A Peniworþ of Witt

Publication Statement:

This file is part of the facsimile-edition of the Auchinleck Manuscript was co-edited by Professor David Burnley and Dr Alison Wiggins. The HTML versions of the resource are freely available at http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/

Notes:

This manuscript file was originally supplied as penny.html and the header file was located in heads/penny_head.html both of which were converted to TEI XML by Dr James Cummings of the Oxford Text Archive. The notes below were taken from the header file and each HTML paragraph placed in a separate note.

Scribe 1

Short couplets. 400 lines. Begins imperfect.

Unique copy but can be compared to 'How a merchande dyd hys wyfe betray', in couplets (Index 1897), of which there are three manuscripts:
CUL MS Ff.2.38 (olim no. 690). Late 15th century. Ff.2.38 also has in common with Auchinleck: Sir Beues of Hamtoun, The Seven Sages of Rome, Guy of Warwick (a different version) and Sir Degare.
BL Harley MS 5396. Fragmentary.
Porkington 10. Late 15th century.

Edition:
E. Kölbing, 'Kleine Publicationen aus der Auchinleck-hs', Englische Studien, 7 (1884): 111-125. (Includes an edition of 'How a merchande dyd hys wyfe betray').

Another edition:
D. Laing, A Penni Worth of Witte, Abbotsford Club (Edinburgh, 1857): 1-14.

Index *46. Suppl. 2602.3.

Source:

The Auchinleck Manuscript (NLS Adv MS 19.2.1) is one of the National Library of Scotland’s greatest treasures. Produced in London in the 1330s, it provides a unique insight into the English language and literature that Chaucer and his generation grew up with and were influenced by. It acquired its name from its first known owner, Lord Auchinleck, who discovered the manuscript in 1740 and donated it to the precursor of the National Library in 1744.

