Capacity which are calleed the mightes of the Soule invvard The gifts of Nature as beauty comly shape strength agility and svviftnes My v. wits corporal limms and menbers as hands feete mouth nose eyes and eares vvhich be the mightes of the Bodye outvvard And vvith these also the gifts of fortune as meate drinke and cloth vvorldly riches and al other things necessary for Body Soule vvhich many a good creature that hath serued thee better then I haue wante Al honour and praise be to thee for al these thy louing kindnes that thou o Lord hast shewd to me and I not withstanding haue bene so vnkind to the in mispending these thy giftes litle concidering thy aboundant goodnes I humbly aske mercy o Lor for thes my trespasses and loueingly I thāke thee for thy greate Grace and goodnes Praises to God for his gracious visitation Inspiration and Preseruation AL honour and Prayse be to thee o Lord for thy manifolde mercies in hauing so often visyted my harte vvith thy Graces spiritual motions and good Inspirations And also hast kepte defended and deliuered me this day night and al the daies and times of my life vnto this howre from many perils and dangers of body and soule As from fire and vvater lightning thunder and tempeste from slanders shames and rebukes of this vvorld and many other mischiefes into vvhich for my sinnes I might iustly haue fallen thou o Lord hauinge suffred many a vvorthier person then I both in strength beauty cunning sodainly to be punished for their defaultes But merciful Lord me thou hast spared and forborne hast suffred me in al my great and greuos trespasses vvhich I haue don against thee more then they paciently abiding alway for my conuersion and amēdment vvhen rightfully thou might haue slaine me and damned me also perpetuallye Others Lord thou hast punished by great troubles many vvaies as by imprisonment hunger thirst could and heate blindnes and madnes by bakbiting and open infamy and me vnkinde vvretch thou caledst by friendly chastisings as by bodily sicknes by death of frendes or losse of vvorldly goods And somtime thou admonished me calling me againe vvith ful benigne and tender loue by exāple of others that haue ben drowned slaine or dead sodainly in my company and I spared and saued vvhich if I had then finished my life as they did I had ben vnready to thee dyed in my sinne Thus then hast thou saued me both soule and body from many perils and dangers diuersly for the which I geue thee most harty and louing thankes For the multitude of al these thy mercies forgeue me I beseeche thee o Lord my great offences and remember not my sinnes and Iniquities but of thy goodnes pardone me geue me grace cōtinuallye to yelde acceptable thankes vnto thee for al thy B. Benefites Laude Praise for our Sanctification Vocation to the Vnitie of the Catholike Churche ABoue al these thy mercies hast thou o Lorde of thy especial grace and goodnes knit me to thee by calling me to the knowledge of thy selfe and making me a member of thy Church catholike wheras many thousand Iewes Turkes Infidels that haue bene borne since I was haue died in their iniquities and many hundred thousand also since the beginning of the world vntil this time more worthy and noble then I if it had plesed thee o Lord thou mightest haue made me one of them and so to haue liued and died as they did But of thy especial mercy and tender loue hast thou chosen me among so many thousāds to be one of thy darlings borne now in the time of grace among Christian people and vnder the Keyes suffrages of holy Church for the which al honour be to thee for euermore Amen Thankes and praise to our Sauiour Iesus for the Benefices of Redemption Glorification and fruition O Blessed Iesus I Laude and honoure thee vvhich for my sake vvas borne of the B. Virgin and suffred here for the space of xxxiij yeres hunger thirst cold and heate and after al dispite and painfull death And by that thy death and bitter Passion thou bought vs out of the thraldome of the fiende the third daye thy Soule and body being knit again together by thy glorious Resurrection And in thy Ascention hast thou abled be to be a Prince or Princes in the high Blisse of Heauen not ten or xx yeares as earthly Princes liue here in this life But euer to liue vvorld vvithout end in al Ioye Blisse endles Felicitye Great is the revvarde o Lord thou hast prepared for me if I leue my sinne continue in thy seruice to my liues end That is three dovvries in my soule and fiue in my bodye The three of my soule be these perfect loue and Charity in thy Diuine Maiestie Clere Inspection of thy B. Godhead And true knitting and perpetual