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
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
holie ghost be all glorie and praise euerlastinglie Amen A praier for the Euening when you go to rest O Most gratious Lord and mercifull Father I thy sinfull creature and most vnworthie hand-maid prostrate in my hart before thine high maiestie most humblie beseech thee of mercie and forgiuenes of all my sinnes iniquities that I haue this day committed against thee yea and euer sith the time that I was conceiued in my mothers wombe vnto this present instant and most hartilie I thanke thee that thou hast preserued me hitherto from all such offences as I haue not fallen in and whereinto anie other person through his owne fault and thy sufferance hath fallen into the which I also without doubt should haue fallen hadst not thou with thy grace preuented me saued me supported me and susteined me That I haue fallen manie waies my great fault and blame it is for the which in most humble wise I aske mercy and forgiuenes of thee That thou hast preserued me thy great goodnes mercie and grace it is for the which with all my hart I thanke thee And now I beseech thee most mercifull father that thou wilt no more be angrie with me neither hencefoorth forsake me but that thou wilt continuallie not onelie assist fortifie and strengthen me against the assalts of the diuel but also be my succour and defence in this night and alwaies to my liues end against all sinne iniquitie And that thou wilt vouchsafe also of thine abundant bountifulnes if it be thy will to refresh my brittle bodie so with conuenient rest this night that I may the more readilie freshlie and promptlie with all diligence serue thee to morow according to that state that thou hast set me and called me vnto so that all my life may please thee and through thine assistance be so ordered and gouerned that after this vaine and transitorie life I may attaine the life euerlasting through Iesus Christ our Lord So be it Or else praie thus before you go to bed O Lord Iesus Christ whose bottomlesse goodnesse we haue to thanke for all things who hast giuen the most cleere light of the daie time as well to the good as to the euill to go about such affaires and busines as we haue to doo and hast mercifullie giuen the louelie silence of the night for the strength of our weake and feeble bodies to be refreshed with lieng at rest and to put awaie the carefulnes of our minds and for the asswaging of our harts sorrowes whereas to all them that loue thee thou thy selfe doest much better accomplish and performe all those things within in the hart to whom towards all dueties and acts of godlie conuersation thou doest for their faith sake much more cleerelie shew the lampe of thy light than the sunne shineth bright vnto the world and whom thy promises doo not suffer at anie time to waxe weerie the comfort and consolation of thy spirit doth much more effectuallie wash awaie all heauines of hart than doth the sleepe of the bodie so that the whole man doth not in anie more safelie or more sweetlie repose him selfe than in thy mercie our most gratious Redeemer I beseech thee that whatsoeuer I haue this daie committed or done through humane frailtie and negligence that hath offended thine eies thou according to thine accustomed goodnes forgiue it me And also grant thou that this night to come thou prospering it may be luckie vnto me thou being my keeper it may be pure and thou being my defender it may be safe from all mightie illusions of the wicked spirits so that this rest sleepe which I shall now take may restore both my bodie and my soule more fresh and lustie against to morrowe to ferue thee in the perfect obedience of a Christian woman And forasmuch as this life hath not so much as anie one houre of assurance vnto vs when the euentide thereof shall come and the sleepe of this bodie and flesh shall grow vpon vs out of the which we shall not awake vntil such time as at the angels trumpet euen the dead also shall be raised I beseech thee that thou wilt at that time lighten the eies of my soule so that the lampe of my faith may not then be extinguished with the fiue foolish virgins and I sleepe in euerlasting death but contrariwise with the fiue wise virgins hauing my lampe of pure faith cleerlie burning I may be accepted and peaceablie rest in thee vnto whom euen the dead doo liue which liuest and reignest with God the father and the holie ghost for euer and euer world without end Amen Our Father which art c. Into thy hands O Lord I commit my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God of truth Unto him that is able to keepe vs that we fall not and to present vs faultles before the presence of his glorie with ioie that is to God onelie wise our Sauiour be all glorie and maiestie dominion and power praise and thanksgiuing both now and for euer Amen Amen A Table conteining the seuerall titles of euerie particular praier comprised in this fift Lampe whereby the reader may readilie vnderstand the right vse of the same and applie them accordinglie A Praier for silence shamefastnes and chastitie Page 1. A praier to be said of single women against all euill behauiour vice and vanitie and for the obteining of modestie chastitie and all maidenlie vertues 2. Another of the same 5. Another 6. For the grace of Gods holie spirit to resist all sinfull motions and keepe pure the state of single life 7. Another praier in the behalfe of all Virgins or single women for the keeping of obedience modestie chastitie puritie and cleannesse of liuing 9. Another praier to the same effect 10. A praier to be said for all virgins and maids generallie 11. A lamentation of anie woman virgin wife or widowe for hir virginitie or chastitie lost by fornication or adulterie not vnapt also to be vsed of anie Christian sinner or sinfull soule adulterated and fallen awaie by sinne from hir spirituall spouse Christ Iesus diuided into sixe seuerall Chapters 13 15 18 20 23 24. Another lamentation of a woman that hath lost hir virginitie and chastitie or of a Christian soule polluted with sinne 26. A praier of Marie Magdalens repentance 32. Another praier of the woman taken in adulterie 33. A praier to be said of anie damsell daughter or maiden-child 34. Another verie necessarie praier to be said of anie daughter or maiden-child 35. A praier to be said of a daughter in lawe that is married 40. Another praier to be vsed of a daughter in lawe 43. A praier to be said of anie woman when she is wooed of anie man to be his wife 46. Another praier to be vsed of anie woman before the solemnisation of hir marriage 48. Another praier to be vsed of the man or woman a little before they be married 49. Another meditation and praier
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
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
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
in lawe Let all contumelie despite rancor brallings tauntings curssings slanderings reuilings vpbraidings with such other like wicked and vnchristian behauiour either in thought word or deed of a reprobate and accurssed child of Sathan be far from me that so I may auoid the plagues threatned and obteine the blessings promised Take from me I saie O Lord all hardnesse of hart euill custome vaine opinion churlish conditions and disdainefull or coie behauiour neither let me willinglie greeue hir or in anie thing be offensiue vnto hir as long as we liue togither O let me not I saie through euill maners lewd disobedience and peruerse rebellion be a vexation of mind to this my mother in lawe and parents as Iudith and Bathcath the two wiues of Esau were to Isaac and Rebecca their father and mother in lawe but giue me grace after the good counsell of Raguell and the holie example of Sara his daughter to obeie this my father or mother in lawe as she did Anna and Tobit hir father and mother in lawe to honor hir in deed and in word and in all patience and to vse all gentle courteous mild meeke and sweet words yea all childlike dutie and christian behauiour vnto hir for thy sake that thereby I may win hir good will and motherlie fauour more and more towards me Grant that I knowing my father and she to be now all one flesh as my husband and I am one bodie may reckon and repute hir now also to be as mine owne mother and to take my husbands parents for my parents and so to loue cherish reuerence and obeie them in euerie condition no lesse than as mine owne naturall parents that being seruiceable alway vnto them and fulfilling in all points the roomth and dutie of a good and godlie daughter in lawe I may find them againe the more to loue cherish and prefer me as their owne daughter Let me not be displeased if my husband loue his owne mother but rather as it becommeth a good and a vertuous wife if I see he doth not behaue himselfe towards hir like a naturall sonne giue mee both grace and wisedome quietlie to exhort him and friendlie to desire him to behaue himselfe better towards hir that she seeing and well knowing my chastitie of bodie my louingnesse towards my husband and my good will and gentle nature towards hir may through these vertues if she be curst alter hir fierce mind towards me and turne it to good and be the better content with me neuer heereafter to hate me either as a daughter in lawe or as a stepdaughter Finallie grant that after the good example of vertuous Ruths obedience to Naomie hir old mother in lawe I may with great humilitie entirelie loue hir hartilie praie for hir and dutifullie honour serue cherish and obeie hir yea and to spare no painefull diligence to doo hir all the good I possiblie may or can in thee and for thee that thus obeieng nourishing and susteining my mother in lawe in hir necessities none otherwise than if she were mine owne mother and bearing patientlie at hir hands all infirmities and miseries for thy sake while I liue may to thy glorie and others good example declare my good affection and great loue that I beare towards hir as she that standeth both in awe and feare of thy commandements and gladlie endeuoureth to obeie thee and my superiours in all things according to thy word and that this my mother in lawe may also sometime worthilie saie of me to my praise and others encouragement as Naomie said of Ruth namelie that I am better in troth vnto hir than seuen of hir owne sonnes This grant O God for thine owne glorie sake and my comfort and commendation in Christ Iesus to whome with thee the holie Ghost be all honor glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen A praier to be said of anie woman when she is woed of anie man to be his wife O Lord God of our fathers creator of heauen and of earth the sea and all that in them is which workest all things according to thine owne purpose and will which rulest the harts of all men and women and disposest them after thine owne counsell as seemeth best to thy godlie pleasure Oh good God the preseruer of mankind in thy great loue by thy godlie prouidence thou didst prouide and giue vnto our first father Adam a fellow-helper not onlie like vnto himselfe but euen of his owne bodie and substance commanding them to increase and multiplie to the figuring and coniunction of thy deere sonne Iesus Christ our continuall and onlie mediator and thy holie congregation for the which blessed be thy name for euer Oh thou God of all comfort and father of all mercie when thou art angrie with vs for our sinnes then shewest thou vs mercie and in time of trouble and temptation thou forgiuest sinnes to all them that call vpon thee faithfullie To thee therefore oh deere father I turne my hart and direct mine eies as thou hast commanded vs to doo in all our needs and necessities beseeching thee to be mercifull vnto me oh deere God and heare me thy poore handmaid and worke of thy hands Thou hast made all mankind of the mould of the earth and hast wrought in me and this man that now woeth mee according to thy good pleasure Thou hast regenerated vs by thy holie spirit and new created vs in thy deere sonne Iesus Christ vnto good works that we should walke in them so that we can not nor may not come togither in marriage after the manner of the heathen which be ignorant and knowe not thee to be their God Now therefore O louing father to whome all harts are open and knowne in this beginning of our loue and coniunction of our minds I humblie beseech thee so to order our affections and rule our harts and desires that therein we seeke nothing but thy glorie and the profit of thy Church Therefore in Christes name I praie thee suffer vs not to go amisse but as a father helpe and guide vs to a right marriage in the which we may liue honestlie and prosperouslie euen as we ought to thy honour and either deliuer vs from all euill lusts and concupiscence of the flesh and defend vs from all slander and shame whereby anie offence may be giuen to thy people or else in thy good time take vs out of this earth and miserie Thou knowest O Lord that I haue not fished with poison nor endeuoured to allure him by deceipts charmes to loue me and that this coniunction of our minds is not begun in vs for voluptuousnes nor of lust but onlie in the feare of thee and for the desire of Christian societie and mutuall loue and the increase of godlie fruit to the profiting of thy holie congregation We knowe O Lord that it is thou onelie that prouidest the marriage that hast the harts of vs both in thy hand and that giuest the will to consent
