VIRGINALIA OR SPIRITVALL SONNETS in praise of the most Glorious VIRGIN MARIE, upon every several Title of her Litanies of Loreto: All or most part of the principal passages therein confirmed by the evident testimonies of the ancient Fathers, to prevent the objections of such, as usually detract from her deserved praises. By I B. What is more noble than the Mother of God; what more glorious than she, whom Glory hath chosen? S. Ambr. lib. 2. de Virg. Printed with Licence. 1632. A Catalogue of such Fathers, as hereafter are alleged; together with the age, they lived in. justinus Martyr, lived Anno Domini 150. Origenes. 130. Gregorius Neocaesariensis Thaumaturgus. 260. Methodius Tyri Episcopus. 260. Athanasius. 340. Ambrose. 370. Ephrem Syrus. 370. Gregorius Nazianzenus. 380. Epiphanius. 380. Gregorius Nyssenus. 380. Hieronymus. 390. Ruffinus. 390. Augustinus. 400. Chrysostomus. 400. Sophronius Hierosolymitanus signior. 400. Proclus Constantinopolitanus. 430. Cyrillus Alexandrinus. 430. Petrus Chrysologus. 440. Leo Magnus. 450. Theodoretus. 450. Concilium Calcedonense. 453. Titus Bostrensis Episcopus. 460. Basilius Seleucius. 460. Crysippus Hierosolymitanus Presbyter. 500 Fulgentius. 500 Euthymius Eremita. 540. Andrea's Cretensis Episcopus. 560. Hesychius Hierosolymitanus. 580. Gregorius Magnus. 590. Eutychianus. 600. Isidorus Hispalensis. 620. Sergius Hierapolita. 640. Beda. 700. joannes Damascenus. 730. Alcuinus Anglus. 750. Elias Cretensis. 780. Idiota. 800. Anselmus Cantuariensis. 1080. Bernardus. 1130. Virginalia, or, Spiritual Sonnets, in praise of the most glorious Virgin MARIE upon every several Title of her Litanies of Loreto. SONNET 1. SANCTA MARIA. MARIA, (a) Maria is interpreted Star of the sea: and she as a remarkable star shines brightly by the grace of a special privilege among the waves of this wavering world. etc. S. Bed. ad Euangel. in festo Annunc. Maria. glorious sea-starre; thy clear sight Guides us upon the world's tempestuous waves; And through the dreadful shades of sin's dark night In th' port of bliss our crazy vessel saves. Thy sacred name most aptly doth infer A bitter sea, t'express thy seas of grief, when thou beheldst thy Son, who could not err, As faulty die, judged worse than a thief. Well art thou (b) Maria, which is interpreted Lady or one that giveth light etc. Isidorus Hispal. de vita vel obitu Sanct. c. 48. Lady styled, since by that Son Thou (c) Power is given to her both in heaven and earth, which power is, to be able to help us. S. Bernard, serm. 1. in Salue Regina. both in heaven and earth art powerful made To ease their pains, who shall require thy aid. Help me o than sin's dangerous shelves to shun, Give me a feeling of my saviour's pains, And let me be of those, whom thou retains. SONNET 2. SANCTA DEI GENITRIX. MOTHER OF GOD: o rare prerogative! O glorious title! what more special grace Can unto thee thy dear son dread God give To show how fare thou dost (b) Marry by the dignity of her election transcends all height of a chosen creature. Greg. c. 1. l. 1. reg. 〈◊〉 Mary excelled all women in virtue. justin. quest. 156. all creatures pass? That (c) Who hath seen? Who hath heard the like? God, who cannot be contained in a place, dwells in a womb: whom the heavens do not receive, a Virgin's womb comprehends. Proclus Constantinop. de nas. Christi, the was truly blessed, who was greater than heaven, stronger than the earth, wider than the world. For she alone comprehended God, whom the world containeth not. etc. Petrus Chrysol. ser. 143. mighty Power with in the narrow fold Did of thy ne'er polluted womb remain, Whom, whiles he doth th' all ruling sceptre hold, Nor earth nor yet the heavens can contain. Thou in the springtide of thy age brought'st forth Him, (d) who before all Matter, Time, and Place, Begotten of th' eternal Father was. O be thou then, while we admire thy worth, A means unto that Son not to proceed In rigour with us for each sinful deed. (a) Holy Marry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (the mother of God) who holds not so, is an heretic. Concii. Calced. Act. 5. SONNET 3. SANCTA VIRGO VIRGINUM. VIRGIN OF VIRGINS, thou the (a) It was by a divine gift given to our Lady, that she the first amongst women should offer up to