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
heauie Crosse on his weak shoulders which they had with great diligence prepared in such wise for him ponder wel how greatly his paine was increased by that so vnmerciful a weight being so sore weakned with his former tormentes and the bloud which he had lost alreadie Consider howe they make his condition worse then that of the twoo theeues whom they carye with him to suffer the like death sith neither of them carieth his Crosse as they make our most mild Sauiour to doo This is the sceptre O my King which these Infidels and rebellious seruants of thine geue thee in signe of the soueraintie which thou hast ouer theÌ„ the which answereth very wel to the crowne wherwith they haue alredie crowned thee and thine inestimable charitie dissembleth and embraceth al with the great desire thou hast to conduct them by this way to thy celestial kingdome This is the staffe whereon thou leanest and goest therwith like an-other Iacob to passe the floud of Iordan to witt of death to returne anon after thy resurrectioÌ„ associated with those infinite legions of soules which thou deliueredst out of Limbo and cariedst vp to heuen with thee With this staffe and with the fiue stones which thou tookest in the mount Caluarie that is to say thy fiue most sacred woundes thou foughtest like an-other Dauid against that proude giant Lucifer subduedst him deliuering by this meanes thy people from the hellish hoste which did on euery side enuirone them This is the wood which thou bearest on thy backe like an-other Isaac to offer thy selfe thervppon for vs in this most acceptable sacrifice to thine eternal Father being burned with the â—ire of thy moste feruent charitie Consider besides how the Redeemer going thus loden with the grieuous weight of the Crosse fel to the ground through the vnmerciful weight that he bare and howe they smiting him then a-fresh most tirannously make him rise vp and go an ende where thou maiest meditate how not only the weight of the Roode did grieue tormeÌ„t him but also both thine and the whole world their manifold and enormous offeÌ„ces which he then bare vpoÌ„ him going for theÌ„ in this wise to be crucified So did the Prophet Esay affirme saying Howe the eternal Father had laide vpon him al our iniquities that he should stisfie for al like as he had offred him-selfe for al. O my most sweete Redeemer howe grieuous a burden did the multitude of mine abhominations occasionate thee which thou berest on thy backe and paine thee much more then the Crosse it selfe doth O how great reason is it that I weepe and waile with thee for the paine which I haue caused thee to endure and with-al yeeld thee thankes that thou like a good Sheppard hast vouchsafed to carye vpon thy sacred shoulders this miserable strayed sheepe which thou diddest come to seeke in the wildernes of this world Al the quiers of Angels which thou leftest behinde thee in heauen adore and blesse thee who knowe much better then we doo howe greatlye the clemencie meriteth to be thanked which moued thee to come carye and cure so vile a sheepe as is that of humane nature which thou diddest beare vpon thy backe in carying of thy Crosse IN THE THIRDE point thou mayest also interteyne thy selfe contemplating in what a pitiful plight our Lorde and Sauiour was in when the Crosse was taken from him and geuen to Cyreneus because he was not able to go so fast as those wicked helhoundes woulde haue had him Howe greatly he was pained and afflicted sweting through the wearines of the viage he had made howe wounded and annoyed through the heauines of the Crosse shedding his bloud a-new which intermedled with sweat did bedew the ground he went vpon howe fraight with the shame and vilanies they did vnto him howe brused with the blowes and strokes which they gaue him to make him go on ende O my God what a countenaunce is this ynough to burst his heart with compassion who had neuer so litle of humane pietie O my soul if thou couldest throughly consider this passage howe great cause shouldest thou find to take compassioÌ„ grief at so many griefs so many and outragious spites as thou seest him suffer for thy sins who neuer sinned nor euer was ani falshod fouÌ„d in his mouth and howe greatly oughtest thou besides to waile the hardnes of thy heart which is not rent in twain with the remembrance of such a ruful countenance O if thou didst loue this Lord with such loue as thou art bound to doo he louing thee so dearlye with howe great feruour wouldest thou desire to gather vpp those pretious droppes of bloud and sweat which did fal on the grounde wher-with thou mightest washe out thy staines and beautifie thy beastlye blemishes Ah! what a spite shouldest thou beare that Cyreneus who eased in some wise the paine of this Celestial Monarche carying his Crosse hefore him as a Royal Standard and that which he bore then perforce and maugre his wil thou shouldest beare on thy backe with a willing and cheerful courage woting howe the same Lord hath saide That if any wil folowe him he must take vp his Crosse