Saints blesded spirites so in like maner merited she to be exalted in heuē aboue thē al This is the womā that S. Iohn saw in his Reuelation clothed with the Sonn and hauing a crown of twelue starres on her head wherby are denoted the prerogatiues of plentiful graces where-with she was adorned wherat we are rather to wonder thē to go about to write them O most blessed Ladye and most woorthy of al praise who can tel what thy merites were but he that considereth thy reward who can cōceaue what thy grace was but he that contemplateth thy glorie who can knowe what thy perfection was but he that beholdeth thy Crowne Reioyce therfore O noble Lady reioyce for hauing atchieued so Soueraine a felicitie as shal neuer in al eternitie be taken from thee And remember them that remaine in this vale of tears Seing also that thy greatnes can not make thee forget thy profounde humilitie encline thine eyes of mercie towardes vs and make intercessiō for vs. Ceasse not to continue thy office of being our Aduocate sith thou art now more mightie and of greater credite and authoritie then thou wast tofore Procure O Queene of heauen procure that by thy meanes we maye be pardoned our offences and that the same most sacred Trinitie which hath enterteined and crowned thee so liberally vouchsafe to receaue vs like-wise to his fauour and mercie To th'end that when we shal depart out of this exile we may merite to remaine in thy company praising adoring and enioying the saide most Soueraine and sacred Trinitie perpetuallye in the celestial Kingdome Amen A PRAYER WHO so loueth thee best O most soueraine Queene of heauen hath best cause to reioice at thy last and most inexplicable ioy which gaue the perfect accomplishment to al thy felicities when being now risen vp and in bodie and soule assumpted into heauen thou wast crowned with a pretious crown of the most holy Trinitie and placed aboue al the quires of Angels in that most high throne which was prepared for thee where nowe thou sittest as Queene on the right hand of thy most louing sonne king of glorie who sitteth on the right hand of his eternal Father I humblye beseech thee O most happy Lady by this thy glorious exaltation that by howe much the dignitie is greater which thou hast obteined in heauen by so much the fauours may be greater which by thee both I and al others may obtein here in earth Amē The most sweet name of IESVS and of his most holy Mother the Virgin MARY be praised for euermore Amen FINIS Diuini diuina patet vis nominis vnum Orco est poena polo gloria vita solo Dulce tuum nostro scribas in pectore nomen Namque tuo constat nomine nostra salus Monstra te esse Matrem Monstra te esse Filium LITANIAE DEIPARAE VIRGINIS EX SACRASCRIP tura depromptae quae in alma domo Lauretana omnibus diebus Sabbati Vigiliarum Festorum eiusdem B. Virgiginis musicè decantari solent KYRIE eleison Christe eleison Kyrie eleison Christe audi nos Christe exaudi nos Pater de coelis Déus Miserere nobis Fili Redemptor mundi Déus Miserere nobis Spiritus sancte Déus Miserere nob Sancta Trinitas vnus Déus Miserere nobis Sancta MARIA Ora pro nobis Sancta Dei Genetrix ora Sancta Virgo Virginum ora Mater viuentium ora Mater pulchrae dilectionis ora Mater sanctae spei ora Paradisus voluptatis ora Lignum vitae ora Domus sapientiae ora Porta coeli ora Desiderium collium aeternorum ora Vrbs refugij ora Gloria Ierusalem ora Sanctuarium dei ora Foederis arca ora Altare thy miamatis ora Scala Iacob ora Speculum sine macula ora Lilium inter spinas ora Rubus ardens incombustus ora Vellus Gedeonis ora Thronus Salomonis ora Turris eburnea ora Fauus distillans ora Hortus conclusus ora Fons signatus ora Puteus aquarum viuentium ora Nauis institoris de longe portans panem ora Stella matutina ora Aurora consurgens ora Pulchra vt Luna ora Electa vt sol ora Castrorum acies ordinata ora Solium gloriae dei ora A cunctis periculis Resp Libera nos virgo gloriosa Per salutarem conceptionem tuam Libera nos Per sanctam Natiuitatem tuam Lib. Per admirabilem Annunciationem tuam Libera Per immaculatam Purificationem tuam Libera Per gloriosam Assumptionem tuam Libera nos Versus Peccatores Resp Te rogamus audi nos Vt veram poenitentiam nobis impetrare digneris Resp Te rogamus audi nos Vt Societates tibi peculiari obsequio deuotas conseruare augere digneris Resp Te rogamus audi nos Vt Ecclesiae sanctae cunctoque populo Christiano pacem vnitatem impetrare digneris Resp Te rogamus audi nos Vt omnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem aeternam impetrare digneris Resp Te rogamus audi nos Mater Dei Resp Te rogamus audi nos Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi Resp Parce nobis Domine Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi Resp Exaudi nos Domine Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi Resp Miserere nobis Versus Ora pro nobis sancta Dei Genetrix Resp Vt digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi OREMVS PIetate tua quaesimus Domine nostrorum solue vincula peccatorum intercedente Beata Maria cum omnibus sanctis tuis nos famulos tuos benefactores Praelatos atque loca nostra in omni sanctitate custodi cunctosque consanguinitate affinitate familiaritate nobis coniunctos à vitijs purga virtutibus illustra pacem salutem nobis tribue hostes visibiles atque inuisibiles remoue carnalia desideria repelle aërem salubrem indulge Inimicis nostris charitatem largire Regnum etiam Angliae vrbemque nostrā N. vnà cum vniuersis in ea commorantibus ab haereticorū feritate conuerte Omnibus fidelibus viuis atque defunctis in terra viuentium requiē aeternam concede benedictio tua sit super nos semper Per Christum Dominum nostrum Amen QVI VOLET HAS QVOQVE IN DEIPARAE virginis laudem recitare poterit SECVNDO DIE ANcilla Mater Domini Columba Christi Vas electionis Arca Testamenti Lectulus Salomonis Tabernaculum dei Tabernaculum Cedar Domus aurea sancti sanctorum Turris Dauidica Turris Libani Terra Domini benedicta Terra sacerdotalis libera Cypressus in monte Sion Plantatio rosae in Iericho Palma in Cades exaltata Oliua speciosa in campis Cedrus exaltata in Libano Lilium in aquae transitu Flos rosarum in diebus vernis Thus ardens in igne Thus in aestate redolens Arcus refulgens inter nebulas Luna plena Sol refulgens