God the glorious present of Virginity Bed. ad Euangel. in Annunc. Marry The same is confirmed by S. Ildef. ser. 5. de Assumptione Marie Beda. l. 1. in Luc. c. 3. Hono. l. de eternis gaud. Rust. 3. in Cant. first didst make The sacred vow of spotless chastity, Through which example many now forsake The vain world's frail delights to follow thee. In the whole course of thy lives blessed race, All the perfections of (b) Let the Virginity and life of Marie be as in a picture described to you, from whom as in a looking glass the beauty of Chastity and form of virtue do yield a glorious reflection. Ambr. l. 2. de Virg. virginity, As in a fair unblemished lookingglass, In their true colours well reflected be. Yet, though a Virgin, thou a Mother waist, Whose fruitful maiden womb sent forth a ray Of heavenly beams, which all Hell's errors chased. Deign, Virgin-Mother, to thy Son to pray, That he would grant, thy great Integrity May be a salve for our Impurity. SONNET 4. MATER CHRISTI. MOTHER OF CHRIST; thy virtuous life deserved That light through thee should to us all appear, And that thou shouldst before all others bear, Him, who by death from death our souls preserved. CHRIST is the oil poured out, whereby we live, Which yields us light our grievous faults to see, Which cures our sinful souls, and sets us free From Hell's dread pains, & doth new forces give. In thee, Chaste Mother, this most sacred, pure, And sovereign oil, this precious salve, did grow, And from thee to all sinne-sicke mortals flow. Request of him our spiritual wounds to cure, To feed our hungry souls, and footsteps guide, That from his blessed ways, we ne'er may slide. SONNET 5. MATER DIVINAE GRATIAE. MOTHER OF DIVINE GRACE. we justly may Style thee, most gracious Lady, since within Thy heaven-like womb free from all guilt of sin The great Dispenser of all Graces (a) In that Virgin the treasure of all Grace was laid. etc. Greg. Neocesar. lay. Grace's chief treasure rested in thy hart, What s'ere thou didst, was (b) Whatsoever was done in her, was all purity and simplicity, all grace and truth, all mercy & justice, which looked down from heaven. Sophronius. ser. de Assumpt. Maria apud Hieronymum. wholly Purity, Truth, Mercy, justice: (c) Grace is given to others but by (certain) portions, but in Marie the whole plenitude of Grace infused itself all at once. ibid. only unto thee Full grace was given, t' others but in part. From thy dear Son, by thee unto us all, When for such gifts we do our souls prepare, All graces daily distributed are. Than let us still, when s'ere we humbly call, Be by thee heard; ne'er let us pray in vain, But, when we ask for Grace, still Grace obtain. SONNET 6. MATER PURISSIMA. MOTHER MOST PURE: thou pure from any show Didst ever live of any sinful stain; 'Gainst all th' assaults of our accursed foe Thy very (a) The mother of God was not so much as defiled at any time with filthy thoughts. Elias Creten. in orat 4. Nazianz. thoughts did victorious still remain. From actual sins and from Original, Thy soul alone, except thy son's, was free; Yea the profoundest Doctors, when they fall To speak of sin, refuse to mention thee. Thy soul and body now rejoined do (b) When we speak of sins, we will not, for the honour of our Lord have any question of Mary etc. Aug. de natura & Gr. c. 66. shine, Next to thy greater Son, and much more pure Than Cherubins or other powers divine. Endeavour, purest Mother, to procure, That, when our souls with sins we taint, we may With floods of tears wash all such spots away. (c) All Christendom knows that Marie is exalted above all the heavens, and assuredly believes, that she is placed above the Quires of Angels. Ansel. de excel. Mari & Virg. c. 4. SONNET 7. MATER CASTISSIMA. MOTHER MOST CHASTE thou art; for thou alone Of all thy sex a virgin (a) She conceived a Virgin, she brought forth (her child) a Virgin. Leo magn. ser. de Nat. Domini. c. 2. didst conceive, A pure chaste Virgin broughtest forth thy son, A Virgin also this frail world didst leave. Thou (b) After that Mary once conceived and brought forth her child, she never bore any more, neither known she man, though some doting fellows are not afraid to say, that the Virgin hirself conceived an other child etc. Athan. ser. in