vnion to thee vvithout dissolution or departing from thee And the bodie shal be indued vvith v. special giftes As brightnes svviftnes subtilnes able to pearse euery thing as the Sunne pearseth the Glasse impassibilitie neuer to suffer paine of hunger or thirst could or heate sorovv ne sicknes trouble or heauines and Imortality euer to liue in Ioy and al felicitie and neuer die Al vvhich vvhen I concider perceiue and that thou o Lord might haue made me a stone stub or anie other deade creature and haste not so done But of thy especial great mercye hast aduanced me so worthilye hauing made and abled me to be an heyre and to Inherite the high blisse of heauen in the companies of Angels and al Sainctes there with them thee to praise thee to loue and in thee to Ioye world without end I cannot but with sorowful harte lament my great Ingratitude towards thee O merciful Lord for thy great mercye forgeue me al my sinnes I beseech thee according to the multitude of thy compassions take pitie vppon me And geue me grace daile to goe forward in thy holy seruice Faith Feare and Lone and in the same to continue to my liues end A Praier for mercy and forgeuenes of sinnes and for Grace to geue God thankes for his Benefites HAue mercy on me o God and of thy especial Grace graūt me that I may with al my wits bodily ghostly thanke thee entirly for al thy benefits calling to my helpe our Blessed Ladie with al the number of Electe to Praye and beseche thee Lord of thy great goodnes to graunt the same and to haue mercie on me and forgeue me my sinnes That we together may thanke praise laud thee nowe and euerlasting Amen O Lord for the gifts of Fortune we Laude and praise thee saying Laudamus te And for the giftes of Nature wee Blesse thee saying Benedicimus te For thy giftes of Grace we Adore and worship thee saying Adoramus te And for thy merciful keeping guiding and gouerning vs in this life we glorify thee sayinge Glorificamus te And for thy great mercy and metit of our last reward Gratias agimus tibi propter Magnam gloriam tuam Amen Praise to God for his long suffrance and calling and receauing sinners to his Mercy O Lord God almighty I Laud glorifie thee for al thy mercies which thou hast alwaies shewed to sinners paciently abiding for them mercifully Calling them benignely Receiuing them aboundantly geuing grace to them and to such familiarity admitting them as though they had neuer sinned O merciful Lord and pacient God what shal I say to thee for al these thy benefits What lauds and thankings shal I yeld to thee For if al my sinnes were auoided from me yet were I not worthy for the least of them to geue condigne thankes vnto thee but as a wretched sinner may with al my harte I Laude thee I Thanke thee I Honoure and worshippe thee And al Laude and Prayse be euer geuen vnto thee worlde without ende Amen The Conclusion O Holy Trinitie in Vnitie Vnitie in Trinite three in one and one in Three merciful and pitiful in al thy workes gracious in thy giftes and God of al bounty vouchsafe to heare benignely me thy wretched and sinful seruant and with me al the Sainctes of thy Heauenlye Courte beseeching thee of mercye and forgeunes for my great ingratitude towards thee This Praise and thankes geuing o Lord which I presume to offer and yelde vnto thy Diuine Maistie Be it through the merits of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the prayers and of al thy Elect accepted and alowed in the Eares of thy mercy and pitie Raise me vp o Lord and mercifully releeue me Graunt pardon of al my sinnes paste forgeue my gilte present defend me from al to come Amen Pater Aue. Credo Te deum
hovv hastely they draw him forth to heape vpon his tēder bodye more painye and tormentes A Garlande of sharpe thornes they thruste vvith violence on his B. head til the blood ran downe into his eyes nose mouth eares They kneele then downe vvith scornes and rise with reproofes and spitte in his blessed face Se thē how that B. Ladye beateth her brest and vvringeth her hands I trow thou vvilte vveepe for that doleful sighte Looke yet again to thy Lord and see how spitefullie they hale him forth to an high hil there to naile him hand and foote to the Rood Tree See there first how fearsely they pul of his clothes how meekly he goeth then to the Crosse and spreadeth his armes abroad and how with cordes those pitieles Tormentors dravve them forth til his B. senewes Ioyntes al to bruste Then vvith greate boysterous Nayles they make faste to the Crosse his precious handes In the same maner thou may see how greeuosly they drawe his blessed legges and nayle his feete downe to the Tree