restore in me that which my sins haue hindered and corrupted and either take from me the great labour and dangerous trauell that my sins haue deserued the feare that it hath brought me into for the same so that I shall not need such power and strength such care and industrie as my corruption now seeketh and requireth or else so qualifie mitigate and order all my throwes paines pangs and pinches of this my child-birth that the trauell thereof doo not surmount nor ouercome my strength further than thou oh father wilt make mee able to beare endure the same or else encrease my strength encourage my mind and fortifie my senses so that I may without mistrust despaire or grudging against thy maiestie beare the labour to the end For my God and deere Father I doo knowe and assuredlie beleeue that all my paines and throwes are so in thy fatherlie ordering and working that onlie so far foorth shall they be painefull and greeuous vnto mee and no further but as thy diuine prouidence doth appoint Assist mee therefore oh most deere father with thy most cheerefull present and readie helpe and comfort me with thy holie Ghost For deere father as thou didst laie this rod of correction vpon vs for our sins that we should conceiue in sorrowe and beare in perill so Lord thou of thy goodnes didst promise that we should bring foorth Therefore oh most louing and pitifull father according to this thy holie promise I beseech thee send me good deliuerance of such a child as may be to the praise of thy holie name a witnes and testimonie of thy good will and blessing to this most honourable state of matrimonie and also by thine holie institution of baptisme may be made of the number of thine elect children and heire of thine eternall kingdome by the merits and deseruings of thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ in whose name I beseech thee furthermore as he hath taught and commanded me saieng Our father which art in heauen c. The same praier more breefe THY wisedome and power shine foorth in all thy works O Lord but yet much more greater more manifest and more woonderfull are they in the shaping of man Of how small beginning dooest thou make so maruellous a liuing thing infusing a soule into it whose originall is from heauen to the intent he should long to returne thither as into his countrie And now that thou hast â—â—uchsafed to make me as it were thy worke-house wherein to fashion so singular a worke I most humblie and hartilie thanke thee beseeching thee that as thou hast giuen me abilitie to conceiue so thou wilt giue me strength to the perfecting of the thing that is in breeding that I may safelie both beare it and bring it foorth Trulie thou O mercifull father hadst of thine owne goodnes made this worke of child-bearing easie but our sinne hath made it sorrowfull and full of danger O most gratious worke-man let thy pitifulnes amend the thing which our sinfulnes hath marred and either abate my paine that I may not haue need of so great strength tendance and running or else increase my strength power and courage that I may be able to ouercome all the paines of my trauell Amen The same praier againe in Meeter THY wisedome Lord in all thy waies and power great to performe it We cease to search and onlie praise They passe so far the reach of wit And thus we muse and maruell much at all thy works and yet we find No maruell nor no wonder such as dailie forming of man-kind Of such beginning such an end and of such séed such fruit to growe With Dauid well we may contend to maze to muze and nothing knowe The matter earth the shape from heauen doth knit both soule and flesh in one Whereof such strife is them betwéene from whence they canie they would be gone And yet in all thy wonders great thy mercie Lord doth far passe all Which dooest vouchsafe to worke this feate in me poore wretch thy bond and thrall And as good Lord thou dooest me make thy shop to shape thy worke therein Thy hand-worke so doo not forsake but end the thing thou dooest begin Thy goodnes Lord did once make light this burthen now which sore doth gréeue Untill which wo did wrap each wight the wofull worke of wofull Eue. That Eue hath lost let Christ restore that guilt hath made let grace amend Why should the fault of Eue doo more than grace in Christ God it defend Oh Lord the time approcheth néere that throwes of Eue I must sustaine And that I may the same well beare increase my strength or lesse my paine Thy will this burthen on me laid thy goodnes eke will ease the same Where Christ hath once the ransome paid why should the déed of Eue bring blame Thus O Lord I me in thy will doo put eke wholie in thy hand I will not once swarue from thy skill to die or liue to fall or stand Amen Another godlie and earnest praier to be said of euerie Christian and faithfull woman in the time of hir trauell or child-birth vsed of the vertuous Ladie Frances Aburgauennie ALmightie God my heauenlie and most mercifull father I feele thy promised punishment at this present to take effect on me which for the gilt and transgression of my progenitors hath beene by thy diuine maiestie iustlie pronounced against me and the whole generation of Adam Great and intollerable are these bitter pangs and pearsing paines that in this my trauell of child-birth I endure and abide Now feele I as it were a cruell and sharpe conflict betwixt death and life now feele I O Lord the rod of thy correction according to thy iustice laid heauie vpon me for the vse and exercise of sin and iniquitie yet when it shall please thee good Lord looke vpon me with the eies of thy fatherlie compassion and pitie and according to the multitude of thy manifold mercies be thou now present with me Armâ— mee O mightie God with perfect patience ioifullie to beare thy correction and in the middest of these my sharpe and bitter brunts of greefe giue me grace still to call vpon thee Strengthen me a poor wretched woman giue mee comfort and heauenlie consolation from aboue and when thou shalt thinke it meet and conuenient send me safe deliuerance that I may enioie the fruit of my wombe the sight whereof shall adorne and decke me anew with ioie and gladnes otherwise good Lord if in this season thou determine to take mee hence vnto thy selfe by thy messenger death to whose stroke all creatures when thou thinkest it meet and expedient shall bow make me constant and faithfull in thee whose I am whether I die or liue Forget my sins and offences committed by mee against thee Let the bloud of the Lambe Iesus wash away my deformitie Let the spots of my corruption be purged and taken awaie Let my infected soule that is putrified therein be purified therein
Giue me grace alwaies whether I liue or die to call vpon thee continuallie Giue me power to pitch my confidence onelie and alone in the bloudie wounds of Christ Iesus to whome in this my distresse I flie and appeale for remedie and comfort Grant this O gratious God which liuest and reignest world without end Amen Another praier of a woman being in trauell LORD saue mee or else I perish Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner Pitifull Iesu shew thy mercie vnto me and let the light of thy countenance shine vpon me that I be not swallowed vp of greefe and sorrowe Lord sweet Lord thou sendest thy seruants to call me to the marriage the fatlings and oxen are killed and dinner is readie Lord giue me grace to come vnto thee that I beeing freed from sin and eased of sorrowe the fruit of sin may marrie thee in the couenant of thy mercie and banquet with thee face to face at the table of ioie in the heauenlie Ierusalem Lord louing Lord and gratious God blesse the fruit of my wombe and take it into thy familie For I beleeue Lord that thou becamest of God the son of man to make it and all other whome thy father hath giuen thee the children of God thy heauenlie father According to my faith therefore O Lord be it vnto me Open the doore of thy mercie and lodge my child in the vertue of the couenant that being my God and the God of my seed I may glorifie thee both now and euer and offer vp the sacrifice of praise and the fruits of a ioious spirit vnto thee Lord and father of heauen it is thy will that all men should be saued thy will be done and saue me and my child by thy mercie I beseech thee Amen Another meditation in Meeter to be said of a woman with child made by W.H. In time of trouble call on mee And I will then deliuer thee THE time drawes nigh of bitter painefull throwes how long I shall the same endure God knowes O Lord my God I humblie aske of thée make haste swéet Christ and safe deliuer me As I by sin deserued haue right well such paine as this yea more than tongue can tell Yet ah my God turne not awaie thy face nor me forsake in this so sharpe a case This wombe and fruit that springeth in the same hast thou create to glorie of thy name Opprest with paine O Lord when I shall bée make lesse the same so much as pleaseth thée And grant good God thy creature may procéed safelie on liue with mercie at my néed In Christes name I will my trauell sho now holie Ghost come comfort me in wo. Come father déere and let thy power descend O Iesu Christ thy mercies great extend Ah God behold my dolour and my smart swéet holie Ghost my comforter thou art Take part with me and heare my wofull crie Exâ—uli me miserere mei Amen In long and sore labour call earnestlie vpon God and saie to your comfort the 6. 38. 51. 102. 30. and 142. Psalmes of Dauid commonlie called the seauen penitenti all Psalmes or the Psalme of a penitenâ— sinner Or else this 22. Psalme of DAVID following called The complaint of Christ on the Crosse. MY God my God why hast thou forsaken me It seemeth that I shall not obteine deliuerance though I seeke it with lowd cries My God I will crie all the daie long but thou wilt not answer and all the night long I make pitious mone without taking anie rest The meane time thou most holiest seemst to sit stil not caring for the things y â— I suffer which so oft hast helped me heeretofore hast giueÌ„ to thy people Israel sufficieÌ„t argument and matter to praise thee with songs wherwith they haue giuen thanks to thee for thy benefits Our fore-fathers and mothers were woont to put their trust in thee and as often as they did so thou didst deliuer them out of their distresse As oft as they cried for helpe to thee they were deliuered as oft as they committed themselues to thee they were not confounded nor put to anie shame But as for me I seeme rather to be a worme than a woman the doonghill of Adam and Eue the outcast of the vulgar people As manie as haue seene me laugh haue laughed me to scorne and reuiled me and shaking their heads in deriston at me haue cast me in the teeth saieng She is wont to boast and glorie that she is in great fauour with God wherefore let God now deliuer hir if he loue hir so well By thy procurement O Lord I came out of my mothers wombe and thou gauest me good comfort euen when I sucked my mothers breasts Through thy meanes I came into this world and as soone as I was borne I was left to thy tuition yea thou wast my God when I was yet in my mothers wombe Wherefore go not far awaie froÌ„ me for danger is euen now at hand so none in earth will or can help me Manie buls haue closed me in both strong and fat they haue compassed me round about They haue opened their mouth against me like vnto a lion that gapeth vpon his praie and roareth for hunger I am powred out like water and all my lims losed one from another and my hart is melted within me as it were waxe All my strength is gone and dried vp like vnto a tilestone my tongue cleaueth to the roofe of my mouth and at the last I shall be buried in the earth as the dead be woont For dogs haue compassed me round about and the most wicked haue conspired against me they wound euen my verie hart hands head and feet I was so vngentlie intreated of them that I might easilie number all my bones and after all the paine and torment that they did to me with greeuous countenance they stared and looked vpon me They diuided my cloaths among them and cast lots for my coate Wherefore Lord I beseech thee go not far from me but for-as-much as thou art my power my strength make haste to helpe me Deliuer my soule from danger of the sword and keepe my life destitute of all mortall helpe from the violence of the infernall dog Saue my soule from the mouth of the lion and take me from the hornes of the vnicornes So will I shew vnto my breethren and sisters the maiestie of thy name and when the people are most assembled togither I will praise and set foorth thy most worthie acts and deeds All that worship the Lord praise him all the posteritie of Iacob magnifie him all ye that be of the stocke of Israell with reuerence serue and honour him For he hath not despised and set at naught his poore hand-maid bicause of hir miserie nor he hath not disdainefullie turned awaie his face from hir but rather as soone as his poore hand-maid cried vnto him for helpe he heard hir by and by I will praise thee therefore with my songs
groanes incident therevnto for hir sins and be thou present with hir O blessed God to helpe both hir and hir babe in this hir sore labour O comfort and ease hir in the midst of this hir anguish and greefe for without thine assistance vndoubtedlie she must needs perish for vaine is the helpe of man we nor all the world can not helpe hir O come quicklie therefore we beseech thee good Lord and helpe thou hir in this hir great need and extremitie worke thou all our works for vs to thy glorie and hir comfort Defend hir from this imminent danger of deliuerance Keepe hir in perpetuall peace hope patience and safetie Strengthen hir faith and womanlie weakenes and visit hir O Lord according to the time of life as thou didst Sara Rebecca Thamar Hanna and Elizabeth thy holie hand-maids Blesse hir and preserue hir we beseech thee O Lord that no waie being terrified frighted or troubled extreamelie she neither murmur against thy works and saie with Rebecca Seeing my greefs are so great why am I thus with child Neither faint through sorrowe nor be vntimelie or vnluckilie deliuered but grant that in true faith and continuall inuocation of thy holie name she may be saued and now suffer thee quietlie to worke thy good will and pleasure according to thy diuine decree and secret iudgements vpon hir either for hir sins or for thy glorie and our example vntill according to thy promise in thy good time she do receiue comfort for hir sorrowe mirth for hir mourning gladnes for hir sadnes ioie for hir woe euen by mitigation of these hir miseries ease of hir anguishes release of hir labours dispatch of hir pangs deliuerance of hir burthen and speedie birth of hir babe borne into the world through the might of thy mercie and power of thy compassion to the glorie and high exaltation of thy name as both she and we most hartilie wish long for eâ—pect and desire yea and with teares and sighs doo vnfeignedlie craâ—e of thee and that through the onlie mysterie of Christ his holie incarnation blessed birth and painfull passion So be it For a woman that trauelleth before hir time and is in great perill praie as followeth ALmightie God which in thy secret iudgements diddest once strike the wife of Phinees being great with child with such a sudden fright and feare when she heard that thy arke was taken by the enimie and both hir husband and hir father slaine by thee with sudden death that thou causedst hir presentlie through grieuous pangs and bitter paines that came vpon hir in that instant to bow hir selfe and trauell before hir time wherein with great sorrowe she died We beseech thee in the name of thy deere sonne our sauiour Iesus Christ be mercifull vnto this wofull woman thy hand-maid and humble seruant whom now in thine vnsearchable iudgments thou hast visited also as it seemeth with the wofull chance of vntimelie trauell to the triall of hir faith hope and patience in thee And let not this time of hir sorrowe we praie thee be vnto hir as the time and houre of Rachel and Phinees wiues trouble was vnto them but by thy mightie power and mercie deliuer hir there-from if it be thy will as hir onelie trust is in thee And to this purpose staie we beseech thee the furiousnes of the wicked spirits that they shew not at this time their tyrannie and malice either vpon hir or hir seelie babe and so blesse preserue and keepe both hir and it that she may be no waie terrified frighted vexed or troubled either in bodie to faint or in mind to murmur and despaire through the extremitie of intollerable paines nor at this time for anie anguish be compelled to be deliuered before hir time to hir discomfort But grant that she may yet tarrie quietlie and patientlie vntill the time be fulfilled which thou in the course of nature full wiselie hast set at which time of life and not before we beseech thee O Lord then certinlie to come againe vnto hir that she maie dulie and safelie be deliuered and hir child come to life to hir comfort and thy glorie Neuerthelesse if it shall seeme good vnto thee for all this now in thy secret iudgements either for hir sins or for thy glorie and our terrour by example to hasten through laborous pangs pinching throwes an vntimelie birth vpon hir or if it shall please thee to cause without offence be it spoken an vnluckie or vnnaturall deliuerance to happen as now vnto hir at this time as iustlie we confesse thou maist if thou respect hir and our sinnes committed against thy maiestie and not rather thy mercie promised to all that faithfullie call vpon thee as we here now doo then not our wils but thy will which is euer in all things best be now euer fulfilled done both in hir hir babe and in vs to the glorie of thy holie name Onelie we craue of thee and that in the bowels and for the tender mercie of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that thou wilt yet grant hir abundance of thy grace both patientlie to abide thy fatherlie correction faithfullie to beleeue thine infallible promises so that for no paine or extremitie of torment or anguish either in bodie or mind she may not be discouraged discomforted shrinke faint or fall from hir faith or hope in thee but thanking thee for all things that may happen vnto hir let hir feele yet in hir bodie such ease and mitigation of hir paines and in hir soule and conscience such comfort and consolation from thee that she may assure hir selfe of thy fauour and mercie in Christ to haue forgiuenes of all hir sins togither with the release of all hir miseries and so after triall this thy troubled hand-maid may take comfort hoping to be crowned and after trouble this thy afflicted seruant may find deliuerance grace health and euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord and onelie Sauiour Amen If the woman trauelling be at the point of death praie as followeth O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies doest so put away the sinnes of those which truelie repent that thou remembrest them no more open thine eies of mercie vpon this thy hand-maid now in great danger of death who most earnestlie calleth vpon thee desiring pardon and forgiuenesse of all hir sinnes and offences committed against thee and thy people Renew in hir therefore O most tender harted father whatsoeuer hath beene decaied by the fraud and malice of satan or neglected by hir owne carnall will and frailenes Preserue and continue this weake and distressed member in the vnitie bosome of thy Church consider hir broken and contrite hart accept hir lamentable teares mitigate hir intollerable throwes and pangs asswage hir paines greefes and release hir vtterlie of all hir miserie and wo as shall be seene to thy heauenlie wisedome most expedient for hir and conuenient for thy Church And forasmuch as
this world and for euer shall praise thee might be gathered and chosen And forasmuch O Lord as a prudent a wise and a godlie man commeth from thee and is thy gift who onlie triest the harts and reines and knowest the verie secret cogitations and conditions of all men prouide I beseech thee and giue me vnto a man of vnderstanding of sound and Christian religion of wise gouernement and behauiour of a good life and vertuous disposition euen such an husband I say as may be faithfull constant gentle honest tender and louing vnto mee and godlie zealous sincere and religious in thy sight but from an vnwise irreligious vnfaithfull and wauering minded man from an hastie testie rash heddie furious bitter angrie vnthriftie and couetous husband good Lord for thy holie name sake deliuer me and grant that obteining at thy fatherlie hands a good husband euen according to mine or rather thine owne hart and being holilie coupled togither in Christian loue and puritie we may both liue togither vertuouslie and quietlie in thy feare without sinne or shame and also die in a good age godlie and Christianlie in thy faith without eternall death and condemnation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another LOrd thou hast commanded by thine holie Apostle that wee should abstaine from fornication and that euerie one of vs should knowe how to keepe our vessell that is our bodie in holinesse chastitie and honour and not in the lusts of concupiscence and vncleannes as doo the heathen which knowe not God I beseech thee giue me grace to behaue my selfe according to this thy holie commandement that in this my single life and state of virginitie I defile not my bodie with whoredome adulterie fornication or with anie other filthinesse and vncleanenesse but so order my selfe with all honestie sobrietie chastitie and purenesse of life that I may glorifie thee my Lord God both in soule and bodie Amen Or praie thus ALbeit most mercifull Father mariage is honourable among all persons and the bed vndefiled yet forasmuch as partlie for the tendernesse of mine age I am not apt for holie wedlocke and partlie through thine exceeding and aboue naturall gift for none can liue chaste except thou giue hir that gift I liue yet free from the sweet yoke of Matrimonie I hartilie praie thee that as I haue receiued of thee the gift of continencie and virginitie so I may haue grace from thee to bridle my selfe from lusts from all foolish appetits and to frame my life in all godlie vertuous exercises both of the bodie and mind yea so go foorth I praie thee to continue and increase this thy gift of chastitie in me that I may the more freelie and quietlie in all godlie patience and sufferance serue thee and care for those things that please thee and pertaine to thy glorie and also that I passing ouer the time of this my yong age in thy feare in godlie trauels vertuous labours and maidenlie behauiour may eschew all euill lusts riotous resorts and wanton companie that when it shall please thee to call me to the holie and honourable order of blessed wedlocke I may bring with me a cleane chaste and vndefiled bodie and so be apt and fit to liue in that godlie state of Matrimonie auoiding all fornication whoredome and vncleannesse all dissention strife and debate that thou maiest blesse me and my mariage prosper my godlie trauels send me good successe in all my doings and make me a ioifull mother in seeing my childers children according to thy holie promise which liuest and reignest verie God world without end Amen For the grace of Gods holie spirit to resist all sinfull motions and keepe pure the state of single life praie OH Lord the king of glorie and God of all power and might which hast promised to powre thy spirit vpon all flesh vpon virgins maidens and yong women and to giue the holie Ghost to thy children whensoeuer they shall aske the same of thee in thy Sonnes name in their praiers and allowest none to be pure virgins and thy children indeede but such as keepe themselues vnspotted of the world and walke before thee in the rule of thy lawes and obedience of thy commandements Oh Lord thou knowest I would faine walke with thee from my virginitie in righteousnesse and holinesse My desire is to walke before thee in a pure conscience chaste mind and vndefiled bodie But alas deere God I confesse the corruption of my nature polluted in the first woman Eue in Paradise is such and my weakenesse and vnablenesse to stand in temptation is so much and the custome of sinne hath gotten such dominion ouer me that I am not able of my selfe so much as to thinke a good thought much lesse to doo anie thing that is good and acceptable in thy sight Wherefore oh most louing Father take not thy grace and holie spirit from me thine handmaid leaue me not to my selfe neither forsake me for then I am vtterlie â—ast awaie For thou seest O Lord that if thou doo but shadowe thy selfe a little and depart from me into how manie grieuous and horrible sinnes I fall how much more then Lord if thou shouldest vtterlie forsake me leaue me to my selfe and take thy grace and holie spirit vtterlie from me Therfore oh most intreatable God I beseech thee consider my manifold imperfections womanlie weakenesses miserable corruptions which dailie turne me out of the waie and drawe me from thee and powre downe thy grace and holie spirit plentifullie vpon me thine humble handmaid Yea giue vnto me also thy most holie word thy patience loue meekenesse integritie righteousnesse iustice temperaunce sobrietie chastitie peace long-suffering faith goodnesse holinesse and all other thy vertues fruites of the spirit and ordinarie meanes whereby I may be so instructed taught and guided gouerned protected and defended in this my single life and state of virginitie that I neuer offend against thy diuine Maiestie or mine owne soule and bâ— die but that I may haue power and strength from thee continuallie to stand against all the secret assaults and open temptations of mine enimies both bodilie and ghostlie yea grant O deere Father that I may through thy mightie power working in my weake vessell haue continuall victorie ouer all hellish hagges and also triumph ouer them in all their assaults and temptations as manie holie virgins and women haue done in all ages so that togither with them I may walke before thee in the purenesse of my virginitie with a good conscience in perfect righteousnesse and true holinesse acceptable in thy sight all the daies of my life according to thy will through Iesus Christ our Lord and onlie Sauiour and redeemer So be it Another praier in the behalfe of all Virgins or single women for the keeping of obedience modestie chastitie puritie and cleannesse of liuing O Diuine spirit God the holie Ghost which abhorrest despisest and fliest from all vncleannesse filthinesse and dishonestie and which dooest
