The Pomau~der of Prayer.

A Prayer for the morning.

I Render vnto thee O heauenly
father most hartye
thankes, by thy deare sonne
Iesus Christ, that this night
past thou hast vouchedsafe
of thy fatherlye goodnes to
preserue me from all euill, &
to geue my bodye rest and
slepe: I now most entierly
beseche thee yt as thou hast
raised vp this my body fro~
slepe, so likewise thou wylt
delyuer my mynde from the
slepe of synne, and from
the darknesse of this world,
that I walking in the lyght
of thy blessed worde, maye
onely doo that is pleasaunt
in thy sight, profitable to my
neighbour, and healthfull to
my soule. Amen.

A prayer for ye Euening.

I Most humbly thanke the
O mercifull Father for
preseruinge me this day fro~
all misfortunes, and for thy
other benefites wherewyth
thou hast ple~teously blessed
me. I beseche ye forgeue me
al my sinnes, wherwyth I
haue offended thy fatherlye
goodnes from the very beginni~g
of my lyfe vnto this
present houre, and take me
this night into thy tuicion,
yt myne enemies maye haue
no power ouer me, but that
my body enioyinge a sweet
slepe, my minde may continually
watch vnto thee, and
through fayth beholde thy
blessed maiesty with a perfect
hope after this frayle &
transitory lyfe, to possesse ye
immortal and heauenly lyfe,
where thou gloriously lyuest
and reignest with thy onlye
begotten sonne and ye holye
Ghost one true and euerlastyng
God, worldes without
ende. Amen.

A prayer for the forgeuenes of synne.

O My Lord and onely sauior
Iesu Christ, which
camest into thys worlde to
take away the heuy burde~s
of them that were loden, to
seke that was lost, to call
synners vnto repentaunce,
to geue euerlastynge lyfe to
the faithfull, and to be a mediator
betwene God the father
and vs: I poore & wretched
sinner from the verye
hart lament, and inwardly
bewayle my synnefull and
wretched lyfe, desiryng the
for thy promyse sake according
to thy mercyfull wont,
to be my mediatour and aduocate
vnto God the father,
that he maye forgeue me all
mine olde sinnes, & so wholy
possesse my hart by his blessed
spirite, that he mai defe~de
me, agai~st al perils to come,
which the diuel, the world or
the flesh imagineth against
me, and so chaunge me into
a new man, that mine olde
sinnes being wyped awaye
in thi precious bloud, I may
walke fro~ vertue to vertue
vnto the glory and praise of
his blessed name. Amen.

A prayer vnto God the father.

THy dearly beloued so~ne
O most louing father
taught vs in hys holy Gospel,
that to know the to be ye
alone true God, is euerlasting
lyfe. Graunt therfore
we beseche thee, yt we may
truly knowe thee, euen as
we are taught by thy holye
word, beleue with the hart,
and co~fesse with the mouth,
that thou alone art the true
liuing and immortall God
our heaue~ly father, our maker,
our preseruer, and our
defender, that we thus beleuing
and confessing maye
through thy sonne Christ become
heires of euerlastyng
lyfe. And as we thus beleue
and confesse of thee: so geue
vs grace to shew forth thys
our faith by godly conuersacion
and vertuous liuing, ye
me~ seeing our good workes,
may glorify thee our heue~ly
father, to whom be prayse
for euer. Amen.

A prayer vnto God the sonne.

O Lord Iesu christ ye so~ne of
ye liuing God, yea, very God
himself begotte~ of god ye father
fro~ euerlasting & continuing
true & immortal God
worlds wtout end by thee al
thi~gs wer made both in heauen
and in earth, bi thee also
they be co~serued & kept in a goodly
order, thou art the bryghtnesse
of thy fathers glorye
thou art the verye image of
hys substa~ce, in thee are hid
al ye treasures of wysedome
and knowledge, in ye dwelleth
al fulnes, by thee ar we
reconcyled to God ye father,
by thee ar we sette at peace
with him, through ye bloud
of thi crosse, bi thee haue we
free accesse vnto ye glorious
throne of Gods maiestye, &
by thee are we brought in
through faith vnto his grace,
wherin we sta~de and reioyce,
in hope of the glory of
God: we thanke thee for all
thy benefytes, & moste humbly
beseeche thee to geue vs
grace faithfully to beleue
in thee, stedfastly to confesse
thee true God and true ma~,
earnestlye to acknowledge
thee our alone redemer, sauiour,
Satisfier, Reco~ciler,
Intercessor, Mediator and
Aduocate that we altogether
depending on thee and
thy merites, on thy blessed
passion, precious death and

B.i.

glorious resurrection, maye
study through thy grace, so
to order our lyfe in true holines
and innocency, that at
the day of iudgement thou
mayst present vs both body
and soule vnto thy heauenly
father, and so for euer and
euer place vs in thi glorious
kingdome. Amen.

Unto God the holy ghost.

O Holy and blessed spirit,
which being true and euerlasting
God, with God
the father and God ye sonne
procedest from them bothe
full of maiestie and power,
which also with thy heaue~ly
breath quycknest ye mi~des
of the~ that afore were dead
through sinne, makest mery
the hartes of ye faithful penitent,
bringest into ye waye of
truth al suche as haue erred
and are deceyued, settest at
one such as wer at debate, co~fortest
the soules of them yt
hu~ger and thirst after righteousnes
and plenteouslye
enrichest them wt diuers giftes,
whyche pray vnto thee

B.ii.

in the name of Iesu Christ:
Purifye our hartes we beseeche
thee with the fyre of
thy loue, mortify in vs what
soeuer is not thine, renue &
garnishe our mindes with
thy heauenly benefites and
spirituall giftes, that they
may be made thy temples,
leade vs into all necessary
trueth, suffer vs not to be
caried about with diuers &
straunge doctryne, but alway
to remaine in that doctryne,
wherof thou alone art
ye author, enarme our soules
against the crafty assaultes
of suttil Satan, against the
vain pleasures of the wicked
world, and against the leude
lustes of filthy fleshe, that we
beeing replenished with thy
holy breath, may doo yt oneli,
whiche is acceptable in thy
godly sight. Amen.

Particular prayers to be sayed of the Magistrates.

FOrasmuch as it is thi godli
pleasure O king of kinges,
and Lorde of Lordes to appoint
me among other a ruler

B.iii.

of thy people, geue me
grace I beseeche thee, so to
minister the commo~ weale,
and so to execute my office, yt
I may please thee, and hurt
no man in all my doinges,
but iudge equally and iustli,
rule according to thy wyll,
shewe my self a father vnto
thy people, and so behaue my
self in all myne enterprises, yt
I seking thy glory, ye furtheraunce
of thy blessed gospel, &
the weale of ye subiectes, may
when thou shalt render to
euery man according to hys
deeds be found blameles in
thy sight, through Iesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Of the ministers of Gods word.