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
both sense of that celestiall wisedome and a true desire of our coupling to thee In thee a true and burning good will towards man whose nature thou tookedst on thee is inflamed such a comfortable affection of vnfeigned loue should the chast bridegroome beare towards his beloued wife and the bride likewise to hir husband Thou louest and makest much of thy flesh thou nourishest and dooest comfort the faithfull ingraffed into thee by true faith and so should man and wife beeing one â—â—esh loue togither hartilie without all dissimulation Behold the Church according to the auncient custome of espousals lieth before the altar beseeching thee to reconcile thine eternall father vnto vs and to receiue vs into thy societie O our spouse most heauenlie make vs partakers of that couenant which thou entredst into with our nature Blot out all the filthinesse of our sinfull flesh by thy merite transforme vs into new through thine holie spirit and make vs by the same spirit to be one with thee depending vpon thee And forasmuch as thy diuine pleasure is to haue this heauenlie marriage to be celebrated among manie troubles in this miserable life where wine is not alwaies to be had and the face of thy Church is manie times like our water pots our fraile bodies oppressed with euils filled to the full with water and teares where also we are troubled if we be not heard when we make our praiers and hardlie we can bridle our selues with patience to expect thine houre assist and strengthen vs that these fraile vessels of ours in which thy Church hath hir nest be not broken through the malice of Sathan and rage of tyrants Graunt that in crosses and troubles of this life we may constantlie depend vpon thy counsell and assistance and doo that thing onlie which thou hast commanded and gratiouslie prouide that in that ioifull houre thy seruants and ministers may powre out the sweet wine of thy voice giue comfort in our greatest needs and bring vs to thee which art the truth and the life so that when this temporall marriage shall take an end wee may drinke new wine with pleasure in the feast of thy father Amen Ecclesiasticus 15 verse 2. As a pure virgin newlie married doth friendlie entreate hir husband so shall iustice and wisedome being pure and vndefiled greatlie entertaine hir louers Or thus Wisedome as a wife married of a virgin shall receiue or entertaine him that feareth God and keepeth the lawe A praier to be vsed of a virgin newlie married togither with hir husband the first night before they ioine togither in the dutie of marriage after the godlie example of Sara and Tobias who made and vsed the same before they laie togither for the space of three daies as appeareth Tob. cap. 8. 9. A sentence out of Tob. cap. 6. verse 17. worthie to be called to memorie of all new married folkes THey that receiue marriage after such a fashion that they shut God out from them and from their hart and giue themselues to their owne lusts euen as it were in Horsse and Mule which haue no vnderstanding vpon such hath the diuell power Therefore when thou takest an husband and art come into the chamber withhold thy selfe from him awhile and giue thy diligence vnto nothing but vnto praier with him that Sathan may haue no power ouer you that ye may be receiued into the companie of the holie Patriarchs and finallie that ye may obteine the blessing and fauour of God euen holie and sound children the fruits of your bodie and knéeling on your knées saie one after another as followeth ¶ The Praier or petition Husband BLessed and praised be thou O Lord God of our fathers and blessed is thine holie and glorious name for euer Wife Let the heauens blesse thee O God yea the earth the sea the welles the flouds and all the creatures that be therin praise and magnifie thee Husband Thou madest Adam of the mould of the earth and gauest him Eua his wife for an helper and staie Wife Of them came mankind O Lord and thou hast said It is not good that a man should be alone let vs make him an aid like vnto himselfe Husband And now O Lord thou knowest I take not this my sister to wife for fornication or voluptuousnes but vprightlie in thy feare for continencie and onlie for the loue and desire of children in whome thy name may be blessed for euer Wife Thou knowest also O Lord that I thine handmaid am pure from all sin with man and that I haue consented to take this my brother whome thou hast kept for me to be mine husband not for anie pleasure or fleshlie lust but in thy feare and for the desire also of children that in the seed of Abraham I may obteine thy blessing in children Husband Therefore haue mercie on vs twaine being the deerelie beloued children of our parents and cause vs to magnifie thee more perfectlie and to offer continuallie vnto thee the sacrifice of thy praise and of our health and sweetnesse for thy mercies extended towards vs. Wife Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord haue mercie vpon vs and as thou hast put awaie from vs the enimie that persecuted vs and made vs ioifull in thee so according to thy great mercie deale mercifullie with vs still and grant that we may come whole and sound each to other and become aged togither Husband Thy blessing O God be now and euermore vpon vs and vpon both our parents and as thou O Lord of thy goodnesse hast ioined vs togither so by the vertue and power of thy holie spirit blesse vs and multiplie and increase vs that we may togither see our children and our childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation Wife Yea let our seed be blessed of thee our most high and holie God that all people may knowe that thou onlie art God reigning in all the earth and to be blessed and praised for euer Husband Heare our praiers O God and for thy holie name sake grant our request through the intercession of our onlie mediatour and sauiour Iesus Christ our Lord. Wife Amen deere God Amen God the Father blesse vs God the Sonne blesse vs God the holie Ghost blesse preserue and kéepe vs the Lord mercifullie with his fauour looke vpon vs and so fill vs with all spirituall benediction and grace that we may so liue togither in this life that in the world to come we may haue life euerlasting Amen Another verie necessarie and fruitfull praier to be often vsed of all married couples for the obteining of a godlie louing and quiet life in that honourable state of Matrimonie FOrasmuch as it hath pleased thee O almightie God the creator and anthor of all things to direct both our minds rule our hearts and call vs from single life vnto this holie state of honourable wedlock whereby through thy mercie we haue not onlie escaped the entising snares of Sathan our ancient enimie the euill example of
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
of his worke or finallie by following his diâ—elish temptations and the wrath of our harts in giuing place without anie resistance to euerie thing preiudiciall and hurtfull to this our blessed state and honourable degree But giue vs grace rather good Lord we entirelie beseech thee before all things to take heed that by no meanes we giue anie occasion to our ghostlie enimie to let or hinder our praiers and holie exercises through dissention or discord and diligentlie to applie our selues stoutelie to resist euill and to weed out by little and little the noisome wâ—eds of vncomelie demeanour vnchristian behauiour rude maners churlish conditions euill dispositions and vngodlie extremities out of our hearts and minds with the wholesome precepts of thy diuine word the which giue vs grace diligentlie both to heare reade meditate and imitate day and night that in time we dooing our duties each to other as therein we be taught of thee may reape and feele the fruit thereof hourelie to both our comforts in Christ and thy glorie And because it cannot otherwise possible be but that offences shall sometimes either be giuen or taken betwixt vs by reason of the manifold discommodities that come with this commoditie suffer vs not good Lord we beseech thee to stand stiffe at anie time in our owne opinions faults or wilfulnesse or to mainteine impudentlie and incorrigiblie our errours by friuolous excuses and vngodlie reasonings neither yet busilie to find fault each with others calling each for others dutie towards our selues and in the meane time neglecting our duties both to thee our selues and others yea rather giue vs the grace of thy holie spirit to acknowledge our faults and follies each to other with charitable forgiuing one another and mutuall reconciliation that we may be well pleased and contented one with another and in all things each of vs beare and forbeare others infirmities and weakenesse Grant that either of vs may doo our best diligentlie to performe our duties one to the other as becommeth and we haue vowed and promised as namelie to praie hartilie and often one for another to labour to the vttermost of our powers to frame vse and occasion our selues to softnesse meekenesse gentlenes lenitie and long sufferance bearing well in worth such ouersights as chance and passe in our life and conuersation and still drawing during life the sweet yoke of our fellowship equallie in one concord of hart and agreement of mind so shall it come to passe that all strife and debate shall be cleane banished and pleasant loue sweet amitie and continuall concord shall be embraced of vs so shall we haue our harts staied in stable truth and comfort in all perils and necessities and most happelie passe through the dangers of the troublesome sea of this wretched world in great ioie and peaceable quietnesse to our comfort our neighbours profit and thy glorie which God grant Finallie if thus we doo godlie and christianlie vse our holie state of matrimonie we shall not onlie be armed on euerie side the better to escape the snares of the world the flesh and the diuell but also enioie the ioifull iewell and most singular benefit of a quiet conscience yea so shall all discommodities worldlie or ghostlie be taken away from vs and all things both spirituall and temporall turne to our commoditie and pleasure To conclude so shall our praiers be heard and gratiouslie granted vnto vs and God