her God then anye deare the fountaine of water O most sacred Virgin who can possibly tel with what inflamed desires with what pitiful teares with what continual sighes thou crauedst desiredst to see an end of thy pilgrimage and to be deliuered from thy bodily prison How oft didst thou haply with weeping eyes say to the Angels that came to comfort and visite thee that which the Spouse saide in the Canticles I adiure you that if you meet my louer you tel him froÌ„ me that I languish in his loue Howe oft did this loue and languishing desire wholly rauish thee and transport thee out of thy selfe not being able to eate speake sleepe or attend to any other thing sith thy soule was rather there where it loued then where it liued This being so contemplate then the ineffable gladnes which our blessed Lady felt wheÌ„ by reuelation she knewe the daye to approche wherein she should haue that graunted her which she so gretlye desired If the holy Prophet Dauid reioyced so greatly when it was tolde him that he should go to our Lords house what was the ioy thinkest thou of this great Lady wheÌ„ she vnderstood how she was presently to goe to our Lordes house and that she should see our Lord and dwel perpetually with our Lorde and be more made of and fauoured of our Lorde then al other creatures what-soeuer O blessed day O happie tidinges so much more ioyful as more desired Wel might the most blessed mother say then with Simeon Nowe thou leauest thy seruant O Lorde contented and comforted with the assurance that mine eyes shal see thee who art my Sauiour IN THE second point thou mayest meditate how our Lady so much the neerer as she drewe to her happie departure so much more feruent were her desires so much more zealous her prayers and al her powers so much more quickned For like as her death proceeded not of anye natural infirmitie according as we beleeue by reason of the excellencie of her complexion like to that of her most sacred sonnes so could not the functions of her senses and powers be in any wise impeched Woting therfore that her deth drew nigh some doo contemplate how before her departure she desired to see the Apostles whom she so greatly loued and were dispersed abrode in diuers regions of the world that they might accompanye her in this her last houre geuing vs an exaÌ„ple hereby howe we ought to desire and procure to haue some deuout and spiritual persons to accompanye and comfort vs in this houre of so great peril Our Lord therfore moste bountiful condescending to her desire caused the Apostles miraculously to meete together such as yet were liuing in the world in the house where his most holye mother dwelt who were present at her departure as the great Denis Areopagita affirmeth Consider then howe great was the Apostles consolation finding theÌ„-selues thus asseÌ„bled together and seing their most holy mother and Lady whom they loued so dearly and desired once to see with what reuerence may we deeme did they salute her with what reuerence did they kisse her garments as most pretious reliques with what admiration did they consider her dignitie which they knewe farre better then any other with what coâ—â—tentation did they behold that reuerend visage supposing that in seing her they saw their most derely beloued Lorde and Master How sweet was the communication that was vsed there how feruent the diuine praises that were there celebrated how sweet the tears of tendernes and ioy that were shed there Thinke then with what confidence and contentment this blessed Lady assisted with so notable a company and assured of her conscience expected death which is to others so dreadful Thou must not thinke therefore that she was before her death in any agonie and paine as others are wont to be but howe in mild maner and with a cheerful couÌ„tenance that most holy soul departed out of her body more glittering and more faire then the clere moone O most pure Virgin how truely maye we say that in euery thing the best part hath bene geuen thee The best in thine immaculate conception and Natiuitie which was most pure and free from al sinne the best in thy life which was al holy and a Mirrour of al perfection the best in thy death which made thee no whitt afraide as it doth sinners yea was to thee a passage to true life The best part therfore hath bene geuen thee both in earth and in heauen whether thou wentest to reigne eternally IN THE third point thou mayest pause delighting thy selfe with the consideration howe that most sacred soule departed out of this life the most beautiful the most gratious the most holy of al pure and simple creatures how replenished with merits with giftes with vertues with excellencies and spiritual riches the greatest that may be possibly imagined proportionable to the incomparable dignitie which was bestowed vpon her Consider a while the maner how this most blessed soule accompanied with quires of Angels was conducted vp to the Celestial Court neither are we to doubt at al hereof for if we read of S. Martin and manye mo Saintes of both sex who leauing this life were accompanied with Angels and honored with their heauenly songes I see no reason why this fauor and honour should be denied the holy of holies and more holy and woorthy then al Yea we may not only affirme this to be most true but beleeue with godly deuotioÌ„ that not onely the Angels but that which is more the king of Angels in proper person vouchsafed to come and doo her this honour Herevpon is it that some doo contemplate how the most holy mother being vpoÌ„ the last hour of her blessed departure her most sweet sonne descended from heauen associated with the celestial powers and entred into that blessed house where she laye and beholding her with those his amiable eyes spoke that with a most sweet voice to her which the husband said to the spouse in the Canticles Thou art al faire my frende and there is no blemish at al in thee come from Liban my Spouse come from Liban and crowned shalt thou be That is to saye Come receue the recompence of thy desertes the treasure which thy most holy workes haue merited the crown that is due to thy so excellent vertues Get vp my Doue it is nowe high time to issue out of this exile no toiles no teares no sobbes or sorowes any more Come to enioye the pleasure of those woundes which when they were geuen did occasionate thy so great woes come nowe and rest thee for the paine which thou hast taken Come nowe be merye for that thou hast wailed and wept and for that thou humbledst thy selfe so lowlye come nowe to reigne perpetually These and suche like wordes maiest thou according to thy deuotion meditate to haue