with exceeding patience First the sharpnes of the season did greatly augment her annoyes sith this iorney was performed in the verye hart of winter when as we see it is verye painful trauailing Secondly her pouertie which forced her to suffer manye discommodities especially being great with childe and so tender and delicate as she was Thirdly the lack of lodging which could not be prouided her in al the whole Citie of Bethleem albeit wel may we beleue that good Ioseph tooke great paines in seeking it very diligentlye and howe seing them-selues thus refused it coulde not be but that they felt great shame and confusion O what a soueraine solace and singuler coÌ„fort should this be for poore folkes that are in this world distressed despised and forsakeÌ„ if they considered how the most woorthy noble and moste holy creatures which ought to haue been more honored reuereÌ„ced then al the whole world again to witt the Queene of heuen and her most blessed Infant were the most distressed annoyed and pained of al others THOV maiest pause in the second point beholding with thy spiritual eyes in what state the moste blessed virgin found her-selfe the day of her most sacred deliueraunce and here shalt thou see in her so vertuous a disposition so holye a deuotion so graue a modestie so singuler a beautie so great an eleuation of spirite in God as no mans tonge can possiblye declare it Thou shalt finde howe in counterchange of griefes which other women feele in child-birth she felt a strange and ineffable solace a singuler ioy and diuine consolation and being there-with wholly rapt and eleuate the celestial bridegrome issued miraculously out of her wombe as out of a most pretious bride-chaÌ„ber without any alteration or detriment at al to her most perfect virginitie O virgin-mother and mother-virgin A priuiledge neuer graunted to any other creature O diuine excellencie and dignitie due to thee alone to be the mother of God and mother of thine owne Father and Creator Who can possibly conceue what thy heart felt when with thy bodily eyes thou beheldest the Prince of heauen lying naked in earth and him shiuering for colde who doth clothe and warme al other creatures O with what reuereÌ„ce diddest thou prostrate thy selfe to adore that infinite Maiestie masked vnder the vaile of so great distresse and miserie Oh with what compassion diddest thou associate with thy teares those which thy deere yonge sonne shed feeling his so great annoiances Oh with what cordial loue endeuouredst thou to lul and lapp him vp in such poore swaddling cloutes as thou haddest geuing him thy sacred brestes to suck vpon which were at that time miraculouslye replenished with milke Matters sufficient to melt anye flintie heart that would with leisure ponder and discusse them THE MEDITATION of the thirde point wil furnish thee of fitt matter to moue compassion if thou consider howe this moste mightie monarche this King of al kinges he whom neither the heauens nor earth can holde and comprehende hath in such wise debased humbled and throwen him-selfe downe in a harde manger vpon a litle haye he whom the Angels doo adore and in whose presence the powers of heauen doo quake againe lieth quaking him-self for colde betwixt two brute beastes O diuine darling what meaneth this geere what humilitie and basenes is this O Soueraine King of glorye what hast thou to doo with the crib thou that hast thy throne aboue the Cherubins how art thou made thus dombe O eternal worde of the Father whye weepest and wailest in such sort thou that art the ioye of al the holy Angels verily thou haste masked thy diuine nature with our humane nature to be the King and Sauiour of Israel and of the vniuersal world The desire which thou hast to redeeme vs moueth thee to doo these strange matters the loue which made thee wel-â—are descend froÌ„ heueÌ„ for our wal-fare causeth thee nowe to be borne and to cloake thy puissance with such penurie and extreme want of al thinges that we shoulde thereby learne to meeke and humble our selues and to detest al pride al pamperinges and delicacies of the fleshe louing the lowlines the penance and the pouertie which thou diddest chuse and teach vs and wouldest for this cause haue thy natiuitie announced to poore Sheppardes of whom thou wast visited and adored the which their visitation and adoration we ought attentiuely to ponder and diligently to imitate A PRAYER VVHAT tongue can woorthely tel O most woorthye Queene of Angels the ineffable ioy and exultation which thou wert seased with in thy moste sacred and virginal child-birth When thou sawest the Redeemer of the worlde borne of thee and adoring him with great reuereÌ„ce didst swaddle him vp in poore cloutes and laide him in a manger where he was announced of the Angels visited of poore shepperds I beseech thee O most happy mother by this his most holy natiuitie that seing he was borne for vs and geuen vnto vs thou wilt obteine me of him that he vouchsafe to be borne in my poore soule with whom I maye be borne anewe and leade henceforth such a new life as maye continually be grateful to his diuine Maiestie Amen OF THE PRESENTATION Lustratur Genetrix templo sistitur Infans Anna Deum atque hominem cum Simeone canit THE FOVRTH IOYFVL Misterie is of the Presentation to witt when our Ladye presented her blessed Sonne in the Temple wherevpon thou shalt meditate as foloweth FIRST how the fortie daies that the Virgin-mother had staide in Bethleem being nowe fully expired she went from thence to Ierusalem there to present her moste sacred Sonne in the Temple meaning to accomplish that which the lawe commaunded al wâ—men to doo in like case SECONDLY consider howe our Lady carying her most sweete Sonne to the Temple that holye olde Father S. Simeon tooke him in his armes who for that cause came at that time to the Temple by inspiration of the holy Ghoste weigh also the consolation he receaued by doing thus and the most deuout speeches which he vttered THIRDLY contemplate the deuotiÌ„ and ioy of that old woman S. Anna that neuer taried out of the Temple when she saw this moste pretious present which the moste sacred mother brought Behold also with what reuerence and spiritual consolation the wel beloued Sonne was offred vp to his celestial Father being accoÌ„panied with so holy and reuerent persons as wer there present AS FOR the first article thou maiest intertaine thy selfe therein meditating howe rightly the virgin-mother doth imitate her blessed sonne especiallye in such thinges as concerne humilitie a vertue so highlye commended and practised of them twaine sith the sonne vouchsafed to be circumcised albeit he were not bound therto nor had any neede at al of Circumcision which appertained to sinners alone and the mother she vouchsafed to fulfil the precept of Purification which oblieged only the vncleane
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