euen our owne God continuallie followe vs with his benediction and blesse vs both within and without at home and abrode and giue vnto vs all those his good gifts and benefits perteining or needfull either to our bodies or soules which he hath so often promised in his word to powre vpon all such as loue feare serue him both heere and in the life to come the which good things that they may the better be fulfilled and more effectuallie happen and come vnto vs heere present in the due time as thou seest need and we hartilie wish and desire we humblie praie thee O most excellent father who art in deed the verie authour of our marriage to be now and alwaies present with vs by thy grace and holie spirit plentifullie powred into our harts which may perpetuallie continue loue concord and charitie betweene vs and luckelie defend keepe and mainteine vs in this honourable estate that neither we be ouercome with anie temptation nor with anie aduersitie Finallie grant vs thy blessing fauour and protection in this world and in the world to come endlesse ioie and eternall felicitie through the onlie merits of our sauiour Iesus to whome with thee and the holie Ghost our maker redeemer and sanctifier be euerlasting praise honor and glorie both now and for euer Amen Another praier to be vsed of married folkes to liue chastlie and purelie in holie matrimonie and to auoid the filthie lusts of whoredâ—me FOrasmuch as O heauenlie father we trulie acknowledge thee an holie and righteous God our onelie God and maker the knower most trulie of our weakenes and infirmitie our readie and gratious helper our guide and director to holinesse and the onlie author of the blisfull state of matrimonie whereby all thy chosen children might liue in chastitie and holinesse and auoid the vnchast life of whoredome and vncleannesse Grant vnto vs we beseech thee that being called by the spirit vnto that holie state for our lawfull remedie to saiue our weakenesse to quench the raging lusts of old Adam and in holines to beget children for the increase of thy kingdome we may liue togither therein in thy faith feare and loue dutifullie louinglie and peaceablie with modestie in lowlinesse and chastitie all the daies of our liues that both our conuersations togither in all respects being coupled with feare and framed with one consent according to thine holie will and to the godlie edifieng of others representing by it in all points the mysterie figured betweene Christ and the congregation thou maist haue pleasure in our godlie behauiours Blesse vs in all our enterprises and make vs fruitfull and ioifull parents And to the increasing of our ioie O Lord in thee we humblie praie thee that thou wilt of thy great mercie giue both vnto vs and to the offspring of our bodies lawfullie begotten thine heauenlie grace that as we most christianlie endeuouring our selues to traine them vp in thine holie nourture and doctrine so they likewise by the infusion of thine heauenlie grace may haue their hearts prepared to receiue and hold sure for euer the onlie word of righteousnesse that lightneth clenseth best ruleth and most trulie directeth the soules of the righteous to the plaine and most pleasant path that leadeth to the life euerlasting through the merits of Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lord Amen Another praier to be vsed of such married couples as where the woman is not past child-bearing O Mercifull Lord and heauenlie father which by thine almightie power hast made all things of naught which also after other
things set in order didst appoint that out of man created after thine own image and similitude woman should take hir beginning and knitting ioining and sanctifieng Adam and Eue togither in marriage didst teach that it should neuer be lawfull to put asunder those whom thou by matrimonie hadst made one O gratious God which hast consecrated the state of matrimonie to such an excellent mysterie that in it is figuâ—ed and represented the spirituall marriage and vnitie betwixt Christ and his Church looke mercifullie with thy fauour from heauen vpon vs thy poore creatureâ— whome it hath pleased thee in mercie to call from single life and to ioine by free consent togither in this holie state of honourable wedlocke And as thou O eternall God the giuer of all spirituall grace and the author of euerlasting life didst send thy blessing vpon Abraham and Sara to their great comfort so vouchsafe to blesse vs O Lord and to send thy benediction vpon vs thy seruants yea so sanctifie vs twaine and powre plentifullie vpon vs the riches of thy goodnes so sowe the seeds of eternall life in our minds and fill vs with all spirituall benediction and grace that as Isaac and Rebecca liued faithfullie togither euen so we carefullie keeping thy commandements diligentlie obeieng thy holie will and pleasure and alwaies guided by thy good and gratious spirit may trulie performe and surelie keepe the vow and couenant betwixt vs made before thee and the congregation and may euer remaine persist and abide in perfect amitie stedfast peace and continuall concord vntill our liues end Grant also that we may profitablie fruitfullie learne our seuerall duties either towards other and both towards thee out of thy holie word and in deed fulfill the same to the furtherance of vertue and auoiding of all offence that so seruing and pleasing thee both in bodie and soule as those godlie men and women did to thy glorie and their perpetuall renowne we as persons highlie in thy fauour and shrowded alwaies in safetie vnder the comfortable wings of thy mercifull protection may most happilie prosperouslie and ioifullie like fruitefull parents seeing our childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation liue long togither vnto our perfect age in thy holie loue and all godlie honestie to our comfort and thy glorie and at the last rest with them in the bosome of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and be fellow-heires of the euerlasting kingdome in eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another praier for all wedded folkes generallie O Most holie God and mercifull father which of thy singular prouidence and woonderfull wisedome didst ordeine matrimonie in Paradise and that in the time of innocencie for the multiplieng and conseruation of mankinde thereby togather vnto thy selfe continuallie out of godlie families an holie Catholike Church which may rightlie acknowledge serue and celebrate thine holie name for euermore and deliuer the true vnderstanding of thee vnto posterities by one generation to another This thine institution did thy sonne God coequall with thee and coeternall confirme and adorne in Cana of Galile by turning water into good wine A notable honouring of marriage doubtlesse for Christ not onlie to be present himselfe at the nuptiall feast but also to set out the same with the first miracle that he wrought after his natiuitie Likewise the holie spirit doth witnesse by the word deliuered vnto vs and saith that marriage is honorable among all And the same thy spirit reioiceth in three things which are commended both before God and man viz. in the concord of breethren in the loue of neighbours and in a man and his wife that agree well togither for such as be at variance can neither call vpon thee as they should nor please thee as they ought O eternall God it is sufficientlie apparant with what a rage and insatiable hatred Sathan the most deadlie enimie to all thy works doth labour and set himselfe to the breaking off and ouerthrow of this thy sacred ordinance wherefore we beseech thee impart thy fauour as vnto vs heere present so vnto all married folks else-where that both we and they may acknowledge thee to be the author and institutor of this knitting togither in wedlocke and beleeue stedfastlie that we and they are in a good estate wherein we may please thee for hauing this comfort we shall more willinglie and cheerefullie discharge the duties of our calling in true confidence and calling vpon thy name But such as doubt of their kind of life hauing their consciences wounded and minds troubled can neither call vpon thee trulie nor cheerefullie go about and finish their affaires Grant therefore vnto vs and vnto all and euerie married bodie that in true faith and confession we may retaine the indissoluble chaine of wedded state and the strong bonds of godlie felowship that we may loue one another and in the sweate of our browes eate our bread and bring vp our children which thou shalt giue vs or hast giuen vs in all godlinesse through instruction and information of the Lord and neuer feare the crosse which accompanieth this kind of life O worke thou so good Lord that Sathan by no meanes weaken and ouerthrowe this thine ordinance nor that we married folks wearied with the troubles of wedded life raise no mortall hatred among our selues and so detest and abhorre this thine holie institution and seeke vnlawfull separations and diâ—orcements for else by this engin of incredulitie and snare of mistrust being comprehended we shall easilie rush headlong into enormous offences by casting off the yoke of the Lord and be carried through dissention into horrible confusions of concupiscence to adulterie whoredome wicked forsakings so long till polluted with filthie spots defiled with most horrible staines we and they bring our selues headlong into euerlasting torments Grant therefore O most mercifull God that all being now at debate may come quicklie to amitie and be reconciled in thy name and beeing mindfull of the knot of marriage and mutuall bond made betweene them may dwell and liue from hence forward peaceablie and louinglie togither in true faith and feare of thy name Grant that husbands abusing their authoritie ouer their wiues doo not exercise tyrannie ouer their wiues but rather loue them and dwell with them according to knowledge giuing honor vnto them as vnto the weaker vessell euen as to them which are also heires of grace and life Likewise grant that matrons and wines contemne not their husbands denieng subiection but rather studie by chaste obedience and holie conuersation and lowlinesse to ouercome them Let neither hate other extreamelie and so violate the state of marriage and bring themselues out of thy fauour through their discord and contention whereby their praiers be interrupted for where neither part do their dutie there must needs ensue first pouertie subtiltie lieng and all impietie afterward a wounded conscience and last of all vtter despaire O most chast God which didst therefore institute the order of
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
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
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
