comfortlesse with his departure neither thought he it meete that in one day they should be made Orphans being depriued of such a Father and a mother the which this Lady vnderstanding quieted her-selfe and like an humble and obedient hand-maid resigned her wil to his diuine wil saying haply the same wordes in the Ascension which she vttered in the incarnation to wit Beholde the hand maid of our Lord. Hauing then in this wise talked with euery one and taken his leaue of them al behold how by litle and litle he beginneth to eleuate him-self from earth and to mount vpwardes into the aire with his hands lifted vp on high wher-with he blessed thē and with his eyes fixed on them did amiably behold them Here maiest thou meditate what the most sacred virgin with al that holye assembly felt seing him mount vp thus triumphantly how their heartes did rent in twaine through loue and howe they melted againe with teares seing him goe further and further from them and how they withal were incomparably reioyced by beholding the triumphe and Maiestie where-with he ascended and hearing that heauenlye melodie which the Angels and blessed Saintes did make who al of them sounded forth most melodiously the praises of this triumphant Conquerour so that the hearing and seing of these thinges could not choose but make them for ioye and tendernes of heart poure forth plentiful streames of teares O glorious day O Soueraine-sweet solemnitie O most renowned triumphe thus is he honored whom the King of heauen wil honour thus is he exalted who humbled him-selfe so profoundly thus meriteth he to triumph who hath obteined so glorious a victorie Behold O King of heauen thy exaltation and the name aboue al names that was geuen thee for being thus humbled and made obedient to the death of the Crosse Beholde howe thou beginnest nowe to reape the aboundant fruit that was promised thee for hauing lost thy life for our sinnes Beholde the noble triumphe thou hast attained for hauing with such prowes ouercome so daungerous and difficult a daye Gett thee therfore O Lord get thee now to thy rest seing thou hast taken so great paines and carye with thee the arke of thy sanctification that is to saye thy most sacred humanitie which is the most rich arke whereout was taken that pretious treasure of our redemption Be thou exalted aboue al the heauens O my God and thy glorie be ouer al the world Al Angels and al men yeeld thee due adoration and reuerence seing thou hast enriched and reioyced them al with this thy glorious and most miraculous Ascension IN THE THIRDE point thou maiest in like maner enterteyne thee meditating howe the most blessed Mother remained with that holye flocke in the mountaine where she sawe her most glorious Sonne ascende vp to heauen who al of them accompanied him with their corporal eyes whiles they might possiblye discerne him and did after he was once out of sight being receued into a white cloude associate him with their soules Contemplate a while here how she with the other lookers on being al of them deuoutly on their knees fixed their eyes on heauen without anye looking a-side or shifting of places being bereft as it were of al their senses and wholly rauished with this most glorious vision Meditate besides the solemn pompe and reioysing where-with this glorious triumpher king of heauen and of earth was receaued into heuen think as-wel as thou canst with what musike with what songes with what praises and with what reuerence euerie celestial order did receaue and adore him howe the Angels reioyced how the Archangels wondred how the Scraphins burned in loue howe the inferior orders enquired of the superiour that which the Prophet Esaias had so long time before foretolde Who is this that commeth from Edom to witt the world Who is this so beautiful and so attired in new garmentes that ascendeth with so great puissance and triumph with other like words and questions wherof thou maiest meditate according to thy deuotion Contemplate lastly how this most humble Lorde being arriued to the Emperial heauen who as touching his humanitie was lesse then this Father bowed him-selfe downe repeting it may be the same wordes which in his prayer of the last supper he had vsed in the world that is to say My Father I haue preached and announced thy name vpon earth and haue perfected the worke which thou commaundedst me that I should doo now therfore doo thou clarifie me O Father with the clearnes of the glorie which I had with thee before the world was made And then maiest thou meditate how his heauenly Father made him sitt in that high throne on his right hand where he nowe sitteth that is to say that he exalted him made him partaker of the greatest goodes and excellencies that either haue been or euer shal-be graunted to any other yea that no creature can possiblye comprehend which is to be vnderstood in as much as he was man for as he is God he is equal with his Father and hath the same glorye and Maiestie that his Father hath The Prince of glorie being then receaued in this maner who neuer forgetteth them that loue and put their trust in him sent two Angels down to earth to visite his most dear mother with al the other companie as also to informe them of his arriual into heauen and to deliuer such other speeches as he spoke to them by whose comming thou maiest wel weene how great consolation they al receaued what praises and what blessinges they yeelded vnto their Lord whom after they had with most profound humilitie adored they returned with great ioye to Ierusalem Sithens albeit they were sorowful and heauie as being left Orphanes in great solitarines through the absence of such a master and a Shepparde yet for because they loued him better thē them-selues Charitie which seeketh not her owne thinges made them to reioyce more at the prosperitie and glorye of their most louing Lorde then to sorowe the want of their owne consolations This is that which thou mayest meditate touching the historie of this most glorious Ascension and learne withal to desire seeke and sigh for celestial thinges and to lothe al transitorye trashe endeuouring that thy conuersation be in heauen where Christe remaineth sitting on the right hand of his eternal Father A PRAYER LIKE AS O most sacred mother thou louedst Iesus thy most sweet sonne better thē thy selfe euen so didst thou make more accompt of his ioyes and happines thē thou diddest of thine own And therfore albeit thou remainedst behind him here in earth yet diddest thou reioyce greatly when thou sawest him ascend vp to heauen accompanied with the Angels and Saintes he caried with him with such iubilation power and Maiestie as was conuenient for so glorious a triumpher I beseech thee O most holy Lady by this thy ioye that seing thou then remainedst
