%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 small Fatherless Children. Who lived by a burnt six-penny / 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 1671-1671 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/20/2011 30700

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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

R228265 4 UNKNOWN UNKNOWN UNKNOWN A Rich Merchant-Man Rich Merchant Man, The A Rich Merchant-Man TAke comfort Christians all, / for never shall you see Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 2: 242 2: 243 The Kentish MIRACLE; / OR, / A Strange and Miraculous Work of Gods Providence, shewed to a poor distressed / Widdow, and her Seven small Fatherless Children. Who lived by a burnt six-penny / 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 small Fatherless Children. Who lived by a burnt six-penny 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 small Fatherless Children. Who lived by a burnt six-penny Loaf of Bread, and a little Water, for above Seven Weeks, in the Wild of Kent, to the Praise and Glory of Almighty God. 1671-1671 J. Deacon

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol 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 types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic The New World travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/ crass humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/20/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America advice affliction/ health Bible/ biblical figures death economics/ commerce family religious concepts religious figures Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/20/2011 2:24:46 PM XBallad Shaughnessy, Elizabeth Created XML Version of Ballad 4/20/2011 2:24:46 PM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/20/2011 2:24:46 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Becker, Charlotte Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/20/2011 2:24:46 PM Transcriptionist Two Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/20/2011 2:24:46 PM Transcriptionist One Megna, Paul Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/18/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 3/18/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 11/26/2008 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 1/26/2011 Checker Danielle Davey Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/26/2011 Checker Danielle Davey Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/26/2011 Checker Danielle Davey Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
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TAke comfort Christians all, for never shall you see The faithful forsaken quite, and left in misery. Who lives and loves to hear the Truth in each degree, The s[t]ory of a Widows plaint let [t]hem give ear to me
Who by this Widow here, sufficient have been tryd, The which was left both poor and bare, when as her Husband dyd. 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 keep her hungery Children small.
MOst merciful God, said she, cast down a tender eye, And suffer not thy servant here, with a famishing death to dye. Thou that the Ravens didst 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 wouldst 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 cryd straight way; 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, Ile sell my Coat to buy some corn, if youl be quiet here. The Children smild 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 shillings 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, ere any Corn she buys. She Cryeth out, God knows, she weeps & makes great moan, To every one that passeth by, her grief she makes it known. But yet behold and see, here in her woeful 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 biggest piece, of bread and butter gain. But far alass 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 returnd, A Bakers Boy gave her a Loaf, which was in Baking burnd. 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, and 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 supd & were sufficd their Loaf was never 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, Ere he of this poor widows money on 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 straight-way 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 widow gave such gifts, that nere more wanted she. And now good people all, you here may plainly see, God servants are not forsaken quite Gods mercies is to them free.
FINIS. Printed for J. Deacon, at the Angel in Guilt-Spur-street without Newgate.