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
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
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