Dominicke was giuen to his barren mother by the prayers of Saint Dominick Abbot of the Order of Saint Benedict whose name for that cause his Parents imposed vpon him Saint Franeis conceiued the first proiect of his religious course in a Monasterie of the Order of Saint Benedict Saint Ignatius for so he is now newly canonized receiued the first sparkes of his religious spirit in a famous Monasterie of Saint Benedict in Spaine called Monteseratta Of this Order there were of canonized or approued Saints Fiftie fiue thousand fiue hundred and ten in the time of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth which was lōg agoe besides infinite others holy Men and reputed Saints And we haue had fiue or sixe glorious Martyrs in these our dayes of our small number here in England Father Roberts one of the first that were sent hither in Mission being one so happily did they begin neither did any one hitherto thankes bee to God fall or miscarry so happily haue they gone forwards The glorie of the children is to bee attributed a great part of it to the Parents The branches buds blossoms and fruit of a Tree vnto the Roote Of all these aforesaid infinite others our most blessed Patrone Saint Benedict is the Father the Founder the Roote All these went the way of blessed Saint Benedict so doe likewise all those who ioyne themselues vnto him in this holy Fraternitie or Societie of his ordayned for lay people that are deuoutly affected vnto the Order as I vnderstād you are one Reioyce therefore and bee glad in our Lord Iesus and in his glorious seruant Saint Benedict that you are a blossome or bud of such a Tree that hath so replenished Heauen and Earth with such noble Fruit that you are a Childe of such a Father and haue such and so many worthy Brethren and Sisters in heauen and earth those in Heauen being readie to draw you vnto them by the golden chaines of their intercession merits and those on Earth to lift you vp with their charitable and brotherly assistāce in what they cā these on Earth being bound so to doe as long as you are of their fraternitie walke with them in the way that our blessed Father Saint Benedict did and they in Heauen out of their respectiue charitie can doe no lesse The office of the holy Father S. BENEDICT At Matins Thou O Lord wilt open my lips And my mouth shall declare thy praise O God incline vnto mine ayde O Lord make haste to helpe me Glorie bee to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen A Hymne A Vrora faire vnmask's her face And smiles vpon the earth to see Saint Benedicts soule adorn'ed with grace Ascend to Heauen so gloriously How gracious is he there aboue Who here on earth did shine so bright Whose wonders stonie hearts did moue And gaue to all the World his light Praise honour glorie without end To thee O sacred Trinitie Which Benedict thy faithfull frend Enioyeth for all Eternitie An Antheme There was a man of venerable life blessed in grace and name who euen from his Chilhood bearing a graue minde and transcending his age in vertuous conuersation gaue his minde to no voluptuousnesse Vers Pray for vs O blessed Father Benedict Resp That we may be made worthy of the promises of Crist A Prayer O God who didst call the blessed Father and Law maker Saint Benedict from all worldly tumults to serue thee alone graunt to all specially such as serue vnder his discipline constant perseuerance in vertue and perfect victorie vnto their end Through Iesus-Christ thy Sonne who with thee liueth and raigneth world without end Amen At Prime O God incline vnto my ayde O Lord make haste to helpe me Glorie be to the Father c. A Hymne GReat Conductor in sacred Warre Who neuer conquer'd wert by might Defend vs with thy holy prayer And strengthen vs when we doe fight Protect vs from all sinnes disgrace Who mad'st the Black-bird to retire Which fluttering came about thy face To tempt thee with vnchaste desire Praise honour glorie c. An Antheme Our powerfull Lord did so great a fauour to blessed Benedict that vnder one Sun-beame he did see the whole world Vers Pray for vs O blessed Father Benedict Resp That we may be made worthy c. A Prayer MAke vs we beseech thee O Lord to imitate here the labours of the blessed Father Saint Benedict that there we may be partakers of his glorie through Iesus-Christ our Lord Amen At the third houre O God incline vnto my ayde O Lord make haste to helpe me Glorie be to the Father c. A Hymne TO free thee from vnchaste desire Thy flesh the wounds of thornes indur'd And thus fire quenched was with fire And one woūd with another cur'd With signe of