faithfully serue thee perfectly obey the with my wholl hart alwaies study to please thee Aue Maria. 1 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that hast fore-chosen a most noble Virgin to be thy mother which beeing prefigurated before and of holy parents conceiued and borne without sinne thou hast replenished with vertues and all good things Graunt me grace I beseech thee that I may perfectly knowe my sinnes and mine owne base condicion and with trew contrition and an holy hatred to bewaile them and to detest and eschew whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight Aue Maria 2 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thanks which hast inspired that most amiable maide the most honest and beautifull Virgin Mary which was to be thy mother to offer and dedicate her selfe vnto thee to be thy temple and to vow perpetuall virginitie O Blessed Iesu graunt me most perfite chastitie both of mind and body and most feruēt deuotion simplicity puritie and stablenes of hart Aue Maria. 3 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that wouldest haue that most chast Virgin Mary to be espoused to IOSEPH a virgin and both to be preserued immaculate in puritie O that I could obtaine that grace fauour at thy hands that I might ouercome and contemne the world with all the vices and concupiscences thereof and alwaies adhere cleaue vnto thee with a most burning and sincere loue Aue Maria. 4 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that hast voutsafed to salute the most holy Virgin by an Angell and to make her fruitfull by the holy Ghost and to be incarnate in her wombe O most sweet Iesu I hūblie beseech thee to make my harte so free from all sinne and vice that it may be vnto thee a perpetuall habitation Aue Maria. 5. O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that hast vouchsafed to be carried nine monethes in the wombe of a Virgine and to be knowne and foretold by thy precursor not yet borne I humblie beseech thee so to wounde my harte with thy most chaste loue that it may loathe all worldlye thinges and without intermission feele and perceaue thee the inhabit our and Possessour therof Aue Maria. 6 O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes whom the immaculate Virgin brought forth whth-out paine destitute of lodging in a strange place O most sweet Iesu I humbly beseech thee alwaies to replenish my hart with the grace of true and perfitt contrition that I may deserue to be vnto thee a childe of eternall adoption Aue Maria. 7 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes who in pouerty colde being laide in a manger art praised by Angells and adored by Shepherdes Grant that in thy seruice I neuer wexe colde or faint and relent in thy laude praise Aue Maria. 8 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that hast voutsafed to be circumcised and wounded and for our cōfort to be named Iesus I humbly beseech thee by the she ding of thy pretious blood that I may deserue throughly to be clēsed and alwaies to be preserued from all fault and offence Aue Maria. 9 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that wert sought adored and honoured with giftes by the three Sages O most sweete Iesu giue me grace alwaies to resigne and offer my selfe wholie vnto thee and that I may spend and employ all my strength and all that whasoeuer I am or can be at any time in thy loue honour and pleasure Aue Maria. 10 A Praier to the wound of the leafte foote O MOST louing and sweete Iesus vnto thee be praise honour and glory for the woūd and greife of thy leafte foote In this woūde I doe bide all my negligences trespasses and debtes beseeching thee to supply them to iustifie me and to replenish and confirme me with thy eternall grace in which I may growe and increase and which I may neuer haue the power to lose Pater noster 1. O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that thou wouldest bee offered in the Temple and with the most pure Virgin thy mother be subiecte to the lawe O most sweet Iesus giue vnto me most perfect humilitie wherby I may detest all the glory of the world forsake all honour and deuoutly submit my selfe become obedient to euery man for thy sake Aue Maria. 1. O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that in thy infancie with thy blessed mother diddest suffer the persecution of Herod togither with the flight and banishment into Egipt Graunt that I may willingly and patiētly beare all aduersitie faithfully cleaue vnto thee in all tribulation Aue Maria. 