%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Penny worth of WIT. / In Three Parts: University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 06/21/2014 32844

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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

HEre is a Penny Worth of Wit, / For those that ever went astray, Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 501 The Penny worth of WIT. / In Three Parts: The Penny worth of WIT. In Three Parts: ?-?

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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 Featured 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 6/21/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America economics/ commerce infidelity maritime marriage trickery/ deceit youth/ age Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 6/21/2014 11:51:48 AM XBallad Jaworski, Cheryl Created XML Version of Ballad 6/21/2014 11:51:48 AM Transcription Supervisor Mendoza, Aaron Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/21/2014 11:51:48 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/21/2014 11:51:48 AM Transcriptionist Two Yuen, Pui Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/21/2014 11:51:48 AM Transcriptionist One Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/22/2013 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/6/2013 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/8/2012 Checker Elizabeth Aguilar Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/8/2012 Checker Elizabeth Aguilar Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/14/2012 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Penny worth of WIT.</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">In Three Parts:</hi></seg>
HEre is a Penny Worth of Wit, For those that ever went astray, If Warning they will take by it, 'Twill do them good another Day. It is the Touchstone of true Love, Betw[i]xt a Harlot and a Wife, The former does destructive prove, The latter yields the Joy of Life. As in this Book you may behold, Set forth by Mr. William Lane, A wealthy Merchant brave and bold, Who did a Harlot long maintain. Although a virtuous Wife he had, Likewise a youthful Daughter dear. Which might made his Heart full glad, Yet them he seldom would come near. The Treasure which he traded for, On the tempestuous Ocean wide, His Harlot had, he brought it her But nothing to his virtuous Bride. The finest Silks that could be bought, Nay Jewels, Rubies, Diamonds, Rings, He to his wanton Harlot bought, With many other costly things. She'd still receive him with a Smile, When he came from the roaring Seas, And said with Words as smooth as Oyl, My Dearest come and take thy Ease. To my soft Bed and Linnen fine, Thou art right welcome Love said she, Both I and all that e'er is mine, Shall still at thy Devotion be. He brought two hundred Pounds in Gold, And after that an hundred more, With Chains and Jewels manifold, And bid her lay them up in Store. Ay that I will, thou needst not fear, And so embrac'd him with a Kiss, Then took the Wealth, and said my Dear, I'll have a special care of this. Then did they banquet many a Day, Feasting on rich delicious Fare, Thus by her false deluding Ways, She drew him to a fatal Snare. When he had liv'd sometime on Shore, He must to the Seas again, With Traffick to encrease his Store, The wanton Harlot to maintain: To whom he said, My Joy, my Dear, With me what Venture wilt thou send, A good Return thou needst nor fear, I'll be thy Factor and thy Friend. In Goods my dear Jewel I'll send above Ten Pounds which thou shalt take on Board, I know that unto me my Love, A treble Gain thou wilt afford. This said, next to his Wife he goes, And asked her in scornful wise, What Venture she would now propose To send by him for Merchandize. I'll send a Penny Love by thee; Be sure you take great care of it: When you're in foreign Parts, said she, Pray buy a Penny worth of Wit. She laid the Penny in his Hand, And said, I pray now don't forget, When you are in another Land, To buy a Penny Worth of Wit.
He put the Penny up secure, And said I'll 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 laugh'd his Wife to scorn, On Board he went immediately, And set to Sea the very Morn. PART II. NOw were they 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 bestow'd The Cargo which was outward bound, He did his treading Vessel load With richer Treasure which he found. As he his Merchandize did vent, They turn'd to Gems and golden Oar, Which crown'd his Labours with Content, He never was so rich before. The wanton Harlot's Venture then Did run to great account likewise. For every Pound she would have Ten Such was their lucky Merchandize. For Joy of which the Merchant cry'd, One merry Bout my Lads shall have, A splendid Supper I'll provide, Of all the Dainties you can crave, Before we set to Sea again. This said, they to a Tavern went, Where they did feast and drank amain, Till mony Caowns and Pounds were spent. The Merchant