A Prayer to be sayd both Morning and Euening.

WE yeelde thee heartie thankes, most
merciful Father, for all thy benefites
bestowed vppon all mankinde, and
especially vppon this Realme and
people of England, and priuatelie vpon vs
most vnthankfull, and vnworthy sinners: and
aboue all others, for those vnspeakeable benefites
of our creation, when we were nothing;
of our redemption, when wee were lost; for
pardoning of our sinnes by repentance; and
reuealing of the same benefites vnto vs by thy
holie word and Gospell of thy deare sonne our
Sauiour Iesus Christ; and for that thou hast
saued vs from so many perilles and daungers
both of body and soule, both by sea and by land,
both at home and abroad. And whereas wee
haue offended thy diuine maiesty by continuall
sinning, prouoking thee to wrath and indignation
against vs; yet hast thou neither thy
selfe destroyed vs, nor forsaken vs, nor giuen
vs ouer, nor deliuered vs to our enemy the
deuill, that roring Lion, that huge Dragon, sodenly
and most horribly by him to be destroied
but hast hitherto saued vs from the pawes of
that Lion, and iawes of that dragon, most desirous
of our destructio~. And for that thou hast
deliuered vs from the daunger of darkenesse,
and the perils of the night past, and hast brought
vs safe to the beginning of this day. We most
humbly beseech thee, that as thou hast hitherto
saued vs, so thou wilt both now and euer
heereafter take and receiue vs into thy defence
and protection, graunting that not onely this

A 3

daie, but all the daies of our liues, which thou
wilt giue vnto vs, maie whollie be bestowed to
the glory of thy holy name, to the edifying of
the Church of thy Sonne, to the benefite of our
neighbours, and the health of our owne soules.
Graunt this O most mercifull father to vs
most vnworthie sinners, for the worthinesse of
thy deare Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ:
to whome with thee and the Holy Ghost, bee
all honour and glorie, world without end, Amen.

BE merciful, O father of all mercies, to thy Church
vniuersall, dispersed throughout the whole world:
and grant that all they that do confesse thy holy name,
may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and liue in
godly concord and vnitie. And especially be mercifull
to such as bee vnder persecution for the testimony of
their conscience, & profession of the Gospell of thy Son
our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Defend and saue O Lord
those silly soules, which as sheepe are appointed to the
shambles and slaughter, and represse the rage and tyrannie
of such as are bent to bloudshed, and mind nothing
but murther. And namely, be mercifull to thy
Church and Realme of England, to thy seruant our
Soueraigne, and gracious King IAMES, to the
Councell, Clergie, Nobility, people and communalty,
and to this poore houshold and familie, for thy deare
Sonne Iesus Christes sake the only Mediator
of all mercies: to whome with thee and
the holy Ghost be all honour and
glorie, for euer, and euer,
AMEN.

A Prayer to the Majestie of God for the redresse of a sinfull life.

O My Lord God, grant that with hart
I desire thee, with desiring seeke
thee, in seeking finde thee, in finding
that I loue thee, and by louing
thee that I turne not againe to
my former sinnes which thou hast redeemed.
Giue me, O my Lord God, a repentant heart, a
contrite spirit, eyes flowing with fountaines of
teares, bountifull handes in ministring almes.
Quench in mee O king the lust of my flesh, and
kindle the fire of thy loue, O my redeemer take
from me the spirite of pride, and most fauourably
inrich me with the treasure of thy humility.
Remoue from me O my Sauiour the fury of anger,
and graciously arme me with the shield of
patience. O my Creator roote out of me all rancor,
and indue me with a cheerfull meeke heart.
Bestowe vpon me a perfect faith, a right hope,
constant loue.
Preserue mee from all vanitie, inconstancy of
mind, wauering of hart, scoffing of tongue, pride
of eyes, rauine of the belly, reproching tauntes
against my neighbour, wicked slaundering, busie
curiositie, hunger of riches, extortio~ of mightie
men, ambition of vain glory, from the vice
of hypocrisie, the poison of flatterie, contempt
of the poore, oppression of the weake, from
greedie auarice, cankered enuie, deadly blasphemie.
Rippe out of me, O my Maker, rash boldnesse,
contumacie, frowardness, negligence,
idlenesse, sloth, dulnesse of witt, blindenesse of
heart, obstinacie of minde, sauage conditions,
contempt of that good is, the abandoning of
wholesom counsell, offence of tongue, rapine of
the poore, malicious and false accusing of the innocent,
violence against the impotent, neglect
of inferiours, crueltie toward my houshold, impiety
against my familiar friends, rigor towarde
my neighbour.
O my God, my mercifull God, I beseech thee
in thy beloued Sonne, bless me with the works
of mercie, and zeale of godlinesse, to suffer with
the afflicted, to minister to the needie, to succor
the miserable, to counsell them that goe astray,
to comfort the sorrowfull, to relieue the oppressed,
to nourish the poore, to cherish them that
mourne, to forgiue my debters, to pardon them
that trespasse against me, to loue them that hate
me, to render good for euill, to despise none, but
to honor them, to imitate the good, to beware of
euil, to eschue vice & imbrace vertue, in aduersitie
patience, humblenes in prosperitie, to gard
the doore of my mouth, to watch the enemies
that compass my lips, to despise worldly
things, and earnestly to thirst after
the heauenly, Amen.

The Preface or preparation to prayer.

O Lord, my good God,
and Father, blessed
be thy name for
euer: dispose my
hart, open my lips,
and guide me by thy
holy spirit, to a true
acknowledgeme~t of all my sinnes, that
my prayer may be heard of thee, in the
name of thy Sonne Iesus Christ.
So be it.

A prayer to be sayd at our first wakyng.

O God, & Father of our Lord
Iesus Christ, whom no ma~
knoweth but by thy speciall
gift: graunt, that vnto the
rest of thyne exceedyng great benefites
towardes me, this, which is the greatest
that can be bestowed vpon mankynd,

B.i.

may be added also, namely that
as thou hast raysed vp my body from
fast and sounde sleepe, so also thou wilt
deliuer my mynde fro~ the sleepe of sinne,
and from the darckenesse of this world:
and after death restore the same body
to life, as well as thou hast called it agayne
from sleepe. For that whiche is
death to vs, is but sleepe vnto thee. I
pray and beseech thee, that through thy
goodnesse, this body of myne, may be a
fellow, and furtherer of all godlynesse
to my soule in this life, so as it may also
be partner with it of the endlesse felicitie
in the lyfe to come, through Iesus
Christ thy Sonne our Lord. For whose
sake, and by whom, thou geuest vs all
good and wholesome thyngs to our welfare.
Amen.

An other.