O Thou hygh Priest and
euerlasting bishop Iesus
Christ, the alone teacher
of all godly trueth, and the
onely Curate of oure soules,
whyche by thy holye worde
hast appointed some of thy
congregacion to be Ministers
and Preachers of thy
blessed lawe and Gloryous

B.iiii.

gospell, yt by this meanes,
the holy ghost also working,
they may call synners vnto
repentaunce, preache remission
of synnes in thy name,
perswade vnto vertue, and
disswade fro~ vice: forasmuch
as it hath pleased thee to cal
me an vnprofitable seruau~t
vnto that holy office of ministracion,
and to make me
a preacher of thy worde: I
moste humbly beseeche thee,
to geue me thy holy spirite,
whiche may lead me in to all
trueth, instruct me with the
knowledge of thy holi misteries,
and through his heauenly
inspiracion so prepare
my harte, and order my tu~g,
that I may neyther thinke,
breath, nor speak any thyng,
but that may turne vnto thy
glory and the edifying of thy
flock. Graunt also that what
soeuer I preache in word, I
may fulfil the same in work
vnto the example of that thy
flock, which thou haste purchased
wt thi precious bloud,
yt when thou the cheef shepeheard
shalt appeare I beyng
found faithfull in my office,
mai through thi goodnes receiue
ye incorruptible crown
of glory. Amen.

Of Subiectes or Commens.

AS it is thy godly appoi~tment
O Lorde God yt
sum should bear rule in this
worlde to see thy glorye set
forth, and the commo~ peace
kepte, so it is thy pleasure againe,
that some should be
subiectes and inferiours to
other in theyr vocation, although
before thee there is
no respecte of persons. And
forasmuch as it is thy good
wil to appoint me in the nu~ber
of subiectes, I beseeche
thee to geue me a faithfull &
an obedie~t hart vnto the hye
powers, yt there may be fou~d
in me no disobedience, no vnfaithfulnes
no reaso~, no falshod,
no dissimulacion, no insurrectio~,
no co~mocio~, no co~spiracy,
nor ani kind of rebellio~
in word or in dede agai~st
the ciuil magistrates but all
faithfulnes, obedie~ce, quietnes,
subiectio~, humility, and
whatsoeuer els becommeth
a subiecte, that I liui~g here
in all lowlinesse of mynde
may at the last day through
thy fauoure be lifted vp vnto
euerlasting glory, where
thou with the father and ye
holy ghost liueste & raignest
very God for euer. Amen.

Of Fathers and Mothers.

THe frute of the wombe &
the multitude of childre~
is thy gifte and blessing O
Lorde geuen to this ende yt
they may liue to thy glory &
the co~modity of their neighbour.
For asmuche therfore
as thou of thy goodnes hast
geuen me children, I beseeche
thee geue me also grace
to traine them vp euen from
theyr Cradels in thy nourtoure
& doctrine, in thy holy
lawes & blessed ordinau~ces,
that from theyr very yonge
age they may know thee, beleue
in thee, feare & loue thee,
and diligently walke in thy
commaundements, vnto the
praise of thy glorious name.
Amen.

Of Children.

THou haste geuen a commaundeme~t
in thy law,
O heaue~ly father, that children
should honour theyr fathers
and mothers, I moste
humbly beseeche thee, therfore
to breath thy holy spirit
into my brest, that I maye
reuerence and honoure my
father & mother not oneli wt
outward gestures of mi body,
but also with the vnfayned
affeccio~ of the hart, loue
them, obey them, pray for
them, help them, and doo for
the~, both in worde and dede,
whatsoeuer lyeth in my power,
that thou seeing myne
vnfayned harty good wil toward
my Parentes mayst
become my louing heauenly
father, & number me among
those thy children, who~ thou
hast appointed from euerlasting
heires of thy glorious
kyngdom, through thy welbeloued
sonne Iesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

Of Masters.

THy commaundement is
by thine holy Apostle O
most merciful Lord Christ, yt
masters should entreat their
seruauntes gently, puttyng
away threatninges, & doing
that vnto the~, whiche is iust
and equal, forasmuch as we
also haue a maister in heaue~
with whom there is no respect
of persones. Grau~t I
moste hartely pray thee, I
may so order my seruauntes
that I atte~pt none vnrighteousnes
against them, but
so vse my rule and authority
ouer the~, that I may alway
remember that thou art the
common Lord of all, and we
all thy seruauntes, again yt
I mai not forget that we be
all brothers hauing one father
which is in heaue~, and
look for one glorious kingdome,
where thou with the
father and the holy Ghost
liuest and raygnest true and
euerlastyng God for euer.
Amen.

Of Seruauntes.

O Lord we are co~maunded
by thy blessed Apostles,
that we should honour
& obey our bodely masters

C.i.

with fear and trembling not
onely if they be good & courteous,
but also though they
be froward, and serue them
not vnto the eye as me~ pleasers,
but with singlenes of
hart, not churlishly answering
them againe, nor picking,
stealing, or conueying
awaye anye parte of theyr
goods vniustli, but shewing
all good faythfulnes vnto
our masters, as though we
serued God and not men.
Graunt me grace, I moste
humbly beseeche thee, so to
serue my master and my superiours,
that there may be
found no fault in me but yt
I behauing my self vprightly,
iustly, faithfully and truli
in my vocacion, maye doo
worship to the doctrine of
thee my God and Sauiour
in all things. Amen.

Of Mayds.

THere is nothing that becommeth
a mayd better
the~ silence, shame fastnes &
chastitye of bothe body and
mynde. For these thynges

C.ii.

bei~g once lost, she is no more
a maid but a Strompet in
the sight of God: howsoeuer
she disgiseth her selfe & dissembleth
with the world I
therfore moste humbly beseeche
thee O merciful Father
from whom commeth
euery good and perfect gift,
and without whom we are
able to doo nothing, yt thou
wilt so order my tong, and
dispose my talke yt I speak
nothing but that become mi
state, age and person, nether
that I delight to heare any
talk, that might in any point
moue me to lewdnes, seeyng
that euil words corrupt good
maners. Geue me also such
shamefastnes as may pluck
me away from the delectacion
either of thinking, speaking,
hearing, seing, or doing
euil, that my whole delight
may be in vertue, in godlines
in exchewing ydlenes, in geuing
my selfe continually to
some godly exercyse, but aboue
all thinges in thinking
and speaking of thee in reading

C.iii.

thy blessed worde and
heauenly law, which is a la~tern
to my feet and a light
to mi pathes. Moreouer suffer
neyther my minde to be
defiled with euil thoughts,
nor my body to be corrupted
with any kinde of vncle~nes,
but geue me grace so to order
my self in exchewing idlenes
and wanton wicked co~pany,
yt my mynde being free from
euill affectes, and my bodye
cleare from all vnclennes, I
may be found a mere temple
for the holy Ghost to inhabit
and if it bee thi good pleasure
hereafter to call me vnto the
honorable state of Matrimony,
yt I may bring also vnto
my husbande a pure and vndefiled
body, and so liue with
him in thi feare vnto ye praise
and glori of thy blessed name.
Amen.

Of Singlemen.

LOrd thou hast commaunded
by thine holi Apostle,
that we should abstaine from
fornicacion, and that euerye
one of vs shoulde knowe

C.iiii.

how to keep his vessel, that
is to say his body in holines
and honour and not in the
lust of concupiscence: as doo
the heathen whiche knowe
not God: I beseeche thee
geue me grace to behaue
my selfe according to thys
thy holy commaundemente:
that in this time of my single
lyfe I defile not my body wt
whoredom or with ani other
vnclennes: but so order my
self with all honesty: and purenes
of life, that I may glorify
thee my Lord God both
in body and spirite. Amen.

Of Husbandes.