then with Laughter mov'd, Said he for Wit had never sought. My Harlot's Venture is improv'd, But of my Wife's I never thought. One single Penny and no more, She as a Venture sent with me; I was to lay it out therefore, In what you'll think a Rarity. She bid me use my utmost Skill, To buy a Penny Worth of Wit; But I have keept the Penny still, And ne'er so much as thought of it; Where shall I go and lay it out, True Wit is scarce and hard to find, But come my Lads let's drink about. My Wife's small Venture we'll not mind. There is a Proverb often us'd, Wit's never good till bought too dear; Wherefore I may well be excus'd, There's little for a Penny here. An age'd Father sitting by, Whose venerable Looks was gray, Straight 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 if in Want and Misery, You'll nought but Frowns from her behold, And ready to betray thy Life, When wretched, naked, poor and low, But thy true hearted faithful Wife, Will stand by thee in Well or Woe, If thou wilt prove the Truth of this, Strip off thy gaudy rich Array,
And so return to thy loud Miss, Declare that thou was cast away, Thy Riches buried in the Main, Besides as you pass'd thro' a Wood, One of your Servants you had 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 you'll see, How far she'll prove a faithful Friend. Then if she frowns, go to thy Wife, Tell her this melancholy Theme: Who labours most to save thy Life, Let her be most in thy Esteem. Father, the Merchant then reply'd, You must this single Penny take, And when I've past the Ocean wide, A Proof of this I mean to take. And loving Friends for ought I know, I may this single Penny prize, It may be the best I did bestow, In all my wealthy Merchandize. Taking his Leave away he came, Both he and his brave Hearts of Gold, To whom he said, I'll prove the same, When I my native Land behold. PART III. WITH full spread Sails to Sea he went, Neptune the golden Cargo bore, Thro' roaring Waves to their Content, At length they reacht 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 cry'd, What is the Matter now? Said he, I'm poor and pennyless; With that he made a courteous Bow. Crying No Man was e're so crost, As I have been sweet Heart's Delight, My Ship and all I have is lost, Without thy Help I'm ruin'd quite. My Loss is great, yet that's 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 now go near my Wife, Whom I have wronged for many Years, Into thy Hands I'll put my Life, Take Pity on my melting Tears. Ye bloody Villain, she reply'd, Don't in the least on me depend, Be gone, or as I live, she cry'd, I for an Officer will send. I'll give you neither Bread nor Drink, Nor any Shelter shall you have, Of nesty lousie Raggs you stink, Begone you base perfidious Slave. Don't think that I'll your Counsel keep, Or harbour any such as you, He turn'd away and seem'd 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 receiv'd him ne'ertheless.
My Dear, she cry'd, since it is so, Take Comfort in thy loving Wife, All that I have shall freely go, To gain a Pardon for thy Life. I'll lodge thee in a Place secure, Where I will daily nourish thee: Believe me Love thou may be sure, To find a faithful Friend in me. When he this perfect Proof had made, Which of them two did love him best, Unto his virtuous Wife he said, My Jewel set thy Heart at Rest, Behold I have no Servant slain, Nor have I suffered any Loss, Enough I have for to maintain, The Ocean Seas no more I'll cross. My loaded Ship lies near the Shore, With Gold and Jewels richly fraught, So much I never had before, Thy Penny worth of Wit I've bought. Once more he to his Harlot goes, With Fourteen Sailers brave and bold, All cloath'd in new and costly Clothes, Of Silk and rich embroider'd Gold. The Miss when she his Pomp beheld, Did offer him a kind Embrace, But he with Wrath and Anger fill'd, Did streight upbraid her to her Face. But she with Smiles these Words exprest, I have a faithful Love for thee, What e'er I said was but a jest, Why didst thou go so soon from me. Twas Time to go, for as I'm told, You have another Love in Store, Whom you have furnisht with my Gold, And Jewels which I brought on Shore. Tis false, she cry'd, I have them all: With that the Merchant straight reply'd, Lay them before me, then I shall Be soon convinc'd and satisfy'd. Then up she ran and fetch'd them down, His Jewels, Gold and Rubies bright, He seiz'd them all, then with a Frown He bid the wanton Jilt good Night. When he had took the golden Purse, And sweept up every precious Stone, She cry'd, what will ye rob me thus, Yes that I will of what's my own. You wanted to betray my Life: But Thanks to GOD there's no such Fear, These Jewels shall adorn my Wife, Henceforth your House I'll ne'er come near. Home he return'd to his sweet Wife, And told her all that he had done, E'er since they lead a happy Life, And he'll no more to Harlots run: Thus he the wanton Harlot bit, Who long had his Destruction sought. This was a Penny worth of Wit, The best that ever Merchant bought.
FINIS.