Se then how they proffer him to drinke bitter galle and isel and knele again before him vvith manie despites Then harken to that good Lord how meekly he taketh his leaue of his gracious Mother and of his deare Apostle betaketh them ether to other as deare Mother and Sonne after vvith a lowd voyce he commendeth his Spirite to his Father in Heauen hanging downe his B. head vpon his breaste Se also how soone after they pearce his harte vvith a Speare in great fury and how bloode and vvater gusheth forth of his B. side Then maiest thou haue ful great pity behoulding that good Ladye how for sorow she shrinketh down in her sisters armes Take heede to the heuy chere of his Apostle S Iohn To the teares of Magdelein and of his other friends I hope among al these thou shalt haue compunction Then is it time to speake for thine owne neede and for al others aliue and dead that trust to thy prayers Caste downe thy bodie to the ground lifte vppe thy harte vvith doliful chere and make thy prayer in maner as foloweth O Lord God Almightie blessed may thou boughtest me thy sufferance is great in me Thou vvouldest not condemne me hauing often times iustly deserued it But thou hast kepte and saued me til I vvould forsake sinne and turne wholy to thee Now Lord with sorowful harte I acknowledge to thy Goodnes that I haue misspente vvithout profite al my vvittes powers and vertues that thou haste geuen me to the helpe of my soule Al the time of my life haue I vvasted in diuers vanities al the līmes of my bodie in sinne and superfluities The grace of my Christendome in pride and other vvretchednes and trulie Lord manie other things haue I loued better then thee and not vvithstanding my great vnkindnes euer thou haste norished me tenderly kepte me Of thy great suffrāce I had ful litle knowledge of thy great rightuosnes I had but litle dreed I tooke no hede to thāke thee for thy great goodnes but in al my life from daye to daye great matter of vvrath haue I heaped vppe through mine owne vvickednes Therfore sweete Lord vvhat I shal say to thee I knovv not But only this vvorde in vvhich I trust God of thy great mercie haue mercie vpō me I acknowledge o Lord al that I haue commeth onlie of thee I knowe wel vvithout thee nothing may be but sinne and vvretchednes vvhich commeth of me Wherfore Lord vvith meke hart I beseche thy goodnes doe not to me as I haue deserued but after thy great mercy send me the grace of the holie Ghost to lighten my hart to comfort my spirite to establish me in the right vvay and to performe thy wil that I may haue perseuerance in that I haue begun and neuer hereafter be seperated from thee by my vnstablenes ne by temptations to my enemie I am vvorthy o Lord to be chastised for my vvicked liuing vvith vvhat rod it pleaseth thee vvelcome be it Pacience good Lord send me gladlie to suffer thy correction comfort me among of thy grace vvhen thy vvil is vvithdraw thy rod take me to thy mercie Ful bitter be the temptations ful greuous to suffer but though they be dreedful I knovv they shal hereafter to my soule be meedful O Lord thou knowest my hart is right feble much is my vnstablenes my knowledg ful litle Therfore good Lord strengthen me establish me and teach me and as thou made and bought me so keepe and defend me Bodie and Soule I commit to thee not as I vvil but as thou wilt Lord so be it And novv good Iesu Gods Sonne that knowest al things helpe me in al vvicked thoughts that I displese thee not in liking or consenting Ful oft I haue offended thee in diuers thoughtes against thy vvil much to my liking therfore it is thy rightuousnes that I be trubled with other thoughts at thy pleasure that be greuos to me But swete Iesus vvhen thy vvil is put them from me and take me to mercie O Lord Iesus Christ Gods Sonne keep my mind that I dilight not in vaine thoughts Iesus Christ Gods Sonne vvhich stood stil before a Iudge nothing to him answering vvith draw my tongue til I consider hovv and vvhat I shal speake that may be to thy vvoorshippe Iesus Christ Gods Sonne vvhose hands vvere bound ful sore for my loue guide gouerne my hands al my other members that my vvorkes may euer beginne to thy vvorship and graciously end to thy moste honoure Arise o Lorde and helpe vs And for thy holie names-sake saue deliuer vs. O Lord Iesus Christ cause me to haue in thy loue a meane vvithout mesure an afection vvithout meane a longing without order a burning desire vvithout ceassing O Lord I beseche thee of mercie also for al thos that doe desire my prayers though I be a most vvretched sinner vnvvorthy to be hard haue regard to their humilitie and deuotion and vvhat