and that the Popes benediction is annexed with most ample Indulgences and that sometime they are set out with medalls or Crosses of siluer brasse or wood these thinges haue not as some doe cauell increased superstition but Religion 16 For as Iosue the Captaine of the holy hoast Ios 4 at what time the children of Israell passed ouer Iordane dry footed commanded that twelue great stones should be deuoutly and religiously caried out of the chanel of the Riuer into the Tents to this end that if any should aske of the posterity what mean these stones the perpetuall tumemory of there wonderfull passage might be recorded So haue our auncestors deuoutly religiously annexed fiue beads in euery Rosary that are greater then the rest that the Heretickes laughing therat and asking what meane these fiue beades what meaneth the wholle Rosary Answere may be made that they are significatiōs of the fiue wounds which Christ suffered for them and vs. And that the Rosary is a certaine summe or abridgmēt of the new Testament Christian doctrine 17 For they that haue knowne the manifolde vse of the Rosary are not ignorant that the number of beads therin contained do serue to renue the memorie of all the misteries of the life of Christ and of the blessed Virgin and of the principall pointes of the Catholicke religion as of the B. Trinitie the Incarnation and Passiō of Christ the worship of God his Saintes the ten Commandementes Iustificatiō and life euerlasting Which briefe summe or abridgmēt is doubtlesse so much the more profitable amongst the common people by how much farther the vse therof is extended then the vse of books For it may be read euen of the vnlearned of the blind of those that trauaile on horse backe or in wagons or such like finally in most darke obscure places 18 And the benediction of the POPE doth nothing els but with solemne wordes consecrate the beades The benedictiō of the Pope otherwise prophane of them selues to the deuoute and holsome vse of the faithfull as by auncient custome of the Church Water Salte Chalices Candles Herbes and the Churches them selues are by the benediction of a Preist consecrated to an holy vse For sanctified saith the Apostle is euery creature by the word of god and praier 1. Tim. 4 The Indulgences anexed 19 And that the Indulgences annexed to the benediction are very profitable there is no doubt for by these the faithfull people being incouraged doe in greater number and with greater zeale and feruencie pray vnto Almightie God for most waightie causes For the increase of the Catho licke Church for the concord of Christian Princes for the rooting out of heresies For these are the points that for the most part are mentioned in the forme of all Indulgences 20 And as for the Images of gold siluer Crosses and Me dalles or wood annexed vnto the beades they haue neither any misticall significatiō nor vse other then the very Images in Churches that is to put vs in mind of the actes of Christ his Saints that in or before thē we may reuerence and call vpon that which by them is represented vnto vs. A BREIFE EXPLIcation of our Lordes Praier Cap. 12 THe Preface of this Praier Franciscus Costerus hath fewe wordes full of misteries Father is a name of loue signifying first of all that he which goeth about to pray must not be the enimie but the frend yea the child of Almighty God hauing laid aside all will to sinne hereafter and being sorowfull penitent for his sinnes past Secondly that he must come to Almighty God with great cōfidence because that of a Father all thinges are to be expected Our thou dost not say mine but our which is a name cōmon to all for God is the Father of all as wel one as an other respecting all indifferently as well poore as riche Therfore with this Praier must cōcur first charity towards neighbours wherby thou maiest loue all the children of God and wish well vnto them then Humility that thou preferrest not thy selfe before any other which arte in heauen Here first is signified that vnto this praier must be brought a mind lifte vp to heauenly thinges excluding earthly cogitations Secondly a greate reuerence of the wholle man as well externall as internall because he is an heauenly not an earthly Father Thirdly that nothing is to be demāded of an heauenly Father but heauēly things Here after do folow the 7 petitions wherof the 4 first do pray for good thinges to be graunted the 3 later for euels to be remoued Hallowed be thy name that is to say I giue thee thanks for thy benefits and I desire that thy name goodnes Maiesty may be well knowen vnto all men praised of all men and published in all places and especially I beseech thee that I in all my actions wordes may seeke thy glory referre all that I haue to thy honour the profite of my neighbours 2 Thy Kingdome come That is I wishe that thou O Lord maiest raigne all the world ouer that all dominion of the Deuell being abandoned thou maiest possesse all the Kingdomes of the world and especially that sinne may not raigne in my mortall body but that thou maiest rule gouerne all my powers and forces directe and bring me to the kingdome of heauen 3 Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauē that is Grant I besech thee grace vnto thy people that they may obey thy commaundements Furthermore in euery