ORIGO CASTI CORDIS Ego dormio et cor meum vigilat cant 5. Ego sto ad ostium et pulso si quis aperue rit ianuam intrabo ad illum Apoc. ◠Hieronymus Wier◠ferit et excud Cum Gratia et Priuil Piermans INSTRVCTIONS AND ADVERTISEMENTS HOW TO MEDITATE THE Misteries of the Rosarie of the most holy Virgin MARY Written in Italian by the Reuerend Father Gaspar Loarte D. of Diuinitie of the Societie of IESVS And newly translated into English IHS Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini tuo da gloriam THE AVTHOVR to the deuout Reader ALBEIT THE PROFITE and importance of holye prayer and meditation of heauenly thinges hath not bene so wel vnderstoode heretofore yet is it nowe through Gods good grace so much the better knowen as it is more vsed And amongst other thinges which they are wont and may meditate that geue them-selues to this holye exercise the deuotion of the holy Rosarie is one that is very commendable very easie and almost exercised of eche one wherein the most highe and diuine misteries are conteined especially being instituted by the glorious Patriarch S. Dominike who receaued it by reuelation of our Lady as his Religion doth witnes and obserue And hauing in like maner bene confirmed by many Popes and enriched with many graces prerogatiues and indulgences namely by Pius Quintus of holy memorie as appereth by the authentical priuiledges which the Fathers of the saide Religiō haue in Rome Bononia Naples and other places Howbeit because al knowe not how to meditate these Misteries as it bohoueth and by this lacke they loose a great part of the fruit which might wel be gathered thereby for their helpe this present Treatise hath bene composed wherin is shewed in what maner they ought to meditate with greatest profite and consolatiō of their soules And that thou welbeloued Reader maiest the better vnderstande howe fruitful this holy deuotion is to euery sort of people and howe it behoueth thee to exercise thy selfe therin thou maiest reade the Chapter folowing wherein this matter is so amply intreated of as I hope thou wilt not grudge to read the rest of the booke meaning to embrace this so holy an exercise which thou maiest assuredly beleeue shal-be more profitable and pleasaunt then painful and yrksome to thee Monstra te esse Matrem Monstra te esse Filium Conditor Omnipotens coeloque saloque soloque Sanctius hac nullū Virgine fecit opus THE AVTHOVRS Preface touching the great profite and vtilitie that may be gathered by meditating vpon the life of our Sauiour Iesus Christe and in what maner we ought to meditate the misteries of the Rosarie which are intreated of in this Treatise and conteine in them the principal part of this most holye life LIKE AS THE Sonn of God vouchsafed to come downe from heauen to earth and to make himselfe man for the wel-fare and life of man according to that the selfe same word incarnate saith I am come that men may haue life and that they may haue it plentilully euen so for the conseruation of this life of grace and spiritual consolation of man one of the thinges that maie moste chieflie helpe him herein is the often meditating of the life of the saide worde incarnate Iesus Christe our Sauiour and the imitation of his most meruailous examples sith the celestial Father hauing geuen him to the world for a light for a guide and for a Schoolemaster and teacher of men and the Sonne him-selfe assuring vs that al whatsoeuer he did was done to geue vs an example that we should do the same what should such doo as could not enioy his vifible presence here in earth how should they be illuminated guided and instructed of him if they had not this remedie of the meditation of his moste holye life by means wherof he euen at this day illuminateth guideth and teacheth vs as though he were present with that he earst did wandring corporally in this world speake worke endure and teache IT BEHOVETH therfore that this meditatiō serue vs as a mirror wherin by eftsons looking taking view we may with the eies of our soule see that which with the eyes of our bodie we neither could nor can see and according to it direct and frame our life sith al Iesus Christe his actions were done for our institution and instruction yea as S. Iohn the Apostle saith Who so saith that he dwelleth in Iesus Christe that is to say that he is a member and seruant of Iesus Christ ought to walke as he hath walked As if he had saide Who-soeuer saith that he is a member of Iesus Christ must be lowlye and meeke as Iesus Christ was must contemne al delightes honours and woorshipp of this worlde as he did seeking in al things the only glorie of God not regarding in any thing his owne peculier estimation he must loue frendes and foes doo iniurie to none and if any be done to him bear it patiently desire rather to serue others thē to be serued him self To be short he must so loue his neighbour as if need require at any time he be ready to lose his life for his welfare and saluation Howe is it then possible for a true Christian to doo these and so manie mo things as be necessarie to be done to imitate Iesus Christ a-right but if he knowe that Iesus Christ him-selfe did first practise and doo them moste exactly and howe shal he wot them but by eftsons meditating his life the liuely perfect examples which of such like workes he left vs and howe may a man learne the lessons of charitie patience pouertie obedience and of al other vertues but if he knowe the life of the Lorde of al vertues and therfore as saith glorious S. Bernard In vaine trauaileth he to attain vertues that hopeth by anie other meanes then by the Lord of al vertues to attain them whose doctrine is a nurcerie of prudence his mercie a worke of Iustice his life a mirrour of temperance his death a liuely paterne of prowes Thou seest Reader by this holye Doctour his wordes confirmed by the testimonie of so manie other famous men howe necessary the continual meditation of Christes most holie life is to the obteining of such vertues as be needful for al those that couet to participate of the true and euerlasting life Moreouer besides this so great a profite which proceedeth necessarily out of this moste laudable exercise weigh wel good Christian Reader what other fruites graces and store of spiritual treasure doo associate this holy meditation Tel me I pray thee what thing more sweeter and of greter consolation may any man desire that hath not wholly lost his taste then to meditate discourse and think vpon the wordes workes examples and life of our Sauiour Iesus Christe Of whom we finde written That his conuersation was without al sournes and