her God then anye deare the fountaine of water O most sacred Virgin who can possibly tel with what inflamed desires with what pitiful teares with what continual sighes thou crauedst desiredst to see an end of thy pilgrimage and to be deliuered from thy bodily prison How oft didst thou haply with weeping eyes say to the Angels that came to comfort and visite thee that which the Spouse saide in the Canticles I adiure you that if you meet my louer you tel him froÌ„ me that I languish in his loue Howe oft did this loue and languishing desire wholly rauish thee and transport thee out of thy selfe not being able to eate speake sleepe or attend to any other thing sith thy soule was rather there where it loued then where it liued This being so contemplate then the ineffable gladnes which our blessed Lady felt wheÌ„ by reuelation she knewe the daye to approche wherein she should haue that graunted her which she so gretlye desired If the holy Prophet Dauid reioyced so greatly when it was tolde him that he should go to our Lords house what was the ioy thinkest thou of this great Lady wheÌ„ she vnderstood how she was presently to goe to our Lordes house and that she should see our Lord and dwel perpetually with our Lorde and be more made of and fauoured of our Lorde then al other creatures what-soeuer O blessed day O happie tidinges so much more ioyful as more desired Wel might the most blessed mother say then with Simeon Nowe thou leauest thy seruant O Lorde contented and comforted with the assurance that mine eyes shal see thee who art my Sauiour IN THE second point thou mayest meditate how our Lady so much the neerer as she drewe to her happie departure so much more feruent were her desires so much more zealous her prayers and al her powers so much more quickned For like as her death proceeded not of anye natural infirmitie according as we beleeue by reason of the excellencie of her complexion like to that of her most sacred sonnes so could not the functions of her senses and powers be in any wise impeched Woting therfore that her deth drew nigh some doo contemplate how before her departure she desired to see the Apostles whom she so greatly loued and were dispersed abrode in diuers regions of the world that they might accompanye her in this her last houre geuing vs an exaÌ„ple hereby howe we ought to desire and procure to haue some deuout and spiritual persons to accompanye and comfort vs in this houre of so great peril Our Lord therfore moste bountiful condescending to her desire caused the Apostles miraculously to meete together such as yet were liuing in the world in the house where his most holye mother dwelt who were present at her departure as the great Denis Areopagita affirmeth Consider then howe great was the Apostles consolation finding theÌ„-selues thus asseÌ„bled together and seing their most holy mother and Lady whom they loued so dearly and desired once to see with what reuerence may we deeme did they salute her with what reuerence did they kisse her garments as most pretious reliques with what admiration did they consider her dignitie which they knewe farre better then any other with what coâ—â—tentation did they behold that reuerend visage supposing that in seing her they saw their most derely beloued Lorde and Master How sweet was the communication that was vsed there how feruent the diuine praises that were there celebrated how sweet the tears of tendernes and ioy that were shed there Thinke then with what confidence and contentment this blessed Lady assisted with so notable a company and assured of her conscience expected death which is to others so dreadful Thou must not thinke therefore that she was before her death in any agonie and paine as others are wont to be but howe in mild maner and with a cheerful couÌ„tenance that most holy soul departed out of her body more glittering and more faire then the clere moone O most pure Virgin how truely maye we say that in euery thing the best part hath bene geuen thee The best in thine immaculate conception and Natiuitie which was most pure and free from al sinne the best in thy life which was al holy and a Mirrour of al perfection the best in thy death which made thee no whitt afraide as it doth sinners yea was to thee a passage to true life The best part therfore hath bene geuen thee both in earth and in heauen whether thou wentest to reigne eternally IN THE third point thou mayest pause delighting thy selfe with the consideration howe that most sacred soule departed out of this life the most beautiful the most gratious the most holy of al pure and simple creatures how replenished with merits with giftes with vertues with excellencies and spiritual riches the greatest that may be possibly imagined proportionable to the incomparable dignitie which was bestowed vpon her Consider a while the maner how this most blessed soule accompanied with quires of Angels was conducted vp to the Celestial Court neither are we to doubt at al hereof for if we read of S. Martin and manye mo Saintes of both sex who leauing this life were accompanied with Angels and honored with their heauenly songes I see no reason why this fauor and honour should be denied the holy of holies and more holy and woorthy then al Yea we may not only affirme this to be most true but beleeue with godly deuotioÌ„ that not onely the Angels but that which is more the king of Angels in proper person vouchsafed to come and doo her this honour Herevpon is it that some doo contemplate how the most holy mother being vpoÌ„ the last hour of her blessed departure her most sweet sonne descended from heauen associated with the celestial powers and entred into that blessed house where she laye and beholding her with those his amiable eyes spoke that with a most sweet voice to her which the husband said to the spouse in the Canticles Thou art al faire my frende and there is no blemish at al in thee come from Liban my Spouse come from Liban and crowned shalt thou be That is to saye Come receue the recompence of thy desertes the treasure which thy most holy workes haue merited the crown that is due to thy so excellent vertues Get vp my Doue it is nowe high time to issue out of this exile no toiles no teares no sobbes or sorowes any more Come to enioye the pleasure of those woundes which when they were geuen did occasionate thy so great woes come nowe and rest thee for the paine which thou hast taken Come nowe be merye for that thou hast wailed and wept and for that thou humbledst thy selfe so lowlye come nowe to reigne perpetually These and suche like wordes maiest thou according to thy deuotion meditate to haue