they desire to thy vvorship graunt thē for thy goodnes Graunt them and me to al other that I am behoulding to or bound to pray for grace to loue vvhat is moste to thy liking thee to loue aboue al thinges nothing to desire that should thee displese Al temptations mightily to withstand al other vanities o Lord for thy loue to dispise Thee good Lord euer to haue in minde and in thy seruice to abide to our liues ende and if thou graunt vs anie thing to doe that shal be to vs meedful graūt part o Lord to the Soules departed abidig thy mercie in the paynes of Purgatorye Amen In such maner thou maiest pray in the beginning and vvhen thou art entred in deuotion thou shalt percas haue better feeling in praier and holy meditations then I can shew Good brother or sister pray then forme vvrit by the teching of Almighty God haue vvhich
to make Remember you are novv before a moste mighty Deuine Maiesty The Creator and Redeemer of your selfe all Mankinde vvhome Infinite Numbers of Angels all the Caelestiall multitude doe continually adore vvorshipe vvith feare tremblinge And your selfe a most wretched vnworthey Creature fraile vnstable falling from him dulle vn-apte to call vpon him And yet his mercy is so muche his goodnes so great that he is euer ready to heare graciously to graunte your lawful requestes and to receiue you when you come vnto him also to forgeue you al your offences when you are hartely sorye aske mercye for them Likewise he is one that hath and doth most bountefully bestow vpon you al thinges necessary for body and soule hath and doth defend kepe feede nourish you al creatures And that before his diuine Presence you nowe presume to enter and to present you selfe To Intreate beseech Require mercye and forgeuenes of sinnes for your selfe al others to offer the Sacrifise of Prayse Thankesgeuinge Therfore with al humility reuerence prostrate your selfe at the feete of his mercye Indeuore vvith deuotion to accomplish that you come for But before you begin your praiers that you maye the rather offer them vvith cleannes of harte geue thankes to God not only for his Benefits but chefely for his goodnes in him selfe Make it fully knovven to your harte as true it is vncertaine vvhether you shal liue to the ende of your Prayers or not Indeuor therfore thay maye be such as if it shold so happen before you had ended them that so through the mercy of God they may be acceptable vnto him for the ful forgeuenes of your former offences the receiuing you to his fauoure And that you may the more perfectly beginne continevv and ende al your prayers and other good actions In the Name to the honoure glorye of God the moste holy blessed Trinitye haue in minde his greate goodnes tovvardes you Benefits bestovved vpon you geue thankes for them and also that the Passion of our Lord may take the more effecte the benefit of it be Imparted the fruite ther of Inioyed and in al spiritual Practises remembred You may yf it please you begin your Prayers in manner as folovveth Meekly falling on your knees your hart ioyned hands being Eleuated to God VVhat is first to be vsed at the beginning of Prayer IN the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amē In the Name and Honoure of our Lord IESVS Christ Emanuel Crucified for our Redemption and Saluation In the Honoure of God the moste holy Blessed Glorious and Indeuided Trinitye and Eternal Maiestie In the Honoure of our Lorde Iesus Christes Humanity and In memory of his greate Charitye towardes me and all Mankinde In the vvorshippe of oure Blessed Ladye the holye Virgin S. Marye and In minde of her Humilitye In the Name and Honoure of God the moste holye Trinitye In Vnitie Vnitie In Trinitye To whom be al glory And In the Honoure and Memory of our Lorde Iesus Christes humble Incarnation his Chaste Natiuitie his life Conuersation Charitable Death Bitter Passion His glorious Resurrection Asscension the Comming of the Holye Ghoste In the Honoure and Memorye of all the Laboures Vertues of our Lorde Iesus Christe of his holy Lyfe Conuersation In the Honoure and Memorye of the bitter Agonie Blooddye Svvete and Painfull Prayer that our Lorde Iesus Christe made in the Mounte of Oliuet Before his taking B. Passion And In Honour Memory of al the Partes Paynes of his moste Blessed bitter Paynfull Passion In the Honoure and Memorye of the fiue Woundes that vvere persed in our Lord Iesus Christes Blessed Bodye and Handes Feete his Side Harte And that I may vvith all Humillitie Reuerēce haue in Minde vvorship aright as I ought al the Precious droppes of Blood that our Lord Iesus Christ shed for my sake all Mankinde And