his companie had no encombrance but ioy and consolation What time maye we deeme better spent then that which is emploied in such profitable meditation what exercise can there be more meritorious or acceptable to Christe then this wherin the soule is busied in performing Mary Magdalen that most woorthy penitent her function office who chused the best part in sitting her downe at our Lordes feete and listning to his wordes The like did our Souerain Lady the blessed virgin Mary marking wel and reuoluing the same wordes in her heart What thing may ther be more valable to gain mercy grace and the familiaritie of Iesus Christe what more soueraine remedie to come by litle and litle to the contemplation of his infinite maiestie then is attentiue and serious meditation Seing the same our Lorde assureth vs him-selfe therof saying If anye enter in by me he shal-be saued and shal finde most sweete feedings In fine what thing may ther be more easie or more pleasant for al sortes of people then is this holy meditation sith in meditating the life of Christe we must needes meditate withal the life of his blessed mother as also cal the Apostles and other holye Saintes to minde that liued and conuersed with him yea al the blessed Angels too who greatly delight in this kinde of exercise and therfore no doubt but fauour greatly al those that vse it In such wise as if thou wert not to receaue any other guerdon nor to reap any other commoditie by this so holy an exercise yet ought this onely thing to allure yea constraine thee to frequent and practise it to wit the pleasure and sweetnes which thy soule shal feele in contemplating so holy a life in remembring his so absolute and wonderful workes in beholding with the eyes of thy soule so beautful and amiable a Lord aboue al the sonnes of men What thing can be more sweete then to consider his most holy behauiours howe humble he was in his conuersation howe affable in his wordes howe milde in his answeres howe feruent in his preaching how seuere in reprehending vice howe zealous in procuring diuine honour howe patient in putting vp iniuries how diligent in seeking the sauegard of soules howe ful of compassion in bewailing others annoyes how curteous in receauing sinners how merciful in pardoning offenders how liberal in graunting that which was required him howe mightie in his miracles howe modest in his going howe temperate in his eating howe great a louer of pouertie how prone to paines how frequent in watching and praying how gratious and amiable towardes al men he despised none although a sinner he shunned none were he sick or a lepre he flattered not the riche ne draue the needie out of his companie he fledd al worldly honours and was not careful for temporal treasure he was common to al and to win al conuersed with al. Briefly he was so delectable so sweete and so amiable as it is not possible to finde wish ne yet imagine a more gratious exact and perfect life then his was What is he therfore that wil-be so senselesse and of so corrupt a taste as wil not be delighted therwith and feele a singuler sweetnes in meditating of this so holie a life Neuerthelesse thinke not that in saying that the meditation of Christ his life is of so great importance I meane to exclude his passion and death neither yet his Resnrrectiō and Ascension sith vnder this worde of life al these misteries are comprehended and out of thē al oughtest thou to gather as it were a pretie posie to beare alwaies about thee in thy bosome like to that of mirrhe which the Spouse said in the Cantikes she caried continually in hers Good S. Bernard saide howe he had gathered such a one out of al the distresses and annoyances our Lorde had in his infancie the paines he abidd in preaching the toiles he endured in his voiages the temptations he surmoūted in fasting the teares he shedd in praying and to say al at once out of al the iniuries outrages scornes spittinges blows nailes with al the other tormentes and amongst so manye branches of this most sweet-smelling mirrhe he saith how he left not that out of the soure drinke which was geuen him on the Roode nor yet that wherwith he was anointed in the sepulchre By which wordes this holy Saint declareth howe in meditating our Sauiours life al these thinges are to be considered Howbeit forasmuch as it is not long agone that being commaunded by my superiors I made a smal Treatise that was published abroade touching the matter of the Passiō wherin were certaine instructions and aduertisementes geuen both of the principal pointes therof and in what maner they were to be meditated mine intent was in this Treatise being in like maner commaunded me to haue principally intreated of such other misteries of this most holy life as had not beene spoken of in the other Treatise Notwithstanding whē I afterwardes had perceaued how to write al that might be gathered out of the holy Gospels touching the life preaching and miracles of our Lord would be a veri long thing and require a iust volume I determined with my selfe to write onely vpō the misteries of the Rosarie of the moste blessed virgin Mary sithens besides is so godly renowned and approued a deuotiō as is abouesaid in the Prologue therein in my fancie are the chief points of the life of Christ cōteined frō the time of his incarnatiō vntil the sending downe of the holy Ghost in-somuch as who-soeuer he be that shal meditate these wel may assure him-selfe to haue meditated the greater and more principal part of his most sacred life This is the thing therfore my derelye beloued brother which I here present vnto thee to wit the meditations of the misteries of the aforesaide Rosarie whereof eche one as was done in the other meditations of the Passion is distinguished into three pointes as-wel for the perfectiō and deuotion of this number as also that eche one may meditate them more amply and with lesse confusiō But because the pointes which I noted in the other meditations of the sacred Passion were no whitt amplified and dilated but onely a bare text set downe of the matters that were to be meditated vpon the which was done supposing that eche one would them-selues according to their deuotion haue dilated and amplified the same vnderstanding since that if some doo make this discourse and dilatatiō yet al for lack of capacitie doo it not for this cause haue I done mine indeuour in this booke to content both th'one and th'other acknowledging my selfe as S. Paule saith to be indebted both to the learned and the ignorāt For the lerned therfore I haue thought good after a text wise first to set downe that which they maye meditate vpon in euerye misterie leauing eche one to pause therein and to dilate the same according to their capacitie