soules allured to beholde this glorious spectacle by those wordes that say thus Come out ye daughters of Sion and see your Queene whom the morning starres geue laude vnto At whose beautie the Sonne and Moone doo meruaile againe But what meruaile is it if the Sonne and Moone doo meruaile at her beautie if the Angels theÌ„-selues doo meruaile thereat as also at her other riches and fauours and as amased at such matters doo saye Who is this that ascendeth from the desert replenished with such delicacies and leaning vpon her louers shoulder What is she this so glittering so faire so gratious that mounteth vp thus odoriferous as the fragrant smel of her vertues doth delight and fil al the whole Court of heauen Howbeit meruaile not O ye Angels of to see in earth a creature so faire and glittering being vestured with the Sonne and hauing the Moone vnder her feete Meruail not to see such riches and excellencies in a house which the eternal wisdome hath thought good to frame for him-self And this day hath he made an ende to geue it the last and entier perfection fulfilling that which the Prophete Esaie he had foretolde I wil glorifie the mansion of my Maiestie IN THE second point thou maiest pause assisting with thy spirite the most solemne triumph that was celebrated in the celestial court on that daye that the most sacred virgin being risen vp was both in body and soule assumpted into heauen We reade in holy writt of two solemne festiual dayes that wer kept at the Arke of the old Testament The first when king Dauid caried it from Obeded on his house to the Citie and to his palace this did he with such reioycing both of his owne part and of al the people that it is a wonderful matter to consider the great soleÌ„nitie which the Scripture telleth to haue bene celebrate that daye in so great a multitude of sacrifices as wer offred such varietie of musical instruments as were plaied vpon such store of Canticles himnes and diuine praises as were there sounded forth yea and king Dauid him-selfe did sing play and daunce being araied with newe robes made for the same purpose through the great feruour and deuotion which he felt inwardlye in him-selfe Yet for al this was the festiual and solemne daye that his sonne Salomon made farr greter when he caried the same Arke into the famous Temple which he had erected for it These two solemn festiual daies that were thus celebrate in the honour of that holy material Ark doo foreshew in figure the farre more solemn festiual daies that were celebrate in the honor of the mistical Arke that is to saye of the most sacred virgin-mother which was a farre more woorthy and more pretious Arke then th'other albeit it were of souerain sanctitie and woorthy great woorshipp for that a farr more rich and pretious treasure was kept in this Arke mistical theÌ„ in that material The first soleÌ„nitie was celebrate in her honor wheÌ„ in soul she was assumpted vp to heuen wherof I haue alredy spokeÌ„ in the former misterie And the second it was solemnized when being risen vp in body and soule she was placed in that celestial throne that was prepared for her And albeit the first solemnitie were of so surpassing ioye as no humane eloquence can possibly expresse it yet was the second without al comparison farr greater Howe may therefore any humane capacitie suffice to comprehende the solemne reception and intertainment that was made vnto this glorious Queene of al the celestial Court when with her most beautiful and glittering bodye she ascended into heauen in so great a Maiestie What store of musical instrumentes yeelded forth a most melodious harmonie what Canticles Himnes Psalmes and praises were there sounded forth vnto her howe gret the ioy and iubilatioÌ„ was which al the blessed spirites shewed howe soueraine the contentment and consolation which al those auncient Fathers and other Saintes of both sexe felt O how much more iustly might they say to this most blessed Ladye what they had saide tofore to the chast and valiant Iudith Thou art the glory of Ierusalem thou art the ioy of Israel thou art the honour of our people O daughter thou art blessed of our Soueraine Lord God for by means of thee we haue obteined the fruit of life blessed art thou therfore amongst al women Now if al the Saintes and Angelical spirites did reioyce so greatly and make so exceeding triumphe for the Assumption of their Queene what maiest thou thinke was the exultation of her most puissant Sonne and th'onour and interteinment he vsed towardes her vouchsafing to accompany her and to lodge her him selfe in counterchange of the lodging which he had receaued of her in her entrals and virginal wombe O most woorthye mother thou alone hast merited to receaue such fauours Thou alone wast woorthy of suche interteinmentes Thou alone couldest tel thy plesures and sugred tastes thy delightes and soueraine iubilation and vpon new causes mightest thou recite and sing a-newe that diuine Canticle which thou pronouncedst earst before thy holy Cousin S. Elizabeth for that he hath done great thinges to thee which is mightie whose holy name be blessed euerlastingly REASON requireth that thou pause in the last point meditating how the glorious Queene of Angels going with them and with al the blessed Saintes thus accompanied thus reuerenced and thus honored arriued to heauen where she presented her-selfe before the high throne of the moste sacred Trinitie who receaued her most louingly and exalted her so much the more as she had humbled her-selfe more profoundly liuing in the world like as our Sauiour had manye times fore-tolde saying Who so humbleth him-selfe shal-be exalted The celestial Father receaued her as his most dere daughter The sonne receued her as his most worthy mother the holy Ghost receued her as his most holye spouse and theÌ„ was she of al the thre diuine persons crowned with a most pretious crown and placed in a most sumptuous throne on the right hand of her sonne Then was that fulfilled which the royal Prophet had with diuine spirite fore-tolde The Queene hath assisted at thy right hande in a garment of gold enuironed with varieti By the which wordes he signified her souerainâ—ie her dignitie her beautie the diuersitie of giftes vertues prerogatiues riches and excellencies that wer grauÌ„ted vnto her sith she neither wanted the faith of Patriarkes nor the charitie of the Apostles nor the constancie of Martirs nor the wisdome of Doctors and Confessors neither the chastitie of Virgins nor the puritie of Angels nor the knowledge of Cherubins nor the most inflamed loue of Ceraphins besides the vertues graces that wer geueÌ„ to other by peece-meal and measure were al geuen to her together and heaped in al fulnes one vpoÌ„ an-other And like as her vertues and excellencies exceeded far those of al the