with exceeding patience First the sharpnes of the season did greatly augment her annoyes sith this iorney was performed in the verye hart of winter when as we see it is verye painful trauailing Secondly her pouertie which forced her to suffer manye discommodities especially being great with childe and so tender and delicate as she was Thirdly the lack of lodging which could not be prouided her in al the whole Citie of Bethleem albeit wel may we beleue that good Ioseph tooke great paines in seeking it very diligentlye and howe seing them-selues thus refused it coulde not be but that they felt great shame and confusion O what a soueraine solace and singuler coÌ„fort should this be for poore folkes that are in this world distressed despised and forsakeÌ„ if they considered how the most woorthy noble and moste holy creatures which ought to haue been more honored reuereÌ„ced then al the whole world again to witt the Queene of heuen and her most blessed Infant were the most distressed annoyed and pained of al others THOV maiest pause in the second point beholding with thy spiritual eyes in what state the moste blessed virgin found her-selfe the day of her most sacred deliueraunce and here shalt thou see in her so vertuous a disposition so holye a deuotion so graue a modestie so singuler a beautie so great an eleuation of spirite in God as no mans tonge can possiblye declare it Thou shalt finde howe in counterchange of griefes which other women feele in child-birth she felt a strange and ineffable solace a singuler ioy and diuine consolation and being there-with wholly rapt and eleuate the celestial bridegrome issued miraculously out of her wombe as out of a most pretious bride-chaÌ„ber without any alteration or detriment at al to her most perfect virginitie O virgin-mother and mother-virgin A priuiledge neuer graunted to any other creature O diuine excellencie and dignitie due to thee alone to be the mother of God and mother of thine owne Father and Creator Who can possibly conceue what thy heart felt when with thy bodily eyes thou beheldest the Prince of heauen lying naked in earth and him shiuering for colde who doth clothe and warme al other creatures O with what reuereÌ„ce diddest thou prostrate thy selfe to adore that infinite Maiestie masked vnder the vaile of so great distresse and miserie Oh with what compassion diddest thou associate with thy teares those which thy deere yonge sonne shed feeling his so great annoiances Oh with what cordial loue endeuouredst thou to lul and lapp him vp in such poore swaddling cloutes as thou haddest geuing him thy sacred brestes to suck vpon which were at that time miraculouslye replenished with milke Matters sufficient to melt anye flintie heart that would with leisure ponder and discusse them THE MEDITATION of the thirde point wil furnish thee of fitt matter to moue compassion if thou consider howe this moste mightie monarche this King of al kinges he whom neither the heauens nor earth can holde and comprehende hath in such wise debased humbled and throwen him-selfe downe in a harde manger vpon a litle haye he whom the Angels doo adore and in whose presence the powers of heauen doo quake againe lieth quaking him-self for colde betwixt two brute beastes O diuine darling what meaneth this geere what humilitie and basenes is this O Soueraine King of glorye what hast thou to doo with the crib thou that hast thy throne aboue the Cherubins how art thou made thus dombe O eternal worde of the Father whye weepest and wailest in such sort thou that art the ioye of al the holy Angels verily thou haste masked thy diuine nature with our humane nature to be the King and Sauiour of Israel and of the vniuersal world The desire which thou hast to redeeme vs moueth thee to doo these strange matters the loue which made thee wel-â—are descend froÌ„ heueÌ„ for our wal-fare causeth thee nowe to be borne and to cloake thy puissance with such penurie and extreme want of al thinges that we shoulde thereby learne to meeke and humble our selues and to detest al pride al pamperinges and delicacies of the fleshe louing the lowlines the penance and the pouertie which thou diddest chuse and teach vs and wouldest for this cause haue thy natiuitie announced to poore Sheppardes of whom thou wast visited and adored the which their visitation and adoration we ought attentiuely to ponder and diligently to imitate A PRAYER VVHAT tongue can woorthely tel O most woorthye Queene of Angels the ineffable ioy and exultation which thou wert seased with in thy moste sacred and virginal child-birth When thou sawest the Redeemer of the worlde borne of thee and adoring him with great reuereÌ„ce didst swaddle him vp in poore cloutes and laide him in a manger where he was announced of the Angels visited of poore shepperds I beseech thee O most happy mother by this his most holy natiuitie that seing he was borne for vs and geuen vnto vs thou wilt obteine me of him that he vouchsafe to be borne in my poore soule with whom I maye be borne anewe and leade henceforth such a new life as maye continually be grateful to his diuine Maiestie Amen OF THE PRESENTATION Lustratur Genetrix templo sistitur Infans Anna Deum atque hominem cum Simeone canit THE FOVRTH IOYFVL Misterie is of the Presentation to witt when our Ladye presented her blessed Sonne in the Temple wherevpon thou shalt meditate as foloweth FIRST how the fortie daies that the Virgin-mother had staide in Bethleem being nowe fully expired she went from thence to Ierusalem there to present her moste sacred Sonne in the Temple meaning to accomplish that which the lawe commaunded al wâ—men to doo in like case SECONDLY consider howe our Lady carying her most sweete Sonne to the Temple that holye olde Father S. Simeon tooke him in his armes who for that cause came at that time to the Temple by inspiration of the holy Ghoste weigh also the consolation he receaued by doing thus and the most deuout speeches which he vttered THIRDLY contemplate the deuotiÌ„ and ioy of that old woman S. Anna that neuer taried out of the Temple when she saw this moste pretious present which the moste sacred mother brought Behold also with what reuerence and spiritual consolation the wel beloued Sonne was offred vp to his celestial Father being accoÌ„panied with so holy and reuerent persons as wer there present AS FOR the first article thou maiest intertaine thy selfe therein meditating howe rightly the virgin-mother doth imitate her blessed sonne especiallye in such thinges as concerne humilitie a vertue so highlye commended and practised of them twaine sith the sonne vouchsafed to be circumcised albeit he were not bound therto nor had any neede at al of Circumcision which appertained to sinners alone and the mother she vouchsafed to fulfil the precept of Purification which oblieged only the vncleane