MUch better is the light of the
soule, and the insight of the
mynde, then the light, or eyesight of the
body. The eyesight of the body euery
silly beast hath: but the sight of mynde
none hath but men; Yea none haue it
but wise men.
Thou therfore O Lord Iesu Christ,
which art the greatest of all lightes, the
onely true light, the light from whence
springeth the light of the day, and the
sunne: Thou light whiche inlightenest
euery ma~ that commeth into the world,
Thou light, whereon there commeth
no night nor euentyde: but continuest
euer bright, and cleere as at midday:
Thou light, where without all thynges
are deepe darckenesse, and whereby all
thynges were made lightsome: Thou
mynde and wisedome of thy heaue~ly Father
inlighten my mynde, that beyng
blind in all other thynges I may see nothyng
but that which belongeth to thee,
and that I may thereby walke in thy
wayes, without fantasying, or lyking

B.ij.

of any other light els. Lord I beseeche
thee inlighten myne eyes, that I may
neuer slumber in darcknesse, least my
ghostly enemy say at any tyme, I haue
preuayled agaynst him. Amen.

A prayer at our vprising.

OUr first father Adam, beyng tumbled
downe from most excellent,
and glorious highnesse, into the dungeon
of shame, and sincke of all sinne, was
releeued, & lifted vp agayne by thy hand,
O Sauiour Iesus Christ. And we
likewise, should lye wallowyng in the
same plight for euer, if we were not
raysed vp by thee.
Wherfore O most mercyfull Redeemer
of mankynde, like as thou of thy
goodnesse, hast raysed vp this heauy and
burthensome body: euen so vouchsafe to
lift vp my mynde to the knowledge, and
loue of thy highnesse. Amen.
I Thanke thee O Lord Iesu Christ,
that it hath pleased thee to geue me
good rest this night past: And I beseech
thee likewise to prosper me all this day
followyng, to the glory of thy name,
and to myne owne soules health. And
thou which art the true day light, that
neuer knoweth any euentyde: And the
euerlastyng daysun, which quickeneth,
cherisheth, and cheereth all thynges,
vouchsafe to shine into my mynde, that
I may not stumble into any sinne, but
by thy guydyng come to eternall lyfe.
Amen.

An other.

I Thanke thee O holy Lord, father almighty,
and euerlastyng God, that
thou hast vouchsafed to keepe me this
night through thy great mercy. And I
beseeche thee of thyne vnmeasurable clemency,
to geue me grace so to passe this
day now commyng, in all lowlynesse,

B.iij.

meekenesse, chastitie, charitie, patience,
goodnesse, feare, and warynesse, as my
seruice may please thee, thorough him
which shall come to iudge both ye quicke
and the dead, & the world by fire: keepe
and preserue me from all euill, from all
stumbling and geuyng of offence, from
all wilfull sinnyng, & fro~ all the craftes,
and assaultes of wicked feendes, and
enemies, seene, or vnseene, through our
Lord Iesus Christ thine onely begotten
sonne. To whom be prayse and glory
with thee for euermore. Amen.

A Prayer at the puttyng on of our Clothes.

MOst gracious and mercifull Sauiour
Iesus Christ, thou knowest
how we be borne, clothed, and clogged
with the greeuous, and heauy burthen
of the first man, who fell away vnto
fleshlynesse, thorough disobedience.
Uouchsafe therefore I beseeche thee, to
strip me out of the old corrupt Adam,
which being soked in sinne, tra~sformeth
him selfe into all incumberaunces, and
diseases of the mynde, that may lead away
from thee.
Rid me also quite and cleane of that
his tempter the deceitfull Eue, which
turneth vs away from the obedience
of thy Father. Clothe me with thy selfe
O my redeemer and sanctifier, clothe
me with thy selfe, which art the second
man, and hast yealded thy selfe obedient
in all thynges to God thy Father, to rid
away all lustes of the flesh, and to destroy
the kyngdome thereof, thorough
righteousnesse.
Be thou our clothyng & apparrell,
to keepe vs warme from the cold of this
world. For if thou be away, by and by
all thynges become noume, weake, and
starke dead. Whereas if thou be present
they be liuely, sound, strong, and lusty.

B.iiij.

And therefore like as I wrap my body
in these clothes, so cloth thou me all ouer,
but specially my soule, with thyne
owne selfe. Amen.

A Prayer to be sayd at our first goyng abroad.

I Must be fayne to go abroad among
the snares which the deuill, and his
handseruaunt the worlde haue layd for
me: and I cary with me besides, the
stynges of myne owne flesh. Guide me
therefore, O thou most sure guide, be
thou my leader, thou God of my welfare.
Defend me O captaine, from the
traynes, and stalles that are layd for
me: that whatsoeuer thynges I shall
meete with, I may make no more account
of them, then they are worthy of:
but keepe on my way, with myne eyes so
fast fixed and setled vpon thee alone, as
I may not deale with any thyng further
forth then it hath respect vnto thee.
Lord shew me thy wayes, and lead me
in thy pathes for thy Sonnes sake.
Amen.

A Prayer to be sayd at our returnyng home.

O How excellent, and ioyfull shall
our returnyng home be into the
euerlastyng quyet, and blessed house of
heauen, where there is no trouble, nor
incumberance at all. All the myrth, and
gladnesse of this world, is but a shadow
in comparison of the pleasures that are
there. Nothing O Lord, is liker to thy
holy nature, then the minde that is setled
in quietnesse. Thou hast called vs
into that quietnesse, and peace of thyne,
fro~ out of the turmoyles of this world,
as it were from out of stormes into a
hauen: Whiche is such a peace as the
world cannot geue, and as passeth all
capacitie of man.

C.i.

Houses are builded for vs to repayre
into, from the anoyaunce of the wether,
from the crueltie of beastes, and from
the waues and turmoyles of this troublous
world.
Graunt now, O most mercyfull Father,
that thorough thy singular goodnes,
our bodies may so resort into them,
from our outwarde doynges, as our
myndes may yeld them selues obedient
vnto thee, without striuyng: and that
they may be better, and more quietly
exalte them selues into that soueraine
rest of thyne aboue. Graunt that nothyng
may disturbe, and disquyet them
here beneath: but that all thynges may
be quyet and calme through that peace
of thine. The peace of Christ be to this
house, and to all that dwell therein.
Amen.

A Prayer to be sayd at the settyng of the Sunne.

WRetched are they O Lord to
whom thy daysun goeth downe,
I meane that sunne of thine whiche neuer
setteth to thy Saintes, but is alwayes
at the noonepoint with them, euer
bright, and euer shinyng. A droopy
night ouer deepeth the myndes of them
euen at high noonetyde, whiche depart
from thee. But vnto them that are conuersaunt
with thee, it is continually
cleare day light. This daysun that shineth
in the skye, goeth and commeth by
turnes: But thou if we loue thee in
deede doest neuer goe away from vs. O
that yu wouldest remoue away this impedime~t
of sinne fro~ vs, that it might alwayes
be day light in our harts. Amen.

A Prayer to be sayd at the lightyng vp of Candles.