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
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
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
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
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
Spouse saith in the Canticles that her handes and fingers did distil Cōsider also how those huge nailes were not onely driuen through the moste holy Sonne his handes and feete but also perced the entrals of his blessed mother being there present O what a horrible sounde made those vehement blowes of the hammers in her eares which no doubt did more torment and wounde her woful heart then if in very deede her holy hands had been stroken through And this was a cause of doubling our most merciful Lorde his tormentes who wist it wel inough and loued her so tenderly and tooke great compassion of her paines in such sort as besides the torment which these outward nailes did occasionate in his bodye he had other inwarde nailes which afflicted more vehemently his most sacred soule O most patient Iesus how art thou on euery side enuironed with annoiances Rightlye maiest thou say that the waters of tribulation are entred into the very botome of thy soule and thine inuincible patience abideth al which maketh thee become dombe and to stande like a Lambe before those that shere thee and torment thee And if haply thou openest thy mouth it is only to excuse to pray for thē for so much as thine infinite charitie is that which holdeth thee surer nailed and fastned to the Crosse then doo those material and yron nayles minding with this so great cost to confect a soueraine medicine to our saluation CONCERNING the thirde point thou hast a more ample matter to enterteine thee pondring how our Redeemer being crucified was exalted on high vpon the Crosse that as he died for al men so he might be seene of al men This exaltatiō had Moises earst prefigured whē he raised vp the Serpēt of brasse in the wildernes sithens like as thē al they were healed of their corporal wounds which looked vpon the Serpent euen so they which with a liuely faith behold this Lord exalted vpon the Roode receaue cure of their spiritual infirmities which are farre more dangerous Pause therefore O my soul pause and shroude thy selfe vnder the shadowe of this tree of life if thou wilt rightly repose thee and cure thy festred woundes Behold the wholsome fruit that hangeth theron which albeit thou seest naked contēned blasphemed and reproued of this miscreant natiō yet is he most sweete most high and of infinite Maiestie God hiddē who vouchsafeth thus to dissēble and cloke his puissance to make his mercy so much the better knowē Gather then this pretious fruit and trial shal teach thee the meruailous vertue thereof Make thy nest like a simple doue in the crannies and holes of this rocke that is to say in his most sacred woundes sith he geueth thee leue yea inuiteth thee so to doo Weigh wel the throne which this day the eternal King hath chosen amidst two theeues and trespassers in the same mount where such accustomably were executed meaning to signifie by this that as for sinners and offenders he descended from heauen and was borne in the world so did he for sinners and theeues dye in that place betwixt theeues paying by this meanes that he had not stolne and taking away the filth and infamie of that stinking place with the most sweete incense of the sacrifice which he offred Learne moreouer in this point to doo according to the example which is shewed thee in the mountain crucifying thy flesh with her vices and concupiscences as the Apostle doth admonish thee sith it is not meete that thou seeke after delicacies superfluous pamperings of the fleshe seing thy Lord his flesh thus cruelly handled as from the sole of his foote vnto the crowne of his head there is no one free spot in him And very indecent should it be that vnder a head crowned with thorns the other partes should not be nice and delicate Contemplate lastly in this point the extreme dolors which the most ruful mother felt at such time as standing by the Crosse she saw him heaued vp thereon naked racked al wounded hauing his hands and feete perced through whereout those foure flouds of bloud did issue being farre more pretious then the foure flouds that issued out of terrestral Paradise when she behelde those gratious eyes wanne and pale where-with he was wont to comfort al those that were heauie and afflicted that beautiful face wherein the Angels desire to looke difformed and withered that diuine head ful of thorns which had not where to rest it O Queene of heauen what dolor was euer like to thine when with thy weeping eyes thou beheldest this woful figure O howe much more were thy anguishes sufficient to darkē thy most heauy heart thē was the darknes which came then vpon the earth sufficient to darkē it To whom may I compare thee or to whom may I liken thee O most sacred virgin thine affliction and tribulation being so great as is the Ocean Sea If the Angel when he first saluted thee did cal thee ful of grace at this instant he may cal thee ful of griefs and sorow so great a part of the bitter cupp which thy deare sonne dranke being fallen to thy share to whom I humbly beseech thee to offer those greeuous dolors which thou then enduredst like as he offered al his bitter griefes and the bloud he shed to his eternal Father for the redemption of the world And thou O celestial Father behold in al humilitie I begg it beholde the face of thy Christe and smel the sweetnes of the sacrifice which he offreth thee Regard those out-stretched armes that represent the bowe which thou promisedst to place in the cloudes in signe of peace and frendshipp which thou vouchsafedst to make with mankinde Listen that sweete musike he maketh with the wordes he speaketh on the Crosse where his head is al to torne and his members and sinewes stretched out like Dauids harpe whereon when he played he made the fiend to flye and seing al that he hath done and suffred hath been to appease thee and to obteine mercie for vs accept the same O Lord and send vs from heauen thy holy benediction A PRAYER VVHAT griefe was euer like to thine O Virgin most woful mother when thou sawest thy dearly beloued sonne exalted on the Crosse fastned thereto with huge nailes from topp to toe al wounded like a lepre hauing gal and vinegre geuen him to drinke and blasphemed and mocked of that wicked nation O howe in very deede did then the dagger of woes which Simeon had foretolde thee pearce through thy most afflicted soul I beseech thee humblye O most woful Lady with ioyned hands that for thy sonne his most bitter passiō and thy compassion sake thou wilt obteine me graces to feele the taste of his so strange torments and of thy excessiue sorows that being touched with a true compunction I may crucifie b mine olde man with al