of our acttiōs do thou make known vnto vs thy will Finally my selfe O Lord I do resigne wholly to thy will so that thy name may be praised and sanctified by me thou hauing excluded the kingdome of sinne maiest only and wholly raigne in me thou maiest do with me and dispose of me as it shall stand best with thy most holy will and pleasure 4 Giue vs this day our daiely bread that is nourish and feede my soule and my body with conuenient food my soule with thy word that I may alwaies haue a tast and feeling therof when it is by preaching or praier or by any other meanes proposed vnto me Moreouer with thy most sacred body also vnto the oftē and deuoutreceauing wherof I doe desire to be moued stirred vp and my body with daily food sustinance and with thinges not superfluous but necessary not wrōgfully gotten but with dew labour iustice and equity Here foloweth the three euels which we desire to be remoued 5 And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. that is the euells past to witt the sines wherby we haue offended thee by the Passion of thy Sonne do thou gratis frely forgiue the veniall quotidian sinnes by sorow and the vertue of this Praier instituted by thy selfe and the more greeuous or mortall sinnes by the Sacrament of penance to which Sacrament that wee may come
Christ for the Rosary of 5. Paters and 50 Aues out of Ludouicus Bolsius Cap. 8. The first parte PATER noster c. Aue Maria c. O benigne sweete Mary The begining and ending of this petition is to be added in euery one pacifie our most clement Redemer Iesus whō thou a most pure Virgin vpon the Angells annunciation didest conceiue by the holy Ghost in the citie of Nazareth and beare 9. monthes in thy most chast wombe Cause that we may please thy most sweete sonne Iesus Christ and destrue to see him and thee in heauen Amen 2 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. who being cōceiued within thee thou full of God didest go with speed vnto thy cousen Elizabeth and salute her humbly exhibit thy seruice vnto her Cause that we c. 3 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom thou a most pure Virgin didest bring forth in Bethlem in a most vile stable not only without all paine but also with vnspeakable ioy and being borne didest presently adore him as true very God with a deuout mind Cause that we c. 4 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom thou diddest foster with thy virginall milke being as yet a litle crying child swathed in cloutes didest lay him in the man ger vpon hay straw Cause c. 5 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom yet new borne the Angells in most ioifull maner shewed to the Shepheardes and with cheerfull voices geuing laudes praises vnto him song peace to men of good will Cause c. 6 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom the Shepheardes speedely repairing to Bethlē found laide in a Maunger and adored with great ioy admiratiō Cause c. 7 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who the 8. day after his Natiuity voutsafedto shed his most pure blood for vs and to be circumcised and to be named Iesus for our comforte Cause c. 8 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom the Sages coming from the East deuoutly sought being replenished with great ioy came by the direction of a Satrre into Bethlem and there humbly adoring him they deuoutly offered vnto him Gould Frankencense and Mirrhe Cause c. 9 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom when the 40. day was come thou didest according to the lawe present in the Temple and beeing redeemed with the hoast of those which were of the poorer sort didest offer vnto god the Father with a most gratefull harte Cause c. 10 Aue Maria c. O benigne c Whom thou like a most faithfull mother by the admonition of an Angell didest carry into Egipte for feare of Herod and at the last broughtest him backe againe into the citie of Nazareth Cause The second parte 1 PATER noster c. Aue Maria c. O benigne sweet Mary c. Whom thou a Virgin mother didest loose in Hierusalē when he was 12. yeeres olde and seeking and inquiringe for him with an heauy harte didest finde him with ioy three daies after in the Temple Cause c. 2 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who beeing subiecte vnto thee thou diddest diligently nourishe with a motherly care and neuerthelesse diddest alwaies exhibite an holy reuerence vnto him as to the most high and mightie God Cause that we c. 3 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who in the 30. yeere of his age would humblye be Beptized by his seruant IHON in the Riuer of Iordan wheras notwithstanding he being the most innocēt Lamb of GOD neuer contracted anie spot of sinne Cause c. 4 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who in the Desert 40. daies and 40. nightes fasted without eating any thing and so being the Lord of heauen and earth made his abode among the wilde beastes Cause that we c. 5 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who for our saluatiō refused not to be tempted of the Deuill and shewed vs the way to ouercome Satan Cause c. 6 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who trauailing by cities castells and villages preached diligently the Gospell of the Kingdome of Heauen and willingly sustained for our sakes all toiles and wearinesse of body Cause c. 7 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who oftē watched whole nights in praier fuffered for our sakes hunger thirst cold heat and diuerse persecutions with a most milde harte Cause c. 8 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who conuersing amongst men did mercifullye succour all afflicted persons and wrought very many miracles and readily gaue pardon vnto Mary Magdalene and other sinners that were truely penitent and cōuersed familiarly with them Cause c. Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who beeing transfigured vppon the Mount before three Disciples shined in fact like the Sunne and maiestically shewed the excelencie of his glorious body Cause 10 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who coming to Hierusalem to suffer for vs as a meeke and humble King satte vpon an Asse and in the middest of those praises which the people song vnto him looking vpon the citie wept The third parte PATER noster c. Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who at his last supper humbly vpon his knees washed the feet of his Disciples and with vnspeakable charitie instituted the most excelent Sacramēt of the Eucharist Cause that we may please c. 2 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who going with his Disciples in to the gardē of the Mount Oliuet was striken with a greate sadnes for our sakes and praying a long space togither through the vehemencie of th anguishes and distresses that he was in fell into a bloodie sweate that issued from all partes of his body Cause c. 3 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who went out to meet his enimies and voluntarily offered him selfe vnto them and refused not to take a kisse of Iudas that betraied him Cause c. 4 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom those wicked men apprehended vnreuerently and as a male factour and a theefe moste shamefully bound with hard and cruell bandes Cause c. 5 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who being bound was brought oprobriously vnto the high Preist and at the hands of one of his seruantes receiued a most cruell and violent blow Cause c. 6 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who in the house of Caiphas was accused by false witnesses and defiled with stinking spittle and scornfully hoodwinked and barbarously beaten with strokes and buffettes and most vnworthelye blasphemed Cause c. 7 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who being brought to Pylate incōtemptible maner stood before him with a lowly and cheerfull countenance and humbly passed ouer with silence the false accusations of the Iewes Cause 8
vnto whosoeuer of neuer so greate knowledge with a certain spice of hereticall pride will not contemne ordinarye Catholicke helpes of deuotion Accept therfore gentle Reader this my present with conuenient diligēce and study vse the same Which if thou doest I doubt not but howsoeuer it may displease curiouse eies it will not be displeasing to our B. Lady not without vnspeakable profite to our wholle countrey thē the which two things next vnto Gods glory I desire nothing more Fare-well A BRIEFE DIScourse of the Deuotion of our B. LADY EVEN as with all manner of deceitful subtelties and blasphemous vntruthes heresie doth euer go about to derogate vnto the glory of the most soueraigne Queene of heauen and earth so is it the part of euery zealous Catholicke with as much care and diligence to procure to set forth amplifie and increase her wonderfull praises and most deserued honour Wheras therfore in this litle treatise we are to set downe one of the most speciall deuotions and seruices that the holye Church vseth vnto the glorie of this B. Virgin I thinke it necessarie that before we enter into the principall discourse it selfe wee briefly for the behoofe of the vnlearned set downe wherein the deuotion and seruice of so high a creature doth consist Two thinges therfore are required for the wholle perfection of that which we call the deuotiō of our Lady First for to haue a deepe and setled conceit of her worthines and greatnes next vnto Almightie God him selfe aboue all spirituall and corporall creatures Secondly to deriue frō such due estimation an earnest study and endeuour for her honour the glorie of God our owne profite of doing and performing whatsoeuer may becom vs. Concerning the first therfore I will here only touch amongest her infinite priuileges only a few and such as either without heresie cannot be doubted of or are by the firme consent of the wholle Church most constantly beleeued or may with godly deuotion be gathered out of the holy scriptures and auncient Fathers leauing the large proofes therof vnto many learned books which of this point are euery where extant 25 singular priuiledges of our Blessed Lady 1 That as she is in all maner of vertues and dignities farre exceeding all other creatures so was she before all worlds appointed and chosen to so great highnes in so much that ab eterno Almightie God considering and beholding so singular a worke of his hand next vnto him selfe and the humanitie of our Sauiour had a speciall delight and repose in her 2 When the time came that so excellent a