comfortlesse with his departure neither thought he it meete that in one day they should be made Orphans being depriued of such a Father and a mother the which this Lady vnderstanding quieted her-selfe and like an humble and obedient hand-maid resigned her wil to his diuine wil saying haply the same wordes in the Ascension which she vttered in the incarnation to wit Beholde the hand maid of our Lord. Hauing then in this wise talked with euery one and taken his leaue of them al behold how by litle and litle he beginneth to eleuate him-self from earth and to mount vpwardes into the aire with his hands lifted vp on high wher-with he blessed thē and with his eyes fixed on them did amiably behold them Here maiest thou meditate what the most sacred virgin with al that holye assembly felt seing him mount vp thus triumphantly how their heartes did rent in twaine through loue and howe they melted againe with teares seing him goe further and further from them and how they withal were incomparably reioyced by beholding the triumphe and Maiestie where-with he ascended and hearing that heauenlye melodie which the Angels and blessed Saintes did make who al of them sounded forth most melodiously the praises of this triumphant Conquerour so that the hearing and seing of these thinges could not choose but make them for ioye and tendernes of heart poure forth plentiful streames of teares O glorious day O Soueraine-sweet solemnitie O most renowned triumphe thus is he honored whom the King of heauen wil honour thus is he exalted who humbled him-selfe so profoundly thus meriteth he to triumph who hath obteined so glorious a victorie Behold O King of heauen thy exaltation and the name aboue al names that was geuen thee for being thus humbled and made obedient to the death of the Crosse Beholde howe thou beginnest nowe to reape the aboundant fruit that was promised thee for hauing lost thy life for our sinnes Beholde the noble triumphe thou hast attained for hauing with such prowes ouercome so daungerous and difficult a daye Gett thee therfore O Lord get thee now to thy rest seing thou hast taken so great paines and carye with thee the arke of thy sanctification that is to saye thy most sacred humanitie which is the most rich arke whereout was taken that pretious treasure of our redemption Be thou exalted aboue al the heauens O my God and thy glorie be ouer al the world Al Angels and al men yeeld thee due adoration and reuerence seing thou hast enriched and reioyced them al with this thy glorious and most miraculous Ascension IN THE THIRDE point thou maiest in like maner enterteyne thee meditating howe the most blessed Mother remained with that holye flocke in the mountaine where she sawe her most glorious Sonne ascende vp to heauen who al of them accompanied him with their corporal eyes whiles they might possiblye discerne him and did after he was once out of sight being receued into a white cloude associate him with their soules Contemplate a while here how she with the other lookers on being al of them deuoutly on their knees fixed their eyes on heauen without anye looking a-side or shifting of places being bereft as it were of al their senses and wholly rauished with this most glorious vision Meditate besides the solemn pompe and reioysing where-with this glorious triumpher king of heauen and of earth was receaued into heuen think as-wel as thou canst with what musike with what songes with what praises and with what reuerence euerie celestial order did receaue and adore him howe the Angels reioyced how the Archangels wondred how the Scraphins burned in loue howe the inferior orders enquired of the superiour that which the Prophet Esaias had so long time before foretolde Who is this that commeth from Edom to witt the world Who is this so beautiful and so attired in new garmentes that ascendeth with so great puissance and triumph with other like words and questions wherof thou maiest meditate according to thy deuotion Contemplate lastly how this most humble Lorde being arriued to the Emperial heauen who as touching his humanitie was lesse then this Father bowed him-selfe downe repeting it may be the same wordes which in his prayer of the last supper he had vsed in the world that is to say My Father I haue preached and announced thy name vpon earth and haue perfected the worke which thou commaundedst me that I should doo now therfore doo thou clarifie me O Father with the clearnes of the glorie which I had with thee before the world was made And then maiest thou meditate how his heauenly Father made him sitt in that high throne on his right hand where he nowe sitteth that is to say that he exalted him made him partaker of the greatest goodes and excellencies that either haue been or euer shal-be graunted to any other yea that no creature can possiblye comprehend which is to be vnderstood in as much as he was man for as he is God he is equal with his Father and hath the same glorye and Maiestie that his Father hath The Prince of glorie being then receaued in this maner who neuer forgetteth them that