of him for that he had so manye daies depriued her of his desired presence Be mery therfore O Queene of heuen and forget thy former sorowes sith nowe thou hast found and possessest him whom thy soule desired and according to the greatnes of dolours past art now surceased with present consolation A PRAYER VVHAT pleasure and contentment did thy soul feele O most sacred Queene of heauen when hauing lost thy deerly beloued sonne thou foundest him againe in the Temple amongst the Doctors None can possibly conceue it but he that wel weieth with howe great grief desire and diligence thou wentest those three days seeking him amongst his frends kinsfolks I beseech thee therfore O mother of mercy aswel by the extreme annoy wherwith thou soughtest him as by the inexplicable ioy wherwith thou receuedst him hauing founde him that thou wilt vouchsafe to helpe me that I deserue not through my sinnes and offences to lose the same Lorde and if at some time he should absent him selfe from me I may knowe howe to seeke him and howe againe to finde him Amen ¶ THE SECOND MISTERIES ARE CALLED DOLOROVS THROVGH THE GRET dolours which the moste sacred virGIN-MOTHER FELT WHEN such thinges happed as thou shalt MEDITATE THEREIN whereof some she sawe with her CORPORALEYES and some with her spiritual OF THE PRAYER Expauet ingeminatque preces sanguine mâ—nat Dum socij fugiunt impia vincla subit ¶ THE FIRST DOLOROVS MISTERIE is of the praier which our Lorde made in the garden of Geth-semani wher vpon thou shalt meditate these pointes in maner folowing FIRST how our Redeemer comforting his Disciples and exhorting them to pray and watche with him pronounced this most doulful speeche My soule is heauy euen til death SECONDLY howe withdrawing him self from his Disciples about a stones cast he praied with most profound humilitie and reuerence to his Father saying My Father if it be possible passe ouer this cupp from me howbeit not my wil be done but thine THIRDLY howe he came to visite his Disciples and finding them asleepe awaked and commaunded them to praye as he did twise more him-selfe with the same wordes and swett droppes of bloud which trickled downe to the grounde and then did an Angel discend from heauen to comfort him AS TOVCHING the firste point thou maiest pause therein meditating how our Redeemer fore-knowing the hour of his most holy Passion to draw nigh wherto he through his most feruent charitie freely offred vp him-selfe got him to the garden of Geth-semani where he was eftsons wont to pray that Iudas the Traitour and the other which he brought with him might knowe where to finde and to apprehend him Howbeit before thei came our Lorde had praied a longe time and commaunded that his Disciples shoulde doo in like maner wherein he ment to geue both to theÌ„ and vs an example that against al the perils temptations and tribulations that may befal vs in this life and that in any matter of importance whatsoeuer it be that we haue to doo that we first arme and fortifie our selues with the armour of holy prayer by meanes wherof we shal-be illuminated to knowe what we ought to doo and comforted to endure patientlye the afflictions which we are to suffer Meditate also how our Sauiour finding him-self sore afflicted inwardly through the consideratioÌ„ of so many sorts of griefes and torments as were prepared for him he shewed the most vehement affliction and heauines which he felt by those woful wordes he vttered to his Disciples My soule is heauie euen til death The which ought to perce to the verye depth of our heartes seing we haue been the cause that he shoulde suffer such sorowe who is the ioy of Angels And howe can it be O Lorde but my heart be it neuer so harde shal-be heuie and melt againe contemplating thy heart so extremely anguished and distressed What solace can my soule receaue seing thee who art the Sonne that illuminatest and reioicest it thus oppressed with dole and sorowe If thou which art the ioye of Angelical quiers art thus grieuedâ— what thing can suffice to reioyce and comfort man but to think that thine infinite charitie which bringeth thee to thy death doth make thee heauy euen to death to th'ende that as thy death is cause of our life so in like maner thy heauines might be cause of our consolation and deliuer vs from that mortal heauines wherein we shoulde perpetually haue remained if thou haddest not vouchsafed to haue bene made sorowful and heauy for our sakes This thy heauines O King of glorie shal continue eueÌ„ til thy death for that euen to death shal thy trauaile endure wher-with like a moste louing mother thou deliuerest vs but when we shal by thy death be borne a-newe then shalt thou not thinke any more of heauines by reason of the ioy of our newe birth and this maye some-what mitigate his sorowe who contemplateth this sorowful passage AS FOR the seconde point thou maiest staye therein considering the circumstaunces that happed in this our Lordes praier and the wordes he vttered First the text saith howe he withdrewe him-self from his Disciples to pray and this withdrawing or separation doth S. Luke declare by this worde auulsus est which signifieth plainely with howe great difficultie he withdrewe him-selfe from them through the loue he bare them and that to pray which must be done in solitarines silence and attention and he withdrew him-selfe from theÌ„ but a stones cast so that he might easily see and heare them being called yea he came eftsons to visite theÌ„ to wake them and to warne them of that they had to doo instructing al Pastors and Curates how they ought to behaue them-selues towards their flockes by these his particularities Learne also of the profounde humilitie wher-with he threwe him-selfe on ground to pray what humilitie is necessary for thee when thou praiest sith thou presentest thy selfe before the face of the self-same infinite Maiestie before whom the Potentates of heauen doo tremble againe In like maner thou maiest out of the wordes which he vsed in his petition learne the forme which thou oughtest to obserue in thy prayers not crauing such temporal thinges as thou desirest absolutelye but remitting al things to his diuine wil wherto thou oughtest to conforme thy wil. Here maiest thou contemplate also howe with the silence and obscuritie of the night and with the words which our Lorde pronounced in his petition this inwarde heauines he felt in his heart increased and grewe greater finding nothing that might possibly afforde him comfort Ah! my moste sweete Sauiour the onely comfort of the comfortlesse and afflicted how is it that I see thee this night without any comfort or ease at al neither is there any of al thy deere frendes to comfort thee for whose sakes thou art fallen into such heuines and anxietie O that I had heard those pitiful