consider the incomparable sorowe which his most sacred mother felt if as it is thought she were there present and sawe with her bodilye eyes this most woful Spectacle which albeit wer not sufficient to moue those Iewish pitilesse heartes to compassion yet sufficed it to rent the most sorowful Virgins bowels in twaine and to perce through her most heauy and dolorous heart O moste sacred mother looke wel whether this man that Pilate sheweth be thy sweete sonne or no sith hardly canst thou know him with this attire and hew so farre different from that thou wast wont to see him in Thy beloued sonne is white and ruddie the fairest that was euer seene amongst the sonnes of men the brightnes of the eternal light and Mirrour without mole as the sacred writt doth cal him but nowe seing him al bathed him al bathed in blood defiled with spittle al wanne and pale with woes howe canst thou possibly know him Thy sonne O Lady is king of heauen before whom al the powers celestial doo quake and the Dominations doo adore him what hath that crowne of most cruel thornes to doo with him that scepter of reede and that robe of irrision wher-with those caitiues doo thus scorne him yet neuerthelesse albeit by his outward apparaÌ„ce thou canst hardly know him yet maiest thou right easily doo it by his inuincible patience by his profound humilitie by his infinite charitie wher-with he condescended to be thus crowned like a counterfaite king and mocked here in earth that we may merite to be crowned with glory and to reigne with him in heauen A PRAYER THY HEART was whollye wounded with woe on euery side O most doleful mother when thou sawest thine onely sonne king of heauen and of earth crowned with pricking thornes arraied like a counterfeit king made a spectacle and mocking stocke of men and that al this crueltie sufficed not to moue or melt those flintie heartes I humbly beseech thee O most merciful Ladie by this thine ineffable griefe that thy merciful entrals take compassion of my great miserie and seing thou seest wel howe the thorns of mine offences doo pricke and wound my soule obtein me by thine intercession that the succour of diuine grace be aboundantlye graunted to me Amen OF THE CARYING OF THE CROSSE Pondera dum trahit trahitur dum tergaâ— laborant Sub cruce puniceo rore cruentat iter ¶ THE FOVRTH DOLOrous misterie is when our Lorde caried the Crosse on his backe whereon he was to be crucified where-vpon thou shalt meditate the pointes folowing THE FIRST is how miserable Pilate being vanquished with a worldlye feare through the Iewes threatninges wasshing his handes adiudged him to be crucified whom he confessed to be innocent the which his sentence our Lorde and Redeemer accepted very humbly desiring greatlye to dye for our life SECONDLY contemplate how that most heauie Crosse was laide vpon his shoulders which he embraced verye willinglye and did what he could to beare it albeit with great griefe and paine which made him eftsons to fal flatt vnto the grounde THIRDLY how the King of heauen hauing caried the Crosse a good space not being able to go anye further with that haste which they made him doo they not for compassion sake but for the desire they had to put him the sooner to death tooke the Crosse froÌ„ him and caused Cyreneus to beare it and then did our Lorde speake to those deuout wemen which folowed him with weeping eyes amongst whom wel may we deeme that his most holy Mother was AS TOVCHING the firste point thou maiest consider the rage and diabolical obstinacie of those wicked Iewes who seing our Redeemer thus weakned and afflicted in so pitiful a plight as had beene sufficient to make al other heartes to relent although they had bene harder then the verye stones yet were they no whitt at al appeased nor any deale moued to compassion yea they cried out with a terrible fury Crucifie him Crucifie him TheÌ„ might that haue been wel saide by them which Iacob had prophecied saâ—ing Wo woorth their so obstinate furye and their indignation so harde and cruel Where note howe great a mischiefe it is for a man to let him-selfe be blinded and possessed with the Deuil for after he is once come to this point then doth he participate of the same properties and conditions that the Diuel him-selfe is of and by that meanes is his enuie his furie and al his other vices rather hellish theÌ„ humane Note also to the same purpose the blindnes and iniustice of miserable Pilate who hauing so many times confessed that he founde no cause wherefore to condemne our Lorde yea that he was iust knowing also that vpon a spite the Iewes had accused him and deliuered him into his handes yet did he for al this being vanquished with their importunitie and a worldly feare condemne the innocent to suffer death and weeneth wretche that he is howe by the wasshing of his hands his conscience should be cleered They are like to Pilate who for feare of the worlde and of losing their commodities doo defile their consciences and weene to wash them-selues with certain workes and outward apparances wherewith albeit they maye other-whiles cast a mist before mens eyes yet are they once sure they can-not deceaue the eyes of God who looketh chiefly at the heart and meaning of eche one Doo thou therefore good brother considering this point take heed of falling into such like errors and thinke howe it sufsiceth not to beginne wel as Pilate did but it behoueth thee to be constant and to perseuer vntil the ende if thou wilt be saued Lastly thou maiest in this Article consider the gret patience and humilitie wher-with the innocent Lambe accepteth so iniust a senteÌ„ce of death pronouÌ„ced against him by the which he merited that the iust sentence of eternal death set down against vs for our sinnes should be reuoked and that the sentence of absolution and pardon pronounced by the vicar of Iesus Christe when we rightly confesse our selues vnto him might be valable and effectual IN THE second point thou hast great occasion to be sory meditating the crueltie where-with the wicked Iewes presentlye after sentence was pronounced against him which they so earnestly desired and craued doo then take our Redeemer and handle him much more spitefully then they did tofore Pilate nowe hauing geuen him to them to execute freely their furious rage vpon him And if heretofore they handled him so cruelly hauing him but as a prisoner alas what maye we suppose they did to him being now condemned and geuen wholly ouer into their most sacrilegious handes Contemplate with what inhumanitie they stripp off his robes of mockerie where-with they had earst scorned him and put his own clothes on again that he might by that meanes be knowen of euery one heping grief vpoÌ„ griefe ignominie vpon ignominie Behold howe lay that most