2. O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that remaininge in the Temple being sought for by thy mother after three daies werte found againe O most sweet Iesu I humbly beseech thee that with my wholle hart with a zealous desire I may feruently thirst after thee incessantly seeke thee and so happely finde thee that I may neuer loose thee againe Aue Maria. 3 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that didest liue secretly with thy mother thirtie yeeres vnknowne wouldest be thought the sonne of a Carpenter I humbly beseech thee that thy grace may roote out all arrogancie in me and extinguish all pride that I may not loue to be seene or to set forth my selfe but to be vnknowne to be accounted base and vile Aue Maria. 4. O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that for our sakes didest voutsafe to be baptised in Iordan and by thy Father to be declared from Heauen Graunt that I by continuall teares may be clensed from all sinnes and vices that I may deserue alwaies wholly to be dronke with the loue of thee and desire of the life to come Aue Maria. 5 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that fasting in the Desert diddest voutsafe to be tempted by the Deuill O most sweet Iesu protect me with thy grace and make me to escape all the deceites of the Deuill and in thy power to ouercome all temptations Aue Maria. 6 O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that for the health of foules weart wearied out with praiers and continuall preaching Grant me feruently to thirst thy honour and the health of soules for the same zealously to spend my body and all that I haue Aue Maria. 7 O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee
and Aue Maria nor any more charge thē the price of a paire of Beades nor any choice of place or situation of body but as it shall like the partie either to stand site lye walke or kneele especially hauing no burden of conscience or charge of sinne if it be omitted who seeth not thē how easie it is and with what facilitie it may be obserued yea who seeth not how great and carelesse a negligence and how contemptuous a singularitie it were to omit so generall a profession This facilitie is also the greater for that there beeing diuers Societies of our LADY Diuers Societies of our Lady euery one of which doth laudably endeuour to aduaunce the honor of so holye a creature to theire owne singuler great gaine of deuotion vertue and merite in euery one are diuerse bondes either of rehearsing some certaine praiers euery day or of ofte Confessing and Receiuing or of some more stricte obseruance then is necessarie or easie and expedient for euery Christian But in this of the Rosary that it may the rather be imbraced of all though there be spirituall rewardes almost for euery godly action in which euery man according to his deuotiō may exercise him self yet is there no generall bond but only to the rehearsing of the Beades thrice a weeke as shall be shewed hereafter One only necessarie bond in this Society and that without the incurring of any sinne by the omission therof as hath bene saide before yea and that also may be supplied by an other who performeth the due exercise for his brother being either sicke or otherwise hindered as afterward shall appeare But besides the facilitie there are other more singuler commodities herein For secondly there is the speciall patronage and protectiō of the same most blessed and glorious Virgin The patronage of our Lady For although she be worthely called a most louing aduocate of all faithfull Christians yet there no doubt doth her care more aboūd where she hath most mercifully chosen gathered knit togither such as she meaneth singulerly to tender she hauing declared by sundry miracles the familiar rpouidēce which she carieth ouer this her familie Godly meditation Thirdly in this deuotion of the Rosary is daily with great fruit remembred the principall pointes of the life of our Sauiour and of his holy Mother in so much that the daunger of which the Prophet complaineth when he saith that the wholle earth was brought to desolation Hier. 12 because there was not who did meditate or ponder in his hart by this deuout exercise of Christian duety is by all estates of men vtterly auoided whilest euery deuout Catholicke dailye when he saieth his beades doth as it were in a booke read and reuerentlye laieth before his eies Christ our Sauiour incarnat in his Mother The 15. misteries of the Rosary sanctifying IOHN Baptist his holy Precursor lying in a manager offered vp to his Father in the Temple teaching the Doctors praying in the Garden cruelly whipped crowned with thornes