descriptione S. Mar. & joseph. item. Cyrill. Alexand. l. 2. de recta fide ad reginas. Ambr. de virginitate institut. c. 5. Hiero. ad c. 44. Ezech. with many more etc. never didst (let Hell storm, shift, and lie) After thy firstborn child a second bear; Thou still wert (c) The Virgin-Mother of God, purer than the beams and brightness of the sun. Ephr. orat. de laud. saint. Dei matris. clearer then the world's bright eye, Or all the lights which turn on every sphere. Thy chastity's strong bands no strength could cut; Thou art the gate through which but Israel's God Doth come and go, yet still remaineth shut. Vouchsafe, chaste Mother, to divert the rod Of god's just judgements from us, when we be Slothful to imitate thy chastity. (d) This is the closed Oriental gate, through which the Bishop alone comes in and goes out, yet it still remaineth shut. Hiero. ad c. 44. Ezech. SONNET 8. MATER INVIOLATA. MOTHER INVIOLATED; (a) Origen writes in this sort in his Homily 1. in diversos. who can be A perfect mother, and yet undefiled? Did ever any aged woman see A maid at once and mother of a child? None but thyself, great Mother, thou alone Of all thy sex this title canst receive; Thou only free from all (b) What is more chaste than she, who hath brought forth a body without pollution of body? Ambr. l. 2. de Virginibus, contagion Of body's touch, a body didst conceive. Thy spotless (c) The same is both a Mother and a Virgin, neither did her Virginity take away the childbirth, nor the childbirth dissolve her Virginity. Greg. Nyssen. 2. in nat. Christi. chastity did not impeach Thy wondrous childbirth, nor that birth again Make in thy Virgin's fortress any breach. Pray, we beseech thee, that we may refrain From each lascivious, fond, impure desire, And to thy purity in part aspire. SONNET 9 MATER INTEMERATA. MOTHER UNSPOTTED, thou art Moyse's (a) As in time past the bush etc. and as the 3. Children etc. or as to Daniel etc. So did this Virgin also bring forth God, yet remained untouched etc. Origen. Hom. in diversos. Exod. 3. bush Which flamed indeed, but was not burned at all; Thou art that woman, whose blessed seed should (b) By thee, oh more than blessed Virgin Marie, the devil is overcome and trodden down, because it is written of thee; she shall bruise thy head. Idiot. contempl. de B. Mar. c. 4. item Genesis. 3. crush The serpent's head, for to repair our fall. As in hot furnace Israel's three (c) Daniel. 3. youngmen Th' Almighty's praises did untouched sing; And as (d) Daniel. 14. to Daniel in the lions' den, The door shut Abacuc did victuals bring: So to redeem the forfeit of the tree, Thy virgin-wombe true God true Man did bear Without all touch unto thy chastity. Grant that we may, o spotless Mother, fear To come before thee with a spotted, foul, A sinne-infected, unprepared soul. SONNET 10. MATER AMABILIS. AMIABLE MOTHER, Lovely, chaste, and (a) Thou art all fair, o my friend, and no spot is in thee. Cant. 4.7. fair Fair through the beauty of that special grace, And those rare virtues, which without compare Thy bounteous Son in thy blessed soul did place. Fair through thy spotless pure (b) Thou art all fair in thy Conception made only to this end, that thou mightest be the temple of the highest God. Idiot. contempl. de B. V c. 2. Conception, Made for the temple of Heaven's sovereign Lord, Fair through the wondrous Generation Of th' Father's glory, the Eternal Word. These and thy other graces do inflame Each virtuous hart so with thy sacred love, As all praise honour, and respect thy name. Let us not then, sweet Mother, backward prove, While in this wretched vale of tears we live, To yield thee that, which all the world doth give. SONNET 11. MATER ADMIRABILIS. ADMIRABLE MOTHER, (a) This Virgin is truly the great wonder of the world. Chrys. hom. in Hypopauten Domini. wonder of the earth, Wondrous in thy admired Conception, Wondrous alike in thy most blessed Birth, Thy course of life, death, and Assumption. What is more wondrous than that thou a maid Didst bear a child, and yet a maid remain'dst? Is aught more strange than that it may be said: Thou him, (b) Thou art the circumscription (that I may so say) of him, who cannot be circumscribed etc. Thou art the comprehension (or conteyner) of him, who