sighes and grones which eftsons issued out of thine annoyed heart to th'ende that nowe I am not able any wayes to comfort thee I might yet at least taste some part of thy heauines and afflictiō wherwith I might waile the occasion that I haue geuen thee to be heauie and that my tears might serue for breade to susteine me in this my miserable pilgrimage IN THE thirde point thou maiest consider many thinges firste by the diligence where-with our Lorde went from his praiers to visite his Disciples and returned from them backe again to his prayers thou maiest note the charitie and fatherlye care he had of them whom he visited thus oft Secondly consider the greeuous anguish and inwarde paine he suffered which permitted him not to rest in any place Thirdly weigh the perseuerance and often praier which he taught vs and is most necessarye so to be to be fruitful and effectual Fourthly consider the griefe it is like he felt fore-thinking the tormentes which he was to endure seing that by the imagination only thereof he swett in so straunge and miraculous a maner O my Lorde if the bare apprehension of thy future tormentes doo so sore afflict and make thee sweat so strangely what shal the impression of the self-same tormentes doo right euidently doth thy readye and willing heart shewe it self wherwith thou wilt redeeme vs with the inestimable price of thy pretious bloud sithens thou beginnest so plētifully to shedd it before those manifold wounds and strokes wherwith it shal hereafter be whollye drawen out of thy body O my soule learne to set by thy self and doo not sel thy selfe so vilely as for the filthy plesure of sinne seing here howe greatly thou art set by of thy Redemer who with so great a price hath bought thee and hath begonne to paye the same so long time before the daye Occupie thy self a while in contemplating the meruailous vision of this garden which is farre surpassing that that Moyses saw in the mountaine and shake off the shoes of thy carnal concupiscēces approching to behold this beautiful face al bathed in bluddie streames of sweat wherin al the Angels take singuler delite to looke Gather me those doleful drops that fal on ground by the vertue whereof thy paines shal-be asswaged and thy woundes recured sith the celestial Phisition hath thus vouchsafed to sweat them for thy wel-fare Lastly meditate how our Lord being in this pitiful extremitie an Angel came downe from heauen to cōfort him O Prince of Angels howe hast thou thus exceedingly abased thy selfe for vs that thou standest in neede to be comforted by one of thine owne seruauntes Al the Angelical quires yeelde adoration and thankes vnto thee who wot muche better then we doo howe greatly we are bounde to thee for hauing vouchsafed thus to humble and abase thy selfe for vs thy moste vile creatures O sacred virgin if thou haddest with thy corporal eyes viewed this ruful spectacle as it is likelye thou diddest see it with thy spiritual eyes wel haddest thou stoode neede of an-other Angel to haue come and comforted thee For wel may we deeme that thy woes should not haue wanted nor any anguishe and affliction to haue tormented thee And albeit thou diddest not then bedewe the grounde with thy blouddie sweat as did thy sweete sonne yet haply diddest thou bedewe it with teares trickling from thine eyes and filledst the ayre with lamentable sighes and heauen with feruent praiers Howbeit al this was litle in comparison of that which remayned behind both for thee to see and for him to suffer This vigilant Shepparde being nowe lastlye of al returned to his sleapie sheepe thou maiest meditate howe he remained with them expecting the furious arriual of those mad dogges that came to seek him by whom he was cruellye assailed bound and caried to the houses of Anna and Caiphas A PRAYER LIKE AS O most sacred virgin and mother thou wert partaker of the ioyes and cōsolations of thy most holy sonne euē so didst thou likewise participate of the pains and griefs of his most bitter passion sith that which he suffred in body did cruciate thy blessed soul and therfore at such time as he praied and sweat droppes of bloud thorough the great anguishe he felt in the garden of Geth-semani thē were thou by imagining the same whollye surseased with vehement sorowe I beseeche thee therefore by this thy dolour and his and thy heauines that it may please thee to make me partaker thereof that praying with bitter teares and wailing my former manifolde and grieuous trespasses I maye obteine a ful forgeuenes of the same Amen OF THE WHIPPING In virgas in flagra datur rigat atria sanguis Verbera deficiunt non patientis amor ¶ THE SECOND DOLOrous Misterie is of the whipping of our Lorde concerning the which thou shalt meditate these pointes folowing FIRST how Pilate ordeined that our Redeemer should be whipped supposing that by this chastisement he might some-what appease the fiendish fury of those cruel Iewes who with such obstinacie required him to condemne him to be crucified SECONDLY with what diligence and crueltie those barbarous executioners caried our Lorde into the Palace and stripping off his clothes bound him fast to a piller there to beate him THIRDLY thou maiest consider the extreme dolour which this most mild Lambe felte whiles they whipt him his most delicate flesh being with so many and so cruel scourges and strokes wholly torne and wounded VPON the firste point thou maiest amplifie by considering the shiftes that Pilate sought to excuse him-self from condemning him to death who is the authour of life for first he protested that he found no cause in him whye he ought to dye secondlye he sent him to Herode that he might pronounce iudgement of him thirdly he compared him with Barrabas the thiefe perswading him selfe that the Iewes hauing choise to saue one of their two liues would rather take innocent Iesus then the seditious thiefe and murtherer fourthly this being not sufficient he determined for a last remedie to make him be whipt weening that by this punishment he should mittigate their felonious madnes Where note that al these meanes wherby Pilate sought to deliuer him woting wel his innocencie were occasion that our Redeemer was more tormented and afflicted for by this meanes he added to the death of the Crosse which they required and was afterwardes graunted them the pain and shame he suffred going and cōming from Herode and being accompted worse then Barrabas and afterwardes most cruelly whipt and crowned with thornes in such wise as not onely they which are his open enemies cause him to suffer but he also who desired to deliuer him encreased his annoyes And thou moste louing Lorde lettest euery thing redounde to thy greater griefe to the ende that to those that loue thee euerye thing may redound to their greter benefite Blessed be thine infinite charitie for