GReat and thicke darknesse ouerwhelmeth
our hartes O Lord,

C.ij.

vntill thy light doe chase it away. Thy
Daysun O most wise workemaister, is
as the cresset of this bodyly world: and
vnto the spirituall world, the cresset is
thy wisedome, from whence springeth
the light both of our bodies, and of our
soules. At the commyng of the night
vpon the day, thou hast geuen vs candles
for a remedy of the darknes: and for
a remedy of our ignoraunce after sinne,
thou hast geuen vs thy doctrine, which
thy sonne who loueth vs most dearely
hath brought downe vnto vs.
Wherefore thou fountaine and teacher
of all trueth, make vs thorough
both those lightes, to see such thynges
as may driue away the dimnesse of our
myndes. The light of thy countenaunce
is sealed vpon vs O Lord, thou hast put
lightsomnes into our hartes: Thy word
is a lanterne to my feete, and a light
to my pathes.

A Prayer to be sayd in the Euenyng.

O Lord, my God, my Father, and
my Sauiour, for asmuch as thou
hast graunted me the grace to come to
the end of this day, and hast created the
night for man to rest in: I, castyng my
selfe most humbly downe before thy holy
maiestie, beseeche thee most hartely to
shew me this goodnesse to the residue of
thine infinite benefites, that I may so
rest this night, to the comfort, and refreshment
of myne infirmitie, as my
hart may still be lift vp vnto thee: And
my soule haue her spirituall rest as well
as the body taketh his. Let not
my sleepe be vnmeasurable to please excessiuely
the ease of my flesh: but onely
to suffice the necessitie of my nature,
that I may be the better disposed to thy
seruice to morrow.

C.iij.

Preserue me also from all vncleannesse
both of body and soule, keepyng me
from all temptations of the enemy, and
from all daungers that may befall me.
And because I haue not passed this
day without offendyng thee after diuers
sortes and maners: Like as now in the
absence of the sunne, thou sendest darcknesse
to couer all thynges: so also vouchsafe
to wipe out all myne offences, by
thine infinite mercy, so as they may neuer
come to reckoning before thy iudgement
seate.
All which things I aske, and craue
of thee, in the name, and for the sake of
thyne onely Sonne, my Lord and Sauiour
Iesus Christ, accordyng to the
rule which he hath geuen vs to pray by
saying:
Our Father which art. &c.

An other.

LOrd Iesu Christ, to whose vnconsumable
goodnes we be beholden
for all things: which hast graunted
the chearefull light of the day, vnto
all men both good and bad to do
their busines in, and mercifully geue~
them the sweet stilnes of the night, to
refresh the pores of their silly bodies,
and to put away the cares of their
myndes, & to asswage their sorowes.
Forasmuch as thou thy selfe performest
all these thyngs much more beneficially
to them that loue thee, to
whom thou geuest a far greater light
by the grace of faith, to do all deedes
of godlines by, then doth the shining
of the Sun vnto the world: In so much
as thy promises neuer suffer them to
faynt, but the comfort of thy Spirite
putteth away all cumberaunces of
mynde, far more effectually then any
sleepe of the body. And the whole

C.iiij.

ma~ resteth not more sweetly, or safely
in any thing, then in thy mercy O
deare Redeemer: I beseech thee that
if I haue done any thyng this day
through humaine fraylty, and negligence,
whiche hath offended thyne
eyes, pardo~ it for thy wonted goodnes
sake, and grau~t therewithall that
this night may be happy to me by
thy prosperyng thereof, pure by thy
preseruyng of me, and safe from the
nightly illusions of wicked feendes,
thorough thy protection, so as this
sleepe may make both my body and
mynde, more chearefull, and lusty to
serue thee to morrow.
Moreouer, because this lyfe hath
not one houre certaine, whensoeuer
the euentyde therof co~meth, and the
long sleepe of the body groweth vpon
me, from which we shall not wake
till the dead rise agayne at the sound
of thine Angelles Trumpet. I beseech
thee lighten thou then the eies of my
minde, so as I may not sleepe in euerlastinge
death, by the quenching of
my faith, but rest in thee, to whome euen
the dead are aliue; Which liuest and
raignest with the Father, and the holie
Ghost, one God world without ende,
Amen.

A prayer to be sayd when wee vnclothe our selues to bedward.

THis body which is become vnhandsome,
and vnwieldie through sinne,
shal be consumed by little and little, and
deliuered againe to the earth, from
whence it was taken. There shall the
end be of this vanitie, which wee haue
purchased to our selues by our owne
folly. Now therefore, thou O most louing
Father, which hast set me together:

D

dissolue me in such wise as I may
feele my selfe to be dissolued, & remember
of whom I am ouercome, and consider
whither I must go. Take me not
vnwares and vnprouided, to thy iudgement
seate: but like as we be willing to
put off our cloathes, which wee shall put
on againe when the night is past; so let
vs not bee loth to put off this bodie which
wee shall receiue againe after that the
night of this world hath runne out his
full race, Amen.

A Prayer to be sayd at our going into bed.

WHen the daie is ended, wee
giue our selues to rest in the
night: so when this life is ended, we rest
in death. Nothing resembleth our life
more then the day, nor death more then
sleepe, nor the graue more then the bed.
Uouchsafe therfore, O Lord our gouernour,
& defender, both to shield vs now
liuing, vnable to helpe our selues from
the craftinesse and assaults of our cruell
enimie, and also to call vs then to thee,
when we shall be yet more vnable at the
finishing of the race of this life, not for
our own deserts, but for thy owne mercie
sake: that wee may liue and walke
with thee for euer. And now let vs so fal
asleepe in thee, as thou onlie, and those
exceeding great, & incredible good things
may in such wise be present alwaie before
vs by the insight of our mindes, as
wee may not be absent from thee, no not
euen in sleepe: that such dreames may
both keepe our beds, and bodies, pure &
vndefiled, and also cheer our harts with
that blessed ioy of thine. In trust wherof
I will fall asleepe and take my rest,
through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus
Christ, Amen.

D 2

A praier when we be readie to sleepe.

TAke me into thy protection, O lord
Iesu Christ our defender: & grant
that while my bodie sleepeth my soule
may wake in thee, and chearefullie, and
ioyfully behold the happie and gladsom
heauenly life, wherein thou art souerain
with thy father and the holy ghost:
and the angels, and holy soules of men
are most blessed fellow citisens for euer
and euer, Amen.

A preparation, or preface to publike prayer.

ALmightie God, and heauenly Father,
I will come into thy house in
the multitude of thy mercies, and in thy
feare, will I worshippe toward thy holy
Temple.
I haue loued the habitation of thine
house, and willingly am I present in the
congregation of thy Saints, praising &
confessing thy holy Name.
Come let vs fal and bow downe before
the lord who hath made vs, because
he is the Lord our God, and wee the
sheepe of his pasture.
Exalt the Lord our GOD, and fall
down before his footstool, for he is holy
Lord I make my prayer vnto thee in
an acceptable time: euen in the multitude
of thy mercies: O god heare mee
in the truth of thy saluation.
I wil offer to thee a sacrifice of praise,
and wil call vpon the name of the lord.
I wil pay my vowes vnto the Lord, euen
now in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the Lords house, euen
in the midst of thee, O Ierusalem.
I wil run in the way of thy commandements,
when thou shalt inlarge mine
heart.