in the world for the succour and consolation of man that I may neuer be destitute of thy protection to th'ende that by meanes thereof I may know my selfe to be a pilgrime in this world and that my thoughtes and conuersation maye be principally in heauen where the self-same Lorde reigneth in the glory of God his Father Amen OF THE COMMING OF THE HOLY GHOST Iam Mariae socijsque datur Paracletus Olympâ— Munere quo magno munera magna parant ¶ THE THIRD GLORIous Misterie is of the coÌ„ming of the holye Ghost concerning the which thou shalt meditate these pointes folowing FIRST howe the most sacred Virgin and that holy assemblye which was present at our Redeemer his AscensioÌ„ remained together in the dining chamber or refectorie of Ierusalem expecting the comming of the holye Ghost like as the same Lord had commaunded them to doo SECONDLY consider how on Whitsonday al of them being in the same place and deuoutly at their prayers the holy Ghost came in forme of fyrie tonges which were seene ouer â—che one of the Apostles heades who were greatlye retoyced and comforted with this comming THIRDLY consider the meruailous effects which the holy Ghost wrought in them sith they which before were shutt close vpp for feare of the Iewes presently after they had receaued the holy Ghost issued forth preaching with great feruour in the streates and market-places by the which preachinges a great multitude of people was conuerted IN the first point thou mayest entertain thy self meditating howe the most sacred Virgin with al the Apostolical Societie remained secret in the great hal of Sion expecting in great peace charitie and vnion that celestial CoÌ„forter which our Lord had promised them Thinke what sighes what sobbes and what store of teares they shedd and how feruent and continual praiers they made in this behalfe and learne thou that if so be thou couet to haue the same comforter come to thee it behoueth thee necessarilye to haue the same disposition that is to say to be vnited with al in perfect peace and charitie estranged from al strife and contention sith this diuine spirite wil that such as dwel in the house where he is to come be of this dispositioÌ„ like as contrarywise the wicked spirite where-soeuer he soiourneth doth what he can to sow furious debates and enmities This L. wil also be greatly longed for and inuited with often praier according to that our Sauiour said once with a loude voice If any be athirst let him come to me and drink Which he ment by the holy Ghost which al they were to receaue that would beleeue in him Note moreouer in this point how the Apostles went not forth to preache before they had receaued the holy Ghost like as their Master had warned theÌ„ tofore whence such as are to exercise the same office may learn how before they beginne it behoueth them to with-draw them-selues and to pray for the receauing of the same spirite without the which the worde they preache shal-be of smal efficacie and auaile Here maiest thou meditate in like maner how feruent and deuout were those prayers which our Lady made in this place who vnderstoode much better then the rest the cause of this their retyring and of how great importance and woorthines was the spirite which they required by whose meanes the Gospel was to be preached through the vniuersal world O happie was that habitation where such worthie persons remained more happy the exercises wherto they addicted them-selues but most happie the tresure and the consolation which they looked for O Harbour far more excellent and delicate then is the terrestral Paradise howe iustly might that be applied to it which Iacob had earst said Verily our Lorde is in this place this is the house of God this is the batche of heauen Sith here there was nothing thought of but God nothing spoken of but God nothing desired and wisshed for but onely God him-selfe AS TOVCHING the second point thou hast a plentiful subiect to warm thy soule with entertaining thy selfe in meditating the comming of the holy Ghost Thou maiest therefore thinke with godly zeale according to thy deuotion howe after that sacred Colledge had beene thus assembled together certaine dayes geuing them selues diligentlye to the exercise aforesaide and seing howe the holye Ghost staied longer in his comming then they desired they beganne to be heauie for as it is written The delaied hope afflicteth the soule yea and some did haply beginne to doubt Our Ladye vnderstanding their affliction like a true mother and comforter of the afflicted endeuoured al she might to comfort and harten them persuading them to perseuer in their prayers with greater feruour and faith assuring them how they should be sooner visited and comforted of the holy Ghost then they looked for and to animate them the better fel her-selfe to her prayers with them Contemplate nowe howe the pitiful mother kneeling on the grounde with her handes and eyes eleuate vp to heauen wholly inflamed in diuine loue pouring forth aboundant streames of bitter teares did with great instance and feruour craue that the celestial Comforter whom they expected would vouchsafe to come and amongst other deuout speeches wherof thou maiest meditate she vttered likely ynough that sentence of the royal Prophet Dauid Sende Lord thy holy spirite and they shalbe created to witt new affectes newe thoughtes new wordes newe force in these thy seruants which desire and craue thee And so shalt thou renew the face of the earth O how great consolatioÌ„ did the praiers and speeches of this most blessed Lady geue to this holy CongregatioÌ„ howe exceedingly did she comfort them how did she inflame theÌ„ howe did she animate and stirre them vp to doo the same A most pleasant and deuout thing is it to meditate and viewe with our spiritual eyes this prayer which the most holy mother made in earth but much more to coÌ„template that which the most sacred Sonne as man made in heauen like as he had promised to his Disciples saying I wil pray my Father that he wil geue you an-other Comforter Whose prayer thou maiest wel thinke how feruent how gratious how effectual and acceptable it was to his eternal Father especially when he presented to him those most sacred woundes which so lately he had receaued and reserued to this ende Thus so many deuout prayers so many sighes wishes sobbs and teares hauing been made before on whitsonday at the third hour which was the selfe-same daye and houre wherin the old lawe had earst bene geuen in the mount Sinai they receaued the holy Ghost in the mount Sion who engraued the newe and Euangelical lawe not in tables of stone as before but in their heartes of flesh those tonges of fire which wer seene ouer the Apostles signifying the fire of diuine loue which he kindled in their heartes and the eloquence which