loue and put their trust in him sent two Angels down to earth to visite his most dear mother with al the other companie as also to informe them of his arriual into heauen and to deliuer such other speeches as he spoke to them by whose comming thou maiest wel weene how great consolation they al receaued what praises and what blessinges they yeelded vnto their Lord whom after they had with most profound humilitie adored they returned with great ioye to Ierusalem Sithens albeit they were sorowful and heauie as being left Orphanes in great solitarines through the absence of such a master and a Shepparde yet for because they loued him better thē them-selues Charitie which seeketh not her owne thinges made them to reioyce more at the prosperitie and glorye of their most louing Lorde then to sorowe the want of their owne consolations This is that which thou mayest meditate touching the historie of this most glorious Ascension and learne withal to desire seeke and sigh for celestial thinges and to lothe al transitorye trashe endeuouring that thy conuersation be in heauen where Christe remaineth sitting on the right hand of his eternal Father A PRAYER LIKE AS O most sacred mother thou louedst Iesus thy most sweet sonne better thē thy selfe euen so didst thou make more accompt of his ioyes and happines thē thou diddest of thine own And therfore albeit thou remainedst behind him here in earth yet diddest thou reioyce greatly when thou sawest him ascend vp to heauen accompanied with the Angels and Saintes he caried with him with such iubilation power and Maiestie as was conuenient for so glorious a triumpher I beseech thee O most holy Lady by this thy ioye that seing thou then remainedst
consider the incomparable sorowe which his most sacred mother felt if as it is thought she were there present and sawe with her bodilye eyes this most woful Spectacle which albeit wer not sufficient to moue those Iewish pitilesse heartes to compassion yet sufficed it to rent the most sorowful Virgins bowels in twaine and to perce through her most heauy and dolorous heart O moste sacred mother looke wel whether this man that Pilate sheweth be thy sweete sonne or no sith hardly canst thou know him with this attire and hew so farre different from that thou wast wont to see him in Thy beloued sonne is white and ruddie the fairest that was euer seene amongst the sonnes of men the brightnes of the eternal light and Mirrour without mole as the sacred writt doth cal him but nowe seing him al bathed him al bathed in blood defiled with spittle al wanne and pale with woes howe canst thou possibly know him Thy sonne O Lady is king of heauen before whom al the powers celestial doo quake and the Dominations doo adore him what hath that crowne of most cruel thornes to doo with him that scepter of reede and that robe of irrision wher-with those caitiues doo thus scorne him yet neuerthelesse albeit by his outward apparaÌ„ce thou canst hardly know him yet maiest thou right easily doo it by his inuincible patience by his profound humilitie by his infinite charitie wher-with he condescended to be thus crowned like a counterfaite king and mocked here in earth that we may merite to be crowned with glory and to reigne with him in heauen A PRAYER THY HEART was whollye wounded with woe on euery side O most doleful mother when thou sawest thine onely sonne king of heauen and of earth crowned with pricking thornes arraied like a counterfeit king made a spectacle and mocking stocke of men and that al this crueltie sufficed not to moue or melt those flintie heartes I humbly beseech thee O most merciful Ladie by this thine ineffable griefe that thy merciful entrals take compassion of my great miserie and seing thou seest wel howe the thorns of mine offences doo pricke and wound my soule obtein me by thine intercession that the succour of diuine grace be aboundantlye graunted to me Amen OF THE CARYING OF THE CROSSE Pondera dum trahit trahitur dum tergaâ— laborant Sub cruce puniceo rore cruentat iter ¶ THE FOVRTH DOLOrous misterie is when our Lorde caried the Crosse on his backe whereon he was to be crucified where-vpon thou shalt meditate the pointes folowing THE FIRST is how miserable Pilate being vanquished with a worldlye feare through the Iewes threatninges wasshing his handes adiudged him to be crucified whom he confessed to be innocent the which his sentence our Lorde and Redeemer accepted very humbly desiring greatlye to dye for our life SECONDLY contemplate how that most heauie Crosse was laide vpon his shoulders which he embraced verye willinglye and did what he could to beare it albeit with great griefe and paine which made him eftsons to fal flatt vnto the grounde THIRDLY how the King of heauen hauing caried the Crosse a good space not being able to go anye further with that haste which they made him doo they not for compassion sake but for the desire they had to put him the sooner to death tooke the Crosse froÌ„ him and caused Cyreneus to beare it and then did our Lorde speake to those deuout wemen which folowed him with