husband or friend is in prison and endurance or otherwise persecuted or in trouble and affliction see that hartilie you praie for him and saie as followeth O Lord Father of mercie and God of all consolation which rulest and disposest all things after thine vnsearchable wisedome and workest in thy creatures according to thy blessed will which is alwaie good and godlie howsoeuer blind fraile flesh iudgeth of it I knowe and vnfeignedlie confesse thine omnipotencie and almightie power I knowe that thou art able to doo what thy good pleasure is I knowe that thou bringest downe to the graue and fetchest vp againe Thou punishest with pouertie and makest wealthie againe Thou throwest men into the darke dongeons and loosest them out of prison againe breaking euen the gates of brasse and smiting the bars and bolts of iron asunder Thou dooest put downe and exalt againe Thou woundest and healest yea thou O Lord killest makest aliue againe Oh woonderfullie dooest thou worke in thy creatures especiallie in them whome thou hast appointed to be vessels of mercie and inheritors of thine eternall glorie If they at anie time greeuouslie offend thy diuine maiestie as we be all sinners and readie at euerie moment to fall thou dooest neither long winke at their wickednes nor yet euer cast them off from thy fauour but like a louing phisician with some emplaister or salue although bitter to the flesh yet wholesome to the soule thou healest them and like a tender and gentle father correctest them with some temporall punishment that by this meanes they escaping euerlasting punishment may repent them of their vngodlie behauiour confesse their wickednes flie vnto thy mercie and for euer after be the more circumspect in treading the paths of thy holie lawe On this manner didst thou handle the Israelits when they offended thy fatherlie goodnes On this manner didst thou deale with King Dauid and the Prophet Ionas for their disobedience with manie other whome notwithstanding for thy mercies sake after they had acknowledged their offences and called vpon thy holie name thou woonderfullie deliueredst aâ—d broughtest againe as it were out of the perillous seas into the hauen of quietnes I therefore thy poore creature and sorrowfull hand-maid perceiuing in thy holie word so large fountaines of thy great mercies plentifullie issuing out towards all them that be of a contrite heart and broken spirit am bold notwithstanding mine vnwoorthines by reason of my manifold sins to come at this present vnto thee and that for thy promise sake most humblie he seeching thee that as thou deliueredst Ionas out of the whales bellie Ioseph and Daniel from prison Peter thine Apostle out of ward and durance Dauid from the hands of his enimies Susanna from the power of hir aduersaries with manie other so in like manner thou wilt deliuer and set at libertie thy seruant and my faithfull and deere husband T.B. and that in such sort that it may be to thy glorie to his health to the comfort of me his wofull wife and sorowfull children and friends and to the reioicing of so manie as vnfeignedlie loue thy blessed word And although O God I formine imperfection am not worthie to craue and enioie so great and comfortable a benefit at thy mercifull hands yet I doubt not but for thy deerelie beloued Sonne Iesus Christes sake thou wilt most fauourablie heare me most fatherlie pitie me and most bountifullie grant me this mine humble request and I againe receiuing this notable benefit of my deere husbands deliuerance at thy hand shall not be vnthankefull but continuallie magnifie thy holie and glorious name which dealest so fauourablie with thy seruants when they call vpon thee in the name of Iesu Christ thine onlie begotten Sonne and our alone mediator and aduocate to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all praise and honor for euer and euer Amen When your husband or other friend is deliuered out of anie trouble looke that you giue God hartie thanks therefore and saie SO often as I consider thy woonderfull works O blessed and heauenlie father which thou workest of thine owne good will for so manie as in their trouble and aduersitie flie for refuge vnto thy holie name as vnto a strong hold and mightie fortresse I cannot but confesse and acknowledge thy singular kindnes and vnspeakeable good will which thou continuallie through thy fatherlie goodnes bearest towards thy seruants and for the same not merited of anie but freelie of thy mercie giuen I render vnto thee according to my most bounden dutie most hartie praises and entire thanks in consideration whereof the children of Israell being in miserable captiuitie lamentablie lamenting before thee their too much sorrowfull state by hartie praiers after that thou hadst deliuered them from the land of seruitude brast out into exceeding great praises glorifieng thy most holie and blessed name for their sweet and comfortable deliuerance The Citizens of Bethulia likewise being in great distresse called vpon thy glorious name and thou most mercifullie deliueredst them and they againe with merie voices and more ioifull harts soong vnto thee most hartie thanks In like manner when thou hadst deliuered Ioseph Daniel Dauid Peter and manie other thy seruants from their sorowes and calamities oh who is able to expresse with how readie and glad minds they magnified thee thy holie name I therefore sinfull woman excited and stirred vp with the godlie examples of these thy seruants knowing how greatlie thou delightest in the sacrifice of praise confessing also such is my beggerie that I haue none other thing woorthie to offer vnto thy diuine maiestie at this present addressed and prepared to celebrate thy great mercies do magnifie thy blessed name and render vnto thee most humble thanks and immortall praise that it hath pleased thee of thine exceeding goodnes the rather at the contemplation of my poore praiers to shew thy fauourable mercie in the deliuerance of thy seruant and my deere husband T.B. vnto my singular ioie and great comfort For this thy benefit most beneficiall father I so hartilie thanke thee as hart can thinke most intirelie be seeching thee that thou wilt giue him and me and vs all euen so manie as loue thy blessed word neuer to be vnmindfull of this thy benefit nor to commit any thing heereafter that should offend thy fatherlie goodnes or prouoke thy wrath against vs least through our disobedience we after this feele more bitter tokens of thy heauie displeasure than hitherto we haue done but in all our enterprises so to behaue our selues according to thy blessed will that thou maist delight in vs as a father in his children And vouchsafe to blesse vs with all spirituall blessings to enrich vs with the knowledge of thy heauenlie word and to worke in vs a life conformable to the same that other seeing our godlie manners and christian conuersation may be encouraged to embrace thy blessed word to magnifie thy holie name and in all points to frame their life
according to the rule of thy holy commandements through the inspiration of thy blessed spirit to whome with thee and thy deerelie beloued Sonne Iesus Christ be all praise honor and glorie for euermore Amen Amen Praiers to be said of women with child and in child-bed and after their deliuerie A praier to be vsed of a woman with child O Almightie and mercifull Father which of thy bountifull goodnes hast fructified my wombe and of thy gratious blessing hast created in me a reasonable creature I most hartilie thanke thee not onelie for this thy gratious gift but also for that thou hast at all times sith I conceiued preserued me from all perils both of soule and bodie and hast so moderated all my nips pinches and pangs that I haue hitherto right well escaped them I acknowledge O Lord that iustlie for our â—infull transgression of thy commandements thou saiedst vnto the first woman our grand-mother Eue and in hir to vs all I will increase thy sorowe when thou art with child with paine shalt thou bring foorth thy children All our paines therefore that we suffer in this behalfe are none other thing but a woorthie crosse laid vpon vs by thy godlie ordinance to the which with hart mind I humblie submit my selfe trusting surelie and being fullie persuaded in my faith that thou callest none into perill and danger but both thou canst and wilt at conuenient season deliuer them Thou most gratious God hast commanded vs in all our trouble to call vpon thee for aid and helpe and not only hast commanded vs but also of thy mercifull goodnes hast promised to vs good deliuerance saieng Call vpon me in time of trouble and I will deliuer thee O good Lord how greatlie doo these words comfort my hart and susteine my seelie soule Who would not greatlie reioice that knoweth certainlie almightie God to be present with him in his trouble Saith not God thus Or euer they call saith he I shall answere them While they are yet but thinking how to speake I shall heare them And in the Psalme I am with him saith God in his trouble out of the which I will deliuer him What a comfortable Lord is this He is more readie to helpe than we to call for helpe He is more readie to giue grace than we to aske it There was neuer anie yet that with a pure faith asked grace of his Lord but he had it Christ saith Aske and ye shall haue Euerie one that asketh hath He that saith euerie one excepteth none Uerelie verelie I saie vnto you saith Christ whatsoeuer you shall aske my father in my name he shall giue it you Our sauiour Christ saith this and he is God and shall not I hearken to my Lord Gods commandements promises Uerelie I will sticke surelie to it for sure I am that sooner shall heauen and earth perish than Gods promises be vnperformed For albeit euerie man naturallie is a lier and deceiuer yet God is alwaies true and iust in all his words and promises I will therfore make my sute vnto him whome I need not go far to seeke for he is euerie-where present with his elect and is nigh vnto all them that call vpon him faithfullie and thus will I praie vnto him FAther of mercie and God of comfort and all consolation I thy poore hand-maid humblie beseech thee for Christ Iesus sake and in his blessed and holie name that thou wilt vouchsafe to forgiue me all my sins and trespasses that I haue heeretofore offended in against thy godlie maiestie either in thought consent delectation word or deed and that thou wilt heereafter during my life mercifullie preserue me from transgressing of thy commandements and dailie increase in me perfect repentance for my sins a sure purpose of amendment of my life and a diligent studie to walke in thy commandements Increase in me also a liuelie faith a sure hope and charitie Ingraffe in me humblenes of hart meekenes of mind cleannes of conscience Grant mee that I may be wise sad sober discreet circumspect and well aduised in all my saiengs and that I may stronglie ouercome all the temptations of mine enimies the diuell the world and the flesh and that whether I be sleeping or waking eating drinking or whatsoeuer I doo all may be to thine honor and glorie Grant me also that I may humblie reuerence my husband and faithfullie loue him and be obedient to all his honest lawfull and godlie requests And chieflie of all grant mee O Lord that I may feare and dread thee for well assured I am that looke how high the heauen is in comparison of the earth and so great is gods mercie towards them that feare him Looke how wide the East is from the West so far hath he set our sins from vs yea like as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull to them that feare him And as touching my deliuerance of this burthen and thy gratious gift I am right well assured that vnlesse thou prosper my trauell all womens helpe and all physicke is in vaine but my full trust is that like as thou hast created this child in me and hast breathed into it the spirit of life so at such time as shall be feene most meete to thy most godlie maiestie thou both canst and wilt prosper the childs birth and my deliuerance In consideration whereof I humblie beseech thee of thy fatherlie pitie to strengthen me in this my dangerous labour and trauell and so susteine me that I may patientlie beare all my throwes and pangs and according to thy promise suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength but in the midst of my temptation make a way to come out that I may beare it Increase my faith O most mercifull sauiour Christ that I may constantlie beleeue thy word which saiest Ye shall be sorrowfull but your sorrowe shall be turned into ioie A woman when she trauelleth hath sorrowe for hir houre is come but when she is deliuered of the child she thinketh no more of the anguish for ioie that a man is borne into the world I be seech thee therefore in the dangerous time of my trauell grant me speedie deliuerance and ioifull beholding of my child that I being a merie and ioifull mother may render vnto thee honour laud praise and thanks for thine aboundant mercies and gratious gifts and benefits And finallie aboue all things I beseech thy gratious goodnes to endue my child with grace that it may be one of the number of thine elect baptised and regenerated in the holie Ghost and that at the yeeres of discretion it may learne to knowe thee and knowing thee may trust surelie in thy mercie trusting in thy mercie may hartilie loue thee louing thee may feare to displease thee and fearing to displease thee may bee obedient to thy commandements and finallie atteine euerlasting ioie and felicitie through our Lord Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie Ghost
