The Suffolk MiracleThe Suffolk Miracle is Child ballad 272 and is listed as #246 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Versions of the ballad have been collected from traditional singers in England, Ireland and North America. The song is also known as "The Holland Handkerchief" and sometimes as "The Lover's Ghost".[1][2] SynopsisA young woman from a wealthy or land-owning family comes to love a young commoner, so her father sends her away. Whilst in exile, the maid wakes one night to find her lover at her window mounted upon a fine horse. They go out riding together until the man complains he has a headache; the maid tends to him and ties her handkerchief around his head. She returns to her father, who gives her the news that her young lover has in fact died of grief, whereupon she goes to his grave and digs up the bones, finding that her handkerchief is tied round the skull. In broadside versions she dies of grief shortly afterwards.[2][3] Words
HistoryEarly printed examplesThe Suffolk Miracle was first published by broadside printers between 1678 and 1680, and the latest known broadside was published between 1711 and 1769.[5][6] It was included in the first volume of A Collection of Old Ballads, compiled by Ambrose Philips and published in London in 1723.[1] Collection historyThe Roud Folk Song Index lists about 39 instances collected from traditional singers – 23 from the United States, 9 from Ireland, 4 from Canada and 3 from England. The earliest dated English version was collected in 1907, and several American versions were collected by Cecil Sharp in 1916.[1] Field recordingsSome field recordings are available to listen online.
VersionsJim Moray recorded a version of this song on his album Sweet England. Other versions have been recorded by John Goodluck, Ken Hall and Peta Webb, Norma Waterson, Kerfuffle, Benji Kirkpatrick, and Rosie Hood.[11] DiscussionChild included this ballad in "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads" because he thought it was derived from a traditional story from Europe:
See alsoExternal linksReferences
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