carying his Crosse and exalted theron for our redemption rising againe ascending into heauen sending his holy Spirite and gratious giftes vnto men taking vp with childly affection his most holy Mother euen corporally vnto heauen and exalting and crowning her ouer all his holy Saintes and Angells Wherof what gratitude what humilitie what charitie what spurres vnto all vertue may be ingendered in Christian mindes let euery one consider it is not our purpose now to expoūd And although this manner of remembring the life of Christ may be practised by any one which is not of this Society yet both this maner of deuiding religiously honouringe these holy misteries was first commended of S. DOMINICKE to this holy confraternitie not without a speciall reuelation as it is credibly thought of the B. Virgin and such vertuous practise will then be more acceptable when it is performed with a relation and respect as of one of this so fauored a Societie 4 Fourthlye this holy Societie hath many Indulgences or Pardons annexed vnto the saying of the Rosary Indulgences as shall hereafter appeare Of the profit wherof as it is not lawfull for any Catholicke to doubt so were it to long here to intreate Only this will I say that although there be perhapps many greater Indulgences graunted vnto diuerse Graines then these of this confraternity yet are not these to be neglected but rather greatly to be esteemed for to causes First for so many other commodities as are in this Societye which cannot be obtained without saying once a weeke the Rosary for respecte of this Society Wherfore although one would for desire of greater Indulgence applye the saying of his Beades vnto other graines yet is it verye expediēt thrise a weeke to apply his intention vnto the Society of the Rosary saying his beades as a member therof for than is he sufficiently disposed to receaue the fruites of the same Societie although he should neuer so often besides by saying the same seeke the INDVLGENCES of halowed graines Secondly for that a sufficient cause beeing required for the valew of an Indulgēce as the Diuines do teach these Indulgēces being confirmed by so diuers Popes and hauing the valew of a cause from the influence of so diuers members which in this Society euery where tend vnto one end of the seruice and honour of God and his blessed Mother must of necessitie haue an vndoubted and more aboundant effect 5 Fifthly there is in this confraternitie an inestimable treasure of the mutuall participation of all the good works done by the persons of the same The participation of spirituall good of the wholle order of S. Dominick as wel Freers as Nunnes So that besids the generall influence which for the cōmuniō of Saints in the Church of God is from one mēber of Christ his misticall body vnto another by which one member reioiceth with another suffereth with and for an other and the aboundāce of one supplieth the want and pouertie of an other so that both be in gods grace without the which neither Indulgences may be obtained nor the participation of good workes either giuen or receiued There is a more speciall benefite and participation in this Society by the particuler application of those which may by authoritie distribute so great a treasure of all that Fasting Praying Watching Almes other works of Christian pietie as are by so many so godly so farre dispersed persons euery day and moment performed 6 Last of all the benefitte of this Society lasteth after death also as shall be shewed also hereafter The benefite after death For when the Soules departed in the flames of Purgatorie yeldeth satisfaction for sinnes not perfectly remitted in this world it may by the ordinary suffrages of Gods Church be releeued as vnto all Christians departed in Gods grace is common But hee which for a soule departed of this SOCIETY offereth the vsuall deuotions of the same besides
descend into Purgatorye and yeeld refreshing vnto all the soules Aue Maria. 5. O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that rising from death didest appeare gloriouse first vnto thy mother then vnto Mary Magdalene and the Apostles O most sweet Iesu graunt me perfectly to die to all vices passions and disordered manners to liue vnto thee to please thee and to taste and desire heauenly thinges only Aue Maria. 6 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that didest ascend into heauen with the triumphe of Angells the cōpany of the Fathers I humblye beseech thee that my minde may alaies languishe in thy loue loath all worldly things and feruently hunger and thirst thee alone and that nothing may delighte me nothing make me glad but thou ô my Lord Cod. Aue Maria. 