her God then anye deare the fountaine of water O most sacred Virgin who can possibly tel with what inflamed desires with what pitiful teares with what continual sighes thou crauedst desiredst to see an end of thy pilgrimage and to be deliuered from thy bodily prison How oft didst thou haply with weeping eyes say to the Angels that came to comfort and visite thee that which the Spouse saide in the Canticles I adiure you that if you meet my louer you tel him froÌ„ me that I languish in his loue Howe oft did this loue and languishing desire wholly rauish thee and transport thee out of thy selfe not being able to eate speake sleepe or attend to any other thing sith thy soule was rather there where it loued then where it liued This being so contemplate then the ineffable gladnes which our blessed Lady felt wheÌ„ by reuelation she knewe the daye to approche wherein she should haue that graunted her which she so gretlye desired If the holy Prophet Dauid reioyced so greatly when it was tolde him that he should go to our Lords house what was the ioy thinkest thou of this great Lady wheÌ„ she vnderstood how she was presently to goe to our Lordes house and that she should see our Lord and dwel perpetually with our Lorde and be more made of and fauoured of our Lorde then al other creatures what-soeuer O blessed day O happie tidinges so much more ioyful as more desired Wel might the most blessed mother say then with Simeon Nowe thou leauest thy seruant O Lorde contented and comforted with the assurance that mine eyes shal see thee who art my Sauiour IN THE second point thou mayest meditate how our Lady so much the neerer as she drewe to her happie departure so much more feruent were her desires so much more zealous her prayers and al her powers so much more quickned For like as her death proceeded not of anye natural infirmitie according as we beleeue by reason of the excellencie of her complexion like to that of her most sacred sonnes so could not the functions of her senses and powers be in any wise impeched Woting therfore that her deth drew nigh some doo contemplate how before her departure she desired to see the Apostles whom she so greatly loued and were dispersed abrode in diuers regions of the world that they might accompanye her in this her last houre geuing vs an exaÌ„ple hereby howe we ought to desire and procure to haue some deuout and spiritual persons to accompanye and comfort vs in this houre of so great peril Our Lord therfore moste bountiful condescending to her desire caused the Apostles miraculously to meete together such as yet were liuing in the world in the house where his most holye mother dwelt who were present at her departure as the great Denis Areopagita affirmeth Consider then howe great was the Apostles consolation finding theÌ„-selues thus asseÌ„bled together and seing their most holy mother and Lady whom they loued so dearly and desired once to see with what reuerence may we deeme did they salute her with what reuerence did they kisse her garments as most pretious reliques with what admiration did they consider her dignitie which they knewe farre better then any other with what coâ—â—tentation did they behold that reuerend visage supposing that in seing her they saw their most derely beloued Lorde and Master How sweet was the communication that was vsed there how feruent the diuine praises that were there celebrated how sweet the tears of tendernes and ioy that were shed there Thinke then with what confidence and contentment this blessed Lady assisted with so notable a company and assured of her conscience expected death which is to others so dreadful Thou must not thinke therefore that she was before her death in any agonie and paine as others are wont to be but howe in mild maner and with a cheerful couÌ„tenance that most holy soul departed out of her body more glittering and more faire then the clere moone O most pure Virgin how truely maye we say that in euery thing the best part hath bene geuen thee The best in thine immaculate conception and Natiuitie which was most pure and free from al sinne the best in thy life which was al holy and a Mirrour of al perfection the best in thy death which made thee no whitt afraide as it doth sinners yea was to thee a passage to true life The best part therfore hath bene geuen thee both in earth and in heauen whether thou wentest to reigne eternally IN THE third point thou mayest pause delighting thy selfe with the consideration howe that most sacred soule departed out of this life the most beautiful the most gratious the most holy of al pure and simple creatures how replenished with merits with giftes with vertues with excellencies and spiritual riches the greatest that may be possibly imagined proportionable to the incomparable dignitie which was bestowed vpon her Consider a while the maner how this most blessed soule accompanied with quires of Angels was conducted vp to the Celestial Court neither are we to doubt at al hereof for if we read of S. Martin and manye mo Saintes of both sex who leauing this life were accompanied with Angels and honored with their heauenly songes I see no reason why this fauor and honour should be denied the holy of holies and more holy and woorthy then al Yea we may not only affirme this to be most true but beleeue with godly deuotioÌ„ that not onely the Angels but that which is more the king of Angels in proper person vouchsafed to come and doo her this honour Herevpon is it that some doo contemplate how the most holy mother being vpoÌ„ the last hour of her blessed departure her most sweet sonne descended from heauen associated with the celestial powers and entred into that blessed house where she laye and beholding her with those his amiable eyes spoke that with a most sweet voice to her which the husband said to the spouse in the Canticles Thou art al faire my frende and there is no blemish at al in thee come from Liban my Spouse come from Liban and crowned shalt thou be That is to saye Come receue the recompence of thy desertes the treasure which thy most holy workes haue merited the crown that is due to thy so excellent vertues Get vp my Doue it is nowe high time to issue out of this exile no toiles no teares no sobbes or sorowes any more Come to enioye the pleasure of those woundes which when they were geuen did occasionate thy so great woes come nowe and rest thee for the paine which thou hast taken Come nowe be merye for that thou hast wailed and wept and for that thou humbledst thy selfe so lowlye come nowe to reigne perpetually These and suche like wordes maiest thou according to thy deuotion meditate to haue