D 3

Teach mee, O Lord, the way of thy
statutes. Open mine eyes, that I may see
the wonders of thy law.
Then will I take the cup of saluation,
and cal vpon the name of the Lord
Lord open thou my lips, & my mouth
shall shew forth thy praise.
I will sing with the Spirit, and in vnderstanding,
and say, Amen.

A short speech before the Lords PRAYER.

O Heauenly Father, O most merciful
God, I most wretched sinner am
vnworthy to lift vp my hands and eyes
vnto thee, or to trouble thee with my
prayers.
Neuerthelesse, forsomuch as thou
hast commaunded all men to pray, and
promised that thou wilt heare vs, and
moreouer prescribed vnto vs a forme of
Prayer in expresse words, by thy welbeloued

Sonne Iesus Christ: being driuen
by thy commaundement, and trusting
to thy promises, I pray vnto thee
in the name of my Lord, with all the
Godlie vpon earth, saying as he hath
taught vs: Our Father which art in heauen,
&c.

A Prayer to God the FATHER.

MOst louing Father, which being
most high, dwellest in the highest
places, hearken to the prayers of thy
seruants, yet wayfaring here on earth,
whom thou of thine vnspeakeable goodnesse
hast vouchsafed the name of thy
children, and giuing them the most precious
pledge of thy Spirit, hast graunted
them leaue to call vpon thee with reuerent
boldnesse by the name of father:
we praie that thy holie name may be so
knowne thorough the whole World,

that like as in the heauenly citie, thou
alone art the glorie of all folke: So on
earth, no man may glorie of himselfe,
but all men acknowledge their own vnworthines,
and thy bountifulnes, & glorie
in thee, which is the only true glorie.
And because wee haue diuerse and
hard incounters to indure againste the
world, the diuell, his ministers, and the
flesh which wee beare about vs: we beseech
thee euen with sighs, that thy kingdome
may come. That like as in heauen
all things submit themselues to thy
Maiestie with trembling: so also thy spirit
may raigne in our harts, making vs
to acknowledge thee the king of all
kings, then the which nothing can be either
greater or better.
And as in thy holy palace there is
no rebellion, so let all mortall creatures
put away all fleshly lusts, and with all
their hearts obey thy kingly commandements,
thyng but that which is singularly good:
and that the same is singularly good euen
because it liketh thee. Which will of
thyne it hath pleased thee, O most deare
Father, to expresse vnto vs in the holy
Bible, that we might know it. But no
man is able to fulfill thy commaundements,
vnlesse thou geue him the grace,
and of thine vnspeakeable mercy, take
our vnabilitie in good part.
And forasmuch as accordyng to thy
sonnes doctrine, we takyng no thought
at all for the tyme to come, doe hang
wholly vpon the prouidence of thee our
most bou~tifull father: geue thou vs dayly
at thy pleasure, whatsoeuer the necessitie
of this life requireth. But afore all
thynges, because that accordyng to the
saying of thy deare seruau~t Paule yu art
chiefly the father of Spirites, feede our
soules with spirituall foode, whether it
be that we haue neede of milke because

E.i.

we be weakelyngs, or that we be able to
brooke substancialler meate, because we
be growe~ to further yeares of discretio~.
The meate that geueth life in deede,
is the knowledge of thee by thy holy
Scriptures, & the grace of thy spirite,
whereby we grow vp in thee thorough
dayly increase of vertue in the inner
man, vntill we be fully man, growen
accordyng to the full measure of thyne
onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ. By
thy word thou begatest vs whe~ we were
nothing, by the same hast thou begotten
vs agayne, vnhappely borne of Adam,
and by the same doest thou feede and cherish
vs now agayne begotten.
For, that is the heauenly bread, that
is the new wine, wherewith all the blessed
spirites are continually and happely
fed, which dwellyng in thy house doe
prayse thee for euer and euer.
Wherof if thou vouchsafe to bestow
some portion dayly vpo~ vs thy childre~,
the hunger and thirst of worldly things
will decrease in vs fro~ day to day. And
although thou haue forgeuen vs all our
sinnes once already in holy Baptisme
thorough fayth: yet notwithstandyng,
because that as long as we carry this
mortall flesh about vs, & beare the treasure
of thy grace in earthen vessels, we
sinne dayly through naturall infirmitie,
so as we haue dayly neede of thy mercy
to forgeue vs our slidynges: let vs not
fall quite and cleane out of thy fauour,
but let vs continue in that peace, wherein
we be set at one with thee by the bloud
of thine onely begotten Sonne: & therewithall
grau~t, that as thou hast mercyfully
pardoned all our misdeedes, so we
forgeuing one an other, their dayly trespasses,
which are small or nothyng in
co~parison of our offences towards thee
may maintayne mutuall peace, agreeme~t,

E.ij.

& charitie amo~g our selues. For he
yt beareth any grudge or hartburnyng
toward his neighbour, ca~not haue ye fauour
of thee which art the God of peace.
But forasmuch while we goe a warfare
in these tentes of our bodyes, the malicious
tempter, from whose tyranny
thou hast set vs free by thy sonne Iesus
Christ, ceaseth not to try all his policies
to draw vs backe agayne into bondage:
we beseeche thee geue vs not ouer into
his handes for want of thy defence, for
he seeketh the destruction of our soules.
But graunt vs such grace, that we continuyng
in the felowshyp of thy most louyng
Sonne through fayth and charitie
may finally come to the lyfe where
there is no offendyng, nor any daunger
to be doubted of at Sathans hand.

An other in Iesus Christ our redeemer, by S. Augustin.

I Call vpon thee, O God, I call vpo~
thee, because thou art nigh to all
the~, that call vpo~ thee in truth. Thou
art the truth, teach me I beseech thee
in thy mercy: O holy truth teach me
to call vpon thee in truth: For how I
should so doe I know not. Teach me
therfore I most hu~bly beseech thee,
O most blessed truth. For wisedome
without thee is foolishnesse, to know
thee is perfect knowledge. Instruct
me with thy diuine wisedome: and
teach me thy Lawes. For I beleeue
that he is most happy who is instructed
by thee, and taught thy Law. I
haue a desire to call vpon thee, which
I pray thee that I may doe in veritie.
What is it to call vpon truth in truth,
but to call vpon the Father in the
Sonne?
Truly most holy father thy word
is the truth, and the beginning of thy

E.iij.