7. O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that hast geuen the holy ghost sent thy Disciples to cōuert the worlde geue mee most pure simplicity of harte and perpetuall stablenes of minde geue me most feruent most faithfull constant charitie that the holye ghost may fill gouerne posesse me to the end that he may make me worthy to be more and more replenished with the giftes of his grace Aue Maria. 8. O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that hast glorified thy Mother assumpted in bodie and soule and hast geuen her vnto vs most mightie and mercifull By her merittes graunt me thy grace and perseuerance in all goodnes that I may neuer relent in thy seruice nor by indiscretion euer exceed Aue Maria. 9 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thanks that art to come as Iudge and to giue either punishment or reward O most mercifull Iesus graunt me so to finish my wholle life accordinge to thy pleasure that my soule departing out of the bodie may goe immediately vnto thee her Creator with great loue towardes thee where shee may praise blesse thee for euer in thy glory with all thy Saintes Amen Aue Maria. 10. ANOTHER MANER OF deuiding the Rosary of 150. Aue Maries according to the misteries of the life of our Sauiour taken out of the Italian booke of the Rosary Cap. 10. Contemplations vpon the first ioifull Misteries Of the Annunciation Pater noster MISSVS est Angelus Gabriel a Deo in ciuitatem Galileae cui nomen Nazareth Luc. 1. The Angell Gabriell was sent of God into a citie of Galilee called Nazareth Aue Maria. Ad virginem desponsatam viro cui nomen erat Ioseph Luc. 1. de domo Dauid et nomen Virginis Maria. To a Virgin dispoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid and the Virgins name was MARIE Aue Maria. Et ingressus Angelus ad eam dixit Aue gratia plena dominus teeum benedicta tu in mulieribus Luc. 1. And the Angell being entred in saide vnto her Haile full of grace our Lord is with thee bles sed art thou among women Aue Maria. Quae cum audisset turbata est in Sermone eius et cogitabat qualis esset ista Salutatio Luc. 1. Who hauing heard was troubled at his saying thought what maner of Salutatiō this should be Aue Maria. Et ait Angelus ei ne time as Maria inuenisti enim gratiam apud Deum And the Angell said to her Luc. 1 feare not Mary for thou hast foūd grace with God Aue Maria. Ecce concipies in vtero et paries filiū et vocabis nomen eius Iesum Behold thou shalt conceiue in thy womb Luc. 1 shalt beare a sonne thou shalt call his name Iesus Aue Maria. Hic erit magnus filius Altissimi vocabitur He shall be greate Luc. 1 shall be called the Son of the most High Aue Maria. Dabit illi Dominus Deus Sedem Dauid patris eius regnabit in domo Iacob in aeternum et regni eius non erit finis Luc. 1 Our Lord God shall giue him the Seate of Dauid his father he shall reigne in the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdom there shall be no end Aue Maria. Dixit autem Maria ad Angelum quomodo fiet istud quoniam virum non cognosco Luc. 1 And Mary said to the Angell How shall this be done because I know not man Aue Maria. Et respondens Angelus dixit ei Spiritus Sanctus superueniet in te et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi ideoque quod nascetur ex te Sanctum vocabitur filius Dei Luc. 1 And the Angell answering saide to her The holy ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shall ouershadow thee And therfore also that which of thee shal be borne holy shall be called the sonne of God Aue Maria. Dixit autem Maria ad Angelum ecce ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum Luc. 1. And Mary said to the Angell Behold the hādmaid of our Lord be it done to me according to thy word Contemplations vppon the Second ioyfull mistery Pater noster EXVRGENS Maria in diebus illis abijt in montana cum festi natione in ciuitatem Iuda Luc. 1. And Mary rising vp in those daies went vnto the hill countrie with speed into a citie of Iuda Aue Maria. Luc. 1. Et intrauit in domū Zachariae et salutauit Elizabeth And she entred into the house of Zacharie saluted Elisabeth Aue Maria. Et factum est vt audiuit salutationem Mariae Elizabeth Luc. 1. And it came to passe as Elisabeth heard the salutatiō of Mary Aue Maria. Exultauit infans in vtero eius Luc. 1 The infant did leape in her wōbe Aue Maria. Et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elizabeth et exclamauit voce magna et dixit Luc. 1. And Elisabeth was replenished with the holy Ghost and she cried out with a loude