THE
SUFFOLK MIRACLE;
BEING
The Relation of a young Man, who after his Death
appeared to his Sweetheart, and carried her behind him Forty Miles
in two Hours Time, and was never seen after, but in the Grave.
Tune of, My Bleeding Heart etc.
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A Wonder strange as eer was known,
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Then what I now shall treat upon,
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In Suffolk there did lately dwell,
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A Farmer Rich, and known full well.
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He had a Daughter fair and bright,
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On whom he placd his chief Delight,
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Her Beauty was beyond compare,
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She was both virtuous and fair.
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A young Man there was living by,
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Who was so charmed with her Eye,
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That he could never be at Rest,
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He was with Love so much possest.
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He made Address to her, and she
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Did grant him Love immediately,
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Which when her Father came to hear,
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He parted her, and her poor Dear.
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Forty Miles distant was she sent,
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Unto her Uncles, with Intent,
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That she should there so long remain,
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Till she had changd her Mind again.
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Hereat this young Man sadly grievd,
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But knew not how to be relievd;
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He sighd and sobbd continually,
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That his true Love he could not see.
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She by no Means could to him send,
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Who was her Hearts espoused Friend;
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He sighd, she grievd, but all in Vain,
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For she confind must still remain.
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He mournd so much that Doctors Art
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Could give no Ease unto his Heart,
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Who was so strangely terrifyd,
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That in short time for Love he dyd.
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She that from him was sent away,
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Knew nothing of his dying Day,
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But constant still she did remain,
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To Love the Dead was then in vain.
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After he had in Grave been laid,
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A Month or more, unto this Maid,
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He came about Middle of the Night,
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Who joyd to see her Hearts Delight.
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Her Fathers Horse which well she knew,
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Her Mothers Hood and Safeguard too,
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He brought with him to testify,
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Her Parents Order he came by.
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Which when her Uncle understood,
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He hopd it might be for her Good,
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And gave Consent to her straight way,
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That with him she should come away.
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When she was got her Love behind,
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They passd as swift as any Wind,
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That in two Hours, or little more,
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He brought her to her Fathers Door.
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But as they did this great Haste make,
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He did complain his Head did ake;
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Her Handkerchief she then took out,
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And tyd the same his Head about.
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And unto him she thus did say,
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Thou art as cold as any Clay,
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When we come home a Fire well have,
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But little dreamt he went to Grave.
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Soon were they at her Fathers Door,
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And after she neer see him more;
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Ill set the Horse up then, he said,
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And there he left this harmless Maid.
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She knockd, and straight amain, he cryd,
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Whos there? tis I, she then replyd:
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Who wonderd much her Voice to hear,
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And was possest with Dread and Fear.
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Her Father she did tell, and then,
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He stard like an affrighted Man.
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Down Stairs he ran, and when he see her,
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Cryd out, My Child, how camst thou here?
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Pray Sir, did you not send for me,
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By such a Messenger, said she,
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Which made his Hair stand on his Head,
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As knowing well that he was dead.
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Where is he then, to her he said,
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Hes in the Stable, quoth the Maid,
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Go in said he, and go to Bed,
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Ill see the Horse well littered.
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He stard about, and there could he
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No Shape of any Mankind see,
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But found his Horse all in a Sweat,
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Which put him in a deadly fright.
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His Daughter he said nothing to,
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Nor no one else, though well they knew,
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That he was dead a Month before,
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For fear of grieving her full sore.
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Her Father to his Father went,
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(Who was decayd) with this Intent,
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To tell him what his Daughter said,
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So both came back unto this Maid.
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They asked her, and she still did say,
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Twas him that then brought her away;
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Which when they heard they were amazd,
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And on each other strangely gazd.
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A Handkerchief, she said, she tyd
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About his Head, and that they tryd;
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The Saxton they did speak unto,
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That he the Grave would then undo.
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Affrighted then they did behold
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His Body turning into Mould;
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And tho he had a Month been dead,
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This Handkerchief was about his Head.
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This thing unto her then they told,
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And the whole Truth they did unfold,
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She was thereat so terrified
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And grievd, she quickly after died.
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Part not true Love, you rich Men then,
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But if they be right honest Men,
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Your Daughters Love give them their way,
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For Force oft breeds their Lifes decay.
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