Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom Herod despised beeing sent vnto him and wisely vsing silence before him and put vpon him as vpon a foole a white and ridiculous garment Cause 9 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who in the iudgement Hall was vnseemly stripped of his clothes barbarously bound vnto a Pillar and rent and cut most cruelly with whips miserably begoared with his owne blood Cause 10 Aue Maria c. O benigne Whō vniust persons for more reproch clothed with a purple robe and crowned with sharp thorne adored in scornfull maner grinning with their teeth and strooke with a reed and filthely spit vpon beat with cruel strokes Cause The fourth parte PATER noster c. Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who bearing a crowne of thorne and a purple garment was brought by Pilate out of the Iudgement Hall and shewed to the Iewes and by them with a great tumultuous cry required to the death of the Crosse Cause c. 2 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom Pilate vniustly adiudged to death deliuered ouer to the Iewes pleasure and he then being by them presently loadē with the huge beame of the Crosse did patiently beare with great paine and torment thisignominiouse Tree vpon his torne shoulders being made the scorne of men the outcast of the people meekly went forwarde to the Mount Caluary Cause c. 3 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who at the place of Caluary was made to drinke of wine mingled with mirrh and bitter gaule and shamfully stripped of his clothes and cruelly bored through both handes feet with nailes and so fastened vpon the Crosse Cause 4 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who being naked wounded and had in contempt did hang for vs vpon the tree of the Crosse and suffered most bitter paines and shead his moste pretious blood Cause that we c. 5 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who whē he did hang vpon the Crosse betweene two theeues was scorned and blasphemed of the Iewes meekly shewed patience and more then that praied vnto his Father for his blasphemous crucifiers Cause c. 6 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. who mercifully forgaue the these all his sinnes being truely penitēt and most liberally promised him the ioies of Paradise Cause c. 7 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who tenderly tooke compassion of thee his most dearely beloued mother standing vnder the crosse in bitter greefe sorow and cōmended thee to his Disciple S. Iohn and gaue thee as a mother vnto him and vs all Cause c. 8 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who suffered his Passion without reliefe of any sensible consolatiō in so much as to shew the greeuousnes of his torments he cried out with a loud voice that he was forsaken Cause 9 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who hanging vpon the Crosse al pale without blood said that he was vehemently athirst but they gaue him to drinke nought else but gaule and viniger in that extreame calamitie Cause c. 10 Aue Matia c. O benigne Who being neere death cōmended his spirit into the handes of his Father and hauing now ended the worke of our redemption like a good Shepheard of meere loue gaue his life for his sheepe Cause c. The fifth part PATER noster c. Aue Maria. O benigne c. Who hauing tasted death for our sakes vpō the Crosse did presently of his great charitie descend into Hell according to the soule and mightely deliuered from thence his elect Cause that we c. 2 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whose most holy Side was in thy presence opened with a speare and louing Harte wounded from whence issued for our behoofes pretious blood and the water of saluation Cause c. 3 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whom being taken downe from the Crosse thou didest receiue as we deuoutly beleeue into thy bosome and lappe and didest plentifully bathe with teares and louingly imbrace and kisse Cause 4 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Whose most holy Body Ioseph Nichodemus with godly deuotiō imbalmed with spices and wrapped in a Syndon and laid in the Sepulcher Cause c. 5 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who the third day coming forth like a conqueror out of the shutt and sealed Sepulcher with his owne force rose from the dead replenished with most desired ioy of thee his beloued mother the rest of his frendes Cause c. 6 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who the fourtie day after his refurrectin ascended gloriously in to Heauen and sitteth as a noble triumphāt conqueror at the right hand of his Father Cause c. 7 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who sent the holy Ghost vpon the Apostles other of the faithfull and by him did marueilously comfort strēgthen lighten and in struct them Cause c. 8 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who exalted thee his most deare mother being assumpted into heauen aboue the quires of Angells and placed thee there as the most Soueraigne Queene and Emperesse Cause c. 9 Aue Maria c. O benigne c. Who in the end of the world is to com as Iudge in great Maiesty to