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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08610	The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.; Monument of matrones. Part 1-4.	Bentley, Thomas, student of Gray's Inn.; Abergavenny, Frances Nevill, Lady, d. 1576.; Marguerite, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of Navarre, 1492-1549. Miroir de l'âme pécheresse. English & French.; Catharine Parr, Queen, consort of Henry VIII, King of England, 1512-1548. Lamentacion of a sinner.; Tyrwhit, Elizabeth, Morning and evening prayers.; Catharine Parr, Queen, consort of Henry VIII, King of England, 1512-1548. Prayers or meditacions.	1582 (1582)	STC 1892; ESTC S101562	669,543	1,114

Lawe and sincere Religion which I professe Let backbiters together with such as are proud and those that dare shameleslie presume anie thing be vtterlie rooted out but contrariwise let there be space in especiallie for such as be verie zealous of the truth that they onlie may be conuersant with me before thee and cause me to feede them with a singular faith and innocencie and minister all things diligentlie vnto them Finallie let not the enimies of thy Gospell I beseech thee O gratious and mightie God thus despise thy grace offered them vnto repentance but those that are to be conuerted conuert and turne them O God speedilie if it be thy will Make thou Saule at the length to become a Paule and let not the persecutor persist in his errours but let them rather accompt thy long suffering and my peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and of vnfeigned loue to thy Church Otherwise if they will needes remaine still disobedient to thy truth disloiall vnto me dangerous to the state and enimies to their Countrie and Common-wealth then O God of my saluation arise and helpe to wound the head of thine enimies and the hearie scalpe of such as go on still in their wickednesse Let thy right hand find out them that euerie daie prouoke thee and reuenge thy selfe on those blasphemous hypocrites that thus proudlie contemne thee to thy face And as thou hast discouered them and their peeuish practises against thee and thine annointed so discouer them still As thou hast preuented their diuelish purposes and execrable intents so preuent them still Yea let their firie eies waxe wearie with looking their bloudie harts and hands faint with waiting for their golden daie and that which commeth not yet neither let come O Lord I beseech thee but in thy good time and according to thy will a blessed and healthfull reigne vnto my selfe much ioie and comfort to my subiects and long peace to Zion for euermore Lastlie O most mightie God looke what remaineth yet of the happie building enlarging and finishing of thy Church and to the establishing and planting of thy Religion perfectlie therein according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word and full discharge of my dutie when I shall be called to render an accompt before the iudgement seate of Christ because that without thee I can do nothing neither is it possible to please thee do thou O father of light from whome all good gifts doo come and proceede vouchsafe to powre downe plentifullie of thy principall spirit vpon me and so rauish my hart with the flame of the loue of thee and thy people with an earnest zeale of thy house that with Ioseph I may carefullie and faithfullie prouide for thy people with Moses painefullie leade them out of the deserts of errour and oppression and with Ioshua bring thy people into the land of promise with Debora fight thy battels with Iahel knocke Sisera of Roome in the temples of his vsurped headship with Iudith cut off the head of proud Holophernes with Hezekias and Iosias roote out and destroie all superstition and relikes of idolatrie with Dauid and Salomon finish and consecrate to eternitie thy glorious Temple among thy people and with them all most earnestlie and continuallie to praie vnto thee for their saluation That heere on earth for the time after their vertuous example dooing that which is good in thy sight reigning blessedlie ruling prudentlie and like a louing mother and tender nursse giuing my fostermilke the foode of thy word and Gospell aboundantlie to all in all places of my dominion and endeuouring my selfe faithfullie to discharge the great trust committed vnto me when thy sonne to whome not onlie the sea and windes but all creatures are subiect shall come as King of kings to require an accompt of the charge committed vnto me I may be found faithfull and not faile finallie in heauen but in the purenesse of my virginitie and holinesse of mine innocencie be presented to the Lambe my souereigne Lord and onlie God my heauenlie Bridegroome and spirituall spouse my euerlasting King deere Christ and onlie sweet Sauiour Iesus there to see the Saincts and to be a Sainct and with all the holie Patriarches Iudges Kings and Queenes yea with all the Archangels Angels Saints Martyrs Confessors Uirgins and the whole companie of thy celestiall and blessed spirits to reigne with him ouer spirituall powers and principalities for euer and sing the sugred songs of my wedding-daie to my perpetuall ioie and thine eternall praise O most glorious Trinitie the Father the Son and the holie Ghost one inuisible God almightie blessed for euer and euer Amen Amen Another praier to be said of the Queenes Maiestie BLessed art thou Lord God of Sabbaoth for vnto thee apperteineth all magnificence and power and glorie to thee belongeth all honour and authoritie For whatsoeuer is either in the heauens aboue or in the earth beneath it is thine Thine O Lord is the kingdome thou art aboue all Princes Kings Riches are thine glorie is thine and thou art Lord ouer all In thee remaineth vertue and power greatnesse and gouernement O God of my fathers and Lord of mercie which hast made all things by thy word and by thy wisdome appointed man to rule the creatures which thou hast made and to gouerne the world with equitie and iustice I praise thee and extoll thy glorious name for appointing me thy seruant to rule and gouerne this thy people committed vnto my charge Now therefore gratious Lord fauourablie behold me that I may treade the path of truth righteousnesse and sinceritie of hart in thy sight Let me not abuse mine authoritie but gouerne with lenitie and gentlenesse the people vnder me that liuing a godlie and honest life mankind may enioie their desired peace Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an hart desirous of instructions that I may iudge the people and discerne betweene good and euill and neither declining to the right hand or to the left stoutelie and valiantlie mainteine the cause of the righteous Grant me counsell and assistance to doo such things as are gratefull vnto thee good for thy Church and profitable for my people and Common-weale Giue me thy wisdome and reiect me not from thy children for I thy seruant and handmaiden am a fraile woman of a short time and full weake in the vnderstanding of iudgements and the lawes Thou hast chosen me a Gouernour of thy people and a Iudge of thy sonnes and daughters send mee therefore wisdome from thy sacred heauens and from the seate of thy magnificence that it may be with me and labour with me whereby I may perceiue what is acceptable in thine eies and learne that I haue no power of my selfe but from thee which art Almightie and reignest ouer the kingdomes of men giuing them at thy pleasure Graunt that I neuer conceiue proudlie of my selfe but may receiue in patience the discipline of thy Lawe Make me wise and