A Peniworþ of Witt


Of a chaunce ichil ȝou telle [f.257ra] [Image]
Þat whilom in þis lond bifelle.
Ones it was a marchaunde riche,
Nowhar nas non his liche
Of gold & of warldes winne.[5]
In þe cite þat he wond inne
A gode woman he gan spouse
& brouȝt hir to his house;
Bleþeliche sche dede al þat he sede
& alle her loue on him sche leyde.[10]
Þe godeman was stoute & gay
& bi anoþer wenche he lay,
He gan to louen hir als his liif
& told litel of his owhen wiif;
To his leman anouȝ he fond[15]
Of alle þe riches of þe lond:
Kercheues of silke & robes of priis,
Yfurroud wiþ vair & griis, [ vair: originally menevair, but mene struck through.]
Gerlondes of gold & perles briȝt;
Also a leuedi sche was diȝt.[20]
Of his wiif toke he non hede
Hou simpleliche þat sche ȝede
Euerich day clad him bifore;
Þat hye spent him þouȝt forlore.
Þe marchaunde ouer þe se is went,[25]
Bot first to his leman he sent
For to wite of hir answere
What cloþes sche wald were
& what iuwels sche wold haue bouȝt,
Bot to his wiif no seyd he nouȝt.[30]
So it bitidde as it be schold
Þe marchaunde ouer þe se wold;
His wiif to scorn he bigan
& dede as a nice man
35 'Icham diȝt & made ȝare,[35']
Ouer þe se now to fare.
Dame, hastow þe biþouȝt,
What juwels þou wilt haue bouȝt?
ȝif þou wilt haue ani for me,
Þou most me reche gode mone.'[40]
'Sir,' sche seyd 'bi sein Jon,[']
Plente of siluer no haue y non
Þat y miȝt wele spare;
Bot sone, sir, so ȝe com þare,
Haue a fair pani here [f.257rb] [Image] [45]
& as ȝe be mi trewe fere
Bi þerwiþ a peniworþ witt
& in þine hert fast it knitt.
When þou comest hom, so God me spede,
Wele y wil quite þe þi mede.'[50]
Þe marchaunde wende his wiif were madde
For þe pani þat sche him badde,
Loþ him was þat siluer forgon,
In his hond he tok it anon
& al on scorn atte last[55]
Þe peni in his purs he cast;
At schort wordes wiþouten mo
He lepe on hors & went hir fro.
Þe marchaunde hadde winde ful gode
& passed þe salt flode,[60]
Biȝond se when he was come
Anon he haþ his conseil nome
To bigge of þe fairest ware,
For no siluer nold he spare;
Er þan he hadde rest[65]
He bouȝt his leman of þe best,
Noble juwels & atire
As ani leuedy wald desire;
Bot his wiif þat was gode & trewe
He no bouȝt noiþer eld no newe.[70]
When he hadde alle þis ware ybouȝt,
After soper he sat & þouȝt,
Anon he seyd to his knaue
'O þing forȝeten now we haue -[']
We moten biþinken ous bett -[75]
Our dames peni is vnbisett;
What an ernest & a game,
Þerof we ben boþe to blame.'
An eld man þerin sat,
His wordes wele vnderȝat,[80]
& in his hert he þouȝt anon,
Þat sum þing þer was misgon.
Þe eld man was wise of lore
& þouȝt for to wite more
As þai dronken win & ale,[85]
He gan reherse better her tale.
'Marchaunde,' seyd þe old man' par charite [']
Telle þat ich aske now þe;
What wald þi wiif an ybouȝt? [f.257va] [Image]
Say me soþe & gabbe nouȝt[90]
& y schal selle þe worþ a pani
ȝif þat þou wilt bigge ani.'
Sayd þe marchaunde 'sikerliche,
Here schal rise a fair beuerege.'
Quaþ þe marchaunde 'bi Godes boke,[95]
Mi wiif a pani me bitoke
To bigge þerwiþ a paniworþ witt
& in min hert fast it knitt;
Sche swore, also God hir spede, [ hir: r altered from another letter.]
Sche wald quite me mi mede.'[100]
'Marchaunde,' quaþ þe old man 'bi þi liif[']
Hastow ani leman bot þi wiif?
Þe marchaunde answerd him aloude,
For of his leman he was proude,
'ȝe,' he seyd 'so mot y þriue,[105]
On þat is worþ swiche fiue.'
'O!' quaþ þe old man & louȝ [ O: MS reads Ot.] ['']
'Þat ich ouertrowed wele anouȝ;[']
Bot riȝt for soþe nist ich it nouȝt
Er þi seluen it hadde out ybrouȝt,[110]
Bot now ich wot hou it is
Y schal selle to þe, ywis,
A peniworþ of wisdome,
Þat schal bere wittnesse of þi grome,
Wele better þan þi pani be[115]
ȝif þou wilt don after me.'
'ȝis,' seyd þe marchaunde 'bi þe rode,[']
ȝif ich finde þi conseyl gode.'
'When þou hast don in schippe þi ware[']
& þou art redi ouer to fare[120]
& tow be in ȝour hauen ybrouȝt,
Loke þat þou forȝete it nouȝt.
A pouer wede do þe opon,
Also þou no haddest oþer non,
& wende to þi lemannes inne[125]
& sore sike þou biginne
& dreri chere make hir bifore
& say þou hast þi gode forlore
& say þou hast a man yslawe,
Þou no darst abide londes lawe [130] [ abide: i superscript.]
& aske þi leman ȝif sche miȝt
Herberwe þe þis ich niȝt
& elles þou most fle out of lond, [f.257vb] [Image]
& riȝt þus þou schalt hir fond.