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
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
she still calleth vpon thy holie name and putteth hir full trust to be saued onlie in thy mercie impute not vnto hir the manifold sinnes of hir former life passed but pardon them and take hir vnto thy high fauour through the bloudie merits and deere death of thine onelie begotten sonne Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen Or praie thus O Pitifull physician and healer both of soule bodie Christ Iesu vouchsafe to cast thine eies vpon this thy poore sinnefull creature our deere sister M. B. who is here thy captiue bound with the burden of child-birth greefe vnspeakable paines in the chaine of sinne and death for our transgression in our grandmother Eue turning this hir weaknes and greefe to thy glorie hir health and safe deliuerance And vouchsafe good Lord to send hir patient sufferance that she may stedfastlie continue to the end in these extremities that she may with a true and perfect faith in thee fight now a good fight and stand manfullie against all the temptations of the diuell hir mortall enimie when she may no longer continue O Sauiour of the world saue hir which by thy crosse and precious bloud hast redeemed hir Amen Adde this blessing THE almightie Lord which is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him to whom all things both in heauen earth and vnder the earth doo bow and obey blesse preserue and keepe this our sister and be now and euermore hir buckler and defence against all hir enimies and make hir to knowe and feele in hir soule and conscience that there is none other name giuen vnto man in whom and through whom she may receiue ease comfort health deliuerance and saluation but onelie in the most holie blessed and venerable name of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A praier of instruction to be vsed of the women in health attendant about the sicke and languishing woman in sore trauell for themselues O Most mercifull God and most louing Father we beseech thee haue mercie vpon vs and aid vs with thy grace holie spirit that we which be yet in good health and safetie and looke according to the condition of our nature for the like hour of adâ—ersitie but with more mercie and mitigation of our paines than as it seemeth our sister here endureth if it be thy will may learne to feare and dread thee may loue and embrace thy holie word and that we may set thee before vs as a scope and marke wherevnto we may direct all our dooings and that we boing alwaies mindfull of this thy crosse and heauie iudgement laid vpon all women in the loines of our grandmother Eue for hir and our transgression and euermore remembring the vnspeakable pangs intollerable paines and most bitter agonie of death may so prepare our harts and arme our selues that we may order all our deeds from hence-foorth in all holie and chast obedience both towards thee and our husbands or heads as well becommeth right christian women and modest matrones to thy glorie and as doo and and haue done all godlie women which feare thee in all ages that in the end we obteine to be fellow-heires with them of euerlasting life in the kingdome of heauen through the merits of our deere Lord and sweetest Sauiour Iesus Christ the righteous Amen Another godlie and effectuall praier to be hartilie said of the women assistant if the woman in sore trauell or child-bed lie in the pangs of death and be a passing this life O Lord God almightie the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three persons and one onlie God the Lord of life and the destroier of death with whom to be is life and from whom to be is death who as a louing father mercifull redeemer and freendlie caller to repentance hast now visited with the scourge of hard painefull and greeuous trauell or with vntimelie birth vnfortunate deliuerance and sore sicknes thy most sinfull daughter yea thy spotted creature defiled seruant and greeuous sinner S. B. to cause hir to knowe hir selfe and to confesse hir wickednes and so to come to thee at this thy calling to knowe thee and onelie to crie and call vpon thee for comfort Now thou O Lord whose propertie is euer to haue mercie and freelie to forgiue those that faithfullie come vnto thee we thine humble hand-maids with heauie harts most humblie beseech thee looke downe from heauen with thine accustomed eies of compassion vpon hir cast behind thy backe hir innumerable and greeuous sins throwe them all both old and new from hir as far as is the East from the West yea scrape the memorie of them out of thy sight quite forget them and freelie forgiue them hir as hir onlie trust is in thee O Lord be thou now vnto hir at hir most time of need a tower of strength a place of refuge and a defensible God to keepe strengthen and defend hir from the danger of the diuell now readiest to disquiet hir and destroie hir against desperation now busiest to greeue hir against death now likest to strike hir and against hell now gaping to deuoure hir Oh heauenlie father aid thou now hir Helpe hir and establish hir in the firme faith of thy truth Comfort hir now O sweet Christ and continue hir in the knowledge of thee hir onlie sauiour which art now in hir extreamenes and pangs of death readie to shew thy selfe vnto hir as hir sauiour crucified on the crosse to comfort hir Therefore now saue thou hir from sin deliuer thou hir now from eternall death hale hir from hell embrace hir hide hir in the holes of thy bloudie wounds as thy deere doue and beare hir manifold sins on thy backe And thou O holie spirit strengthen thou now hir weake fainting and sounding spirit against sathan that standeth now nigh hir to seduce hir Saie thou now to sathan Auoid sathan and command thy holie angels and blessed spirits now to aid and assist hir Let thy comfort cleaue fast vnto hir thy mercie keepe hir thy grace guide hir thy paines ease hir thy crosse releeue hir and thy death reuiue hir Oh almightie God the giuer of all health and if it be thy good will to lengthen hir daies in this life to spare hir for a season to mitigate hir pangs to ease hir of hir paines to releeue hir of all these wofull sorowes and most greeuous throwes to deliuer hir of this most dangerous trauell and send into this world out of hir wofull wombe hir child a sound and perfect creature after thine owne image and so restore hir to hir former health as thou hast done hir and manie others heeretofore in like case that she thereby may once againe visit thy temple and be purified sanctified and dedicated vnto thy honor and glorie the commoditie of hirs and comfort of vs all hir friends kindred and neighbours Weioâ—fullie saie Thy will O Lord be done and not ours But if it be not thy will so but that she according to
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
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
steale other mens goods and take thy name in vaine or trusting vpon his prosperitie he denie thee and saie What fellowe is the Lord On the other side grant him grace that he may acknowledge that he that ploweth is nothing neither he that watereth but thou Lord which giuest the increase Finallie when thou shalt depriue and take him from all the commodities of this present life giue vnto him the like constancie as thou didst giue vnto thy faithfull seruant Iob who seeing himselfe afflicted on euerie side did neuer murmur against thee but falling downe vpon the ground worshipped thy maiestie and blessed thy name for all which things we his parents praie thee in the fauour of thy welbeloued Sonne he I saie who was obedient vnto thee euen to the death of the crosse our Lord Iesus Christ to whom be glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier to be vsed of anie mother in lawe FOrasmuch O mercifull God as it is commonlie said that step-mothers be malicious towards their husbands children and hate their daughters in lawe bearing no great loue and charitie towards them I being verie desirous to falsifie this report in my selfe whom it hath pleased thee now by marriage to make a mother of so manie motherles children and that I may foreuer be free from anie least suspicion of such offence and neuer found guiltie or culpable of like malice and hatred towards the innocent doo now most humblie beseech thee of thy goodnes so to rule the fond fansies of my mind and crooked conditions of my corrupted nature with the grace of thy holie spirit that I neuer be carried awaie with passions and braids of the mind to plaie the tyrant ouer these my husbands children nor by anie meanes shew my selfe rough rigorous hard-harted or vnresonable towards them but being guided with discretion reason and good consideration let me haue compassion and pitie of their tender and weake age yea let me loue them I saie hartilie and count them euen as mine owne knowing that friendship maketh all things common among friends much more wedlocke being the highest degree not onlie of all friendship but also of all bloud and kindred doth of dutie require the same in me as also especiallie remembring that vndoubtedlie my children shall finde such fauour of others whither I die or liue as I haue shewed to other mens children For looke with what measure we meate with the same shall we be sure to be measured as saith our Sauiour Which thing well considered grant I beseech thee that I may vnfeignedlie loue these my husbands children and be vnto them that which I heare them call me so oft that is a mother not a step mother or mother in lawe after the vulgar opinion in word and outward shew onlie but a mild a gentle tender louing mother in deed and good faith comforting cherishing and instructing them euen as their owne naturall mother would O let me neuer hate or abhor them whom thou hast thus conioined vnto me in house friendship aliance and bloud and made to be brethren and sisters vnto my children Neither suffer me at anie time to wreake conceiued ire wrath and displeasure vpon these poore orphans and motherles children but make me to vse all motherlie curtesie lenitie and good behauiour towards them euen as if they were mine owne Also concerning my daughters in lawe that are maried let me not be discontent that they are bloud of their husbands more than I nor thinke my motherhood anie whit diminished thereby as she that would seeke to win loue by hating them that offend me not but take from vs good Lord I beseech thee all occasions of strife contention bralling chiding and vnnaturall fallings out and if anie discord chance betweene vs make vs also both most wiselie with all our might to auoid it and speedilie with willing minds to reconcile our selues each one to the other againe as becommeth vs that others seeing our mutuall loue concord and godlie behauiour each to other may by our good examples take occasion worthilie to glorifie thee in vsing the like Finallie grant me grace that with Naomie and other godlie women to the vtmost of my power skill and abilitie I may both loue cherish and instruct my daughters in lawe giuing them good counsell and also doo before them in my conuersation all such things as may be examples vnto them both of chastitie sobernes and all manner of godlines