FOrasmuche O heauenly
father, as thou hast called
me from the single lyfe vnto
the holy state of honourable
wedlocke, which is thy good
and blessed ordinau~ce for all
them to liue in, that haue not
the gift of contine~cy, and hast
geuen me a woman to wyfe,
that I liuing with her in thy
feare mai auoid al vncle~nes,
I moste hartelye pray thee
geue me grace to liue with
her accordinge to thy godly
pleasure. Kil in me al filthy &
fleshly lustes. Suffer me not
to delyght in any straunge
fleshe, but to content my self
onely with her loue, to loue
her as Christe loued the congregacion,
to cherishe her as
I wold cherishe mine owne
body, to prouide for her according
to my ability, to instruct
her with ye knowledge
of thy blessed worde, quietly
and peaceably to liue with
her, and to agree together in
suche perfecte concorde and
vnitie, as is founde among
many members in one body
seing now yt we also are nomore
two, but one fleshe, that
other seeyng our godly and
quiet conuersacion, may herby
be prouoked to forsake
theyr filthy liuing, & so embrace
the holy state of honorable
wedlock vnto ye glori &
praise of thi holi name. Ame~.

Of Wyues.

O Lord forasmuch as thou
of thy Fatherly goodnes
hast vouchedsafe to keep
me from my tender age vnto
thys presente and hast, now
called me from mi single life
vnto the holy state of honorable
wedlock, that I liuing
therein, might according to
thine ordinaunce bring forth
childre~ vnto thy glori: Geue
me grace I moste entierlye
beseche thee to walke, worthy
of mi vocacion, to knowledge
my husbande to be my
head, to be subiect vnto him,
to learn thy blessed word of
him, to reuere~ce him, to obey
him, to please him, to be ruled
by him, peaceably and
quietly to liue with him, to
weare suche apparell as is
mete for mi degree, and bi no
meanes to delight in costly
Iewels and proud galaunt
vestures, but alway to vse
suche clothing as become a
sober Christen woman, circumspectly
& warely to look
vnto my housholde, that nothing
perish through my negligence,
and alwayes haue
a diligent eye, that no dishonesty,
no wickednes, no vngodlynes
be co~mitted in my
house, but yt in it all thinges
be ordeined according to thy
holy wil, whiche art worthy
all honour, glory and prayse
for euer and euer. Amen.

Of Housholders.

TO haue childre~ and seruaunts,
is thy blessinge
O Lord but not to order
the~ according to thy word,
deserueth thy dredful cursse.
Graunt therfore, that as yu
hast blessed me with an houshold,
so I may diligentlye
watche that nothing be committed
of ye same that might
offend thy fatherli goodnes,
and be an occasion of turning
thi blessing into curssi~g
but that so mani as thou hast
co~mitted to my charge, may
exchew all vice, embrace all
vertue, lyue in feare, call
vpon thi holi name, learn thi
blessed commaundementes,
heare thy holy worde, and auoyding
idlenes diligentlye
execute them selues euerye
one in his office according to
theyr vocacion and callyng
vnto the glorye of thy moste
honorable name. Amen.

Of all Christians.

Albeit O heauenly Father
all we that vnfaynedly professe
thy holy religion, and
faithfully call on thy blessed
name, are thy sonnes and
heyres of euerlasting glory,
yet as all the members of a
body haue not one office, so
likewyse we being many &
making one body whereof
thy dearely beloued Sonne
is the head haue not all one
gifte, neyther are we all called
to one office, but as it
hath pleased ye to distribute,
so receyue we. We therfore
moste humbly pray thee, to
send the spirit of loue & concord
amo~g vs, that without
any disorder or debate, eueri
one of vs may be content wt
our calling, quietly lyue in ye
same, study to doo good vnto
all men by the true and
dilige~t exercise therof without
to muche seking of our
owne priuat gain, & so order
our lyfe in all points according
to thy godly will, that
by wel doing we mai stop ye
mouthes of such foolish and
ignoraunt people, as report

D.i.

vs to be euill dooers, & cause
the~ through our good works
to glorify thee our Lord god
in yt dai of visitacion. Amen.

For the Grace & fauour of God.

WHosoeuer liueth wtout
thy grace & fauour
O moste gracious
and fauorable Lorde
although for a time he waloweth in
all kinde of fleshely
pleasures, and abound with
to muche worldly ryches, yet
is he nothing els but ye wretched
bond slaue of sathan, &
the vile du~ghil of syn. Al his
pleasure is extreme poison,
all his welth is nothing but
plain beggeri. For what felicitie
can ther be, where thy
grace and fauour wanteth?
But where thi grace and fauour
is present though the
Deuel roar, the world rage,
ye flesh swel ther is true blissednes,
vnfained pleasure &
co~tinual welth. Pour down
therfore thi heaue~ly grace &
fatherly fauour vpo~ vs, that
we beeynge assured of thy

D.ii.

fauorable goodnes towards
vs may reioyce and glory in
thee, and haue mery hartes
when so euer we be most assailed
with any kinde of aduersitie,
be it pouerty or sicknes,
losse of freends, or persecucion
for thy names sake,
to whom be glorye for euer.
Amen.

For the gift of the holy Ghost.

SO frayl is our nature, so
vile is our flesh, so lewd is
our hart, so corrupt are our
affects, so wicked are al our
thoughts euen fro~ our childhod
vpward, yt of our selues
we can nether thinck, breath,
speak or doo any thing yt is
praise worthy in thy sight O
heauenly father yea, except
thou doost assist vs with thy
mercifull goodnes all things
are so far out of frame in vs,
that we se nothing present in
our selues but thy heauy displeasure
and eternal damnacion.
Uouchesafe therfore O
swete father, to send thy holy
spirite vnto vs, whiche may
make vs new creatures, put

D.iii.

away fro~ vs al fleshly lustes,
fil our harts wt new affects &
spiritual mocio~s, & so altogether
renew vs bothe in body
& soule through his godly inspiracion,
yt we may dye vnto
olde Adam, & lyue vnto thee
in newnes of lyfe seruynge
thee our Lorde God in holines
and righteousnes all ye
daies of our lyfe. Amen.

For the true knowledge of our selues.

IT is written in thy holye
Gospel, moste louing Sauiour
yt thou cammest into
this world not to call ye righteous,
that is such as iustifie
the~ selues, but sinners vnto
repentaunce. Suffer me not
therfore o lord to be in ye nu~ber
of those iusticiaris, which
boasting their owne righteousnes,
theyr owne wurks,
and merits, despise that righteousnes
that commeth by
faith, whiche alone is alowable
before thee. Giue me
grace to knowe & to knowledge
my selfe as I am euen
ye sonne of wrath by nature, a

D.iiii.

wretched synner, and an vnprofitable
seruaunt, & wholy
to depend on thy mercifull
goodnes with stro~g and vnshaken
faith, yt in this world,
thou mayest continually call
me vnto true repentaunce,
seeyng I continually sinne,
and in ye worlde to come bri~g
me vnto euerlasting glorye.
Amen.

For a pure and clene Hart.

THe hart of man naturalli
is lewd and vnsearcheable
through the multitude of
sinns, which as in a stinking
du~ghil lyeth buried in it, in
so much that no man is able
to say: mi hart is clene and I
am cleane from syn. Remoue
from me therfore O heaue~ly
Father my leud, stony, stuburn,
stincking and vnfaithfull
hart. Creat in me a clene
hart free from al noisom and
vngodly thoughts. Breath
into my hart by thy holy spirit,
godly and spirituall mocions,
that out of the good
treasure of the hart, I maye
bring foorth good things vnto
the praise and glory of thy
name. Amen.