weeping eyes amongst whom wel may we deeme that his most holy Mother was AS TOVCHING the firste point thou maiest consider the rage and diabolical obstinacie of those wicked Iewes who seing our Redeemer thus weakned and afflicted in so pitiful a plight as had beene sufficient to make al other heartes to relent although they had bene harder then the verye stones yet were they no whitt at al appeased nor any deale moued to compassion yea they cried out with a terrible fury Crucifie him Crucifie him TheÌ„ might that haue been wel saide by them which Iacob had prophecied saâ—ing Wo woorth their so obstinate furye and their indignation so harde and cruel Where note howe great a mischiefe it is for a man to let him-selfe be blinded and possessed with the Deuil for after he is once come to this point then doth he participate of the same properties and conditions that the Diuel him-selfe is of and by that meanes is his enuie his furie and al his other vices rather hellish theÌ„ humane Note also to the same purpose the blindnes and iniustice of miserable Pilate who hauing so many times confessed that he founde no cause wherefore to condemne our Lorde yea that he was iust knowing also that vpon a spite the Iewes had accused him and deliuered him into his handes yet did he for al this being vanquished with their importunitie and a worldly feare condemne the innocent to suffer death and weeneth wretche that he is howe by the wasshing of his hands his conscience should be cleered They are like to Pilate who for feare of the worlde and of losing their commodities doo defile their consciences and weene to wash them-selues with certain workes and outward apparances wherewith albeit they maye other-whiles cast a mist before mens eyes yet are they once sure they can-not deceaue the eyes of God who looketh chiefly at the heart and meaning of eche one Doo thou therefore good brother considering this point take heed of falling into such like errors and thinke howe it sufsiceth not to beginne wel as Pilate did but it behoueth thee to be constant and to perseuer vntil the ende if thou wilt be saued Lastly thou maiest in this Article consider the gret patience and humilitie wher-with the innocent Lambe accepteth so iniust a senteÌ„ce of death pronouÌ„ced against him by the which he merited that the iust sentence of eternal death set down against vs for our sinnes should be reuoked and that the sentence of absolution and pardon pronounced by the vicar of Iesus Christe when we rightly confesse our selues vnto him might be valable and effectual IN THE second point thou hast great occasion to be sory meditating the crueltie where-with the wicked Iewes presentlye after sentence was pronounced against him which they so earnestly desired and craued doo then take our Redeemer and handle him much more spitefully then they did tofore Pilate nowe hauing geuen him to them to execute freely their furious rage vpon him And if heretofore they handled him so cruelly hauing him but as a prisoner alas what maye we suppose they did to him being now condemned and geuen wholly ouer into their most sacrilegious handes Contemplate with what inhumanitie they stripp off his robes of mockerie where-with they had earst scorned him and put his own clothes on again that he might by that meanes be knowen of euery one heping grief vpoÌ„ griefe ignominie vpon ignominie Behold howe lay that most
the other tormentes which remained for him in body and for thee in soul to suffer O how much more willingly then Cyreneus did wouldest thou haue performed his office in carying of the Crosse sith the strength which thy teÌ„dernes and sorows denied thee loue did make supply of and the desire thou haddest to beare some part of the afflictions which without al pitie they gaue vnto the afflicted and grieued thee no lesse then they did him-selfe Lastlye consider the wordes which our Redeemer spake turning him to the wemeÌ„ that wept which ought to make thee careful and desirous to bring forth some good fruit sith otherwise if thou beest a drye tree and barreine thinke what punishment thou shalt deserue if he be thus tormented for thy sins which was a greene tree so pretious and so fruitful A PRAYER HOWE grieuous and paineful was that viage to thee O most sacred virgin wheÌ„ thou diddest accompanye thy deere sonne to the monnt Caluary carying the Crosse on his backe whereon he was condemned to suffer death wel did thy manifold sighes geue testimonie therof as also the pitiful sobbes and aboundance of teares which thou sheddest with the other wemen that wept with thee and accompanied him I beseech thee O most doleful mother by the dolour and affliction which thou feltest in that houre that by thine intercession I maye haue such grace graunted me as that I may alwaies faithfullye accompanie the same Lord in carying of my Crosse and that no worldly thing be it prosperous or contrary may euer seperate me from him Amen OF THE CRVCIFYING In Cruce dum pendet tenebris obnubit OlimpuÌ„ Expoliat tumulos iuga celsa quatit ¶ THE FIFT AND LAST dolorous Misterie