contrariwise both reioice and hast great delight and pleasure to be resident and dwell in chaste pure cleane and virginall mindes I thine humble handmaid meekelie beseech thee both for my selfe and all other virgins and maidens that as through thy benignitie and gentlenesse we beare and carrie about in this our weake fraile and earthen vessels the same most excellent and notable treasure so through thy goodnesse and fauour we may keepe and preserue it safe and whole vnpolluted or defiled anie manner of waies as we ought Make vs gladlie to reuerence our elders and by the good motherlie admonitions and sincere honestie of the best and most godlie women to institute frame and order our trade of liuing Cause vs also to bridle our lusts and appetites and continuallie to exercise our selues with labour both of bodie and mind in patience and sufferance that we may be apt and fit both for maidenlie and husâ—ifelie affaires Let vs not giue our selues to much idlenesse deintie fare euill companie and dissolute pastime and in all the recreation of our spirits let vs beware of intemperancie and lightnesse and alwaies vse reuerence shamefastnesse and modestie Take from vs O God all nicenesse wantonnesse prodigalitie and lasciuiousnesse especiallie in the presence of our elders Let vs euer both in time and place remember our selues to be women and not beasts yea yong women and not babes and therefore to take heed that our manners and conditions exceed the manners and properties both of beasts and of babes neither let vs thinke our selues women or matrones wise enough of our selues to teach our selues but being free from all selfe-weening selfe-loue and presumption let vs rather knowe that we lacke as yet manie instructions and godlie lessons and giue vs grace to learne them at their hands whomethou doest appoint ouer vs to gouerne and teach vs that so we dailie more and more pleasing thee with pure harts and vndefiled bodies may with those wise virgins come vnto that blessed life which knoweth no corruption in the which thou togither with the Father and his Sonne my louing Spouse and heauenlie Bridegroome liuest and reignest one immortall and inuisible God blessed and praised for euer and euer Amen Another praier to the same effect MOst sweet Lord Iesu Christ my heauenlie spouse which art the glorie of the Father and the brightnesse of the euerlasting light I thine vnwoorthie handmaid beseech thee for thine incomprehensible diuine Maiestie that thou wilt giue vnto me a godlie preparation of mind puritie of hart simplicitie of spirit and cleannesse and chastitie of bodie Oh kill I beseech thee sweet Iesu and vtterlie extinguish in me all inordinate lusts pull out and plucke vp by the rootes what vice soeuer is in me and take quite awaie whatsoeuer displeaseth thee in me So rule temper and dispose all both mine outward and inward senses as also all the force and powers of my mind that through thy grace I may refraine preserue and keepe my selfe from all vniust and naughtie workes from all euill cogitations and thoughts from all wicked and peruerse purposes willes intents and affections which fight against thy holie and blessed commandements Grant moreouer that I may loue thee aboue all things that nothing may delight or please me but thou alone that I may seeke will desire and couet nothing that is contrarie and repugnant to thy heauenlie will and good pleasure Finallie grant O most gentle Iesu that heere in this world I may so godlie liue and vertuouslie behaue my selfe both in this my single life and afterward that in the last daie of my life I may be found readie with the wise virgins pure holie cleane and vndefiled and so through thee the celestiall Bridegrome most happelie enter and be caried into the celestiall countrie of ioies eternall Amen A praier to be said for all virgins and maids generallie O GOD the former of our bodies and the inspirer of our soules which neuer despisest anie age reiectest no sexe nor esteemest anie estate or condition vnwoorthie of thy grace but art the Creator and redeemer of all defend with the shield of thy protection all those thy seruants and handmaids whom it hath pleased thee to indue with the gift of continencie and virginitie that they which yet be free from the sweet yoke of matrimonie by the helpe of thy grace subduing all sinfull motions and concupiscences of the flesh and being giuen to all good works and holie exercises both of the bodie and mind may be vnseparablie vnited to the loue and obedience of thy Sonne their spouse Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ We beseech thee also O Lord minister and giue thou vnto them weapons of defence not carnall but spirituall that thou gouerning both their members and senses sinne and wickednes may neuer be able to beare rule in them nor preuaile against their bodies or soules and that they alwaie liuing in thy feare grace and fauour Satan the friend to the bad and so to the good may not be so bold to claime them as his whose vessels thou hast consecrated to glorifie thy name in puritie of life O let the dew and moisture of thy heauenlie grace quench and asswage their naturall heate and let the fire of perpetuall chastitie inflame their harts and minds Let not their modest â—nd shamefast faces be blotted with anie reproch neither let securitie or negligence at anie time be hurtfull vnto them Take from them all occasions of offence and suffer them not to endure anie open infamie but let there be in them a warie chastitie adorned and inarmed with a liuelie faith firme hope and sincere charitie that their minds by thy gift being thus prepared to continencie their vertue by the power of thy grace may be of force to incounter with the suggestions of Satan vanquish all his mightie assaults and that by despising things present and transitorie they may euer followe with desire and at the last obtaine the ioies to come Finallie make them O Lord alwaies to prefer abstinence and temperance before banketing or bellie-cheere and cause them to giue themselues to the reading of holie scripture to diuine contemplations and meditations before feasting wantonnes and excesse or riot that being fed with praieng filled with instruction and illuminated with watchings and holie exercises they may purelie performe and fulfill the office of true virginitie in this their state of single life and become meete spouses for the bridegroome And lastlie grant O gratious God that thou thus defending and shielding these thy seruants both externallie and internallie with the spirituall weapons of thy grace and holie vertues they and euerie of them may be well able to passe through the pikes of Satans host and run their race in all holinesse puritie and honestie without anie offence to thee or the world to the confusion of Satan and the exaltation of thy glorie through the same Lord Iesus Christ their euerlasting spouse and our most blessed redeemer to whom
doo it yea with such diligent care and faithfull discharge of their owne duties to thee O God with such loue and entier affection towards me their child and with such due regard to the man vnto whome they shall match me as namelie not so much for anie his externall goods of the bodie as chiefelie for the inward vertue and goods of the mind that in euerie respect it may be trulie said they haue verie well ioined and married me in the Lord to the reioicing of all parties so shall it come to passe that they thereby shall not onlie procure vnto me their daughter perpetuall ioie comfort and felicitie by causing my marriage to become easie and well-liking vnto me but also prouide by this meanes for themselues such a sonne in lawe as shall be a faithfull freend a dailie succour and continuall aid vnto them euen in their old age to their great comfort and thy glorie which grant O blessed God for his sake who was most obedient not onelie to his blessed mother Marie but also vnto thee his celestiall Father thy hâ—lie sonne Iesus I meane to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be now and euer eternall praise thanks and vniuersall power rule and dominion Amen You may reade in the sixt and seuenth Lamps more of the dutie of daughters A praier to be said of a daughter in lawe that is married FOr asmuch O almightie God as through the corruption of our nature the common custome and opinion of most are that all mothers in lawe beare a stepmothers hate vnto their daughters in lawe and contrariwise that daughters in lawe for the most part beare no great good loue and charitie towards their mothers in lawe the cause of both which hatred or enimitie as it is found vaine and vnchristian so it seemeth to arise when on the one side the mother is discontent that all hir sonnes loue should be turned vnto hir daughter in lawe and when the wife on the other part cannot suffer any to be loued but hir selfe as though the motherhood of the one were lessened by the daughter in lawe and the wifehood of the other were minished by the mother in lawe or as though friendship were impared by the multitude of freends when rather in troth it is the more increased and strengthened by alliance and mariage and therefore either ought to beare with others infirmitie and charitablie to be reconciled one to another if at anie time bralles hatred strife or discord rise or chance betweene them Therefore to auoid the causes of this common hatred betwixt me and my mother in lawe and that we may the better liue louinglie and christianlie togither as becommeth vs both before God and the world to the good example of all other grant O God I beseech thee that my mother in lawe for hir part may be content that hir sonne my husband doo loue me his wife as his deere mate and inseparable companion with whome he ought to dwell without anie displeasure Againe that I hir daughter in lawe for my part knowing my husband and I am all one may not onlie take and repute his parents to be my parents but also may be willing and verie well pleased that my husband doo loue hir also as his owne mother as vnto whome he is greatlie bound and oweth much louing kindnesse for these great benefits receiued of hir I meane his life his nourishing and bringing vp in the feare of God but especiallie bicause I gladlie doo or would loue mine owne mother also as nature thereto bindeth me and for that I both see and know how that by this my mother in lawe as by an instrument and meanes appointed of thee I now presentlie enioie this my husband hir sonne for whose sake therefore at the least I am bound both by the lawes of God nature forsomuch as we are now no more two but one flesh to loue cherish and obeie this my mother in lawe in thee as if she were mine owne mother Grant I saie O gratious God that my mother in lawe may loue me hir daughter in lawe no lesse than Naomie loued Ruth Orpha and that she may giue me good counsell teach me instruct me praie for me and doo all such things as may be an example vnto me both of godlines chastitie and sobernesse Driue far from vs all hatred enuie brallings and contentions Suffer hir not I beseech thee O Lord to make anie discord or variance betweene my husband and me for anie cause but and if anie chance betweene vs grant that she rather to the vttermost of hir power by hir wisedome and good motherlie counsellâ—giuing may auoid it and reconcile vs againe that thus she bearing a motherlie affection towards me it may so come to passe that both my husband may be the more bound to loue hir not onlie for that she is his deere mother but also bicause she hath thereby bene the cause of a great part of his felicitie in that he hath mee both a more chaste sober louing obedient and vertuous wife and better agreeing with him by the meanes of this hir motherlie instruction and graue godlie counsell and also I be no lesse bound to loue hir and to beare none other mind towards hir than if she were mine owne mother as Ruth did to Naomie and Sara to Anna by reason that I also haue by this hir graue aduice and wise teaching both gotten to my selfe more knowledge aâ— made better and haue my husband hir sonne more plesant louing and tender vnto me This grant not onlie vnto vs O good father but also to all other mothers and daughters in lawe for Iesus Christes sake our onlie Lord and sauiour Amen Another praier to be vsed of a daughter in lawe THou hast commanded in thy holie lawe O almightie God that all children should honor their parents as they will obteine the promise of long life and blessings of their parents vpon earth and contrariwise auoid thy cursse and the cursse of their parents pronounced against all disobedient and vngodlie children grant therefore vnto me whom it pleaseth thee after the death of mine owne mother to keepe still as yet in the number and obedience of a child by giuing me this woman to be my mother in lawe in stead of mine owne mother whome thou hast taken vnto thy selfe that sith I am now hir child by adoption and affinitie I may according to thy commandement fulfill and doo all that dutie which I owe and is due vnto hir euen as vnto mine owne naturall mother if she were heere aliue and that not for a shew or outward pretence of loue but with true obedience and due reuerence from the verie hart vnfeignedlie bicause I knowe it shall be rewarded of thee whatsoeuer I doo vnto hir be it good or ill O let me not be in the number of those wicked daughters in lawe which as the Prophet saith doo impudentlie rise vp and contemptâ—ouslie striue against their mothers
me with thine oile of gladnes put vpon me the robes of righteousnes and couer me with the glorious purple adorne mee with the pretious stones of vertue and place vpon mine head glorie and honour that all mine ornament may be inward and that I may please thee through liuing in thy faith and â—eare and hoping in thy mercie For thou O sweet Iesu Christ art mine husband which tenderlie louest me my God whome I worship my head wherevntoâ— I am subiect and my bridegrome with whom I hope in heauen to reigne eternallie Amen Another praier to be said of anie noble woman ladie gentlewoman or modest matrone married FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee O heauenlie father of thine inestimable mercie to bring me to this high estate of dignitie and to put me in possession of a place of honor as a matrone for other women to behold grant vnto mee I humblie beseech thee that in all my dooings I may followe the example of all vertuous and graue matrones which are specified and described for our example in the holy scripture that is to be as louing and obedient vnto my Lord and husband as Sara was to Abraham as Susanna was to Ioachim and as humble loiall and wise as Abigaell was to King Dauid Hester to King Ahesuerus or the blessed and noble virgin Marie was to Ioseph Grant also I beseech thee that I be neither proud presumptuous ambitious disdainefull of others in comparison of my selfe high-minded nor a boaster in mine owne bloud kindred beautie wit or dignitie but with the noble Queene Hester to saie Thou knowest my state O Lord and that I hate this signe of preeminence and worship which I beare vpon my head what time I must go foorth to be seene and that I abhor it as an vncleane cloth and that I weare it not when I am quiet alone by my selfe that bearing alwaies an euen mind and hauing an humble opinion of my selfe as she that knoweth hir selfe to be but dust and ashes and enâ—bled by thee from whome alone commeth the true nobilitie and gentrie to so manie as are borne of thee and made thy children through faith I may laie awaie all pompe and pride nicenes tendernes and disdaine and euer set more by others than by my selfe yea and thinke my selfe worsse than anie other in thy sight to the end I may alwaies liue vertuouslie holilie shamefastlie soberlie and chastlie in all meekenes gentle behauiour discreete conuersation prudence wisedome learning vertue and puritie both in bodie and soule both before thee and all men as becommeth a christian and faithfull woman and such a one as will be a true imitator of Rebecca Hester and the rest of those holie matrones and noble women mentioned in the scriptures that all other seeing my good example of life may praise thy name and be encouraged thereby to glorifie thee in their vertuous conuersations world without end Amen A praier to be vsed of the wife that hath a froward and bitter husband as a present remedie against the mischiefe of diâ—orcement and separation O Most wise and prouident GOD which in the beginning didst create man in thine owne image and out of him didst make the woman and didst bring hir vnto the man that she might be an helper vnto him and therefore thou causedst him to saie and confesse that she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones thereby teaching him not onlie the holie and indissoluble band of loue vnitie and mutuall societie that ought to be betweene man and his wife as for whose sake he ought to leaue father and mother and to cleaâ—e vnto hir but also the most sâ—cred and blessed coniunction and knitting togither of our Lord Iesus Christ his sanctified Church and people so that no man can breake or despise that bond and vnitie but he must needs be giltie of presumption against God and of the wilfull breach and contempt of his ordinance Wherefore oh Lord sith it hath pleased thee to match me in this most honourable state of marriage according to thy diuine prouidence I beseech thee to make him an head vnto me and my selfe an helper vnto him according to my creation and as thy holie institution requireth And because thy holie word is the onlie rule and ordinarie to gouerne and direct our liues I hartilie desire thee oh good God giue this mine husband thy grace and holie spirit and so open thou his wits and senses that hauing by the light of thy grace the true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy holie word in all discretion he may knowe how to walke in his vocation both towards mee his poore wife and yoke-fellowe and all others as becommeth him and thereby become vnto me not so bitter a despiser and hater but a true louer sweet freend and godlie gouernour Thou O good father seest the great lacke and necessitie that I thine handmaid haue of a wise guide graue counseller holie instructor and continuall comforter O therefore I beseech thee looke vpon my trouble which I endure consider my reproofe and reproches that I beare in my bosome pitie my miserie ease me of so great a burthen and releeue my great need and necessitie Make this my husband I saie O deere God a head a vaile and defence vnto me for my preseruation and safetie for if we thus bite and deuour one another it cannot possible be but we shall be consumed one of another Make him therefore tender carefull and comfortable vnto me thy weake creature if it be thy good pleasure and grant that according to his promise made before thee and as thou hast commanded else-where in thy holie word he may with perfect and holie loue cherish nourish and loue me as his owne flesh and as Christ loueth his Church and as she that is heire togither with him of the grace of life that our praiers and godlie exercises to the benefiting of our soules and bodies be not interrupted or hindered Grant that he forsaking all other may cleaue onlie vnto me as becommeth without separation and that he may dwell with me as a man of knowledge and christian behauiour and gouernement to thy glorie my comfort and others edifieng But alas I must needs confesse vnto thee my God that I am most vnwoorthie of so good a beâ—efit for I haue not walked in this most honorable state purelie and holilie according to thy diuine ordinance whereby I haue made my selfe much more vnworthie to haue so pretious a gift at thy fatherlie hands and if it be thy good pleasure with frowardnes bitternes and vnkindnesse yea the hatred and disdaine of my husband thus to correct me for my fault I most hartilie thanke thee for it And I beseech thee so to order me in all things in thy great mercie that I neuer murmur or grudge impatientlie against thee for the same nor doo anie thing either against thee or my husband whereby thy maiestie may be displeased my husband offended or thy Gospell
openlie in the multitude of people and I will performe my vowes in the sight of them that honour thee The poore shall eate and be satisfied they shall praise the Lord that studie to please him and as manie of you as continue still such your harts shall liue All the ends of the world shall consider these things and be turned to the Lord and all heathen nations shall submit themselues and doo homage vnto thee my God For the Lord hath a power roiall and an imperiall dominion ouer the heathen The most mightie greatest of all them that dwell on the earth haue eaten and after that they haue tasted the spirituall gifts of the Lord they haue submitted themselues and made humble suite vnto him Yea and all the dead which are buried in the earth shall kneele and make reuerence in his honour because he hath not disdained to spend his owne life for them They that shall come after vs shall honour and serue him These things shall be written of the Lord that our posteritie may knowe and vnderstand them That they also may come and shew these things to the people that shall be borne of them that the Lord hath done these things which be so maruellous The praier in long and dangerous trauell of child to be vsed either of the woman hir selfe or by the women about hir in hir behalfe HAue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon mee thy sinfull seruant and wofull hand-maid who now in my greatest need and distres doo seeke thee behold with grieuous groanes deepe sighes I crie vnto thee for mercie Euen now while thy heauie hand in chastening is vpon me doo I powre out my soule and make my pitious moâ—e and humble supplication vnto thee my God for mitigation of my miserie For lo thou seest how I pant with paine and grone through griefe and trauell in sore labour before thee togither with all thy creatures sighing in my selfe and waiting for thy readie helpe and my speedie deliuerance foorth of this distres Oh Lord am not I now that wofull wight who with all the sorrowes of a trauelling woman am oppressed in thy sight Yea thou seest in what pitifull plight I am drawing nigh towards my trauell and hearest me sorrowfull wretch crieng out in my pangs as she that is destitute of all mortall helpe Alas how tediouslie doo I trauell of this child how pinching pangs doo I iustlie suffer for my sins I haue a long time O Lord held my peace suppressing my throwes so long as my womanlie strength will suffer I haue beene quiet and still and refrained my selfe I saie as much as I am able but now alas such and so intolierable is my greefe so manie and vehement are my throwes yea so continuall and tedious is my trauell that without thee I can not possiblie anie longer forbeare but am forced through bodilie paine and inward greefe to shrich and crie alowd vnto thee and that with teares for speedie comfort and heauenlie helpe that she which is in sore labour may find mitigation of hir paines through thy mercie and being readie to bring foorth may be deliuered through thy power For except thou O Lord make a waie out that which is conceiued can not be borne Oh Lord this daie is a gloomie daie a bitter time and terrible houre a daie or night of anguish and tribulation of sorrowe and perturbation vnto the verie soule of thine hand-maid for the babe is come vnto the place of the birth and lo it seemeth that thou for my sins hast shut vp the dores of my wombe and caused the babe to stand still like to be stiffled What shall I saie O my God what shall I doo Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord haue mercie vpon me and helpe me Make a way out for my deliuerance for in me there is no helpe no strength nor power to bring that foorth that I haue conceiued It is thou onlie O Lord my God which hast fashioned it in my wombe that must doo it Oh therefore put foorth speedilie thine almightie hand and helpe me and giue me strength and patience to endure whatsoeuer for my sins it shall please thee to laie vpon me in this my sore labour O good God thou that hast promised to intreate those gentlie that beare yoong haue mercie vpon thine hand-maid and vouchsafe to shew that tender care and fatherlie fauour vnto mee that am full weake feeble helpe me speedilie that stand in great need thereof For without thee I confesse there is no deliuerance nor saluation in the earth to be expected neither can anie worldlie meanes preuaile anie thing at all heere in this action Oh Lord thou art he that hast drawne me out of my mothers womb long since and hitherto hast had a tender care ouer me so that thou hast caused me to looke vp vnto thee when I did hang yet on my mothers breast so soone as I was borne and came foorth into this world I was committed vnto thee and euen then thou didst declare thy selfe to be my God and father Now then O Lord when so great miseries doo approch and enuiron me I beseech thee be not thou far from me neither forsake me which am destitute of all manner of succours besides Come holie Ghost and regard the sorrowes of thy hand-maiden for behold he that is mightie hath humbled me greatlie O blessed trinitie come visit a wretch that now as thou seest is entred into hir secret chamber and hath shut the dores about hir to hide hir selfe for a little while vntill thine indignation be ouerpassed Come I saie O glorious and almightie God come speedilie and through thy diuine power worke thou all our works for vs heere in secret that we may praise thee openlie For thou art my God and my soule hath greatlie longed for thee both daie and night Yea with my spirit within me doo I hartilie and earnestlie seeke thee earlie and late oh would God that I might find thee whome my soule loueth For in the waie of thy iudgements O Lord doo I wait I constantlie abide in miâ—e aduersities wherewith thou dooest woorthilie afflict me and put my trust onlie in thee from whome I expect speedie deliuerance in thy good time Thy sweet name O Iesu and the remembrance of thee is now the thing that my languishing soule so much longeth forâ— O come therefore vnto me at the last and comfort me satisfie my longing to the full and deliuer thy faithfull hand-maid and sorrowfull seruant out of this extreame sorrowe and easelesse paines that I may no longer crie and saie Why is my heauines continuall and my paines so intollerable How is it Lord that for no intreatie thou wilt not deliuer thine hand-maid from such indurable greefes How long shall I suffer the paines of the birth and the anguish of the trauell Now long Lord shall my bowels thus sound like an harpe my bones and sinewes be racked asunder and mine inward parts be thus
greeuouslie tormented for my sins Consider O Lord how I am troubled how my wombe is disquieted and my hart wambleth within me for anguish Wilt thou haue no compassion on a wretch Wilt thou cause me thus to trauell still in paines intollerable and greefe vnspeakeable Wilt thou not bring foorth that which thou hast formed that I may be deliuered of that which I haue conceiued Alas O Lord alas my God yea my deare and onelie God wilt thou not heare the lamentable cries and regard the inward teares of a wretch that trauelleth laboureth so sore with child euen the wofull voice â— mournfull lamentation of thy hand-maid and daughter I saie though vnworthie that thus all the daie long sigheth crieth and stretcheth out hir feeble hanâ—â— vnto thee in heauen calling for thy heauenlie helpe and succour Oh Lord spare me oh deare God haue mercie vpon me and my babe Shall I be the graue of my child Shall I giue death the fruit of my bodie for the sins of my soule and my first second or third 〈◊〉 for the transgressions of my youth Alas shall that perish in the wombe which is conceiued by thee or shall it die in the birth and not be borne which thou hast so mightilie fashioned Hast thou shut vp the doores of my wombe in thy displeasure and couered me with the shadowe of death that the birth may not come out Wilt thou cause that to die in the birth I saie which is the woonderfull worke of thy almightie hand God forbid oh God forbid Oh saue me and my babe I beseech thee and let it not be as a thing borne out of time either as an infant which neuer sawe the light neither let it perish or be slaine so soone as it commeth out of the wombe but open thou the wombe and bring it foorth safelie that I may set it on my knees and giue it sucke with my brests Oh finish the thing mercifullie which thou hast begun so gratiouslie in me and let me reioice rather that a man-child is borne into the world els why am I in this plight Wo is me now that euer I sinned for how shall I be able to endure all the sorowes and pangs of a trauelling woman which are now or hereafter shall be iustlie laid vpon me O Lord thou seest my hart fainteth my face looketh pale yea sounding with a sighing and gasping soule I crie out and saie Alas that euer I sinned Wo is me that euer I offended so louing a God so mercifull a Sauiour so deare a redeemer so holie and blessed a sanctifier Alas for this daie which is so dreadfull that none may be likened vnto it And out alas for the time of this perplexitiâ— of this sorowe and griefe which I now sensiblie feele and endure both in bodie and mind for it is like the daie and time of Rachel My sorowe and trouble may be compared to Phinees wiues trouble my state and condition seemeth to me and others to be not much vnlike vnto theirs I saie from the which neuerthelesse for thy great mercie sake good Lord I beseech thee deliuer me and saue me and my â—abe from the graue as my trust is in thee Amen Another O GOD make speede to saue me O Lord make hast to helpe me Make no long tarieng O my God least I be like to those that go downe into the pit How long Lord wilt thou forget me How long shall I bee plucked a sunder with these griping greefes and pinching pangs of deadlie throwes How long shall I a wretch expect thy gratious comfort and readie helpe How long wilt thou forget thy creatures O Lord for euer How long wilt thou hide thy face from thy hand-maid thus being in miserie Shall my greefe euer continue my paines neuer cease What is my power O Lord that I should endure such pangs Or what is my strength that I may abide such throwes Surelie O God thou knowest my strength is not the strength of stones neither is my flesh or bones made of brasse or iron For in troth there is in me no helpe nor in anie mortall creature anie reliefe or succour yea all strength is vtterlie taken from me and there is none that I can find to helpe me therefore without thy helpe strength and patience it is impossible for me to continue in this perplexitie Oh spare me therefore a litle that I may recouer my strength before I go hence and be no more seene O Lord cast not awaie thy seruant in thy displeasure but let it be thy good pleasure to deliuer me Make hast O Lord to helpe me Wilt thou absent thy selfe for euer or hast thou shut vp thy louing kindnes in displeasure Is thy mercie cleane gone and thy promises come vtterlie to an end for euermore Chasten me O Lord and correct me but giue me not ouer vnto death neither shut vp my soule with the wicked in the graue Let not mine enimie saie So so I haue deuoured hir For I come vnto thee with those good women in the Gospell and falling downe at thy feet in trembling and feare I humblie beseech thee saieng O sweet Iesu O sonne of Dauid O Lambe of God that taâ—e â—t awaie the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me that am grieuouslie vexed with nipping throwes Lord helpe me Lord heare me and vouchsafe to grant me the thing that I long for and destre that is that thou my maker and preseruer wilt speedilie come and comfort me mitigate these griefs now after the time that thou hast plagued and tormented me with all thy stormes and in great compassion haue mercie vpon me and my seelie infant that it be not like the vntimelie fruit or like the birth that dieth and is borne togither After this night and houre of calamitie ouerpassed let the pleasant morning of comfort luckilie shine vpon me that by time I may heare and feele thy goodnes and mercie in obteining at thy hand a comfortable issue and deliuerance for in thee onelie is all my trust Quicken me O Lord for thy name sake and for thy mercie and righteousnes bring my soule and bodie out of this distres and ease me of these paines for I am thy seruant O come and comfort me thy weake creature in these mine afflictions with the presence of thy holie spirit that euen in death I may find life For vnâ—er thy protection and defence mercie and fauour doo I wholie repose my selfe Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit preserue and keep me relieue ease and speed me O Lord thou God of truth for thou hast redeemed me Thou hast beene my succour leaue me not now nor forsake me O God of my saluation What profit is there in my bloud when I go downe to the pit Shall the dust giue thanks vnto thee or shall the graue declare thy truth O therefore haue mercie on me good Father for thy holie name sake euen for thy