a benefite and yet such was the loue of God towardes the world as without any good desert of our part yea with an infinite number of most enormous crimes the dai being come which his maiestie had before al daies ordeined he remembred them that had forgotten him and with moste rare clemencie vouchsafed to visite them that deserued most seuerely to be chastised and to redresse the endlesse euils and miseries that reigned round about the world albeit so beetle blinde were men as they knewe them not nor any whit perceued theÌ„ And for the doing of this matter he disdained not to ioyne him-selfe to the miserie of humane nature making him-selfe man for vs and thral to thousands of annoyes for our saluation O inestimable Charitie O infinite liberalitie Lorde thou liberally departest with more to the world theÌ„ it either durst craue or wish for at thi handes What diddest thou espie in vs O Lorde to constrain thee in such lowly wise to visite vs what wer our merits towardes thee what seruices had we performed to thy diuine maiestie thy mere goodnes it is that only prouoketh thee therto that thy mere clemencie causeth thee to descend from heaueÌ„ to earth and to take humane fleshe in the blessed virgins wombe for our wel-fare which made thee earst to descend down into the bushe taking pitie of thy peoples affliction and to procure their deliuerance as then thou saidest to Moises whereby thou figuredst this thy second discent of clothing thy selfe with the mantel of our humanitie Al the Angels praise and thank thee for this thine ineffable mercy seing man can-not condignely thanke thee therefore nor yet acknowledge it sufficientlye IN THE seconde point thou shalt haue a plentiful subiect to dilate vpoÌ„ considering on thone side the qualitie of the Ambassadour which God sent downe for the dealing in this affaire his high estate being one of the principal Angels of heauen the beautie and brightnes of body wherin he appered to the most sacred virgin the humilitie reuerence wherwith he saluted her the gratious speeches replenished with al consolation which he vsed towards her the great skil and wonderful wisdom he shewed in reporting his Commission to her declaring by degrees the diuine misterie of the Incarnation In this maner maiest thou likewise discourse vpon al the other circumstances On th'other side weigh wel the excellencie and souerain dignitie of her whom this ambassage was sent to her modest countenance in harkening her graue prudence in pondring the wordes that were spoken to her that wel-beseeming bashfulnes which made her blush in hearing her owne praises the feruent zeal she caried to virginitie which made her make answere meaning to be assured thereof the liuely faith wher-with she firmly beleeued al that was on Gods behalfe announced her for the which she was of her cousin S. Elizabeth singulerly coÌ„meÌ„ded lastly the profouÌ„d humi with she resigned and gaue vp her self as our Lord his obedient seruant he hauing chosen her for his beloued mother If thou discusse diligently al these particularities as al other the like circumstances of this diuine misterie thou shalt finde thy selfe rapt into such an admiration as shal make thee crie out with the Roial Psalmist Dauid Great and wonderful is thy wisdome O Lord it is so high as I cannot comprehend it It surpasseth my retche and vnderstanding sithens of what side soeuer thou turnest thee in this Ambassage thou shalt finde great and right miraculous meruailes Great is the message great the Lord that sent it gret is the personage to whoÌ„ it was sent great the Ambassadour that brought it great is the affaire that is intreted of great and meruailous the maner of proceeding in it Our Lorde be lauded euery wher that doth so gret matters both in heauen and earth IF THOV desire to staye vpon the third point thou shalt neuer want matter meditating the thinges that tooke effect presentlye after the Queene of heauen had geuen her coÌ„sent saying Fiat mihi secundùm verbum tuum Be it done vnto me according to thy worde Sith in that verye instant the most sacred body of Iesus was by vertue of the holy ghost formed of the most pure bloud of the blessed virgin Mary and in the selfe same instant was his glorious soule created and infused in his body and in the â—ame instant was his most holy humanity vnited with the eternal word of God in one self-same person And thence-forth was the blessed virgin mother of God Queene of Angels and men ful of grace replenished with al the giâ—tes and prerogatiues meete for so incomparable a dignitie O Fiat most puissant and effectual with an-other Fiat God did earst make the heauens earth and al the creatures of the world yet were ther farre greater more important matters made with this Fiat seing that by means of this Fiat the same God made him-self maÌ„ and maÌ„ was made God with al the other right woÌ„derful workes that proceed out of this chaÌ„ge most miraculous metamorphosis O mightie Lady thou hast not said without cause in thy Canticle That he which is mightie hath done great things vnto thee and what greter matters might there be then to haue made thee his mother thou enioying stil thy pure and immaculate virginitie what greter matter theÌ„ to haue made thee his temple and the sacred tabernacle of the holy Ghost what greater matter then he whoÌ„ the cope of heauen can not conteine to haue vouchsafed to shut him-self vp in thy sacred woÌ„be it being made thereby a celestial Paradise wherein the Angels delite to adore their Maker Verilye the Almightie hath done great matters to thee wherby thy spirite may rightly reioyce and without intermissioÌ„ magnify him who hath so highly magnified thee And we al may rightly for the same cause coÌ„gratulate with thee and praise and reuerence thee perpetually endeuouring our selues al we may to be thy true faithful seruaÌ„ts A PRAYER GREAT and ineffable was the ioye O moste sacred virgin Mary which thy most holy hart was seased with wheÌ„ being saluted by the Angel Gabriel and vnderstanding the cause of his Ambassage thou with a most profouÌ„d humilitie resignest thy selfe into our Lorde his handes and wert presently thervpoÌ„ made the true mother of thine owne Father Creator I beseech thee Lady by this thine incomparable dignitie that with thy worthy praiers thou wilt obtein me abuÌ„daÌ„t grace wherby I may coÌ„ceue spiritually the self-same Lorde and knowe alwaies howe to keepe him in my soule Amen THE VISITATION Visitur Elizabeth Christumque salutat ab aluâ— Infans qui geminae legis alumnus erat THE SECOND IOYFVL Misterie is touching our blessed Ladye her visiting of S. Elizabeth wherevpon thou maiest meditate these three articles or pointes folowing THE FIRST is how our Lady hauing by the Angels reuelation vnderstoode howe her Cousin was nowe sixe monthes gone with child she with an