likevvise that I may euer haue in minde obtaine the Promised laste Revvard of Saluation Glorification Perpetual Fruition of the Deyitie eschevve the Punishmēt Payne of eternal damnation I offer thes my praiers O God moste holy o A Donay in thy Name to thy honoure glorye I Begin Continue end these my prayers I offer this my dutie and laboure vnto thy moste Sacred Diuinitye O Good Lorde Iesus Christe I offer vnto thee my harte Soule and I offer my selfe Bodye and Soule vvith all the partes povvers vvorkes therof all my thoughts vvordes and deeds all my Intentions and Actions and all the Laboures of my hands To doe thy vvyll in al accōplish all to thy honore glory novv all the time of my life And I beseeche thee O God Holye Ghoste geue me grace and strength to doe thy vvill in all thinges to obay serue loue thee aright to offer these my Prayers vvith cleannes of harte purity of Intention vprightnes of Action vvith Attention Deuotion In perfect charity vvith true humility in the Vnitye of thy true Church Faith Catholike that they maye ascend into thy sight be acceptable vnto thee as a swete Sacrifice of Insence O Blessed Indeuided Trinity I offer vnto thy deuine Omnipotēcie these my Prayers dutie laboures for my health helpe parfect vveale for al things necessary for my body soule for the right direction of my vvhole Life as it may be best pleasing and moste acceptable vnto thee And likewise I offer vnto thy Omnipotent Maiesty o Holy and Glorious Trinitie these my Prayers dutie labours for the health helpe of soule and body of al other persons that thy B. vvil and pleasure is to haue praied for Quicke deade vvithin the Church vvithout in special general those in special that I am most behoulding to and bounde to Praye for by Inioyned penance blood or kinred promise debt or any other benefit receiued And for all other in generall that thy blessed vvill pleasure is to haue praied for And for vvhom and vvhat soeuer else thy Wysdome knoweth necessarye my frailtie can not acke That it may please thee to graūt vnto vs Pacience in all temptations tribulations ghostly bodelye Protection defence against all enemies visible inuisible Constancie perseuerance in vertue al goodnes helpe releefe in all needes necessities Ease deliuerie out of al troubles affictions that vvee are in or may any vvaye happen vnto vs. And to liue dye in the Vnitie of the true Catholike Faith Church and come to blisse O moste Blessed Glorious Indeuided Trinitie I humbly here prostrate my selfe before the Feete of thy Deuine Maiestie and mesurlesse mertie Beseeching thee of mercy forgeuenes of sinnes for my selfe and all others
euil teach and illuminate my minde gouerne me both within and without strengthen my weake spirite against inordinate pusillanimitie and superfluous scruples of Conscience and humble it that it fal not into presumption Geue me right Faith vnmoueable Hope sincere perfect Charity that I may sweet lie delight in thee I may loue thee hartelie and euery vvhere I may fulfill thy holy vvill and pleasure O Holy blessed Trinitie God omnipotet I comment vnto thee al my bussines both spiritual and corporal I cōmend vnto thee my benefactours my neyghbours my friends my familiars al for whom I ought to pray al those which haue desired or doe desire my prayers I cōmend vnto thee the whole Catholike Church renew in it I beseeche thee purity of life graunt that ech one may corect him selfe norish kepe amog them that are members of the same Church mutual charitie and continually to loue thee Such as doe erre call backe into the way of Saluation extinguish al heresies conuert those to the knowledge of thy Faith which as yet doe not know thee Comfort and lift vp al that are trubled in mind and conscience such as are opressed with temptations and calamities All Hayle o holy Virgin Marye the white Lillie of the B Trinitie of whom the king of Heauen Iesus Christ the brightnes of his Fathers glory wolde be borne and with they sweet milke be fedde and norished O blessed mother assist my weaknes in al temptations and necessities in al peril of sinne and in the howre of my death that thou helping and protecting me I may be safe in our Lord. O Blessed Spirits Angellical pray for me and espicially thou holy Angel the keper of my soule and body haue thou faithful care ouer me O al ye holy Sainctes of God which haue passed ouer the troubles and vexations of his exile and haue atained most happily to come to the porte of the celestial countrie I most humbly cal you vnto my protections helpe with your metites and praiers both now in the howre of my death Amen A Praier to be vsed at the begining