mercifullie shewedst vpon them in their great trauels labours and paines when they fled vnto thy holie name for succour as vnto a strong tower bulworke and holie defence Go foorth O Lord to make them the ioifull mothers of manie children endue them with long life that they may see their childers children and the children that thou giuest vnto them make thou as in age so likewise in wisedome and in the abundance of thy holy spirit to increase that they may haue fauour both with thee and with all good men vnto the glorie of thy most blessed name Amen The mothers praier for hir childrens good education O Eternall God creator and preseruer of all man-kind the giuer of all spirituall grace and the onlie author of eternall life I most hartilie thanke thee that it hath pleased thy fatherlie goodnes to giue me these thy creatures the fruit of my bodie as a witnes and testimonie of thy fatherlie fauour and good will towards this most honourable state of matrimonie Oh Lord as thou hast giuen them vnto me so I beseech thee vouchsafe to giue me thy gifts both spirituall and bodilie that I may haue competent wherwith to educate and bring them vp Haue mercie on me oh Lord and giue vnto them thy grace and holie spirit and open thou their wits and senses and giue them the true knowledge and vnderstanding of thy holie word a louing affection and obedience vnto the same and a true faith in it Giue them wisedome vnderstanding knowledge and discretion docilitie capacitie and facilitie to comprehend take and receiue doctrine learning nouriture and discipline that they may be made worthie instruments of thy glorie and profitable members of thy Church to the aduauncement of thy glorie the edifieng of thy Church and the comfort of my conscience by Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen Another praier to be vsed of euerie godlie mother for the godlie proofe of hir child made for the Ladie Lettice O Most mercifull Lord God almightie onelie which art gratious and good as by thy diuine will power this my child was formed and made a liuing creature consisting of bodie and soule in the wombe of me his naturall mother from whom he is departed into this world by naturall birth weake and impotent of fraile and sinfull substance by his owne propertie inclined to ignorance and sinne and now inuironed with thousands of malicious mightie and subtill enimies both bodilie and ghostlie which waite for the seducing leading of him to perill death and destruction wherevnto all mankind is prone and were it not for thy mercifull grace and tuition soone ouercome So be it thy will O most graâ—ious Lord in the abundance of thy mercies and loue for Christs thy deere sonnes sake with thy fatherlie eie to looke vpon him to blesse him powring plentifullie of thy heauenlie gifts vpon him that being preserued brought vp and nourished in diuine knowledge faith feare and obedience of thee through true profession of thy sweete sonne Iesus in the sinceritie of the Gospell he may growe rich and beautifull in all godlines and vertue in all his waies and proceedings seeking the kingdome of eternall glorie through firme abundant faith and holie conuersation in Christ our sauiour working all righteousnes filled with meeknes brotherlie loue obedience cheerfull hope desire of heauenlie things contempt of the world and mightilie armed with thy grace and strengthened by thine assistance to vanquish the power of sinfull flesh and satan that hauing victorie in the end he may ioifullie triumph in thy presence O God with the rest of thy beloued saints to giue honour and continuall praise to thy most holie name in blisse euerlasting through thy deere sonne our mercifull Lord and Sauiour Amen Another praier of the mother for hir child ALmightie euerlasting God which of thine infinit mercie and goodnes hast promised vnto vs that thou wilt not onelie be our God but also the God father of our children I beseech thee that as thou hast vouchsafed to call vs to be partakers of this thy great mercie in the felowship of faith so it may please thee to sanctifie with thy spirit into the number of thy children this infant which thou hast giuen me to the end that he comming to perfect age may confesse thee onelie the true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ and to serue him and be profitable vnto his Church in the whole course of his life that after this life beeing ended he may be brought as a liuelie member of his bodie vnto the full fruition of thy ioies in the highest heauens where thy sonne our sauiour Christ reigneth with thee world without end Amen Another praier to be vsed of the mother for the good education of hir youth and children OH gratious God in knowledging that thou louest all things which thou hast made of thy goodnes and that thing cannot perish which is committed to thy charge now I come vnto thee with my tender children committing them into thine hands and desiring thee to couer them vnder the wings of thy prouident mercie Hew and square the rough table of their hearts of stonie make them fleshie that being softened by the deaw of thy blessings they may beare the seales of adoption in thy Sonne Christ. O Lord guide them in this darke vale of vanitie with the light of thy fauour that escaping the dongeon of sin they may walke in newnes of life and lodge alwaies in thine holie will Imprint in their harts faith hope humilitie chastitie and charitie that following thee they may be humble and meeke holie vertuous perfect and godlie as thou art Indue them with the spirit of feare that they may kisse thee in faith liuelie obedience and thou be neuer angrie with them but louing vnto them as the mother is to hir tender sucklings Amen Another praier for the godlie and vertuous life of thy childe O Lord God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and father of all them that beleeue which hast said by the mouth of Salomon the sonne of Dauid that an vndiscreet sonne is a greefe vnto his father and an heauines vnto his mother that bare him and that the wise sonne maketh a glad father but an vndiscreet bodie shameth his mother that it would please thee so to conduct and guide this my sonne S. in his waie that he may acknowledge and confesse that thou art the author of his life that he may serue and honor thee without feare in all truth and righteousnes and growing in age he may be mortified in spirit that he may be filled with wisedome and that thy grace be with him To conclude that by that meanes keeping thy precepts he may prolong his daies heere vpon earth obeieng vs his parents whom thou hast chosen as instruments for to place him in this world Giue vnto him O Lord such ease for the commoditie of this life that vnder colour of pouertie he doo not couet or
I maie onelie marrie thee in the couenant of thy heauenlie father louing Iesus and haue nothing to doo with the adulterer the diuell the father of deadlie fornication This is the onelie bed of ioie wherein I will sleepe O Lord and the onelie arke of all comfort wherein I will saile till I shall see thee face to face to whom be praise and honour both now and euer Amen A praier to be said of widowes for widowes GRatious faithfull God father of orphans and iudge of widowes which by thy word hast commanded that none iniurie be done to widowes and fatherlesse children I beseech thee haue pitie on me desolate woman and my poore fatherlesse children and vpon all widowes and orphans else where through the world be thou our patrone and defender and minister such things vnto vs as thou knowest we dailie stand in need of whether it be meat clothing or else what for our sustentation Let magistrates thy ministers releeue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defend the widowe against all oppression and wrong Grant that our patrons may fatherlie looke vnto vs widowes and all men gladlie and godlie prouide for vs and our orphans Moreouer giue all men grace for their parts not to hurt vs or ours anie waies but to the vttermost of their powers to helpe vs bicause pure religion and vndefiled before thee is to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world In like sort grant that I and all widowes for our parts may at all times and in all our afflictions put our whole trust in thee the liuing God our Lord father and continue in supplications and praiers night and daie auoiding filthie pleasure vncomelie gesture and vndecent behauiour whereby either others may bee offended or our selues defamed or at the least suspected of lightnes Blesse thou my fatherlesse children O heauenlie father togither with all yoong pupils vnder heauen that by thy prouidence and fatherlie care they may be honestlie and godlie brought vp in thy feare vnto euerie good worke whereby they may alwaies feare thee their cheefe father obeie their tutors teachers harken vnto good counsell and correction and so increase as in yeres so in wisedome both in the fauour of men and of thee their God And I beseech thee O Lord defend all married folke with their children that through thy displeasure purchased by their wickednes they perish not with the sword nor otherwise by vntimelie death be dispatched that their wiâ—es proue not widowes nor their children fatherlesse Oh blesse vs Lord with thy fauour euen for Christs sake thy welbeâ— loued sonne Amen The same praier more at large to be vsed generallie for all widowes and orphans O Most mercifull and faithfull God father of orphans and iudge of widowes looke downe from heauen thou which considerest our labour and sorrowe and in whose hands all our saluation doth consist The poore is left to thee for thou art the helper of the fatherles The Lord doth heare the desire of the poore thou preparest their hearts and thine eare harkeneth therevnto to helpe the fatherles and widowe vnto their right that the man of the earth be no more exalted against the miserable We beseech thee O most righteous auenger haue thou a consideration of all widowes and orphans and prouide for them by ministring cloaths and nourishment vnto them Haue pitie on them in all their perils and necessities stretch out thine helping hand and deliuer them as thou didst that widowe whose pitcher of oile by the Prophet Elias thou didst so increase with thy blessing that not onelie she deliuered hir children in bondage for debt out of the hands of hir creditors but also of the oile she sold and had wherwith to susteme both hir selfe and hir children For thou art the Lord which carest for strangers and releeuest the fatherles and widowe but destroiest the waies of the vngodlie Thou art touched with care of the afflicted and despisest not the desires of the fatherles nor the widowe when she powreth out hir praiers before thee For the teares running downe the cheeks of the widowe ascend vp into the heauens and hir crie against him which wrings it out by oppression Graâ—t therefore O mercifull God that in the sight of all gouernours and iudges they may find fauour and haue equall iudges and patrones of their matters that the iudgement of the stranger and fatherles be not peruerted nor the cause of the widowe neglected but that iudgement may be sought according to thy lawe the oppressed holpen iudgement giuen for the orphane and the widowe defended For thou hast giuen a straight commandement vnto all iudges saieng Keepe equitie and righteousnes deliuer the oppressed from the power of the oppressor Do not greeue nor oppresse the stranger the fatherles nor the widowe and shed none innocent bloud for thou art the God which wilt auenge thine elect that crie vnto thee Thou keepest truth for euer and euer dooing iustice to the oppressed with wrong Now therefore deliuer thou O Lord the fatherles and widowe out of the pawes of the rauening theeues which eate vp the houses of the widowes vnder the pretence of godlines and colour of right deliuer them I saie out of the hands of wicked iudges which faine and inuent lawes to suppresse the poore and to hurt the cause of the base among the people that widowes may be a praie for them and that they may rob the fatherles such peruerse iudges O Lord God in the daie of their visitation and calamitie from a far thou wilt vtterlie destroie Appoint vnto orphanes and widowes faithfull patrons which will be touched with an earnest care of their welfare And also giue vs willing minds to pleasure widowes fatherles children according to our abilitie to deliuer the poore when he crieth the fatherles which hath none to helpe to susteine and helpe him that is readie to fall to comfort the widowe euermore to be as a father to the fatherles and from our tender yeares to minister instruction to the widowes and suffer them neuer to perish but in blessing to blesse them and to fill them with bread For pure religion and vndefiled before thee O Lord our father is to visit the fatherles and widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world For he which is mercifull towards the orphane as a father and sheweth himselfe as an husband towards his mother in taking the defence of their cause vpon him he shall be as an obedient son of the highest and thou God wilt more fauour him than a mother can pitie hir son but they which despite the sighes and teares of the widowe and keepe backe their loafe that the fatherles eate not thereof and suffer them to perish for want of cloathing and apparell yea which lift vp their hands to afflict them they shall greeuouslie be punished their shoulders shall fall from their ioints and their armes
THE FIFT LAMPE of VIRGINITIE Conteining sundrie forms of christian praiers and meditations to bee vsed onlie of and for all sorts and degrees of women in their seuerall ages and callings as namelie of Virgins Wiues Women with child Midwiues Mothers Daughters Misâ—resses Maids Widowes and old women A Treatise verie needfull for this time and profitable to the Church now newlie compiled to the glorie of God comfort of al godlie women by the said T.B. Gentleman Matth. 26. verse 46. Watch and praie that ye enter not into temptation the spirit is readie but the flesh is weake Imprinted at London by H. Denham dwelling in Pater noster Rowe at the signe of the Starre being the assigne of William Seres 1582 Christian praiers and meditations to be vsed of and for all sorts and degrees of women in their seuerall ages and callings A praier for silence shamefastnes and chastitie THERE is nothing that becommeth a maid better than sobernes silence shamefastnes and chastitie both of bodie mind For these things being once lost she is no more a maid but a struÌ„pet in the sight of God howsoeuer shee disguiseth hir selfe and dissembleth with the world I therefore most humblie beseech thee O mercifull Father from whome commeth euerie good and perfect gift and without whom we are not able to doo anie thing that thou wilt so order my tongue and dispose my talke that I speake nothing but that becommeth my state age and person neither that I delight to heare anie talke that might in anie point mooue me to lewdnes or lightnes seeing that euill words corrupt good maners Giue me also such shamefastnes as may plucke me awaie from the delectation either of thinking speaking hearing seeing or dooing euill that my whole delight may be in vertue in godlines in eschewing idlenes in giuing my selfe continuallie to some godlie exercise but aboue all things in thinking and speaking of thee in reading thy blessed word and heauenlie lawe which is a lanterne to my feete and a light to my paths Moreouer suffer neither my mind to be defiled with â—uill thoughts nor my bodie to be corrupted with anie kind of vncleannes but giue me grace so to order my selfe in eschewing idlenes and wanton wicked companie that my mind being free from euill affects and my bodie cleere from all vncleannes I may be found a meete temple for the holie Ghost to inhabit And if it be thy good pleasure hereafter to call me vnto the honourable state of matrimonie that I may bring also vnto mine husband a pure and vndefiled bodie and so liue with him in thy feare vnto the praise and glorie of thy blessed name Amen A praier to be said of single women against all euill behauiour vice and vanitie and for the obtaining of modestie chastitie and all maidenlie vertues ALmightie and euerliuing GOD which art of a pure chaste vnspotted eternall essence chaste minds please thee and godlie conuersation thou likest well Wherefore I beseech thee create in mee a cleane hart O Lord and keepe mee from vncleane cogitations harlotrie whooredome and all impuritie Take from me a wanton eie and let me not gaze vpon the beautiâ— or comlie personage of anie man least I be taken in his snares but giue me grace to shun ill companie least I come to shame and reproch Turne awaie mine eies I saie good Lord from beholding a beautifull man and keepe me from immodest wanton and effeminate persons whose delight is all the daie long in chambering and wantonnes in excesse of wine vaine pleasures and all maner of wickednes and riot As for many idle words much babling filthie speech and scurillitie let them be so far from mine hart that they neuer come once into my mouth or lips Preserue me O Lord and keepe me from all the snares of Satan from all allurements intisements prouocations occasions of sin transgressing thy most holie commandements as namelie from pride nicenes sloth idlenes from pranking pricking pointing painting frisling decking of my self to appeare piked feate gorgious gaie in the eies of men from taking too much libertie to gad abroad to see and to be seene or to prance in pride arrogantlie from haunting euill companie and resorting to bankets weddings idle games heathenish sports dissolute plaies and pastimes vaine pleasures and filthie dalliance and dansings the extreame of all vices finallie from all enuie arrogancie ambition impudencie piertnes boldnes rashnes vnshamefastnes dissolute laughing excessiue feeding retchlesnes dissolutenes deliciousnes wantonnes lightnes inconstancie curiositie and from all other euill behauiour vice and vanitie good Lord for thine holie name sake deliuer me least of a member of Christ I prooue a member of the diuell by following the works of the flesh and loosing that inestimable treasure of great price mine honestie chastitie and virginitie Oh let me not I beseech thee with Dinah Dalida Salomen such like dansing damsels become equall with the vngodlie by plaieng the foolish virgin as they did and in liuing vngodlie or dishonestlie to the shame and great griefe of my friends and to mine owne infamie destruction and damnation but grant O good and gratious God that both inwardlie with a pure conscience cleane soule chaste hart and vnpolluted mind and outwardlie with an vnspotted bodie holie vessell and vndefiled members after the good example of Sara Rebecca Ruth Iudith Susanna the virgin Marie and such other godlie women I may Christianlie serue worship and glorifie thee in true faith feare and loue and in perfect chastitie shamefastnes sobernes demureâ—es modestie measure thriftinesse scarsitie diligence in house care of deuotion meeknes holines puritie and all other vertues bodilie ghostlie that when the celestiall bridegroome my Sauiour Iesus commeth I hauing my Lampe replenished with oile may with those fiue wise virgins be found readie euen at midnight to meete the bridegroome and happilie enter with him to the wedding there with thine elect virgins to taste of all the good fatnes of the pleasures of paradise And if it shall please thee hereafter to prepare me for an husband and to call mee vnto the holie state of honourable marriage assist me I beseech thee that in thy feare with honestie of bodie and good fame not of curiositie or incontinencie nor through sinister practise and priuie contracts but with chaste and holie loue with continuall praier and lawfull meanes and that with the consent and agreement of parents and friends on both sides first carefullie obteined I may euen before the flower of mine age be past if it be thy will enter thereinto and be presented of them as a pure virgin to Christ especiallie considering that thou hast therefore ordeined that state of life that the virgin which hath not the gift of single life feeling hir infirmitie and to auoid fornication might marrie and take an husband in the Lord as also that mankind in chaste wedlocke may be multiplied and that an holie Church which both in
their lewd doings haue now found shame the most pestilent wound of the Diuell amongst the vngodlie I that should haue allured others to the knowledge of the Sonne of God am now become ignorant and vnskilfull in the diuers slaights of Sathan which commonlie entrap men and women Wherefore after much alluring and sifting they promised me vnhappie woman craftie conueiances to auoid the subtiltie of Sathan but afterward the Diuell in the same night transformed into an Angell of light reasoned with me saieng When thou art alone get thee vp and go vnto them and if in case they perswade or entise thee then condiscend and harken vnto them do it and cease not neither stagger thou at the matter till they be satisfied And againe the Diuell going before to prepare the waie whetted their wits to deuise mischiefe against me seelie wretch he sowed in their minds adulterie fornication dissimulation and deceit but I oh vnhappie creature skipping out of my bed at the dawning of the day could not finish my woonted deuotion neither accomplish my vsuall praier and christian exercises but following too much mine owne fleshlie affections folded and wrapped my selfe in the snares of the Diuell I got me vnto the bed of the wicked and required of them to performe the couenants in the night which we had made the day before Oh seelie soule oh blinded hart how didst thou not remember thy promise and vow made in baptisme to forsake the diuell the world and the flesh O foolish mind how didst thou not bethinke thy selfe what would followe O witlesse braine how didst thou not vnderstand so damnable a defiance O thou sense of vnderstanding I saie where didst thou sleepe in such senseles securitie O but it was the Diuell which prouoked thee so to slumber and snort that in the end he might slaie thine vnhappie and wretched soule Alas he bound my mightie men and spoiled me of my knowledge he bound my mightie men and wounded me I answered but in a word and foorthwith became reprochfullie defamed I spake vnaduisedlie and felt spite The diuell raised an assemblie of wicked ones about me and when I consented to obeie their filthie lusts then pronounced he against me strait this iust sentence M.C. saith he hath plaid the harlot M. C. hath committed adulterie and defiled hir fathers house and hir husbands bed CAP. III. O Thou diuell what hast thou done vnto me O thou diuell how hast thou wounded me I bewailed somtime the fall of Dinah and Thamar but now haue I felt far woorse my selfe I bewailed heretofore the fall of Aholla and Ahollibah but now am I fallen much woorse my selfe I bewailed heretofore the fall of Cosbie Bersabe Rizpa Tamer and the Leuits wife but now haue I felt far woorse my selfe I haue bewailed heretofore the state of all sinners yet now am I plunged in them all For I haue beene more bold than Apam more impudent than Memphetica Potiphers wife more shameles than Lots two daughters more wicked than Baara or Salomen and more bloudie in persecuting than Iesabel Dinah and Thamer through violence offered them were defloured against their wils but I with all greedines haue most filthilie followed my fleshlie desires Iudith decked hir selfe brauelie of a right discretion and vertue for the safegard of hir people but I for voluptuousnes and pleasure of the flesh to allure the eies of all men and catch the soules of the simple in the net of sinne and snares of Satan Susanna being secretlie and forciblie assaulted sighed and thought it better to crie and shrich out that she might so fall into the hands of hir enimies and suffer death without the deed dooing than to sin in thy sight by consenting vnto their wicked wils but I both openly and priuilie haue followed too much the deuises and desires of mine owne hart and too soone consented to those that haue burnt in lust towards me It was Dinahs libertie that brought hir to hir fall but it is mine owne wanton eies mine owne rash tongue and mine owne wilful follie that hath brought me to this sinfull fall and great confusion And as she was the cause that manie of the Sichemites lost their earthlie possessions and liues euen so my lewdnes hath depriued me of the spirituall gifts which somtime haue flowed with heauenlie riches And euen as she being seuered from hir father and brethren and cleauing vnto strangers and forreners endured great annoie euen so I in satisfieng the lusts of notorious sinners haue brought my selfe captiue vnto captiues and made my selfe the bondslaue of sinne For alas my parents liue yet am I an Orphan and fatherlesse Alas my brethren and freends are liuing yet am I comfortlesse and freendles Alas my husband liueth yet am I a widowe Alas my children be aliue yet am I barren Alas euerie creature reioiceth and I alone am forsaken and sorrowfull Alas O house wherein I was gladsome Alas O familie wherein I sate full merrie Alas O holie Ghost thou spirit of puritie which heeretofore camest downe vpon me why hast thou forsaken me I am forsaken and become desolate because of the corruption and filth of mine iniquitie Bewaile me O all ye virgins that am defloured of all virginitie Bewaile me O all ye womenkind that am depriued of all chastitie and goodnes Bewaile me O ye blessed people of God which am banished from God Bewaile hir that is bereaued of the holie Ghost Bewaile me that like a foolish virgin am thrust out of the wedding chamber of my spouse Christ. Bewaile me who once was thought worthie the kingdome of God now altogither most vnworthie Bewaile me that am abhorred of the Angels and seuered from the Saints of God Bewaile me for that I am condemned to eternall punishment Bewaile me for that I am heere languishing on this miserable earth and thus now tormented with the prick of conscience I do feare death because I am wicked I doo feare the dreadfull daie of iudgement for that I am damned for euer I do feare the punishment for that it is eternall I doo feare the Angels which ouersee the punishment bicause they are void of mercie I doo feare out of measure all the torments and what I shall doo I wot not being thus on euerie side beset with miserie If there be anie man or woman which can I beseech them now assist me with their earnest praiers and with their sorrowfull teares For now it behooueth me to shed infinite teares for mine infinite sins Who knoweth whether the Lord will haue mercie vpon me whether he will pitie my fall whether he will tender my person whether he will be mooued with my desolation whether he will shew mercie vnto mee whether he will haue respect vnto mine humilitie and incline his tender compassion towards me as he hath done to Rahab Marie Magdalen the woman of Samaria and the woman taken in adulterie besides manie others CAP. IIII. BUT I will prostrate my selfe before the thresholds and