and folowe him And seing thou hast not deserued to cary that Crosse which Simon Cyreneus did carye at least thine owne like as thou art coÌ„maunded that is to say the toils and tribulations which in this life shal befal thee Carye also the Crosse of compassion vnbethinking thee of that which thy Lord vouchsafed to suffer for thee sith in this sort thy seruice which now thou doest shal be much more grateful to him theÌ„ that which Cyreneus earst performed Meditate also in this Article the pitiful plaintes of those deuout women that folowed him who al of them wept ful bitterlye seing the crueltie wher-with the most patient Lambe was handled but aboue al take compassion of those teares which the most mournful mother shed who like as she loued her sonne more then did al the other women so did she weepe more bitterly then the other lament more then the other and feele more greeuous corseys then the other O sacred virgin who can possiblye conceaue the excesse of thy most vehement griefes when thou sawest him whom thy soule loued so tenderly lodened with that importable weight weakned with so many woes pained with so many woundes contemned with so many iniuries felowed with theeues and adiudged to the death of the Roode which they caused him with such reproche and paine to carye Euen such was thy soule then as was the figure which thou beheldest with thy weeping eyes neither did the thornes of sorowe perce thine entrals lesse then those of woodd pearce his most Reuerend head This onely anguish O my Soueraine Ladye had beene sufficient to haue made thee dye as it sufficed to make thee sowne were it not thy life had been supernaturally preâ—erued to see
with those most sacred handes which she had so lately seene fastned to the Roode he with such pietie wiped off the trickling tears of her reuerend face then might she saye and that with great cause that sentence of the Prophet Dauid According to the multitude of griefes that my heart hath suffered thy consâ—lations haue reioyced my soule Consider then in the best wise thou canst the sweete communication that passed betwixt the blessed mother and the Sonne the the which wel maye we beleue did occasionate no lesse comfort to the mother then did his sight albeit she could vtter but fewe wordes by reason she was wholly rapt in beholding that glorious vision which she had before her eyes and in viewing euery particuler fealtie of that body and that amiable countenance whose brightnes and beautie did so greatlye delite her nowe as did the seing of it blacke and wounded heretofore torment her in the time of his painful passioÌ„ In like maner beholding those wounds which in his death had perced her virginal heart with sorowe nowe became so faire and so glittering she was therby replenished with so great a ioye as she remained like one astonished not being able to pronounce scarse any one word Reioyce therfore O Queene of heauen sith thou hast so great causes to reioyce thee Let thy spirite now be glad in God thy Sauiour who hath fully satisfied the loÌ„ging desires of thy soule Nowe thou seest him risen vp again whose death thou earst lamentedst Now is winter and the stormes of his persecutions ignominies and tormentes cleane passed ouer now liueth he and death shal haue no more any dominion ouer him Thou seest him nowe farre more exalted then he was before depressed now is he a conquerour of Death of Hel and of the Diuel nowe is neither he to suffer anye more nor thou to haue any further feare Reioyce therfore O Lady and let thy soule receaue solace through his triumph and Resurrection as it was before made sorowful eueÌ„ almost to death through his painful death and passion IN THE THIRDE point thou maiest in like maner enterteyne thy selfe being a matter of great consolation considering howe our Lorde looke what office he had performed to his most blessed mother and the same vouchsafed he to doo to his Disciples and other deuout seruants wher-with we may wel beleeue that the louing Ladye replenished with charitie was very wel contented yea desired him so to doo sithens like as when he was borne she laide him in a manger signifying thereby that albeit she alone did beare and bring him forth yet would she not haue him for her-selfe alone but for al eueÌ„ so would she not haue al the ioye of his glorious resurrection to her-selfe alone but would in any wise that others were made partakers thereof Meditate therfore how he first appered to good Mary Magdalen according to the testimonie of the holy Euangelists who went with the other deuout womeÌ„ to annoint him with pretious oyntments which they caried with theÌ„ in the sepulchre where not finding of him albeit her companions went away yet would not she depart sith loue held her fast linked to the place where she had earst left him whom she so dearly loued and remaining there weeping she with a desire she had to finde him dead merited to see him aliue and risen vp albeit in Gardners weede in such sort as she sawe him and knewe him not our Lord aunswering herein to the disposition of her soule for she loued