word is truth: For this is the beginnyng
of thy word, that thy word was
in the begynnyng.
In the beginning it selfe I worship
thee, O thou principall beginning: in
the very word of truth, I cry to thee
most perfect truth. In the which, O
thou the very same truth, teach and
direct me. For what is sweeter then
to call vpon the Father in the name
of his onely begotten? Then to moue
the father to compassion by mention
of his sonne? Then to pacifie the kyng
by name of his welbeloued child? For
by this meanes the offender is released
from prison: the captiue set at liberty.
By this meanes they that haue
receaued the sorrowfull sentence of
death, are wo~t to purchase not onely
pardon, but vnhoped fauour, if they
pleade the loue of the welbeloued
sonne. By this meanes, seruau~tes that
do trespasse, escape their masters punishment,
when his louing Sonne is
their Intercessor.
Euen so, O almighty Father, I pray
thee for the loue of thy omnipotent
Sonne, draw my soule out of prison,
that it may confesse vnto thy name.
Deliuer me from the chaynes of sin, I
beseech thee, by thy coeternall and
onely Sonne: and most mercifully restore
me to life, by the mediation of
thy most precious son, sitting at thy
right hand. For what other intercessor
I should appoint I know not, but
him who is the propitiation for our
sinnes, who sitteth at thy right hand
pleading for vs. Behold my Aduocat
with thee O God the father. Behold
the chief Bishop, who needeth no other
bloudy expiatio~, for that he shineth
imbrued with his own bloud. Behold
the holy & welplesing Sacrifice,

E.iiij.

offered vp, and receaued in all sweetnes.
Behold the immaculate Lambe,
whiche lay still before the shearers:
who beyng buffeted, spit at, and opprobriously
rayled at, opened not his
mouth. Behold, he who sinned not,
tooke our sinnes vpon him, and with
his stripes healed our infirmities.

A Prayer to God the Sonne.

O Lord Iesu Christ, the maker
and redeemer of mankynd, which
hast sayd that thou art the way, the
truth and the life, the way, by doctrine,
preceptes, and examples: the truth, in
promises: and the lyfe in reward: I beseech
thee for thyne vnspeakeable loues
sake, where through thou hast vouchsafed
to imploy thy selfe wholy in thy sauing
of vs, Suffer me not at any tyme
to stray from thee whiche art the way,
nor to distrust thy promises, which art
the truth, & performest whatsoeuer thou
promisest: nor to rest in any other thing
then thee, which art the waie, beyond
which there is nothing to be desired, neither
in heauen nor in earth. By thee we
haue learned the sure and ready way to
true saluation, to the intent we should
not wander any longer vp and downe
in the mazes of this world. Thou hast
taught vs throughlie what to beleeue,
what to doo, and wherein to rest.
We haue learned of thee how vngratiously
wee bee borne of the first Adam.
Wee haue learned of thee, that there is
no hope of saluation, but by beleefe in
thee: and that thou art the onelie light
which shineth before vs all, as wee iorny
through the wildernes of this world
& through the night of our owne hearts,
from the darkenesse of Egypt, to that
blessed land which thou hast promised to

F

the meeke, and to such as follow the footsteps
of thy mildenesse: For in vs there
was nothing but deepe darkenesse, in so
much that we could neither see our own
wretchednesse, nor where to seek remedy
for it. But thou vouchsafing to come
downe into the earth, and to take our
nature vpon thee, of purpose to driue away
the mist of our ignorance with the
light of thy doctrine, and to direct our
feete into the waie of peace, by thy precepts,
hast paued vs the way to immortalitie
by thy example, and of a bushy
and rough waie, made vs a plaine
and smooth waie, by treading it out with
thine owne footsteps.
Thus art thou which canst not skill
of errour become our waie, wherin to
the intent we should not faint, thy goodnes
hath vouchsafed to stay vs vp with
manie great and sure promises. For
who can tire, when he remembreth, that
if he walke in thy footesteps, the inheritaunce
of the heauenly life is prepared
for him? Therefore it is thy will that
hope should be as a sure staffe, to holde
vs vp as long as wee be in this iorney.
And thy goodnesse was not contented
with that, but forasmuch as thou knowest
the weaknes of our flesh, thou refreshest
our strength from time to time
with the comfort of thy spirite, to the
intent we may come running cheerfully
vnto thee. And as thou being becom
our waie, puttest aside all cause of straiing:
so being the truth, puttest away all
cause of distrust: finally, being become
our life thou giuest vs grace to the dead
here vnto sinne, and to liue through thy
spirit which quickneth all things, vntil
that in the resurrection, when all mortalitie
shalbe rid quite and cleane away,
we shal liue with thee, & in thee for euer,
at which time God shall bee all in all.

F 2

For it is euerlasting life to knowe the
Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost
to bee the one true God: whome wee see
now by faith, but as through a glasse,
and in a riddle: but as then we shall behold
his glory at hand, and be transformed
into the same Image. And therefore
I beseech thee O most mercifull sauiour,
increase thy seruants fayth, that
I may neuer stagger in the heauenlie
doctrine: increase mine obedience, that
I maie neuer swerue from thy commandements:
and increase my constancie,
that walking in thy steppes, I
maie neither be intised with Sathans
allurements, nor discouraged with his
terriblenesse: but hold out to the death
in thee which art the true way: increase
my faith, that trusting to thy promises
I may neuer faint in the indeuour
of godlinesse, but forget the things that
I haue left behind me, and goe alwaies
forward to more perfection. Increase
thy grace in me, that being dead euery
day more then other in my selfe I may
be aliue, and led by the spirite: fearing
nothing but thee, then whom, nothing
is more amiable: glorying in nothing
but only in thee, who art the true glorie
of all the saints: coueting nothing but
thee, who art of all things the best: and
finally, desiring nothing but thee, who
with the Father, and the holy ghost art
the full and perfect felicitie, for all euer,
Amen.

A prayer to the holy Ghost.

O Holy Spirite, worthie of all worship,
which makest vp the Almighty
Trinity, which proceedest from the father,
and the Sonne, and art equall to
either of them, differing from them in
onely propriety of person, which of thy

F 3

goodnesse forgiuest the sins of them that
amend, which with thy holy breath clensest
mens minds, comforting them when
they be in sorrowe, chearing them vp wt
pure gladnesse when they be in heauinesse,
leading them into all truth when
they be out of the way, kindling in them
the fire of charity when they be acolde,
knitting them together with the glew
of peace, when they be at variance, and
garnishing, and inriching them with
sundrie giftes, which by thy meanes
professe the name of the Lord Iesu: by
whose working all things liue, which
liue indeed, whose delight is to dwell in
the heartes of the simple, which thou
hast vouchsafed to consecrate for temples
to thy self. I beseech thee maintain
thy gifts in mee, and increase the things
dayly which thou hast vouchsafed vpon
me: that by thy gouernance, the lustes
of the flesh may die more and more in
mee, and the desire of the heauenly life
more quicken and increase.
Let mee so passe through the mystie
desert of this world, by thy light going
before me, as I may neither be defiled
with Sathans vices, nor be intangled
with anie errors, disagreeing from thy
truth, which the true catholike Church
hath deliuered vs by the instinct of thee,
which liuest and reignest euerlastinglie
with the Father and the Sonne, Amen.