and vertue so shall it come to passe that I ruling mine affections modestlie and behauing my selfe curteouslie and motherlie in deed towards these my children in lawe as to mine owne shall not onelie auoid the great number of troubles and miseries which otherwise crueltie and contention would bring vpon mine head but also by that meanes obteine great loue and reuerence of these my children in lawe againe towards me and procure to my selfe a most holie delectable sweet peaceable and quiet life with my deere husband to thy glorie and our eternall felicitie Grant this O father for thy deere Sonne sake our onlie Lord and Sauiour Amen The mistresse or dames praier for hir selfe and hir familie THy commandement is by thine holie Apostle O most mercifull Lord Christ that masters and mistresses should intreat their seruants and hand-maids gentlie putting awaie threatenings and dooing that vnto them which is iust and equall forasmuch as we also haue a master in heauen with whome there is no respect of persons Grant I most hartilie praie thee I may so order my men-seruants and maid-seruants that I attempt none vnrighteousnes against them but so vse my rule and authoritie ouer them that I may alwaies remember that thou art the common Lord of vs all and we all thy seruants Againe that I may not forget that we be all brothers and sisters hauing one father which is in heauen and looke for one glorious kingdome where thou with the father and the holie ghost liuest and reignest true and euerlasting God for euer Amen Another TO haue children and seruants is thy blessing O Lord but not to order them according to thy word deserueth thy dredfull cursse Grant therefore that as thou hast blessed me with an houshold and familie so I may diligentlie watch that nothing be committed of the same that might offend thy fatherlie goodnes and be an occasion of turning thy blessing into curssing but that so manie as thou hast committed to my charge may eschew all vice imbrace all vertue liue in thy feare call vpon thy holie name learne thy blessed commandements heare thy holie word and auoiding idlenes diligentlie exercise themselues euerie one in his office according to their vocation and calling vnto the glorie of thy most honorable name Amen Another praier of dames or mistresses O Lord God almightie our heauenlie father and most merciful Lord thou art my life my soule and my bodie yea all the good which I haue and all whatsoeuer is mine al that thou hast giuen vnto me of thee
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
and sauiour which being the Sonne of the liuing God yea God himselfe from euerlasting didst not disdaine at the will of thy heauenlie Father to make thy selfe of no reputation to become man to take vpon thee the shape of a seruant and to obeie thy fathers commandement to the death of the crosse for our saluation refusing no seruice no trauell no labour no paine that might make vnto the comfort of man-kind I most humblie beseech thee to giue me and all seruants grace to practise thy humilitie and obedience that as thou most willinglie didst serue and obeie thy heauenlie fathers good pleasure so I and they in like manner may with most hartie affection serue and obeie our bodilie maisters and dames in all things that fight not with thy blessed word not with eie-seruice as men-pleasers but in singlenes of heart fearing thee O God that whatsoeuer we doo we may doo it hartilie euen as vnto the Lord and not vnto men forasmuch as we are sure that we shall receiue the reward of the heauenlie inheritance of thee O Lord Christ whome also wee serue while trulie and faithfullie we serue our bodilie maisters and dames Grant that I thine humble hand-maid and so manie as are vnder the yoke of seruitude may count our maisters and mistresses worthie of all honour that the name of God be not euill spoken of nor his doctrine standered and that we may obeie them with all feare not onlie if they be good and curteous but also though they be froward and testie and please them in all things not answering them againe nor picking ought from them but she wing all good faithfulnes and trustines towards them that in all things we may doo worship vnto the doctrine of thee our God and Sauiour to whom with the father and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glorie for euer Amen Or praie thus O Lord we seruants are commanded by thy blessed Apostles that wee should honor and obeie our bodilie maisters and dames with feare and trembling not onlie if they be good and courteous but also though they be hastie and froward and serue them not with the eie as men-pleasers but with singlenes of hart not churlishlie answering them againe nor piking stealing or conueieng awaie anie part of their goods vniustlie but she wing all good faithfulnes vnto our maisters and dames as though wee serued God and not men and women Grant me grace I most humblie beseech thee so to serue and obeie my maister and mistres and all other my superiours that there may be found no fault in me but that I behauing my selfe vprightlie iustlie faithfullie and trulie in my vocation may doo worship to the doctrine of thee my God sauiour in all things Amen Another praier to be said of an hand-maid waiting-woman or maid-seruant GRatious God and Lord almightie which by the pretious bloud of thy Sonne Iesus Christ hast redeemed me a miserable wretch from perpetuall slauerie and pulled me out of the power both of sin death darkenes hell and damnation I beseech thee grant that I be neuer ashamed of this my seruile state and condition wherein according to thy good pleasure and will I am placed Neither let me vnpatientlie murmur at anie time against my mistres and betters nor enuiouslie detract from the estimation of them or others but giue me grace to doo thy will continuallie in singlenes of hart as vnto Christ with all possible good-will seruing the Lord and not men Suffer me not malapertlie to vpbraid my maister or mistres with their faults or infirmities when they rebuke me for mine neither yet let me murmur contemne or despise them as Hagar the handmaid of Sara did hir dame Sara that reproued hir but rather make me I praie thee as louing curteous gentle attendant and dutifull vnto mine as Abrahams and the hand-maids of Iudith and Susanna were vnto them O most mercifull God assist me I saie with thy holie spirit that I may obeie these my carnall rulers and gouernours not onelie if they be good and meeke but also if they be euill and froward and that with all feare so long as they command me nothing contrarie to thy commandement Bicause thou wilt haue me to doo so neither let me be forced for anie euill speeches or rough-handling of my dame to flie or runne awaie from hir as Hagar did from Sara to hir no litle sorrowe and miserie but giue me grace rather to humble my selfe as a corrigible seruant vnder hir hands to confesse my faults and amend my maners and crooked conditions especiallie knowing hir power ouer me to be of thee and therefore that the seueritie of my dame should not make me to neglect my duetie and seruice but patientlie and constantlie for thy sake to endure my labours and to tarrie and abide out all my terme of seruice to the end euermore calling vpon thee by hartie praier for hir and that thou wilt not suffer me to be hurt by anie hir euill dealing towards me but preserue and keepe me alwaies safe by thy power from all euill Furthermore I praie thee let not satan suggest or entise me to doo anie euill or wicked deed vnknowne to my dame to my dishonestie or hir damage thereby to cause strife or bralles to arise either within or without to my selfe or others but let it be a greefe vnto me to heare them by anie misreported or standered or to see them by anie meanes abused and hindred or hurt in goods or name Giue me grace alwaies to obeie my good and curteous gouernours not with eie seruice as a man-pleaser but in singlenes of hart as she that more feareth thee than flesh and bloud And make thou me so faithfull and trustie in all my busines that nothing be at anie time either marred or lost of those things committed to my charge either through my negligence or vnthriftines O keepe my hand I praie thee from picking filching purloining and stealing and my tongue from curssing taunting answering againe and euill speaking neither let me with an euill eie wicked affection careles mind and vngodlie intent behold anie of those things put into my custodie and keeping nor vndiscreetlie diminish impaire or lessen them Make me to be content with my wages when I shall depart to go awaie quietlie carrieng nothing of my masters or dames goods to the value of a mite with me but onelie that which is mine owne And in the meane while increase thou my health and grant strength to all my lims and members of my bodie I beseech thee that I may by that meanes be the better able to earne my wages and doo my dutie to the benefite of my master and dame whom I serue as I hartilie desire Giue me also vnderstanding wiselie to go about their affaires and busines and prosper thou the works of mine hands to the blessing and enriching of them and their families Let the eies of thy seruant wait vpon thee O Lord my
God vntill thou which dwellest in the heauens haue mercie vpon me and the eies of thy hand-maid attend and looke diligentlie vnto the hand of hir mistresse that my soule be neuer filled with the scornfull reproofe of the wealthie nor with the despitefulnes of the proud Make me true both in word and deed vnto those whom I serue and with all possible care and industrie to declare my fidelitie and obedience by my faithfull painfull and trustie seruice and by preferring still their busines to mine owne necessitie Make thou me godlie religious and holilie giuen to all vertuous exercises Giue me grace to praie often and hartilie for my master and mistresse their children friends and all their familie and for the whole Church And let thy holie feare be alwaies before mine eies to shunne and auoid all occasion of sinne and offence both in my selfe and others that I may be worthilie accompted in the number of those godlie seruants and maids on whom thou hast promised to powre thy holie spirit and that thou also my souereigne Lord and master maist testifie for my righteous and faithfull seruice by blessing my labours and rewarding mine industrie and diligence as thou didst all the godlie seruants and hand-maids in the old time and thereby giue me ample occasion to laud and praise thee all the daies of my life Finallie whatsoeuer I shall go about to doo doo thou vouchsafe to blesse me O God let it both be begun continued and ended in thee and also tend euermore to the glorie of thy name the wealth of my master and mistresse the full discharge of my dutie and the increase of my faith and blessing in thee euer for Iesus Christs sake thy sonne and my sauiour who being verie God equall with thee laid aside his glorie and being Lord of all made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the forme of a seruant willinglie to submit himselfe to the most shamefull death of the crosse for our redemption to whom therfore with thee and the holie ghost three persons and one God be all honour praise power rule and dominion for euer and euer Amen The poore widowes mite conteining seuen meditations or praiers in meeter for the obteining of Gods mercie and the forgiuenes of sin against desperation to be said or soongâ— gathered by William Hunnis one of the Gentlemen of hir Highnes Chappell and maister to the children of the same AH helples wretch what shall I doo or which way shall I run The earth be wraies heauen records the sins that I haue doâ—â— The gates of hell wide open stand for to receiue me in And fearefull fâ—ends all readie be to torment me for sin Alas where shall I succour finde The earth doth me denie And to