voice said Aue Maria. Benedicta tu inter mulieres et benedictus fructus ventris tui Blessed art thou among womē and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe Luc. 1. Aue Maria. Et vnde hoc mihi vt veniat mater Domini mei ad me Luc. 1 And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lorde doth come to me Aue Maria. Ecce enim vt facta est vox salutationis tuae in auribus meis exultauit in gaudio infans in vtero meo For behold as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares Luc. 1 the infant in my womb did leape for ioy Aue Maria. Et beata quae credidisti quoniā perficientur ea quae dicta sunt tibi a Domino And blessed art thou that beleeued Luc. 1 because those things shal be accomplished that were spokē to thee by our Lord. Aue Maria. Et ait Maria
battell aray Aue Maria. Tota pulchra es amica mea Cant. 4. macula non est in te veni de libano sponsa mea veni de libano veni coronaberis My loue thou art altogither beautifull and no spot is in thee come from Libanus my spouse come from Libanus come thou shalt be crowned Aue Maria. Ascendam in palmam Cant. 7. et appredaâ—â—â—â—â—ructus eius I will goe vp into the date tree and I will take the fruites therof Aue Maria. Psa 72 Tenuisti manum dexteram meam in voluntate tua deduxistime cum gloria suscepistime Thou hast sustained my right hand and thou hast lead me according to thy will and thou hast receiued me with glorie Aue Maria. Assumpta est Maria in caelum gaudent Angeli laudantes benedicunt Dominum Marie is assumpted into Heauen the Angels reioyce praising they blesse our Lord. Contemplations vpon the fifte Gloriouse Misterye Pater noster SVRREXIT Rex Salomon in occursum Bethsabe matris 3. Reg. 2 ado rauit que eam sedit super Thronum suum A crowne of gold vpon her mitre in which was engraued Sanctitie to our Lord. Aue Maria. Et gaudebit sponsus super sponsam gaudebit super te deus tuus Isa 62. And the bridegroome shall reioyce at his spouse and thy God shall reioyce at thee Aue Maria. Ornaui te ornamento Eze. 16. dedi armillas in manibus tuis torqueÌ„ circa collum tuum dedi inaureÌ„ super os tuum circulos auribus tuis coronaÌ„ decoris in capite tuo I haue araied thee with an ornament and I haue put bracelets on the wrestes of thy handes and a chaine about thy necke And I haue put a iewel on thy forehead and earings in thy eares and a most comely croune on thy head Aue Maria. Signum magnum apparuit in caelo Mulier amictasole Apo. 12 luna sub pedibus eius in capite eius corona stellarum duodecem A great signe appeared in heauen a woman clothed with the sunne and the moone vnder her feete and on her head a crowne of twelue starres AN EXPLICATION of the Aue Mary Bell. THE Bell is wont thrise a day to be knoled to praiers At Morning Noone Night that Christians might remeÌ„ber if they can not oftener at the least yet thrise a day to serue God in praier At morning the beginning of the day by referring all the future actions to Gods glorie At noone the very midde course of the day to refresh the wearied soule with a short praier as the bodie is relieued with meate and at euening by taking account of the soule of all her actions And at these houres is the B. virgin Mary saluted that through the excelent benefittes at those houres bestowed wherat she was present she would vouchsafe to get vs mercy of her dearly beloued sonne For at the toling in the morning is renewed the memoriall of Christes Resurrection who risen from death did then appeare to his most B. mother The toling at noone is in remeÌ„brance of Christs passion wherat the B. Virgin was present And at night in remembrance of Christs incarnation in her blessed wombe At the first toll Angelus Domini nunciauit Mariae concepit de Spiritu sancto Aue Maria. At the second toll Ecce Ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum Aue Maria. At the third toll Et verbumcaro factum est habitauit in nobis Aue Maria. I desire the gentle Reader to amend these faultes escaped In the discourse of the Deuotion of our Lady Page 5. Line 17. read which by carnall propagation is deriued from Adam Pa. 8. l. 8 read as well for the space Pa. 11. L. 6 read vnspotted virginitie Pa 13. l. 13. read was to be borne Pa. 50. l. 22. read Presentation TWENTY PROPOSITIons to proue the Catholicke custome of saying the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin out of Franciscus Costerus Cap. 11. 