A Prayer to God for his Spirit, and grace to pray effectually.

ETernall and most merciful Father,
we knowe not our selues, neither
can easilie vnderstand what, or how we
should pray as we ought.
But thou art able to doe exceeding
aboundantlie aboue all that wee aske
or thinke.
Giue vs the spirite O Lord, to helpe
our infirmities, which maketh request
for vs vnto thee, with sighes which cannot
be expressed.
I lift vp mine eyes to thee that dwellest
in the heauens.
Stir vp my hart and mind O Lord:
come into me O spirite of God, that I
may come vnto thee with heart & soule,
not with mouth and lips onlie.
Giue vs thy grace that wee may call
vpon thee as true worshippers in spirit
and truth, with the inwarde intention,
without hypocrisie and ambition.
Graunt that I aske nothing of thee
but that which may agree to thy holy
will, to thy praise and glorie, and to the
health of my soule.
Inspire me also with an assured hope
to obtaine these things, when I shall
aske of thy mercyfull goodnesse with a
strong and sure fayth.
Neither let my prayers O Lord, prescribe
the tyme when, and how they
should be fulfilled.
But let me submit my selfe to thy
holy will in all thynges with hope, patience,
and humilitie of hart.
Thy will be done in earth O Lord,
as it is in heauen.
I will wayte patiently O Lord for
thee, that thou mayest incline vnto me,
and heare my prayer.
Behold, euen as the eyes of seruau~ts
looke vnto the hand of their maisters,
and as the eyes of a mayde vnto the ha~d
of her maistresse: so our eyes will wayt
vpon thee O Lord, vntill thou haue mercy
vpon vs.
Graunt vs also thy grace, that we
present not our supplications before
thee for our owne righteousnesse, but for

G.i.

thy great tender mercies, & in the name
of thy Sonne Iesus Christ.
In his name, through faith, we come
to the throne of thy grace, & receiuyng
the spirite of adoption, we cry Abba
Father.
Strengthen vs O Lord, least the
vnworthynesse of our life withdraw and
intice vs from prayer.
Assist vs therfore O most mercyfull
father, that we may pray euery where,
liftyng vp pure handes without wrath
or doubtyng, with supplications, prayers,
intercessions, & geuyng of thankes
for our selues, and for all men.
Graunt this through Iesus Christ
our Lord, who is also at thy right hand
and maketh request for vs. To whom
with thee, and thy holy Spirit,
be all laud, and glory,
Amen.

A Prayer for the whole Realme, and the body of the Church, with the members therof, accordyng to their estates, and degrees.

ALmighty God, heauenly Father,
thou hast commaunded thy faythfull
to pray one for another, promising
them to heare them, for thy dearely beloued
sonnes sake. Therfore vpon trust
of thy promises, and in respect of the
great and vrgent necessities that shew
them selues on all sides: and specially
forasmuch as Sathan strayneth himselfe
to the vttermost, to bring this land
to confusion, and to stop the course of
thy Gospell: I thy hu~ble seruaunt make
sute and supplication vnto thee my good
Lord God, in whom is my refuge and
hope, beseeching thee who art the Father
of light, to vouchsafe to enlighten the
harts and myndes of all men, because it
is thy will that all men should be saued

G.ij.

and come to the knowledge of the truth.
And forasmuch as thou hast commaunded
vs to pray in especially for
Kyngs and Princes, and for all such as
are set in authoritie, that the company
of mankynde may liue peaceably, and
quietly vnder them in all godlynesse and
honesty: consideryng how burthensome
crownes and scepters are, & how hard
the wealdyng of them is, and how difficult
a matter it is to discharge them
well, whether it be in respect of the~selues,
or of their subiectes.
I beseech thee my God with all my
hart, as well for our blessed soueraigne
Lady Queene Elizabeth, as for all other
Princes whom thou hast placed in
like degree of preheminence, to geue
them the same whiche Salomon craued
of thee long agoe, whose prayer
thou didst accept, as hauyng put the
same into his hart and mouth by thy
holy spirite, which teacheth vs to pray
likewise, and helpeth our infirmities.
O Lord our good God, thou hast set
her vp to raigne ouer thy people, geue
vnto her thy handmayd, and to all other
Princes thy seruau~tes, geue them wisedome
and vnderstandyng to iudge thy
people, and to discerne betweene good
and bad, that they may not be vnprofitable,
and much lesse hurtfull in so holy
a vocation.
Geue them wise, sage, and vertuous
Cou~sellers: and remoue farre from
them all ambitious, spitefull, doubtfull,
and dissemblyng persons. Geue them
such Iudges as are louers of the truth,
haters of couetousnesse, and eschewers
of all partialitie: that their people may
be gouerned with all equitie and vprightnesse,
the good men maintayned in
their right and innocencie, and the offenders
punished accordyng to their desertes.

G.iij.

Grau~t also O Lord, that all they
whom thou hast put vnder their charge,
may yeld them their due and rightfull
obedience, so as there may be a good
and holy vnion betweene the head and
the members, and thereby it may be
knowen to all men, but the states of
all kingdomes, and gouernement of all
Commonweales depend vppon thee alone:
that thereupon they may all glorifie
thee, and sing Psalmes of prayse, and
thankesgeuing.
Also I pray vnto thee O Sauiour
and Father of truth, for all those whom
thou hast ordayned to be true Shepheardes
to thy faythfull, and to whom
thou hast committed the charge of mens
soules, and the dealyng forth of thy holy
Gospell. Guide them by thy holy spirit,
that they may be found faythfull and diligent
to their holy vocation.
And on the other side, driue away
the false shepheardes, which are men of
corrupt minde, rauenyng wolues, vainglorious,
couetous, and such as serue
to no purpose but to destroy the Churches.
And forasmuch as thou requirest
that all thy children should haue a zeale
to thy house: graunt the Queenes Maiestie,
and all other Princes, grace to
purge their people from all sectes, heresies,
and superstitions, that ye Church
vnder their charge may profite, and
grow from day to day in the truth of
thy Gospell, vnto all righteousnesse and
holynesse of lyfe.
Let it please thee to make a generall
deliuerau~ce and restitution of thy Churches
through the whole world, by sendyng
forth laborers into thy haruest, able
and sufficie~t men to gather the poore
stray sheepe together, vnder the sheepehooke
of ye great shepheard of our soules
thy sonne Iesus Christ.

G.iiij.