render horrible punishmentes to the reprobate and eternall ioyes to the iust Cause c. 10 Aue Maria c. o benigne c. Who is the most amiable desired glory of the Saintes and with the Father and the holy ghost liueth and raigneth God worlde without end Cause c. Laus Trinitati fulgidae Patri Nato Paraclito Laus Virgini Deiparae Nunc per omni seculū Amen AN OTHER LIKE EXercise of the life Passion of Christ cōsisting of 5. Paters and 50. Aues Cap. 9. A Praier to the wound of the right foote O Most louing sweet Iesus Christ Pharetra diuini amoris vnto thee be praise honour and glory for the woūd and griefe of thy right foote In this most holy wound I doe lay downe and commend vnto thee all may of ingratitude infirmitie basenes and want of mine beseeching thee through thy infinite goodnesse to destroy all these thinges in me to clense heale me Also to take away from me whatsoeuer is in me that displeaseth thee and to powre into me all things that do please thee that thou garde direct keep me in thy grace free frō all sinne to my liues end Amen Pater noster 1. O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thanks that hast created me and doest hitherto conserue and keep me sinning daily against thee although most vnworthy doest cherish me with benefites Grant me I besech the that I may know thee my Creator with feare reuerēce
descend into Purgatorye and yeeld refreshing vnto all the soules Aue Maria. 5. O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that rising from death didest appeare gloriouse first vnto thy mother then vnto Mary Magdalene and the Apostles O most sweet Iesu graunt me perfectly to die to all vices passions and disordered manners to liue vnto thee to please thee and to taste and desire heauenly thinges only Aue Maria. 6 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thankes that didest ascend into heauen with the triumphe of Angells the cōpany of the Fathers I humblye beseech thee that my minde may alaies languishe in thy loue loath all worldly things and feruently hunger and thirst thee alone and that nothing may delighte me nothing make me glad but thou ô my Lord Cod. Aue Maria. 7. O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that hast geuen the holy ghost sent thy Disciples to cōuert the worlde geue mee most pure simplicity of harte and perpetuall stablenes of minde geue me most feruent most faithfull constant charitie that the holye ghost may fill gouerne posesse me to the end that he may make me worthy to be more and more replenished with the giftes of his grace Aue Maria. 8. O my Lorde Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and giue thee thankes that hast glorified thy Mother assumpted in bodie and soule and hast geuen her vnto vs most mightie and mercifull By her merittes graunt me thy grace and perseuerance in all goodnes that I may neuer relent in thy seruice nor by indiscretion euer exceed Aue Maria. 9 O my Lord Iesus Christ I adore thee blesse thee and geue thee thanks that art to come as Iudge and to giue either punishment or reward O most mercifull Iesus graunt me so to finish my wholle life accordinge to thy pleasure that my soule departing out of the bodie may goe immediately vnto thee her Creator with great loue towardes thee where shee may praise blesse thee for euer in thy glory with all thy Saintes Amen Aue Maria. 10. ANOTHER MANER OF deuiding the Rosary of 150. Aue Maries according to the misteries of the life of our Sauiour taken out of the Italian booke of the Rosary Cap. 10. Contemplations vpon the first ioifull Misteries Of the Annunciation Pater noster MISSVS est Angelus Gabriel a Deo in ciuitatem Galileae cui nomen Nazareth Luc. 1. The Angell Gabriell was sent of God into a citie of Galilee called Nazareth Aue Maria. Ad virginem desponsatam viro cui nomen erat Ioseph Luc. 1. de domo Dauid et nomen Virginis Maria. To a Virgin dispoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid and the Virgins name was MARIE Aue Maria. Et ingressus Angelus ad eam dixit Aue gratia plena dominus teeum benedicta tu in mulieribus Luc. 1. And the Angell being entred in saide vnto her Haile full of grace our Lord is with thee bles sed art thou among women Aue Maria. Quae cum audisset turbata est in Sermone eius et cogitabat qualis esset ista Salutatio Luc. 1. Who hauing heard was troubled at his saying thought what maner of Salutatiō this should be Aue Maria. Et ait Angelus ei ne time as Maria inuenisti enim gratiam apud Deum And the Angell said to her Luc. 1 feare not Mary for thou hast foūd grace with God Aue Maria. Ecce concipies in vtero et paries filiū et vocabis nomen eius Iesum Behold thou shalt conceiue in thy womb Luc. 1 shalt beare a sonne thou shalt call his name Iesus Aue Maria. Hic erit magnus filius Altissimi vocabitur He shall be greate Luc. 1 shall be called the Son of the most High Aue Maria. Dabit illi Dominus Deus Sedem Dauid patris eius regnabit in domo Iacob in aeternum et regni eius non erit finis Luc. 1 Our Lord God shall giue him the Seate of Dauid his father he shall reigne in the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdom there shall be no end Aue Maria. Dixit autem Maria ad Angelum quomodo fiet istud quoniam virum non cognosco