%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> [The Wanton W]ife of Bath, University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1624-1624 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 03/13/2012 31985

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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

1 NONE Chevy Chase NONE IN Bath a wanton Wife did dwell, / as Chaucer he did write, THe womans mad said Solomon, / that thus both taunt a king : Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 374 [The Wanton W]ife of Bath, [The Wanton W]ife of Bath, The Wanton Wife of Bath, 1624-1624 Francis Coles

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas 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 groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 3/13/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Bible/ biblical figures death folklore religious concepts Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/13/2012 2:39:58 PM XBallad Halsey, Nicholas Created XML Version of Ballad 3/13/2012 2:39:58 PM Transcription Supervisor Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/13/2012 2:39:58 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Palmer Browne, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/13/2012 2:39:58 PM Transcriptionist Two Persico, Eryn Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/13/2012 2:39:58 PM Transcriptionist One Roshetko, Kelsey Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/26/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 6/6/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/9/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/8/2011 Checker Mackenzie Doss Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/6/2012 Transcriber Roshetko, Kelsey Created Ballad XML 3/6/2012 Transcriber Persico, Eryn Created Ballad XML 3/6/2012 Double-Key Transcription Merger Palmer Browne, Megan Created Ballad XML 3/6/2012 Transcription Supervisor Becker, Charlotte Created Ballad XML 3/6/2012 XBallad Lee, Jennifer J Created Ballad XML 3/3/2011 Checker Gillian Mellon Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/3/2011 Checker Gillian Mellon Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/16/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left">[<hi rend="italic">The Wanton W</hi>]<hi rend="italic">ife of <hi rend="bold">Bath</hi>,</hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="2" rend="left">[<hi rend="italic">The Tune is,</hi>] <hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">Flying Fame.</hi></hi></seg>
IN Bath a wanton Wife did dwell, as Chaucer he did write, Who did in pleasure spend her dayes, in many a fond delight. Upon a time sore Sick she was, and at the length did dye; Her Soul at last at Heavens gate; did knock most mightily. Then Adam came unto the Gate who knocketh there, quoth he, I am the Wife of Bath, she said, and faine would come to thee. Thou art a Sinner Adam said, and here no place shall have: Alas for you, good Sir she said, now gip you doting knave. I will come in, in spight (she said) of all such Churles as thee: Thou wast the causer of our woe, our paine and misery. And first broke Gods Commandements, in pleasure of thy Wife: When Adam heard her tell this Tale, he ranne away for Life.
Then downe came Jacob to the Gate, and bids her pack to Hell: Thou false Deceiver, why said she, thou maist be there full well. For thou deceivest thy Father deare, and thine own Brother too; Away went Jacob presently, and made no more adoe. She knocks againe with might and maine, and Lot he chides her straight: Why then quoth she, thou drunken Asse, who bids thee here to waite. With thy two Daughters thou didst lye, on them two Bastards got; And thus most tauntingly she chaft against poore silly Lot. Who knocketh here quoth Judith then, with such shrill sounding notes: Alas fine Minkes you cannot heare, quoth she, for cutting throats. Good Lord how Judith blusht for shame, when she heard her say so: King David hearing of the same, he to the Gate did goe. Quoth David, who knocks here so lowd, and maketh all this strife: You were more kind good Sir, said she, unto Uriahs Wife. And when thou caused thy Servants in Battaile to be slaine: Thou caused then more strife then I, who would come here so faine.
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The second Part, To the same tune.</hi></seg>
THe womans mad said Solomon, that thus doth taunt a King: Not halfe so mad as you (she said) I know in many a thing. Thou hadst seven hundred Wives at once, for whom thou didst provide: And for all this three hundred Whores, thou didst maintaine beside. And those made thee forsake thy GOD, and worship stocks and Stones: Besides the charge they put thee to, by breeding of young bones. Hadst thou not been besides thy wits, thou wouldst not thus have ventred: And therefore I doe marvell much, how thou this place have entred. I never heard quoth Jonas (then) so vile a Scold as this; Thou whorson Run-away (quoth she) thou diddest more amis. I thinke quoth Thomas, Womens tongues of Aspan leaves be made: Thou unbeleeving wretch, quoth she, all is not true thats said. When Mary Magdalen heard then, did come unto the Gate; Quoth she good Woman you must thinke upon your former state. No Sinner enters in this place, quoth Mary Magdalen then, Twere ill for you faire Mistris mine, she answered her againe. You for your honesty, quoth she, should once be stond to death: Had not our Saviour Christ come by and written on the Earth.
It is not by your occupation, you are become Divine: I hope my Soul in Christs passion, shall be as safe as thine. Then rose the good Apastle Paul, unto this Wife he said: Except thou shake thy sinnes away, thou here shall be denyd. Remember Paul what thou hast done, although a lewd desire: How thou did persecute Gods Church, with wrath as hot as fire. Then up starts Peter at the last, and to the Gate he hyes: Fond foole quoth he, knock not so fast, thou weariest Christ with cryes. Peter, said she, content thy selfe, for mercy may be won: I never did deny my Christ, as thou thy selfe hast done. When as our Saviour Christ heard this, with heavenly Angels bright; He comes unto this sinfull Soule, who trembled at his sight. Of him for mercy, she did crave, quoth he, thou hast refusd; My proffer, Grace and mercy both, and much my Name abusd. Sore have I sinned, Oh Lord, said she, and spent my time in vaine: But bring me like a wandring Sheepe, unto thy Flock againe. O Lord my God, I will amend my former wicked vice: The Thiefe at these poore silly words, past into Paradice. My Laws and my Commandements, saith Christ, were knowne to thee: But of the same in any wise, not yet one word did yee. I grant the same, Oh Lord (quoth she) most lewdly did I live: But yet the loving Father did his prodigall Son forgive. And I forgive thy Soule, he said, through thy repentant cry; Come therefore enter into my joyes, I will thee not deny.
FINIS. LONDON, Printed for Francis Coles.