and to doo awaie mine offences For I knowe O Lord that all grace and goodnesse commeth of thee and therefore art thou praised loued and feared in the congregation among the Saincts For thou art onlie he that giuest victorie O Lord of hosts and that as thou saiest by thy Prophet neither through an host of men nor through strength but through thy spirit Therefore I beseech thee giue me not onlie strength and knowledge of thee but also a readie earnest purpose and will to subdue mine imperfections and grace at all times to liue as thou in thy holie word hast prescribed vnto me Moreouer I beseech thee make me perfect in thy sight that I may render continuall thanks by Iesus Christ to thee And where I haue not hitherto indeuored my selfe according to that power which thou hast giuen me to liue after thy will I praie thee forgiue me for Iesus sake And now I protest before thee through the helpe of the spirit to order my life from hence foorth according to thy word and to walke perfectlie before thee neuerthelesse I beseech thee for Christes sake at all times to beare the imperfections that shall or may at anie time be found in me and deliuer me by thy power and mercie Increase my faith O my sauiour increase my faith O my iustifier increase my faith O my redeemer increase faith hope and charitie and all other vertues in me consonant and agreeable to a godlie life For I come vnto thee the well and euerlasting fountaine of all health and saluation O my heauenlie Father let me and all other men and women liue in thy sight which seeke thy word to the intent to forsake sinne and all vngodlie liuing and to walke in a godlie conuersation innocentlie before thee And I thanke thee O Lord with all my hart and mind that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercie and goodnesse to create and forme me of the mould of the earth and giuen me all my members requisite and needfull to the bodie and that it hath pleased thee to preserue all that which thou hast created in me sith the time of the creation vntill now and that it hath pleased thee to defend me this daie or night and all the daies and time of my life hitherto from all hurt and perils and deliuered me from the hour of temptation and tribulation as well when I was asleepe and forgetfull as when I remembred and called vpon thee And that it hath pleased thee to minister to my necessitie meate drinke and cloathing inward reioicing quietnesse of mind health of bodie and such like and that it hath pleased thee to giue me this man and my brother in profession T. B. to be my husband vaile remedie consolation and comfort in my necessities Grant me grace in him O Lord trulie to honor loue serue and obeie thee for I knowe whatsoeuer I doo to him be it good or euill it shall be rewarded of thee Lighten vs dailie with thy grace that we may gouerne our selues the houshold and children which thou hast giuen vs in the true faith feare and knowledge of thee so that it may be an acceptable sacrifice vnto thee by Iesus Christ our Lord. And seeing it hath pleased thee O Father to lighten the inward eies of my mind with thy grace and to call me from the great blindnesse of ignorance and sinne wherein all men are borne to the knowledge of thee let it now more as S. Paule saith please thee to preserue me and all other whome thou hast called which are dailie oppressed by sinne which desire to turne and to come vnto thee of what tongue or nation soeuer they be through the whole world And seeing it hath pleased thee to call me by grace to the knowledge of thy word giuen me a will to seeke it to loue and beleeue it let it be thy will to direct my waies that I erre not Oh staie my feet with thy holie hand and preserue me with thine arme for I am else farre too weake without thee I can doo nothing Oh let me liue in thy sight O Lord and put me not from thee but giue me a new hart and a new spirit yea a pure mind and a cleane conscience make thou in me then shall I be perfect before thee Then shall I call vpon thee in time of my trouble and offer acceptable sacrifice vnto thee by Iesus Christ euen the fruit of these lips which confesse thy name and patientlie receiue the cup of health at thy hand and call vpon thy name in time of aduersitie Oh heare my praier I beseech thee let my power and pleasure alwaie be in the tree of life and in the fruit thereof which standeth in the midst of the Paradise of God O accept this voluntarie sacrifice at my hand as the sweet smell of incense and let the lifting vp of my hart with my hands be an euening sacrifice pleasant and acceptable vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord to whome be euerlasting praise honor and glorie now and euer Amen Another Christian praier for grace and remission to be dailie vsed O Most mightie God mercifull and louing Father I wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy deerelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ my onlie sauiour and redeemer and most humblie beseech thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight and remembrance through the merits of his bloudie death and passion Powre vpon me O Lord thy holie spirit of wisedome and grace Gouerne and leade me by thy holie word that it may be a lampe vnto my feet a light vnto my steps Shew thy mercie vpon me so lighten the naturall blindnesse and darknesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dailie be renewed by the same spirit grace by the which O Lord purge the grosenesse of my hearing vnderstanding that I may profitablie reade heare vnderstand thy word heauenlie will beleeue and practise the same in my life conuersation euermore hold fast y t blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifullie heare the humble suite of thy seruant and grant me thy peace all my daies Gratiouslie pardon mine infirmities and defend me in all dangers of bodie goods and name but most chieflie my soule against all assaults temptations accusations subtill baites and sleights of that old enimie of mankind Sathan that roring Lion euer seeking whome he may deuoure And heere O Lord I prostrate with most humble mind craue of thy diuine Maiestie to be mercifull vnto the vniuersall Church of thy Sonne Christ And especiallie according to my bounden dutie I beseech thee for his sake to blesse saue defend the principall member thereof thy seruant our most deere and souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth increase in hir roiall heart true faith godlie zeale and loue of the same and grant her

you their faire fruits What charitie what discretion what godlinesse holinesse or puritie of life is among them Be not they great auengers foule gluttons slanderers back biters adulterers fornicators swearers and blasphemers yea and wallowe tumble in all sinnes These be the fruits of their doctrine And thus it may be seene how the word of God is euill spoken of through licentious and euill liuing and yet the word of God is all holie pure sincere and godlie being the doctrine occasion of all holie and pure liuing It is the wicked that peruert all good things into euill For an euill tree can not bring foorth good fruit And when good seede is sowne in a barren and euill ground it yeeldeth no good corne and so it fareth by the word of God For when it is heard and knowne of wicked men it bringeth no good fruit but when it is sowne in good ground I meane the harts of good people it bringeth foorth good fruit abundantlie so that the want fault is in men and not in the word of God I praie God all men and women may haue grace to become meete tillage for the fruits of the Gospell and to leaue onlie the iangling of it For onlie speaking of the Gospell maketh not men good Christians but good talkers except their facts and works agree with the same so then their speech is good bicause their harts be good And euen as much talke of the word of God without practising the same in our liuing is euill detestable in the sight of God so it is a lamentable thing to heare how there bee manie in the world that do not well digest the reading of scripture and do commend and praise ignorance and saie that much knowledge of Gods word is the originall of all dissention scismes and contention and maketh men hautie proud and presumptuous by reading of the same This maner of saieng is no lesse than a plaine blasphemie against the holie Ghost For the spirit of God is the author of his word and so the holie Ghost is made the author of euill which is a most great blasphemie and as the scripture saith a sinne that shall not bee forgiuen in this world neither in the other to come It were all our parts and duties to procure and seeke all the waies and meanes possible to haue more knowledge of Gods word set foorth abroade in the world not allow ignorance and discommend knowledge of Gods word stopping the mouthes of the vnlearned with subtile and craftie persuasions of Philosophie and Sophistrie whereof commeth no fruite but a great perturbation of the mind to the simple ignorant not knowing which waie to turne them For how is it not extreame wickednesse to charge the holie sanctified word of God with the offences of man To alledge the scriptures to be perillous learning because certaine readers there of fall into heresies These men might be inforced by this kind of argument to forsake the vse of fire