Luc. 1 And Mary said to the Angell How shall this be done because I know not man Aue Maria. Et respondens Angelus dixit ei Spiritus Sanctus superueniet in te et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi ideoque quod nascetur ex te Sanctum vocabitur filius Dei Luc. 1 And the Angell answering saide to her The holy ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most high shall ouershadow thee And therfore also that which of thee shal be borne holy shall be called the sonne of God Aue Maria. Dixit autem Maria ad Angelum ecce ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum Luc. 1. And Mary said to the Angell Behold the hādmaid of our Lord be it done to me according to thy word Contemplations vppon the Second ioyfull mistery Pater noster EXVRGENS Maria in diebus illis abijt in montana cum festi natione in ciuitatem Iuda Luc. 1. And Mary rising vp in those daies went vnto the hill countrie with speed into a citie of Iuda Aue Maria. Luc. 1. Et intrauit in domū Zachariae et salutauit Elizabeth And she entred into the house of Zacharie saluted Elisabeth Aue Maria. Et factum est vt audiuit salutationem Mariae Elizabeth Luc. 1. And it came to passe as Elisabeth heard the salutatiō of Mary Aue Maria. Exultauit infans in vtero eius Luc. 1 The infant did leape in her wōbe Aue Maria. Et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elizabeth et exclamauit voce magna et dixit Luc. 1. And Elisabeth was replenished with the holy Ghost and she cried out with a loude voice said Aue Maria. Benedicta tu inter mulieres et benedictus fructus ventris tui Blessed art thou among womē and blessed is the fruite of thy wombe Luc. 1. Aue Maria. Et vnde hoc mihi vt veniat mater Domini mei ad me Luc. 1 And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lorde doth come to me Aue Maria. Ecce enim vt facta est vox salutationis tuae in auribus meis exultauit in gaudio infans in vtero meo For behold as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine eares Luc. 1 the infant in my womb did leape for ioy Aue Maria. Et beata quae credidisti quoniā perficientur ea quae dicta sunt tibi a Domino And blessed art thou that beleeued Luc. 1 because those things shal be accomplished that were spokē to thee by our Lord. Aue Maria. Et ait Maria
THE SOCIETIE OF THE ROSARY Newly Augmented Gaude MARIA Virgo cunctas haereses sola interemisti in vniuerso mundo Dignare me laudare te Virgo sacrata Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos THE PREFACE to the Reader AFTER the generall deluge and innudation of the wholle worlde in the time of Noë Gen. 6. Almightie GOD placed in the cloudes his Rainbow as a token and obligation that he would no more destroy the world with water How generall a deluge of heresie and of all maner of iniquitie our miserable countrey hath these late yeeres susteined we yet feele by the experience of the calamitie therof and it is to pitifull to remember how many soules haue already perished therby Neither doe we see any other reliefe in so great distresses than to make our humble recourse vnto our mercifull Lord and earnestly to desire of his soueraigne greatnesse that shutting vp the deapth of hellish lakes Gen. 8. and the mighty cataracks of his heauie displeasure these deadly fluddes may cease from the earth and all creatures be restored to their former saftie One singuler occasion of hope wee might haue of so greate a benefit if it would please him but once to shew this signe of his Testamēt with mankind his gloriouse rainbow which discouering vnto the worlde most bewtifull coulers might signifie the caulme faire weather which were at hand This rainbow I meane to be the glorious Virgin a most beutifull signe of Gods frenship with men and such a token of his singuler mercie that when he hath often times loaded the skies with the heauie cloudes of his iminentiven gence he neuerthelesse looking vpon so glorious beloued a creature not appointed by him for wrath and anger but chosen for a figure of mercy and peace and therfore most worthely called the mother of mercy forgerting our iniquities and as it were in a maner his owne Iustice with-holdeth his seuere punishments and in steede of brimstone and fire which those cloudes should send vpon vs leadeth vs In nube diei Psal 77 tota nocte in illuminatione ignis by the cloudes of his mercie in the day and all the night by the comforte of his heauenly lights I could here discourse at large how worthely this B. Virgin may be called a rainbow how many excelent comparisons may be made therof vnto her of the variety of her vertues of the perfection of her greate excelencies figured in roūdnes Apoc. 4. of the statelines of that seate which God did choose in her for his owne person But sufficient it is for our purpose that she is in speciall maner a rainbow against Heretickes wher-as the Church generally singeth she hath destroied all heresies in the wholle world and therfore is a perticuler signe and aboade of the ceassing thereof From this bow there goeth none but chosē arrowes taken forth of the quiuer of God him selfe yea arrowes of the saluatiō of our Lord arrowes of saluation against Siria that is arrowes of saluation both in tranquillity of the Church and