Crosse a poysoned Cup Thou brak'st in two with power Diuine Which poysō thou hadst supped vp But Death was weaker then lif 's signe Praise honour glorie c. An Antheme The man of our Lord Benedict was of a pleasant countenance and adorned with Angelicall gray haires and so great was the brightnesse that shined about him that being yet vpon the Earth he seemed to dwell in Heauen Vers Pray for vs O blessed Father Benedict Resp That we may bee made worthy of the promise of Christ A Prayer VVE beseech thee O Lord that the intercessiō of the blessed Abbot Saint Benedict may so recommend vs that what by our owne merits wee cānot by his patronage wee may obtayne through Christ our Lord. Amen At the sixt houre O God incline vnto my ayde O Lord make haste to helpe me Glorie be to the Father c. A Hymne A Monke there was when others pray'd Oft pull'd away from seruing God Who afterwards became most stay'd When he was touched with thy rod. The Earth their bones did vomit out Who did in thy disfauour die But those to thee that were deuout Did walke vpon the wathers drie Praise honour glorie c. An Antheme The glorious Confessor of our Lord Bénedict leading an Angelicall life vpon earth was made a mirour of good workes to the world and therefore reioyceth in heauen without end Vers Pray for vs O blessed Father Benedict Resp That we may be made Worthy c. A Prayer O God in whose power holy Saint Benedict made the dead mēbers of a childe to reuiue graunt we beseech thee that for is merits wee may by the breath of thy Spirit bee quickned from the death of our Soules through Christ our Lord. Amen At the ninth houre O God incline vnto my ayde O Lord make haste to helpe me Glorie be to the Father c. A Hymne THe compasse of the World so round He in a Sunne-beame did discrye Nothing on earth so strange was found That was concealed from his eye O holy Saint O heauenly Man To whom God
Wee desire that by the keeping of the ten Commandements signified by the ten Aue Maries betweene the Pater nosters We being of the Catholike Faith or Beliefe signified by the Creede in the vertue of the fiue wounds and death of Christ signified by the fiue Pater nosters wee may obtaine remission of our sinnes signified by the fiftie Aue Maries the number of remission of sinnes as aforesaid Besides this the Church addeth her Benediction or Sanctification to the Beades whereupon they are said wherewithall I haue caused yours to bee hallowed to make them being otherwise but plaine more precious vnto you That the Church hath such authoritie you need not doubt it being the vse in the old Law (a) Num. 7. vers 1. to blesse or hallow not onely the Temple and Altars but also all Vestments Vtensils belonging to the seruice of God And Saint Paul saith a that Creatures are or may be sanctified by the Word of God and Prayer especially that which is authorised and appointed by the Church of God to that end as this of the Beades is Moreouer if there be any vertue in wordes as certainly there is and if wordes can enchaunt Serpents as it appeares they can out of the prophet Dauid b and many naturall experiences there are of the same Then surely it is piously to be thought that Almightie God is pleased to bee as it were enchaunted with these most soueraigne prayers deuoutly rehearsed hath caused our blessed Lady and his Saints to bee so likewise and no maruaile though he make himselfe subiect herevnto 1. Tim. 4. vers 5. Psal 57. when he said to his seruant Moyses a Let me goe that my fury may be angrie against this people as if Moyses had forceably with holden him This Rosarie or Psalter of our blessed Lady is adorned with fifteene most pious and deuout Meditations to wit of the fiue ioyous fiue dolorous and fiue glorious mysteries of our blessed Lady well knowne to most Catholikes and vsed accordingly with sundrie other kindes of godly and deuout Meditations amongst which I lighted of late vpon certaine most deuout and ancient Meditations in latine called Rasarium aureum the golden Rosarie which in my opinion doth very well deserue that name These haue I translated into English meeter seÌ„t vnto you to stirre vp sweetneÌ„ your deuotion so much the more Exod. 32. vers 9. If you obiect the Aue Mary pronounced by the Angell Gabriel is no prayer but only a falutation I answer The Church hath made it an expresse Prayer by adding vnto the Salutation of the Angell these words Holy Mary mother of God pray for vs sinners now and in the boure of our death Amen Which thing supposing the doctrine of the Inuocation of Saints to bee true Shee may lawfully doe and hath