and doubted as he for the same reason appered in pilgrims shew to those two disciples that went to Emaus where thou maiest note how this Lord knoweth at one time how both to comfort instruct and manifest the defects of his elect and how such are best fauoured of him as most feruently doo loue him like as we here see by good Mary MagdaleÌ„ to whoÌ„ for her feruent loue sake was this prerogatiue geuen that she might first see her deerlye beloued master and that she might be the messenger to announce the ioye of his Resurrection to those that litle thought therof by reason of the heauines they were in through the remembrance of his death and doleful passion Thinke nowe good Christian think attentiuely what ioy that most denout gentlewoman did feele wheÌ„ she both sawe and knew her so dearlye beloued master Ah Lorde howe that heart leaped againe for ioy wheÌ„ our Sauior called her Mary and she answered him forth-with with this louing word of master O what a sodaine chaunge is this how present an alteration What did thy hart feele O good Mary Magdalen being thus in a moment deliuered from thy surpassing sorows and surseased with such a wonderful consolation What a boiling heat of hart was that that made her so impotent ouer her selfe be about to embrace him like one dronke in loue wherby she quite forgot her-selfe of his most sacred Maiestie O most happy teares wherewith she bedewed the ground of that garden which made her so soone to reape so sweete a fruit happy the perseuerance which made her tarye stil in that place wherby she was so singulerly reioyced and comforted of our Sauiour O happy loue more strong theÌ„ death which made her to finde the authour of life reuiued and risen vp in the very place of death Contemplate afterwardes howe she hied her to tel these ioyful tidinges to the Apostles whom euery one of them this Sonne of righteousnes minded to white confect and illuminate for like as he was borne for al and died for al so did he rise vp again for al and vouchsafed to coÌ„municate the ioyes of his Resurrection to al forgetting neither Peter who denied him nor the other Apostles who were nowe for woe and distrust departed from Ierusalem neither Thomas who coÌ„tinued so long time in his obstinate incredulitie wherby is shewed vs howe much more this Lord is inclined and prone to comfort and to fauour then to afflict and punish seing how in counterchange of those fewe dayes wherin he permitted them through his death to be scandalized troubled and afflicted he did afterwardes comfort and reioyce them farre more with his desired presence appering many times to them during the fortie daies mening ther by to ascertaine theÌ„ the better of the veritie of his ResurrectioÌ„ where out thou maiest learne to put thy trust in this most faithful Lorde And albeit thou feele thy selfe other-whiles afflicted and greeuously tempted dispaire not yet for he wil haue care to comfort and visite thee in due time and wil deliuer thee out of al thy temptatioÌ„s and afflictions according as it is written After a storme he sendeth a calme and after sobbes and teares he geueth consolations A PRAYER AFTER a storm the aire grow eth commonly clear againe euen so is it happed to thee O most Souerain Queene of heauen for after the stormie and woful
women albeit she were whollye pure and deuoide of al vnclennes O most sacred mother why wilt thou obey this ordinance which neither toucheth thee nor maketh anye mention of thee for like as for thy sanctitie thou differest from al thy sexe and surpassest al women in thy most wonderful vertues euen so is the conception of thy blessed child far differēt frō that of al other womē and without comparison exceedeth al other conceptions Sith others are wrought by humane societie and thine is accomplished by the operation of the holye ghost What is it therefore whereof thou wilt purifie thy selfe O blessed Ladye Seing the holy Ghost witnesseth of thee in this wise Thou art al faire my Louer neither is there any blemish at al in thee forsomuch as thy most sacred child-birth so farr was it frō defiling thee or distaining th◠most pure virginitie as it adorned exalted renowned thee What other thing maketh thee then fulfil this lawe whereout thou art exempted but the selfe-same reason that made thy deere sonne to suffer circumcision that is to saye the desire thou haddest to be by this meanes a glittering mirrour of most obedient humilitie As he therfore vouchsafed to be taken for one of the common sort of children so hast not thou disdained to be thought like to other women This thine humilitie and charitie with that of thy sacred sons be hallowed and imitated of vs al for euer IN THE second Article thou shalt haue great cause of consolation if thou fixe thine imagination of the inestimable offering which the most gratious mother brought to the temple there to present vnto her Lorde Contemplate attentiuely the modestie grauitie and comely reuerence wher-with the blessed virgin entred into the temple carying in her armes that most pretious fruit of her virginal wombe O what an