%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Wanton WIFE of BATH. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1790-1790 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/04/2012 32447

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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

N71512 IN Bath a wanton Wife did dwell, / as Chaucer he did write, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 289724 The Wanton WIFE of BATH. The Wanton WIFE of BATH. The Wanton WIFE of BATH. 1790-1790

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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 6/4/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Bible/ biblical figures death folklore religious concepts Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/4/2012 2:32:57 PM XBallad Mendoza, Aaron Created XML Version of Ballad 6/4/2012 2:32:57 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/4/2012 2:32:57 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/4/2012 2:32:57 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/4/2012 2:32:57 PM Transcriptionist One Lester, Hillary Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/26/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 7/26/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/7/2012 Transcriber Lester, Hillary Created Ballad XML 5/7/2012 Transcriber Bell, Erik Created Ballad XML 5/7/2012 Double-Key Transcription Merger Meyer, Shannon Created Ballad XML 5/7/2012 Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Created Ballad XML 5/7/2012 XBallad Mendoza, Aaron Created Ballad XML 5/11/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 5/11/2011 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
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IN BATH a WANTON WIFE did dwell, As CHAUCER he did write, Who did in Pleasure spend her Days In many a fond Delight. Upon a Time sore sick she was, And at the length did die; Her Soul arrivd at Heavens Gate, And there knockd heartily. Then ADAM came unto the Gate, Who knocketh there? quoth he, I am the Wife of BATH, she said, And fain would come to thee. Thou art a Sinner, ADAM said, And here no Place shall have; Alas! for you, good sir, she said, Now trip thou doating Knave. I will come in spite she said, Of all such Churls as thee; Thou wert the Cause of all our Woe, Our Pain and Misery. And first broke Gods Commandment, In Pleasure with thy Wife, When ADAM heard her tell that Tale,
He ran away for Life. Then down came JACOB to the Gate, Who bid her pack to Hell: You false Deceiver, why, said she, You might be there as well: For you deceivd your Father dear, And your own Brother too; So away went JACOB presently, And made no more ado. She knockd again with Might and Main, And LOT came to the Gate, How now, quoth she, thou doubting Ass, Who bid thee here to wait? With thy two Daughters thou didst lie, On them two Bastards got: And thus most tauntingly she chast Against poor silly LOT. Who knocketh there? quoth JUDITH then, With such shrill sounding Notes? This Noise, fine Minx, thou canst not bear, Quoth she, for cutting Throats. Good Lord, how JUDITH blushd for shame When she heard her say so,
King DAVID hearing of the same, Unto the Gate did go. Quoth DAVID who knocks there so loud? And causeth all this strife: You were more kind, good Sir, said she, Unto URIAHS Wife; When thou didst cause thy Servant In Battle to be slain; Thou causest then more Strife than I; Who would come here so fain. The Womans mad, quoth SOLOMON, Thus for to taunt a King: Not half so mad as you, she said, I know in many Things; You had seven Hundred Wives he said, For whom thou didst provide; Yet for all this three Hundred Whores Thou didst maintain beside; And these made thee forsake thy God, And worship Stocks and Stones; Besides the Charge they put thee to In breeding of young Bones: Hadst thou not been beside thy Wits, Thou wouldst not thus have venturd, And therefore I do marvel much How thou this Place hast enterd. I never heard, quoth Jonas then, So vile a Scold as this: You Whoreson, run away said she, For thou did more amiss I think, quoth THOMAS, Womens Tongues Of Aspen Leaves are made: You misbelieving Wretch, said she, All is not true thats said. When MARY MAGDALEN heard her chafe, She came unto the Gate; Quoth she, good Woman you must think Upon your former State; No Sinners enter in this Place, Quoth MARY MAGDALEN: Twere ill for you, fair Mistress mild, She answerd her again. You for you Honesty, said she, Should once been stond to Death, Had not our Saviour CHRIST came by, And wrote upon the Earth: It is not thro your Occupation,
You are become divine; My Soul in Christs passion, Will be as safe as thine. Then rose the good Apostle PAUL, Unto the Wife he cryd. Except you shake your Sins away, Thou here must be denyd. Remember PAUL what thou hast done, All thro a leud Desire; How thou didst persecute Gods church With Wrath as hot as Fire. Then up starts PETER at the last, And to the Gate he hies; Fond fool, said he, knock not so fast, Thou weariest CHRIST with Cries. PETER she cries, content thyself, For Mercy may be won. I never did deny my Lord, As thou thyself hast done. When as our Saviour CHRIST heard this, With heavenly Angels bright. He came unto this sinful Soul, Who trembled at the sight. Of him for Mercy she did crave, Quoth he thou hast refusd My profferd Grace and Mercy too, And much my Name abusd. Sure I have sinnd O Lord, said she, And spent my Time in vain, But bring me like a wandering Sheep Into thy Fold again. O Lord my God I will amend, My former wicked Vice; The Thief at these repentant Words Past into Paradise. My Laws and my Commandments Said Christ were known too thee But not the same in any wise, Not yet a wit did ye. I grant the same, My Lord she said, Most leudly I did live; But yet the loving Father did, The Prodigal forgive. So I forgive thy soul, he said, Thro thy repentant cry: Come thou therefore into my rest. I will not thee deny.