bene spoken vnto her sithens there is no Gospel nor other sacred writt wherout we maye gather the certaine Storye of her departure and therefore eche one maye lawfullye meditate that which shal cause him to haue best deuotion Doo thou therefore contemplate what consolation what ioye what iubilation this most holy soule receaued with such woordes with such a sight and with such a companye with what considence and securitie did she depart this life the most Soueraine King of heauen taking her in his most sacred armes kissing cherishing her most louingly according as S. Bernard meditateth O glorious Ladye what tongue can possiblye declare the ioye thou feltest seing thy selfe thus highly honoured and thus embraced betwixt those sacred armes of thy dere sonne If the Spouse saith that her soule was melted when her louer spake vnto her howe fared thy soul I beseech thee hauing heard thy best beloued his wordes seene his amiable countenance and tasted of his courtesies Howe much more was it melted with loue and transformed into her louer and replenished with such delightes Behold now O moste blessed mother al thy desires fulfilled nowe hast thou obteined that which thou requiredst now hast thou found that which thou soughtest for now doest thou possesse that which thou desiredst Sweet were the kisses thou gauest him and the louing intertainment thou vsedst towardes him when thou borest him being a litle one in thine armes into Egipt but farre sweeter were those which thou receauedst of him when nowe being a great one he caried thee to heauen to enioy the greatest goodes the greatest riches the greatest felicitie that was euer graunted to any creature For if so be no eye hath seene nor care heard nor humane vnderstāding can possibly conceaue the goods that God hath prepared for those that loue him Who can possibly cōceue or imagine those which he hath prepared for thee which diddest not onely loue him more then al but diddest engender him of the most pure bloud in thy body a priuiledge graūted to thee alone and worthye thee alone A PRAYER WHAT spirite can possiblye conceaue O most blessed Queene of Angels that incomparable ioye wherewith thy heart was filled when that happie hour being come which thou with so great desire haddest longed for thy most holy soule was deliuered from the bondes of the fleshe and went to enioye those inestimable treasures which were prepared for thee in the Celestial Region I humbly beseech thee O most glorious Lady by this most happy day of so soueraine consolation that thou wilt vouchsafe to remember me most vnwoorthie sinner that remaine in this vale of teares subiect to so many miseries and perils from the which I beseech thee that by thy holy intercession I maye be alwaies defended and preserued Amen OF THE CORONATION OF OVR LADY Virginis auricomo cingit diademate frontem Hic Deus excelso datque sedere loco ¶ THE FIFT AND LAST glorious Misterie is of the Coronation of our Lady that is to say when being risen vp according as we doo holily beleeue she was glorified both in bodye and soule and crowned with glory of the most holy Trinitie cōcerning the which thou shalt meditate the points folowing FIRST how within a few dayes after that the soule of the most blessed virgin was assumpted into heauen it discended to take her moste holy body by entring into the which it rose vp glorious immortal and impassible with al the other glorious prerogatiues which shal-be graunted to the elect when they shal rise vp in the day of iudgement SECONDLY consider the glory triumph and ioy wher-with that great Queene accompanied with Saintes and quires of Angels went vp to heauen aboue al the which she was exalted in the celestial kingdome THIRDLY consider that most riche and pretious crowne where-with she was crowned of the most holy Trinitie and placed in that most high throne which was geuen her where she remaineth making intercession for them that recommend them-selues vnto her VPON the firste point thou maiest pause meditating in what maner that glorious Virgin-mother was raised vp being a thing very iust and conuenient that we affirm this of her sithēs it is more then likely that like as our blessed God would that the soule of this Lady should be free from sinn so would he in like maner that her most holye body should be free from al corruption and not permitt that fleshe to turne to asshes whereof the word eternal had taken his flesh For if our Lord would not that Raab the harlots house should be rased with the other houses of Ierico because she had receaued and lodged for one onlye day the spies of Iosue how much more reason is it that the house of the blessed Virgin Mary which had receaued our Lord him-selfe yea and lodged him therein nine monthes should not be destroyed and turned into asshes Let vs beleeue therefore that as God gaue to the first Adam a companion like vnto him to th' end he might not be alone in terrestral Paradise so was it conuenient that such a like companion should be geuen to the second Adam who being risen vp and glorious might reigne with him risen vp and glorious in the celestial Paradise And seing it is saide of other Saints that being now risen vp they doo reigne in heauen much more meet is it that we both say and beleeue this of her who in sanctitie surpasseth al Saintes and in dignitie al pure creatures The which being presupposed cōsider how with the very same solemnitie with the same ioye with the same honour and triumph where-with that most happie soule was assumpted into heauen it descended downe to earth came to the sepulchre where her virginal body lay which as it is said was in the vale of Iosaphat and by operatiō and diuine vertue did not raise her selfe vp as the sonne of God and hers did him-selfe but was of her sonne raised vp Ponder nowe the state of this virginal body being re-vnited to the glorious soul how beautiful how glittering immortal impassible and adorned with the other glorious partes which the elect being risē vp shal be indued with And if the Gospel telleth vs of the other iust persons howe they shal shine like the Sonne in the kingdome of their Father how ought this Lady being risen vp to shine which is the most righteous of al righteous the most holy of al holies the most gratious of al gratious how shal that bodi glitter which was the tabernacle and habitation of the son of God what shal the beautie of that body be which was neuer defiled nor subiect vnto sinne If liuing in mortal flesh it was so faire that it sufficed to make God him-selfe take plesure therin what shal th' excellēcie thereof be being risen vp with al the most absolute gifts graces and excellencies that are added thervnto O with how great reason are al deuout
