%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> ANN ASKEW; / Intituled, I am a Woman Poor and Blind, &c. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer 1688-1688 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 07/11/2014 32991

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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

R170311 I Am a woman poor and blind, / and little knowledge remains in me; Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 558 ANN ASKEW; / Intituled, I am a Woman Poor and Blind, &c. ANN ASKEW; / Intituled, I am a Woman Poor and Blind, etc. ANN ASKEW; / Entitled, I am a Woman Poor and Blind, etc. 1688-1688

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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 7/11/2014 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America religious concepts religious groups virtue Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 7/11/2014 11:42:56 AM XBallad Russ, Theresa Created XML Version of Ballad 7/11/2014 11:42:56 AM Transcription Supervisor Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/11/2014 11:42:56 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/11/2014 11:42:56 AM Transcriptionist Two Moss, Benjamin Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/11/2014 11:42:56 AM Transcriptionist One Yuen, Pui Transcription of ballad manuscript 6/4/2013 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/6/2013 Checker William Hildalgo Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 12/19/2012 Checker Shannon Meyer Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 10/19/2012 Bibliographer Shannon Meyer Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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I Am a Woman poor and blind, and little knowledge remains in me; Long have I sought, but fain would find, what Herb in my Garden were best to be. A Garden I have which is unknown, which God of his goodness gave to me, I mean my Body, where I should have sown the seed of Christ's true Verity. My Spirit within me is vexed sore, my Spirit striveth against the same, My Sorrows do encrease more and more, my Conscience suffereth most bitter pain. I with myself being thus at strife, would fain have been at rest, Musing and studying in mortal life, what things I might do to please God best. With whole intent and one accord, unto a Gardener that I did know, I went and desired hem for the love of the Lord, true Seed in my Garden for to sow. Then this proud Gardener seeing me so blind, he thought on me to work his will, And flattered me with words so kind, to have me continue in my blindness still. He fed me then with lies and mocks, for Venial Sins, he bid me go To give my mony to Stones and Stocks, which was stark lies, and nothing so. With stinking meat then was I fed, for to keep me from my Salvation, I had Trentals of Mass, and Balls of Lead, not one word spoke of Christ's Passion. In me was sown all kind of feigned Seeds, with Popish Ceremonies many a one, Masses of Requiem, with other juggling Deeds, still God's Spirit out of my Garden was gone. Then was I commanded most strictly, if of my Salvation I would be sure, To build some Chappel or Chauntry, to be pray'd for while the World doth endure. Beware of a new learning (quoth he) it lies, which is the thing I most abhor, Meddle not with it in any manner of wise, but do as your Fathers have done before.
My trust I did put in the Devil's Works, thinking sufficient my Soul to save, Being worse then either Jews or Turks, thus Christ of his Mirits I did deprave. I might liken myself with a woful heart, unto the dumb Man in Luke the Eleven, From whence Christ caused the Devil to depart, but shortly after he took the other seven. My time thus, good Lord, so quickly I spent, alas, I shall dye the sooner therefore, O Lord, I find it written in thy Testament, that thou hast mercy enough in store, For such Sinners as the Scripture saith, that will gladly repent and follow thy word, Which I will not deny whilst I have breath, for Prison, Fire, Faggot, or fierce Sword. Strengthen me, good Lord, in thy truth to stand, for the bloody Butchers have me at their will, With their slaughter-knives ready drawn in their hands, my simple Carcass to devour and kill. O Lord, forgive me my Offence, for I have offended thee very sore, Take therefore my sinful Body from hence, then shall I vile Creature offend thee no more. I would wish all Creatures and faithful Friends, for to keep from this Gardener's hands, For he will bring them soon unto their ends, with cruel Torments of fierce Fire-brands. I dare not presume for him to pray, because the truth of him it is well known, But since that time he hath gone astray, and much pestilent Seed abroad hath sown. Because that now I have no space, the cause of my death truly to show, I trust that hereafter that by God's holy Grace, that all faithful Men shall plainly know. To thee, O Lord, I bequeath my Spirit, that art the Work-master of the same, It is thine Lord, take it of right, my Carcass on Earth I leave from whence it came. Although to Ashes it be now burned, I know thou can'st raise it again; In the same Likeness as thou it formed, in Heaven with thee evermore to remain.
LONDON: Printed by and for W.O. and are to be sold by the Booksellers of Pye-corner and London-bridge.