euermore which maketh thee respect more our profite then thine owne peculier torment Consider also how many mischiefes a vain loue and feare of the worlde is cause of where-with this miserable Pilate let him-selfe be ouercome sith that confessing him-selfe that he founde no fault in our Sauiour and knowing that he was accused of mere malice yet for al this did he condemne him iniustly to this torment and afafterwardes to death making more accompt of his owne interest then of iustice and of truth IN THE second point thou maiest entertaine thy selfe meditating with great compassion the crueltie wherewith those vile and wicked ministers stripp the most innocent Lorde of his clothes and binde him with hard cordes fast vnto a piller Consider that his mildnes more then of a Lambe wher-with he suffereth him selfe to be stript and tied without making anye resistance for ought that they could doo to him Beholde with the eyes of thy mind that most sacred body more beautiful then al mens howe it stood al naked ful of shame with necke armes and feete fast bound vnto the piller in maner of a slaue waiting for that greeuous punishment which he was forthwith to receaue and weigh that his redie and prompt wil wher-with he haply saide inwardly that verse of the prophet Dauid I am redie to be whipt and my griefe is alwaies in my sight O most sweete Redeemer me thinkes I see thee fast bound to that hard piller howbeit these cordes be they neuer so stronge would litle auaile to holde thee if thou wert not more straitlye bound therto with the bandes of thy most burning charitie the which tied thee much faster with the desire which thou haddest to warme and mollifie our heartes harder a great deale and more frosen then the piller of marble whereto thou art thus bound They stripp thee like a slaue that being starke naked they maye more cruelly scourge thee and thou willingly consentest thereto that by this meanes thou maiest vesture with thy graces and set at libertie those who had earst with their vices made them-selues the slaues of Satan IN THE third point thou maiest pause very conueniently sith therein thou shalt finde more ample matter to melt thy heart with considering that cruel rage wherewith those wicked executioners beginn to beat this most sacred virginal bodye causing that white flesh to turne to a sanguin hewe and howe with the violence of their blowes they flea his tender skin in such pitiful wise as his most pretious bloud gushed out al ouer his body the which was so barbarouslye torne and wounded that he might wel pronounce that which was writtē of him There is no soundnes in my flesh Beholde nowe O my soule beholde attentiuely this most ruful spectacle and take compassion of such a Lord who hath vouchsafed to suffer suche paines for thee beholde that Reuerend visage made pale and heauie lening against that hard piller wherto he presseth him-selfe close through the most vehement pains he suffreth which made him to breathe verye short and to sounde out most lamentable sighes Beholde howe he standeth fast tied and bounde vnto the piller shedding his bloud on earth his eyes lifted vp to heauen offering those most grieuous tormentes to his celestial Father which he endured most willingly for our trespasses Cōsider how al this punishment and affliction which he suffered sufficed not to disquiet or make him lament at al yea the tormentours waxing wery through the infinite number of blowes which they had laide on him yet was not he for al that weried with suffring and his body being al torne and rent yet was his soule and courage alwaies sounde and readie to abide greater tormentes through his insuperable charitie O immaculate Lambe howe doo I see thee al forlorne besprinkled and died with thy most pretious bloud and thou not onely standest without wailing like other Lambes before them that shere thee but also before them that strike and whipp thy virginal body thou neither speakest nor complainest thee at al. O most sacred Virgin if thou hadst seene the pitiful plight wherin thy most sweete sonne stood bound naked couered with blud and blowes howe would thy heart haue been couered and wounded with mortal woe seing him not onely bereft of that robe which with thine owne handes thou haddest wouen for him but also without a great part of the skinne and bloud which he had taken in thy virginal wombe O how much more iustlye mightest thou haue lamented then Iacob did and vpon greater cause haue saide that which he saide Enuie that most cruel beast hath deuoured my sonn she it is that hath thus wounded and ill intreated him Behold O my soule howe meruailous is the mercie and charitie of thy Lorde that hath endured al these thinges to shadowe thee with his shoulders and with his woundes to heale thy woes vouchsafing to take the correction and chastisment due to thee vppon him that thou mightest present this satisfaction to the eternal Father crauing humblye that it maye please him for these so great and cruel beatinges of his beloued sonne to diuert from thee the whipp of his wrath which thou through thine offences hast most iustly merited A PRAYER O MOST holy Lady who can possibly conceaue how greuous was the sorowe of thy soule when the virginal body of thy most sweete sonne fast bound to the piller was with most cruel scourges whipped O howe did his cordes gripe thy heart howe did his wounds occasionate thy woes I beseech thee therefore holding vp my handes to thee in humble wise O mother of mercie by the moste vehement anguish of this his and thine affliction that sithens he hath been tied for my trespasses I maye be losed by meanes of thy sacred intercessions and that I may for the merite of so manye his blowes escape the punishment due vnto my most greeuous sinnes Amen OF THE CORONATION Spinea serta caput pungunt illudit amictus Purpureus turbis Ecce homo Praetor ait ¶ THE THIRD DOLOrous Misterie is of the Coronation whē our Redeemer was crowned with thorns about the which thou shalt meditate these pointes FIRST howe these cruel ministers hauing beaten our most patient Lorde vntil they were werie they then vnlose him from the piller and how he hauing very hardly made shift to gett on his clothes they stripp him anewe to put on that cote of scorne SECONDLY howe Pilate his souldiers scorned him putting on his backe an olde purple garment crowning him with a crowne of sharpe thornes and geuing him in his hande a reede in stead of a sceptre howe they adored him in mockerie saying Al haile king of the Iewes smote him with the reede and gaue him manye blowes THIRDLY howe hauing thus scorned and mocked him a good while Pilate caused him to be brought forth and shewed him to the Iewes saying Ecce homo Behold the man that by