because fire burneth their neighbours house or to absteine from meate and drinke because they see manie surfet O blind hate They slander God for mans offence excuse the man whome they see offend and blame the scripture which they can not improue Yea I haue heard of some that haue verie well vnderstood the Latin tongue that when they haue heard learned men persuade to the credite and beleefe of certaine vnwritten verities as they call them which bee not in scripture expressed and yet taught as doctrine apostolike and necessarie to bee beleeued they haue beene of this opinion that the learned men haue mo Epistles written by the Apostles of Christ than wee haue abroad in the Canon of the old and new testament or knowne of anie but onlie to them of the Clergie Which beleefe I did not a little lament in my hart to heare that anie creature should haue such a blind ignorant opinion Some kind of simplicitie is to bee praised but this simplicitie without the veritie I can neither praise nor allow And thus it may bee seene how wee that bee vnlettered remaine confused without God of his grace lighten our harts and minds with a heauenlie light and knowledge of his will For wee bee giuen of our selues to beleeue men better than God I praie God send all learned men the spirit of God aboundantlie that their doctrine may bring forth the fruits therof I suppose there was neuer more neede of good doctrine to bee set foorth in the world than now in this age For the carnall children of Adam bee so wise in their generation that if it were possible they would deceiue the children of light The world loueth his owne and therefore their facts and doings be highlie esteemed of the world but the children of God are hated bicause they bee not of the world For their habitation is in heauen and they do despise the world as a most vile slaue The fleshlie children of Adam be so politike subtile craftie and wise in their kind that the elect should bee illuded if it were possible For they are cloathed with Christs garment in vtter appearance with a faire shewe of all godlines and holines in their words but they haue so shorne nopped and turned Christs garment and haue so disguised themselues that the children of light beholding them with a spirituall eie do accompt and take them for men which haue sold their maisters garment and haue stolne a peece of euerie mans garment Yet by their subtile art and craftie wits they haue so set those patches and peeces togither that they do make the blind world and carnall men to beleeue it is Christs verie mantell The eleuenth Chapter Of the vertuous properties of Gods children of whome euerie one attendeth his vocation BUT the children of light knowe the contrarie for they are led by the spirit of God to the knowledge of the truth and therefore they discerne and iudge all things right and knowe from whence they come euen from the bishop of Rome and his members the headspring of all pride vaine glorie ambition hypocrisie and feigned holines The children of God be not abashed although the world hate them they beleeue they are in the grace and fauour of God and that he as a best father doth gouerne them in all things putting awaie from them all vaine confidence and trust in their owne doings For they knowe they can doo nothing but sin of themselues They bee not so foolish and childish not to giue God thanks for their election which was before the beginning of the world For they beleeue most surelie they bee of the chosen For the holie Ghost doth witnes to their spirit that they bee the children of God and therefore they beleeue God better than man They saie with Saint Paule Who shall separate vs from the loue of God Shall tribulation anguish persecution hunger nakednesse perill or sword As it is written For thy sake are we killed all daie long and are

may with the enimies of mans felicitie be vanquished and subdued and I by him may liue in Iesus Christ E EXpell and roote out in and from my remembrance the detestable branches of wrath pride concupiscence vaine-glorie and all other horrible vices and noisome euils that heape vp thy greeuous displeasure against me Take from me all abuse let me neuer blaspheme thy blessed and glorious name let my tong be purged by thee from all corrupt and vncomelie talke let all my thoughts be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue Make me good Lord alwaies obedient to doo thy will and to walke in the waies of thy commandements and to delight in thy blessed testimonies And graunt me thy grace that by the hearing of thy Euangelicall and heauenlie doctrine my faith may be increased made strong and fruitfull to exercise the works of charitie and loue to all men and chieflie to those that constantlie fauour thy Gospell and continue faithfull in Christ Iesus Euermore I saie good Lord giue me thy blessings from aboue and let my hart my soule and tong be euer readie for thy gratious benefits receiued to publish and set foorth thy glorie and praise in weale and wo in pouertie and prosperitie in time of peace and in time of danger Stretch foorth thy hand to protect me and I by thee deliuered from all perils shall make my boast of thy mercies freelie showne vnto me without my deserts and with the felowship of thy Saints giue such honour praise and reuerence vnto thee as of right and bounden dutie I ought to doo And forasmuch as not euerie one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of God and Christ make me not then a professor of thy word with my lips but an earnest louer of the same a faithfull folower of thy commandements least at the comming of the great and rich Bridegroome Iesus Christ I be refused as were the fiue vndiscreet and foolish virgins that wanted oyle to garnish their Lamps For if thou O Lord passe by and finde me vnprouided the gates of thy grace being fast shut vp and locked close I shall then stand knocking and calling the Lord all in vaine For thou wilt giue answere thou knowest me not and being forsaken of thee I shall perish euerlastinglie Giue me grace therefore O good Lord to be readie prepared with my wedding garment and oyle in my Lampe that I may continuallie watch thy comming and so enter with thee as thy ghest to the rich banqueting house of euerlasting glorie Amen F From sinfulnesse preserue me Lord R Renew thy spirit in my hart A And let my tongue therewith accord V Vttering all goodnesse for his part N No thought let there arise in me C Contrarie to thy statutes ten E Euer let me most mindfull be S Still for to praise thy name Amen A As of my soule so of my bodie B Be thou my guider O my God V Vnto thee onlie I do crie R Remoue from me thy furious rod. G Graunt that my head may still deuise A All things that pleasing be to thee V Vnto mine eares and to mine eies E Euer let there a watch set bee N None ill that they may heare and see N No wicked deede let my hands do Y Yn thy good paths let my feete go Finis ¶ Certaine praiers made by godlie women Martyrs The praier of Agnes the Martyr at hir death O Eternall Gouernour vouchsafe to open the gates of heauen once shut vp against all the inhabitants of the earth and receiue my soule oh Christ that seeketh thee The song of Eulalia the Martyr at hir death BEhold O Lord I wil not forget thee What a pleasure is it for them O Christ that remember thy triumphant victories to attaine vnto those high dignities The praier of Anne Askue the Martyr before hir death O Lord I haue mo enimies now than there be heares on my head yet Lord let them neuer ouercome me with vaine words but fight thou Lord on my side For on thee cast I my care With all the spite they can imagine they fall vpon me which am thy poore creature yet sweete Lord let me not set by them which are against me for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I hartilie desire of thee that thou wilt of thy most mercifull goodnesse forgiue them that violence which they doo and haue done vnto me Open also thou their blind harts that they may hereafter doo that thing in thy sight which is onlie acceptable before thee and to set foorth thy veritie aright without all vaine phantasies of sinfull man So be it O Lord So be it The praier that maister Bradfords morher said and offered vnto God in his behalfe a little before his martyrdome AH good Father which dooest vouchsafe that my sonne Iohn Bradford being a greeuous sinner in thy sight should find this fauour with thee to be one of thy sonne Christ his captaines and men