the sacred heauens aboue I dare not lift mine eie If heauen and earth shall witnes be against my soule for sin Untimelie birth alas for me much better then had bin And now despaire approcheth fast with bloudie murthering knife And willeth me to end my gréefes by shortning of my life Shall I despaire Thou God forbid for mercie more is thine Than if the sins of all the world were linked now with mine Despise not then most louing Lord the image of thy face Which thou hast wrought and déerelie bought with goodnes of thy grace And since the bloodie price is paid and bitter paines all past Receiue my plaints accept my spirit and mercie grant at last So shall my soule reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The second meditation THou God that rulst reignst in light that flesh can not attain Thou God that knowst the thoghts of men are altogither vain Thou God which neither tongue of man nor angell can expresse Thou God it is that I doo séeke thou pitie my distresse Thy seate O God is euerie-where thy power all powers extend Thy wisedome cannot measured be for that it hath no end Thou art the power and wisedome too and sole felicitie But I a lumpe of sinfull flesh nursse of iniquitie Thou art by nature mercifull and mercie is thy name And I by nature miserable and thrall of sin and shame Then let thy nature O good God now worke his force in me And cleanse this nature of my sin and heale my miserie One depth good Lord another craues my depth of sinfull crime Requires thy depth of mercie great for sauing health in time Swéet Christ grant y â— the deapth of grace may swallow vp my sin That I thereby may whiter be than euer snowe hath bin So shall my soule reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The third meditation BEfore thy face and in thy sight haue I deuoid of shame O Lord transgressed willinglie I doo confesse the same Yet was I loth that men should knowe or vnderstand my fall Thus feard I man much more than thée thou righteous iudge of all So blind was I and ignorant yea rather wilfull blind That suckt the combe and knew the Bée had left hir sting behind My sins O God to thée are knowne there is no secret place Where I may hide my selfe or them from presence of thy face Where shall I then my selfe bestowe Or who shall me defend None is so louing as my God thy mercies haue none end In déed I grant and doo confesse my sins so heinous be As mercie none at all deserues but yet thy propertie Is alwaie to be mercifull to sinners in distres By which thou wilt declare and shew thy great almightines Haue mercie Lord on me therefore for thy great mercies sake Which camst not righteous men to call but sinners part to take So shall my soule reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The fourth meditation MOst gratious God doo not behold the number of my sin Nor yet consider with thy selfe how wicked I haue bin But rather thinke I am but dust or as the withered haie Which flourisheth to daie in féeld to morrowe shorne awaie My flesh rebels against the spirit my spirit too weake is found By sin conceiued in mothers wombe my soule first caught hir wound My flesh is fraile too weak vain to do the thing I should And what I would not that doo I contrarie that I would Thou séest O Lord how weake I am not able for to stand Without the succour helpe and aid of thy most mightie hand And what is he that will not staie the man thats like to fall Or will refuse the sicke to helpe for helpe when he doth call If thou wilt laie vnto my charge the burden of my sin O Lord the conquest is but small that thou thereby shalt win For why thy glorie and thy praise in mercie doth consist Unto the which I yéeld my selfe to doo with what thou list My soule shall trust in thée and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The fift meditation IF I demand what mercie is thou
God wilt answere me That mercie is the aboundance great of thy heauenlie pitie With which thou viewst the afflicted sort that on the earth doo lie And what is this compassion then but proofes of thy mercie Our fathers old the same haue felt and now in rest do raigne And thou art still the selfe-same God for euer to remaine Our fathers were conceiued in sin and so are we likewise Wilt thou compassion shew on them and children theirs despise One faith in Christ we all professe one God in persons thrée As thou compassion hadst on them compassion haue on me Ponder O God my harts desire most humblie doo I craue And doo awaie all my misdéeds and so compassion haue And as of sinners manie a one whose number is vnknowne Thou didst vouchsafe to drawe to thée make them all thine owne So now vouchsafe most gentle God likewise to drawe me in And make me righteous by thy grace forgiuing me my sin So shall my soule reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The sixt meditation MOst mightie God I doo confesse ten thousand times more Thou hast me washed from my sin and salued still my sore But I through sin am falne againe and fowler now am made Than euer was the filthie swine with mire ouer laid How oftentimes shall we forgiue each other that offend Seuentie times seuen the scripture saith which signifieth no end If man to man such fauour shew that wretched caitiues be How much more thou O gratious God to them that call on thée It is thy nature to forgiue my nature can but fall Though thou be iust in all thy works thy mercie passeth all What time a sinner doth repent and turne to thée at last All sins foredone thou wilt forget thy promise so hath past Behold O God I turne to thée with sorrowe for my sin And do repent euen from my hart that I so lewd haue bin Now wash me Lord yet once againe with fountaine of thy grace That I among the sacred saincts with thee might haue a place So shall my soule reioice and still for mercie crie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei The seuenth and last meditation LIke as the guiltie prisoner stands before the iudge so tride With quaking breath shiuering lims his iudgement to abide Euen so O God before thy face in fearefull state I stand And guiltie crie to thée my iudge and now hold vp my hand Nothing have I to pleade for life no goodnes is in me Of sin deceipt and wickednes guiltie good Lord guiltie Thus by thy righteous doome O God and sacred lawe diuine Condemnd am I to endles paine through iust deserts of mine Alas what then is to be said or what is to be done For mercie yet will I appeale to Iesu Christ thy sonne For neuer yet hath it béene heard since first the world began That Iesu Christ did turne his face from anie sinfull man Which unto him for mercie came with sad repentant minde O Lord shall I then be the first that shall no mercie finde Shall I be she thou wilt despise that humblie commes to thée No no swéet Christ thy promise is for to deliuer mée Wherefore my soule be glad and crie incessantlie Peccaui peccaui miserere mei FINIS W. H. A praier to be said of a widowe immediatlie after the death of hir husband ETernall and mercifull God father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to thine heauenlie pleasure hast taken now my deere and louing husband R. B. out of this world whereby I am a poore afflicted widowe and my seelie children fatherlesse vnto thee doo I crie in this my miserie O mine assured aduocate haue mercie on mee a forsaken orphane and after thy great goodnes pardon all my sinnes which I haue committed against thee Turne vnto me O Lord and take mercie on me for my soule is become a widowe and I am alone and comfortlesse looke vpon the teares of my widowhood and behold mine affliction and miserie Oh my Lord now releeue my necessitie as thou didst releeue that widowe of Sarepta whom thou didst most miraculouslie preserue by thy prophet Elias Take the like pitie on me now I saie untill thou returne ah shew thy selfe vnto me that I may be comforted assist me behold my necessitie and deliuer me out of all my troubles Grant likewise that sith thou hast taken awaie from me the vaile of mine eies mine head and deer husband with whom I was preserued from all dangers and of whom peraduenture I was vnworthie I may yet find fauour now in the sight of all gouernours and magistrates whom in thy holie word thou hast commanded to be as an husband and guid vnto me that I be not iniuried by the vngodlie contrarie to all reason and equitie In like sort let me find patrons and honest men which will haue a tender consideration of this my present estate and succour me at times with godlie counsell Protect me oh my God from all false tongues which are like rasures cutting deceitfullie and as the sharpe arowes of a mightie man Deliuer me O Lord from slander and from the obloquie of wicked men which with poisoned words haue bent their bowe to cast downe the poore and needie and to slay such as be of a right conuersation Furthermore I beseech thee giue me grace to liue in this my desolate state of widowhood chastlie and godlie shewing my selfe an example of godlines to others and trusting wholie in thy mercie at all times Let me patientlie and christianlie endure all crosses laid vpon me and continue faithfullie in making of supplications night and day Behold as the eies of a maiden are vpon hir mistresse so are mine eies bent vpon thee my Lord God vntill thou haue mercie Haue mercie on me O Lord haue mercie on me for I am full of reproch and my soule is euen as a weaned child from the mothers brests Heare me O Lord as my trust is in thee for Iesus Christs sake thy sonne our Lord and sauiour Amen Another praier of a widowe O Lord I thanke thee that thou hast scourged me thus with the death of mine husband He was deer vnto me O Lord euen bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh for whom I forlooke both father and mother to cleaue vnto him He by the couenant of matrimonie was made one bodie with me thou gauest him vnto me and thou hast taken him from me blessed be thy name for euer The bands of death haue sundred me from him for a while but I hope O Lord by the power of thy holie spirit that nothing shall be able to separate me from thee mine onelie Iesus the onelie ioie of my soule Put the axe of thy mercie to the roote of my wanton nature and cut it off that I doo not marrie the vanitie of this wicked world but put vpon me the garment of innocencie and tie about my hart the iewell of faith that
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