For a quiet conscience.

THe wicked is like a ragi~g
sea whyche is neuer in
quiet, neither is ther ani peace
to the vngodly, but such as
loue thy law O Lorde they
haue plenty of peace, they
haue quiet mindes and contented
consciences, whiche is
the greatest treasure vnder ye
Sun geue~ of thee to so mani
as seek it at thy hand wyth
true faith & co~tinuall praier.
Gyue me O Lord that ioyfull
Iewell, euen a quyet
mynde and a free mery conscience
yt I beeing free from
the damnable accusacions of
Satha~, from the crafty perswacions
of the worlde, from
the subtil entysements of the
flesh, from the heauy curs of
the law, and fully perswaded
of thy merciful goodnes toward
me through faith in thy
Sonne Christe Iesu, may
quietly serue thee both bodyly
and ghostly in holines and
rightuousnes al the dayes of
my lyfe. Amen.

For Faith.

FOrasmuche as nothi~g pleaseth
thee, that is doon wtout
faith, appereit before the
blinde world neuer so beautyful
and commendable, but
is counted in thy sight sinfull
and damnable, yea, the selfe
syn and damnacion, this is
moste humbly to desyre thee
O father for Christes sake,
to breathe into my hart bi thi
Spirit, this moste precious
and singular gifte of faith,
which worketh by Charity,
whereby also we ar iustified
and receiued into thy fauor,
yt I truly beleeuing in thee,
and fully perswaded of the
trueth of thy holy word, may
be made thy sonne and inheritour
of euerlasting glorye,
throughe Iesus Chryste our
Lorde. Amen.

For Charitie.

THy cognisaunce & badge,
whereby thy Disciples
are knowen O Lorde & sauiour
Iesu Christe is charitie
or loue, which cometh out
of a pure hart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith vnfayned.
I pray thee therfore
gyue me this Christen loue,
and perfect charitie, that I
may loue thee my Lord God
with all my hart, with al my
minde, with all my soule, and
with all my stre~gths, dooing
alway of very loue yt onely,
whiche is pleasaunte in thy
sight again that I may loue
my neighbour and Christen
Brother as my self, wishing
as well to him as to my self,
& redy at al tymes to doo for
him, what so euer lieth in my
power, that when we al shal
sta~d before thy dreadful iudgyng
place, I beeing knowe~
by thy badge, may be nu~bred
among thy disciples, and so
through thy mercye receyue
the reward of eternall glory.
Amen.

For Pacience.

WHen thou liuedst in thys
world O Lorde Christe,
thou shewedst thy self a mere
mirrour of perfect pacience
sufferi~g quietly not ye spiteful
words, but also ye cruel dedes
of thi most cruel enemies forgeuing
the~ & praying for the~,
whiche moste tyranlike ha~dled
thee. Giue me grace O
thou moste meek and louing
lamb of God to folow this
thy pacience, quietly to bear
the slaunderous wordes of
mine aduersaries, paciently
to suffer the cruel dedes of
mine enemies, to forgiue the~,
to pray for them, yea, to doo
good for the~, & by no meanes
to go about once to auenge
my selfe, but rather giue place
vnto wrath, seeing yt vengeaunce
is thine, and yu wilt
reward, seing also that thou
helpest them to theyr ryght
that suffer wronge, that I
thus paciently suffering all
euils, may afterward raign
with thee in glory. Amen.

For Humilitie.

WHat haue we, O heaue~ly
Father, that we haue not
receyued? Euery good gyfte,
and euery perfect gift is fro~
aboue and cometh downe
from thee, which art the father
of lightes. Seyng then
all yt we haue is thine whether
it pertaine to the body

E.i.

or to the soule, how can we be
proud, and boast our selues of
that whiche is none of our
own seing also yt as to geue,
so to take away againe thou
art able and wilt, whe~soeuer
thy gifts be abused, and thou
not knowledged to be the giuer
of them. Take therfore away
from me all pride & hautynesse
of mynd and graffe
in me true humilitie, that I
may knowledge thee the giuer
of al good things, be tha~kfull
vnto thee for them, & vse
them vnto thy glorye and
the profyte of my neyghboure.
Graunt also, that all
my glorye and reioysynge
maye bee in no earthly creatures,
but in thee alone whiche
doost mercy, equitie, and
ryghtuousnes vpon earth.
To thee alone be all glory.
Amen.

For Mercifulnes.

THy deerelye beloued so~ne
in his holy Gospell
exhorted vs to be mercyfull

E.ii.

eue~ as thou our heauenly Father
art merciful and promisest
that if we be merciful to
other, we shall obtaine merci
of thee, which art the father of
mercies, and God of al consolacion.
Graunt therfore that
for asmuch as thou art oure
Father, and we thy children,
we may resemble thee in all
our life and conuersacio~, and
that as thou art beneficial &
liberal, not onli to ye good, but
also to the euil: so we likewise
mai shew our selues merciful
gentil and liberall to so many
as haue nede of our healp, yt
at the dredful day of dome we
may be found in the number
of those merciful, whom thou
shalt appoint by thy onely begotten
sonne to go into euerlasting
lyfe, to who~ with thee
and the holy ghost be all honour
and praise. Amen.

For true godlynes.

IN thy law O thou maker
of heauen and earth thou
hast appoynted vs a waye to
walke in, and hast commau~ded

E.iii.

that we shuld tourn neither
on the right hand, nor on
the left, but doo according to
thy good will and pleasure,
with out adding of our own
good entents and fleshly imaginacions.
As thou hast
co~maunded, so giue me grace
good Lorde, to doo. Let me
neither folowe mine owne
will, nor the fancies of other
men, neither let me be begiled
with the visar of olde customes,
long vsages, fathers,
decres, auncient lawes, nor
any other thing that fighteth
with thy holy ordinaunces &
blessed commaundeme~t, but
faithfully beleue & stedfastly
confes yt, to be the true godlines,
which is learned in thy
holy Bible, & according vnto
that to order my life vnto the
praise of thy holy name. Ame~.

For the true vnderstanding of Gods word.

O Lorde as thou alone art
the Authour of the holy
scriptures, so lykewyse can
no manne, althoughe neuer

E.iiii.

so wise, politike and learned,
vnderstand them, except he
be taught by thy holy spiryt,
which alone is the Scholemaster
to lead the faithfull
into all truth. Uouchesafe
therfore I moste humbly beseeche
thee to breath into my
hart thy blessed Spirit, whiche
may renew the senses of
my minde, open my wits, reuele
vnto me the true vndersta~ding
of thy holy misteries
and plant in me such a certaine
and infailyble knowledge
of thy truthe, that no
subtyll perswasyon of mans
wysdom may pluck me from
thy truth, but that as I haue
lerned the true vndersta~ding
of thy blessed wyll, so I may
remayne in the same continually,
come lyfe, come death,
vnto the glory of thy blessed
name. Amen.

For a lyfe agreable to our knowledge.

AS I haue prayd vnto thee
O heauenly Father to be
taught the true vndersta~ding
of thi blessed word by thi holy
spirit, so I moste entierly beseech
thee to giue me grace to
lead a lyfe agreable to my
knowledge. Suffer me not,
to be of the number of them
which profes that they know
God with theyr mouth, but
deny hym with theyr dedes.
Let me not be lyke vnto that
sonne which sayd vnto hys
father, that he would labour
in his vineyeard, and yet labored
nothing at al, but went
abrode loitering idely. Make
me rather lyke vnto that
good and fruteful land which
yeldeth agayne her sede with
great increase, that men seing
my good workes, maye
glorify thee my heauenly father
Amen.