great reason to doe vnto our blessed Lady as a general prayer for all vies especially considering the Salutation was intentionally said as a prayer before and was more then insinuated for such by our Sauiour Christ vpon the Crosse saying to our blessed Lady of Saint Iohn (a) Ioan. 19. vers 26. Woman behold thy Sonne and to him of her Behold thy Mother by which wordes he commended her mystically not onely to Saint Iohn but also to all others in him that are Iohns by grace and loue of God as hee was by name as a Mother of intercesssion to God for them and they as children confidently to entreat it at her hands If your conceit suggest vnto you It is a dishonour to God to pray vnto his Mother answer vnto it No more dishonour then to desire one anothers prayers here on earth which is to the greater honour of God commanded and commended vnto vs in his sacred Word If it vrge The Saints know not our prayers answer They reioyce at the conuersion of a Sinner Therefore they know the same If the often repetitioÌ„ of the same prayers seeme vaine answere It is full of mysterie and holy meditation as is before declared which mysteriousnesse together with the often repetition doe maruailously incite the soule to feruour and deuotion if it bee done with due attention The Angels vse the repetition of Holy holy holy (a) Matth. 26. vers 44. Our Sauiour Christ went three seuerall times together into the Garden and prayed as the text saith the same Prayer In the 135. Psalm the Prophet Dauid repeateth in euery verse for his mercy endureth for euer If one may vse often repetitioÌ„ of one thing in the prayse of God Why not in prayer This being so this holy Psalter of the Beades cannot be but a most acceptable seruice and deuotion to God and to our blessed Ladie the glorious Virgin Marie the Mother of of God and to all the Court of Heauen And to our enemie the Deuill a great confusion chasing him out of our hearts or at least repressing and much appeasing his deadly assaults and temptations against vs as that Psalter of Dauid did as aforesaid which was indeed a liuely figure of this Before euery Meditation following say the first part of the Aue Marie till you come to Iesus Then say the Meditation in verse then the other part of the Aue Marie in order as it lyeth The golden Rosarie of the most glorious Virgin MARY Pater noster Aue Maria c. IESVS 1. MAry of Virgins all most pure Receiue this golden Rosarie Deckt with the life of thy sweet Sonne Vnder a briefe compendiarie IESVS 2. Whom thou a Virgin voyd of sinne Conceiuedst of the holy Ghost When Gabriels newes thou did'st beleeue Gayning thereby what Eue had lost IESVS 3. Of whom thou being great with Childe Vnto Elizabeth did'st hie And Iohn the Baptist in her wombe Did'st with thy presence sanctifie IESVS 4. Whom in the Citie Bethleem Thou did'st bring forth with heauenly ioy Free from those paynes which euermore WomeÌ„ in I hil birth doe annoy IESVS 5. Whom newly in a Stable borne Thou did'st forth with as God adore And with thy Virgins milke distst feede A thing most strange ne're heard before IESVS 6. Whom thou didst wrapp in silly clowts And with brute beasts laid in a Manger And didst him serue in what thou couldst To keepe his tender Corps from danger IESVS 7. Whom troopes of Angels with great ioy And heauenly melodie did prayse Proclayming glorie vnto God And peace to Men on earth alwayes IESVS 8 WhoÌ„ being chiefe of Shepherds all The Shepherds of the field first found And finding worshipt as their Lord Though lying poorely on the ground IESVS 9. Who did vouchsafe like sinfull man To take the marke of Circumcision And eke the Name of Iesus sweet Our sinfull soules Physition IESVS 10. To whom three Kings did come with gifts Of Gold and Myrrhe and Frankâ—ncense Directed by a blazing starre And him ador'd with reuerence Pater noster Aue Maria c. IESVS 1. Who being fortie dayes of age Thou in the Temple didst present According