porches of the Church that I may intreat all people both small and great and I will saie thus vnto them Trample and tread me vnder foot which am the foolish salt the vnsauorie salt Treade on mee which have no taste or relish of God treade me vnder foote which am fit for nothing Trample mee vnder your feet as a Iesabell for I am a daughter of Sodom and Gomer that deserueth to obteine no mercie nor to haue anie pitie or compassion to be shewed vnto me but to be quite forgotten and put cleane out of all remembrance Now let the virgins mourne and lament for that their fellowe virgin is defiled Now let the maidens and damosels mourne for that their companion is fallen Now let the wiues widowes yong women and matrons mourne for that a fellowe sister is fallen Now let all women both old and yong maried and vnmaried bond and free mourne and lament for that an aduancement of virginitie and womanhood is shamefullie fallen and hath broken hir faith and promise made both to God and man Wo is me that I fell so lewdlie Wo is me that I fell most dangerouslie and cannot rise againe Assist me O holie spirit and giue me grace to repent Let the fountaine of teares be opened and gush out into streames to see if peraduenture I may haue the grace worthilie and throughlie to repent and to wipe out of the booke of consciences the accusation that is printed against me But thou O Lord thinke not vpon polluted lips neither weigh thou the tongue that hath vttered lewd things but accept thou repentance affliction and bitter teares the dolor of the hart the heauinesse of the soule and haue mercie vpon me and raise me vp from out of the mire of corruption for the puddle thereof hath euen choked me vp Wo is me that sometime was a pearle glistering in the golden garland of glorie but now throwne into the dust and trode in the mire of contempt Wo is me that the â—ault of God now lieth in the dunghill Wo is me that the temple of the holie Ghost is thus prophaned and made a cage of vncleane spirits Wo is me that thy holie house of praier is become a den of feeâ—ds But how great streames of lamentations shall wipe and purifie mine humble hart Now I will addresse my selfe and turne my talke vnto God Why hast thou lifted me vp and cast me downe For as thou hast exalted me with the diuine word of thine heauenlie wisedome so mee thinks I sticke in the depth of sinne which my selfe haue wrought I had not committed this impietie vnlesse thou hadst withdrawne thine hand from me but it is thy pleasure O Lord which art good to doo all things gratiouslie and I of the other side being a foolish and fraile woman haue foolishlie fallen But why O Lord hast thou shut my mouth by thy iudgements threatened in thine holie word against adulterers and sinners Haue I beene the first that herein haue sinned Or am I the first that fell Why hast thou thus forsaken me being desolate and reiected Why hast thou thus banished me from among thy Saints and astonied me to read thy iudgements and lawes What is he or she borne of a woman that sinneth not What man or woman is there now or euer was conuersant here vpon earth and did none iniquitie This I saie bicause thou hast thus forsaken me Dauid Bersaba and the woman of Samaria sinned too bad in thy sight yet after their repentance thou receiuedst them in mercie Likewise Peter a professor of truth and Marie Magdalen after their fall wiped awaie their bitter passions that they suffered with salt teares sleaing sinne and purging awaie the â—enom of the serpent not continuing long in the puddle of infidelitie but they of fauour were thought woorthie of mercie And this I speake to the end these things may take effect also in me miserable sinner CAP. V. WO is me that I fell thus wickedlie Wo is me that my aduenture in these things was so vnfortunate but now I humblie beseech thee O Lord inasmuch as I haue felt far woorse call me backe O Lord for that I tread a most perilous and ruinous waie that leadeth vnto death Grant me that good guide and teacher the holie Ghost that I be not made a pricking hedgehog and become an habitation for diuels but that I may tread vnder foote the diuell which trode me and ouercomming his sleights be restored againe to my former health puritie and saluation Remember not O Lord the iniquitie of thine humble suter who sometime haue celebrated vnto thee the fruits of virginitie Remember not O Lord the iniquitie of me seelie woman who made answere too soone with wicked language too rashlie gaue my consent to naughtinesse Now O all yee virgins and women which behold my wound tremble for feare let your loines be girt and your lamps burning and take heed that ye slumber not neither fall into the like crime but take heed watch and praie and come iointlie which haue the same measure of faith let vs assemble togither and rent our harts and prouoke streames of teares to gush out of the temples of our heads For when these run and flowe vpon the face of the earth there will followe remission of sinnes the paines will be auoided and the torments shall not be felt I mourne and am sorie from the hart roote O ye my friends that euer I fell from aloft I haue fallen and am brused there is no health in me Let all women lament ouer me bicause of this my dangerous fall let the garlands and crownes of virgins lament ouer mee for that I am seuered from among their blessed assemblies Let the whole Church of Christians lament and bewaile my wofull case for that I am so ruinous decaied wasted Let all people generallie lament ouer me for that I haue my deaths wound I see the clouds in the skie shadowing the light from me and the sunne hiding his bright beames And now ye doo all see and perceiue that my mouth is shut and that shame and confusion hath couered my face But bewaile me and lament this my bitter sorrowe bewaile me which am in like case with the reprobate bewaile me that am woorthie to be troden vnder foote as mire and dung of euerie one that goeth by the way bewaile mee that am become nothing but rottennes and wormes bewaile me that am taken awaie and made a publike example of reproch to all women and an inheritour of death and damnation and all bicause I would not vnderstand the feare of the Lord and liue after his commandements bewaile mee that am transformed into a dog a sow and filthie goate by trespassing against mine owne soule and bodie by dishonesting my friends and dishonouring my God CAP. VI. WHat shall I doo that am thus beset with manie mischiefes Alas O death why dooest thou linger I had rather thou spite me and beare me malice than
pitie me O sathan what mischiefe hast thou wrought vnto me How hast thou pierced my brest with thy poisoned dart Thinkest thou that my ruin will auaile thee anie thing at all Thinkest thou to procure vnto thy selfe ease and rest while that I am greeuouslie tormented Who is able to signifie vnto me whither my sins be wiped and done awaie or whither I haue escaped the paines which greatlie I feared and most iustlie deserued Who is able to signifie vnto me whither I shall be yet againe coupled and made companion with the virgins and saints O thou Lamb of God Christ Iesu my sweet and onlie sauiour haue mercie vpon me sinfull woman for that I am not worthie to heare the message of them that bring such glad tidings but presuming far worse prattises haue heard the terrible threats of the Euangelists Alas O the bosome of Abraham the paradise of heauen and presence of God that I am depriued of Alas that I became partaker with the rich man of his condemnation in the horrible pit and partner of his thirst in the bitter place full of sorowe and heauinesse Alas sweet Iesu alas O bountifull Iesu alas O mine onlie mediator intreat the father for me I beseech thee that I be not cut off froÌ„ the coasts of â—ion nor debarred of y â— bosome of my father Abraham the which I haue so greatlie longed after yet not worthilie bicause of my great sinne For behold O Lord I fall down before thy mercie seate Haue mercie vpon me which mourne thus out of measure which haue horribly offended against heauen against thy maiestie against my friends against the Church and congregationâ— against mine owne soule Haue mercie vpon me the sinfullest woman aliue which haue sinned too bad in thy sight Haue mercie vpon mee the wretch of wretches which haue shed my salt and bitter teares whose miserable case euerie creature hath lamented Oh Lord why hast thou broken down my hedge stroÌ„g holds and taken away thy grace and holie spirit from me so that the wild Bore out of the wood Sathan hath destroied me and the wild beast of the field hath eaten me vp Rid me O Lord from the roaring Lion The whole Church and assemblie of saincts doth make intercession vnto thee for me which am an vnprofitable seruant and vnworthie member thereof The holie and vnspotted Lamb Christ Iesus thy deere and onlie beloued sonne doth continuallie and incessantlie intreat thee for me which haue greeuouslie offended both him and thee O blessed Trinitie that thou wilt shew mercie vnto the wandering sheepe which is subiect to the renting teeth of the rauenous woolfe Saue me O Lord out of his mouth Suffer me not to become the sacrifice of sinne but let downe vpon me thy holie spirit that with his firie countenance he may put to flight the crooked feend of the Diuell that I may be brought home againe vnto thy wisedome that the bill of sinne written against mee beâ—blotted out and cancelled that the sowe may be washed from hir filthines the dog eate of the crumbs that fall from hir maisters table and a sinner worsse than Marie Magdalen yea chiefe of all sinners be saued O let my lamentation cease in the euening and cause mee to receiue ioie in the morning Let my sackcloth of sorrowe be rent asunder gird me with ioie and gladnesse let me be receiued once againe I beseech thee into the ioie fauour of my God and father let me be yet thought worthie of his kingdome through the earnest petition and praiers of the whole Church of Saincts which soroweth ouer mee and humbleth hir selfe continuallie vnto thee yea rather through the onlie mediation and vehement intercession of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with thee O Father and the holie Ghost be all honor glorie and dominion for euer and euer Amen Amen Another lamentation of a woman that hath lost hir virginitie and chastitie or of a Christian soule polluted with sinne O My soule wash away thy sinnes purge thee of thine iniquitie and make the rest of thy life agreeable to the word of truth O thou vnhappie soule yea thrise vnhappie woman behold I say whole mountaines couered with thy sinnes and great vallies ouerlaid with thine iniquities O my soule once purged with the pilles of grace endowed with the gifts of the holie Ghost and espoused as the most pure virgin to the faithfull louer our sauiour But out alas what haue I done or whome haue I thought of My sauiour was once my louing spouse bicause of my chastitie but now alas he is become a seueare iudge to punish mine iniquitie O vnhappie remembrance of so great a losse Why doest thou so aggrauate my greefe Or why doth both good and euill thus torment me Alas alas is it not inough for mine euill conscience iustlie to prick me and the punishments due therefore to torment mee but must the remembrance of a good conscience also and the deserts due to the same condemne me Fie vpon thee wretch that thou art to lose so rich a treasure which thou canst neuer recouer O comfortlesse creature why wert thou so vnhappie to lose that which hath made thee to be pointed at of the righteous and to be laughed at of the vngodlie O lampe of virginitie how art thou quenched Once I was a spouse but now an abiect late a souereigâ—e but now a slaue Why hast thou thus preuented me And in what a filthie puddle of iniquitie hast thou plunged me O fornication the defiler of my mind and the destroier of my soule why hast thou bewitched my mind and enchanted my soule Why hast thou cast me headlong from the throne of my sauiour and placed me amongst the condemned soules of sinners O griefe of griefes why doest thou thus sting Bicause I haue lost such a iewell O sorrowe of sorrowes why doest thou thus wound mee Because I haue lost such a treasure Behold behold alas what monsters haunt me On the right hand stands greefe to torment me and on the left sits sorrowe to condemne me but yet I confesse it is worthilie for thou O my soule hast bene a traitor to God periured to Christ and an adulteresse to thy sauiour and therefore deseruedlie thou art fallen from the tabernacle of truth to the dungeon of the diuell O thou abiect of God and slaue to Sathan nay rather the disdainer of the Deitie and embracer of iniquitie for thou O my soule lieutenant vnto sinne first refusedst the seruice of thy sauiour and of thine owne accord enthralledst thy selfe to the Diuell O miserable yea more than miserable change Alas what a pallace hast thou forsaken and what a prison hast thou chosen Alas what a sauiour hast thou sold and what a slaue doest thou serue Oh madnesse of mind oh foolishnesse of hart what hast thou done What I say hast thou done Hast thou forsaken thy sweet spouse and sauiour and embraced that rauening woolfe the Diuell Hast thou lost
thy louing bridegroome to followe the filthie fleshlie pleasures of the world O sinfull soule how wretched is thy state O wicked wretch how sinfull is thy fall Oh my God whence proceede these irkesome stings of sinne Or who can make satisfaction for such heapes of iniquities O thou miserable wretch my sinfull soule why dooest thou not cast thy selfe headlong into the dungeon of griefe which of thine owne accord didst throwe thy selfe into the filthie sinks of sinne O thou polluted creature why dooest thou not burie thy selfe in the bowels of sorowe which so willinglie wallowedst in the kennell of shame O thou sinfull helhound why dooest thou not drowne thy selfe with the waues of weeping which hast so often swoome in the seas of fornication O sting of sinne O rod of sorrowe O daughter of heauines torment me scourge me plague mee crucifie mee and trample and tread me as a filthie rag vnder your feet I haue deserued it yea I haue sought it for I haue most impudentlie contemned yea and most arrogantlie prouoked you nay rather God not you and therefore now shew your authoritie in executing the giltie to death that ye may be reuenged for your God Let the sinfull fornicatrix feele the punishments she hath deserued and drinke deepe of the cup of shame she hath desired O thou my sinfull soule it is now high time for thee to shew the fruits of repentance which hast so long straid from the fold of the godlie virgins and erred from the paths of the righteous women Bath thy selfe I saie in the sweet streames of repentance which so often hast wallowed in the filthie puddles of vnrighteousnes O God of all consolation and securitie I durst not sue for anie fauour at thine hands vnlesse I had brought in my bosome a pardon for my sinnes procured by repentance in the death of Christ which heere with teares I present vnto thee desiring thee good God of consolation if again with the dog I returne to my vomit and wallowe in my sinnes as the sow in the mire then to driue me from the countrie of the godlie and to banish me like a vagabond from the court of my sauiour and spouse yea I desire of God it may be so and I hope in Christ it shall be so And although I am not woorthie to lift vp mine eies to heauen to call to my God for grace by reason of the multitude of my misdeeds which alwaies are as red as scarlet in my sight yet am I not vnworthie with continuall weeping and crieng for grace to loose them For seeing my soule is constrained through greef of conscience to powre forth praiers to my God for his mercie and grace it is meete it should be done with great contrition of heart and continuall mourning Consider therefore O my soule what thou hast done and what plagues thou hast deserued for losing thy virginitie Ponder I say lament and remember O my soule before thou end the short pilgrimage of this life how thine aduersarie the Diuell like a roring lion lies lurking in euerie corner to deuoure thee and sends out his messengers into all places to entrap thee O my God what doo I see on earth but engins to entrap me What I say can I behold but baites to entise mee Alas and out alas what doo I heare A cōfession of mourners a crashing of teeth and a great multitude of howlers Wo is me alas For me thinks I see great flames of fire huge balles of wild fire and fornaces full of boiling leade and all approching neere vnto me Alas what meanes these strange cries of monstrous woormes What diuelish spite doth thus inflame them and what firie flame doth so torment them O yee hellish hagges frieng with heate and frowning with furie why are yee so cruell to those that lie howling amongst you Is there no meane no remedie nor no end of this your punishments and are these O my God the torments which are prepared for filthie fornicators and contemners of thy commandements of which I am one yea the cheef of all sinners And must I needs abide these infernall plagues Then O my soule why art thou not afraid And thou my hart why dooest thou not rent in sunder Alas alas how suddenlie yea and how greeuouslie the serieants of sinne now seeme to arrest me Alas I saie what wicked actions mine aduersarie sinne hath found against mee But oh cruell sinne whether wilt thou carrie me And thou my God whither wilt thou leade me If I haue committed this horrible crime which deserueth death O yet remember I praie thee that thou art my Sauiour If I haue broken the bands of chastitie O yet call to mind that thou art my redeemer O my God if I haue done any thing that deserueth death and damnation yet forget not how that thou sheddest thy pretious bloud to saue me And therefore O my mercifull God be not so seuere in marking what is done amisse of me but let thy mercie preuaile and couer all my secret and open faults Remember thou saiedst by the mouth of the Prophet I will not the death of a sinner but that he should conuert and liue My God which canst not lie what meanest thou to say that thou wouldest not the death of a sinner if thou throwe him into the bottomlesse pit of hell Dooest thou meane that thou carest not for the death of a sinner when thou committest him to the slauerie of the diuell Is this thy meaning I say when thou saiedst I had rather he should turne and liue I am a sinner O my God if therefore thou haue no delight in the death of a sinner then who shall let thee to take compassion vpon mee sillie woman If thou hadst rather he should turne and liue then who shall withhold thy countenance from me sinfull wretch If the hugenesse of my sinnes deserues a wound the care of so gratious a father prepares a salue God forbid that the wickednesse of a sinner repenting hir of hir sinne from the bottome of hir heart should surmount the mercies of so bounteous a Sauiour O therefore remember me most louing father I beseech thee because thou art my redeemer and take compassion vpon thine vnwoorthie handmaid because thou art my sauiour Respect not O my God the iustice due to so greeuous a sinner but remember thy louing kindnesse towards thy creature Remember not O Lord the offences of a sore transgressor but call to mind the mercies of a louing sauiour I confesse O Lord that my sinnes both old and new deserues eternall condemnation and that no repentance is able to make satisfaction for the least of my faults and yet by faith I am assured of my saluation bicause thy mercies surpasse thy iudgements Spare me therefore O Lord for my soule appealeth from the seate of thy iustice to the throne of thy mercie O deliuer me because thou art almightie Oh saue me sinfull woman because thou art mercifull and take compassion vpon
me wretched woman for thy beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie Ghost one God euer world without end Amen God the Father of all comfort and consolation blesse keepe and defend me from all the illusions and suggestions of sathan now and euermore also giue me grace to walke in thy feare Amen Reade more of this in the Quéenes meditation page 10. and 16. 17. c. in the second Lampe A praier of Marie Magdalens repentance O Good Iesu the onlie hope of the penitent person which opening the bowels of thy compassion and to declare and shew a token of thy great loue didst gratiouslie giue absolution and pardon of all hir sinnes to Marie Magdalen that greeuous sinner and sinfull woman at what time she touched with great remorse and sorrowe stood weeping before thee and powring foorth abundance of teares washed thy feete and kissing them wiped them with the heare of hir head in token of hir hartie repentance and sorrowe for hir forepassed sinfull life spent in adulterie and vncleannesse O despise not me also I beseech thee most mercifull Iesu which am a more sinfull woman and now likewise most humblie with great remorse of conscience and sorrowe for my sinfull life past doo prostrate my selfe before the feete of thy mercie washing them with the inward teares of contrition and kissing them with the lips of deuout earnest praier And vouchsafe O sweet Christ to make me meete to heare thy voice so full of loue and compassion so full of elemencie sweetnesse and mercie which the same Marie Magdalen was made woorthie to heare that as hirs so also my manifold sinnes and offences committed against thee and thy whole Church and mine owne bodie and soule may quite be forgiuen and washed awaie by thine onlie grace and merits O blessed Sauiour Iesu Amen Another praier of the woman taken in adulterie O Most tender harted Iesu which so gentlie deliueredst the woman taken in adulterie and so mercifullie sentedst hir awaie in peace and vncondemned of thee from hir accusers Behold my adulterous soule standeth heere before thee which so often hath forsaken thee hir true and faithfull spouse as she hath consented to the vile suggestions of the adoulterous and corrupt enimie Alas my conscience accuseth me yea and all my lewd works and wicked actions doo all bewraie and condemne mee But O Lord enter not thou into iudgement with them I praie thee neither doo thou remember mine old or new offences to plague them as they deserue but deliuer me also a most sinfull wretch and a woman corrupted and abused in adulterie Deliuer me I saie a woman altogither giltie of horrible iniquities from mine accusers and being fullie persuaded in my conscience that I am freelie forgiuen of thee and from this and all other my crimes and offences absolued pardoned and quitted before the tribunall seate of thy iudgement let me now depart in peace and vncondemned For it is thy propertie alwaies to haue mercie and to spare sinners that repent and turne vnto thee as I doo heare at this present vnfeignedlie yea there is no end of thy mercies and compassions to such as forsaking their old sinnes doo vnfeignedlie seeke and cleaue vnto thee to whome therefore with the Father and the holie Ghost be blessing praise power and dominion now and for euer Amen Of this matter reade more in the latter end of the sixt Lampe and in diuers places of the seuenth Lampe A praier to be said of anie damsell daughter or maiden child O Most mercifull God and heauenlie Father which hast commanded mee to honor my parents by whome I was borne and doo liue for such obedience doth please thee for thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christes sake and thou hast promised to reward the same with long life manifold benefits and heauenlie blessings I humblie beseech thee O Lord giue to my parents and all other that I am bound vnto in this world a long life and protect them from all miseries hurt and danger Also grant mee grace to obey them and all others which haue authoritie ouer me in deed and in word and in all patience that I may haue thy benediction and blessing Let mee helpe my parents in their age and neuer greeue them as long as they liue and if their vnderstanding faile let me beare with them and neuer in my lustie youth despise them Imprint in my mind the paines which my mother hath endured for my sake not onlie before I came out of hir wombe but also till I was of anie discretion for which cause be it far from me that I at anie time make hir sad or out of quiet through anie my lewd behauiour and disobedience Furthermore O mercifull God and heauenlie Father I beseech thee forgiue me the sinnes of my tender age and youth whereby I haue and do still offend both thee and my louing parents Pardon them I saie O Lord for thy mercie sake Remember not my rebellions make me both to knowe my follie and to be hartilie sorie for mine offences Place before mine eies continuallie the example of our sauiour Christ which in his childhood was obedient vnto his parents thereby both teaching and shewing to all children what their dutie is Keepe me O Lord from the wicked companie of vngodlie men and when they shall entise me let me not walke in the way with them Refraine my feete from their paths least I come into the dangerous and suspicious iudgements of other folke and hazard therby mine honestie chastitie and good name and vertue to the perill and hurt both of my selfe and my parents Increase O Lord not my yeares onelie but also my wisedome chastitie shamefastnesse sobernesse temperance and all kind of vertue and obedience requisite in a godlie child that I may growe in fauour both with thee and all good men and women through thy beloued Sonne our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ Amen Another verie necessarie praier to be said of anie daughter or maiden child FOrasmuch as in thy holie word O almightie God and heauenlie Father it is said that a wise daughter is an heritage vnto hir husband but she that liueth dishonestlie bringeth hir father to heauinesse againe A daughter that is bold or past shame dishonoureth both hir father and hir husband and the vngodlie shall regard hir because she is not inferiour vnto them but both hir father and hir husband shall despise hir because of hir foolishnesse I beseech thee therefore take from mee a stout stomach an incorrigible hart an impudent mind an vnshamefast eie and a bold countenance with all other vices and marks of a reprobate and disobedient child and in stead thereof giue vnto mee a gentle spirit a meeke hart an humble mind a demure looke a sober countenance an affable and seruiceable bodie with all other good graces and comelie conditions of a chast virgin and godlie child towards hir parents Oh suffer me not to be of the number