is of the crucifying of Iesus Christ our Redeemer touching the which thou shalt meditate these pointes folowing FIRST howe being arriued to the mouÌ„t Caluary which was the place where they commonly did execute offenders those wicked tormentours stript our Lorde out of his clothes to naile him naked vpon the Roode SECONDLY consider the incomparable torment which the most milde â—ambe receaued when they racked him out vpon the Crosse and that his most holy handes and feete were perced through with great nailes as also the wonderful patience wher-with he endured euery thing THIRDLY thou shalt meditate the shame which increased his other annoyes when being thus naked and crucified he was lifted vp vpoÌ„ the Crosse and placed a betwixt two theeues and ponder here what his most heauy mother felt when she sawe him in this case and hearde the wordes which he spake being on the Roode IF THOV wilt dilate the meditation of the first point consider in what case our most louing Lorde was hauing finished this his last and most dolorous procession howe great the wearines was which he felt hauing made so long and laboursome a iourney on foote and lodened a great peece of the way with the heauie burdeÌ„ of the Crosse How gret his weaknes which made him almost to sowne hauing shed so great a quantitie of bloâ—dd out of the manifold woundes he had receaued Howe great the affliction was that oppressed his most sacred soule vnbethinking him of the extreme torments which he looked for besides those that he had alredye endured and for the mitigation of so many paines and griefes the bedd which they had prepared for him was that harde and narrowe Crosse wheron they minded to crucifie him and the drinke which they presented to coÌ„fort him withal was that wine mingled with gal to th'ende that no of his senses or members might goe scot-free without their peculier torment O sweet Iesus thou which art a most pleasaunt hony-combe descended from heauen to sweeten the sournes of men and to ease their annoyes and griefes findest no one amongst them that wil take compassioÌ„ of thee nor geue thee any momeÌ„t of rest yea coÌ„triue new means how to afflict thee and to heape sorow vpoÌ„ sorow O ingrateful world how yl a counterchange is this thou geuest to thy maker and benefactor which for hony affordest him gal and for solace sorowe and hatred for the loue wher-with he created thee and came to redeeme thee and this thine ingratitude and most blame-woorthye blindnes is cause of thy so barbarous crueltie as meaning to crucifie him thou wilt stripp him out of his clothes that he may go naked to suffer deth who came naked into the world to geue thee life Consider then with what inhumanitie those cruel hangmen plucke off his clothes and withal plucke off his tender skinne and part of the fleshe which did cleaue thereto Behold how the most beautiful of al men standeth naked and fraight ful of shame amongst so gret a multitude of people bleeding anewe al ouer through the rauing of his former woundes and ponder the intolerable griefe of his most heauie mother when she sawe him bereft of the robe which with her own handes she had woueÌ„ for him without part of the skinn and flesh which she had geueÌ„ him in her entrals and clothed only with dolours heauines and confusion with which kind of attire his soul was also couered Learne here to loue pouertie seing he loued it so greatly who was geueÌ„ to vs for a teacher was borne poore liued poore and poore and naked departed this ingrateful world IN THE meditation of the second point thou maiest pause in like maner considering howe aboue al the dolors and torments which the most innocent Lambe endured they passed which he felt when his most sacred handes and feet were with huge nailes fastned hard vnto the Crosse Consider the cruel blowes wherwith they nailed him and how the blowes missing many times through the fiendish fury where-with they were enraged as we may godlily meditate they fel many times vpon the palmes of his handes and vpon his fingers toes with such a force as those delicate partes were wholly crusshed in sunder and wounded with intolerable torment Behold like wise how to make his members stretche out to the holes which they had alredy bored in the Crosse they racke theÌ„ out so vehemently as they plucke the bones out of the ioyntes with incoÌ„parable griefe wherby was that fulfilled which Dauid had prophecied saying They haue bored through my handes and my feete and haue numbred al my bones Behold then how these sacred armes of our most louing Lorde are thus stretcht out vpoÌ„ the Crosse redy to embrace al those that wil draw nighe vnto him euen like to that his infinite charitie where-with he suffred for al. Beholde these most puissant handes that earst created heauen and earth and wherwith he had wrought so many miracles howe they are now nailed fast to the Roode and distil forth that pretious liquor of his most sacred bloud sufficieÌ„t to cure al their spiritual infirmities that wil gather therof sith this is the wholsome and most approued mirrhe which the