove the same, When I my native Land behold. PA[R]T III. WIth full spread Sails away they went, Neptune the Golden Cargo bore, Thro roaring waves to their content At length they reach the British Shore, The Merchant put on poor array The very worst of ragged Cloaths And then without the least delay He to his wanton Harlot goes. When she beheld him in Distress She cryd what is the matter now Said he Im poor and penny-less With that he made a courtious Bow. Crying no Man was neer so crost As I have been sweet Hearts delight My Ship and all my Cargo lost Without thy help Im Ruind quite. My loss is great yet thats not all One of my Servants I have Slain as we did both at Variance fall, Some Shelter let me here obtain. I dare not go anear my wife whom I have worngd many Years Into thy Hands I put my Life Take pitty of my melting tears. You bloody Villian she replyd Dont in the least on me depend Begone or as I live she cryd I for an Officer will send. Ill give you neither Bread nor Drink Nor any shelter shall you have Of Nasty Lousy Rags you stink Begone you base Pernicious Slave. Dont think that Ill your counse keep Or harbour any such as you He turnd aside and seemd to weep and bid the wanton Jilt adieu. Then to his loving wife he came Both Poor and Naked in Distress He told her all the very same, Yet she recievd him neer the less. My Dear she cryd since it is so, Take comfort in thy loving wife, All that I have shall freely go To gain a Pardon for thy Life. Ill lodge thee in a Place secure, Where I will daily Nourish thee,
Believe me Love thou mayst be sure To find a constant Friend in me. When he this perfect Proof had made. Which of them two did Love him best, Unto his vertuous Wife he said, My Jewel set thy Heart at Rest. Behold no Servant have I Slain. Nor have I sufferd any Loss; Enough I have us to Maintain, The Ocean Seas no more Ill cross. My Leading Ship lies near the Shore With Gold and Jewels Richly frought So much I never had before Thy Penny-worth of Wit Ive bought. Once more he to his Harlot goes. With Fourteen Sailors brave and bold, All Cloathd in new and Costly Cloaths Of Silk and Rich Embroiderd Gold. The Miss when she his Pomp beheld Did offer him a kind Embrace But he with wrath and anger filld, Did strait upbraid her to her Face. But she with smiles these words exprest, I have a faithful love for thee What eer I said was but in Jest Why didst thou go so soon from me. Twas time to go for as Im told You have another Love in store Whom you have furnnishd with my Go[ld] And Jewels which I brought on Shore. Its false she said I have them all With that the Merchant soon replyd Lay them down before me then I shall Be soon convincd and satisfyd. Then up she run and fetchd then down His Jewels Gold and Rubies bright He seizd them all then with a Frown. He bid wanton Jilt good Night. When he had took the Golden Purse and swept up eery Precious Stone She cryd what will you Rob me thus Yes that I will of whats my own. You wanted to betray my Life But thankd be God theres no such fear Those Jewels shall adorn my Wife Henceforth your House Ill neer come nea[r] Home he returnd to his sweet Wife, and told her all that he had done Eer since they lead a happy Life and hell no more to Harlots run. Thus he the wanton Harlot bit, That long had his Destruction sought, This is a Pennyworth of Wit, The best that ever Merchant bought.
Printed at the Office in Grubstreet.