of war to fight and suffer for his Gospels sake I thanke thee and praie thee in the same thy deere sonne Christs name that thou wouldest forgiue him his sinnes and vnthankfulnesse and make perfect in him that good which thou hast begun in him Yea Lord I praie thee make him worthie to suffer not only imprisonment but euen verie death for thy truth religion and Gospell sake As Hanna did applie dedicate and giue hir first child and sonne Samuel vnto thee euen so doo I deere Father beseeching thee for Christs sake to accept this my gift and giue my sonne Iohn Bradford grace alwaies trulie to serue thee and thy people as Samuel did Amen Amen Other godlie praiers taken out of the Psalmes written by a godlie harted Gentlewoman POnder my words O Lord consider my meditation O harken thou vnto the voice of my wofull mourning my King and my God for vnto thee will I make my praier Heare my voice O Lord betimes earlie in the morning will I direct my praier vnto thee for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall anie euill dwell with thee Thou hatest all them that worke vanitie leade me therefore in thy righteousnesse O Lord for I am weake and without thee I haue no strength at all therfore O Lord God rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure Haue mercie vpon me O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue me for thy mercie sake I am almost wearie of my groning Euerie night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares O Lord my God in thee haue I put my trust saue mee from all them that persecute me and deliuer me O Lord my God if I haue done anie such thing as is laid to my charge or if there be anie such wickednesse in me then let mine enimie persecute my soule and take me captiue Hast not thou O Lord my God defended me from such vngodlinesse Oh how long wilt thou hide thy selfe from me

earth of old to continue alwaie most stable firme and vnmoueable So that thou Lord onlie maist iustlie challenge vnto thy selfe the authoritie of the kingdome in deede ouer all nations vpon the earth who art that most gelous and dreadfull IEHOVA vnto whome all the Emperours Kings and Gouernours in the world shall bow submit themselues and doo their homage and diuine seruice with their scepters and crownes cast vnder thy feete and who dooest declare thy selfe verie terrible to all the potentates and powers of the world and cuttest off their courage strength and glorie throwing it in the dust euen as the Gardener doth twist and proine his Uine CAP. II. AND therefore most worthilie ascribing and resigning vp the honour and glorie of all empire kingdome rule power and dominion vnto the holie secret maruellous and renoumed name of thy most high and sacred Maiestie which art the father of lights ancient of daies the sauiour of all beleeuers and the onlie redeemer strength glorie and hope of Israel and of all the ends of the earth euen Alpha and Omega the first without beginning and the last without ending that shalt come to iudge both the quicke the dead God blessed for euer Amen I according as it is meete and my verie bounden dutie doo now meekelie confesse and protest to thy perpetuall praise that it is thou O most mercifull God and none other which in the beginning when I laie as a rude lumpe without shape being shut vp in the secret place of my mothers wombe didst forme fashion and nourish me and at the time appointed and set downe in thy booke didst drawe me foorth of the darke caue wherein I was fashioned and broughtst me foorth of the bowels of my mother as it were a midwife So that the verie bowels within me are thine owne by good right and authoritie because thou ioining all my sinewes and bones togither hast made me a mortall woman and couered me within my mothers wombe For there is no King or Queene that had anie other beginning of birth for all men haue one entrance into life and one going out in like manner Which worke of thine surelie when I behold in my selfe it is so wonderfull O Lord that I should vtterlie shew my selfe most senselesse and vnthankefull vnlesse I praise thee for the same and confesse that thy works are exceeding maruellous in deede seeing I doo perceiue the thing so manifestlie as it is So soone also as I thy workemanship came foorth a reasonable creature into this world I receiued like aire as other men and was committed vnto thee my Creator at what time thou didst declare thy selfe to be my God and causedst me to looke vp vnto thee when I did hang yet on my mothers breasts Euen in my verie cradle and swadling clouts O God thou hadst a speciall care regard ouer me and tookest in hand fatherlie to foster and gouerne me so manie yeares ago and to leade and guide me from my tender yeares vnto this daie Euer since I was borne I saie thou my God hast defended me from dangers both when I was strong and in the floure of my youth neither hast thou forsaken me now being in my middle age nor wilt I trust when I am graie-headed O mine inlightener it is thou that hast taught and instructed me with the knowledge of thee from my childhood hitherto Therefore haue I depended wholie vpon thee alone vpon thee I saie O excellent Father haue I set all my hope euen from mine infancie and will doo so still euen vnto mine old age CAP. III. NEither hath thy prouidence and mercie towards me ceased at anie tune For surelie thou hast made me a singular euerlasting example of thy fauour mercie to all men in that thou beholding me alwaies with thy pleasant countenance and obseruing continuallie with thine heauenlie eie what iniurie soeuer was offered me hast not onelie woonderfullie comforted and preserued me in all my troubles but also oftentimes most miraculouslie saued and deliuered mee out of most great and manifold miseries imminent perils and multitudes of mightie enimies wherewith I haue beene assaulted enuironed vexed afflicted persecuted and turmoiled from my tender age Yea so tenderlie O God hast thou loued mee that thou hast not suffered me to be intrapped of thousands of aduersaries that rose vp against me saieng in their harts Hir God can not helpe hir But being the iudge of mine innocencie my glorie my shield and my valiant Champion thou hast thy selfe smitten downe all mine enimies brought me safelie out of distresse and lift vp my head aboue all mine aduersaries Thou hast deliuered my life I saie foorth of the present doores of death staied the teares of mine eies and established my feete that I did not fall for any temptation so that I walked safe sound before thee among the liuing that praised thee And that I liue now to praise thee I may onlie thanke thee my deliuerer who hast caused me thus to taste feele and enioie the most comfortable sweetnesse of thy goodnesse mercie and fauour And though I was forsaken of all men and the most mightie together with my neerest friends had mee in contempt though the superstitious aduersaries I saie heaued vehementlie against me and with great violence sought to cast me downe and laie mine honor in the dust yet hast thou my God by thine owne hand repulsed driuen out all those mine irreligious foes which so wickedlie resisted thy purpose and to their confusion of faces hast exalted me to the highest degree of dignitie Wherefore great cause of continuall ioie and hartie reioicing hast thou O Lord giuen vnto me thine handmaid which acknowledge my selfe mightilie and miraculouslie preserued by thy power Doubtlesse now thou hast woonderfullie deliuered in deed thy QVEENE that was annointed by thee and hast heard me out of the highest Sanctuarie granted vnto me that which I requested in my praiers For I put my trust neither in chariot nor horses men nor munition but onelie remembred thy name and called vpon thee in all my troubles and lo thou ô KING of heauen hast heard me in all my necessities and giuen me my harts desire accomplishing all my purposes I required this thing onlie of thee that I might escape aliue and safe from persecution but thou hast not onelie strengthened and comforted me out of Zion and placed me here in thy dominion and empire in safetie but also hast granted vnto me a life that shall neuer faile and that bicause I onelie set my hope still in thee in whom all power remaineth as I oftentimes by good experience haue prooued Yea thou O most excellent Father hast done a notable worke woorthie to bee set foorth in writing to all posteritie and to be limmed out in gold to euerlasting memorie bicause O Lord thou hast not despised the praiers and teares of thy most miserable people but from thy holie throne hast looked downe vpon me and them to