also against all the enimies of Israel the Church of God in the time of tentation and disturbance Neither wanteth it a misterie that this bow is bēt vpwards towards heauen Cant. 4 for it not only recerueth the strength from God to whom it looketh but wounding first the hart of God him-selfe from thēce receiueth all comfort for his seruantes and confusion at the last for his wicked enimies This whē I consider waighing also with my selfe how trew it is of her which is spoken of the wisdome of God with which she was so aboundantlye endowed that she preuenteth those which desire her for to shewe her selfe first vnto them that she seeketh with great diligēce for those that are worthy of her Sap. 6 and sheweth her selfe in the waies pleasantly vnto them and with all prouidēt care runneth to meete thē I fully perswade my selfe that it is in our owne power to winne her and to obtaine frō heauen a new rainbow which being a signe of god cannot signifie falsely but most certainely fore-tell our comforte and reliefe It is in our power I say yet not except we desire her she seeketh for vs but so if we be worthy of her she sheweth her selfe pleasant but vnto those that she meeteth in the waies to seeke her for whom she boūtifully prouideth all maner of good I present therefore vnto my most deare coūtry with the same loue and affection with which I would if so it pleased God presēt it my blood a singuler meane of winning this Virgins fauour and such a meane as by her selfe hath here tofore bene presented vnto the worlde and now vndoubtedly by her self also not vnmind full of her aunciēt Dowry is offered vnto our country the Society of the holy Rosary an auncient meanes euen from S. Domincks time of rooting out of heresie Which albeit both in time past and now of late yeres it hath ben embraced in our countrey with great deuotion yet neither hath it hitherto bene so generally vsed neither the nature and profit ther of so perfitly knowne as for so greate a good were required for as the scripture saith A hidden wisdome an vnseene treasure Eccl. 20 what profite is there in thē both Wherfore I thought it my parte knowing what opportunitie our countrey men may haue to be admitted vnto the participation of this treasure diligently to search out breifly to set down what so euer either necessarily doth belōg or any waie might be profitable to the enioying of the same fully perswading my selfe that as spirituall men in these Catholicke countreies are wont to say of thē selues so the beades must be to our afflicted brethren in steed of all maner of armour or weapons for the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty to God 2. Cor. 1 vnto the distruction of munitions distroying Councelles and all loftines extolling it selfe a gainst the knowledge of God Which perswasion of mine vnto those which shall duely weigh the perfection and excelencies of this most glorious Virgin cannot any way be iudged false for therfore is she called a well setled array of a pitched armie because she mightily ouercometh Cant. 6. not only her owne but also her deuout clients aduersaries Which singuler protection we can no waie deserue more cōueniently then by such seruice as her selfe hath elected and cōmended vnto vs and of it selfe doth yeeld vs such commodities as in the treatise shall appeare Yet this must I cōfesse that I haue for the most part framed my selfe vnto the simpler sorte for such are they which most please our Lady in which she-most delighteth my intent hauing bene in this litle treatise that as the beades are the vnlearned mans booke so also such persons might here find whatsoeuer is necessary for their deuotion And yet doubt I not but any Catholicke minde will iudge the same worke not to be vnprofitable
vnto whosoeuer of neuer so greate knowledge with a certain spice of hereticall pride will not contemne ordinarye Catholicke helpes of deuotion Accept therfore gentle Reader this my present with conuenient diligēce and study vse the same Which if thou doest I doubt not but howsoeuer it may displease curiouse eies it will not be displeasing to our B. Lady not without vnspeakable profite to our wholle countrey thē the which two things next vnto Gods glory I desire nothing more Fare-well A BRIEFE DIScourse of the Deuotion of our B. LADY EVEN as with all manner of deceitful subtelties and blasphemous vntruthes heresie doth euer go about to derogate vnto the glory of the most soueraigne Queene of heauen and earth so is it the part of euery zealous Catholicke with as much care and diligence to procure to set forth amplifie and increase her wonderfull praises and most deserued honour Wheras therfore in this litle treatise we are to set downe one of the most speciall deuotions and seruices that the holye Church vseth vnto the glorie of this B. Virgin I thinke it necessarie that before we enter into the principall discourse it selfe wee briefly for the behoofe of the vnlearned set downe wherein the deuotion and seruice of so high a creature doth consist Two thinges therfore are required for the wholle perfection of that which we call the deuotiō of our Lady First for to haue a deepe and setled conceit of her worthines and greatnes next vnto Almightie God