inestimable ioye was it to see the sonne thus borne and to behold the blessed mother that bare him whose presence reioyced the Angels and enriched the whole Temple in such wise as the glory therof was then farre greater then when king Salomon caused it to be builded Consider also what the good olde father Simeon felt at such time as being instructed of the holy Ghost he sawe and knewe that to be come to passe which he so long time had wished for and so oft had craued at Gods handes with continual teares and praiers Beholde with howe great zeale he beclippeth him in his armes with howe great reuerence he adoreth him with howe sweete embracinges he closeth him against his brest neuer being contented with kissing and beholding him Al the which his amiable intertainmentes this most sweete babe liked very wel of as a louer of al those that loue him and did with his gratious lookes perce and melt the poore olde mans heart who behelde him al rapt in admiration as he most apparantlye testified by the teares he shedd for ioye and by the feruour of the words he vttered in his moste excellent Canticle of Nunc dimittis seruum tuum Domine c. whereby he plainely declared what singuler consolation and contentment his soule receaued by hauing seene with his corporal eyes the Sauiour of the worlde Ah how happye were they that merited with their corporal eyes to beholde so gratious a spectacle yea and happye are they who with the eyes of a liuely fayth doo deuoutly beholde the same sith they in like maner shal-be partakers of the same ioyes and consolations THOV MAYEST IN the thirde point interteine thy selfe with great profite and consolation of thy soule weighing the feruour of Anna the Reuerent matrone who through her auster fastes and the perpetual praiers which she made with great deuotion in the temple as S. Luke th' euangelist reporteth merited to be an assistant at this so glorious a spectacle and to receaue souerain cōfort through the sight of such a sonn and a mother of whom al the misteries were reueled vnto her which she confessed and published to al those deuout persons that were in the temple and gaue eare vnto her Whence thou maiest learne that but if thou keepe the Church with religious deuotion addict thy selfe to often praier and with rigorous abstinence dōpt the disordinate desires and concupiscence of the fleshe as chast S. Anna did thou shalt then be made partaker of the sight and diuine solace of the fauours and other graces that were at that time so bountifully bestowed vpon her Meditate besides the ineffable consolation wher-with the sacred virgin was surceased vnderstanding the meruailous matters that were then spoken of her dearly beloued sonne who by the speeches of S. Simeon and S. Anna was apparantly reuealed and knowen what he was to al those that were then present in the Temple Contemplate with-al the moste deuout procession which al that holy assemblie made going vp to the Aultar to offer vp to Almightie God this the most pretious the most worthie and most acceptable present to his diuine Maiestie that was presented him til that day from the beginning of the world Ponder also with what deuotion charitie and reuerēce with what a cheerful and willing heart the most happy mother offred vp her wel-beloued Infant to the celestial Father who had of his infinite fauour geuen him for her sonne and did by that meanes make her his owne mother who was her owne and natural Father O great Ladye what did thy heart feele at the time and at al times after when thou vnbethoughtest thee of this Misterie howe zealous thankes diddest thou breath forth to God for the gifte he had bestowed vpon thee and vppon al man-kinde with what affection and with what inflamed desire diddest thou present this moste sacred oblation to God! which thou knewest wel was onely sufficient to reconcile man to God his maker and to cause him to recouer againe the blessinges which he had earst so lewdlye lost And howe did thy sonne in like maner conforme him-selfe to thy pietie and deuout intent he at that time offering him-self with a frank heart to his eternal Father as a morowe sacrifice whiles the euening sacrifice came which he was afterwards to offer vppon the Aultar of the Roode O my soule if thou wouldest attentiuely consider al this offering thee wholly to this Lorde who was offered for thee what giftes and what spiritual riches should be imparted vnto thee A PRAYER THY HEART O most blessed mother of God thy hart was seased with surpassing ioye when the fortie daies after thy childe-birth being at an ende thou wentest to the Temple of our Lord there to offer vpp the selfe-same Lorde thereof who was thy firste thy first begotten and onely Sonne and the onely sonne of the Father euerlasting O what a consolation diddest thou feele seing the thinges that S. Simeon did and spake taking him in his armes kissing and adoring him with great reuerence I beseeche thee O most sweete Lady in fauoure of this sacred misterie that I