such things as be allowed and pleasant vnto thee least at anie time cleauing to superstition and hypocrisie I doo worship thee amisse but fill my hart with grace and stuffe it with sweetnesse of spirit euen as my bodie is stuffed with abundance of meats Lord rid me out of mine vngodlinesse plucke from me mine ignorance of thee banish my slothfulnesse of insearching thee Compell my flesh through thy spirit to his bounden dutie and obedience and bring to passe that I may now alwaies applie my selfe wholie without wearinesse and drinesse of mind vnto the right sincere worshipping and seruing of thee here in thy presence O Lord open thou my lips and then shall my mouth extoll thy renowmed name and publish thy praise not with fained lips but with a full glad hart lustie stomach and quicke spirit and saie with the congregation Our Father c. As at euening praier in the Church Another Meditation before Euening praier in the Church SEing thou hast beautified all those with a notable promise O most mightie God which are knit together in the honouring of thy blessed name so that thou wilt not onlie be present with them but also bestowest excellent gifts and benefits vpon these men whosoeuer they are that excell in sincere faith and pure godlinesse and haue an exceeding desire to be often in the blessed congregation in so much as there is nothing which they more couet or desire than to appeare diuers times in the daie before thee in the sacred assemblies yea it ought to be a most pleasant thing vnto vs to celebrate thy high praises perpetuallie and shew foorth thy maruellous works without ceasing For the performance whereof godlinesse would require that wee should not onlie doo the same in the daie time but also in the night season We will therefore lift vp pure hands in all places touching the publishing of thy glorious name and render perpetuall thankes according to our bounden dutie for thine vnspeakable goodnesse and louing kindnesse extended towards vs. But seeing that this ought to be done in the most sacred and holie assemblies our earnest request is to haue thee present heere with vs and to bestowe thy plentifull blessings vpon thy beloued Israel First deliuer vs wee humblie beseech thee from our heinous faults enorme sinnes and lewd corruptions wherewith we haue greatlie defiled our selues And then let our weake and feeble harts be strengthned in thy blessed waie and the withered powers of our mind which are dried vp watered with the holie Ghost that we being altogither repaired and wholie renewed may continuallie celebrate and praise thee and haue a great desire to direct our praiers vnto thy mercie-seate with a most holie intent as Christians ought to doo Cause vs now not constrained and brought thereto by compulsion but of a willing hart to come before thy presence and become true worshippers of thee yea and such as doo thinke it a goodlie matter to spend not onlie houres but daies and nights yea and all our yeares and life in the sincere seruice and right worshipping and honouring of thee in the sacred Church Let nothing be so deere and pretious vnto vs as to continue in the praises and commendations of thy glorious name from morning to night praieng both publikelie and priuatelie for all other as well as for our selues Graunt O excellent father that we in giuing due thanks for thy benefits may ioifullie sing double praises to thy glorious name for euermore that our minds I saie may dailie more and more bee strengthened hartilie to confesse couragiouslie to extoll and aboue all things to exalt thy wonderfull praises vncessantlie through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Psalme of exhortation to praier in the morning or euening O Come let vs worship fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker and let vs hartilie reioice in the strength of our saluation Let our soules reioice I saie in the mercie of the Lord and not be ashamed to publish his praise Let vs doo our duties betimes both earlie and late and he will giue vs a reward in his due time For a good thing it is to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to tell of his louing kindnesse earlie in the morning O come therefore praise the Lord with me and let vs magnifie his name together Bring hither the booke take the Psalter and sing vnto the Lord a new song Let vs sing praises I saie lustilie vnto him with a good courage and shew our selues glad in him with Psalmes euen now in the time appointed and vpon our solemne feast-daie For great is the Lord and highlie to be praised in the Citie of our God euen vpon his holie hill of Zion Glorie be to the c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme exhorting all creatures to praise God O Praise the Lord of heauen yee Angels of his ye Saincts that excell in strength and fulfill his commandements yee seruants of his that harken to the voice of his words and doo his pleasure Praise him in the height ye children of Zion and be ioifull in your King with glorie For God is verie greatlie to be feared in the counsell of his Saincts and to be had in reuerence of all them that are about him Praise him all yee heauens and ye waters that bee aboue the heauens O God the verie heauens shall praise thy woonderous works and thy truth in the congregation of the Saincts Yea let heauen and earth praise thee the Sea and all that moueth therein O sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth woorship him and stand in awe of his iudgements ye multitude of Isles Praise the Lord O Ierusalem praise thy God O Zion Praise the name of the Lord O yee seruants of the Lord yee that by daie or by night stand in the house of the Lord euen in the courts of the house of our God O all yee righteous that loue and seeke the Lord and be true-harted towards him praise his holie name and magnifie him all yee seed of Israel that feare and dread his Maiestie Praise the Lord also all ye heathen and nations of the world worship you him and glorifie his name For he is great passing all praise Praise the Lord O ye Kings of the earth Princes and all Iudges of the world yea worship him all yee gods For he is higher than the heauens and far exalted aboue all gods O yee kindreds of the people ascribe vnto the Lord the worship power and honour due vnto his name bring presents and come into his courts with praise Let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee both yong men and maids old men and children let them all remember thy holie name and declare thy power from one generation to another world without end O speake good of the Lord all yee works of the Lord in all places of his dominion Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. For his

vnholie may appeare before thee graunt that both now at this present and so oft heereafter as I shall enter into this holie place and Tabernacle of the congregation and appeare before thee I may be throughlie sanctified both bodilie and ghostlie by the diuine graces of thy spirit the better therein to serue and worship thee The which thing that I may euen now this daie the better accomplish and doo according to thy will as I hartilie desire and to the glorie of thy name and the full discharge of my christian dutie I most entirelie beseech thy Maiestie first to sanctifie purifie cleanse make happie and keepe holie my wretched soule and sinfull bodie the posts whereof deere father are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne who most deerelie bought them O comfortable ghest of the soule leaue not our houses desolate cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence with thy life and righteousnesse Dresse cleanse and sweepe the foreletten cottage once againe I saie good Lord with the beesome of thy celestiall grace and heauenlie felicitie from all the pollution and filth of sinne and wickednesse Once againe O Christ vouchsafe to cast out of the house of my soule that vncleane spirit and foule feend Sathan mine old ghest and enimie with the finger of God and when he is cast out of me giue me grace to watch still continuallie by hartie and earnest praier that he enter not againe into me For being once mine old ghest he knoweth euerie hole and corner of my house Therefore grant me grace to watch continuallie I saie O Lord by feruent praier and vertuous works proceeding from a firme