%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Kentish MIRACLE;/ OR,/ A Strange and Miraculous Work of Gods Providence, shewed to a poor distressed/ Widdow, and her Seven Fatherless Children; who lived by a Burnt Sixpen-/ ny Loaf of Bread, and a little Water, for above Seven Weeks, in the Wild of/ Kent, to the Praise and Glory of Almighty God. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1684 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 09/04/2007 20678

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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

2.54 R234267 1 A Rich Merchant Man Rich Merchant Man A Rich Merchant Man TAke comfort Christians all,/ for never shall you see date from licensing information; license unclear: E[n]tred according to Order; the original has 6 cols of text, and the facsimile has only produced 5 of the 6. Pepys 2.54 Wing K327; Rollins (2) 13549 (Mch. 27, 1684, iii, 231, Jonah Deacon) Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 2: 54 The Kentish MIRACLE;/ OR,/ A Strange and Miraculous Work of Gods Providence, shewed to a poor distressed/ Widdow, and her Seven Fatherless Children; who lived by a Burnt Sixpen-/ ny Loaf of Bread, and a little Water, for above Seven Weeks, in the Wild of/ Kent, to the Praise and Glory of Almighty God. The Kentish MIRACLE: OR, A Strange and Miraculous Work of Gods Providence, shewed to a poor distressed Widdow, and her Seven Fatherless Children; who lived by a Burnt Sixpen- ny Loaf of Bread, and a little Water, for above Seven Weeks, in the Wild of Kent, to the Praise and Glory of Almighty God. The Kentish Miracle; Or, a Strange and Miraculous Work of God's Providence, Showed to a Poor Distressed Widow, and Her Seven Fatherless Children; Who Lived by a Burnt Sixpenny Loaf of Breat, and a Little Water, for Above Seven Weeks, in the Wild of Kent, to the Praise and Glory of Almighty God. 1/2 sheet oblong folio, folded, ?210 x 310 torn right edge, damaged surface, uneven inking 1684 Printed for I. Deacon, at the Angel in Guilspur-Street, without Newgate. J. Deacon Weinstein: licensing info

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 9/4/2007 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Devotion & Morality 9/4/07 Checker Rachel Mann Metadata updated 9/4/07 Checker Rachel Mann Metadata updated, XML created 7/15/07 Checker Simone Chess/Soren Hammerschmidt Transcription checked 7/27/06 Transcriber Unknown Original Transcription 8/17/2004 Bibliographer Maggie Sloan/ Jessica Murphy Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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T ake comfort Christians all, for never shall you see The faithful forsaken quite, and left in misery. Who lives and loves to bear the truth in each degree, The story of a Widdows plaint, let them give ear to me.
Who by this Widdow here, sufficient have been try'd, The which was left both poor and bare when as her husband dy'd. And seven young Children small, upon her hands likewise, And knew not how to buy them bread their hunger to suffice.
She labours night and day, she spins and takes great pain, And many a thing to buy them bread God knows she lays in pawn. But when the appointed time, as time consumeth all, O then she knew not how to feed her hungry Children small.
M Ost merciful God, said she, cast down a tender eye, And suffer not thy servant here, with famishing death to dye. Thou that the Ravens did send Elias for to feed, When that he was in Wilderness, in extream want and need, And Rained Bread from Heaven old Israel to preserve; And would'st not in the Lyons den let Daniel pine and starve. I know my Lord, she said, thou didst five thousand feed, With five small barley Loaves, as we in Scripture read. And each one had enough their hunger to sustain, And afterwards twelve baskets full of scraps did still remain. I know my Lord, she said, thou art so mighty still, And therefore every thing be done according to thy will. Her Prayers ended thus, her Children cry'd straightway, O Mother dear give us some bread, we have eat none to day. Give me some bread, said one, give me some bread, said another, And thus the silly Infants flock, about their careful Mother. The good Soul hearing this, perswades them to be still, O soon at night my lambs, said she, you shall have bread your fill. I will to Market go, let Corn be cheap or dear, I'le sell my Coat to buy some Corn if you'l be quiet here. The Children smil'd at this, content they did remain, Good Mother, every one could say, come quickly home again. Three Miles this Woman went unto the Market town,
And for five shilling she did sell her Coat and Russet Gown. Who being glad in heart, to Market straight she hies, But there alas her purse was cut, e're any Corn she buys. She cryeth out, God knows, she weeps and makes great moan To every one that passeth by, her grief she makes it known. But yet behold and see, here in her woful case, Her husbands brother he was one that sold Corn in that place. This woeful woman then, did him desire and pray, To trust her with one sack of corn, till the next Market-day. But he denies her flat, and thus he tells her plain, I shall not have to serve my turn, till Corn do come again. More heed you might have took, unto your purse said he, And not to loose your money here, so fond and foolishly. This dogged answer cut this poor soul to the heart, Especially when she did think upon her Infants smart. Who sits and strives at home, poor souls, but all in vain which of them should the bigest piece of bread and butter gain. But far alas, they were from butter, bread, or cheese, Or any thing to comfort them, that their poor Mother sees. But now behold Gods work, as homeward she return'd, A Bakers boy gave her a Loaf which was in baking burn'd. She gave God thanks for that, and joyful in her hand, She bears the bread home to her babes which waiting for her stand.
She kisses them each one, and with a chearful look, And said, we will to supper go, when you have said your book. Mean time she makes a Fire, and apples therein throws, The widdow & her seven Children, to Supper sweetly goes. The Apples roasted well, and she doth cut them bread, On every piece most lovingly, she doth the Apple spread. Instead of Drink, she had a cup of Water clear, And every Child rejoyced much, and said here is good chear. Behold when they had Supt, for God their Food did bless, When they had supt & were suffic'd, their Loaf was ne'r the less. For seven weeks space together, as storys plainly spread, The widdow and her seven children by this one Loaf was fed. The Cut-purse Man, I say, he broke his neck in Kent , E're he of this poor widdows mony one single penny had spent. And yet behold and see, her husbands churlish brother, That would not trust a peck of corn her children for to succour. And straightway after this, his corn was washt away, All by a mighty Flood that came, before the break of day. The Gentlemen, and such, that did this wonder see, Unto this widdow gave such gifts, that ne'r more wanted she. And now good people all, you here may plainly see, Gods servants are not forsaken quite Gods mercies is to them free.
FINIS .
Printed for J. Deacon , at the Angel in Guilspur-Street, without Newgate .