of him for that he had so manye daies depriued her of his desired presence Be mery therfore O Queene of heuen and forget thy former sorowes sith nowe thou hast found and possessest him whom thy soule desired and according to the greatnes of dolours past art now surceased with present consolation A PRAYER VVHAT pleasure and contentment did thy soul feele O most sacred Queene of heauen when hauing lost thy deerly beloued sonne thou foundest him againe in the Temple amongst the Doctors None can possibly conceue it but he that wel weieth with howe great grief desire and diligence thou wentest those three days seeking him amongst his frends kinsfolks I beseech thee therfore O mother of mercy aswel by the extreme annoy wherwith thou soughtest him as by the inexplicable ioy wherwith thou receuedst him hauing founde him that thou wilt vouchsafe to helpe me that I deserue not through my sinnes and offences to lose the same Lorde and if at some time he should absent him selfe from me I may knowe howe to seeke him and howe againe to finde him Amen ¶ THE SECOND MISTERIES ARE CALLED DOLOROVS THROVGH THE GRET dolours which the moste sacred virGIN-MOTHER FELT WHEN such thinges happed as thou shalt MEDITATE THEREIN whereof some she sawe with her CORPORALEYES and some with her spiritual OF THE PRAYER Expauet ingeminatque preces sanguine mâ—nat Dum socij fugiunt impia vincla subit ¶ THE FIRST DOLOROVS MISTERIE is of the praier which our Lorde made in the garden of Geth-semani wher vpon thou shalt meditate these pointes in maner folowing FIRST how our Redeemer comforting his Disciples and exhorting them to pray and watche with him pronounced this most doulful speeche My soule is heauy euen til death SECONDLY howe withdrawing him self from his Disciples about a stones cast he praied with most profound humilitie and reuerence to his Father saying My Father if it be possible passe ouer this cupp from me howbeit not my wil be done but thine THIRDLY howe he came to visite his Disciples and finding them asleepe awaked and commaunded them to praye as he did twise more him-selfe with the same wordes and swett droppes of bloud which trickled downe to the grounde and then did an Angel discend from heauen to comfort him AS TOVCHING the firste point thou maiest pause therein meditating how our Redeemer fore-knowing the hour of his most holy Passion to draw nigh wherto he through his most feruent charitie freely offred vp him-selfe got him to the garden of Geth-semani where he was eftsons wont to pray that Iudas the Traitour and the other which he brought with him might knowe where to finde and to apprehend him Howbeit before thei came our Lorde had praied a longe time and commaunded that his Disciples shoulde doo in like maner wherein he ment to geue both to theÌ„ and vs an example that against al the perils temptations and tribulations that may befal vs in this life and that in any matter of importance whatsoeuer it be that we haue to doo that we first arme and fortifie our selues with the armour of holy prayer by meanes wherof we shal-be illuminated to knowe what we ought to doo and comforted to endure patientlye the afflictions which we are to suffer Meditate also how our Sauiour finding him-self sore afflicted inwardly through the consideratioÌ„ of so many sorts of griefes and torments as were prepared for him he shewed the most vehement affliction and heauines which he felt by those woful wordes he vttered to his Disciples My soule is heauie euen til death The which ought to perce to the verye depth of our heartes seing we haue been the cause that he shoulde suffer such sorowe who is the ioy of Angels And howe can it be O Lorde but my heart be it neuer so harde shal-be heuie and melt againe contemplating thy heart so extremely anguished and distressed What solace can my soule receaue seing thee who art the Sonne that illuminatest and reioicest it thus oppressed with dole and sorowe If thou which art the ioye of Angelical quiers art thus grieuedâ— what thing can suffice to reioyce and comfort man but to think that thine infinite charitie which bringeth thee to thy death doth make thee heauy euen to death to th'ende that as thy death is cause of our life so in like maner thy heauines might be cause of our consolation and deliuer vs from that mortal heauines wherein we shoulde perpetually haue remained if thou haddest not vouchsafed to haue bene made sorowful and heauy for our sakes This thy heauines O King of glorie shal continue eueÌ„ til thy death for that euen to death shal thy trauaile endure wher-with like a moste louing mother thou deliuerest vs but when we shal by thy death be borne a-newe then shalt thou not thinke any more of heauines by reason of the ioy of our newe birth and this maye some-what mitigate his sorowe who contemplateth this sorowful passage AS FOR the seconde point thou maiest staye therein considering the circumstaunces that happed in this our Lordes praier and the wordes he vttered First the text saith howe he withdrewe him-self from his Disciples to pray and this withdrawing or separation doth S. Luke declare by this worde auulsus est which signifieth plainely with howe great