creature shoulde bee brought into the world she was foretold by Angelicall reuelation vnto both her barren parents euē as before euen from the begining of the world she had in sundrie waies bene both prefigured and promised 3 Her Body although it were conceiued according to the naturall order of mans generation yet was both the matter ministered therunto with such deuotion as became so holye parents and there wanted not the speciall cooperation of the holy Ghost preparing as the Church singeth the habitation of the sonne of God Whence it did proceed that in perfection of bewtie and complection she was such as is credibly to be thought neuer to haue bene subiect to such particular defects of body as are either caused by the euilnes of complection or inflicted for punishment of sinne or procured by disordered life and that in her person she did cary such a shew of heauenly comelines and maiestie that a greate Saint beholding her said Dion Areop that if he had not other wise ben taught by his faith he would haue deemed her to haue some Godhead within her 4 When the time came that her Body should be quickned with a reasonable soule which in all others in the very creating within a body by carnall generation descending from ADAM cōtracteth originall sinne and geueth life and beeing to a child of wrath shee only was exempted frō such deformitie and presently made the child of God and euer from that time full of grace and of all vertue although in the processe of her most holy life she continually increased the same especially at the conceauing of the sonne of God and the comming of the holy Ghost vnto all the Apostles 5 She had then such abundāce of grace bestowed on her from God D. Tho 5. Par. q 27. ar 5 Psa 86. that she farre exceeded the grace of all Angels holy soules so that she laying her foundatiōs aboue so many high hills we may not any way conceiue vnto what a hight so perfite a sāctuarie grew before her death Neither wanted shee any grace or gifte of the HOLY GHOST as of Prophesie working miracles and such like although whilest she liued in this world it was conuenient for the confirmation of the doctrine of Christ that he only and his Apostles shold worke miracles But she hath aboue all other Saintes since her assumption into heauen receiued that power of her sonne and daily in all countreies practised the same 6 As diuers holy Fathers do testifie Amb. Beda in Luc. vide Aug. ep 57 that S. IHON Baptist when he was sanctified in his mothers wombe had the vse of his free-will voluntarily cōcurring to the acceptation of that grace which hee then receaued which is not obscurely signified vnto vs in the Gospell it selfe where we read that the Infant exulted in ioye which argueth knowledge of the cause of so great ioy so is it also most worthely to be thought of this Virgin for that generall rule of all Diuines and holy Fathers that whatsoeuer priuiledge hath bene granted vnto any pure creature is to be in a higher degree attributed vnto her And it were very agreable vnto her other priuileges to thinke the same vse of reason to haue still continued in her especially wheras the wholle Church attributeth such discretion vnto her as well the space of her infancie being with her Parents as also when beeing three yeere olde she went of her owne accord to present her selfe with great deuotion to the seruice of God in the Tēple And the giftes of God Rom. 11. as S. PAVL teacheth vs being alwaies without repentāce it was not conuenient that she aboue all other should euer loose that which she once receiued 7 Her holy natiuitie and presentation were vnto the holy persōs which were by the inspiration of God made priuie vnto her greatnes and to the hope of the redēption of Israel now at hand a cause of such ioy as neuer before had bene in the world all being full of Gods miracles and heauenly comfortes 8 The bolines of her life euen from the beginning vnto the end therof was such that it was voide from all sinne not onely mortall but also venial Aug. lib. de nat grat c. 36. Yea she was wholy deliuered from that inclinatiō vnto euill and difficultie in that which is good which we all
deuoutly graunt I beseech thee conuenient time grace deuotion And although I may seeme to forgiue my neighboures all offences frō the very bottome of my harte yet do thou also afford me thy special helpe and assistance that I may neuer beare in mind any offence whatsoeuer 6 And lead vs not into tētation that is driue away from vs future euels not suffering vs at any time to consent vnto sinne nor to giue occasion that we be forsaken by thee And if by our default wee chance at any time to fall that our harts be not hardened but that they may presently rise from sinne and be conuerted 7 But deliuer vs frō euel Amen Turne away O Lord presēt euells from vs famine warre pestilēce and other corporall calamities as also prosperities that are not behoofefull for the helth of the soule Also all spirituall euells vnto which our cōcupiscēce which alwaies maketh warre against the spirite is inclined that from it if not wholly yet in parte we may be exempted AN EXPOSITION of the Angelical Salutation Cap. 13. NEXT after our Lords praier the Angells Salutation is vsually saide Francisous Costerus for two causes First certes that we may knowe