vnto Mose Law Making thy selfe obedient IESVS 2. Whom flying Herodes persecution To Egypt thou by night didst carry And after comming backe from thence In Nazareth with him didst tarry IESVS 3. Whom in the Temple thou didst lose With many a teare and wofull hart But missing him didst seeke him out And finding him didst glad depart IESVS 4. Whom with the labour of thy hands In all his wāts thou didst sustaine And though thy meanes were very poore Yet didst thou neuer once complaine IESVS 5. Whom Iohn in Iordane did baptize And pointing to him thus did say Behold the Lambe of God one hie That takes the sinne of Mā away IESVS 6. Whom Sathan in great subtilitie Did tempt with sundrie sorts of sinne To trie where he was God or Man But no way could preuaile therein IESVS 7. Who at thy motion did vouchsafe To chāge pure Water into Wine Confirming his Disciples faith By that strange miracle diuine IESVS 8. Who freed such as were possest With wicked spirits in bodie or minde Curing the sicke and lame also And giuing sight vnto the blinde IESVS 9. Who raysed Lazarus frō the graue Restor'd to life the Widdowes sonne Brought home againe the prodigall Childe That such a desperate race had runne IESVS 10. Who oft with Sinners did conuerse And oft with such did take repast And them vnto repentāce brought Forgiuing all their sinnes at last Pater noster Aue Maria c. IESVS 1. Whose feete the sinner Magdalen Did wash with teares of loue and griefe And sorrowing deeply for her sinnes Obtayned pardon and reliefe IESVS 2. Who on the holy Moūt of Thabor Caused his bodie so to shine That blessed Peter Iames and Iohn Did see his Majestie diuine IESVS 3. Whom store of people with applause With boughes of palme strewing his way Did bring into Ierusalem But him forsooke that very day IESVS 2. Who e're he eate the Pascall Lambe Washed his twelue Disciples feet Then fed them with his Flesh and Bloud In Sacrament of loue most sweet IESVS 5. Who in the Garden prostrate prayde With sweat of water mixt with blood For feare of death yet glad to die If to his Father it seem'd good IESVS 6. Whom vile and most malicious Knaues Did take and eke with cordes did tie And brought him captiue to the Iudge Who then was Cayphas Bishop hie IESVS 7. Whose comely face O haynous crime With filthy spittle they berayde And with their firsts full many a blowe Most cruelly thereon they layde IESVS 8. Whom they to Pilate did present To be condemn'd and iudg'd to dye Bringing false witnesse to that end Who did accuse him wrongfully IESVS 9. Whom Pilate vnto Herode sent To doe with him what he best deem'd Who for his silence sent him backe Clad like a Foole and so esteem'd IESVS 10. Whose tender Flesfl with whips they tore Whose sacred Head they crown'd with thorne In purple garments like a King And so saluted him in scorne Pater noster Aue Maria c. IESVS 1. Whom wounded sore with cruell stripes The Souldiers lewdly did deride And eke the Iewes with opē mouth Did crie to haue him crucifide IESVS 2. Whom as a Malefactor then Pilate condemned vnto death Bearing his Crosse vpon his backe Till he was spent out of breath IESVS 3. Whom on the Mount of Caluarie They stripped naked to the skin And setting vp the Crosse an end Did naile him hands and feet therein IESVS 4. Who for his Persecutors prayde Vnto his heauenly Father deare And stretched on the bloudie Crosse His paynes most patiētly did beare IESVS 5. Who vnto the repentant Thiefe Of all his sinnes full pardon gaue With promise of eternall blisse Which he there hanging by did craue IESVS 6. Who vnto his Disciple Iohn Thee for his Mother did comend And him to thee as a deare Sonne In mutuall loue for to depend IESVS 7. Who when he seemed to complaine His Father had him quite forsooke His Foes blasphemed him the more And no compassion on him tooke IESVS 8. Who when he cryed out I thirst His forces being almost spent They gaue him galle and vinegre That so they might him more torment IESVS 9. Who by his Passion finishing The prophecies of holy Writ Discharg'd the debt of Adams sinne Paying his precious bloud for it IESVS 10. Who then into his Fathers hāds His sacred Spirit did commend Crying alowd with voyce most shrill And so his blessed Life did end Pater noster Aue Maria. c. IESVS 1. Whose side à Souldier with his speare Pearc'd hanging dead vpon the Rood And therewithall there gushed out A streame of water mixt with blood IESVS 2 Who being slaine vpon the Crosse His liuelesse Corps did rest in peace His Soule went downe to Limbo lake And did those captiue soules release IESVS 3. Whose sacred Body from the Crosse Ioseph and Nicodemus tooke And buried it in noble sort When all men else had it forsooke IESVS 4. Who by his onely power diuine Did rise againe being three dayes dead And thee and his Disciples all With his appearance comforted IESVS 5. Who after fortie dayes were past Ascended into heauen hie And at his Fathers tight hand sits To raigne with him eternally IESVS 6. Who sent from thence the holy Ghost Vpon the feast of Whitsontide Which his Disciples being weake Inflam'de with loue and fortifi'de IESVS 7. Who thee vnto his heauenly Throne Whē thou on earth thy time hadst beene Assumpted both in Body and Soule To raigne with him