the other tormentes which remained for him in body and for thee in soul to suffer O how much more willingly then Cyreneus did wouldest thou haue performed his office in carying of the Crosse sith the strength which thy teÌ„dernes and sorows denied thee loue did make supply of and the desire thou haddest to beare some part of the afflictions which without al pitie they gaue vnto the afflicted and grieued thee no lesse then they did him-selfe Lastlye consider the wordes which our Redeemer spake turning him to the wemeÌ„ that wept which ought to make thee careful and desirous to bring forth some good fruit sith otherwise if thou beest a drye tree and barreine thinke what punishment thou shalt deserue if he be thus tormented for thy sins which was a greene tree so pretious and so fruitful A PRAYER HOWE grieuous and paineful was that viage to thee O most sacred virgin wheÌ„ thou diddest accompanye thy deere sonne to the monnt Caluary carying the Crosse on his backe whereon he was condemned to suffer death wel did thy manifold sighes geue testimonie therof as also the pitiful sobbes and aboundance of teares which thou sheddest with the other wemen that wept with thee and accompanied him I beseech thee O most doleful mother by the dolour and affliction which thou feltest in that houre that by thine intercession I maye haue such grace graunted me as that I may alwaies faithfullye accompanie the same Lord in carying of my Crosse and that no worldly thing be it prosperous or contrary may euer seperate me from him Amen OF THE CRVCIFYING In Cruce dum pendet tenebris obnubit OlimpuÌ„ Expoliat tumulos iuga celsa quatit ¶ THE FIFT AND LAST dolorous Misterie is of the crucifying of Iesus Christ our Redeemer touching the which thou shalt meditate these pointes folowing FIRST howe being arriued to the mouÌ„t Caluary which was the place where they commonly did execute offenders those wicked tormentours stript our Lorde out of his clothes to naile him naked vpon the Roode SECONDLY consider the incomparable torment which the most milde â—ambe receaued when they racked him out vpon the Crosse and that his most holy handes and feete were perced through with great nailes as also the wonderful patience wher-with he endured euery thing THIRDLY thou shalt meditate the shame which increased his other annoyes when being thus naked and crucified he was lifted vp vpoÌ„ the Crosse and placed a betwixt two theeues and ponder here what his most heauy mother felt when she sawe him in this case and hearde the wordes which he spake being on the Roode IF THOV wilt dilate the meditation of the first point consider in what case our most louing Lorde was hauing finished this his last and most dolorous procession howe great the wearines was which he felt hauing made so long and laboursome a iourney on foote and lodened a great peece of the way with the heauie burdeÌ„ of the Crosse How gret his weaknes which made him almost to sowne hauing shed so great a quantitie of bloâ—dd out of the manifold woundes he had receaued Howe great the affliction was that oppressed his most sacred soule vnbethinking him of the extreme torments which he looked for besides those that he had alredye endured and for the mitigation of so many paines and griefes the bedd which they had prepared for him was that harde and narrowe Crosse wheron they minded to crucifie him and the drinke which they presented to coÌ„fort him withal was that wine mingled with gal to th'ende that no of his senses or members might goe scot-free without their peculier torment O sweet Iesus thou which art a most pleasaunt hony-combe descended from heauen to sweeten the sournes of men and to ease their annoyes and griefes findest no one amongst them that wil take compassioÌ„ of thee nor geue thee any momeÌ„t of rest yea coÌ„triue new means how to afflict thee and to heape sorow vpoÌ„ sorow O ingrateful world how yl a counterchange is this thou geuest to thy maker and benefactor which for hony affordest him gal and for solace sorowe and hatred for the loue wher-with he created thee and came to redeeme thee and this thine ingratitude and most blame-woorthye blindnes is cause of thy so barbarous crueltie as meaning to crucifie him thou wilt stripp him out of his clothes that he may go naked to suffer deth who came naked into the world to geue thee life Consider then with what inhumanitie those cruel hangmen plucke off his clothes and withal plucke off his tender skinne and part of the fleshe which did cleaue thereto Behold how the most beautiful of al men standeth naked and fraight ful of shame amongst so gret a multitude of people bleeding anewe al ouer through the rauing of his former woundes and ponder the intolerable griefe of his most heauie mother when she sawe him bereft of the robe which with her own handes she had woueÌ„ for him without part of the skinn and flesh which she had geueÌ„ him in her entrals and clothed only with dolours heauines and confusion with which kind of attire his soul was also couered Learne here to loue pouertie seing he loued it so greatly who was geueÌ„ to vs for a teacher was borne poore liued poore and poore and naked departed this ingrateful world IN THE meditation of the second point thou maiest pause in like maner considering howe aboue al the dolors and torments which the most innocent Lambe endured they passed which he felt when his most sacred handes and feet were with huge nailes fastned hard vnto the Crosse Consider the cruel blowes wherwith they nailed him and how the blowes missing many times through the fiendish fury where-with they were enraged as we may godlily meditate they fel many times vpon the palmes of his handes and vpon his fingers toes with such a force as those delicate partes were wholly crusshed in sunder and wounded with intolerable torment Behold like wise how to make his members stretche out to the holes which they had alredy bored in the Crosse they racke theÌ„ out so vehemently as they plucke the bones out of the ioyntes with incoÌ„parable griefe wherby was that fulfilled which Dauid had prophecied saying They haue bored through my handes and my feete and haue numbred al my bones Behold then how these sacred armes of our most louing Lorde are thus stretcht out vpoÌ„ the Crosse redy to embrace al those that wil draw nighe vnto him euen like to that his infinite charitie where-with he suffred for al. Beholde these most puissant handes that earst created heauen and earth and wherwith he had wrought so many miracles howe they are now nailed fast to the Roode and distil forth that pretious liquor of his most sacred bloud sufficieÌ„t to cure al their spiritual infirmities that wil gather therof sith this is the wholsome and most approued mirrhe which the