difficultie he withdrewe him-selfe from them through the loue he bare them and that to pray which must be done in solitarines silence and attention and he withdrew him-selfe from theÌ„ but a stones cast so that he might easily see and heare them being called yea he came eftsons to visite theÌ„ to wake them and to warne them of that they had to doo instructing al Pastors and Curates how they ought to behaue them-selues towards their flockes by these his particularities Learne also of the profounde humilitie wher-with he threwe him-selfe on ground to pray what humilitie is necessary for thee when thou praiest sith thou presentest thy selfe before the face of the self-same infinite Maiestie before whom the Potentates of heauen doo tremble againe In like maner thou maiest out of the wordes which he vsed in his petition learne the forme which thou oughtest to obserue in thy prayers not crauing such temporal thinges as thou desirest absolutelye but remitting al things to his diuine wil wherto thou oughtest to conforme thy wil. Here maiest thou contemplate also howe with the silence and obscuritie of the night and with the words which our Lorde pronounced in his petition this inwarde heauines he felt in his heart increased and grewe greater finding nothing that might possibly afforde him comfort Ah! my moste sweete Sauiour the onely comfort of the comfortlesse and afflicted how is it that I see thee this night without any comfort or ease at al neither is there any of al thy deere frendes to comfort thee for whose sakes thou art fallen into such heuines and anxietie O that I had heard those pitiful
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
this meanes they might be moued to pitie seing him thus scornfully and cruelly handled albeit nothing sufficed to mitigate their diabolical obstinacie IN THE firste point thou maiest pause meditating how with the same barbarousnes and crueltie wher-with these wicked ministers had bounde our most merciful Lorde they nowe vnlose him and vse no kind of plaisters and pitie towardes him who is towardes al men the most pitiful Beholde howe he standeth fraight ful of griefs and frō top to toe al torn with scourges with the printes of the cords deep rooted in his tender flesh which caused his no smal annoy sith he was fastned with such force as according as diuers doo contemplate the cordes were al couered with his very flesh with this grief went he vp and downe seeking his garments which they had throwen here and there on the grounde and thus humblye gathering them vpp put them on him with very great paine no one vouchsafing to helpe him or to afford him any comfort but most redie were they al of them to tormēt and afflict him Ah my Lorde where be nowe the thousand thousandes that Daniel in spirite saw doo thee dutiful seruice and tenne hundred thousand thousandes which assisted at thy throne and yeelded thee due adoratiō Here is no one of those high Angels of heuen to be seene that might adore and serue thee but contrari-wise so many contemptible men of earth which commaund thee and treade thee vnder their feete and thou art wel contented here-with sith thou art not come into the world to be serued but rather to serue others and therfore doth euery one abandon thee and no one afforde thee helpe like as thou alone without others helpe hast perfected our Redemption In the second point thou hast iust cause to stay pondring that new deuise which these deuilish executioners contriue to mocke and withal to torment our blessed Sauiour What greater spite and ignominie might there be inuented then to sett him thus out with those counterfait ensignes of a king which they put vpon him meaning thereby to signifie that he was ambitious and vsurped the Title and Regal dignitie which was not due vnto him and what greter torment then that which they gaue him in crowning him with such a crowne the pricking thornes whereof did perce his head verye deeply smiting of him with the reede which in liew of a Regal Scepter they had put into his handes in such wise as his eyes and face were al couered with the bloud which they caused to issue out of him and yet doest thou see howe he abideth al this with an inexpugnable patience sith with his tormentes and annoiances he vouchsafed to satisfie for our disordinate delightes and dissolutiōs and with his scornes and mockeries to pay for our pride and ambition O King of heauen O supernal Maiestie adored and reuerenced of Angels and mocked and scorned of men I knowe not wel what I should most meruaile at whether at the blindnes and most cruel moode of them that knowe thee not and thus doo beat thee or at the pietie and patience wher-with thou abidest them making farre greater accompt of our wel-fare and satisfactiō then of thine owne contempt and most bitter sorowes Great no doubt is their impietie which did thus torment thee great also is the malice of our offences which did occasionate the same but farre greater is thy bountie and clemencie which is infinite wherewith thou wert redie to suffer more dolours and afflictions then al they