faith least he returne into the house from whence hee was cast out and finding it emptie swept and garnished he go and take vnto himselfe seuen other foule spirits worsse than himselfe and they enter in also and dwell there with him and so mine end be woorsse than my beginning which God forbid Oh suffer not the holie house Lord of thy Diuinitie and Temple of the holie Ghost my bodie and soule I meane cleansed with thy bloud and decked with thy righteousnesse to bee by my mortall enimies defiled spoiled or made a cage of vncleane birds a dungeon of diuels a den of theeues a hell of wicked spirits and a sinke of sinne through delectation in sinne and infidelitie Withdrawe not thy hand from me let me not returne vnto my vomit like the dog let not mine end be worse than my beginning as hapned to Caine Saule Iudas Arius and manie mo But as by thy great mercie my body and soule are made the temple tabernacle of y e holie spirit so by the same thy rich mercie infinite goodnes grant that the same may now become thy holie habitation sacred seate of euerlasting glorie and so be purified cleansed throughlie sanctified and made cleane by thy diuine inspiration and gratious presence that no heapes of soile dregs of dust or remnants of filth be to be found in any priuie or secret corner of this thy spiritual temple to offend y e celestiall eies of thy diuine maiestie so shall thy holie Hall which is my clensed soule in all reuerence deuotion godlie worship this daie and euer resound in the Church all places of thy dominion with thy perpetuall praises to thine eternall glorie Amen Another praier to serue God sincerelie in the Church O LORD God our celestiall Father whose fidelitie and truth is stablished in the high heauens among thy chosen beleeuers who also art woonderfull in the congregation of the faithfull and most mightie of all power and present euerie-where beholding all things done in all places on earth Forasmuch as thou O gratious God hast chosen this house that thy name might be called vpon therein and that it should be an house of praier and petition for thy people mercifullie promising therewithall that wheresoeuer two or three be gathered together in thy name there thou wouldest be in the middest of them and whatsoeuer they beleeuing asked of thee it should be done vnto them Behold we therefore whome by thy grace thou hast elected to be thy people and heritage and with whome thou hast made an eternall couenant and promise to helpe heare assist and confirme in all goodnesse righteousnesse and holinesse doo heere now at this present through the motion of thy good spirit assemble and gather our selues together in thy name with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and according to our bounden dutie with one mind and mouth in spirit and truth to laud and magnifie thy holie name and maiestie Humblie beseeching thee O Lord to haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners to purge vs and iustifie vs through faith from all our offences old and new to inflame and lighten the lamps of our harts with the oile of sanctification which is thy holie spirit and so there-through to sanctifie our soules to prepare our harts and dispose all our members wholie to true pietie godlinesse and deuotion that we may be woorthie continuallie to lift vp in this holie place of thy glorious presence and diuine habitation pure harts innocent hands and most feruent praiers vnto thee in heauen Grant also O gratious God that we with one hart and voice in all holinesse and godlinesse trembling dread Christian reuerence humble obedience spirituall worship and diuine seruice may incessantlie giue all honour and glorie vnto thee and for euer to celebrate thy most holie name and Maiestie in this thy holie temple as it apperteineth euen by offering vp dutifullie vnto thy diuine Maiestie the most sweet and acceptable sacrifice of broken and contrite harts of zealous and true repentance of humble and vnfeined confession of pure and incessant praier and of most woorthie and condigne lauds and praises that so wee may continue blessed in thy holie mountaine for euer and in the end according to thy faithfull promise obtaine euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen How the soule should rightlie worship and praise the Lord in all places O GOD the true and the souereigne life of whom in whom all things doo liue whatsoeuer things doo liue trulie and in happie state O God euen goodnesse and goodlinesse from whom through whom in whom are all good goodlie things which art good and goodlie God whose faith quickeneth hope erecteth and loue linketh vs. God who hast commanded vs to praie vnto thee and makest thy selfe to be found and openest to him which knocketh God whom none seeketh but the admonished and no man findeth but the purged God whom to knowe is life whom to serue is to reigne whom to loue is the saluation and ioie of the soule Thee both with my lips and with mine hart and with all my strength I doo praise blesse and worship To thy clemencie and goodnesse I doo yeeld humble thanks for all thy benefits and to thy Maiestie doo I sing holie holie holie O blessed Trinitie

most humblie beseech thee in zeale and loue to doo this one thing so acceptable a seruice to thee and most needfull for vs to be done euen with attentiue and desirous minds to heare thy holie word preached and so farre to exceed the Queene of Saba and those which haue sought for wisdome from the vttermost parts of the earth as the wisdome thou offerest vs in it exceedeth all other and so much more redilie to practise it than they did which heard thy Prophets as thy sonne is aboue all the Prophets that we with wise Martha making our choise by thy grace of the better part may be made wise in him vnto saluation and it neuer be taken from vs but remaine with vs till it put vs in possession of that happie life which in a blessed hope we looke for by it And grant vs so to be carefull ouer our dutie which thou hast commanded that wee especiallie regarding that which is chiefest with thee and most needfull for our selues may therby declare our selues to be in deed of God bicause we heare Gods word and to be the true sheepe of thy fold bicause we harken diligentlie to thy voice and followe thee with Susanna Ioanna Marie Magdalen and all other godlie men and women and so by this meanes finallie not faile of thy promises but obteine to our endlesse comfort and the glorie of thy name the blessing and gift of eternall life among all faithfull beleeuers in the kingdome of heauen through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another verie Christian praier both of the preacher and auditorie present OH Lord how beautifull are the feete of them that bring the glad tidings of the Gospell of peace of saluation of all good things Surelie without preaching we should all perish Blessed and praised be thou therefore O Father for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Gospell life foode doctrine and peace in our time Blessed and praised be thou therefore O Christ bicause thou giuest and renewest often the light of thy Gospell and maitainest the ministers of thy word and preseruest cherishest and defendest thy catholike Church against the diuell and all thine enimies Yea blessed I saie and praised also be thou therefore O holie spirit bicause thou being powred vpon the Apostles dooest now also kindle thy light in our harts rulest instructest admonishest helpest vs gouernest and guidest o●● labours to a prosperous end and sanctifiest vs to eternall life And now for as much as the chiefe authoritie of speaking is indeed of thee O Lord alone for a mortall man hath but a dead hart I humblie beseech thee to blesse this thy preacher heere present with thy diuine grace that he may doo the worke of an Euangelist and make thy Gospell knowne vnto vs. Giue vnto him the spirit of feare godlinesse fortitude counsell zeale knowledge discretion wisedome vnderstanding and constancie and let him as he hath receiued thy gifts so like a good and faithfull disposer of thy manifold graces trulie minister the same vnto vs. Lord let him come vnto vs with abundant knowledge and abilitie of the diuine mysteries of the blessings of the Gospell of Christ to communicate and impart vnto vs. And now that he is about to speake grant that he may speake in thee that is by thy helpe and grace and as he is allowed of thee so to vtter the words of God as he hath receiued