time of thy dere Son his passiō the bright and calme day of his Resurrectiō appered to thee wherein thy heart was incomparably reioyced seing him risen vp glorious immortal and impassible I beseech thee O glorious Ladi by that ineffable exultation which thou receauedst on this most happy dai that it mai plese thee to make me partaker therof obteining me that I may dye to mine old life of sinn and may rise vp againe with a newe life of grace by means wherof I may afterwardes attaine to the true and perpetual life of glory Amen THE ASCENSION Victor agit spolijs auctos in sydera currus Et Patris aeterna dexter in arce sedet ¶ THE SECOND GLOrious Misterie is of the Ascension of our Lorde concerning the which thou maiest meditate these pointes folowing FIRST how our Lord appered the fortie day after his Resurrection to his Disciples then being at table and blamed their slacknes and difficultie in beleeuing his Resurrection and afterwardes taught them what they ought to doo after his Ascension and commaunded them to goe to Mount Oliuet there to see him ascend SECONDLY thou shalt meditate howe al our Lord his Disciples being gathered together in the Mount Oliuet as also the most holye mother our Lady and the other deuout women there with them our Sauiour came to the place where they were hauing with him those blessed troupes which he had earst deliuered out of Limbo and after he had spoken to them and bidd them al fare-wel he beganne in their sightes to mount vp to heauen with great triumph and exultation THIRDLY consider how the blessed mother with the Disciples and other deuout womē as they were al-together looking vp to heauen where they saw our Lord ascend there descended two Angels downe cladd in white aduertising them to make no longer abode there and then they al of them returned backe to Ierusalem IN THE firste point thou maiest meditate the exceeding clemencie and lowlines of this our Lord who being that he was did neither disdaine ne was ashamed to visite his poore seruants and to stay with them in any time place or disposition whatsoeuer Sith as the Gospel telleth he appered to them when they were at table and peraduenture did eate with them therby to doo thee to witt that thou maiest at al times and in al places securely cal vpon him and howe thou oughtest to enforce thy selfe to order al thine actions in such sort as if euery houre thou diddest expect his holye visitation Note moreouer howe his checkes and scoolinges be of a Father that loueth vs right tenderly and is greatly desirous of our profite Like as thou seest here howe after he had found fault with his Disciples incredulitie he forthwith taught and instructed them of that they ought to doo in going rounde about the world besides other graces and fauours which he did impart vnto thē At what time therefore thou feelest either inwardly his rebukes or outwardly his roddes be not troubled thereat nor anye deale discouraged but beleeue assuredlye that in thus exercising his whipp he doth like a louing Father who as holye writt doth witnes Chastiseth him whom he loueth and scourgeth him whom he taketh for his childe Contemplate then the singuler ioye wher-with the holy Apostles were surseased in beholding their most louing Master and and with what attention they gaue eare to his diuine wordes and if the most holy mother wer thē present amongst them as with godly deuotiō we may beleeue she was howe much more she desired to behold and heare her sonne then to taste any corporal foode and if at other times when she was at table with him she forgot to eate her meat as we may wel beleeue she did through the contentatiō she receaued by looking of him howe much more did she so this last time woting how presently after he was to depart this world O sacred virgin who can possibly conceue with how sundry cogitations thy heart was at that instant occupied for on th'one side thou wast delighted with beholding his so amiable presence on th'other side thou languishedst vnbethinking thee how not many houres after he should be taken from thee and that thou shouldest remaine here in earth he ascending vp to heauen whose absence could not choose but be greatly grieuous to thee in such sort as the self-same cause and obiect did make thee both glad and sorowful howbeit this did in th'end chieflye comfort thee that thou knewest such to be his wil and pleasure wherto continually thou diddest conform thy selfe IN THE meditation of the second point thou maiest intertaine thy self being a matter of great deuotiō considering the wonderful Ascension of our Lorde and beholding with the eyes of thy minde euery particularitie of the maner of his ascending the which wil no doubt afford thee gret comfort and spiritual fruit For if the Prophet Elias promised to geue his Disciple Heliseus the gift of his spirite which he required if so be he saw him ascend in that fierie chariot where-in he was transported into earthly Paradise howe much more iustly mayest thou hope to obteyne a greater gifte if thou contemplate and viewe with the eyes of thy minde deuoutly and with attention howe not the Prophete Elias but the Lorde of al the prophetes ascendeth not in a chariot of fire but by his owne vertue and power not into terrestral Paradise but into the Emperial heauen where he sitteth on the right hande of his eternal Father and if as S. Paule saith Christe when he ascended into heauen gaue many giftes to men wel maiest thou beleeue he wil doo the same euen nowe towardes them that doo spirituallye contemplate the same Ascension Open therefore thine internal eyes and with great faith and attention beholde howe the most holye Virgin with al that blessed companye that associated her being arririued to the mount Oliuet her most sweete sonne came also to the same place with the sacred spoiles of so many soules as he had earst deliuered out of Limbo Doo nowe contemplate with howe great sweetnes and affabilitie he talked to euerye one with howe great benignitie he embraced euerye one with howe great charitie he blessed and comforted euerye one and if he did thus to al consider in what maner he behaued him-selfe towardes that his most sacred Mother who loued him more then al merited more then al and was more tenderlye moued then al with his departure O howe much more sugred wordes maye we thinke he spake to her howe much more singuler fauours he did her and howe much more amiably he embraced her The blessed mother desired to accompanie her most dear sonne without whose presence and company her life was lothsome and painful to her how-beit it was not graūted her our Lord vouchsafing that she for some time should remaine here in the world as a Keeper and comforter of that litle flock which the good Sheppard left