ora Domicilium coelo praestantius ora Habitaculum illius qui nusquam capitur amplissimum ora Templum diuinae gloriae ornatissimum ora And. Hieros in salut Angelicam Templum sanctificatum ora Paradisus spiritualis ora Iacobus in Liturgia Hortus delitiarum ora Bern ser de Natiuit B. Mariae Thalamus sanctimoniae ora Cyprian ser de Natiuit Christi Ianua filij Dei. ora Aug. ser 14. de Natali qui est 18. de tempore Via regia Saluatoris ora Bern. ser 2. de aduentu Fenestra coeli ora Aug. ser 11. in Natali post medium ser 2. de Assumpt Fulgent ser de laud. B. Virg. Stella maris ora Bern. hom 2. super Missus Hier. in inter Hebraic nominum et Beda in ca. 1. Luc. lib. 1. Stella fulgentissima ora Ephraem in orat de laud. B. Mariae Typus ecclesiae sanctae ora Aug. sub finem ser 6. de Natali qui est 10. de tempore Exemplum perfectionis ora Forma disciplinae Christi ora Hier. non longè à princ ser 1. de Assumpt to 4. Species castitatis ora Secretum verecundiae ora Vexillum fidei ora Obsequium deuotionis ora Forma virtutis ora Disciplina omnium ora Ambros li. 2. de virginibus Reparatrix parentum ora Purificatrix posterorum ora Bern. hom 2. de laude Mar. super Mis Inuentrix benedicta gratiae ora Bern. ser 2. de Aduent Mediatrix mundi ora Auxiliatrix praesens ora Ibid. Bern. et Ephr. in orat de laud. Mar. Causa salutis humani generis ora Irenaeus li. 3. contra haereses ca. 33. Praeses vitae nostrae ora Greg. Naz. in Christo paâ— Aduocata nostra ora Bern. ser 2 de Aduent Aduocata Euae ora Iren. li. 5. aduersus haereses SEPTIMO DIE. COntritio prauitatis haereticae Bern. serm in verba Apoc. 12. Signum magnum Gratiae plenitudo Chrysolaus ser 143. in Euang. de Annunciat Obses fidei nostrae apud Deum ora Aug. ser 6. de Natali Scala coelestis ora Aug. ser 11. in Nat. et 2. de Assumpt et Fulg. serm de laud. Mar. Scala peccatorum ora Bern. ser de Nat. B. Mariae Studiosorum lumen ora Clausorum Liberatrix celeberrima ora pro nobis Orphanorum susceptio ora Adiutrix destitutorum ora Vexatorum portus ora Solatium mundi ora Redemptio captiuorum ora Egrotantium exultatio ora Ephr. in orat de lau B. Mariae Subsidium oppressorum ora Christianorum profugium ora Spes desperantium ora Idem Ephraem in orat ad B. Virg. Spes vnica peccatorum ora Spes veniae delictorum ora â—ug ser 2. de Annunc qui est 18. de sanctis tom 10. Spes Christianorum sanctissima ora Ephr. in orat ad B. Virg. Expectatio praemiorum nostrorum ora pro nobis Aug. ser 2. de Annunc Gaudium mortalium ora Greg. Naz in Christ patient Laetitia Sanctorum ora Omnium salus ora Ephr. in orat de laud. Mariae Regina mundi ora Gregor in Christ pat Hieron ser 1. de Assumpt to 4. Regina coelorum ora Aug. ser 2. de Assumpt 35. de sanctis Decus Patriarcharum ora And. Hieros in salut Angelic Gloria Prophetarum ora Praeconium Apostolorum ora Honor Martyrum ora Ephr. in orat de laud. B. Mar. Lux alma Virginum ora Greg. Naz. in Christ patiente Mater Virgo singulis insignita titulis ora Cyprian ser de Natiuit Christi tom 1. Cùm Litanias dicimus non humanis verbis sed oraculis spiritum Deum placamus Basil ep 63. anno Domini 300. THE MANER HOW WE ought to examine our conscience WHAT we ought to doo in the morning after we are got vp FIRST to thanke God generally for benefits receued and particulerly for hauing preserued vs the night past SECONDLY to offer our selues wholly into the handes of his diuine Maiestie and to praye him that he wil keepe vs and geue vs grace to doo euery thing that day according to his holye and diuine wil. THIRDLY to consider what vices and sinne we are most enclined to purposing to eschew the same and to beginne presently to renew our selues according as our Lord Iesus Christe hath taught vs. FOVRTHLY to craue helpe for the doing of this of the blessed Virgin and of our Gardian Angel recommending our selues to al the whole company of the blessed Saintes in heauen FIFTLY and lastly to saye three Pater nosters and three Aue Maries for al the faithful liuing and departed procuring to go deuoutly to heare holyâ—Masse and to offer that sacrifice to God for our own sinnes and for al the necessities of holy Churche WHAT we ought to doo at night before we go to bedd FIRST to thanke God generally for al benefits receaued heretofore and especially of that present day SECONDLY to require grace and true light to knowe and hate our sinnes THIRDLY to cal our soules to an accompt wherein they maye on that daye haue offended God hauing a special consideration of such defects wherto we are most inclined FOVRTHLY to craue pardon humbly of God for al the defects whereof we finde our selues giltie FIFTLY to haue a firme purpose thorough Gods grace to beware of sinne hereafter with a purpose to confesse theÌ„ which we may haue already transgressed in Lastlye to saye the Pater noster Aue Mary and the Creede making then the signe of the holy Crosse vpon vs. THE faultes escaped in printing are to be corrected in this wise The first figures signifie the leafe the letters folowing the page the figures next after the line Fol. 16. pag. a. lin 17. for resignest read resignedst 68. a. 12. read this his so great cost 69. b. 7. read should be nice 71. a. 19. read grace 72. b. 1. read The first glorious Misterie is of his triuÌ„phant c. 73. b. 3. read and the ende wherfore c. 74. b. 19. read happie are those eyes that c. 75. b. 14. wailing 76. b. 7. read particuler feauters Ibid. lin 17. read become so faire 87. a. 2. Edon 93. a. 8. contemplate that 93. b. 7. signified 107. a. 11. read Esaie had c. a Ioh. 10. b Gal. 4. a. a Luc. 2. c. Ioh. 1. a. 3. c 8. b. 12. f Act. 13. g b 1. Ioh. 1. a. 2. b. Ioh. 13. b 1. Petr. 2. d a Rom. 15. 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 2. d b 1. Ioh. 2 〈◊〉 c Mat. 11. d d Ioh. 7. c 8. g e Mat. 5. g. f Luc. 6. d 1. Pet. 2. d. g Mat. 20. d h Mar. 10. g a Ber. sub fineÌ„ serm 22. in Can. b Ps 23. b. 79. 83. 88. a Sap. 8. d. a Luc. 10. g Aug. 1. de Trinit init ca. 10. to 3. b Luc. 2. g c Ioh. 10. b a Ps 44. a Sap. 13. a Bern. initio Ser. 2. de Epiph. a Sic Paul 1. Cor. 2. d. a Can. 1. d b Ber. init Ser. 43. in Cant. ger 12. de