1 THAT the custome of saying the ROSARY of the most B. Virgin Mary by ChristiaÌ„ Catholickes of auncient times receiued is not blasphemous Diabolicall or Superstitious as the Sectaries doe fondlye and falsely giue out but holy deuout and religious we do make plaine demonstration in these breife Arguments following In the Rosary there be 5 things the Name the praiers the Repetition of the praiers the number of the same the Beades wherwith we pray All which are void of all superstition therefore the custome of saying the Rosary is not superstitious 2 The name of the Rosary 1. The name of the Rosary is a most sweet name for as much as it signifieth no other thing then a certaine spirituall garland made of certaine misticall wordes as it were Roses taken out of the Gospell which we offer vnto the Virgin of all virgins the mother of God For garlandes are ordinarily vsed for to adorne the heades of virgins And as for Praiers 2. The praiers of the Rosary they are with out all coÌ„trouersie most holy For of our Lords praier Christ him selfe is the author And of the Angelicall salutation the Angell Gabriell Saint Elizabeth Which the Catholicke Church to the intent that it might haue a forme of Praier also hath concluded with this short petition vsed by auncient Fathers Holy Mary mother of God pray for vs Sinners now in the houre of our death Amen 4 The repetitioÌ„ also of the Praiers 3 The repetition of the same praiers because it is much auaileable to the stirring vpp and inflaming of the affecte of him that praieth it cannot but bee most religious we reade that the three children in the fornace in lauding praising almightie God did in euery verse repeat a certaine halfe verse And that most religious Orator king Dauid in his psalmes doth ofteÌ„ repeate now one word now more wordes sometime a wholl verse surely in the psalme 118 which hath 176 verses is daily read in the Church he repeteth in a maner the same thing some what varying the wordes only 5 Our Lorde him selfe also in some places hath not obscurely required this repetition in him that praieth For the 11 of Saint Luke when he taught his Disciples the maner how to praye hee annexed forth-with a Parable of him that could by no meanes get three loaues of his frend but by often knocking at his gates And in the 18 chapter when hee had taught that his Seruantes ought alwaies to pray and not to cease he added an other parable of a widow which because with ofte asking she was tedious in the end made the Iudge to condiscend to her request 6 But thou wilte say perhapes that these parables do proue that perseuerance in praier is speceally necessary I do not doubt of that But they proue also thus much that by repetition it commeth to passe that we perseuer and doe not cease For if when we must pray our
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 yee be so conioined with vs and so neere vnto vs that we do no lesse then behold and alway looke vppon you as though you were heere present with vs and doe continually in our mindes thinke vpon you yea we be so moued with euery euent of your affaires that with you and in you we doe reioice and to gither also with you we beare your crosses for in our harte we holde you and in the Bowelles of Iesus Christ we be singularly reioiced our very spirite doth take comfort in our Lord when as we doe heare of your constācy in the Catholicke faith of your patience of the fortitude of your christiā courage and of your gloriouse confession of the name of Christ For you beeing by the singular goodnes of God strengthned with the grace and vertue of the holy Ghost haue with most especiall dilligence and as it were a pretious treasure as it is indeed safely and inuiolably preserued that sacred Depositum of the Catholicke faith which youre Auncestors haue from this holy Romane Church the mother mistres of all the faithfull receiued and as a matter of inheritance vnto you deliuered haue not suffred your selues by any incōueniences or miseries nor yet by any of Sathan his deceiptes or intisementes and vaine hope of worldly thinges to be remoued aside from that rocke of faith whereupon Christ our Lord hath found his Church which is one Catholicke Apostolicke Romane out of which there neither is nor can bee any saluation whose vnion you doe as members of the body of Christ conioyne vnto the head with greate praise and fruite of spirituall life retaine and hold in cōtinuance These be the things that do fill our hart with ioy and gladnes This is that which doth edifie the Church of GOD and which doth cause all Catholickes to turne and fixe their eies vpon you who beholding your zeale and good workes do glorifie the Father of mercies who is in Heauen But like as in these thinges which yee do so godly religiously and constantly performe for the glory of God behoofe