that not by our owne meritt are the petitions aforesaid either to bee obtained or expected but by Christ Iesus incarnate who by this Salutatiō made by the voice of an Angell inuited the virgin his mother to giue her consent to his incarnatiō And secondly that we may learne that wee haue in heauen a Patronesse aduocate of our businesse vnto the eternall King vnto whom we committ the care of our requests and supplications put vp vnto Almighty God that by her petitions we may obtaine and haue our cause solicited for vs. Haile that is be thou ioifull happy and secure The B. Virgin being saluted will for her meeke and benigne charity returne Salutation backe againe Mary her proper name which signifieth Lady and Starr of the Sea Full of grace that is adorned with the grace of God Iustice and replenished with all maner of vertewes in her soule in all the powers therof Our Lord is with thee thy thoughts words and workes are pleasing vnto God there is nothing in thee which may displese him and therfore was God neuer absent from thee thou alwaies arte vnited vnto God in heauen Blessed art thou a mougst all women that is thou aboue and beyond all other womē arte blessed first because thou art a mother a Virgin Then because the mother of God thirdly because aduaunced to the highest dignity that could be giuen vnto the women kind that is to say to bee Queene of heauen and earth to be the next vnto Almighty God and aboue all creatures There is one only man that excelleth the Christ King of the worlde both God and man For two chefe principal offices dignities ther were to be bestowed one vnto a man to be King of the worlde an other vnto a woeman to bee the Queene of the world that Christ hath this thou hast granted vnto thee And Blessed is the fruite of thy wombe Iesus that is thy Sonne is trew and perfecte man the same is also the Sonne of God God aboue all things blessed for euermore vnto whom we owe praise thanksgiuing and benedictiō for infinite causes And especially for this that he hath prouided vs thee his mother as Lady Patronesse Aduocate Holy Mary mother of God pray for vs sinners now in the houre of our death Amen worthely maiest thou aske because as our Lady and maistresse thou hast care of vs and it is not hard for thee to obtaine because he is thy sōne whome thou doest aske And to thee we make our praier that by thee we may obtaine all good thinges by whom we haue receiued the Auctor of all goodnesse DIVERSE OTHER deuotions necessary or conuenient for euery Christian to vse Cap. 14. The maner of examining a mans cōscience to be vsed euery night least God perhaps calling vs out of this life do find vs vnprepared 1 THE first is to geue thākes to our Lord God for the fits which he hath bestowed vpon vs both generally and especially of that day 2 The second to aske grace for to know our sinnes and to auoide them 3 The third to take account of our soule orderly by euery houre since we rose first of our thoughts then of our wordes with the same order and also of our deeds 4 The fourth to demaund pardō of our sinnes 5 The fifth to purpose amendment with Gods grace and so to say a Pater noster Aue Credo Confiteor Salue Regina a Pater noster also to our guardian Angell and especiall Patrons with other praiers according to euery ones deuotion The Himne of our Lady called Salue Regina which for the deuoute generall vse therof in the wholle Church is worthely to bee learned euen of the simpler sort SAlue Regina Mater miserecordiae Vita dulcedo spes nostra salue Ad te clamamus exules filii Euae Ad te suspiramus gementes flentes in hac lacrimarum valle Eia ergo aduocata nostra illos tuos miserecordes oculos ad nos conuerte Et Iesum benedictum fructum ventris tui nobis post hoe exilium ostende O clemens o pia o dulcis virgo Maria. Vers Ora pro nobis sancta Dei genetrix Res Vt digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi CONFITEOR Deo omnipotenti Beatae Mariae semper Virgini beato Michaeli Archangelo beato Ioanni Baptistae Sanctis Apostolis Petro Paulo omnibus Sanctis tibi Pater quia peccaui nimis cogitatione verbo opere mea culpa mea culpa mea maxima culpa Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginē beatum Michaelem Archangelū beatum Ioannem Baptistam Sanctos Apostolos Petrum Paulum omnes Sanctos te Pater orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum The same in Englishe I Confesse vnto almighty God to Blessed Mary alwaies a virgin to Blessed Michaiell Archangell to Blessed Ihon Baptist to the holy Apostles Peter paul to all the Saintes * This is to be said onely at Confession and Masse And to you my ghostly Father that I haue greuously sinned in thought word deed my faulte my fault my most great faulte * Here you must leaue vntill you haue don your Cōfession as aboue Therfore I pray blessed Mary alwaies a virgin blessed Michaiel Archangell blessed IOHN Baptist the holy Apostles Peter and Paule all the Saints And you my ghostly Father to pray for me vnto out Lord God The maner of commending our selues to God in the morning 1 FIrst making the signe of the Crosse to geue thākes vnto God for all his benefittes particulerly that he hath preserued vs that night 2 Secondly To offer him our body and soule 3 Thirdly To demaund of his diuine maiesty that whatsoeuer we do that day