could lay vpon thee O my soul contemplate deuoutly this most woorthie spectacle and imprint it in thy heart seing thou hast been the occasion of al these tormentes and reproches which thy Lorde hath suffered Let that his most ignominious robe warme and heat thy coldnes let that horrible crowne penetrate thy bowels those sharpe and pricking thornes let perce thy head let that be to thee an occasiō of cōtinual loue which was to him an occasiō of excessiue griefe IN THE thirde point it is right meete thou interteine thy selfe beholding and adoring this thy moste merciful Lord so lately crowned with that most cruel Diademe and the other roial ensigns which his pitilesse aduersaries haue geuē him wherwith Pilate made him be brought forth be fore al the people that by seing this his so ruful a figure their furious might be som-what pacified and for this cause did he shew him vnto thē saying Ecce homo as if he had saide Behold the man whom you vniustly persecute and whose death you so greatly desire Behold him whom ye say would haue made him-selfe your King how gretly to your liking doo you nowe see him crowned and attired Behold him chastised in such wise that hardly can he be taken for a man so farre is he from being reputed a king And seing neither these wordes which they heare nor that lamentable figure which they behold is sufficient to make their adamantical heartes relent beholde thou him O Christian and let thine relent yea rent and burst in twaine for sorowe considering howe for thee it is that he is thus scorned and vilanously intreated For thy pride and hautines is he crowned with these pricking thornes for thy superfluous and dishonest decking is he thus vestured with this ridiculous robe for thy folies and most vaine vanities doth he beare this sceptre of reede in hande for thy beastlines and abhominations is that most beautiful face defiled and beraide with filthie spittle for thy dissolutions and wanton toyes are those handes and that necke fast tied with harde cordes to the piller See O thou miserable and wicked man see what God a most righteous and merciful man hath suffred for thy iustification procure thou therfore to be grateful to such a benefactour and not to renewe his griefes with thy newe sinnes And to th'ende that for the doing of this thou maiest haue a more aboundant grace graūted thee present this pitiful figure to his eternal Father beseeching him that he will looke vpon his Christs face as it was thē disfigured whē Pilate shewed him to the people and serue thy turne with the selfe-same wordes he then spake saying Beholde the man O celestial father which thou so long hast sought for to oppose him-selfe against thy wrath and to be a Mediatour betwixt thee and sinners Beholde him who is the brightnes of thy glory and the figure of thy substance how gretly he is obscured and difformed to restore by this meanes the beautie which my soule through so great a number of sinnes had lost Beholde the man who with his diuine bloud hath sufficiently satisfied thy iustice Looke therefore O most merciful Father looke vpon the lamentable face of this man who is both God and thy Sonne and for the honour of that which he being most innocent hath paide for me pardon the manifolde sinnes which I haue committed against thy Maiestie Finally thou maiest in this point
sighes and grones which eftsons issued out of thine annoyed heart to th'ende that nowe I am not able any wayes to comfort thee I might yet at least taste some part of thy heauines and afflictiō wherwith I might waile the occasion that I haue geuen thee to be heauie and that my tears might serue for breade to susteine me in this my miserable pilgrimage IN THE thirde point thou maiest consider many thinges firste by the diligence where-with our Lorde went from his praiers to visite his Disciples and returned from them backe again to his prayers thou maiest note the charitie and fatherlye care he had of them whom he visited thus oft Secondly consider the greeuous anguish and inwarde paine he suffered which permitted him not to rest in any place Thirdly weigh the perseuerance and often praier which he taught vs and is most necessarye so to be to be fruitful and effectual Fourthly consider the griefe it is like he felt fore-thinking the tormentes which he was to endure seing that by the imagination only thereof he swett in so straunge and miraculous a maner O my Lorde if the bare apprehension of thy future tormentes doo so sore afflict and make thee sweat so strangely what shal the impression of the self-same tormentes doo right euidently doth thy readye and willing heart shewe it self wherwith thou wilt redeeme vs with the inestimable price of thy pretious bloud sithens thou beginnest so plētifully to shedd it before those manifold wounds and strokes wherwith it shal hereafter be whollye drawen out of thy body O my soule learne to set by thy self and doo not sel thy selfe so vilely as for the filthy plesure of sinne seing here howe greatly thou art set by of thy Redemer who with so great a price hath bought thee and hath