in the world for the succour and consolation of man that I may neuer be destitute of thy protection to th'ende that by meanes thereof I may know my selfe to be a pilgrime in this world and that my thoughtes and conuersation maye be principally in heauen where the self-same Lorde reigneth in the glory of God his Father Amen OF THE COMMING OF THE HOLY GHOST Iam Mariae socijsque datur Paracletus Olympâ— Munere quo magno munera magna parant ¶ THE THIRD GLORIous Misterie is of the coÌ„ming of the holye Ghost concerning the which thou shalt meditate these pointes folowing FIRST howe the most sacred Virgin and that holy assemblye which was present at our Redeemer his AscensioÌ„ remained together in the dining chamber or refectorie of Ierusalem expecting the comming of the holye Ghost like as the same Lord had commaunded them to doo SECONDLY consider how on Whitsonday al of them being in the same place and deuoutly at their prayers the holy Ghost came in forme of fyrie tonges which were seene ouer â—che one of the Apostles heades who were greatlye retoyced and comforted with this comming THIRDLY consider the meruailous effects which the holy Ghost wrought in them sith they which before were shutt close vpp for feare of the Iewes presently after they had receaued the holy Ghost issued forth preaching with great feruour in the streates and market-places by the which preachinges a great multitude of people was conuerted IN the first point thou mayest entertain thy self meditating howe the most sacred Virgin with al the Apostolical Societie remained secret in the great hal of Sion expecting in great peace charitie and vnion that celestial CoÌ„forter which our Lord had promised them Thinke what sighes what sobbes and what store of teares they shedd and how feruent and continual praiers they made in this behalfe and learne thou that if so be thou couet to haue the same comforter come to thee it behoueth thee necessarilye to haue the same disposition that is to say to be vnited with al in perfect peace and charitie estranged from al strife and contention sith this diuine spirite wil that such as dwel in the house where he is to come be of this dispositioÌ„ like as contrarywise the wicked spirite where-soeuer he soiourneth doth what he can to sow furious debates and enmities This L. wil also be greatly longed for and inuited with often praier according to that our Sauiour said once with a loude voice If any be athirst let him come to me and drink Which he ment by the holy Ghost which al they were to receaue that would beleeue in him Note moreouer in this point how the Apostles went not forth to preache before they had receaued the holy Ghost like as their Master had warned theÌ„ tofore whence such as are to exercise the same office may learn how before they beginne it behoueth them to with-draw them-selues and to pray for the receauing of the same spirite without the which the worde they preache shal-be of smal efficacie and auaile Here maiest thou meditate in like maner how feruent and deuout were those prayers which our Lady made in this place who vnderstoode much better then the rest the cause of this their retyring and of how great importance and woorthines was the spirite which they required by whose meanes the Gospel was to be preached through the vniuersal world O happie was that habitation where such worthie persons remained more happy the exercises wherto they addicted them-selues but most happie the tresure and the consolation which they looked for O Harbour far more excellent and delicate then is the terrestral Paradise howe iustly might that be applied to it which Iacob had earst said Verily our Lorde is in this place this is the house of God this is the batche of heauen Sith here there was nothing thought of but God nothing spoken of but God nothing desired and wisshed for but onely God him-selfe AS TOVCHING the second point thou hast a plentiful subiect to warm thy soule with entertaining thy selfe in meditating the comming of the holy Ghost Thou maiest therefore thinke with godly zeale according to thy deuotion howe after that sacred Colledge had beene thus assembled together certaine dayes geuing them selues diligentlye to the exercise aforesaide and seing howe the holye Ghost staied longer in his comming then they desired they beganne to be heauie for as it is written The delaied hope afflicteth the soule yea and some did haply beginne to doubt Our Ladye vnderstanding their affliction like a true mother and comforter of the afflicted endeuoured al she might to comfort and harten them persuading them to perseuer in their prayers with greater feruour and faith assuring them how they should be sooner visited and comforted of the holy Ghost then they looked for and to animate them the better fel her-selfe to her prayers with them Contemplate nowe howe the pitiful mother kneeling on the grounde with her handes and eyes eleuate vp to heauen wholly inflamed in diuine loue pouring forth aboundant streames of bitter teares did with great instance and feruour craue that the celestial Comforter whom they expected would vouchsafe to come and amongst other deuout speeches wherof thou maiest meditate she vttered likely ynough that sentence of the royal Prophet Dauid Sende Lord thy holy spirite and they shalbe created to witt new affectes newe thoughtes new wordes newe force in these thy seruants which desire and craue thee And so shalt thou renew the face of the earth O how great consolatioÌ„ did the praiers and speeches of this most blessed Lady geue to this holy CongregatioÌ„ howe exceedingly did she comfort them how did she inflame theÌ„ howe did she animate and stirre them vp to doo the same A most pleasant and deuout thing is it to meditate and viewe with our spiritual eyes this prayer which the most holy mother made in earth but much more to coÌ„template that which the most sacred Sonne as man made in heauen like as he had promised to his Disciples saying I wil pray my Father that he wil geue you an-other Comforter Whose prayer thou maiest wel thinke how feruent how gratious how effectual and acceptable it was to his eternal Father especially when he presented to him those most sacred woundes which so lately he had receaued and reserued to this ende Thus so many deuout prayers so many sighes wishes sobbs and teares hauing been made before on whitsonday at the third hour which was the selfe-same daye and houre wherin the old lawe had earst bene geuen in the mount Sinai they receaued the holy Ghost in the mount Sion who engraued the newe and Euangelical lawe not in tables of stone as before but in their heartes of flesh those tonges of fire which wer seene ouer the Apostles signifying the fire of diuine loue which he kindled in their heartes and the eloquence which