When þou wost þi lemannes wille,[135]
Hom to þi wiif wende ful stille
& also to þine owen spouse
Telle of þi chaunce meruailouse
& avise þe wele & take gode hede
Wheþer þou findest better at nede,[140]
Oþer þi leman oþer þi wiue,
& to hir held þou al þi liue;
For tvay wil cost swiþe miche
For to atire richeliche,
And on wil finde anouȝ & more[145]
Of þe gamen vnder þe gore.'
Þe marchaunde seiȝe & vnderstode
Þat his conseile was wise & gode,
'Eld man, wele mot þou fare,[']
Haue here þi peni, ichaue mi ware.'[150]
Þe marchaunde bouȝt vp þat he wold,
Silke & cendel & cloþes of gold,
Sone after gode winde God him sent,
Hom to his cuntre he went.
Þe marchaunde forȝat him nouȝt,[155]
When he was in hauen ybrouȝt,
To don so þeldman him badde
& so bifore haþ him radde.
He dede on him a pouer wede,
To his lemannes in he ȝede;[160]
At þe gate he knocked anon, [ gate: g is of unusual form, perhaps adapted from ȝ.]
His leman bad hir maiden gon,
To wite who was atte ȝate
& knocked so þerate.
Þe marchaunde bete so hard & fast[165]
Þat in he come atte last.
On iuel deþ mot sche dye -
His leman loked out wiþ hir eiȝe,
For sche seiȝe him so iuel diȝt
Into hir chaumber hye stirt an hiȝt[170]
& schette þe dore wiþ þe pinne,
For he no schuld nouȝt com þerinne.
'Maiden,' quaþ þe marchaund anon[']
'To mi leman þou most gon,[']
Prayer, ȝif hir wille be,[175]
Þat sche com & speke wiþ me
For al þe loue þat haþ ybe [f.258ra] [Image]
Bitvix mi leman & me.'
Þe maiden into chaumber ranne,
To hir leuedi sche seyd þanne[180]
'Madame, þi leman gent & fre[']
Is comen hom fro biȝond þe se
& stont in halle iuel diȝt
& þat me reweþ, bi God almiȝt,
& praieþ þe hastow art hende[185]
Com speke wiþ him er þan he wende.'
Cristes curs com on her mold -
Sche answerd as a schrewe schold
'Go þou,' sche seyd 'to him wel stille[']
& bidde him telle þe his wille,[190]
& say to him wiþouten mis
Þat icham iuel at ese, ywis,
Þat y ne may, þei he were mi broþer,
Speke wiþ him no wiþ no noþer.'
Þe maiden into halle trade[195]
& teld so þe leuedi badde [Between teld and so, him is entered superscript ?in another hand.]
'Sir, mi leuedi seyt, wiþouten les,[']
Þat sche is so iuel at ese
& bad þou schust me þi wille sayn.'
'Sweteing, to þi leuedi wende oȝain,[200]
Say hir mi gode is al agon
& y no haue spending non,
For y no hadde neuer er nede;
Ichaue ydon a sorweful dede,
In a cuntek & a striif[205]
For-reft a gentil man his liif.
Say hir ichaue a man yslawe,
Y no dar abide no londes lawe.
Pray mi leman ȝif sche miȝt
Herberwe me þis ich niȝt[210]
In a chaumber priue & derne,
Oþer ich must fle now also ȝerne.'
Þo þat his leman þis wordes herd,
Wel schrewelich sche answerd
'ȝif he haue lorn his catelle[215]
Þat he schuld wiþ bie & selle,
Daþet who þerfore wepe;
Of him no more y no kepe.
Say y me self schal, bot he fle,
Swiþe gon into þe cite[220]
& do þe kinges bailifes come [f.258rb] [Image]
& hastiliche he schal be nome
& in a strong prisoun be cast
& be anhonged atte last.'
Forþ went þat maiden smal[225]
& teld him þis wordes alle
'Fle, ȝif þou wilt þi liif haue,[']
For þi leman nil þe nouȝt saue.
Mi leuedi haþ her oþ ysworn
Bi him þat was in Bedelem born[230]
Þat sche nil do þe no socour,
Noiþer in soler no in bour,
No ben yfounde wiþ swiche tresoun
For to sustene þe kinges feloun.'
Stille he stode, answerd he nouȝt,[235]
As man þat is in gret þouȝt;
He þouȝt ferþer for to gon,
For help no fond he þer riȝt non,
Sum better solauce for to finde,
For þer was comfort al bihinde.[240]
Þe marchaunde duelled no wiȝt,
Hom to his hous he went riȝt;
He went him forþ into his halle
In a pouer atire wiþalle.
His gode wiif stode & him biheld[245]
& in hir armes sche him feld;
For sche seiȝe him cloþed so þinne
Sche ladde him þe chaumber wiþinne,
& wiþ gode hert sone anon
A newe robe sche dede him on[250]
& seyd 'sir, welcome ȝe be.
Hou haue ȝe farn biȝond se?'
þe marchaunde to his wif spak
'Dame, in foule storm our schippe brak,[']
Þer was mi gode al binome,[255]
Þus pouer icham to þe come,
Helpe me, dame, ȝif þat þou wilt;
A gentil man ichaue yspilt,
Y dar no londes lawe abide.
Y pray þe, dame, þatow me hide[260]
In a chaumber priue & derne
Or ich mot fle now also ȝerne.'
'Nay,' sche said 'mi leman hende,[']
ȝete schaltow nouȝt fro me wende,
Sche wepe wel sore anonriȝt [f.258va] [Image] [265]
& comfort him wiþ al hir miȝt,
'Þei þou haue lorn þis warldes wele,[']
Þerfore murn þou nouȝt to fele,