begonne to paye the same so long time before the daye Occupie thy self a while in contemplating the meruailous vision of this garden which is farre surpassing that that Moyses saw in the mountaine and shake off the shoes of thy carnal concupiscēces approching to behold this beautiful face al bathed in bluddie streames of sweat wherin al the Angels take singuler delite to looke Gather me those doleful drops that fal on ground by the vertue whereof thy paines shal-be asswaged and thy woundes recured sith the celestial Phisition hath thus vouchsafed to sweat them for thy wel-fare Lastly meditate how our Lord being in this pitiful extremitie an Angel came downe from heauen to cōfort him O Prince of Angels howe hast thou thus exceedingly abased thy selfe for vs that thou standest in neede to be comforted by one of thine owne seruauntes Al the Angelical quires yeelde adoration and thankes vnto thee who wot muche better then we doo howe greatly we are bounde to thee for hauing vouchsafed thus to humble and abase thy selfe for vs thy moste vile creatures O sacred virgin if thou haddest with thy corporal eyes viewed this ruful spectacle as it is likelye thou diddest see it with thy spiritual eyes wel haddest thou stoode neede of an-other Angel to haue come and comforted thee For wel may we deeme that thy woes should not haue wanted nor any anguishe and affliction to haue tormented thee And albeit thou diddest not then bedewe the grounde with thy blouddie sweat as did thy sweete sonne yet haply diddest thou bedewe it with teares trickling from thine eyes and filledst the ayre with lamentable sighes and heauen with feruent praiers Howbeit al this was litle in comparison of that which remayned behind both for thee to see and for him to suffer This vigilant Shepparde being nowe lastlye of al returned to his sleapie sheepe thou maiest meditate howe he remained with them expecting the furious arriual of those mad dogges that came to seek him by whom he was cruellye assailed bound and caried to the houses of Anna and Caiphas A PRAYER LIKE AS O most sacred virgin and mother thou wert partaker of the ioyes and cōsolations of thy most holy sonne euē so didst thou likewise participate of the pains and griefs of his most bitter passion sith that which he suffred in body did cruciate thy blessed soul and therfore at such time as he praied and sweat droppes of bloud thorough the great anguishe he felt in the garden of Geth-semani thē were thou by imagining the same whollye surseased with vehement sorowe I beseeche thee therefore by this thy dolour and his and thy heauines that it may please thee to make me partaker thereof that praying with bitter teares and wailing my former manifolde and grieuous trespasses I maye obteine a ful forgeuenes of the same Amen OF THE WHIPPING In virgas in flagra datur rigat atria sanguis Verbera deficiunt non patientis amor ¶ THE SECOND DOLOrous Misterie is of the whipping of our Lorde concerning the which thou shalt meditate these pointes folowing FIRST how Pilate ordeined that our Redeemer should be whipped supposing that by this chastisement he might some-what appease the fiendish fury of those cruel Iewes who with such obstinacie required him to condemne him to be crucified SECONDLY with what diligence and crueltie those barbarous executioners caried our Lorde into the Palace and stripping off his clothes bound him fast to a piller there to beate him THIRDLY thou maiest consider the extreme dolour which this most mild Lambe felte whiles they whipt him his most delicate flesh being with so many and so cruel scourges and strokes wholly torne and wounded VPON the firste point thou maiest amplifie by considering the shiftes that Pilate sought to excuse him-self from condemning him to death who is the authour of life for first he protested that he found no cause in him whye he ought to dye secondlye he sent him to Herode that he might pronounce iudgement of him thirdly he compared him with Barrabas the thiefe perswading him selfe that the Iewes hauing choise to saue one of their two liues would rather take innocent Iesus then the seditious thiefe and murtherer fourthly this being not sufficient he determined for a last remedie to make him be whipt weening that by this punishment he should mittigate their felonious madnes Where note that al these meanes wherby Pilate sought to deliuer him woting wel his innocencie were occasion that our Redeemer was more tormented and afflicted for by this meanes he added to the death of the Crosse which they required and was afterwardes graunted them the pain and shame he suffred going and cōming from Herode and being accompted worse then Barrabas and afterwardes most cruelly whipt and crowned with thornes in such wise as not onely they which are his open enemies cause him to suffer but he also who desired to deliuer him encreased his annoyes And thou moste louing Lorde lettest euery thing redounde to thy greater griefe to the ende that to those that loue thee euerye thing may redound to their greter benefite Blessed be thine infinite charitie for