with those most sacred handes which she had so lately seene fastned to the Roode he with such pietie wiped off the trickling tears of her reuerend face then might she saye and that with great cause that sentence of the Prophet Dauid According to the multitude of griefes that my heart hath suffered thy consâ—lations haue reioyced my soule Consider then in the best wise thou canst the sweete communication that passed betwixt the blessed mother and the Sonne the the which wel maye we beleue did occasionate no lesse comfort to the mother then did his sight albeit she could vtter but fewe wordes by reason she was wholly rapt in beholding that glorious vision which she had before her eyes and in viewing euery particuler fealtie of that body and that amiable countenance whose brightnes and beautie did so greatlye delite her nowe as did the seing of it blacke and wounded heretofore torment her in the time of his painful passioÌ„ In like maner beholding those wounds which in his death had perced her virginal heart with sorowe nowe became so faire and so glittering she was therby replenished with so great a ioye as she remained like one astonished not being able to pronounce scarse any one word Reioyce therfore O Queene of heauen sith thou hast so great causes to reioyce thee Let thy spirite now be glad in God thy Sauiour who hath fully satisfied the loÌ„ging desires of thy soule Nowe thou seest him risen vp again whose death thou earst lamentedst Now is winter and the stormes of his persecutions ignominies and tormentes cleane passed ouer now liueth he and death shal haue no more any dominion ouer him Thou seest him nowe farre more exalted then he was before depressed now is he a conquerour of Death of Hel and of the Diuel nowe is neither he to suffer anye more nor thou to haue any further feare Reioyce therfore O Lady and let thy soule receaue solace through his triumph and Resurrection as it was before made sorowful eueÌ„ almost to death through his painful death and passion IN THE THIRDE point thou maiest in like maner enterteyne thy selfe being a matter of great consolation considering howe our Lorde looke what office he had performed to his most blessed mother and the same vouchsafed he to doo to his Disciples and other deuout seruants wher-with we may wel beleeue that the louing Ladye replenished with charitie was very wel contented yea desired him so to doo sithens like as when he was borne she laide him in a manger signifying thereby that albeit she alone did beare and bring him forth yet would she not haue him for her-selfe alone but for al eueÌ„ so would she not haue al the ioye of his glorious resurrection to her-selfe alone but would in any wise that others were made partakers thereof Meditate therfore how he first appered to good Mary Magdalen according to the testimonie of the holy Euangelists who went with the other deuout womeÌ„ to annoint him with pretious oyntments which they caried with theÌ„ in the sepulchre where not finding of him albeit her companions went away yet would not she depart sith loue held her fast linked to the place where she had earst left him whom she so dearly loued and remaining there weeping she with a desire she had to finde him dead merited to see him aliue and risen vp albeit in Gardners weede in such sort as she sawe him and knewe him not our Lord aunswering herein to the disposition of her soule for she loued and doubted as he for the same reason appered in pilgrims shew to those two disciples that went to Emaus where thou maiest note how this Lord knoweth at one time how both to comfort instruct and manifest the defects of his elect and how such are best fauoured of him as most feruently doo loue him like as we here see by good Mary MagdaleÌ„ to whoÌ„ for her feruent loue sake was this prerogatiue geuen that she might first see her deerlye beloued master and that she might be the messenger to announce the ioye of his Resurrection to those that litle thought therof by reason of the heauines they were in through the remembrance of his death and doleful passion Thinke nowe good Christian think attentiuely what ioy that most denout gentlewoman did feele wheÌ„ she both sawe and knew her so dearlye beloued master Ah Lorde howe that heart leaped againe for ioy wheÌ„ our Sauior called her Mary and she answered him forth-with with this louing word of master O what a sodaine chaunge is this how present an alteration What did thy hart feele O good Mary Magdalen being thus in a moment deliuered from thy surpassing sorows and surseased with such a wonderful consolation What a boiling heat of hart was that that made her so impotent ouer her selfe be about to embrace him like one dronke in loue wherby she quite forgot her-selfe of his most sacred Maiestie O most happy teares wherewith she bedewed the ground of that garden which made her so soone to reape so sweete a fruit happy the perseuerance which made her tarye stil in that place wherby she was so singulerly reioyced and comforted of our Sauiour O happy loue more strong theÌ„ death which made her to finde the authour of life reuiued and risen vp in the very place of death Contemplate afterwardes howe she hied her to tel these ioyful tidinges to the Apostles whom euery one of them this Sonne of righteousnes minded to white confect and illuminate for like as he was borne for al and died for al so did he rise vp again for al and vouchsafed to coÌ„municate the ioyes of his Resurrection to al forgetting neither Peter who denied him nor the other Apostles who were nowe for woe and distrust departed from Ierusalem neither Thomas who coÌ„tinued so long time in his obstinate incredulitie wherby is shewed vs howe much more this Lord is inclined and prone to comfort and to fauour then to afflict and punish seing how in counterchange of those fewe dayes wherin he permitted them through his death to be scandalized troubled and afflicted he did afterwardes comfort and reioyce them farre more with his desired presence appering many times to them during the fortie daies mening ther by to ascertaine theÌ„ the better of the veritie of his ResurrectioÌ„ where out thou maiest learne to put thy trust in this most faithful Lorde And albeit thou feele thy selfe other-whiles afflicted and greeuously tempted dispaire not yet for he wil haue care to comfort and visite thee in due time and wil deliuer thee out of al thy temptatioÌ„s and afflictions according as it is written After a storme he sendeth a calme and after sobbes and teares he geueth consolations A PRAYER AFTER a storm the aire grow eth commonly clear againe euen so is it happed to thee O most Souerain Queene of heauen for after the stormie and woful