of your owne soules we do togither with you with all good men reioice and cōgratulate so do we on the contrary part suffer togither with you in your greefes and in the tribulations which haue come too too much vpon you For it hath bene brought vnto our vnderstāding that you are for the confession of the Catholicke faith most greeuously vexed at the hands of your owne Brethren who haue forsake the God of their forefa-fathers and haue betaken themselues to the following of strange Godds that is the prophane nouelties of errors and heresies and not considering their owne miserable estate do not only lye them selues in darkenes in the shadow of death but doe also most cruelly assault and persecute such as be the children of light their owne brethren who do firmely retaine the aunciēt religiō which they haue so many ages since bin taught by the holye ROMANE Church And doe further vppon the instigatiō and exagitation of a certaine furie neuer heard of be fore vse crueltie towardes their owne flesh and butcher teare asonder their owne bowels We haue compassion of your deare children and with all affection of charitie we do sorow togither with you for your calamities But we also reioice with you and for you in that ye be now the disciples of Christ with him fastened vpon the Crosse neither doe we doubt but that he who is present with his seruantes in tribulation and descendeth with them into the vgly dongeons and forsaketh them not in their bonds and fetters euen he so rich and aboundant in mercie doth visite you doth recreate you doth merueilously comforte you that euen as the passions of Christ do abound in you so also by Christ your cōfortes may abound And we also who though without our owne desert and vnworthy do holde the place of Christ our Lord vpō earth when as we did heare that you were in this maner afflicted resolued by our letters to cōfort you as our children singulerlye well beloued of whose welfare and glory in our Lord we be especially carefull Be ye therfore of good courage and as you haue hitherto done so stand ye in our Lord my dearest stedfast strōg in faith and rooted and founded in charitie carefull to preserue the vnitie of spirite in the bond of peace This peace of CHRIST which surpasseth all vnderstanding keepe you my childrē that ye may be one hart and one spirit Your concord your vnion your cōiunction of mindes Sathan trēbleth at That doth he and his ministers seeke to ouerthrow But all the driftes of enemies will fall to nothing if ye persist and remaine all of one minde with all humilitie and meeknes with patience supporting one an other in charitie And God is faithfull who will not permitte you to be tempted aboue that which you are able But will make with tēptation issue that ye may be able to sustaine Let your hartes therfore be comforted be cōstant and expect our Lord. For coming he will come and will not linger his reward is with him and he will comfort his seruants so that what yee haue sowen in teares the same yee shall in ioy and exultattion reape againe Be yee not therfore wearied fainting in your hartes but laying away all waight and sinne that compasseth you by patience runne to the fight proposed vnto you looking on the author of faith and the consummator Iesus who will geue you good measure pressed downe shaken togither and running ouer in the day of eternitie He gouerne and keepe you and replenish you with the grace of the holy Ghost and crowne you vpon the accomplishmēt of your lawfull cōbate Pray for vs deere children for many are the pastorall cares which by night day do vexe trouble vs. Do ye also pray for the Catholicke Church that all contradictions and errors being destroied shee may serue him with secure libertie And we with all affection of fatherly charity do impart vnto you our Apostolicall Benediction Giuen at Rome at Saint Markes vnder the fishers Ring the 18. of September the Sixt yeere of our Popedome DILECTIS FILIIS CAtholicis Albanensibus qui in Albaniae regno sunt Clemens Papa DILECTI filij salutē Apostolicam benedictionē Longo quidem terrarum marisque internallo a nobis disiuncti estis O filij Albaniae sed in vnitate fidei in vinculo charitatis Christi ita nobiscum cōiuncti estis ita propinqui vt vos tanquam presentes intueamur de vobis assidue cogitemus quin etiam quouis rerum vestrarū euentu ita commouemur vt vobiscum at que in vobis gaudeamus vobiscum etiam patiamur Habemus enim vos in corde nostro in visceribus Iesu Christi Gaudio autem singulari afficimur exult at in Domino spiritus noster quum audimus vestram in fide Catholica constantiam vestram patientiam