For the health of the body

I Fele in my selfe O mercifull
Sauiour how greuous
a pryson thys my body
is vnto my Soule, which
contynually wysheth to be
loosoned oute of thys vyle
carcasse and to come vnto
thee, seeing it hath heere no
reste, but is at euery houre
vexed wyth the filthy lustes
of the flesh, wyth the wicked
assaultes of the deuyll and
the worlde, and is neuer at
quiet but alway in daunger
to be ouercome of her ennemyes,
were it not preserued
of thy goodnes by the mynistery
and seruice doing of
thy holy Angels. Notwythsta~ding
O most louing lord
forasmuch as it is thy good
pleasure that my bodye and
soule shall styl remain heere
together as yet in this vale of
mysery: I beseche thee to preserue
my soule from all vyce,
and my body from al sycknes
that I enioying through thy
benefyte the helth bothe of
body and soule, maye be the
more able to serue thee & my
neighbour in such works as
are acceptable in thy sighte.
Amen

For a good name.

NOthing becometh ye
professour
of thy name better
O heauenly Father the~
so to behaue him selfe accordyng
to hys professyon, that
he maye be well reported of
them, that be of the houshold
of Faith, yea such synceritie
and purenes of lyfe ought to
be in them which profes thy
holy name, that the very aduersaryes
of thy truth should
be ashamed once to mutter agaynst
them. Giue me grace
therfore I moste intierly desyre
thee soo to frame my
lyfe accordinge to the rule of
thy blessed word, that I may
giue no man occasyo~ to speak
euill of me, but rather so lyue
in my vocacion, that I may
be an exsample to other, to
liue Godly and vertuously
vnto the honour and praise
of thy glorious name. Amen.

For a compitent liuing.

ALthough I doubt not of
thy fatherly prouision for
this my poore & nedy lyfe, yet
for as much as yu hast bothe
commaunded and taught
me by thy deere Sonne to
praye vnto thee for thinges
necessary for thys my lyfe. I
am bolde at this present to
come vnto thi diuine maiesty
moste humbly beseching thee
that as thou hast geuen me
lyfe, so thou wylte giue me
meat and drincke to sustayn
the same. Again as thou hast
geue~ me a body, so thou wilt
gyue me clothes to couer it,
that I hauing sufficyent for
my liuing, may the more frely
& with the quieter minde
apply my selfe vnto thy seruice
and honour. Amen,

For a pacient and thankfull hart in sicknes.

WHo~ thou louest O lorde
him doost thou chasten,
yea euery so~ne that thou receiuest,
thou scourgest, & in
so dooing: thou offerest thy
self vnto him, as a father vnto
his So~ne. For what so~ne
is he whom the father chastneth
not? Graunt therfore
I moste hartely pray thee,
that whe~soeuer thou layest
thy cros on me, and visitest
me with thy louing scourge

F.i.

of sicknes. I may by no
meanes striue against thy
fatherly pleasure, but paciently
& thankfully abide thy
chastiseme~t, euer being perswaded,
that it is for ye helth
bothe of my body and soule,
& that by this meanes thou
wurkest my saluacion, subduest
the fleshe vnto the spirit,
& makest me a new creature,
that I may hereafter
serue thee the more freely, &
co~tinue in thy fear vnto my
lyfes ende. Amen.

For strength against the deuell, the world, and the flesh.

O Lorde God, the Diuell
goeth about like a roring
Lio~, seeking whom he
may deuour. The Flesh lusteth
against the Spirite.
The world perswadeth vnto
vanities, yt we may forget
thee our Lorde God, &
so for euer be da~ned. Thus
are we miserably on euery
side beseeged of cruell & vnrestful
enemies, & like at eueri
moment to perish, if we be

F.ii.

not defended with thy godly
power against their tira~ny.
I therfore poore & wretched
si~ner dispairi~g of mine
owne strengthes, whiche in
deed are none, moste hartely
pray thee to endue me wt
stre~gth from aboue, that I
may bee able through thy
help with strong faith to resist
Sata~, with ferue~t prayer
to mortify ye raging lusts
of the Fleshe, with continuall
meditation of thy holy
law, to auoyde the foolish
vanities & transitory pleasures
of this wicked world,
that I through thy grace being
set at libertie from the
power of mine enemies,
may liue and serue thee in
holines & rightuousnes all
thy days of my life. Amen.

For the helpe of Gods holy Aungels.

AN infinit nu~ber of wicked
Aungels are there,
O Lorde Christe whiche
without ceasing seek my destruccio~,
Against this excedi~g

F.iii.

great multitude of euill
spirits, se~d thou me thy blessed
and heauenly angels,
which may pitche their te~ts
round about me, & so delyuer
me from their tirany.
Thou o lorde hast deuoured
hel, & ouercom ye Prince
of darknes with all his ministers,
yea and that not for
thy self, but for them that beleue
in thee. Suffer me not
therfore to bee ouercome of
Satan, & of his seruaunts,
but rather let me triu~phe ouer
them yt I through stro~g
faith & the help of the blessed
angel hauing the victory of
the hellish armi mai with a
ioiful hart sai: Death where
is thy sti~g? hel where is thy
victory? & so for euer & euer
magnifi thy holy name. Am~

A prayer to our Lorde Iesus Christe, called Conditor celi et terræ.

OH maker of heauen and
earth, king of kinges,
& Lorde of Lordes, whiche
of nothing didst make me
to thy image and likenes, &
didst redeem me with thine
owne precious bloud, who~
I a si~ner am not wurthy to
name, neither to call vpon,
neither wt my hart to think
vpon, humbli I desire thee,
and meekly pray thee, that
gentli thou doo beholde me
thy wicked seruau~t, & haue
merci on me, whiche hadest
mercy on the woma~ of Ca~nane,
and of Mari Magdale~,
whiche didst forgeue the
Publicane, & the theef hanging
on ye cros. Unto the I
confes, O most holy father,
my si~nes which if I would,
I cannot hide from thee.
Haue mercy on me Christe,
for I a wretche haue sore offended
thee, in pride, in couetousnes,
in glotony, in
lechery, in vainglory, in hatred,
in enuy, in adultry, in
theft, in lying in backbiti~g,
in sporting, in dissolute and
wanton laughing, in idle
wurds, in hearing, in tasting,
in touching, in thinking,
in sleping, in wurking,
& in all wayes, in whiche I
a fraill man, & moste wretched
sinner might sinne. Mi
default, my moste greuous
default. Therfore I moste
hu~bly pray & beseech thy ge~tlenes,
which for my helth
descended fro~ heue~, whiche
didst holde vp king Dauid,
that he should not fall into
sin. Haue mercy on me, oh
Lorde haue merci on me O
Christe the which didst forgeue
Peter, that did forsake
thee. Thou art my creatour
and my helper, my maker, &
my redeemer, mi gouernor,
my father, my lord, my god,
and my king. Thou art my
hope, my trust, my gouerner,
my help, my co~fort, my
strength, my defence, my redemption,
my life, my helth
and my resurrection. Thou
art my stedfastnes, my refuge
or succour, my light &
my help, I moste humbly &
hartely desire and pray thee
help me, defe~d me, make me
strong and co~fort me, make
me stedfast, make me mery,
geue me light and visit me,
reuiue me again, which am
dead. For I am thy maki~g
& thy wurk oh Lorde despise
me not, I am thy seruant
thy bondma~, although
euill, although vnwurthy, &
a sinner. But whatsoeuer I
am, whether I bee either
good or bad, I am euer thine.
Therfore to whom shall
I flee, except I flee vnto the
if thou cast me of, who shal
or will receiue me? If thou
despise me, & turn thy face
from me, who shal look vppon
me? Recognise & knowledg
me? although vnwurthy
comming to thee, allthough
I be vile & vnclene,
for if I be vile & vnclene,
thou canst make me clene,
If I be sick, thou canst heal
me. If I be dead & buried,
thou canst reuiue me. For
thy merci is much more, the~
mine iniquitie, thou ca~st forgeue
me more the~ I can offe~d.
Therfore, Oh lorde, doo
not co~sider nor haue respect
to the number of my sinnes,
but according to the greatnes
of thy merci forgeue me,
and haue mercy on me most
wretched sinner. Say vnto
my soule, I am thy helth,
which saidst: I will not the
death of a sinner, but rather
that he liue and be conuerted,
& turn to thee. Oh lorde
bee not angry with me, I
pray thee moste meek father
for thy great mercy, I most
humbely beseech thee, that
thou bring me to the blis,
that neuer shall ceas. Ame~.