of worke O Most glorious and indeuided Trinitie the Father Sonne and holie Ghost vvho art the onlie and euer lasting goodnes vvithout vvhom nothing may be parfecte I besech thee by thy almighty povver confirme streng then my memory by thy vvisdome lighten mine vnderstanding and by thy goodnes reforme and make perfect my vvill that this vvorke vvhich I now goe about may begin ende to thine honor glory to the help and confort of my neighbour and saluation of my soule the vvhich vvorke my selfe also body soule I humbly offer to thee Conuert me to thee o heauēly Artificer driue away the olde man with al his vicious inclinations and make me anew Create in me o Lord a cleane harte an vpright intention in this all other my vvorkes that both in me and them thy holy name may be glorified and thy B. vvil fulfilled An other to be vsed at the ende of worke TO thee o God be al praise which hast permitted me to acōplish this vvorke Graūt O Lord it may be to thee acceptable to me healthfull and to others profitable Not vnto vs o Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy holy name geue golrye Amen A Deuoute Meditation to procure Contrition and kindle the fyre of Douotion and feruore in Prayer VVritten by the Reuerent and Deuout Richard Roule Eremite at Hampoole VVHen thou preparest thy selfe to Praier desirest to haue therein Deuotion Seeke some connenient place free from noise and trouble that thou maiest haue ther some time of quiet vvithout disturbāce sit or kneele as thou thinkest moste conuenient Then be thou Emproure Kinge or Prince Lorde or Ladye or any other persone of vvhat state soeuer Consider vvell there is a God that hathe made thee of nothing to his ovvne Image and likenes and hath bestovved on thee my righte vvittes and Sences my limes all other features of bodye with manye greate giftes grace spiritual corporal As memory vnderstanding wil also strengthe bewtye comlye shape with worldly ease pleasures that diuers others vvant vvhich liue in great distresse and much anguishe of bodie minde All vvhich thou maiest daily see and behoulde before thee Thinke also hovv frayle and sinfull thou arte and vvithout the keeping of that good Lorde thou sholdest fall into al kind of sinne and iniquity through thine ovvne vvretchednes and frailtye And further thou maiest thinke as of thy selfe there is no more sinfull a creature then thou art and if thou haue any grace of good lyfe in liuing more vprightly then some others Consider it commeth of God not of thy selfe by him that grace is freely geuen thee Call also to mind how longe God hath suffered thee in thy sinns and how often he might haue punished thee with perpetual payne vvhere-as by offending him thou deseruedst it yet of his great mercie and goodnes hath he spared thee for the amendment of thy lyfe that thou myghtest aske mercye and loueinglie hath he abiden thee vntil thou vvoldst come vnto him leaue thy sinne and returne vnto good life For lothe he vvere to forsake or lose that by death he bought ful deere vvith bittter paynes and the price of his most precious Blood Also thou mayest yet further considder that because he vvold not lose thee he became Man and vvas borne of a Virgin he liued here in pouertie anguishe and tribulation al his life and after that death he vvold suffer to saue thee by his mercye and bye thee againe that vvas loste by sinne and folie In this manner or the like thou mayest consider of his great goodnes and benefites And for obtayning of more grace and deuotion in thy Prayers and to get thee compunction Behoulde here vvith the ghostlie Eye of thy Soule Christs pitious paynful Passion FIrste Imagin in thy harte that thou seest thy Lord taken of his enemies vvith many reproofs dispites brought before a Iudge falsly there accused of manie vvicked men and answered right nought but meekly sufred their wicked and reprochful wordes They were desirous to haue him deade but first to suffer paynes Behould then that good Lord chiuering quaking al his bodie naked boūd to a piller and aboute him standing wicked men voyde of al reason sore scourging his moste blessed bodie vvith out anie pitye See now how they sease not from theire furious strokes though they see him stande in his owne blood From the toppe of his head to the sole of his foote hole skin they leue none his fleshe they rese to the bone for werines of them slues they leue him almoste for dead Looke then aside vpon his blessed Mother see vvhat sorowe she maketh for her deere Sonne haue compassion of her paine vvhich lyeth there in a swoone Turne then again to thy Lord and see hovv rudelie they vnbynde him