As touching their hearers, vnto such
as professe thy name already, geue true
perseuerau~ce in fayth, charitie, and all
good workes, to the glory of thy name,
and to the health of their owne soules.
And as touchyng ye residue which walke
as yet in ye vanity of their owne mindes,
touch thou their hartes, and geue them
inlightned eyes, that all of them may
yeld them selues to serue and please
thee. Finally, O God of all comfort, I
beseech thee haue pitie vpon the miseries
and afflictions of all thy creatures
in generall, of the nations whom thou
visitest with pestile~ce, warre, or famine:
of the persons whom thou smitest with
pouerty, imprisonment, sickenesse, banishment,
or other thy rods, whether it
be in their bodies or in their myndes: &
specially of thy chosen, that suffer for the
testimony of thy Gospell.
And for asmuch as it hath pleased
thee to be so good and gracious to our soueraigne
Lord, and to do him the honor,
that wheras other Realms are in greeuous
troubles, thou hast giuen him rest
in this his Land, and sent hither the bowels
of thy Sonne Iesus Christ, to haue
refuge here in their oppressions. Grant
him the grace to be a true nourisher and
nurce of all such as are thine, according
to the saying of the Prophet Esay: so as
hee may haue a true compassion both of
them that are heere, and of all others;
that at the accomplishment of thy promises,
when it shall bee said, Come ye
blessed of my Father, possesse ye ye kingdome
which was prepared for you from
the foundations of the world, thou maiest
vouchsafe O heauenly Father to receiue
him among the number of thy children,
for the loue of thy son our sauiour
Iesus Christ: to whome with thee and
the holy Ghost, be all honor and glorie.

H

Another prayer for the Church and all the States thereof, by Iohn Foxe.

LOrd Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing
God, who wast crucified for
our sinnes, and didst rise againe for our
iustification, and ascending vp to heauen,
raignest now at the right hand of
the Father, with full power and authoritie,
ruling and disposing all things according
to thine own gracious and glorious
purpose: we sinnefull creatures,
yet thy seruants, and members of thy
Church, doe prostrate our selues & our
praiers before thy imperiall Maiestie,
hauing no other patrone nor Aduocate
to speede our sutes, or to resort vnto, but
thee alone, beseeching thee to be good to
thy poore Church militant heere in this
wretched earth, somtime a rich Church
a large Church, an vniuersall Church,
spred far and wide, through the whole
compasse of the earth: now driuen into
a narrow corner of the world, and hath
much need of thy gracious help.
First the Turke with his sworde,
what Lands, what Nations, and Countries,
what Empires, Kingdomes, and
Prouinces, with Citties innumerable
hath he wonne, not from vs, but from
thee: where thy name was woont to bee
inuocated, thy word preached, thy Sacraments
administred; there now remaineth
barbarous Mahomet, with
his filthie Alcoran. The florishing churches
in Asia, the learned Churches of
Grecia, the manifold Churches in Africa,
which were wont to serue thee, now
are gone fro~ thee. The seuen Churches
of Asia with their candlestickes whom
thou didst so well forewarne are now
remooued. All the Churches where thy
diligent Apostle S. Paul, thy Apostle

H 2

Peter and Iohn, and other Apostles so
laboriously trauailed, preaching & writing
to plant thy Gospell, are now gone
from thy Gospell. In all the Kingdoms
of Syria, Palestina, Arabia, Persia, in
al Armenia, and the Empire of Cappadocia,
through the whole compasse of Asia,
with Egypt and with Affrica also
vnlesse among the far Ethiopians som
old steps of Christianitie peraduenture
doo yet remaine: nether yet in all Asia
and Africa thy Church hath one foote of
free land, but all is turned either to infidelitie,
or to captiuitie, whatsoeuer pertaineth
to thee. And if Asia, and Affrica
only were decaied, ye decay were great,
but yet the defection were not so vniuersall.
Now of Europa a great part also is
shrunk from thy Church. All Thracia,
with the Empire of Constantinople, all
Grecia, Epyrus, Illiricum, and nowe
of late all the kingdome almost of Hungaria,
with much of Austria, with lamentable
slaughter of Christian bloud,
is wasted and all become Turkes. Only
a little angle of the West partes yet
remaineth in some profession of thy holy
name.
But here alacke commeth another
mischiefe, as great, or greater then the
other. For, the Turke with his sword
is not so cruell, but the Bishop of Rome
on the other side is more fierce and bitter
against vs, stirring vp his Bishops
to burne vs, his confederates to conspire
our destruction, setting Kings against
their subiects, and subiects disloially
to rebell against their Princes, and
all for thy name.
Such dissension and hostilitie Sathan
hath sent among vs, that Turkes
be not more enimies to christians, then
Christians to Christians, Papistes to

H 3

Protestantes: yea Protestantes with
Protestants doo not agree, but fall out
for trifles. So that the poore little flocke
of thy Church distressed on euerie side,
hath neither rest without, nor peace
within, nor place almost in the world
where to abide, but may crie now from
the earth euen as thine owne reuerence
cried once from the crosse: My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken mee.
Amongst vs Englishmen heere in
England, after so great stormes of persecution,
and cruell murther of so many
Martyrs, it hath pleased thy Grace to
giue vs these Alcyon daies, which yet
we inioy, and beseech thy merciful goodnesse
still they may continue.
But heere also alacke what should
wee say; So manie enimies wee haue,
that enuie vs this rest and tranquillity,
and do what they can to disturb it. They
which be friends and louers of the Bishop
of Rome, although they eate the
fat of the land, and haue the best preferments
and offices, and liue most at ease
and aile nothing: yet are they not therwith
content. They grudge, they mutter
and murmur, they conspire and take
on against vs. It fretteth them that we
liue by them, or with them, and cannot
abide that we should draw the bare breathing
of the aire, when they haue all, or
the most liberty of the land.
And albeit thy singular goodnesse
hath giuen them a King so calme, so
patient, so mercifull, more like a naturall
Father then a prince, to gouerne
ouer them, such a one as they or their
auncestors haue seldome reade of in the
stories of this land before: yet all this
will not calme them, their vnquiet spirite
is not yet content: they repine and
rebell, and needes would haue with the
frogges of Esope, a ciconia, an Italian

28

stranger, the Bishop of Rome to plaie
Rex ouer them, and care not if all the
world were set a-fire, so that they with
their Italian Lord might raigne alone.
So fond are we englishmen of strange
and forraine things: so vnnatural to our
selues, so greedy of newesangle nouelties,
neuer contented with any state
long to continue, bee it neuer so good:
and furthermore so cruell one to another,
that wee thinke our life not quiet,
vnlesse it bee seasoned with the bloud of
other. For that is their hope, that is all
their gaping and looking, that is their
golden day, their day of Iubile which
they thirst for so much; Not to haue
the Lord to come in the cloudes, but to
haue our bloud and to spill our liues.
That, that is it which they would haue;
and long since woulde haue had their
wills vpon vs, had not thy gracious pitie
and mercie raised vp to vs this our
mercyfull Queene thy seruaunt Elizabeth,
somewhat to stay their fury. For
whom as we most condignely geue thee
thankes: so likewise we beseech thy heauenly
Maiestie, that as thou hast geuen
her vnto vs, and hast from so manifold
daungers preserued her before she was
Queene: so now in her royall estate: she
may continually be preserued not onely
from the handes, but from all maligna~t
deuises wrought, attempted, or conceiued
of enemies both ghostly and bodyly
agaynst her.
In this her gouernement be her gouernour
we beseech thee, so shall her Maiestie
well gouerne vs if first she be gouerned
by thee. Multiply her raigne
with many dayes, and her yeares with
much felicitie, with abou~dau~ce of peace,
& life ghostly: that as she hath now doubled
the yeares of her sister and brother,
so if it be thy pleasure she may ouergrow