as heauens Queene IESVS 8. Who at the latter Day shall come And sit as Iudge vpon his Throne With rigour and seueritie Iudging the deeds of euery one IESVS 9. Who to the bad eternall paynes And to the good eternall blisse Will iustly iudge without respect Of any person that or this IESVS 10. Who grant that they which doe recite This Golden Rosarie of thine May see the face of Him and Thee In heauēly blisse for aye to shine Credo in Deum Patrem c. Another Letter to his Sister concerning the Office of our blessed LADY commonly called the PRIMMER IT is said in the Gospell that wee must pray alwayes and Saint Paul exhorteth vs to pray without intermission The meaning of which wordes is not that wee should doe nothing else but pray for that wee cannot nor ought not to doe The meaning therefort of these places of holy Scripture is that wee should pray at certaine set times (a) Luc. 1. v. 1. (b) 1. Thes 5. vers 17. without omission or intermission Such times did the Prophet Dauid set to himselfe as appeareth by his owne wordes In the euening and morning or at mid-day Will I declare or set forth thy prayse and Psal 118. v. 164. hee saith hee did the like seuen times a day Our holy Mother the Church hath ordayned for Religious and Ecclesiasticall persons a certaine set Office or Seruice to bee said to God in euery houre of the day
A POORE MANS MITE A letter of a Religious man of the Order of Saint BENEDICT vnto a Sister of his concerning the Rosarie or Psalter of our blessed Ladie Commonly called the Beades ✚ IHS Printed with license of Superiors M.DC.XXXIX A Poore Mans Mite A Letter of a Religious Man of the Order of S. BENEDICT vnto a sister of his concerning the ROSARIE or PSALTER of our blessed LADY commonly called the BEADES Deare Sister I Haue sent you a small token of my no smal loue a paire of plaine Beades together with the explication thereof The (a) 1. Reg. 18 19. Prophet Dauid vsed to sing certaine spirituall Ditties or Songs to his Harpe with which melodie hee so appeased the spirit of furie wherewith King Saul was possessed and grieuously tormented that notwithstanding hee was so incensed against Dauid that he would haue slaine him hee was faine to forbeare for the great ease hee enioyed by his melodie yea and whilest hee sang in his presence he had no power to execute his wicked purpose vpon him as if he had enchaunted him by the sweetnesse thereof as indeede it seemed to doe These Songs are called Psalmes of Psallo a latine word which in english signifieth to sing because they were sung to the Harpe and the whole number of them are called Dauids Psalter They are registred amongst the Bookes of Canonical Scripture and accounted a principall part thereof so mysterious that they are appliable and correspondent to all the affections and motions of our minde whatsoeuer They are spirituall Manna (b) Sapient 16. vers 20. Exod. 16. vers 14. Num. 11. vers 7. hauing the taste of euery good thing we can desire In regard whereof a certaine Father affirmeth whatsoeuer is contayned in all the other Bookes of holy Scripture by way of Prophecie Doctrine or Example is comprised in this by way of spirituall Songs and prayses of God the seuerall Verses whereof are as it were so many iaculatorie darts cast vp to heauen and therefore they are altogether vsed in the Church-Seruice and in the Office of our blessed Lady commonly called the Primmer and in the Manuall of Prayers as a most soueraigne and sanctified deuotion to please God and appease the furie of our ghostly enemie the Deuill who like another Saul seeketh the destruction of our soules The number of theses Psalmes are one hundred and fiftie and are called as I said before the Psalter of Dauid To the imitation of this holy Psalter the Church hath ordained another diuine Psalter called the Psalter of Iesus coÌ„monly set in the latter end of the Manuall of Prayers consisting also of the like number that is to say fifteene Petitions with ten Inuocations to each Petition And to the same imitation the Church hath instituted yet another Psalter of our blessed Lady the glorious Virgin Mary commonly called the Rosarie or Psalter of our blessed Lady or the Beades consisting of the like number of Aue Maries and is diuided into three parts each part consisting of fiftie Aue Maries wherevnto are added fiue Pater nosters to wit one betweene euery ten Aue Maries and a Creede at the end This Psalter is nothing inferior vnto the other two but rather so much the more soueraigne by how much more excellent the wordes and mysteries thereof are The Pater noster for sanctitie and pithynesse no Prayer comparable vnto it proceeding from the sacred mouth of Christ (a) Matth. 