of those shamelesse children that sticke not to reuile and cursse their father and mother to their face nor of those stubborne and wicked daughters which as the Prophet complaineth doo rise vp and rebell against their owne mothers setting their commandements at naught vtterlie refusing to be corrected by them for their amendment Yea far be it from me O Lord with Lots two daughters to make my father dronke to vncouer his shame neither with curssed Cham let me not reioice or laugh at the dishonour of my parents especiallie sith I knowe that my honor commeth by them and that their reproch is in deed my dishonour And though my parents forsake me and count me as a stranger yet giue me grace neuer to forsake them vtterlie nor to saie of them as Leah and Rahel said of Laban their father We haue no more portion or inheritance in our fathers house but rather make me through the gift of thy grace obedient and verie willing to suffer for thy sake my parents to worke thine and their willes in me yea though it be to my losse if thou thinkest it so good without anie resistance striuing grudging or deniall euen as Isaac did to his father Abraham Iepthaes onelie daughter did vnto him Lots two daughters vnto their father and the seauen children of the woman in the Machabees vnto their mother c. that with these vertuous and godlie children I may be blessed and haue mine obedience crowned and rewarded Moreouer because thou O Lord in the old law hast straightlie commanded that the daughter which looseth hir virginitie and plaieth the harlot in hir fathers house should be stoned to death yea though afterward she be married to an husband which beastlie vice of filthie whoredome fornication and vnchastitie how greatlie thy sacred maiestie doth abhor and detest by this lawe besides other examples of thy iudgements mentioned in the scriptures it may and doth easilie appeare Assist me therefore I humblie praie thee that by watching and praier temperance holie exercises moderation and abstinence from superfluous meates and drinks and ouermuch fiâ—e fare which makes the mind waxe wanton and ouerlustie I may so tame this my bodie crucifie my flesh and bring it into subiection to the spirit with all the affections and desires thereof that I may neuer with Thamar pollute my fathers house nor sin against thy maiestie my friends and mine owne soule and bodie by ouerpassing the prescribed limits and bounds of honestie and chastitie Giue me grace that I follow not the concupiscence of the flesh neither prouoke my senses by vnbrideled libertie with Dinah to abuse my selfe and trespasse against my parents and friends to their harts griefe against my selfe to mine owne publike shame and reioicing of mine enimies and against thee and my country to other euill example and ouerthrowe Sanctifie me I saie O holie father that I defile not my selfe with carnall vices riotousnesse bellie-cheere nor vnlawfull pleasures Suffer me not to cast off thine holie spirit thereby to make my bodie the house of filthie feends which carrie awaie and cast headlong all intemperat vnchast and secure or retchlesse persons into euerlasting destruction but driue far from my hart all euill thoughts from my mind all wicked concupiscence and from mine eies all vnchast lookes yea be thou euer so mercifull vnto me O Lord as to helpe me continuallie with thy diuine power that the holie spirit which thou didst powre into me at my baptisme may beare the rule in all my members and so preuaile ouer the flesh and all the mordinate affections of the same that being renewed dailie after thy holie spirit I may the better walke in the spirit and serue thee in righteousnesse obedience and true holinesse all the daies of my life to the honor of thy sonne which is the most excellent floure and crowne of all pure virginitie Finallie if heereafter it shall please thee not to continue in me the gift of virginitie or single life or that my father or friends thinking it vncomelie for me to passe the floure of mine age to auoid all other further inconueniences shall iudge it needfull for them respecting mine infirmitie to marrie me and so to performe that weightie matter and ease themselues of so great a charge care and burthen by dooing their dutie betimes and not neglecting their authoritie and office as Iudah did towards his daughter in lawe Thamar to the perill and hazard of both their good names and honestie then grant I beseech thee O deere father that I for my part not so much as desiring mariage much lesse to shew my selfe to long therefore by anie meanes may be content to leaue all the care and charge of that businesse wholie vnto my parents or friends who no doubt loue me no lesse than I loue my selfe And let me be fullie persuaded that they will prouide no lesse diligentlie for me than they would for themselues but much better that all whisperings close communication sinister practises and priuie contracts being of me vtterlie eschued as a thing most vngodlie and in deede far vnbeseeming anie Christian child yea as things abhorred euen among the Infidels I may after the good examples of Rebecca Leah Sarah and such like holie virgins obedient daughters most willinglie allow and approue the authoritie power and pruiledge of my parents and friends ouer me heerein and resigning all my will to their wils be verie well content to be ruled by them in all things they shall doo in thee as becommeth a well nurtured and obedient child labouring also by all earnest and feruent praier to further the matter that I may bring a chaste mind in a chaste bodie vnto a vertuous husband to thy glorie And grant that my parents and freends also for their parts as thou hast commanded Deuter. 7 3. may carefullie endeuour by all possible and studious diligence to prouide for me their daughter a man of vnderstanding wisedome pietie and honestie euen such an husband Lord as is no Idolater or irreligious woorshipper of God no Atheist Infidell or vngodlie man nor one that shall let or hinder me from vertuous liuing but such a one as is both wise godlie vertuous holie and religious one that serueth thee O God sincerelie and liueth in thy feare christianlie and will gladlie prouoke exhort and helpe me to liue accordinglie Finallie grant I beseech thee that my parents or freends without anie respect of their owne gaine or commoditie may seeke me an honest husband and marie me in thee O Lord neither let them with couetous Laban sell me to their seruants in recompense of their seruice as Leah and Rebecca were nor yet with that hypocrite Saule giue me vnder pretence of fauour to snare and betraie the innocent as Michal and Merab were giuen to Dauid But considering that the knot of marriage cannot be lightlie loosed or dissolued sauing onlie by death let them with great studie and deliberation with good aduisement and counsell
and make choice or ordinarie election and that thy counsell standeth not in anie mans power neither can anie man alter or diminish thy purpose Wherfore I most humblie beseech thee most mercifull father that if this coniunction of our minds and loue be thy worke and counsell that thou vouchsafe for the glorie of thy name to giue vs some token and true certificate thereof by the increasing and stedfastlie stablishing our godly loue in thee that thou wilt performe the same in vs in thy good time to thy glorie and our comfort that we may the more perfectlie loue and rightlie serue thee But if it be a false persuasion or temptation of the enimie to deceiue vs and to drawe vs from thee then good Lord for thy deere sonne Christes sake I beseech thee so to alter our loue and change our minds so order and guide vs that we may soone be certified thereof that thereby we may flie all occasions of euill and the more zealouslie cleaue vnto thee and in our trieâ—g to stand stedfast in patience so that neither selfe-will nor the lusts of our corruptions doo deceiue vs and if it be for chastening which I confesse we haue not onlie deserued but sore and greeuous punishment for our manifold and greeuous sinnes yet for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake oh deere God which hast said that thou delightest not in our destruction I most humblie beseech thee that we may by thy mercie come againe into thy fatherlie fauour and after our great sorrowe and heauines we may obteine perpetuall ioie and consolation and be receiued into the fellowship of thy faithfull fruitfull seruants and Saincts Grant this deere father for thy beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake our onlie peace and mediatour So be it Another praier to be vsed of anie woman before the solemnisation of hir marriage I Beseech thee O father which art neither made nor begotten marrie me now and for euer vnto thy sonne marrie mee vnto him in righteousnesse and iudgement in godlinesse in mercie and in compassion marrie me I saie vnto him in faith that I may trulie knowe thee my Lord and God which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he repent and liue O thou onlie begotten sonne of God ioine me now I beseech thee vnto thy bodie that ingraffed in thee I â—ay drawe from thee the iuice of life and of heauenlie wisedome Defend me O holie Ghost and thine whole Church against the rage of Sathan the world the flesh and the diuell and let all things that I doo please thee for thou O glorious Trinitie art my husband which louest me my God whom I worship and the head whervnto I am subiect To thee be glorie and praise both of men and Angels now and for euer Amen Another praier to be vsed of the man or woman a little before they be married O Eternall Father of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord and sauiour Christ which art the maker and king of all creatures we thanke thee from the bottome of our harts for that thou hast not cast mankind fallen from thy grace through sin into euerlasting destruction as thou didst the diuell but of thine vnspeakable goodnesse and secret counsell thou broughtest foorth thy sonne Iesus and madest him an husband that hauing taken our flesh vpon him he might marrie the faithfull vnto himselfe Immortall praise and glorie to thee for reuealing this thy couenant to mankind from time to time by teachers and for calling vs to his heauenlie marriage by thy ministers we beseech thee by and for the same thy sonne so to change and confirme our hearts by thy spirit that adorned with the wedding garments of righteousnesse faith holie loue chaste minds and good conscience and without all hypocrisie dissimulation and without the sinne against our owne conscience wee may approch to this honourable estate of matrimonie and be found in the number of thine elect Let vs now trulie be espoused in faith and vertue to thine heauenlie spouse and be ingraffed in his flesh Let vs be two in one flesh and so cleaue to him that we may be one spirit and so drawe the heauenlie motion of faith comfort ioie and eternall life from him that alwaies we may be though two bodies yet but one soule Finallie our troublesome race beeing finished bring vs with thine elect vnto thy visible companie that for euermore we may remaine in the spouse of the vniuersall Church in eternall companie and comfort Amen Another meditation and praier declaring how Christ adorneth the nuptiall feast with his bodilie presence O Eternall true and almightie God which at the first creation of the world after thou hadst made man an image of thy wisedome and goodnesse bearing such shape as thine eternall sonne at a time determined did take vpon him and afterward of thy secret counsell through thy word didst vtter these words It is not good for man to be alone Thy will it was that from a few euen two the whole multitude of mankind should proceed and a sacred Church honouring thy name religiouslie and sincerelie deliuering vnto posteritie to come the true knowledge of thy word should proceed Thy will it is that both our weake nature may liue purelie in the lawfull state of marriage and thy Church multiplied more and more through the generation of the godlie O gratious God which art pure from all spot of impuritie and wouldest that the cleere vnderstanding of holinesse should shine in vs that approching vnto thee in praier we might discerne thy goodnesse from the nature of incestuous and polluted gods By thy chaste and holie spirit we humblie beseech thee purge our harts that in an holie and chaste conuersation we may be coupled togither to serue thee vtterlie renouncing thine enimie the diuell which is the author of incestuous lawes contrarie to thy commandements forbidding men to marrie for none other end but that both the one by licentiousnesse of life might be forgotten and flocks of wicked men through their lewd conuersation be withdrawne from thee to eternall miserie Be it far from vs O God that so much as in thought we should either so dishonour thy sacred maiestie or hurt our selues And we beseech thee strengtheÌ„ vs weak ones with thy diuine power that we neuer be drawne from thee our God through sinfull desires of the flesh which hinder our praiers the onelie comfort of the Saincts distressed in this miserable life neither forgo the sweetnes and ioie of a godlie conscience through hardnesse of hart and horrible blindnesse wherewith lewd liuers are commonlie punished nor when the course of this mortall life shall be cut off we feele not those torments appointed for the wicked according to that terrible threat Euerie soule which shall commit these abhominations shall perish from among the people And thou O sonne of God which hast ordeined the loue of married folks to be a mysterie of a woonderfull and heauenlie thing instill into our minds and breasts
the wicked world and the vnlawfull lusts of fraile flesh and so consequentlie the horrible iudgements of eternall damnation if so be that we now inseparablie liue togither according to thy holie ordinance and our promise made each to other before thee and all the Angels but also by this our happie coniunction we presentlie enioie and feele to our great comfort the ioifull iewell of a quiet conscience free from all euill delights in filthinesse of sin and occasions of offence we therefore thy humble seruants heere prostrate on our knees according to our bounden dutie with pure and thankefull minds acknowledging this great benefit to be in deed thy singular gift doo meekelie render vnto thy diuine maiestie most humble and hartie thanks euermore praising thee therefore and saieng Blessed art thou O our God and heauenlie father which art the author of our marriage and of this our coupling togither and blessed be thy most holie and glorious name for euermore yea let heauen and earth the sea and all the creatures therein praise blesse extoll woorship and magnifie thy sacred maiestie both now and hencefoorth for euermore Amen And now O mercifull father considering with our selues what need we haue to be very circumspect carefull and watching to doo our duties seeing how woonderfullie subtillie and despitefullie the diuell in these most perillous daies deludeth scorneth forbiddeth and enuieth this holie state and how few matrimonies there be without chidings brallings tantings repentings bitter curssings fightings and diuorcings which things vndoubtedlie the more is the pitie are commonlie almost euerie where committed among all estates through the instigation of the ghostlie enimie Sathan and his impes who take great delight therein forsomuch also as we are not ignorant how busie that old aduersarie of mankind is to banish the sweet loue inuiolable constancie and pleasant concord which to our continuall comfort should alwaies be betwixt vs and how in stead thereof he busilie laboureth and bendeth his principall craft to bring in horrible hatred dreadfull dissention vnpleasant strife irkesome lothsomnesse and bitter discord euermore as it were from aboue hoâ—ering in the aire assaulting our nature and condition and neuer ceasing to laie craftie traines to catch vs and still assaieng to attempt all things that may interrupt and hinder ouâ— harts desire and godlie purposes if we giue him neuer so little entrie intending by this meanes either by voluntarie separation or compulsorie diuorcement vtterlie to breake and dissolue this godly knot so fast knit by thee to most godlie vses either else at the least continuallie to encomber it with diuers displeasures great greefes and manifold miseries to our alas no little anoie and perill both of bodie and soule to others offence by euill example and most of all to thy high displeasure and great dishonour and slander of the Gospell which we O deere God professe We therefore thy humble seruants being verie desirous to auoid all these miseries and snares of Sathan our ancient enimie and to liue peaceablie holilie and comfortablie togither in this holie state of wedlocke as becommeth vs in the feare of God first confessing our owne infirmitie weakenes and vnablenes in anie thing to resist or withstand as we ought so vehement mightie and strong assaults inuasions and temptations of the diuell and secondlie knowing no other waie or meanes how to preuent the spitefull malice of so deadlie a foe but onlie in flieng by earnest and continuall praier vnto the throne of thy promised helpe and mercie euen through the hope we haue christianlie conceiued in the promise of so readie releefe and happie helpe made by thee to all that call vnfeignedlie vpon thee in the name of Iesus Christ thine onelie sonne our sauiour We I saie thy poore seruants in this faith presume and are bold to present our selues now before the sacred seate of thy most high maiestie most humblie crauing and hartilie begging of thee that for the same thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake thou wilt vouchsafe in mercie fauourablie to behold and visit vs and by thine omnipotent power and puissant might so represse bridle and restraine thou the violent force and piercing power of our ghostlie enimie and mortall fo which thus continuallie seeketh to deuour vs and most maliciouslie endeuoureth and spitefullie practiseth by all possible meanes to banish our loues to exile our ioies to abandon our comforts yea especiallie to dissolue our vnitie to cancell our bonds and breake our concord that this our marriage thy gratious aid and readie assistance alwaie furthering the same and prospering it may happilie be free from all the wicked suggestions cruell assaults and vngodlie temptations of our deadlie aduersarie and also deliuered from all those euils mischiefes miseries inconueniences troubles and calamities which Sathan so busilie laboureth to infect fester and intangle this our holie state withall Giue vnto vs I saie O good Lord the holie helpe of thy grace and Angelicall aid of thy diuine spirit so to rule and gouerne our hearts and to knit and conioine our minds and willes togither in perfect loue vnitie and concord that we be at no time by anie diuision or bitter discord disseuered or diuorced one from another but may continuallie be vigilant and carefull both by dailie inuocating vpon thy holie name and also by all possible diligence and earnest indeuours on both parts to striue and fight valiantlie against all the temptations of Sathan and other the enormities euils mischances and miseries whatsoeuer may happen vnto vs by his pernicious instigations wicked motions and most perillous suggestions Grant O deere God that as we are now of necessitie compelled by thy holie ordinance to liue inseparablie togither being conioined by thy word in mutuall loue and felowship as one bodie one flesh so we standing in awe of thee and setting thy holie feare euer before our eies may through the working of thy grace liue togither holilie godlie chastlie purelie peaceablie quietlie louinglie agreeablie and comfortablie in all happie felicitie perfect ioie sweet amitie perpetuall charitie and continuall concord all our liues long and that good Lord we praie thee without anie hate debate chiding bralling tanting threatning disliking repeâ—ting vpbraiding irkesomnesse lothsomnesse abhorring detesting diuorcing finallie without anie deadlie dissention bitter curssing and vnnaturall fightings or other vnchristian and vncharitable behauiour because in deed it is one of the three things that so greatlie pleaseth thee a man and his wife to agree louinglie togither O Lord let not the wicked vices of stiffe stubbornenesse wilfull will froward fiercenesse comberous testinesse mallipert checkings sharpe words and selfe-loue be found to reigne in either of vs neither suffer vs we praie thee at anie time to giue place vnto the prouocation of wrath and hot hastie furies of the mind least thereby we begin vnhappilie to weaâ—e to our selues the web of all wo sorowe and calamitie as manie now adaies doo by promoting the wicked purpose of the diuell or by setting forward
matrimonie that by the same both the weake nature of mankind might liue purelie in lawfull wedlocke and an holie Church be gathered vnto thy selfe giue thy blessing to vs and all which are married that we and they may haue godlie children and their wiues prooue like the fruitefull vine and their children appeare like the oliue branches round about their table and may see their childrens children the peace and safetie of thy Church the which Christ thy sonne repairer of mankind by taking our flesh vpon him hath coopled to himselfe which liueth and reigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie spirit a God blessed and praised for euermore Amen A praier to be said of a yong married woman or a VVife O Lord forasmuch as thou of thy fatherlie goodnes hast vouchsafed to keepe me from my tender age vntill this present and hast now called me from my single life vnto the holie state of honorable wedlocke that I liuing therein might according to thine ordinance bring foorth children vnto thy glorie giue me grace I most entirelie beseech thee to walke worthie of my vocation to knowledge my husâ—and to be my head to be subiect vnto him to learne thy blessed word of him to reuerence him to obeie him to please him to be ruled by him peaceablie and quietlie to liue with him to weare such apparell as is meet for my degree and by no meanes to delight in costlie iewels and proud gallant vestures but alwaie to vse such cloathing as becommeth a sober chast and christian woman circumspectlie and warelie â—o looke to my houshold that nothing perish through my negligence and alwaies haue a diligent eie that no dishonestie no wickednesse no vngodlinesse be committed in my house but that in it all things be ordered according to thy holie will which art woorthie all honour glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen Another MErcifull and gratious God forasmuch as through thy grace I am placed in the state of matrimonie and called to the charge of a familie wherein doing my dutie I may please thee giue grace to me thy handmaid that I may haue â—hy feare alwaies before mine eies and loue thee my maker and redeemer aboue all things in this world Next imprint within my brest an intire affection of good will towards mine husband Let mee honour him cherish him and loue him aboue all men and onlie as my part is and I haue promised Grant that my will according to thy commandement may be in subiection to mine husband and obeie him in all equitie and that the hid man of mine hart be vncorrupt with a meeke and quiet spirit adorned with all kind of vertue for after this manner in time passed the hoâ—ie women which trusted in thee attired themselues and were subiect to their husbands Reforme the manners of thine handmaid and make me in my conuersation modest and honest make me in visage shamefast in words temperate in wit wise in going sober in conuersation meeke in correction pitifull in life circumspect in companie-keeping warie in promise stedfast in loue constant take from me all crabbednesse curstnesse stubbornesse and shrewdnesse and let mee haue an especiall care by vertue and friendlie words to mitigate the anger of mine husband if at anie time he be displeased and let me absteine from all such things as I knowe will offend him Furthermore giue me grace to bring vp my familie and children which thou hast or shalt giue me in all honestie and vertue to the honor of thy most holie name and my comfort Assist me in like sort that diligentlie I may saue not wastfullie or negligentlie consume those things which of thy mercie thou hast and dooest giue to the maintenance of mine houshold but grant that I may doo my dutie to the vttermost of my power whereby I may haue to giue to the poore and to releeue the needie Blesse vs O Lord from vnthriâ—tie seruants which will waste and wickedlie consume that which painefullie we haue gathered Also make me patientlie to suffer the troubles and affliâ—tions of married life and to continue in my dutie albeit manifold miseries doo arise persuading my selfe that by affliction my faith is tried O Lord vnto thy protection doo I commend my selfe my louing husband with all ours Uouchsafe O gratious God to keepe vs all from sinne shame and destruction through Christ our Lord Amen Another praier to be vsed of anie Noble woman c. when she is married or afterward O Most mercifull Lord and sauiour Iesu Christ which to expresse thy most burning affection towards thy best beloued spouse the Church hast offered thy selfe vpon the altar of the crosse to sanctifie and cleanse hir by the washing of water thorough the word and to make hir glorious for thy selfe without spot or wrinkle or anie such thing and also coopled thy selfe to hir by suffering vpon thine owne flesh the punishment which was due vnto hir Ioine me I beseech thee vnto thy bodie that ingraffed in thee I may drawe from thee the iuice of life and of heauenlie wisedome Marrie me for euer O sweet Christ vnto thy selfe in righteousnes and iudgement in godlines mercie and faith that I may trulie knowe thee my Lord and my God which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he or she repent and liue Giue me grace also that I neuer delight in mine owne beautie or fairenesse and so plaie the harlot by following mine old lewd louers which promise me bread and water wooll flaxe oile wine and drinke to entise me to follie but make me with a chaste bodie and pure affection to serue thee in chast matrimonie and to loue my husband vnfeignedlie from my hart without dissimulation so that he may safelie trust in me as in his true turtle and sweet and deere companion and I may render vnto him good for good not euill for euill Giue me grace so to keepe my selfe in great feare of thee that being well occupied in my businesse temperate in my words faithfull to my husband well ordered in my person peaceable with my neighbour honest among mine owne familie and shamefast among strangers I may thereby conserue the reputation of mine estate and degree to thy glorie especiallie mine owne renowne and vertue and others good example Driue awaie Sathan the mortall enimie to this thine ordinance that he sowe not contentions and bralles betweene vs. Cut off all occasions of debate and sinister suspicions that so in a true conioining togither of minds we may in this world liue vertuouslie according to thy word Defend mee I saie O deere Christ and thine whole Church against the rage of sathan the world and the flesh Doo thou vouchsafe for euer to loue cherish and comfort such as are engraffed in thy flesh Purge and wash me continuallie from my sâ—â—nes filthines and spots through thy great mercie and merits Finallie decke me with thy gifts and goodnes Wash mee with water and purge me with thy bloud annoint
