The Bedford-shire Widow;
OR;
The Poor in Distress Relievd.
Being a full and true Relation, of a poor Widow, whose Hus-
band was dead, and she turnd out of doors by her Creditors, and forced with
her three Children to lye in the street, and Beg for Bread; and how that Queen Mary, walking in her
Garden, and hearing her Beg: came to her, and caused her children to be cloathed and put to Nurse,
and gave the poor widow a weekly pension, to maintain her as long as she livd.
To the Tune of, Let Caesar live long. Licensed according to Order.
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IN Scripture we read how that Dorcas the good,
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Did dayly supply the poor Widows with Food.
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And many Examples besides we may find;
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All which have been Acted by good Women kind,
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But none ere more great, or yet glorious were seen,
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Than this Pious Act of good Mary our Queen.
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One time it so chancd, on a morning so fair:
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Queen Mary did walk for to take the fresh Ayr,
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In her Garden so Richly bedecked with Flowers,
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Where, she with delights, did pass several hours,
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There sitting her down in an Arbour alone,
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She heard a poor widow, make pittiful moan.
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The Queen much admiring to hear such a cry,
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She lookd through a wicket, where she did espy
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A widdow, as likewise, three Children small,
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Who lay in the street, without side of the wall,
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Begging for Money for to buy them Bread,
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Who with hunger and pining, were almost quite dead
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The Queen, she did open the wicket streightway,
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And unto the widow, Queen Mary did say,
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Good woman I pray you, now why do you cry?
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The woman, not knowing her, thus did reply,
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My want it is great, I shall perish for need,
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And this is the cause of my mourning indeed.
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My Husband in Prison was cast and is dead;
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The Stones are my Couch, & the Streets is my Bed;
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My Creditors cruel have seized of all,Poor I and my Children have nothing at all;
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The Lord be my comfort or else I shall dye,
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For here in much hunger, and pain I do lye.
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In Bedford-shire, I was born; it is well known.
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My Father had Houses and Land of his own,
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But now I am poor, and nothing I have,
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I wish I was put alive into my Grave;
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Friends I have none, and my bread it is scant,
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That I and my Babes, we shall perish for want.
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I have a brother, who riches hath store,
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Yet now will not own me, because I am poor;
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He tells me, my Fortune was once very great;
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When I had full plenty, and lived in State;
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He will give me nothing, he often doth say,
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Though I have intreated him day after day.
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The Queen did reply, now I pray be content,
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For some good provision to you shall be sent;
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Relye upon God, who for you will provide,
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And for your poor Children also beside;
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Ask and receive, in full plenty therefore,
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He always regardeth the crys of the Poor.
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Queen Mary, she then did immediatly call,
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Saying bring this Poor Woman and Children small,
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Now into my Pallace, where let them remain;
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The widow perceiving, twas Mary our Queen,
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She was so amazd, on the ground, as she lay,
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That not one poor word for her self she could say.
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Some Victuals were brought, and they heartily fed;
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Warm Cloaths were provided, as also a bed;
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The Children, were then put to Nurse with all speed,
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The Queen a good Alms-House to th widow decreed,
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And likewise a Pension, for her did ordain,
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And now the poor widow is happy again.
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