No noþing wepe þou to sore;
He þat sent þat may sende more.[270]
Sir, ȝete ichaue sexti pounde
Of ȝours & mine of pans rounde,
And ar þis day a fourtenniȝt
Þe siluer schal be wide ydiȝt,
& y me self, wiþouten duelling,[275]
Fare y wil to þe king,
Biforn him & ek his quen
Falle opon mi bare knen
& y no schal neuer ses
Til ichaue pirchaced þi pes;[280]
& when ichaue þi pes ymaked
Þei we ben boþe moder-naked,
Y & mi maiden schal swete & swinke
& win þe cloþes, mete & drink
Wiþ brewing, bakeing & oþer chaffare;[285]
Þerfore, sir, þarf þe nouȝt care.
Ar today seuen ȝer, & God tofore,
We schul be richer þan we were ore.'
Þe marchaunde seiȝe & vnderstode
His wiues conseil was trewe & gode[290]
& for þe solas þat hye him made
He þouȝt hir hert for to glade
'No þing, dame, wex þine hert cheld,[']
It nis nouȝt so as y þe teld.
Bi him þat þis warld wan[295]
ȝete no slouȝ y neuer man;
Nis nouȝt mi catel al agon,
ȝete ichaue wel gode won
Ybrouȝt into hauen hole & sounde
Þat is better þan a þousand pounde.[300]
Naþ noman part þerin now
Bot God of heuen & ich & tow.'
Of þis kepe y no more ȝedde,
Bot clept & kist & ȝede to bedde.
Þe marchaunde aros þo it was day[305]
& dede on him a robe of say,
A gode palfray he bistrode
& to his lemannes in he rode.
His leman out at a windowe biheld [f.258vb] [Image]
& seiȝe him com ouer þe feld[310]
& bi þe prikeing sche him knewe,
Sche dede on hir a robe newe
& diȝt her richeliche wiþalle
& com oȝain him into þe halle.
Sone þe marchaunde was doun yliȝt,[315]
To him sche strit anonriȝt,
& bi þe swere sche haþ him nome
& seyd 'swete leman, wel come.'
Er þan euer þe marchaunde wist,
Tvies or þries sche him kist.[320]
'Þei we be kist' sche seyd anon[']
'ȝete no be we nouȝt al at on;[']
Icham wroþ wiþ þe, & wele y may;
What nede was it me to asay?
No wostow wele in þine entent[325]
Icham to þi comandment?
Bodi & chatel, al is þine,
Has noman elles part þerinne.'
Þus sche stroked his here & made it touȝ
& conraid Fauuel wele ynouȝ.[330]
'No,' quaþ þe marchaunde 'bi seyn Jon.[']
ȝete no be we nouȝt al at on.
Yt was me told biȝonde þe se,
Alle þe gode þat y brouȝt to þe
Anoþer marchaunde þou hast yȝoue[335]
& hast fro me turned þi loue.'
'Leman,' hye seyd 'now schaltow se[']
Þat swiche wordes les be,
& so schal þi grome als,
Þat swiche tales ben fals.[340]
Þis teld þe þin old crate;
Sche spekeþ me qued arliche & late.
Þis was a lesing of dame crate, þi wiif -
Ihesus Crist so schort hir liif -
For were þe crate leyd in mold[345]
Þan wist ich wele þat y schold
Of þe euer han mi wille,
Arliche & late, loude & stille.'
Sche sprad a kaneuas on þe flore
Þat was boþe gret [&] store[350]
& brouȝt forþ her riche þinges,
Broches of gold & riche ringes,
Sextene schetes milk white, [f.259ra] [Image]
Viij chalouns & v couerlite,
Oþer juwels mani on teld,[355]
Masers riche, coupes of gold.
'Now miȝt tow leue & wite & se[']
Dame old crate, þi wiif, oþer me.'
Þe marchaunde al þis gode biheld
& in þe caneuas togider it feld[360]
& dede it in a wide sak
& slonge at his gromes bak.
'Heiȝe þe biliue, mi gode grome,[']
To mi wiif bere þis home.
Bid hir þat sche kepe it wele,[365]
For ich it bouȝt euerich dele.'
His leman stode & loked on him þo
& at hir hert hir was ful wo.
'Leman,' sche seyd 'artow wroþ?[']
To greue þe it war me loþ.[370]
ȝif ich haue ani þing misse[y]de, [ misse[y]de: y added by a later hand.]
For loue it be doun yleyde,
& lete þis gode duelle here stille,
No miȝt þou it feche at þi wille.'
Þe marchaunde oȝain to hir sayd,[375]
Of hir falshed gan hir abrayd
'Y was ytauȝt me þe to asaye,[']
No schaltow neuer eft me bitraye,
Ne after me, bi Godes ore, [ me: originally me self, but self underdotted and crossed through.]
No þarf þe loke neuer more.'[380]
He lepe on hors at wordes fewe
& priked fro þat fals schrewe.
He rode him hom to his house
& cleped forþ his leue spouse
& laid þe sak on þe flore[385]
Þat was michel riche & store
'Lo, dame!' he seyd 'Bi mi chaffare[']
Ichaue ybrouȝt þi peniworþ ware,
Bot þe þink it wele bisett,
Go, biware anoþer bett.'[390]
Þe gode wiif seiȝe al þat riche þing
& þonked Ihesu, heuen-kinge,
Þat he haþ þe gode hom brouȝt
& he haþ turned his þouȝt
To liue wiþ hir in godes lay.[395]
Bliþe & glad sche was þat day.
Ynouȝ þai hadde of warldes wele, [f.259rb] [Image]
Togider þai liued ȝeres fele.
Þai ferd miri, & so mot we.
Amen, amen par charite.[400]