and people slandered but deere God giue mee perfect patience I beseech thee and cause thou me to plucke mine eies from this my husband and yokefellow in too narrowlie beholding his infirmities and make me to behold thee my God in this thine holiâ— ordinance and to looke vpon my selfe and the wallet before me that I may see mine owne slips and faults and learne to pull the beame out of mine owne eie first before I find fault with the moâ—e in his Grant I saie that we may louinglie and with the spirit of meekenes beare one anothers burthen and that I for my part may quietlie beare the frailtie infirmities and faults of my husband with more patience mildnesse and modestie than hitherto I haue so that mine example may be to the comfort and commoditie of other to doo the like Oh Lord thou seest the great corruption of my nature and the pronesse thereof to sin and my weakenesse infirmitie and vnablenes to stand in temptation laie no more on me therefore deere father than thou wilt make me able to beare nor suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength but in the middest of my temptations make such a waie and issue for me to escape out of dangers that may happen by the instigation of Sathan or his members as shall seeme best to thy diuine prouidence and wisedome so as the same may be to the furtherance of thy glorie the profit of the Church and the comfort of my conscience by Iesus Christ mine onlie mediatour and sauiour So be it A praier to be vsed of the wife for hir husband before or in his trauelling by land TO thee O Lord Iesu Christ I commend my husbands going foorth and his comming in his iourneie and his returning beseeching thee happelie by the hand of thy grace to leade him the way he is about to go or ride and purposeth now to take gratiouslie defend him O good God from the crafts deceits and lieng await of all his enimies as well bodilie as ghostlie Mercifullie keepe and preserue him from all perils both externall and internall and finallie by thine ineffable clemencie grace bring him safe whole and vnhurt home againe from all danger So be it Another O Lord which art the waie the truth and life thou hast promised in the holie scriptures that they which put their trust in thee and looke for helpe at thy hand and take thee for their mightie defender and strong castell shall be preserued harmelesse and walke in all their iourneie safelie and without danger for thou thy selfe wilt take charge of them and shadow them vnder thy mercifull wings so that none euill shall chance vnto them Yea as thou didst send thy holie Angell with Abraham and Tobit and with other thy faithfull seruants to be their guide and defender and to make their iournie prosperous so wilt thou send thy blessed Angels with them that wholie depend on thee and with strong faith commit themselues to thy most godlie tuition which shall safelie keepe them in all their waies yea and sooner hold them vp with thine hands then they shall dash their foote against a stone This thine accustomed gentlenesse towards thy seruants and these thy louing promises encourage methine handmaid greatlie at this present to come vnto thy maiestie and according to my dutie most humblie to beseech thee that as my husband now in thy name hath taken this his iournie vpon him so thou wilt vouchsafe him thy mercy and grace both in the beginning entrie gate and ending of this his trauell and iournie and that thou which art our God wilt keepe him both going out and comming in and direct his feet that he erre not in his waies O Lord I beseech thee giue thine holie Angels charge ouer him to keepe him in thy faith and â—eare wheresoeuer he goeth to take care for him to defend him from all misfortunes and to bring him prosperouslie to that place where his busines lieth Let them guide him I saie O Lord too and fro throughout all his iournie euen as Tobit the yonger was guided of the Angell Raphaell vnto Gabaell habiting in Ragis a Citie of the Medes O Lord our God direct thou his steps that he fall into no perill either of soule or bodie Blesse thou him I saie in this his iournie and preserue him both from the clawes of theeues and murtherers and from the iawes of deuouring beasts Let him find fauour wheresoeuer he commeth and let him honestlie be intreated in all places and his busines being happilie ended and his iournie prosperouslie finished doo thou vouchsafe to bring him safelie home againe of thy mercie and goodnesse that I may praise thee In all his waies be thou present with him as thou wast with Iacob trauelling into Mesopotamia and descending into Egypt Likewise as thou didst conduct the Israelites through the red sea and through the vncomfortable and perillous wildernesse going before them by day in a piller of a cloud and by night in a piller of fire so be thou with my deere husband alwaies in all places and leade him in all this his iournie and bring him home againe in safetie Be thou both his companion and conducter O Lord for into thy hands I commend both his life and all that he hath Finallie graunt that I continuing his faithfull trustie and louing spouse heere at home he may find both me and all his in good health and peace both of bodie and soule at his returne through our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie spirit a God for euermore Amen A praier to be vsed of the wife for hir husband being a Captaine or Souldiour and gone a war-fare ALthough O most sweet Iesu there is nothing more commended and set forth vnto vs in thy holie scriptures than peace vnitie quietnes and concord vnto the which also not onlie Moses and the Prophets but thou and thine Apostles also doo therein diligentlie exhort and contrariwise vehementlie dehort and dissuade all men from discord enmitie malice and war bicause nothing is more seemelie for man than to embrace amiable peace friendlie concord and quiet amitie yea the verie creation shape birth of man proueth euidentlie man to be formed and made vnto peace yet such is the monstrous malice of Sathan that old enimie of mankind that he goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure and with all manner of labour sweateth to banish peace from the children of men and in sted thereof violentlie to thrust in discord tumults seditions wars bloud-sheading man-slaughter destruction of realmes and countries cities and villages intending by this meanes to make hauocke of all togither so that he furiouslie raging in his members prouoketh manie times thy seruants for the defence of their countrie and the safegard of their wife children families and people to go on warfare and to wage battell with their enimies I therefore most humblie beseech thee to assist my
husband and all such as iustlie attempt anie wars against their enimies and mightilie to defend them against their aduersaries that they may receiue through thy puissance a glorious victorie and noble triumph Sâ—nd thine holie Angell vnto him and them that he may pitch his tents among them and ouerthrow their enimie for them Giue vnto my husband and all Captaiues and souldiers thy grace so to behaue themselues in the seruice of wars with all godlines honestie and compassion that thou maisâ— haue a pleasure to be present among them to be their chiefe and grand Captaine and valiant defender Suffer not him and his felow souldiers to be discouraged for the multitude of their enimies but being armed with strong faith let him and them wholy depend on thee the most mightie conquerour with whom it is all one to helpe in few or in manie and with that prince like warriour Dauid boldlie to saie in the midst of their troubles The Lord is my light and my defence whome shall I feare The Lord is my health and the defender of my life of whom shall I be afraid Though mine enimies pitch pauillâ—ons against me yet shall not my hart feare though men of war rise against me I will trust in the Lord my God And when thou hast giuen him the victorie ouer his enimies giue him also a thankefull hart that he may confesse to haue got the victorie not by his horsse bowe nor gun nor yet by his owne strength and policie but by thine almightie power and so be encouraged for euer after to magnifie thy holie name Amen Or thus OH Lord the world is nothing else but a sea of trouble heere the diuell stormeth there the world frowneth on euerie side the flesh assaulteth vs so that our life may well be tearmed a warfare and our daies a treasure of dangers Oh Lord with the anchor of thy mercie vp-hold vs that wâ—e sinke not in the sea of this troublous time but guide vs with thy holie spirit that our liues may please thee and we in our death praise thee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Defend O Lord the righteous cause of my husband thy seruant now gone a warfare Assist him with strength against his enimies with the wisedome of thy spirit against the policie of man that being thoroughlie armed and guided by thee he may fight manfullie in thy quarrell to the building of thy Church and vtter rebuke of hir aduersaries Without thee O fountaine of goodnes and God of his estate I know he can doo nothing arme him therefore with thy grace with the buckler of thy word and complet armour that he may be able not onlie to war with but also ouer-match Sathan his deadlie foe and all his hellish band that setteth it selfe against thee and thine annointed Enrich him O God with thy mercie that he may be able to take vpon him the white raiment of faith and being clothed with it may stand sure against the foming ministers of the diuell that no storme may ouer-turne or dismaie him O Lord keepe thou him from all wrastling affections from inordinate motions defend him O God and let all discord be remoued wherby the Pellicane children desirous of bloud may be disseuerd but nourish O God of loue thy babes with the spirit of patience that he and they being of one mind may doo their duties applie their endeuours and bend their forces and whole strength to the reedifieng of our mother Sion the Church which trauelleth with sorowes and sinketh in the mists of heresies vnlesse thou pull hir out by the hand of thy mercie which doo O gratious God I beseech thee and plant the tree of peace among vs let it flourish to the gladding of our hearts that all dissention cut off we may be linked in one knot of christian vnitie gathered into one sheepfold to be guided by thee our onlie and one shepheard Let not the members of thy bodie be sundred but cherish and nourish them with a full persuasion of brotherhood in the vnitie of our sauiour and thou our onlie father to whome with the holie Ghost be euerlasting glorie praise dominion now and for euer Amen A fruitfull praier to be said with teares of all godlie women in the time of bloudie battell when they see their husbands themselues and their children and familie citie and countrie in danger of destruction and sacking by the cruell enimie O Lord our heauenlie father and euer-liuing God wee thy wretched and most miserable creatures confesse and acknowledge wee haue woorthilie deserued the rod of thy correction and punishment and doo merit manie sharpe bitter stripes that knowing thy blessed and glorious will haue of set purpose contemned thy diuine and heauenlie precepts for which cause the sentence of thy wrath is sharplie kindled against vs man woman and child euen as it hath been against thy chosen people Israell in the daies of our fore-fathers who glorieng in their wickednes as we haue done were plagued in the fulnesse of thine indignation as wee iustlie are The sword of their enimies beset them round about and he mined them â—n on euerie side The Iebusites the Ammonites the Philistines the Ammorites oppressed them diuerslie their strong holds were rased their cities were beseeged their houses were ransackt their goods confiscate and their riches were carried awaie by force of the bloud-thirstie enimie Their yong men were led awaie captiue their virgins were wofullie defloured but in fine when thou O Lord God didst behold their hartie and earnest repentance and contrition thou didst withdrawe thy frowning countenance and sent them speedie and safe deliuerance One while thou Lord sentest them Moses to bring them out of the seruitude of Pharao the stonie stubborne harted king of the Egyptians another while Iepthah set them free from the sword of the Ammonits wherwith they were greeuouslie afflicted And to make thy power and excellent glorie fullie knowne thou gauest Samson such fortitude to bridle the proud Philistines Ouer and besides these thou of thy loue and miraculous goodnes hast made feeble women mightie and victorious conquerours namelie Debora was a shield to the people Iudith comforted the distressed Bethulians and cut off the head of proud Holophernes that thou good Lord when thou beheldst their teares and hartie sorowe for their offences didst prepare thy selfe to go foorth with their hosts thou thy selfe I sate with the breath of thy nostrels didst confound and ouerthrowe their enimie Euen so good Lord thou most mightie and mercifull God which art King of glorie and Lord of hosts the gouernour of all creatures and the onlie giuer of all victories whose power no creature is able to resist and who alone art able to strengthen the weake against the mightie and to vanquish infinite multitudes of thine enimies with the countenance of a few of thy seruants calling vpon thy name and trusting in thee Be thou now present with vs in the fulnes of thy diuine power
world without end So be it Another praier of a woman with child before hir trauell O Almightie and mercifull God maker of heauen and earth which for sin hast enioined to me and all woman kind a greeuous paine to bring foorth children I mislike not this thy decree but I acknowledge the same to be holie irreprehensible and good for all that thou hast created and ordeined are verie good Wherefore I beseech thee in the name of Christ thy welbeloued Sonne assist me in my paines helpe me in the danger of deliuerance and conuert my mourning into mirth In the meane season keepe thou mee with the child in my wombe from all hurt and danger Grant also that my child yet vnborne may come into this world sound and perfect without deformitie Protect me likewise with thy fauour whereby I may escape all danger feare frights and vntimelie deliuerance Bring into my mind all my misdeeds and offences that vnfeignedlie I may be sorie for them and walke heereafter warelie in my calling and when the time of my deliuerance shall approch assist me with thy grace and bring out my child in good time well proportioned according to thine image and restore me to my woonted strength if it be thy good pleasure Giue also vnto my newlie borne babe togither with outward baptisme thine holie spirit whereby it may be regenerated vnto euerlasting life admitted into the societie of thy saincts and continue in thy seruice and godlie conuersation euermore O Lord God mercifull father into thine hands I commend both my selfe and my child doo with vs as it pleaseth thee thou hast made and redeemed me therefore thy will be done In thee will I trust as long as I shall liue Thou art my refuge in Christ our Lord and sauiour Amen Another praier of a woman with child before hir labour AL thy waies are iust oh deere father and thy iudgements are true altogither for worthilie doth man liue in the sweate of his face and the woman bring forth children with much paine and trauell and with great danger Yea O mercifull father this paine is not a sufficient punishment for the greeuous transgressions wherewith wee and our fore-fathers haue transgressed thy most holie will The punishment in respect of our demerits is too small but in respect of our weakenes too great for vs without thee to endure Wherefore as I acknowledge O mercifull father this trauell in child-birth which now approcheth to be a iust reward of my manifold sins so I acknowledge also thy readie arme of defence stretched out ouer me and ouer all them that call vpon thee in faith Grant therefore O deere father that I may in faith praie and wait for that time of my trauell patientlie that I may endure it when it shall be present constantlie and thankefullie knowing that although I then feele some tast of the reward of sin yet I feele not all and that little which I then feele thou dooest presentlie reward The which comfortable and glad issue grant me O Lord if it be thy good pleasure and hauing receiued such fruit of my bodie grant me moreouer wisedome and strength to bring it vp in thy feare and to trauell as it were againe with it till it be borne againe into a heauenlie life to the glorie of thy holie name and my great ioie so that it may finallie in Christ Iesus be partaker of those blessings which thou dooest plentifullie raine downe vpon the faithfull and their seed for euer And bicause I am not woorthie to present this my suite to thy heauenlie maiestie of my selfe a most wretched and sinfull woman I offer it in the name of the righteousnes and in the strength of my Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ praieng furthermore as he hath taught vs to praie Our father c. Another praier of a woman with child before hir trauell OH most deere father Lord of heauen earth which gouernest all things by thy wisedome so that nothing is done without thy prouidence Thou causest the winde to blowe the stormes and seas to arise and in their chiefest rage with a word thou stillest them againe Thou sendest fire raine and snowe from heauen threatening great destruction and yet not one of them can passe the bounds that thou appointest them so that they go and doo onlie what thine almightie word hath commanded them the bounds and measures where of they may not neither are they able to passe whereby most dâ—â—re God thine almightie wisedome and power is manifest vnto vs in all thy works but most chieflie in the woonderfull worke of the forming of man who of a maruellous small and loathsome substance is made a liuing creature and nourished within the closure intrailes of the womb and hauing a soule or mind infused into it by a heauenlie beginning is alwaie desirous to be returned againe as out of a strange countrie into his owne Therefore O heauenlie father I yeeld thee most hartie thanks that thou hast vouchsafed to count me worthie and made me the shop and receptacle of this thy most excellent worke And I beseech thee most louing father that as thou hast giuen me aptnes and power to conceiue and receiue thy creature and workemanship into my bodie so thou wouldest giue me power and strength to beare and to nourish it vntill it come to good perfection and that I may safelie bring foorth the same Thy goodnes oh gentle father did at the beginning appoint and ordeine that this thy worke of propagation and bringing foorth of man should be to vs easie pleasant and without danger But our sins alas deere God through the disobedience and breaking of thy lawe and commandements hath made it to be dangerous painefull and full of perill which thou didst laie vpon our grand-mother Eue and vpon all vs hir posteritie as a correction and punishment for sin and therefore I confesse deere God that through my manifold sins I haue not onlie deserued this thy rod of correction but far sorer and more greeuous punishment yea euen thy wrath were it not that thy mercie exceedeth all thy works and thy tender loue towards vs is such and so great that in thy iustice thou thinkest vpon mercie and hast not onlie giuen thy deerelie beloued Sonne to shed his pretious hart bloud to take awaie our sins but also hast chosen vs in him before the world began to be thy children by whome thou hast assured vs that thy fatherlie care and godlie prouidence ouer vs is so great that euen the verie heares of our heads are numbered in thy sight Wherefore oh most mercifull father I am bold to run presentlie vnto thee with all my trust hope and confidence that thou hast giuen me praieng and beseeching thee for thy great mercies sake for thine infallible promise and truth sake which neuer faile anie that put their trust in thee and for thy Sonne Iesus Christes sake oh most mild and mightie worker that thy clemency may refresh and
deere sonne Iesu Christs sake I saie haue compassion vpon a wretch that calleth vpon thee in his name and vouchsafe now yet at the length to shew some good token of thy fauour and mercie vpon me and that for my good and speedie deliuerance that they which hate me may be ashamed they that loue me be comforted and praise thee togither with me because thou O Lord hast had mercie on me and holpen me and sent me a speedie deliuerance of this burden and made me a ioifull and glad mother of this child to thy glorie So shall my soule magnifie thee O Lord and my spirit shall euer reioice in thee O God my Sauioue yea so shall I be ioifull in thy saluation and I will not cease to celebrate thy name among the saints and sing vnto thee the sugred songs of Sion to the perpetuall praise of thy renowmed name and erernall glorie of thy most sacred maiestie world without end Amen Amen Praiers and thanks-giuings to be vsed of women in child-bed after their trauell and deliuerance and at their churching or purifieng as they call it O My Lord God I thanke thee with all my heart wit vnderstanding and power for that thou hast vouchsafed to deliuer mee out of this my most dangerous trauell and hast sent into this world out of my wofull wombe this child a creature of thine owne fashioning forming and shape like vnto the rest of the children of thy creation for which I am not able worthilie inough of mine owne fraile nature to giue to thee condigne thanks praise honour and glorie for thy so great benefits shewed vnto me in pulling me out from the pit-brinke of death easing and releeuing all my wofull sorrowes labours pangs and most greeuous throwes bitter anguishes vnspeakeable paines which I could neuer haue escaped without out thy most singular aid helpe releefe and succour Wherefore I thy most humble hand-maid with stedfast and pure hart and hands doo powre out before thee my Lord God and onlie sauiour these my simple praiers of thanks-giuing the fruit of my faith hope trust charitie and assured confidence which I haue in thee assertaining my selfe that now thou hast preserued me for a further triall of my vocation and seruice towards thee in this vale of transitorie life wherin I may haue time by thy diuine permission and sufferance to direct all my steps in thy waies and to honour and glorifie thee in my soule and bodie with condigne thanks in reioising in thy holie name according to thy most blessed word wherein thou hast declared that a woman as long as she is in trauell of hir child-bearing she is sorrowfull heauie and full of anguish and intollerable paines but as soone as the child is borne she learneth straight-waies to forget all hir paines not remembring them anie longer and to reioice for that she hath brought foorth a child into the world Euen so O Lord fareth it with me thy poore humble and obedient seruant now reioising in that it hath pleased thee to make me a glad mother in bringing foorth this my child whome now I doo present before the face of thy diuine Maiestie with an earnest zeale of a godlie spirit and most pure affection praieng and beseeching thee O euerlasting God heere to preserue this child according to thy most holie will that it may enioie the benefit of all thy heauenlie sacraments to loue and serue thee in purenes of life as a faithfull member of the christian congregation wherein thy name by it may be glorified honoured and praised world without end Amen Another praier and thanks-giuing to be said of euerie faithfull woman in child-bed after the time of hir deliuerance vsed of the vertuous Ladie Francis Aburgauennie HOW much and how greatlie am I bound to laud praise and extoll thee O my Lord God Euen now was I assailed in my bodie being a wretched and sinfull woman with sundrie and diuers dolours and greeuous gripes of perillous pains in such sort that my agonies abounding death himselfe seemed to me to knocke at the gates of my bodie the rod of iustice laie so heauie vpon me so that I iudged my selfe a creature more meet for the graue whose clamour I thought still sounded in mine eares than to reape the benefit of life By my paines Lord God in this my trauell I am forced to confesse and acknowledge that thou art iust in thy promises and readie to punish sin and iniquitie By this my safe and sure deliuerance I am bound to acknowledge that with thy iustice thou alwaies frequeatest pitie commixing thy mercie and iustice togither in such sort that I must needs confesse thee to be most righteous and mercifull I can not O my God but protest that thou hast dealt fauourablie with me and those paines which I abode were laid vpon me for my sin and wickednes and yet hast thou not dealt seuerelie with me neither giuen sentence against me in thy furie which haue iustlie deserued the same For hadst thou O Lord respected my deserts I had perished euerlastinglie and beeue vtterlie confounded My greeuous groanes throwne foorth vnto thee pearsed the verie bowels of thine annointed sonne Iesus Christ who beholding mine agonies and bitter paines became an intercessor to thee for me through whose earnest intreatie and louing meditation thou conuertedst thy displeasure to mercie and for his sake alone that died vpon the crosse for mine offences thou hast asswaged my torments and in the fulnes of thy bountie and louing kindnes thou hast giuen me a liuing soule to glad my hart for the which I am bound of right to giue thee hartie and humble thanks humblie beseeching thee being now faint and feeble in bodie to strengthen me in soule mind and hart that my tongue may be the organe that may continuallie publish foorth thine euerlasting praise Grant this O gratious God for the loue of thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all laud power and dominion for euer and euer Amen Another praier of a woman in child-bed after deliuerance OF dutie O Lord I lift vp mine eies and mind vnto thee and giue thee most humble and hartie thanks for thine infinite goodnes which hast not onelie beautified and blessed me most abundantlie with common rare and woonderfull gifts and benefites but euen now also hast vouchsafed of thy free mercie to send me safe deliuerance and to giue me this infant and child as a token of thy loue towards me the which so great a treasure and blessing though I be not able to deserue yet most louing father for Christs sake I beseech thee that thou wilt confirme thy fauour more and more towards me And take this infant into thy tuition defence whom I offer present vnto thee with hartie praier and neuer suffer him to fall into such vnkindnes wherby he should loose the force of thy grace but that he may perceiue thee continuallie to be
