A PRAYER FOR THE PROSPEROUS PROCEED AND GOOD success of the Earl of Essex and his companies, in their present expedition in Ireland against Tyrone and his adherents, Rebels there.  
Fit to be used of all loyal subjects, aswell in that Country, as in England.  
By john Norden.  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  
DIEV ET MON DROIT   printer's or publisher's device 
Imprinted at London by Edward Allde. 1599   

A motive to the prayer.  
GOd the high guide of all godly attempts, & the beholder of all the devices of man, requireth of all men obedience to his will, & prayer for his aid, without which, man's endeavours are but as seed sown on the sand, and as a foundation laid upon the waters. And therefore such as undertake so high & weighty a business as the business of war, must found it on the fear of God & wade in it under his power in prayer for his presence and aid. For so did Hezekiah against the king of Ashur, 2. King. 19 and prevailed, and Jehosophat being endangered with enemies, 2. Cron. 18. 31. prayed and was preserved. God no doubt is so well pleased with this exercise of prayer, zealously and faithfully performed, as he is won so to regard the causes of his children, that although they have deserved the foil by their sins, he will yet give them the victory in his mercies. The Israelites prevailed while Moses prayed, and fell before the enemy when he was mute. In many places it appeareth how needful a thing prayer is, not only of them that are in the danger of the battle, but of such also as are secure at home in their houses, who if they neglect the cause of God and their country, God will hold them not only unprofitable drones, but reprobates: and will give them the dregs of their neighbour's dangers to drink, and will not afford them the least shelter of his defending power in their deepest perils. For if he in general terms command us to pray at all times one for another: as Jam. 5. 16. much more in the time of danger and war, especially for the cause of Gods anointed, and state of our country, 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. Let no man therefore think that it conscerneth not him to pray for the good of such as the Prince hath appointed, for the restoration of the peace of God's Church, and quiet of our Realm, by the suppressing of the violence, and quenching of the fury of that bloody Tyrone, and his rebellious adherents in Ireland: for God is a jealous God, and holdeth no man guiltless that maketh no conscience of his brother's dangers. And such is the regard which he hath of his own glory and his providence for the preservation of his children, that he will not admit any attempt, be it in our own eyes never so lawful, to be taken in hand without him, without whom all things and means are vain. Our own power, and providence, and counsel, and multitudes of men, and munition, and money, and what else soever we use for defending ourselves, or offending the enemy, are all as clouds in the air of our own vain conceits, that will vanish with the wind of his displeasure, without any dew of good success to comfort our country. To pray for them that fight for us, is the least duty, and an easy service: yet it prevaileth much if it be fervent. And if we seem cold in that, wherein can we be zealous for our country? if careless of it, how can we say we love our own lives, liberty, lands, wives, or children? when all these are subject also to sudden subversion, without God that preserveth them unto us, & us in himself. Therefore as God hath his eye of mercy fixed on his distressed people, to deliver them, and his eye of judgement upon the rebellious to confound them: So let every man make this general cause his own private case. And for the preventing of future peril, bear a part with them that in our behalfs are employed in this service abroad: let us pray for them at home, while they encounter the enemy abroad: Let us I say, pray for them, that God will prosper them, and that we may prosper by their blessed success.  PSALM. 7. 16. His mischief shall return upon his own bead, and his cruelty shall fall upon his own pate.  

The Prayer.  
OH Father full of power King of all Majesty & glory, the absolute worker of all things even as thou wilt; Be pleased in mercy to be present with thy servants, whom thou hast appointed to go forth against the enemies of the peace of thy children in the Realm of Ireland. And as thou art a continual most diligent beholder of all the actons of men good and evil, showing thyself a patiented God, even towards thine enemies, suffering them to fill up a great measure of outrage, violence, and blood, before thou take up the sword of revenge against them: and yet at the length, when in their own conceits they seem most strong, and not to be vanquished, even than thou liftest up thy devouring sword, and consumest them. So dear father be thou pleased to be a guide, a guard and a buckler unto thy servant, whom thou hast chosen to go against that bloody enemy Tyrone, who thirsting for and shedding the blood, of many of thy people, endeavoureth all rebellion's mischiefs, to cast off the yoke of obedience both to thy word, and to shine anointed, to the great peril of thy Church, which by his outrageous wickedness, standeth in danger of greater troubles, which violence of his (good father) and the dangers by him and his adherents complotted, cannot be stopped or prevented by man without thee.  
See therefore and behold their malice, and let thy power weaken their power, who else will boast themselves against thee, and say their own power hath gotten themselves the victory, and that by their own policies, they are become Lords of thine heritage. Oh take part therefore with thy servants, and suppress these rebels: then shall thy praise be increased, thy mercy and power shall be seen, and thy name shall be for ever glorified. And though (dear father) our sins do make us unworthy of this great benefit, yet for thine own names sake deal mercifully, in giving good success unto their proceedings, that in thy name have undertaken this work of reducing that Realm to Christian obedience. And the more the enemy seemeth to swell either in fury or pride: weaken him so much the more oh Lord, and give him sorrow for his vain hope. Let nothing that he taketh in hand against thy people prevail, but let it appear by his fall, how thou laughest his vain attempts to scorn. And let him know good father, that he striveth against thee and against thine appointed in vain. Manifest thine anger against his devices, by frustrating his desires. Break his enterprises, and bring his inventions as coals enkindled upon his own pate. Let him either truly convert, or be suddenly confounded. And dear Father, be unto that thy servant the Earl of Essex, and his associates, as thou wast unto Moses, josuah, Gedion, David, and the rest that have fought under thy protection. Be unto him and his companies a Father to comfort them, a Captain to conduct them, and their God to preserve them. Let their armies march under the shelter of thy wings, make strong their arms to the battle, and teach their fingers to fight. Frame their hearts to fear thee, and not to faint at their enemy's power, give them thy light to follow thee, and let them ever be preserved by thee, let nothing necessary be wanting unto them, but bless them in all things. Give them wisdom from above, wherein they may use and dispose thy means in their service rightly. And in an absolute godly desire, to bring their cause to a prosperous end. Moreover most merciful Father, bless the shipping, which are employed in this action, and all other tending to the good of thy church, make their governors prudent and valiant, the winds prosperous, and the success to thy glory: That we thy children, tasting the sweet benefit of peace, both there and here at home, may give glory unto thy name, and in more godly zeal study to serve thee in our callings, and endeavour more effectually to plant thy sacred word in those parts, to the increase of thy Church, and comfort of all the members of the same. Amen.  
O Lord increase our faith.  

ER