contains and comprehends all things. Methodius Tyri Episcop. orat. in Hypag. Domini. whom naught could circumscribe, contain'dst? All thy discourses, nay each very thought, Much more thy deeds, most rare and wondrous were, And fare above our common merits wrought. Grant that thy wondrous virtues may appear So lively to our minds, that when we need, We, how to live, in them may patterns read. SONNET 12. MATER CREATORIS. MOTHER OF OUR CREATOR; he, who first Did build the house, himself was borne therein; Thy purest (a) Only Christ did open the closed gate of the Virginal womb; which notwithstanding always remained shut etc. Hier. l. ●. adverse. Pelagianos c. 2. item Ruffin. in expl. Symb. & alij. womb without a breach he pierced, By whom thou hadst before created been. He, who fills all things, to whose powerful might All creatures bow, thy help oftimes (b) He who fills heaven & earth, is become needy of thee. Method. or. in Hypag. Domini. received: Thou that GREAT-ONE, great Mother, brought'st to light, Who (c) Thou in the end of times broughtest forth him, who was conceived before all ages. ibid. long before all ages was conceived. At thy most chaste Annunciation, Thou, what he had not, unto him didst give, Who nothing wants: his Incarnation. Grant that we may, not only while we live, But also at our death, partakers be Of the blessed fruit of this great mystery. (d) Thou didst lend to God his admirable Incarnation, which sometime he had not. ibid. SONNET 13. MATER SALVATORIS. MOTHER OF OUR SAVIOUR; thou before all others Waste chosen t' bear the ransom of us all; For which all Nations fare above all [a) Thou art truly blessed who alone amongst all Mothers, wast chosen to be Mother to thy Creator. Andr. Cret. orat. in Ann. B. Virg. Mothers That ever were, thee ever blessed call. Th' (b) Thou didst disclose to the world the Son of the invisible Father, by whom all peace is restored to us: a hidden surety, & an ineffable mystery. Method. Episc. Tyri. or. in Hyp. eternal Father's Son, by whom we see Our ancient foe's malicious spleen repressed, That hidden, sacred, wondrous mystery, To wretched mortals thou didst manifest. Thou art that glorious (c) O blessed virgin thou art a bright cloud, which brought from heaven that most clear lightning, Christ to illuminate the world etc. Epiph. serm. de Laud. B. V cloud, from whence did fly That radiant lightning, whose resplendent rays Cleared all the world, which did in darkness lie. Be thou a means, blessed Mother, when we praise Thy heavenly virtues, we may vices hate, And thy perfections truly imitate. SONNET 14. VIRGO PRUDENTISSIMA. VIRGIN MOST WISE thou rightly mayst be styled, Since thy rare wisdom did anticipate So fare thy years, as yet a tender child, Thyself to God thou didst consecrated. Thou, to thy wisdome's never dying praise T'reach the Conception (b) Is not Mary a high mountain, who to the end she might reach the Conception of the Eternal Word, raised up the top of her merits above all quyers of Angels, even to the throne of the Deity. Greg. mag. l. 1. Reg. c. 1. of th' Eternal's Son Didst the high mountain of thy merits raise Above all Saints, even to th' Almighty's throne. Where like (c) Esther. c. 5. a prudent Hester without cease, Thou dost before thy sweet Son humbly pray For our poor sinn-enthralled soul's release. Obtain, most prudent Virgin, that we may Prepare ourselves a right, to taste the fruit Of this thy, till th' world end, ne'er ended suit. (a) libr. de ortu Virg. apud Hieronymum. SONNET 15. VIRGO VENERANDA. VIRGIN MOST VENERABLE, thy Royal race, Thy virtuous life, and now immortal rays, Deserve fare better, than all humane race, Civil, Religious, and Celestial praise. Thou art the (a) This alone is the bridge, by which God descended to man, Prod. Constantinop. hom. de Nat. Christi. bridge, by which God came to man; Thou art the second Adam's (b) This is the spiritual paradise of the second Adam. ibid. paradise; To thee (so high a place thy merits wann) Next (c) For, God only excepted, thou art above all. Epiph. serm. de laud. B. V unto God, chief honour doth arise. Who but an Atheist will refuse to serve So great a Mistress? who doth every way Such supreme honour worthily deserve. O let us then, great Virgin, while