6. vers 9. Luc. 1. vers 29. and instituted by him as a generall forme of Prayer The Aue Mary indited by the most blessed Trinitie in heauen and brought as an Ambassage vnto the earth by the Arch-angell Gabriel b for most ioyfull tydings of the Redemption of Mankinde the blessed Virgin Mary being saluted and honored with the miraculous Motherhood of the VVorlds Redeemer The Creede contayneth the twelue principall articles of our Faith wherevpon as most certaine and infallible foundations our holy Catholike beliefe without which (a) Ephes 2. vers 20. Hebr. 11. vers 5. it is vnpossible to please God is built and erected and was composed by the twelue Apostles each of them making one seuerall Article which in regard thereof is called in Latine Sâ—mboâ—um Apostolorum that is to say The Shot of the Apostles alluding to an Ordinarie whereas euery one of the Commensals lay downe their shot or share And as this Creed is a geuerall Summe of all our beliefe so are the Pater noster and Aue Marie generall formes of prayer and praisings of God which may be applyed to all the particular affections and motioÌ„s of our minde whatsoeuer wee desire to obtaine at the hands of Almightie God as the Psalter of Dauid may And as our Sauiour Christ commended the Pater noster vnto vs saying When you pray pray thus Our Father c. So our blessed Lady in her Hymne of Magnificat commended the Aue Marie vnto vs saying For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed for with what words I pray you can wee more properly and pleasingly to God and Her call her blessed then by the Aue Marie wherewithall the Angell Gabriel was sent from Heauen to salute her so as aforesaid The mysterie of the number of prayers in this holy Rosarie or Psalter is this In the old Law (a) Leuit. 25. vers 10. before the comming of Christ euery Fiftieth yeere was a yeere of Iubile wherein there was a generall forgiuenesse of all debts crimes and grieuances whatsoeuer and a reducing of all things to their former qualitie and state in which all grieuances being redressed the whole earth did seeme to reioyce and clap her hands and therefore had the appellation of the yeere of Iubile or Iubilation that is to say of exceeding ioy and iubilation and this was indeed a figure of the most ample remission of sinnes in the new Law by the Death and Passion of Christ Iesus expressed more plainly by the descending of the holy Ghost the Fountaine of Grace and Remission of sinnes vpon the Apostles and Disciples of Christ Fiftie dayes after his Death and Resurrection vpon the feast of Pentecost or Whitsunday so called in regard of the number of fiftie dayes Wherefore by the number of fiftie Aues Maries whereof the third part of the said Psalter consisteth is aptly signified remission of sinnes By the fiue Pater nosters is signified the fiue principall wounds of Christ which fiue wounds may bee resembled to those Cities of refuge in the old Law (a) Dcuter 15. vers 2. as it were places of Sanctuarie for all Offenders to flie vnto for refuge against their persecuting Foes either spirituall or corporall By the ten Aue Maries betweene the Pater nosters is signified the ten Commandements By the Creede is signified the Catholike Faith or Beliefe out of which there is no saluation or possibilitie of pleasing God as aforesaid So that all this put together signifieth thus much wheÌ„ we say this holy Psalter
did his secrets tell Who saw the soule of Saint German Ascend the Heauens for aye to dwell Praise honour glorie c. An Antheme The man of God Benedict was replenished with the spirit of all righteous men pray hee for all Professors of the Catholike Religion Vers Pray for vs O blessed Father Benedict Resp That we may be made worhy c. A Prayer GRaunt vs wee beseech thee O Lord that with cheerefull minde Wee may daily celebrate the memorie of thy blessed Confessor Benedict whose life graced with many miracles did well please thee through Christ our Lord. Amen At Euen-song O God incline vnto my ayde O Lord make haste to helpe me Glorie be to the Father c. A Hymne HIs sisters soule from sinne most free And Beautified with heauenly loue Flie vp to heauens Throne hee see In likenesse of a milke white Doue O blessed Saints of God belou'd Who lye in tomb'd both in one graue One heart you had while here yee mou'd One glorie now in Heauen haue Praise honour glorie c. An Antheme Towards the East appeared a straight way reaching from his Cell euen vnto Heauen and a Man of venerable