For the glory of heauen.

THe ioyes o lorde which
thou hast prepared for
them yt loue thee, no eye hath
seen, no eare hath heard nether
is any hart able to thi~k
But as the ioyes ar great
& vnspeakeable, so ar there
few that doo enioy them.
For straight is the gate and
narow is the way, whiche
leadeth vnto life, and few
there be that find it.
Notwithstanding, O heauenly
father, thou hast a litle
flocke, to whom it is thy
pleasure to geue ye glorious
kingdom of heaue~. Ther is
a certaine number of sheep,
that heare thy voice, whom
no man is able to pluck out
of thy hand, whiche shal neuer
perish to who~ also thou
shalt geue eternall life.
Make me therfore: O lorde
of that number, whom thou
fro~ euerlasting hast predestinate
to bee saued, whose
names also are written in
the book of life. Pluck me
out of the co~pany of ye stinking
gotes, whiche shal sta~d
on thy left hand & be damned,
& place me among those
thy sheep, whiche shal stand
on thy right hand and be saued.
Graunt me this, o mercifull
Father, for thy deere
sonnes sake Iesu Christ our
Lorde. So shal I enioying
this singular benefite at thy
hand, & being placed in thy
glorious kingdom, sing perpetuall

G.i.

praises to thy godly
maiestie, whiche liuest and
reignest with thy deerely
beloued sonne, and the holy
ghost one true and euerlasting
God. &c.

A thanks geuing vnto God for all his benefites.

THy benefites, toward me
O moste louing Father,
are so great & infinite whether
I haue respect vnto my
body or vnto my soule, that
I finde not in my self how
to recompence any part of
thine vnspeakable goodnes
toward me. But yu whiche
needest none of my goods,
knowing our beggery, yea
our nothing, requirest of vs
for a recompe~ce of thy kindnes
only ye sacrifice of praise
and thanks geuing, o lorde
and mercifull father, what
wurthi thanks am I pore &
wretched si~ner able to geue
the? Notwtsta~ding trusting
on thy merci & fauorable ki~dnes,
I offer vnto thee in the
name of Christe the sacrifice

G.ii.

of praise, euer thanking the
moste hartely for all thy benefites,
whiche thou hast bestowed
vpon me thine vnprofitable
seruau~t from the
beginning of my life vnto
this prese~t houre, moste hu~bly
beseeching the to continew
thy louing kindnes toward
me, and to geue me
grace to walke wurthy of
this thy fatherly goodnes,
that whe~ thou shalt call me
out of this carefull life, I
may enioy yt thy moste singular
& last benefite, whiche
is euerlasting glori through
Iesus Christe our Lord, to
whom with thee and the holi
ghost be al honour & praise
for euer and euer. Amen.

A praier to be said at the houre of death.

O Lorde Iesu, whiche art
the only helth of all me~
liuing & the euerlasting life
of the~ which die in thy faith.
I wretched sinner geue and
submit my self wholy vnto
thy most blessed wil. And I

G.iii.

being sure that the thing ca~
not perish whiche is co~mitted
vnto thy merci. O lord,
geue me grace that willingly
I may leaue this fraill &
wicked fleshe in hope of the
resurrection, whiche in better
wise shal restore it to me
agai~, I beseeche thee, moste
merciful lorde Iesus christ
that thou wilt by thy grace
make stro~g my soule agai~st
all temptacions. And that
thou wilt couer and defend
me with the buckler of thy
mercy against all ye assaults
of the deuill. I see & knowledge
yt there is in my self
no help of saluation. But al
my confidence, hope, & trust
is in thy moste mercifull
goodnes, I haue no merits
nor good wurks, whiche I
may alledge before thee. Of
my sinns & euill wurks alas
I see a great hepe, but
thorow thy mercy I trust
to be in the number of them
to whom thou wilt not impute
their sinnes: but take &
accept me for rightuos and
iust & to be ye enheritour of
euerlasting life. Thou mercifull
Lorde wast borne for
my sake, yu didst suffer bothe
hunger & thirst, for my sake
thou didst preache & teache,
thou didst pray and fast for
my sake, thou didst al good
wurks & deeds for my sake.
Thou sufferedst moost greuous
paines and torments
for my sake. And finally,
thou gauest thy moste precious
body to die, & thy bloud
to be shed on the cros for my
sake. Now moste mercifull
sauiour, let all these things
profit me, whiche thou freely
hast geuen me, that hast
geue~ thy self for me. Let thy
bloud clense and washe away
the spots and foulnes
of my sinnes. Let thy righteousnes
hide & couer my vnrighteousnes.
Let the merites
of thy passion & bloud
be satisfaction for my sinnes
Geue me Lorde thy grace
that my faith and saluation
in thy bloud, wauer not in
me, but euer be firm & constant,
that the hope of thy
mercy and life euerlasting
neuer decay in me, that charitie
wax not colde in me, finally,
that the weaknes of
my fleshe bee not ouercome
with fear of death. Graunt
me mercifull sauiour that
whe~ death hath shut vp the
eies of my body, yet that the
eyes of my soule may stil beholde
and look vpon thee,
that when death hath take~
away the vse of my tung &
spech, yet that my hart may
cry & say vnto thee. In manus
tuas domine commendo
spiritum meu~, that is to say
O Lorde, into thy ha~ds I
geue and commit my soule,
Domine Iesu accipe spiritum
meum. Lorde Iesu receiue
my soule vnto thee. Amen.

Certain Godly Meditations made in the forme of prayers. by S. Augustine whiche if thou wilt rede them quietly with a feruent spirit, they will stir thee muche to deuocion.

A prayer wherin, through co~memoration of Christes passion, we desire pardon of oure sinnes and continuaunce in vertue and godlines.