I.i.

in raignyng, the raigne of her
Father.
And because no gouernement can
long stand without good counsell, neither
can any counsell be good except it
be prospered by thee: blesse therefore we
beseech thee, both her Maiestie, and her
honorable Counsaile, that both they
rightly vnderstand what is to be done,
and she accordyngly may accomplish
that they doe counsell, to thy glory, and
furtheraunce of the Gospell, & publicke
wealth of this Realme.
Furthermore we beseeche thee Lord
Iesu who with the Maiesty of the generation
doest drowne all nobilitie, beyng
the onely sonne of God, heyre and Lord
of all things, blesse the Nobilitie of this
Realme, & of other Christian Realmes,
so as they Christianly agreeyng among
them selues may submit their Nobilitie
to serue thee, or els let them feele
O Lord, what a friuolous thyng is the
Nobilitie which is without thee.
Likewise to all Magistrates, such as
be aduaunced to authoritie, or placed
in office, by what name or title soeuer:
geue we beseeche thee a carefull conscience
vprightly to discharge their duetie,
that as they be publicke persons to
serue the common wealth, so they abuse
not their office to their priuate gayne,
nor priuate reuenge of their owne affections:
but that Iustice beyng administred
without bribery, and equitie balanced
without crueltie or parcialitie,
thyngs that be amisse may be reformed,
vice abandoned, truth supported, innocency
releeued, Gods glory maintayned,
and the Common wealth truely
serued.
But especially to thy spirituall Ministers,
Byshops, and Pastors of thy
Church: graunt we beseech thee O Lord

I.ij.

Prince of all pastors that they following
the steppes of thee, of thy Apostles,
and holy Martyrs, may seeke those
thyngs which be not their owne, but onely
which be thyne, nor caryng how many
benefices, nor what great Byshoprickes
they haue, but how well they can
guide those they haue. Geue them such
zeale of thy Churche as may deuoure
them, and graunt them such salt, wherewith
the whole people may be seasoned,
and which may neuer be vnsauery, but
quickned dayly by thy holy spirit, wherby
thy flocke by them may be preserued.
In generall geue to all the people,
and the whole state of this Realme, such
brotherly vnitie in knowledge of thy
truth, and such obedience to their superiours,
as they neither prouoke the
scourge of God agaynst them, nor their
Princes sworde to be drawen agaynst
her will out of the scabberd of long sufferaunce,
where it hath bene long hid.
Especially geue thy Gospell lo~g continuance
amongest vs. And if our sinnes
haue deserued the contrary, graunt vs
we beseeche thee with an earnest repentaunce
of that which is past, to ioyne a
harty purpose of amendement to come.
And forasmuch as the Byshop of
Rome is wont on euery good Friday
to accurse vs damned heretickes, we
curse not him, but pray for him, that he
with all his partakers, either may be
turned to a better truth, or els we pray
thee gracious Lord that we neuer agree
with him in doctrine, and that he
may so curse vs still, and neuer blesse vs
more, as he blessed vs in Queene Maries
time. God of thy mercy keepe away
that blessing from vs.
Finally, in steede of the Popes blessing,
geue vs thy blessing Lord we beseech
thee, and conserue the peace of thy

I.iij.

Church, and course of thy blessed Gospell.
Helpe the~ that be needy and afflicted.
Comfort them that labour, and be
heauy laden. And aboue all thyngs, continue
and increase our fayth.
And forasmuch as thy poore little
flocke can scarse haue any place or rest
in this world, come Lord we beseeche
thee with thy Factum est, and make an
end, that this world may haue no more
tyme nor place here, & that thy Church
may haue rest for euer.
For these, and all other necessities
requisite to be begged and prayed for,
askyng in thy Christes name, and as
he hath taught vs, we say: Our Father
which art in heauen. &c.

An other.

O Singular louer of vs, Christ Iesu,
O bridegrome to whom thy
Church is most deare, and which hast
promised that thou wilt neuer fayle
her: increase her, and multiply her
with good issue like the father, that is
to wit, like thy selfe. Make vs to be
all of one mynde both in thee, and in
the thinges that concerne thee, so as
we may verely be that body wherof
thou art the head, beyng as it were
glewed, and fastened together with
mutuall charitie, kindled with that
euerlastyng fire of thyne, which hast
so loued vs, that thou hast spent thy
bloud and thy lyfe for vs.
O Christ, the author and perswader
of peace, loue, & good will: soften
our hard and steely harts, warme
our Isy and frozen hartes, that we
may wish well one to another, so as
all me~ may perceiue vs to be thy true
disciples. And geue vs grace eue~ now
to begyn to shew forth that heauenly
life, wherein there is no disagreeme~t

I.iiij.

nor hatred, but peace and loue on all
hands, one towardes an other. Ame~.

An other.

THe Church is one body, deriued
from thee O Christ the head
therof, into diuers members, knit to
thee, and together amo~g the~ selues,
with the knot of mutuall loue, a great
mistery of Gods goodnes. Now looke
how great a benefite, loue, vnitie, and
peace are: so great a mischief is dissention,
the mother of hatred. The
author of the former is God, and the
author of this other is the deuill. And
like as nothyng can be deuised more
blessed, then to haue the Earthly
Church to imitate the co~corde of the
heauenly Church: so nothing is more
wretched then the contrary, which is
the Image of hell.
O head and Father of ours, thou
only art of power to performe what
thou liftest. Therfore gather thou vs
together dispersed: and knit vs together
now iarryng, & re~t asunder with
opinio~s: vnite vs together whom hatred
and enmity hath set as far at ods
as can be. Graunt that all of vs which
are regenerated, & renewed by Baptisme
in thy name, may close together
in one body, meet for such a head
as thou art, the~ the which none ca~ be
imagined either better or greater.
Let vs be all of one mynde, let vs
set our harts all vpo~ one thing, namely
vpo~ thee the onely almighty God,
and singular louer of vs: whiche art
also a most meeke ma~, and wast nayled
to the Crosse for our sinnes, and
art the redeemer of ma~kynd, and the
setter vp againe of the whole world.
Lord asswage the great number of
waues, wherewith this Ship of thyne

K.i.

is assaulted and shake~. Awake Christ
Iesu and saue vs, or els we are like to
suffer sore and horrible shypwracke.
No strength, no wisedome, no riches
of men ca~ now helpe vs, there remaineth
no hope of remedy. Onely thy
mercifull looke ca~ saue vs fro~ this cruell
storme, & make it calme agayne.
Therefore put to thy helpyng hand,
that we being preserued by thy power,
may glory in thy name. Amen.