%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Wanton Wife of Bath. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1687-1687 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 05/07/2012 32448

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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

N68217 IN Bath a wanton wife did dwell, / as Chacuer he doth write; Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 289725 The Wanton Wife of Bath. The Wanton Wife of Bath. The Wanton Wife of Bath. 1687-1687 T. Norris

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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 5/7/2012 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Bible/ biblical figures death folklore religious concepts Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 5/7/2012 1:14:21 PM XBallad Mendoza, Aaron Created XML Version of Ballad 5/7/2012 1:14:21 PM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 1:14:21 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 1:14:21 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/7/2012 1:14:21 PM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/26/2011 Checker Percy Ross Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 5/11/2011 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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IN Bath a wanton wife did dwell, as Chaucer he doth 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 dye, Her Soul at last to 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 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 gip you doting knave; I will come in spight, she said, of all such churles as thee; Thou were the causer of our woe, and our pain and misery; And first broke Gods commandments, in pleasure of thy wife. When Adam heard her tell this tale, he ran away for life.
Then down came Jacob at the gate, and bids her pack to hell. Thou false deceiver, why, said she, thou maist be there as well; For thou deceivd thy father dear, and thine own brother too. Away went Jacob presently, and made no more ado. She knocks again with might and main, and Lot he chides her straight: Why then, quoth she, thou drunken ass, who bids thee here to wait? With thy two daughters thou did lye, on them two bastards got; And thus most tauntingly she chast against poor silly Lot. Who knocks there, quoth Judith then with such shrill sounding notes? This, fine minks, you cannot hear, 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 go.
Quoth David, Who knocks there so loud, and maketh all this strife? You were more kind, good Sir, she said, unto Uriahs wife: And when thou causedst thy servant in battle to be slain, Thou caused then more strife then I, who would come her so fain. The womans mad, said Solomin, that thus doth taunt a King: Not half so mad as you, she said, I know in many a thing; Thou hadst seven hundred wives, for whom thou didst provide, For all this, three hundred whores, thou didst maintain beside; And those made thee forsake thy God, and worship flocks and stones, Besides the charge they put thee to in breeding of young bones: Hadst thou not been besides thy wits, thou wouldst not have ventured; And therefore I do marvel much, how thou this place have enterd. I never heard, quoth Jonas then, so vile a scold as this. Thou whorson runaway, quoth she, thou diddest more amiss. I think, quoth Thomas, womens tongues of aspen-leaves are made. Thou unbelieving wretch, quoth she, all is not true thats said. Then Mary Magdalen heard then, she came unto the gate. Quoth she, Good-woman, you must think upon your former state; No sinner enters in this place, quoth Mary Magdalen then. Twere ill for you, fair mistress mild, she answered her again; You for your honesty, quoth she, should once be stoned to death, Had not our Saviour Christ come by, and written on the earth. It was not your occupation, you are become divine: I hope my soul in Christs passion shall be as safe as thine.
Then rose the good apostle Paul, unto this wife he said, Except thou shake thy sins away, thou here shalt be denyd. Remember Paul, what thou hast done, although a lewd 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 highs, Fond fool, quoth he, knock not so fast, thou weariest Christ with cries. Peter, said she, content thyself, for mercy may be won; I never did deny my Christ, as thou thyself hast done. When as our Saviour Christ heard this, with heavenly angels bright, He comes unto this sinful soul, who trembled at his sight: Of him for mercy she did crave, quoth he, Thou hast refused My profferd grace, and mercy both, and much my name abused. Sure have I sinned, O Lord, she said, and spent my time in vain, But bring me like a wandring sheep into thy flock again: O Lord my God, I will amend my former wicked vice: The thief at these poor silly words, past into paradise. My laws and my commandments, saith Christ, were known to thee, But of the same, in any wise, nor yet one word did ye. grant the same, O Lord, quoth she, most lewdly did I live, But yet the loving father did his prodigal son forgive. So I forgive thy soul, he said, through thy repenting cry; Come you therefore into my joy, I will not thee deny.
London: Printed by T. Norris, at the Looking-glass on London-bridge. And sold by J. Walter.