we stay In this frail world, thy humble agents be, To move thy greatest foes to honour thee. SONNET 16. VIRGO PRAEDICANDA. VIRGIN MOST WORTHY PRAISE, by much more great Than (a) A heavenly and earthly tongue, not nor the tongue of Angels, can suffice to rehearse thy praises. Epiph. Serm. de laud. B. V men, than Saints, or Angels can explain: For in thy blessed womb he fixed his seat Whom all the earth's huge mast cannot sustain. Thou the Mediatrix (b) For she is the Mediatrix of heaven and earth, who naturally accomplished the union. ibid. art 'twixt God and man; By thee whole Nations (c) Through Marie Nations are brought to penance. Cyrill. Alex. hom. Ephes. in Nestor. habita. are to penance brought; The All-creatour first with thee began, When he the world's desired Salvation wrought. Thou th' interposed (d) Hail thou who passing as Mediatrix betwixt God and Man, procurest that the interposed wall of enmitus may at length be overthrown, & earthly things joined to Celestial. Basil. Selutius, or. in Annun. Dei. wall of hate didst raise Twixt God & man; thou heaven ioyn'dst to earth; What can be greater? what more worthy praise? Ask thy dear Son, we may even from our birth (Through these and all thy merits) ere we die For all our sinful courses satisfy. SONNET 17. VIRGO POTENS. VIRGIN MOST POTENT: from that powerful Lord, Whom dwelling (a) Shé upon earth conceived God dwelling in heaven. Epiph. serm. de laudibus. B. V high in heaven thou didst conceive Low upon earth, thou still dost power (b) Vid. Sancta Maria. at (c) By whom Devils are put to flight, by whom the Devil tempter fell from heaven, and by whom all creatures possessed with the rage of Idols, are brought to the knowledge of the truth, etc. Cyr. Alex. hom. Ephes' in Hest. receive▪ To all, that crave thy aid, thy aid t' afford. Through thee th'Infernal (c) By whom Devils are put to flight, by whom the Devil tempter fell from heaven, and by whom all creatures possessed with the rage of Idols, are brought to the knowledge of the truth, etc. Cyr. Alex. hom. Ephes' in Hest. troops are put to flight; Through thee cursed Satan did from heaven fall; Through thee all those, who naught adored at all But senseless Idols, now believe a right. By thee thy Servants well rewarded are, And also diverse, who thy power (d) Daureltius tom. 21. Exemplerum tit. 68 deride, Receive by thee due payment for their pride. Grant we may have, great Virgin, still a care To fear and reverence thy most powerful name, And strive in others to effect the same. SONNET 18. VIRGO CLEMENS. VIRGIN MOST MERCIFUL, most mild, and meek; The joy of every well-affected mind What sinner e'er to thee did humbly (a) Thou art the help of those, who sin & who are destitute of aid: thou art the haven of them who are troubled with a storm, the comfort of the world, & the hope of such as live in the world. Cos. Ephr. orat. de laud. B. V seek Who thy assistance did not ready found? Thou (a) Thou art the help of those, who sin & who are destitute of aid: thou art the haven of them who are troubled with a storm, the comfort of the world, & the hope of such as live in the world. Cos. Ephr. orat. de laud. B. V art the hope and comfort of us all; Thou art a quiet haven shut to none; To such, as penitent for mercy call, Thou (b) Rejoice oh divine refuge of reconciliation betwixt God and men. And. Cret. orat. in Annunt. B. V by thy prayers dost reconcile thy Son. Thee (c) The world hath made thee the pledge of their faith with God. Ces. August. de SS. serm. 18. the whole world with uniform consent, The pledge with God of their true faith hath made; Nor doth thy favour frustrate their intent. Merciful Virgin, let it not be said, That only we miss that, which all men have, But (d) Repress, O B. Virgin, my temptations, order my life after a pious and holy manner, and cause that by thy directions, I may attain to heavenly beatitude. Io. Damasc. or. 1. de Nat. Mari. guide our steps, and fowls vouchsafe to save. SONNET 19 VIRGO FIDELIS. VIRGIN MOST FAITHFUL: in that virtue none Can ever near be paralleled with thee. Faithful thou wert in that from perils free Thou still preseru'dst thine, and th' almighty's Son. When at his passion he was left alone, Thou faithful follow'dst to th' erected tree; Who