feature shining in brightnesse standing thereby demanded wose way that was which they confessing they did not know hee said vnto them This is the way by which Benedict the beloued of our Lord ascended to Heauen Vers Pray for vs O blessed Father Benedict Resp That we may be made worthy c. A Prayer VVE beseech thee O almightie God by the merits and prayers of the most blessed Father Sainct Benedict and of his disciples Saint Placidus and Saint Maurus and of the Virgin his sister Saint Scholastica and of all holy Monkes and Nunnes which vnder his Banner and conduct fought for thee that thou wouldest renew in vs thy holy Spirit by whose inspiratiō wee may make warre against the Flesh the World and the Deuill and because the Palme of victorie cannot be atchieued without laborious battell giue vs in aduersitie patience in temptation constancy in perils Counsell giue vs the puritie of Chastitie the desire of Pouertie the fruit of Obedience and a firme purpose to obserue thy Commandements so that being strengned with thy Consolation and linked in brotherly Charitie wee may serue thee with one heart and so passe ouer these temporall things that being crowned for our victories we may deserue at last in the cōpagnie of those Religious troupes to attaine vnto those eternall good things Through Christ our Lord. Amen A Cōmpline Conuert vs O Lord our Sauiour And auert thy wrath from vs O God incline vnto my ayde O Lord make haste to helpe me Glorie be to the Father c. A Hymne BLessed Patriarch wee thee pray And also craue in humble wise That vnto Heauen thou shew's the Way Whom thou the earth taught'st to despise Grant we may seeke those ioye aboue And mend in vs what is amisse That liuing here in Christian loue We may hereafter liue in blisse Praise honour glorie without end To thee O sacred Trinitie Which Benedict thy faithfull frend Enioyeth for all eternitie Amen An Antheme Let the whole compagnie of all the faithfull reioyce for the glorie of the blessed Abbot Saint Benedict let the troupes of Religious persons chiefly exult celebrating is memorie vpon earth for whose societie the Saints doe ioy in Heauen Vers Pray for vs O blessed Father Benedict Resp That we may be made worthy c. A Prayer PVrifie O God the hearts of all those who forsaking worldly vanities thou hast encouraged to aspire to the reward of a higher vocation vnder the discipline of their holy Patriarch and founder Saint Benedict and powre thy grace into them whereby they may perseuer in thee and by thy assistance accomplish what by thy inspiration they haue promised that so atchieuing the perfectiō which they professe they may also merit to attaine to the reward by thee proposed to such as should perseuer in thee Through our Lord Iesus-Christ who with thee liueth and raigneth in vnitie of the holy Ghost Amen A filiall recommendation to the most blessed Father Saint Benedict O Most glorious Father Saint Benedict the Gouernour and Leader of such as professe Monasticall discipline hope and solace of all them that heartily implore thy assistance I humbly recommend mee to thy holy protection that for the excellency of thy merits thou wilt vouchsafe to defend me from all euills hurtfull to my soule and that out of the aboundance of thy pietie thou wilt obtayne for mee the gift of compunction and teares that I may worthily and abundantly bewaile my great wickednesse and offences whereby I haue oftētimes euen from my child-hood prouoked to anger my louing and gracious Lord Iesus-Christ and that I may also worthily praise and reuerence thee O most precious Oliue and fruitfull Vine in the house of God O most solid vessel adorned with all kindes of precious stones chosen according to Gods owne heart most sweet and with innumerable gifts of graces like so many glistring Pearles embellized thee I beseech thee I pray thee with all the affection of my heart with all the desires of my soule I implore that thou wilt vouchsafe to be mindfull of me wretched sinner with Almightie God that of his infinite goodnesse he will bee pleased to forgiue mee all my sinnes and conserue me in vertues and that for no cause or necessitie whatsoeuer he will suffer mee to depart from him but that together with thee O louing Father hee will admit mee into the companie of his Saints and to that blissefull vision of himselfe where together with thee and that glorious Armie of Religious persons who fought vnder thy Banner I may for euer enioy the presence of my God and my Lord Iesus Christ who with the Father and the holy Ghost liueth and raigneth for euer and euer Amen FINIS