comfortlesse with his departure neither thought he it meete that in one day they should be made Orphans being depriued of such a Father and a mother the which this Lady vnderstanding quieted her-selfe and like an humble and obedient hand-maid resigned her wil to his diuine wil saying haply the same wordes in the Ascension which she vttered in the incarnation to wit Beholde the hand maid of our Lord. Hauing then in this wise talked with euery one and taken his leaue of them al behold how by litle and litle he beginneth to eleuate him-self from earth and to mount vpwardes into the aire with his hands lifted vp on high wher-with he blessed thē and with his eyes fixed on them did amiably behold them Here maiest thou meditate what the most sacred virgin with al that holye assembly felt seing him mount vp thus triumphantly how their heartes did rent in twaine through loue and howe they melted againe with teares seing him goe further and further from them and how they withal were incomparably reioyced by beholding the triumphe and Maiestie where-with he ascended and hearing that heauenlye melodie which the Angels and blessed Saintes did make who al of them sounded forth most melodiously the praises of this triumphant Conquerour so that the hearing and seing of these thinges could not choose but make them for ioye and tendernes of heart poure forth plentiful streames of teares O glorious day O Soueraine-sweet solemnitie O most renowned triumphe thus is he honored whom the King of heauen wil honour thus is he exalted who humbled him-selfe so profoundly thus meriteth he to triumph who hath obteined so glorious a victorie Behold O King of heauen thy exaltation and the name aboue al names that was geuen thee for being thus humbled and made obedient to the death of the Crosse Beholde howe thou beginnest nowe to reape the aboundant fruit that was promised thee for hauing lost thy life for our sinnes Beholde the noble triumphe thou hast attained for hauing with such prowes ouercome so daungerous and difficult a daye Gett thee therfore O Lord get thee now to thy rest seing thou hast taken so great paines and carye with thee the arke of thy sanctification that is to saye thy most sacred humanitie which is the most rich arke whereout was taken that pretious treasure of our redemption Be thou exalted aboue al the heauens O my God and thy glorie be ouer al the world Al Angels and al men yeeld thee due adoration and reuerence seing thou hast enriched and reioyced them al with this thy glorious and most miraculous Ascension IN THE THIRDE point thou maiest in like maner enterteyne thee meditating howe the most blessed Mother remained with that holye flocke in the mountaine where she sawe her most glorious Sonne ascende vp to heauen who al of them accompanied him with their corporal eyes whiles they might possiblye discerne him and did after he was once out of sight being receued into a white cloude associate him with their soules Contemplate a while here how she with the other lookers on being al of them deuoutly on their knees fixed their eyes on heauen without anye looking a-side or shifting of places being bereft as it were of al their senses and wholly rauished with this most glorious vision Meditate besides the solemn pompe and reioysing where-with this glorious triumpher king of heauen and of earth was receaued into heuen think as-wel as thou canst with what musike with what songes with what praises and with what reuerence euerie celestial order did receaue and adore him howe the Angels reioyced how the Archangels wondred how the Scraphins burned in loue howe the inferior orders enquired of the superiour that which the Prophet Esaias had so long time before foretolde Who is this that commeth from Edom to witt the world Who is this so beautiful and so attired in new garmentes that ascendeth with so great puissance and triumph with other like words and questions wherof thou maiest meditate according to thy deuotion Contemplate lastly how this most humble Lorde being arriued to the Emperial heauen who as touching his humanitie was lesse then this Father bowed him-selfe downe repeting it may be the same wordes which in his prayer of the last supper he had vsed in the world that is to say My Father I haue preached and announced thy name vpon earth and haue perfected the worke which thou commaundedst me that I should doo now therfore doo thou clarifie me O Father with the clearnes of the glorie which I had with thee before the world was made And then maiest thou meditate how his heauenly Father made him sitt in that high throne on his right hand where he nowe sitteth that is to say that he exalted him made him partaker of the greatest goodes and excellencies that either haue been or euer shal-be graunted to any other yea that no creature can possiblye comprehend which is to be vnderstood in as much as he was man for as he is God he is equal with his Father and hath the same glorye and Maiestie that his Father hath The Prince of glorie being then receaued in this maner who neuer forgetteth them that loue and put their trust in him sent two Angels down to earth to visite his most dear mother with al the other companie as also to informe them of his arriual into heauen and to deliuer such other speeches as he spoke to them by whose comming thou maiest wel weene how great consolation they al receaued what praises and what blessinges they yeelded vnto their Lord whom after they had with most profound humilitie adored they returned with great ioye to Ierusalem Sithens albeit they were sorowful and heauie as being left Orphanes in great solitarines through the absence of such a master and a Shepparde yet for because they loued him better thē them-selues Charitie which seeketh not her owne thinges made them to reioyce more at the prosperitie and glorye of their most louing Lorde then to sorowe the want of their owne consolations This is that which thou mayest meditate touching the historie of this most glorious Ascension and learne withal to desire seeke and sigh for celestial thinges and to lothe al transitorye trashe endeuouring that thy conuersation be in heauen where Christe remaineth sitting on the right hand of his eternal Father A PRAYER LIKE AS O most sacred mother thou louedst Iesus thy most sweet sonne better thē thy selfe euen so didst thou make more accompt of his ioyes and happines thē thou diddest of thine own And therfore albeit thou remainedst behind him here in earth yet diddest thou reioyce greatly when thou sawest him ascend vp to heauen accompanied with the Angels and Saintes he caried with him with such iubilation power and Maiestie as was conuenient for so glorious a triumpher I beseech thee O most holy Lady by this thy ioye that seing thou then remainedst