BEholde O pitiful father thy
most pitifull so~ne, which suffred
for me being so wicked. Behold
o most merciful king who
suffreth, and remember as thou
art louing and kinde for whom
he suffred. Is not this O my
Lorde that innocent whom allthough
he were thy sonne, thou
didsts deliuer to redeme & raunso~
a seruant? Is not this the author
and beginner of life, whiche being
led as a sheep to bee killed, &
beeing made obedie~t to thee, euen
vnto death, was not afraid
to take vpo~ him the moste cruell
and sharp kinde of death? Cal to
remembraunce O thou distributor
of all helth that this is he
whom althoughe thou did self
beget him by thy power, yet notwithstanding
thou wouldest
haue to bee made partaker of
mine infirmitie and weaknes.
Truly this same is thy Godhed
whiche did take vpo~ him my nature,
whiche was hanged vppo~
the gibbet of tourment or cros,
whiche in the fleshe whiche he
had taken vpon him, did suffer
sorowful punishment. Turn the
eyes of thy maiestie O Lord my
God toward the wurk of thine
vnspekeable pitie. Look vpo~ thy
deere sonne, whose whole body
is stretched forth. Mark ye harmles
and pure hands whiche doo
drop and distill down innocent
bloud. And I beseeche thee, bee
pacified and pardon the wicked
dedes whiche my hands haue co~mitted.
Consider his bare & naked
side, being thrust thorow cruelly
with a spear, and renue and
wash me with the holy fountain
or well which I beleeue did flow
from thens. Mark the vnspotted
feet which haue not stand in the
way of sinners, but alway haue
walked in thy law, how thei are
perced thorow wt sharp nailes,
& make perfect my steps in thy
paths, and make me of thy louing
kindnes to hate all wayes
of iniquitie. Remoue from me
the way of iniquitie, and make
me of thy mercy to chuse ye way
of truth. I beseeche thee o king
of holy men by this holy one of
all holy ones, & by this my redemer:
to make me run the way of
thy commaundements, that I
may be vnited & knit vnto him
in spirit, whiche did not disdain
to be clad in my flesh. Dost thou
not look vpon and mark o pitifull
father the head of thy moste
deerly beloued so~ne, a yungma~,
how it leaned vpo~ his shoulder
whe~ he was past the moste precious
death? Beholde o my most
gentle creator the humanitie &
gentlenes of thy beloued sonne,
and haue compassio~ vpon the feblenes
of me thy weak & feeble
handy wurk. Behold O moste
glorious parent the torne & rent
membres of thy most kinde & louing
child, & remember gently
what substance I am of. Behold
the paines of God and man, and
release and louse man which is
thy creature out of miserye and
bondage of sin. Behold the punishme~t
of him that did redeem
and pardon the offence of them
that be redemed. This is he O
Lorde whome thou didst strike
for the sinnes of thy people although
he be thy welbeloued, in
whom was found no gile, & yet
neuertheles was he rekened amongest
them that were full of
iniquitie.

A prayer wherin man confesseth him self to be the cause of Christs passion.

WHat hast thou committed O
Lorde that thou shouldest be
so iudged? What hast thou offended
that thou shouldest be so cruelli
handled and ordered? What
was thy fault? what was thine
offence? what was the cause of
thy death? what was the occasion

H.i.

of thy condemnation? I Lorde
I am the cause of thy sorow, the
fault is in me that thou wast killed
for. I haue deserued thy death
I committed the offences that
were auenged vppon thee. Oh
meruelous kinde of iudgment,
and vnspekeable disposition or
ordering of misteries. The vniust
man offe~deth: and the rightwise
is punished. The gilti doth
euill and the innocent is beaten.
The euill dooth trespas and the
good is condemned. That which
the euil man deserueth: the same
doth the iust suffre. That which
the serua~t doth amis the master
maketh amends. That which ma~
trespasseth: God suffereth it. O
thou whiche art ye so~ne of god
how low did thine humilitie descend?
How greatly did thy charitie
euen as it wer wax hote &
burn towarde vs. How farr did
thy pitie procede? Whither did
thy beningnitie, and gentelnes
grow & extend? How far did thy
loue stretche? How far came thy
co~passion? for I did wrongfully:
and thou wast punished. I co~mitted
the mischeuous dedes: and
they were auenged vpon thee. I
did the faut: and thou submitted
thy self to the torments. I was
proud, and thou wast humble &
meeke, I was swelled and pufte

H.ii.

vp, thou wast extenuated and appaired.
I was disobedie~t, neuertheles
thou being obedient, bare
the paines and punishments of
disobedie~ce. I obeyed and was,
as it were a seruaunt to al exces
and glotony, and thou wast punished
with scarsitie and lack of
food. The tree did draw me violentli
vnto vnlawfull concupiscence
& desires, but perfit charitie
led thee vnto punishment. I
presumed being forbidden: but
thou didst smart therfore. I toke
my pleasure, with delicatenes:
thou wast vexed with the cros.
I abound and haue plenty of al
pleasures: thou art all to torne
with nailes. I doo tast the plesaunt
sweetnes of the apple: &
thou the bitternes of gall. Beholde
O king of glory mine iniquitie
and vngodlines: and thy
pitie & goodnes is manifest. Beholde
mine vnrightwisnes: and
thy iustice is plainly declared.
What thing O my king & my
God shall I re~dre vnto thee, for
all those things which thou hast
bestowed vpon me? for nothing
can be found in the hart of man,
that may wurthely recompence
suche rewardes. Can ma~ns wit
excogitate or imagin any thing
that is wurthy to bee compared
vnto thy deuine mercie? Nether

H.iii.

is it the office of a creature to go
about to recompence fully and
iustly the aid and help of a creator.
There is truly O sonne of
God in this thy merueilous dispensation
and appointments
somewhat in whiche my frailnes
may help a litle, if so be that
my minde once pricked and stirred
by thy visitacion doo punish
the flesh, with the vices also and
euill concupiscences therof: and
this thing, if thou wilt graunt &
geue me grace to doo, then shall
it begin as it were to suffre and
sustein sorowes and greefs, because
yt thou also diddest vouchsafe
to die for my sin. And so by
the victori of the inward man, it
shalbe armed thou beeing a captain
for the externall & outward
victory, forasmuche as the spiritual
persecucion once ouercom
it shal not be afraid, for thy sake
to be obedient vnto the material
sword and cros of this world.
And so the sle~derned of my state
& condition if it please thy goodnes
shalbe able according to the
little power therof, to answer
vnto the greatnes & excellencie
of my creator. And this is the
heauenly medicine O good Iesu
this is as it were a preseruatiue
of thy loue. This I beseeche
thee, by thine accustomed & ancient

H.iiii.

mercies, to poure into my
wounds, the foul & filthy matter
of the venemous contagion
& infectio~ once cast away, which
may refresh & restore me to my
former puritie and clennes, that
when I haue tasted of the plesa~t
sweetnes whiche is to abide in
thee it may make me to despise
& vtterly set nought by the enticements
of this world, and to
fear for thy sake none aduersities
therof, and that I remembring
thine euerlasting nobilitie
and excellencie may alwayes
abhor and disdain the troubles
of this transitory world. Let no
thing I beseeche thee be delectable
vnto me, nor plese me wtout
thee. Let no precious nor beutiful
thing be acceptable vnto me
but thee. Let all thi~gs I beseche
thee be counted as vile, & of no
estimatio~ vnto me, without the.
That whiche is against thy nature:
let it be irkso~ and greuous
also vnto me, and that whiche
pleaseth thee, let it be continually
desired of me. Let it irk me
to reioice without thee, and let
it delite me to be sad for thy sake
Let thy name bee an hartning
vnto me, and the remembrance
of thee, a consolacion and confort.
Let my teares be made vnto
me as bread both day & night,
serching thy iustificacions. Let
the law of thy mouth bee better
vnto me, the~ thousands of gold
and siluer. Geue me an ardent
desire and loue to obey thee & an
extreme hatred to resist thee. I
require thee O my hope for all
thy pity and goodnesses sake to
haue mercy vpon mine impitie &
wickednes. Make open mine
eares to thy co~mau~deme~ts, & let
not mine hart be enclined I beseeche
thee by thy holy name to
any euill thing, to be minded as
the vngodly or wicked men. I require
the also by thy merueilous
humilitie, that I bee not moued
with pride, not yet with sinners.