them from thee that thou in althings maist be glorified Put vpon his hart the breast-plate of perfect iudgement the Urim of knowledge and the Thumim of holines and righteousnes of life and puritie of doctrine Let thy word be in his hart as a burning fire shut vp in his bones yea let his bellie be as the wine which hath no vent or like the new bottles that burst that being full of good matter thy spirit within may compell him to speake his mind effectuallie Yea doo thou O Lord I saie secretlie speake and worke in him and let thy secret power and vertue be put here vnto this action to this his labour and exercise of faith that he may accomplish that thou requirest to be done for the conuersion and saluation of thy people present Giue him the earnest-penie of thy spirit in his hart and open the doore of vtterance vnto him that he may make manifest the sauour of thy life and knowledg vnto vs. Lord thou hast said Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Open thou therefore his lips that his mouth may shew forth thy praise and shew vs the waie wherein we may walke straight to thee O let his mouth I saie be filled with thy praise that he may preach thine vndefiled lawe to the conuerting of soules and giue wisdome to the simple and light to the blind Let vtterance be giuen now vnto him that he may open his mouth boldlie to publish the secrets of the Gospell whereof he is an Ambassadour that therein he may speake boldlie as he ought to speake not sparing anie man nor hauing regard to please anie maner of person Touch thou O God the mouth of this thy preacher with the hot glowing cole of thy spirit whereby he being first clensed may the more feruentlie and purelie preach thy Gospell vnto his brethren in the discharge of his dutie as he that first is mooued with the zeale of thy glorie and then touched with a carefull affection towards thy people as Esaie was Giue vnto this thy preacher the audacitie of Eliah Iohn Baptist that like the true minister of God he may stoutlie boldlie without anie respect of persons or desire to please men as he that feareth God more than the faces of men reproue the people of their sinnes Let him as thou hast giuen in commendement crie alowd and spare not let him lift vp his voice like a trumpet and with all diligence and discretion shew thy people their transgressions and reprooue vice vnfeinedlie And bicause O Lord in vaine shall he cast the net of thy word except thou blesse the draught and his labour yeeld no profit vnlesse thou prosper it doo thou therefore luckilie set him on loose thou his tongue to speake and put thou into his hart what to saie Blesse him that thy word may be with him that he may be able thoroughlie to instruct vs what is thy will that he may catch our soules and by thy secret diuine power drawe vnto him the harts minds and eares of the hearers so shall he conuert and win manie vnto thy Christ and thou thereby be highlie glorified Let thy spirit speake by him and thy words be in his tongue that he vtter nothing rashlie or vndiscreetlie but by the motion of thy good spirit speaking sincerelie and holilie of thee as in thy sight Giue to him and to all such as beare thy word and are the ministers of the spirituall life such care zeale and diligence that they may indeuour faithfullie and painfullie to fulfill their office to the vttermost And

harts and clense our filthie soules from sinne Daugh. And by thy spirit and gifts of grace make vs a holie life for to beginne The praier Mother O Lord GOD most mercifull father who as vpon this daie placing thy seruant our most deer Souereigne and most gratious Queene Elizabeth in the Empire of this kingdome diddest deliuer thy people of England from danger of war and oppression both of bodies by tyrannie of conscience by superstition restoring peace and true religion with libertie both of bodies and minds and hast continued the same thy blessings without all desert on our part now by the space of these foure and twentie yeeres We who are in memorie of these thy great benefits assembled here togither most humblie beseech thy fatherlie goodnesse to grant vs grace that we may in word deed and hart shew our selues thankfull and obedient vnto thee for the same and that Elizabeth our vertuous Queene through thy grace may in all honour goodnesse and godlinesse long and manie yeeres liue and reigne ouer vs and we obeie and enioie hir Maiestie with the continuance of thy great blessings which thou hitherto hast by hir thy blessed minister powred vpon vs hir people This we beseech thee to grant vnto vs for thy deere Son Iesus Christs sake our Lord and Sauiour Daughter Amen Or else saie thus WE yeeld vnto thee most mightie and mercifull father immortall thanks for that it hath pleased thee of thy meere mercie and fatherlie bountie after the stormes of so manie troublesome times to conduct vs as vpon this daie out of banishment and exile into the comfortable port of tranquillitie by the hand of thy most gratious seruant and our deere Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth When we were as sheepe wandering astraie in the wildernesse thou ordeinedst hir Maiestie to bee our shepheard to gather vs againe into thy sheepefold When we had beene long tossed hither thither with the outrage and cruell furie of tyrannicall persecution like a poore weather-beaten barke that hath beene continuallie tormoiled and tossed on the perilous surges of the outragious and swelling seas finding no sure rode nor harborough wherein to rest but continuallie in danger either to sinke into the sands or to be ouerwhelmed with waues or violentlie to be dashed in peeces against the maine rocks Euen then I saie when we despaired vtterlie of safegard standing stil in feare of the hazard of euerlasting confusion thou cōmittedst the helme to be guided by hir Graces wisedome who at last conducted vs into the hauen of this long desired peace and tranquillitie Therefore whereas thou hast placed hir in the regal throne to be our Dauid our Iosias our Samuel yea to be our shepheard and ring-leader in the waie of true holinesse and sincere religion Inspire hir mind with the manifold blessings of thy grace that she may walke all the daies of hir life in the path of thy commandements and happilie discharge hir dutie in that stewardship and dispensation which thou hast committed to hir Maiesties hands Inflame hir mind more and more with the loue of thy holie Gospell that all hir deeds thoughts and practises may tend to the propagation and planting of thy word and Christian religion in these hir Maiesties dominions Incline the motions of hir vertuous disposition aboue all things to seeke thine honour and glorie to sowe the seeds of the Catholike faith abundantlie in all places to cut off the brood of superstition and idolatrie to constitute true preachers of thy word and stablish euerie where thine holie Gospell and true religion Preserue hir most mercifull Father as hitherto thou hast most miraculouslie done from the diuelish deuises and practises of hir enimies that she may haue a long and happie reigne among vs to the aduancement of thy glorie and ioie and comfort of all vs hir subiects Let hir naturall disposition continue to hir foes terrible to hir subiects amiable to hir offenders mercifull to the vertuous bountifull indifferent to all men and in all respects parciall in no point neither in causes ecclesiasticall nor yet in matters concerning politike gouernement Assist hir most mercifull Father with the might of thy heauenlie spirit to quaile the pride of the triple-headed Romish Cerberus to banish his beggerlie ceremonies to abridge the terme of his reigne and finallie to cut off and preuent the seeds that continuallie striue to spring vp from abhominable superstition and idolatrie Grant hir grace most mercifull Father to run the remnant of hir race in the right path of thy commandements declining neither to the right hand nor to the left but so vsing all times thy heauenlie word as the rule and compasse to direct hir course Preserue hir Grace most mercifull Father in continuall health of bodie and quietnesse of mind that she may be alwaies able to rule the bridle of hir high charge and to execute right and iustice to all sorts and degrees to the aduancement of thy glorie and the vniuersall commoditie of hir Maiesties subiects And finallie grant O most mercifull Father that when it shall please thee to end the terme of hir daies in this