him selfe aboue all spirituall and corporall creatures Secondly to deriue frō such due estimation an earnest study and endeuour for her honour the glorie of God our owne profite of doing and performing whatsoeuer may becom vs. Concerning the first therfore I will here only touch amongest her infinite priuileges only a few and such as either without heresie cannot be doubted of or are by the firme consent of the wholle Church most constantly beleeued or may with godly deuotion be gathered out of the holy scriptures and auncient Fathers leauing the large proofes therof vnto many learned books which of this point are euery where extant 25 singular priuiledges of our Blessed Lady 1 That as she is in all maner of vertues and dignities farre exceeding all other creatures so was she before all worlds appointed and chosen to so great highnes in so much that ab eterno Almightie God considering and beholding so singular a worke of his hand next vnto him selfe and the humanitie of our Sauiour had a speciall delight and repose in her 2 When the time came that so excellent a creature shoulde bee brought into the world she was foretold by Angelicall reuelation vnto both her barren parents euē as before euen from the begining of the world she had in sundrie waies bene both prefigured and promised 3 Her Body although it were conceiued according to the naturall order of mans generation yet was both the matter ministered therunto with such deuotion as became so holye parents and there wanted not the speciall cooperation of the holy Ghost preparing as the Church singeth the habitation of the sonne of God Whence it did proceed that in perfection of bewtie and complection she was such as is credibly to be thought neuer to haue bene subiect to such particular defects of body as are either caused by the euilnes of complection or inflicted for punishment of sinne or procured by disordered life and that in her person she did cary such a shew of heauenly comelines and maiestie that a greate Saint beholding her said Dion Areop that if he had not other wise ben taught by his faith he would haue deemed her to haue some Godhead within her 4 When the time came that her Body should be quickned with a reasonable soule which in all others in the very creating within a body by carnall generation descending from ADAM cōtracteth originall sinne and geueth life and beeing to a child of wrath shee only was exempted frō such deformitie and presently made the child of God and euer from that time full of grace and of all vertue although in the processe of her most holy life she continually increased the same especially at the conceauing of the sonne of God and the comming of the holy Ghost vnto all the Apostles 5 She had then such abundāce of grace bestowed on her from God D. Tho 5. Par. q 27. ar 5 Psa 86. that she farre exceeded the grace of all Angels holy soules so that she laying her foundatiōs aboue so many high hills we may not any way conceiue vnto what a hight so perfite a sāctuarie grew before her death Neither wanted shee any grace or gifte of the HOLY GHOST as of Prophesie working miracles and such like although whilest she liued in this world it was conuenient for the confirmation of the doctrine of Christ that he only and his Apostles shold worke miracles But she hath aboue all other Saintes since her assumption into heauen receiued that power of her sonne and daily in all countreies practised the same 6 As diuers holy Fathers do testifie Amb. Beda in Luc. vide Aug. ep 57 that S. IHON Baptist when he was sanctified in his mothers wombe had the vse of his free-will voluntarily cōcurring to the acceptation of that grace which hee then receaued which is not obscurely signified vnto vs in the Gospell it selfe where we read that the Infant exulted in ioye which argueth knowledge of the cause of so great ioy so is it also most worthely to be thought of this Virgin for that generall rule of all Diuines and holy Fathers that whatsoeuer priuiledge hath bene granted vnto any pure creature is to be in a higher degree attributed vnto her And it were very agreable vnto her other priuileges to thinke the same vse of reason to haue still continued in her especially wheras the wholle Church attributeth such discretion vnto her as well the space of her infancie being with her Parents as also when beeing three yeere olde she went of her owne accord to present her selfe with great deuotion to the seruice of God in the Tēple And the giftes of God Rom. 11. as S. PAVL teacheth vs being alwaies without repentāce it was not conuenient that she aboue all other should euer loose that which she once receiued 7 Her holy natiuitie and presentation were vnto the holy persōs which were by the inspiration of God made priuie vnto her greatnes and to the hope of the redēption of Israel now at hand a cause of such ioy as neuer before had bene in the world all being full of Gods miracles and heauenly comfortes 8 The bolines of her life euen from the beginning vnto the end therof was such that it was voide from all sinne not onely mortall but also venial Aug. lib. de nat grat c. 36. Yea she was wholy deliuered from that inclinatiō vnto euill and difficultie in that which is good which we all