hast numbred all our daies which vade awaie suddenlie like the grasse for we are soone dispatched and easilie consumed A man in this world is euen like a vapour or shadow that quicklie vanisheth awaie For all flesh is grasse and the glorie thereof as the floure of the field which flourisheth in the morning and afterward withereth and vadeth Behold our daies are to be measured they are as it were but a spanne long and our age is nothing to speake of Our age is folden togither and taken awaie from vs like a shepheards cotage our life is cut off and our daies shortened by our sinnes like the thred of the weauer which is suddenlie broken off We are but strangers in this world soiourners as were our forefathers our daies on earth also are but a shadowe our life speedilie goeth awaie like the weauers shuttle and it abideth not We are as nothing Lord in respect of thee and verelie euerie man liuing is altogither vanitie yea infancie childhood youth middle age and old age all are but meere vanitie Wherefore O Lord teach me to number my daies that I may yet applie mine hart vnto wisedome and bring foorth more fruit euen in mine old age O let me knowe mine end and the number of my daies that I may be certified how long I haue to liue and what is yet to come Instruct me O Lord that being alwaies mindfull of my mortalitie I neuer promise to my selfe manie yeres nor long life in this pilgrimage of ours so shall I not liue securelie deferring my conuersion to thee from daie to daie nor yet put confidence in this fraile and vncertaine life as did that rich man saieng Soule thou hast much good laid vp in store for manie yeres take thine ease eate drinke and be merie whose soule notwithstanding was taken from him the same night But giue me grace that in thy feare I may dailie prepare my selfe to depart out of this prison and lothsome dungeon of my soule Now let me remember thee my Maker in the daies of my old age and in the yeres wherein I find no pleasure but paine and greefe whiles the sunne the light the moone and starres begin to waxe darke and the clouds of continuall miserie seeme to remaine after the raine to the increasing of my greefe Now let me thinke on thee my Creator whiles my hands the keepers of the house of my bodie doo tremble and the strong men my legs doo bow themselues and the grinders my teeth doo cease or stand still bicause they are few and they that looke out by the windowes mine eies I meane waxe darke and dimme Now let me remember thee my Maker whiles the doore of my lips and mouth beginneth to be shut by the base sound of the milner or grinding when my iawes I saie are scarse able to chawe my meat And I rise vp at the voice of the bird or crowing of the cocke bicause I can not sleepe And whiles all the daughters of musike euen my windpipe and eares are abased and become deafe and not able to heare singing Whiles I am afraid to climbe high bicause of my weaknes and stoope downe for feare least anie thing should hit me Whiles feare is in the waie I tremble as I go and am afraid of stumbling Whiles the almon tree my head doth florish with white heares and the verie light grashopper is a burden vnto it to beare And whiles all lust is past and driuen awaie Now I saie O Lord euen now yet let me call to mind thee my creator before I go to the house of mine age or long home the graue I meane and the mourners go lamenting my death about the streetes Or euer the siluer lace the sinewes and marowe of my backe bone be taken awaie and or the golden ewer or well of that litle yellow skin that couereth my braine-pan be broken or the pitcher of my two great veines be crackt at the well of my liuer or the wheele my head be broken vpon the cisterne of my hart out of the which the powers of life are drawne Euen now I saie at the least O my Creator let me remember thee before I which am but dust doo returne againe to the earth from whence I came and my spirit and soule returne to thee O God that gauest me it For all is but plaine vanitie and nothing more certaine than death though nothing more vncertaine than the houre thereof Therefore let me haue alwaies before mine eies an image and meditation of my departure the better to knowe the fleeting and vanitie of this combersome and vncertaine life that I may liue to thee my God being sound in faith and strong in hope looking with cheerefulnes for the daie of my departure and the ioifull appearing of thy sonne Iesus Christ my redeemer And as long as I abide in this tabernacle of my decaied and forworne bodie let me with all studie minister to my faith vertue to vertue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience godlines vntill this tabernacle being laid awaie I shall passe ouer to my long home and dwelling place not made with hands but euerlasting in the heauens where I shall be clothed with eternall glorie and immortalitie when this my earthlie house is put off and destroied by death Grant also O God that trusting firmelie to thy promises I may be readie and glad to returne from this vale of miserie to mine euerlasting and celestiall countrie for while I am in this bodie I wander from thee my God For now I walke in faith not in the full and perfect enioieng and possessing of eternall good wherefore whether I be at home or from home let me endeuour my selfe to be acceptable in thy sight Make me a faithfull seruant and wise virgin alwaie hauing the lampe of faith readie light and with the oile of thy grace and merits prepared in my hand and still looking for the comming of the bridgrome my Lord and Sauiour Iesus for I knowe not when he will come at the euening or at midnight whether at the cocke-crowing or in the dawning of the daie least by a sudden houre of death I beeing ouertaken and as it were caught in the fowlers trap I be found vnreadie and haue a repulse among the foolish virgins but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conuersion and repentance I may continuallie couet to be dissolued and to be with Christ my redeemer Grant also deere Father that at the verie point of death hauing escaped all hardnes and temptations I may triumph like a conquerour behold the presence and power of thine holie spirit and let my last words be that which thy sonne did vtter vpon the altar of the crosse saieng Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when my spirit is taken from me heare yet O God the grones of my hart And the houre glasse of life death being outrun and come let thy seruant and hand-maid depart
of our spot corruption of our frailtie deadlie fall and most readie inclination to all wickednes and to crie continuallie vnto thee to attaine such strength of thine heauenlie grace through the working power of thine holie spirit that the sleights of satan may be preuented we inwardlie purged of all bitternes fiercenes lightnes inconstancie idlenes pride stoutnes and of all impuritie and wickednes and to liue in our calling with meeknes mildnes peace humblenes quietnes exercising all maner of puritie clennes sobernes godlines and holines as becommeth vnfeigned professors and the true daughters of holie Sara following hir example in all obedience and well dooing to thine honour and glorie and our eternall saluation through Iesus Christ thy sonne our euerlasting Sauiour who liueth and reigneth with thee and the holie ghost in all honour and glorie worlds without end Amen A praier to be said of all deuout women for the light of ladie Vertues lampe and recouerie of hir frends and hand-maids grace repentance faith hope and saluation lost and for the ransoming of their soules from the captiuitie of sinne O Most mightie God and heauenlie king vouchsafe to haue respect vnto vs miserable women which are so wrapped in wretchednes in this world that we are altogither vnworthie to be comprehended within the compasse of thy compassion O Lord of all flesh if it be lawfull for vs disobedient seruants to charge thee our beneficiall Lord and master with thy freendlie vndeserued promises behold then we thy hatefull hand-maids craue that thou haue no pleasure nor delight in the death of vs filthie sinners Thou art the same God thou wert when thou didst redeeme vs with the pretious sanguin oile of thy deere sonne thy grace is yet as great thy goodnes no lesse glorious thy power is inuincible thy diuine Deitie not diminished thy bountie nothing abated and that which must be our onelie helpe thy mercies as much manifold It pleased thy maiestic to send messengers into the world that they might encounter with the seruants of satan namelie thy grace ladie vertues pilote to encounter with vaine desires repetance to banish sinne ladie vertue with hir freends faith and hope to driue awaie the dread of death and desperation and finallie saluation to preuent the force of the hellish furies But alas thou seest O Lord how fraillie we haue dealt with thee with thy messengers thou knowest likewise that we haue not beene in readines willinglie to receiue or accept the light of ladie vertues lampe when it shined vpon vs to guid vs in the waie to euerlasting life but haue too retchleslie extinguished it with worldlie vanities and wilfullie shadowed it with our sinnes whereby we haue fallen from vertue not she by vs but we by wanting hir doo vade faith not by vs but we with want of faith doo faint hope not by vs but we with want of heauenlie hope doo halt they of themselues are strong but we without them are weaker than weaknes it selfe Recouer vs in them O God that we who now shame to shew our selues in thy presence may find through Christ some occasion of countenance when we come with our lamps of pure faith cleerlie burning in our hands to meete the bridegrome and implore thy fauourable sentence in the great iudgement daie of thy comming O vouchsafe yet once againe to extend thy manifold mercies for ransoming our soules from the captiuitie of sinne We without thine aid are miserable we without thy fauourable regard are more than miserable and woorse than woorst wretched Suffer not the works of thine hands which thou hast ordeined for the increase multiplieng of thy kingdome to be flames of infernall fire and to burne in the gulfe of horrible hell as we iustlie haue deserned for so be astlie abusing our selues and the gifts of nature and grace which thou hast giuen vnto vs. It is thy power not our priuiledge it is thy grace not our goodnes it is thy mercie not our merits that must stand vs in steed To vse circumstances in our sute O God what auaileth it Thou knowest our desire before we demand thou knowest our want before we wish thou knowest what we need before we aske thou knowest our sute before we seeke O vouchsafe therefore to supplie what we sue for heare vs and helpe vs make vs worthie to attaine vnto that freedome which we haue forsaken let thy mercie preserue that which thy power hath made and wisedome beautified Thy glorie O God shall be thine if anie benefite be ours thou knowest our necessitie and we hope thou dooest pitie our miserie Yet bicause it pleaseth thee to be praied vnto we therefore come vnto thee humblie in spirit though fraile in flesh It is thou not our sâ—lues that must make the flesh agreeable to the spirit It is thou not our selues that must ouer-rule our nature with thy grace our lusts with thy loue our soules with reason And although thou knowest how to bring it to passe better than can be surmised in our thoughts we craue yet Lord that thou wilt graffe in vs thy grace make vs readie to repentance let the light of ladie vertues lampe shine still on vs to guid vs in the waie to euerlasting happines Uouchsafe also to haue fauourable regard vnto those on whom the light of hir lampe hath shined and that such on whom it hath not shined may be at thy will and pleasure vnshadowed Grant I saie that wheresoeuer shee curteouslie offereth the vse of hir lightned lampe it may be freendlie accepted both in court and countrie Let manie buie it but mo vse it let manie craue it but mo hold it and when they haue it let them not shadowe or extinguish it with worldlie vanities nor quench it with the water of sinne and when they receiue it let them be in readines both to vse and preserue it with all diligence willingnes Finallie grant that all may mainteine the light thereof not onelie during their naturall liues but after to all posteritie at the disposition of thy diuine power and prouidence Moreouer frame in vs a fixed faith to the fort of thy felicitie Let hope haue onelie respect to saluation that we may supplie the place thou hast prepared for the wise virgins Let thy diuine power direct the discontinuing of our soules captiuitie Let thy pitie be prest to make thy mercie mitigate our miserie Let thy grace guide vs and thy mercie O God obteine freedome for vs that our lamps beeing replenished with the oile of thy merits we may walke in the light thereof with hartie hope to the gates of heauen now wide open to meete the great King and all the mightie multitude of angels who with vnspeakeable glorie shall come readie to receiue vs most royallie and intirelie to entertaine and accompanie vs to the celestiall palace and paradise of all pleasure there with all the holie companie of Angels Archangels Powers Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Uirgins yea
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