world thou wilt make hir partaker of the celestiall ioies which are prepared for them that feare and loue thee since the foundation of the world Grant this most mercifull Father for thy deere Sonne our Lord Iesus Christs sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost three persons one God be all glorie honour and praise world without end Amen Another thanks-giuing and praier vnto God for the preseruation of the Queenes Maiestie and the Realme ALmightie God and most mercifull Father which in thy great mercies hast both giuen vnto vs a peaceable Prince and gratious Queene and also haft hitherto verie often and miraculouslie saued hir from sundrie great perils and imminent dangers and by hir mercifull vnbloudie and gratious gouernement hast preserued vs and the whole Realme from manifold mischiefs and dreadfull plagues wherewith nations round about vs haue beene and yet be most greeuouslie afflicted haue mercie vpon them O Lord and grant vs grace we beseech thee for these thy great benefits that wee may be hartilie thankfull and obedient vnto thee to flie from all things that may offend thee and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs and to order our liues in all things that may please thee that thy seruant our Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth and we thy people committed to hir charge may by thy protection be continuallie preserued from all treacherous deceits and violences of enimies and from all other dangers and perils both bodilie and ghostlie and by thy goodnesse may be maintained in all peace and godlinesse Grant this O mercifull Father for thy deere sonnes sake our Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen Another meditation to be vsed especiallie vpon the 17. daie of Nouember wherein the godlie English giueth thanks to God for the

of all as fathers and nursses to mainteine and cherish thy Church commanding vs not onlie to obeie and honor them but moreouer to praie for them as watching ouer vs for our good We therefore beseech thee for thy great names sake and for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospell but especiallie we praie thee to blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth in all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus and in all temporall blessings according to thy good pleasure that in the great measures of thine effectuall lawe she may more and more find great increase of vertue and wisedome and strength in Christ Iesu to the faithfull and happie discharge of hir dutie that hir holinesse and ioie and zeale of thy house may be multiplied euerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercie to giue hir this especiall honor first to suffer for thy glorious truth and afterward miraculouslie deliuering hir out of the hands of hir enimies to set a Crowne vpon hir head and to make hir the instrument to aduance thy glorie and Gospell for which she suffered and to bring hir out of darkenesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most hartie thanks for this singular benefit so we beseech thee to make hir and vs euermore thankefull for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue hir for the continuance of these blessings towards vs with all increase from time to time to thy glorie the benefit of thy Church and hir infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of peace And furthermore we praise thee for hir and the estate that such as be the enimies of the Gospell and hir enimies also for the defence therof may not despise the peace offered them vnto repentance but that they may accompt thy long suffering and hir peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and vnfeigned loue to the truth and their mercifull Souereigne Otherwise if they stil remaine disobedient to thy truth disloiall to hir Highnesse and dangerous to the state then O God of all saluation as thou hast discouered them so discouer them still as thou hast preuented them so preuent them still and let their eies ware wearie with looking and their harts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beseech thee but a blessed and a long reigne to hir Grace and and peace to Zion for euermore Also deere Father so blesse so loue so in thy spirit sanctifie and keepe hir that she maie in the spirit of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namely this hir Common-wealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as Palme-trees in beautie and in strength giuing aid and help one to another that in the Church the glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the land may flowe with milke and honie and true peace abound therein as in y e triumphant reigne of Debora These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnwoorthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy great mercies accepting the death and passion of thy Sonne as a full ransome for all our offences throwing them into the bottome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlinesse as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessings towards our gratious Souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedlie ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lord and beloued of the Lord and that thy graces may abound in the Church in the Common-wealth from daie to daie till the daie of our translation into thy kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where we also shall inhabit and reigne with thee according to thy promise for euer Grant vs these things O mercifull father for thy deere Sonne our Lord Iesus Christes sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hand praieng furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to praie Our Father c. Psalme 72. Another praier for the prosperous estate and flourishing reigne of our right vertuous souereigne Queene Elizabeth O GOD without whose wisedome no kingdome can stand who of a speciall consideration hast ordeined this kingdome in the familie of Dauid teach our Queene Elizabeth whome thou hast appointed the rules of right gouernement teach I saie the Daughter of this thy Dauid whome thou hast chosen to thy selfe the rule of righteousnesse that she may iustlie gouerne not hir people but thine especiallie that she may defend the poore against the iniuries of the mightie thus the people being scattered heere and there in the mountaines and hilles being safe vnder a iust gouernment shall abound with all the commodities of peace Grant this vnto hir that she being far from all tyrannie may be a sure refuge for the poore that she may comfort the families oppressed with pouertie and iniuries that she may keepe vnder y e false accusers with most sharpe punishment so will it come to passe O Lord that the state of this kingdome being ordered by thine authoritie all men as it is meete shall acknowledge and feare thee and not for anie short continuance of time but that the Sunne and Moone shall sooner ceasse their course than thou shalt faile to be woorshipped And thou againe wilt powre downe vpon thy people from heauen all good things like a showre comming downe vpon the new mowne medowes and none otherwise than thou vsest to water the earth with showers in due season whilest Elizabeth reigneth thus gouerned by thy grace and holie spirit the iust shall flourish and great peace shall be so continued as is the firme course of the starres and the Queene hir selfe shall haue dominion from the one sea to the other euen frō Euphrates to the farthest coasts of the earth The inhabitants of the countries of the desert shall come vnder hir yoke falling downe vnder hir feet and hir enimies falling downe before hir shall licke the dust of the earth The kings of Silicia and of the Ilands shall offer presents vnto hir The Ethiopians also and the Arabians shall bring hir gifts finallie all Kings shall haue hir in admiration for hir renowme and vertue and all nations shall reuerence hir name and maiestie For hir righteousnesse shall bee praised through out all the whole world because she heareth the crie of the poore and doth defend the needie forsaken of other She hath mercie on them that are needie and she refresheth those that are in danger of their life She defendeth the poore against the iniurie of the mightie neither doth she suffer the violence done vnto them to be vnreuenged Therefore thou O God wilt keepe hir safe and gold shall be brought vnto hir out of the midst of Arabia all men shall make