his mercifull Father through thine holie spirit working in his hart by whose diuine power he may so preuaile against Satan that in the end obteining the victorie he may be exalted vnto the libertie of thy kingdome Amen Heere you may saie or sing to the glorie of God and your owne edifieng the 103. the 30. and the 116. Psalmes of Dauid A praier to be vsed of a woman at hir purification or Churching O Eternall father of thine onlie sonne our Lord and sauiour Christ which in the common-weale of Israel ordeinedst according to thy wisedome adornedst with excellent statutes necessarie for the state of man-kind and signifieng secret and heauenlie things didst make diuers lawes concerning vncleannes and the keeping of women with child and an other for the first borne and that not onelie to put vs in mind of order in this life and thankfulnes towards thy Maiestie but also to teach that this our giltie and polluted nature like the fowle menstruous cloth of a woman is washed by the blood of thy sonne which is the first borne thy substantiall image and the word sounding thy will whom from the heauens thou commandest to be harkened vnto Gouerne me by thy first and onlie begotten sonne and giue vnto me thy most defiled amd polluted hand-maid thy holie spirit that earnestlie I may bewaile mine vnworthines vilenes and vncleannes aske helpe at thy mercifull hands be this day purified both bodie and soule by the blood of thy Sonne and be redeemed by him vnto true pietie holines and inâ—egritie which pleaseth thee that through him I may be presented vnto thee with a pure and cleare mind and for his sake I may be adopted into thy children find fauour in thine eies Amen Or you may giue thanks and praie as in the booke of common praier and saie to your selfe or with the Minister as followeth FOr-as-much as it hath pleased thee O almightie God of thy goodnes to giue me safe deliuerance and hast preserued mee in the great danger of child-birth I therefore heere in the Church and congregation giue hartie thanks vnto thee O God and saie Psalme 121. I Haue lifted vp mine eies vnto the hils from whence commeth my helpe My helpe commeth euen from the Lord which hath made heauen and earth He will not suffer my foote to be mooued and he that keepeth me will not sleepe Behold he that keepeth Israell shall neither slumber nor sleepe The Lord himselfe is my keeper the Lord is my defence vpon my right hand So that the sun shall not burne me by day nor the moone by night The Lord shall preserue me from all euill yea it is euen he that shall keepe my soule The Lord shall preserue my going out and my comming in from this time foorth for euermore Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. Let vs praie Lord haue mercie vpon me Christ haue mercie vpon me Lord haue mercie vpon me Our father which art in heauen c. O Lord saue me thy sinfull seruant which put my trust in thee Be thou vnto me a strong tower from the face of mine enimie Lord heare my praier and let my crie come vnto thee Let vs praie O Almightie God which hast deliuered me thy most vnwoorthie handmaid and sinfull seruant from the great paine perill of child-birth I hartilie thanke thee and humblie praise thy holie name for euer and euer Grant me now also I beseech thee most mercifull father that I through thy helpe may both faithfullie liue and walke in my vocation according to thy will in this life present and also may be partaker of euerlasting glorie in the life to come through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Praiers to be said for women with child before or in trauell by the Mid-wife husband or anie other man or woman THou O Lord art woonderfull in all thy works and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is that dooest thou easilie bring to passe neither is there anie thing impossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thine almightie power sheweth it selfe abundantly in all thy works yet in the conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidentlie At the beginning O heauenlie Father when thou hadst made man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth if through the subtill entisements of Satan they had not transgressed thy commandements by eating of the forbidden fruit the woman whom thou hadst appointed the organe instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy woonderfull workmanship had without anie labour paine or trauell brought foorth hir fruit But that which thy goodnes made easie sinne and disobedience hath made hard painfull dangerous and if thy helpe were not impossible to be brought to passe so that now all women bring foorth their children in great sorrowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding thou shewest thy selfe vnto thy creatures a father of mercie and God of all consolation For that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of themselues to bring to passe thou thorough thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a fortunate end Wee therefore being fullie persuaded of thy bent and readie goodnes of thy present helpe of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the pains of women are that trauell of child if through thy tender mercies they be not mitigated and eased most humblie praie thee for Iesu Christs sake thy sonne and our Lord to assist and helpe as all other women else-where in like case so especiallie this thy seruant S. B. here now in trauell labour that by thine almighty power both they she may safely bring foorth that by thy goodnes they or she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable which sinne hath made hard and painfull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteouslie hast put vpon hir and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our grand-moother Eue in whome all we haue sinned and giue both vnto thy seruant here present and vnto all such as haue conceiued and be with child strength to bring foorth that which thou woonderfullie hast wrought in hir and them Be present now with hir them in their trouble according to thy mercifull promise helpe hir and them and deliuer them Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth than in the woonderfull framing or fashioning of the child Make perfect that which thou hast so gratiouslie begun in hir them so that it may come vnto good succes Make hir and them glad and ioifull mothers that she and they through thy goodnes being safelie deliuered and restored to their old health and strengths may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer Amen Another praier for a woman with child IN the beginning of the world
O father of heauen after thou hadst formed man of the slime of the earth and yet prince ouer all creatures it pleased thee of thy goodnes to create a woman of his side aswell for his solace as for the continuance of his seed it was thy word vnto them Increase multiply This increase was easie but mother Eue hath made it hard by passing the bounds of thy will to all hir posteritie so that the woman conceiueth and bringeth foorth in great paine and painefull trauell the fruit of hir wombe In so great paine O Lord in such extreme pangs that vnlesse thou quench the flame of hir sorrowes with the water of comfort it it impossible for hir to beare that into this vale of miserie which thou of thy goodnes hast framed and she conceiued Wherefore thou God of woonders and father almightie of heauen as thou hast by the slaughter of thine onelie Lambe taken awaie the sinnes of the wicked world and condemned sinne in the flesh so take awaie the pangs of child-birth the fruit of sinne from all womankind especiallie from this woman that bearing ioifullie that which she hath conceiued fruitfullie and thou hast fashioned gratiouslie she may glorifie thee most carefullie and praise thee most thankfullie the onelie staie of hir estate both now and euer Amen Another O Good true harted Lord Iesu Christ like as thou didst comfort and deliuer thy disciples and all elect and chosen men and women in all their need martyrdome and paines which they suffered of the tyrants wrongfullie and didst also cure and heale them of their wounds paines and smart through hope of the crowne of euerlasting life euen so vouchsafe thou which art the helpe of all them that call on thee in trouble and need to deliuer this poore weake vessell which is heere bound with a fruit after thine owne similitude and likenes notwithstanding that she hath deserued in transgressing of thy holie commandements to bring foorth hir children in paines and wo that she may be made a glad and ioifull mother through the new creature with good speed that the child may haue name and Christendome and that the mother may be purified to thy honour and to hir health Amen Another praier for a Queene being with a child O Almightie father in whose fauour the virgin Marie was highlie blessed among women by the birth of Christ thine onlie Sonne our Sauiour who also by thine omnipotent power didst safelie deliuer both hir and hir cousin Elizabeth and also so mightilie deliueredst the Prophet Ionas out of the whales bellie amids the foming sea Defend O Lord we beseech thee likewise thy seruant R. our Queene with child conceiued and so visit hir in and with thy godlie gift of health that not onlie the child thy creature within hir conceiued may ioifullie come from hir into this world and receiue the blessed sacrament of baptisme and enioie therewith dailie increase of all princelie and gratious gifts both of bodie and soule but that also she the mother through thy speciall grace and mercie may in the time of hir trauell auoid all excessiue dolorous paine and abide perfect and sure from all perill and danger of death with long and prosperous life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier for a Queene Noble woman or Ladie with child O Most righteous Lord God which for the offence of the first woman hast threatned vnto all women high and lowe a common sharpe and ineuitable malediction and hast enioined them that they should conceiue in sin and being conceiued should be subiect to manie greeuous throws and torments and finallie be deliuered with the danger and ieoperdie of their life we beseech thee for thine exceeding great goodnes and bountifull mercie to asswage and mitigate the straightnes of that lawe and to embrace into the bosome of thy fauour and mercie our most gratious souereigne Ladie Queene R or our most deere sister A. P. C of P. being now at the point of hir deliuerance so helpe hir now O Lord that without danger of hir life she may ouercome the sorrowe and paine and in due season bring forth a child in bodie beautifull and comelie in pregnant wit notable and excellent in mind noble and valiant so that afterward she forgetting the trauell may with ioie laud praise the bountifulnes of thy mercie and togither with vs praise and blesse both thee and thy holie name world without end This O Lord we desire thee we beseech thee and most hartilie craue of thee Heare vs O Lord and grant vs our petitions Amen A generall forme of praier for all women with child and in child-bed O Most wise God eternall Father of thy beloued Sonne our Lord and sauiour Christ Creator and keeper of all thy creatures which through thine excellent wisedome and counsell hast enioined to woman-kind that in paine sorrowe they should bring foorth children whereby not onlie this world is replenished but a Church which doth celebrate thy name for euer is gathered vnto thee And for-as-much as the paine of a woman in trauell is most extreame which makes the Prophets manie times to repeate the same in exaggerating the afflictions of punishments which the holie spirit doth threaten vnto the impenitent we beseech thee in the name of Christ thy Sonne be mercifull vnto all women either with child or in child-bed giue them grace to call into mind the decree and pleasure of thine heauenlie will Let them neuer striue against thee through impatience but in true faith and inuocation of thy name suffer thy crosse quietlie knowing that by the seed of the woman which hath broken the head of the old serpent they are reconciled vnto thee In this seed which is Christ the cursse is cleane taken awaie and blessing restored vnto vs that we may receiue the promise of the spirit and the inheritance of eternall life O almightie God conuert now the sorrowes of women in trauell into gladnes that they remember not their paines with mourning for ioie that a man-child is borne into the world Comfort them in the midst of their anguish and helpe as well the mother as the babe speciallie in the danger of deliuerance For if thou blessed God be not present they perish vndoubtedlie all the world can not helpe them in that extremitie O eternall God which of the seed of man framest the liuing infant in the mothers wombe and nourishest the same congealed in bloud that the flesh within the time of ten moneths may take shape drawing nourishment from the mother we are all the woorkmanship of thine hands we giue thee thanks Lord for fearefullie and wonderfullie are we made maruellous are thy works and that our soules knowe right well Our bones are not hid from thee though we were secretlie made neither our substance in the inner parts of our mothers wombe Thine eies did see our substance being vnperfect and in thy booke were all our members written Thy hands haue made vs and
fashioned vs altogither With skin and bones hast thou couered vs and ioined vs togither with bones and sinews Thou hast giuen vs life and grace and thy visitation hath preserued our spirits Grant we beseech thee to all infants yet vnborne that knit togither with their due veines and members they may come foorth into this world sound and perfect without fault or deformitie and grant that they being borne vpon their mothers sides may be ioifull vpon their mothers knees and sucke the milke of comfort out of the breasts of hir loue to the reioising of the mother Staie the furiousnes of wicked spirits that they shewe not their tyrannie vpon yoong infants Keepe all women with child that no waie being terrified frighted or troubled extreemelie they be vntimelie deliuered Giue grace also to the babes newlie borne that togither with their outward baptisme they may be receiued into the congregation of the faithfull with wholesome water through the renewing and regeneration of the holie spirit which thou wilt plentiouslie powre vpon them through Iesus Christ our Sauiour that being iustified by grace they may be made heires according to the hope of eternall life and become new creatures through him Strengthen all women deliuered and lieng in child-bed that beeing restored to their woonted health they may glorifie thee their helper in the time of need and learne afterward to repose their whole confidence in thee which art nigh vnto all that call vpon thee to all we saie calling vpon thee in truth And if at anie time through thine vnsearchable iudgement an vntimelie birth or vnluckie deliuerance happen so comfort O mercifull father the mournefull and sad parents that they faint not with sorrowe but beleeue rather that the woful chance is a triall of their faith hope and patience For thou art a mercifull and gratious God forgiuing our sins Though thou art angrie with our wickednes yet in thy displeasure thou remembrest thy mercie that the troubled may take comfort and the afflicted find grace For this doo all thy seruants persuade themselues that if they be tried they shall be crowned if they be troubled they shall be deliuered and if they be chastened they shall be saued for thou hast no plesure in our damnation which bringest faire wether after stormes gladnes after teares Thy name O God be praised for euer Amen The same praier more breefe for women with child generallie O Heauenlie father and eternall God which through thine vnspeakable wisedome hast enioined woman-kind that in paine and sorrowe they should bring foorth children and replenish the earth O Lord we beseech thee giue them grace to call into mind this thy decree and pleasure and thereby patientlie to beare the greefe and groanes incident vnto them Conuert Lord their sorrowes into gladnes through a luckie deliuerance and let them remember their paines no more for ioie that a man is borne into the world Comfort them in the midst of their anguish and helpe as well the mother as the babe especiallie in the danger of deliuerance For without thine assistance they perish vndoubtedlie all the world cannot helpe them Grant to all yet vnborne that knit togither with their due veines and members they may come into this world sound and perfect without all deformitie Staie the furiousnes of wicked spirits that they shew not their malice and tyrannie vpon yoong infants Blesse all with child that no waie being terrified or troubled extreamelie they bee vntimelie deliuered Giue grace to all babes newlie borne that togither with their outward baptisme they may be receiued into the congregation of the faithfull and be made new creatures filled with the holie Ghost euen from their mothers womb Strengthen all women deliuered with thy vertue and power whereby they may receiue their woonted health and glorifie thee their helper in the time of need learning afterward to repose their whole confidence in thee which art nigh vnto all that call vpon thee euen to all that call vpon thee in truth And if at any time through thy sufferance and vnsearchable pleasure an vntimelie birth or if without offence we may saie an vnluckie deliuerance doth happen comfort O mercifull God the pensiue parents that they despaire not through sorrowe but thinke rather that the wofull chance is a triall of their faith hope and patience and so confesse thee to be alwaies as good and gratious God forgiuing sins and remembring mercie in thy great displeasure that the troubled may take comfort and the afflicted find grace For thus doo al thy seruants persuade them selues that if they be tried they shall be crowned if they be troubled they shall be deliuered if they be chastised they shall be saued through our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A praier to be said of euerie Christian midwife for hirselfe before she execute hir office O Heauenlie Father which at the beginning didst appoint woman to bee the organe instrument and vessell to receiue nourish bring foorth man through thy woonderfull workmanship without anie labour paine or helpe of flesh and blood but afterward through the sinne and disobedience of our grandmother Eue hast made that which before was easie now to become hard and painefull yea dangerous and impossible if thy helpe were not for them to be brought to passe and now as a meane hast ordeined man to be a god to man and made woman through thine vnspeakable power working togither with him to helpe ease woman which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes are not able in this case and time of their sore labour to helpe themselues For as much as it hath pleased thee among manie other more worthie to call me thy most vnworthie hand-maid to the office of a midwife among the daughters of Israel and made me an instrument and means vnder thee to comfort them in their sorrowes cherish them in their child-beds ease them in their pains and to further them in their deliuerance with all possible paines and conuenient speede that I may and can in thee and for thee I most hartilie thanke thee and praise thy holie name and maiestie beseeching thee of grace and vertue to walke worthie of this my calling in all holie obedience to thee and thy word to thy glorie others profit and mine owne saluation in Christ. And because I knowe and feele mine owne weaknes and must needs confesse how that of my selfe I am far vnable to discharge mine office with such dutie as apperteineth without the assistance and helpe of thine almightie power and holie spirit to strengthen me therein For it lieth not in the power of flesh and bloud no nor in all the helpe of the world to go through with so great a worke and weightie enterprise as this is but it onlie and alone belongeth vnto thee our creator and maker of heauen and earth Therefore blesse thou so my weake labours and further my paines that the fruit thereof may redound to the praise of thy name profit of
hir instant desire must now being preuented with vntimelie labour and birth through perillous trauell needs drinke of the cup of Rahels and Phinees wiâ—es potion and go the waie of all flesh then O Lord thou in whose hands are the harts of all flesh arme hir we humblie beseech thee with thy perpetuall grace peace patience and perfect confidence in thee increase hir faith helpe hir vnbeleefe annoint hir with the oile of gladnes in thee ease hir of hir extreme paines be thou nigh vnto hir and driue the diuell far from hir aid hir with thy holie angels giuing hir grace so quietlie to take this thy fatherlie chastisement and visitation in good woorth that in this hir painfull life yea and in the verie end thereof she with perfect memorie sure trust commending hir selfe wholie to thee may in hart ioifullie still saie and we hir deere sisters and faithfull freends and neighbours for hir as followeth When she is departing and yeeldeth vp the ghost then adde and saie this that followeth FEtch now againe Lord God Father into thy holie hands that which thy puissant might hath shapen command thy holie angels now to aid hir and safelie to bring hir to thee and now place thou hir amongst thy chosen children and blessed heirs in thine eternall kingdome prepared for them that are written in the booke of life Fetch now againe Lord God sonne that which thou of thy meere mercie hast so wiselie gouerned and bought with thy pretious bloud now ioifullie receiue hir and saie vnto hir as thou saiedst vnto the penitent theefe This day shalt thou be with me in paradise Take againe now Lord God holie Ghost that which thou of thy onelie fauour hast louinglie kept and guided in this region of sinne and vale of miserie and now louinglie leade thou hir with Rebecca and Lazarus to eternall ioie and rest This grant hir O holie and most blessed Trinitie good Lord almightie three persons and one verie God vnto whome be all honour praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen Amen Another praier while she yeeldeth vp the ghost THE mightie God of angels and former of all things visible and inuisible in whose hands is onelie life and death light and darknes and all the motions of the soule and bodie without thee most mightie God all things had beene nothing and of nothing all things are made by thee without thy Christ and thy blessed spirit which is one coeternall Trinitie all flesh were accursed all consciences molested and all soules vtterlie damned from light into darknes from freedome into euerlasting reprobation but by Iesus Christ thine onelie sonne we thanke thee deere father of all mercie that now it hath pleased thee to take to thy mercie at this present time our deere sister S. B. whom thou hast elected consecrated and now she shall by thy mercie and pitie be sanctified vnto thee in the death of Christ to be a citizen of eternall glorie Now we perceiue that flesh and bloud doth forsake hir and all hir worldlie strength faileth hir now are the organes yeelding vp the heauenlie sound hir soule commeth now vnto thee good Lord receiue it to thy mercie into thine euerlasting glorie where as Abraham Isaac and Iacob Sara Rebecca Rahel and the blessed virgin Marie are continuallie To thee oh heauenlie Father be incessant honour glorie for euer and euer Amen After hir departure let the women kneele downe also and giue thanks as followeth ALmightie God with whom doo liue the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord and in whom the soules of them that be elect after they be deliuered from the burden of the flesh be in ioie felicitie thou I saie O mercifull God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life in whom whosoeuer beleeueth shall liue though he die and whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in him shall not die eternallie who also taught vs by his holie apostle S. Paule not to be sorie as women without hope for them that sleepe in him we giue thee hartie thanks for that it hath pleased thee to deliuer this woman our sister out of the wofull miseries of this sinfull world meekelie beseeching thee O Father to raise vs from the death of sinne vnto the life of righteousnes that when we also shal depart this life we may rest in Christ as our hope is this our sister doth and that it may please thee of thy gratious goodnes shortlie to accomplish the number of thine efect and to hasten thy kingdome that at the generall resurrection in the last daie we with this our sister and all other departed in the true faith of thy holie name being found acceptable in thy sight may haue our perfect consummation and blisse both in bodie and soule in thy eternall and euerlasting glorie and receiue that blessing which thou O Christ shalt then pronounce to all that loue feare thee saieng Come ye blessed children of my Father receiue the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world Grant this we beseech thee O mercifull father through Iesus Christ our onlie mediatour redeemer and sauiour Amen A praier and thanks-giuing to be vsed of the mother or women about hir after the child is baptised ALmightie and euerlasting GOD who hast vouchsafed to regenerate this infant by water and the holie ghost and hast giuen vnto it forgiuenes of all his sinnes and receiued it into the number of thy children and heires of eternall life I thanke thee for thy gratious goodnes fauour mercie towards it And I humblie beseech thee also O Lord to strengthen it so with thy holie ghost the comforter that it may lead the rest of his life according to this good beginning Let thy fatherlie hands I praie thee be euer ouer it and blesse ti dailie increase it with thy manifold gifts of grace giue it the spirit of wisedome vnderstanding the spirit of counsell strength the spirit of knowledge and true godlines fulfill it with the spirit of thy holie feare faith and praier and so lead this child in the knowledge and obedience of thy holie word that being euer defended with thy heauenlie grace it may continue therein for euer and dailie increase in thy holie spirit more and more vntill in the end he obteine the gift of euerlasting life in thy celestiall kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen If the child or yong infant be verie sicke and lie sore pained with anie greefe or whensoeuer else it be visited with anie dreadfull diseaâ—e praie ouer it and saie as followeth Lord heare our praiers And let our crie come vnto thee Let vs praie O Mercifull Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the onelie begotten Sonne of the liuing Father redeemer of all men through all ages whose nature is pitifull not onelie to the strong and stout but also to the weake and simple as babes infants and children we here assembled most hartilie desire and praie
thy glorious maiestie for this seelie infant and child which hath not the capacitie to praie for it selfe lieng here in paines and pangs of sorrowfull sicknes beseeching thy grace that with y â— same pitie wherewith thou sufferedst the babes and children to come to thee in the Gospell and laiedst thy blessed hands vpon them thou wilt also respect with the same eies of compassion and consider this poore babe seelie child and weake infant sore greeued with sicknesse Grant we beseech thee that as it beareth and here sheweth the image of sinfull Adam by suffering for sinne so it bearing the liuelie image of thy heauenlie gift may by thy grace be deliuered and helped from that which now by nature it suffreth So that like as it is with vs partaker of thy holie baptisme so it may also with vs be partaker of thy helpe and consolation And forasmuch as the paines of the same poore child seeme greeuous and vehement we beseech thee so mitigate the vehemencie thereof that by the releeuing and easing of it we also especiallie his sorowfull parents may be comforted dealing with it according as it shall seeme good to thy diuine wisedome whether by death to call it or by life to restore it so that whether it go or tarie it may be thine and at the last with thine elect be made partaker of that blessed resurrection when thou shalt appeare In whose name we praie furthermore for it and our selues as thou in thy holie Gospell hast taugth vs saieng O our Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this daie our dailie bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespas against vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen Thanks-giuings for women after deliuerance of childe A thanks-giuing and praier to be said of the father so soone as he heareth that a child is borne vnto him and his wife safelie deliuered O Eternall God and heauenlie father the creator and preseruer of mankinde thou knowest the fraile and weake nature of man and hast in thy mercifull louing kindnes for his comfort and remedie ordeined him the most honourable state of marriage to liue and walke in commanding them to increase and multiplie and hast promised the fruit of the bodie to be a blessing and a witnes of thine eternall councell of this most honourable state to all them that loue and feare thee Wherefore oh heauenlie father I most hartilie thanke thee that it hath pleased thee to call me into this most holie and honourable state of marriage and hast vouchsafed to giue me this infant thy creature as a witnes and testimonie of thy good will towards the same and a token of thy promised blessing to thy children And that it hath pleased thee also to deliuer this thy poore hand-maid my yoke-fellowe and mother of this thy creature from the sin-plague of sorrowe and perill in bringing foorth as thou appointedst the same to our grandmother Eue. And now oh deere and most mercifull father I most humblie beseech thee to giue vnto me and to this my yoke-fellowe or wife thy seruant thy grace holie spirit and so renew the same in vs day by day that both we may liue and walke chastlie honestlie and holilie as becommeth thy children to liue and walke in so honourable a state before thee and that we may doo our duties in education and bringing vp of this thy blessing and creature in godlie nourture and discipline and in true information in thee oh Lord thy Sonne Iesus Christ and also that this thy creature may doo his dutie in harkening and obeieng so that of no part anie fault be found in vs that may giue occasion to the vngodlie to speake euill of thy truth and holie name nor of this holie and honourable state but rather that they which knowe not the truth may through the example of our good conuersation be brought to the knowledge of thy truth whereby they may be made members of thy Church and praise thee for all thy benefits through thy mercie and louing kindnes powred vpon vs. Grant this oh most mercifull father for thy deere Sonne sake Iesus Christ our onlie mercie-seate and mediatour in whose name I praie thee as he hath taught me saieng O our father c. Here may be said or soong to the glorie of God and your edifieng the 8. the 127. the 128. Psalmes of Dauid and Benedictus or the song of Zacharie which he made at the birth of his sonne Iohn the Baptist as Luke cap. 1. and in the beginning before the Psalmes in meeter Another thanks-giuing to be vsed of the mid-wife or women assistant after the safe deliuerie of a woman in child-bed O Eternall and almightie God thy power and might is to be praised and magnified for euer for in the greatest weakenes of man thy power is seene in his greatest dangers thy saluation is knowne Therefore we praise thy name and giue thee thanks for all thy great mercies and wonderfull works namelie Lord we giue thee thanks for thy mercie shewed to this our sister at this time in bringing hir through manie and great dangers of child-birth and in giuing hir the fruit of hir bodie It was thy hand O Lord that hath done it for it is a worke greater than all the wisedome power of man Deere father we beseech thee euer hereafter to deliuer the mother and the child out of all their dangers as may best make to thy glorie and their saluation in Iesus Christ our Lord. Touching vs we thanke thee for blessing our labours and furthering the works of our hands beseeching thee that we beholding thy outstretched arme and rich mercies may be drawne by them to serue thee in feare and reuerence all the daies of our liues Amen An other thanks-giuing to be said for the safe deliuerance of anie woman in child-bed or at hir churching as it is called AMong other thy benefites those innumerable which thou dailie bestowest vpon vs thy needie poore creatures this is not the least O most mercifull father that thou of thy tender goodnes doest vouchsafe for the conseruation of man-kind to preserue the women that are with child and to giue them safe deliuerance of their burden by this meanes making them glad and ioifull mothers For this thy benefite and good will towards vs we so hartilie thanke thee as hart can thinke beseeching thee to worke such thankfulnes in the hart of this thy seruant S. B. and all other women in like case by thy spirit that they being not vnmindfull of this high benefite of their safe deliuerance wrought onelie by the sauiour of all man-kind may shew themselues thankfull vnto thee for this thy goodnes and neuer forget that thy present helpe and most sweete comfort which thou