Here dooth man declare vnto God the father, that the Passio~ of his so~ne, was for his reconciliation and artonement with God.

BEhold O almighty God, father
of my Lorde I beseeche
thee of thy beningnitie and gentlenes
to haue mercy vpon me,
because of ye moste precious thi~g
that I could finde, the same I
haue offred deuoutly vnto thee,
the thing of moste estemacion, yt
I could imagin, I haue presented
it humbly vnto thee. I haue
left nothyng, but I haue declared
it to thy maiestie. There is
nothing remaining that I may
ad more, because I haue co~mitted
and betaken my whole hope
vnto thee. I haue sent vnto thee
my aduocate and spokesman, euen
thy well beloued sonne. I
haue sent thy glorious childe to
be a mediator betwixt me & thee.
I haue set I say an intercessour
by whome I trust to get pardon
and forgeuenes of my sinns. I
haue sent wurd vnto wurd that
is God vnto God, according to
that whiche saint Iohn hathe in
ye beginning of his gospel, wher
he calleth God the wurd, saying
in the beginning, was the wurd
and the wurd was with God, &
God was the wurd. &c. whiche
wurd as I haue said was sent
for my misdedes. And I haue rehersed
vnto thee the passion of
thy moste holy sonne, which passio~
I beleue was suffred for me.
I beleeue that the godhed which
was sent of thee did take vpon
him, mine humanitie & nature,
in the whiche he thought not
scorn to suffre buffets, bendes,
spittings, mocks, yea, he took
vpon him to suffer ye cros, nailes
and dart. I beleeue also that his
ma~hod being in this my nature
during his infancie was trobled
with creeping and scraulings, &
was wrapt in clothes after the
maner of other childre~, was vexed
in his youth, with labours
made lene, with waking & fastings,
weried with iourneying,
afterward whipped & all to torn
and rent with diuers kindes of
punishments, rekened amongst
the dead, and whan it was endued
with the glory of resurrectio~,
he caried it into the ioyes of heauen,
& placed it vpon the rightha~d
of thy maiestie. This I say
he is my manhod, wai & meanes
of pacifying and appeasing thee
and thy way and meanes of hauing
mercy vpon me. Mercifully
look vpon, hear the so~ne whiche
thou didst beget & the bond serua~t
whiche he redemed. Beholde
here a creator, and doo not despise
a creature. Receiue the shepherd
welcomed with a gentle &
louing countenance, and mercifully
looke vpo~ the sheep whiche
he hathe brought home vppon
his owne shoulders. This is that
moste faithfull shepherd whiche
by mani and diuers labours and
trauailes ouer steep hilles and
thorow hedlong and deepe valies
did serche for his owne sheep
that was straide away, whiche
also when he had founde it faint
and allmoste dead thorow long
wanderyng, gat him self vnder
it with greate reioising,
and making it faste vnto him
with a merueilous bonde of
charitie, lifted it vp out of the
depth of confusion and brought
it home to the nintie and nine.
Behold O Lorde my king and
God almighty, beholde a good
shepherd, whiche re~dreth to thee,
that whiche thou committed to
his charge. He tooke vpon him
thorow thine ordinau~ce to saue
man, who~ he hath deliuered vnto
the cleane and pure from all
spots thorow the washing in his
bloud. Loe thy most deerly beloued
sonne hathe reconciled vnto
thee thy ha~dy wurk, whiche was
gon astray far out of the way.
Lo a gentle shepherd bringeth
again to thy flock, him that the
violent pirate & robber had driuen
away. He hath brought vnto
thy sight, ye seruaunt who~ his
owne conscience had made to ru~
away, that he which by him self
had deserued punishme~t, by thy
sonne being his sollicitour hath
deserued forgeuenes, vnto who~
also for his offences euerlasting
fier was due: neuertheles being
a souldiour vnder suche a captain,
he doth hope to be brought
home to his owne countrey. I
was able O holy Father by my
self to offe~d thee, but I was not
able of my self to pacify and apese
thee. Thy welbeloued so~ne
O my God was made my helper,

I.i.

by taking vpon him mine
humanitie, to ye intent he might
cure mine infirmitie, that wherof
the first occasion of thy wrath
did spring: of the same, he might
offer vp to thee a Sacrifice of
praise. And that he might re~dre
& make me also well pleasing to
to thy goodnes by that thing, in
the which he sitting now on thy
right hand, did alwayes shew &
declare him self to be equal with
my substance, & as it wer felow
with the same. Lo my hope, behold,
in whom is all my trust. If
thou despise me as it wer right
for mine iniquitie: yet look vpo~
me at the least wise mercifully
for the charitie of thy beloued
sonne. Geue heed to thy sonne,
wherby thou maist haue mercy
vpo~ thy bond seruant. Look vpon
the sacrament of flesh: & pardon
the offences of flesh. How
oft so euer thou doost remember
the woundes of thy blessed so~ne:
so oft I beseche thee let mine iniquities
be hid. And because flesh
hath stirred thee to angre: let
fleshe I beseech thee moue thee
to mercy, that like as fleshe hath
seduced & led me to sin: so fleshe
may get & obtein for me remissio~
For certainly it is muche yt mine
iniquitie hath deserued, but much

I.ii.

more is it, that the goodnes of
my redemer may euen of right
require. Mine vnrightousnes is
great, but his righteousnes is
bigger. For loke how much god
is superior vnto man: euen so
muche is my malice and euil inferior
vnto his goodnes bothe in
qualitie and qua~titie. For what
haue I sinned being a man: that
the sonne of God beeing made
man hath not redeemed? what
pride could be in me so exceding
hie: but suche humilitie as was
in him, shuld bring it downe?
what power of deathe was there
in me so great, but the punishment
whiche the Sonne of God
suffred vpon the cros might deface
it & vtterly destroy it? Truly
my God, if the sinnes of sinfull
man should be wayed in a iust &
equall balance with the loue &
fauor that was in oure redemer
toward vs: the East is not so far
distant from the West, nor the
innermost parte of the earth so
muche separated from the vpper
most parte of the heaue~: as they
should be vnlike, so muche les
should mine iniquitie be, then is
his goodnes. Now O moste noble
creator of light now pardo~
mine offences for the vnmeasurable
trauailes and paines that
thy beloued sonne did sustein.

I.iii.

Now I beseeche thee let his
goodnes bee set against my wickednes,
his modesty and temperau~ce:
against mine vngracious
frowardnes, and his meeknes against
my fierce crueltie. Let his
humilitie: recompence my pride,
his pacience: mine impacience,
his gentlenes: mine vnkinde
churlishnes, his obedience: my
disobedience, his quyetnes: mine
vnquietnes, his plesau~t towardnes:
my bitter frowardnes, his
sweet facilitie and gentlenes:
mine anger and freating fumes,
to co~clude let his charitie: make
amendes for my heinous and detestable
crueltie. Amen.