haue I receiued it Make therefore and ordeine thou O beloued God in heauen all them in my house and in my handling downe lieng and vprising after thy good will and pleasure thee to loue serue and obey euerie one to his profit For I beleeue in thee in thee is all my trust that thou wilt not forsake me nor my husband and children nor anie of my familie and houshold Defend vs Lord from sinne shame and sicknesse and from all euill Send vs thine holie angell that he may defend vs in all our deeds and liuing that he may lead vs foorth the right way that we may not talke doo or thinke anie thing against thy holie commandements and will but thereafter to liue worshipping thee and praising thee foreuermore through Iesus Christ our Lord thy beloued sonne Amen Another O Gratious God I commend vnto thy protection my house and all that thou hast giuen me my whole familie my husband and children beseeching thee to giue me the power of thy holie spirit that I may well and holilie rule gouerne nourish and bring vp these my children and familie in all godlie feare and knowledge of thy holie word and that I may be vnto them an example of all godlines and vertue to the praise of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another O Father of our Lord Iesus Christ father of mercie and God of my life I beseech thee for thy sonne Christs sake haue mercie vpon me mine husband and vpon the houshold and familie that thou hast giuen me and powre thy wholsome benefites vpon vs alwaies sufficientlie for our liuing for our soule and bodie O thou great rich husbandman let thy great riches enrich our pouertie thy mercie beare our sinnes thy grace susteine and comfort our frailnes thy holie angell keepe vs from satan and from all euill that our conuersation may be honest faithfull and plentious in all good works and we saued through the merits of Iesu Christ our Lord Amen Another praier to be said of all christiam masters and mistresses both for themselues and other in like condition ALthough O Christ thou most high Lord all power both in heauen in earth be giuen vnto thee of thy heauenlie father and albeit thou hast giuen vs a commandment that we should not desire to be called masters or mistresses for we haue but one master which thou art all we brethren and sisters hauing one father which is in heauen Yet forasmuch as thou according to thy blessed will hast appointed some superiours some inferiours some masters and mistresses some seruants and hand-maids some to command some to obey some to rule some to serue and by this meanes such as be in superioritie haue obteined by thy holie word the name or title of masters or lords mistresses or dames bicause they haue seruants hand-maids vnder them and rule ouer them according to thy good pleasure and godlie appointment which art the most supreame power and most excellent maiestie King of kings and Lord of lords to whom all things both in heauen and in earth and vnder the earth doo bow their knees and giue reuerence and honour whose praise also euerie nation and language doth aduance and set foorth confessing that thou art the Lord Iesus Christ vnto the glorie of God the father we most humblie beseech thee which art the greatest master and most high Lord to send thy holie spirit vpon vs and all such as are called masters or dames here in earth and haue superioritie vnder thee that we and they remembring our selues to be thy seruants and that we also haue a master in heauen with whom there is no respect of persons may put awaie all threatnings all crueltie all vnrighteousnes and doo that vnto our seruants which is iust and equall Grant that we intreat not euil our seruants and hand-maids which worke truelie nor the hireling that is faithfull vnto vs. Grant that we be not as lions in our houses destroieng our houshold folks and oppressing such as are vnder vs but rather that we cherish and loue our faithfull and discreet seruants and maids euen as our owne soule and by no meanes suffer them to be unrewarded for their paines taking nor yet at the last to be driuen to beggerie for their true seruice dooing but that we liberallie rewarding them according to their deserts may shew our selues to be thy true seruants which leauest no man vnrewarded but giuest to euery one according to their deeds to them that doo well and continue in well dooing glorie honour peace immortalitie and euerlasting life to them that doo euill and continue in the same indignation wrath displeasure trouble sorowe and eternall damnation Grant therefore O Lord that we and all temporall masters dames may in all our dooings resemble thee which art the heauenlie and euerlasting master and so behaue our selues both towards our seruants and all other according to thy blessed will that at the last day we may be found in the number of them to whom thou shalt saie Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world Lord let it so come to passe Amen The maid-seruants or hand-maids praier ALl estates O Lord depend vpon thee king begger magistrate and cleargie-man master and scholer all come of thee and me thou hast made a poore hand-maid seruant which I doo not onelie willinglie beare knowing thou hast allotted me this calling but also manie waies I haue to thanke thee for it For thou hast not onelie deliuered me from the slauish seruice of satan but also dooest by this my yoke restraine the wanton reliques of stained nature preseruing me from the pampering of the old man in pleasures and idlenes Secondlie that I am not seruant or hand maid to any heathen Turke or Saracene but to a Christian in such a place where thy Gospell is preached freelie and fullie Thirdlie and especiallie bicause thou hast called me vnto such an estate of life as wherein I knowe I doo well please thee For who liueth after the Gospell if not I who get my liuing with the sweat of my brows I doo not glorie here in vaine but to thee therfore be the glorie who hast turned the curse into such a blessing O Lord giue me grace to consider this that I may be more diligent in my calling more earnest in seruing thee than euer I haue beene heretofore forgiue me all that is past and guid me in all things to come that I may neuer halt in my vocation nor doo my seruice deceitfully to the eie as a man-pleaser Giue me a sound and perfect faith in thy sonnes bloud O father wherein he hath washed of his great mercie my poore soule that notwithstanding I serue a mortall man and woman yet aboue them in all things I may serue thee to whom be all glorie and dominion both now and for euer Amen Another O Christ our Lord
be broken from the bones of them O mercifull God extend thy fauour vpon all widowes that at all times and in all afflictions they may trust in thee the liuing God and continue in supplications and praiers night and daie being diligent in all good works not occupied in pleasures neither wanton light idle wandering from house to house no tatlers nor busie bodies no speakers of things vncomelie nor giuers of occasion whereby thy word may be blasphemed Keepe all parents that they being taken awaie either by war or vntimelie death their wiues be not widowes and their children orphans running heere and there a begging Be thou their helper and comforter euen for Christes sake our Lord and sauiour Amen The orphane or fatherles childs praier O Lord so narowe is the mouth of charitie so consumed is the fire of Christian loue that where the foxes haue their holes and birds their nests yet haue we poore fatherles children and orphans no place to rest our heads on As pilgrims we wander from place to place and are driuen with the wind of pinching pouertie vpon the seas of this world to seeke releefe but alas and wo to the world for it The rich man deuoureth all superfluouslie or else hoordeth vp to fill his garners niggardlie so that Lazarus may not only walke amidst the streets naked but also lie begging at the gates sore and yet go without euen the crumbs that fall from the table to ease the time of his necessitie O Lord therefore doo I poore orphane flie vnto thee haue thou mercie vpon me for it is onlie thou which fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing I am better than a farthing sparrowe O Lord thou knowest it and I acknowledge it to my comfort feed my soule with the flesh of thy sonne and let me drinke of his bloud that seeking first thy kingdome I may in the end be crowned with glorie and sit at the table of ioie in heauen with thee O Lord grant this I beseech thee Amen The old womans praier O God of our fathers and Lord of all grace throughout all nations all ages and generations past present and to come and which powrest bountifullie vpon all flesh the treasures of thine heauenlie vertue and wisedome grant I humblie beseech thee not onlie vnto my selfe which am now become aged and full of daies but also vnto whomsoeuer thou hast giuen the blessing of long life and manie yeares to liue in this vale of miserie to be mothers of manie children to multiple vpon the earth to increase heere thy kingdome and to be as organs and instruments of thee preserued to set foorth as we ought the glorie of thy maiestie that thou wilt vouchsafe alwaies so to indue me and all sage and ancient matrones with the spirit of truth vnderstanding and knowledge with thy fatherlie wisedome will to holines deuotion granitie temperance and constancie that the vnexpert the iuniors yonger women and inferiours which through want of time the affects of youth and void of the like gifts of grace can not deale as they should for thy glorie in the common wealth of the Church may yet by our sober sound and graue conuersation followe vs as true patronesses of pietie be ruled by vs guided instructed wel trained vp and christianly counselled that vnto vs aged and graue matrones againe by such iust desert and cleere shining light of our good example our due honor worthie estimation condigne worship humble submission and reuerence may most amplie for thy glorie dailie redound towards vs so shall it come to passe that now at all times and in all ages from tender youth to verie old age through generations and all posterities thy holie name shall be magnified in righteousnes and true holines with all ioifulnes lauds thanks-giuing heere and for euer in the euerlasting world to come through thine onlie free grace in the merits most pretious of thine onlie Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Amen Ad this Psalme or praier O Lord which woorkest woonders which cheerest my hart with remembring thee and which inlightenest my youth despise not mine old age but make my bones to reioice and my hoarie heares to waxe fresh againe as the eagle Cast me not off in the time of mine age forsake me not now when my strength faileth me but as thy mercie hath come in the beginning of my life so helpe me now in mine old age and weaknes and let it finish the end of my course to thy glorie and my comfort For thou O Lord hast beene my trust euen from my youth vpon thee haue I staid my selfe from the wombe Thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers bowels that didst helpe me in my youth and hast preserued me euer since I was borne and conceiued Thou O God hast taught me from my youth euen vntill now O therfore forsake me not now in mine old age and graie head but as thou hast begun so continue thy benefites towards me that thy liberalitie may haue perfect praise that I may tell yet of thy woonderous works and shew thy power vnto them that shall come after me Haue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me for behold my life is wasted my daies are spent my yeeres are past my strength faileth the marrowe in my bones is consumed for age The beautie of youth is gone the glorie of age and graie-head is come I have beene yoong and now am old full of daies am I and striken in yeres yet haue I seene nothing no nor done anie good in thy sight I haue spent my yeres as a thought or tale that is told my daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered awaie like grasse The time of my pilgrimage is but greefe sorrowe few euill haue the daies of my life beene and I haue not attained vnto the yeres of the life of my grandmothers in the daies of their pilgrimage The time of our life is threescore yeres and ten and if we liue till fourescore yeres yet is our strength then but labour and sorowe for it is cut off quicklie and we flie awaie so soone canst thou turne man to destruction and bring the sonnes of Adam to naught One daie with thee O Lord is as a thousand yeres and a thousand yeres in thy sight are but as yesterdaie which is past and as a watch in the night and our age is nothing in respect of thee Thy yeres O Lord endure through all generations and thy daies are without end or beginning yea heauen and earth shall perish but thou shalt endure they shall all waxe old as doth a garment and as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy yeres shall not faile But the daies of men surelie are determined which he can not passe and the number of his moneths are knowen to thee thou hast appointed him his bounds and terme of yeres which he can not go beyond Thou
our owne parents Kindred to enter and sing psalmes of praise and songs of thanks-giuing to thine immortall Maiestie to whom with thy Sonne and holie Ghost be euerlasting laud perpetuall praise and greatest glorie both now and for euer Amen Another praier made vpon the similitude of the ten virgins Matth. 25. O Lord Iesu Christ thou good spouse and heauenlie bridegroome giue me grace like the wise virgins both with a right intention and vpright dealing to doo good works and also to perseuere and continue in the same watchfullie and diligentlie vnto the end And bicause it is not sufficient to haue once giuen my selfe to followe thee vnlesse I continue doo thou teach me wiselie to make prouision in time that hauing plentie of the oile of thy grace and gifts in the lampe of my soule I may neuer contemne thine honor nor faile in the mid-way but being found readie and watchfull I may be thought worthie to enter ioifullie with thee vnto the wedding I beseech thee also O Lord make knowne vnto mee mine end before it come and suffer me not to depart this life before I haue confessed my faults and thou haue forgiuen me my sins that in the hour of my death neither thy wrath may fall vpon me nor the power of darkenes hurt or inuiron me but let me be found such a one at the daie of examination and triall as I did appeare and shew my selfe at the day of my regeneration and baptisme through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Amen A generall Confession of sinnes with a praier for mercie and grace verie necessarie to be vsed at all times O Almightie God my heauenlie father I confesse and acknowledge that I am a miserable and wretched sinner haue manifold waies most greeuoustie transgressed thy most godlie commandements thorough wicked thoughts vngodlie lusts sinfull words and detestable deeds in my whole life In sin am I borne and conceiued and there is no goodnes in me inasmuch as if thou shouldest enter into thy narrowe iudgement with me iudging me according to the same I were neuer able to abide or suffer it but must needs perish and be damned for euer so little helpe comfort or succour is there either in me or in anie other creature Onlie this is my comfort O heauenlie father that thou didst not spare thine onlie deere beloued Sonne but didst giue him vp vnto the most bitter and most vile slanderous death of the crosse for me that he might so paie the ransome for my sins satisfie thy iudgement still and pacifie thy wrath reconcile me againe vnto thee and purchase me thy grace fauour and euerlasting life Wherefore through the merit of his most bitter death and passion and through his innocent bloud-shedding I beseech thee O heauenlie father that thou wilt vouchsafe to be gratious and mercifull vnto me to forgiue and pardon me all my sins to lighten my hart with thy holie spirit to renew confirme and strengthen me with a right and a perfect faith and to inflame me in loue towards thee and my neighbour that I may hencefoorth with a willing and glad hart walke as it becommeth me in thy most holie commandements and so glorifie and praise thee euerlastinglie And also that I may with a free conscience and quiet hart in all manner of temptations afflictions or necessities and euen in the verie pangs of death crie boldlie and faithfullie vnto thee and saie I beleeue in God the father Almightie c. But O Lord God heauenlie father to comfort my selfe in affliction and temptation with these articles of the Christian faith it is not in my power for faith is thy gift and forasmuch as thou wilt be praied vnto and called vpon for it I come vnto thee to praie and beseech thee both for that and for all other things necessarie for me and thy whole Church euen as thy deere beloued Sonne our Sauiour Christ Iesus hath himselfe taught vs and from the verie botome of my hart I crie and saie O our father which art in heauen c. A praier for the Queenes Maiestie and the Realme O God most excellent creator and preseruer of all things we cast our selues downe before the feet of thy maiestie and inwardlie feeling how vnworthie we are to haue our praiers heard of thee we dare not lift vp our eies to heauen Neuertheles whereas we are conceiued in sin and therefore as all Adams children deserued vntimelie death yet thy fatherlie hand hath brought vs foorth and caused vs to be borne yea and granted vs to liue in this blessed time of thy Gospell to the intent that dieng with Christ we should rise againe to eternall life But alas wretches that we are we haue deserued thy iust indignation by returning to our old vomit and yet thy grace surmounteth our sinne continuallie calling vs to thy sheepfold by the voice of thy gospell Blessed be thy holie name for sending vs that light when we were in darknesse that spirituall drinke when we were in deadlie thirst that heauenlie foode when we were hunger-sterued And like honour and praise be ascribed to thee onelie O Lord for giuing vs such so wise so zealous so godlie and carefull gouernours of thy chosen Church of England whom thou hast raised vp by the light of thy gospell to guid vs in the same thy light and to feed vs with the same thy heauenlie food We magnifie thy name daie and night for that inestimable benefit of thine bestowed vpon vs thy people of England in calling thy chosen creature the nurse of this thy church our Queene and Gouernour from worldlie vanities to the care of thy kingdome and into the communion of thy saints by the preaching of the Gospell when we gaue not sufficientlie attentiue and diligent eare to thy blessed word albeit thou didst correct hir and other ingratfull creatures of this our nation with thy rod yet euen in this point also thy clemencie surmounteth our double wickednes For behold when as thy iustice might haue depriued vs of hir thou of thine infinite mercie didst deliuer hir out of prison set hir free from the lions iawes crowned hir with a diadem of gold and put the roiall scepter of this realme in hir hand Moreouer O singular and most pretious treasure of treasures thou through hir meanes and ministerie hast brought againe Christ Iesus once banished out of England These most mercifull Father be the principall iewels of thine inestimable riches bestowed vpon vs which the more excellent they are the lesse are we worthie of them bicause we haue misbehaued our selues towards thy maiestie in dailie sinning more and more against thee in so much that feeling the same in our conscience we be driuen well neere to despaire But when we call to mind thy sure and sweet promises in Christs pretious blood we are thereby refreshed and recouering strength by hope approch to thy throne boldlie not offering anie thing for the satisfaction of our sinnes but onelie
crauing that the oblation of thine annointed which is the iustifier and sanctifier of all that are to be iustified and sanctified may make vs cleane and so receiue vs into thy tuition And seeing obedience pleaseth thee better than the fat of sheep and the sacrifice of our lips better than the flesh and blood of beasts grant that we may finish our mortall race in shewing foorth thy praise and keeping thy holie will And forasmuch as thou hast thought good to set vp thy seruant our Queene a woman and a fraile vessell ouer vs to gouerne this kingdome and that she must render an account thereof a hard thing so to doo before the iudgement seat of thy Sonne Christ send downe we beseech thee O Father send downe such grace from thy high throne vpon thy daughter our Queene Elizabeth as thou knowest most necessarie for the performance and execution of so great a charge Thou hast giuen hir Councellers grant that she may vse their counsell happilie indue them with godlie righteous and carefull harrs that they may be both willing and able simplie faithfullie to consult and also prouidentlie to prouide aswell for thy church as for hir and vs hir people It is thy grace O Lord that we hir people renewed with thy word doo suffer our selues to be nourished with the same send foorth therfore faithfull shepherds godlie and true teachers to feed vs and driue awaie all hirelings and rauening woolues from this flocke of thine and of thy sonne Iesus Christ. Besides this so blesse vs the sheepe of thy pasture that we may neuer denie thee the chiefe honour our Queene thy deputie hir obedience and our neighbours mutuall loue Furthermore of thy goodnes mainteine peace and tranquillitie defend our Queene hir kingdome and countrie from bloudie warres and especiallie protect hir and vs from hollowe harts from ciuill tumults and conspiracies which haue shaken the greatest part of Christendome And bicause the affliction of euerie poore creature apperteineth to hir in so much as she is thine inspire the magistrates vnder hir with thy holie spirit that they may willinglie and carefullie mainteine iustice and prouide for the releefe of Christs poore members whose treasures both she and we and all others are whom thou hast blessed with thy earthlie benefites Heare our praiers we beseech thee for the sake of thy sonne Iesus Christ our redeemer to whom with thee and thy holie spirit bee all honour and glorie for euer Amen Morning and Euening praiers A praier to be said in the morning ALmightie and eternall God my Creator and louer I praise adore and blesse thee for that in mine offences and vngratefulnes thou hast so mercifullie and leisurelie forborne and suffered me to liue euen vnto this houre wherevnto by thy benefites thou hast brought me giuing to me thine vnworthie and reprochfull hand-maid both life and necessaries therevnto belonging appointing angels to be my keepers O good God who knoweth whether til euening my life shall be prolonged or what death is appointed for me Oh mercifull Lord God and heauenlie Father that I may with hartie repentance truelie repent my sinnes and inwardlie bewaile that euer I offended thy godlie maiestie suffer not my soule to depart this bodie before it be through thy mercie perfectlie reconciled adopted vnto thee by thy grace bedeckt with thy merits and vertues inflamed with perfect charitie and acceptable vnto thee according to thy will O mercifull Lord Iesu Christ if these things which I desire doo stand with thy pleasure grant them I beseech thee although I be not worthie to be heard Yeeld and giue I beseech thee of thine infinite mercie that by the merits of thy passion I may be purged from all my sinnes and that at the houre of my death I may be striken with true and vehement contrition and beeing knit with thee in perfect charitie I may immediatlie die vnto thee my sooeet Redeemer safelie and freelie from all damnation Neuertheles in all these my requests O best beloued Iesu I doo fullie and wholie offer and resigne my selfe vnto thee to be altogither disposed and ordered according to thy will and to suffer for thy glorious name sake desiring this one thing at thy hands that thou wilt remember my fragilitie vnworthines vnstablenes and miseries togither with thine owne goodnes and most charitable mercie praieng thee neuer to forsake or leaue me but that thou wilt alwaies possesse and gouerne me according to thy will Amen Another Morning praier OH Lord my God and most benigne Sauiour Iesus Christ who when I was not didst creat and make me capable of the souereigne and onelie good and being made a thrall and bondslaue through my forefathers trespasse didst redeeme me with thy most pretious blood and losse of thy sacred life abiding the torments due to my trespasses to acquite and rid me from the same For these O Lord and all other thine inestimable benefites namelie for hauing preserued me this night past and all the time and daies of my life hitherto I yeeld thee most humble zealous and obedient thanks offering my selfe wholie to thee as I am wholie thine beseeching thee also of thine infinite clemencie to preserue me this daie and euer from anie waies offending thee and to direct all my thoughts words and works to thine euerlasting glorie Mine estate and calling is as thou knowest O Lord inuironed with manie difficulties and dangers and through mine euill customes and wicked inclinations hardlie can I without thy speciall assistance passe this daie no not one minute thereof without offending thee in manifold sinnes Keepe vnder therefore O Lord my concupiscence and refresh my conscience with the dewes of thy diuine grace O giue me strength I praie thee to fight the good fight of faith more coragiouslie and perseuerantlie than hitherto I haue done and make thou me able to subdue all wicked suggestions of the enimie Trulie Lord heere in humilitie and sinceritie of hart I protest neuer willinglie by thy gratious fauour to offend thy lawes and commandements anie more I detest all sin and whatsoeuer may anie waies displease thy sacred maiestie I desire to loue thee feare thee and serue thee this daie and euermore and to direct all mine actions to thine honor and glorie Assist me Lord with thy grace and enrich my pouertie with the plentie of thy merits for in the vnion of that charitie wherwith thou discendedst from heauen in the blessed virgins wombe and afterward offredst vp thy selfe on the crosse in sacrifice for our sinnes in the vnion of this thy incomprehensible charitie I saie I offer vnto thee whatsoeuer I shall doo thinke or speake this day beseeching thee through thy mercifull goodnes to accept gouerne blesse and enrich me and all that I go about in such sort as thy glorie may be thereby procured my neighbours welfare occasioned and mine owne soule better fortified and prouided To thee my sweet and onlie sauiour Christ with the Father and the