asked ' thee ere his Patroness (b) who hath, o Lady, hoped in thee, and was after ashamed? or what man hath faithfully implored thy almighty help and was ever forsaken. Surely never any. Eutychianus in vita S. Theophili. to be, Whose wishes thou didst frustrate? surely none. Thou still art true, still faithful unto all, Who faithful ask thy aid; and often prevents The foe's deceits, which may our souls enthrall. Second then our good and just intents. Direct our actions all, and do not fail. To (c) Defend me, & from the eternal fire and darkness free me. Greg. Naz. in Tragedy. guard us, lest against us Hell prevail. SONNET 20. SPECULUM JUSTITIAE. Lookingglass OF JUSTICE: he who would Forsaking vice a virtuous course embrace, May in thy (a) Such an one was Marie, that the life of her alone is the instruction of all men. Ambr. de Virgin. vide etiam de hacre S. Virgo Virg. life, as in a spotless glass, The perfect shape of virtues all behold. Thou art the (b) Rejoice oh mirror, through which they, who were in the thick shades of sin, receiving the sun of justice coming from heaven, were enlightened, And. Cret. or. in Annunc. B. V glass, through whose pure crystal came The glorious Sun of justice from the Sky, T' enlighten those who in sin's shades did lie, And with his rays their frozen hearts inflame. Not pale infernal spleen, though it repined To see thy lustre, can impose one stain On thy pure splendour, but thy beams will shine. O let us still before this glass remain; That, when we rise from sin's dull sleep, we may Learn our naked souls with virtues to array. SONNET 21. SEDES SAPIENTIAE. O SEAT OF WISDOM: heaven's supreme Lord, Th' eternall's Wisdom, he who did beget All things of nothing, only by his word, Esteemed thee (a) Marie is a glorified Seat & worthy of God, which can by only the eyes of the mind be seen. Meth. in Threnis. worthy t' be his sacred seat. That heavenly (b) In whom be all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid. Coloss 2.3. treasure, where all treasures lie Of God's high wisdom, in thee seated was; In thee he did our frail humanity Espouse, (c) Rejoice, oh bed chamber, in which Christ espoused humanity. And. Cret. or. Ann. B. V not pressed through (d) Marry excelled every one so much that she received God himself the Word (very willing to be received) whom she comprehended citra ullam loci angustiam. Without any straightness of place. Hesychius Hierosol. or. 1. de Sancta Maria Deipara. straitness of the place. Besides thou mayst be called Wisdom's seat, In that great wisdoms ever flowing Well, In streams of grace, into thy Soul still fell. O do thy Son (Wisdom's great throne) entreat That he would please sometimes to be our guest, And sometimes in our crazy Souls to rest. SONNET 22. CAUSA NOSTRAE LAETITIAE. 'CAUSE OF OUR JOY: th' Serpent (a) The Serpent seduced Eve, Marie consented to Gabriel, but the seducing of Eve brought death, the consent of Mary brought life. joannes Chrys. ser. de Gen & interdict. arbour. ad Adam. item: Life was restored by Mary, which had been slain by Eue. 16. did Eve seduce; Thou unto Gabriel humbly gav'st consent; But Eue's seducing, death and discord, sent; Thy prompt obedience, life, and settled truce. She made us (b) The mother of our kind brought pain into the world, the Mother of our Lord brought to the world health. Eve the author of sin, Marry the author of merit. Aug. de Sanctif. serm. 18. sick; thou brought us present health; She sin, thou merit, to the world didst bring. She made us weep, thou gav'st us cause to sing: Our souls she robbed but thou increased our wealth In brief, thou art that instrument (c) Rejoice, o instrument of joy, by which the sad Sentence of execration is changed into the pleasant judgement of joy. And. Cret. or. in Annun. B. V of joy, Which Eue's sad curses did to blessings turn, And makest us (if we will) we ne'er need mourn. Help us, we may our talents so employ, That, when we do this house of cares forsake, We may with thee of heavenly joys partake. SONNET 23. VAS SPIRITVALE, SPIRITVALL VESSEL; thou didst so contain All spiritual riches of celestial grace, That to the height of thy most glorious place None of thy sex ere could, e'er can, attain. Thy vessell's beauty thou didst ne'er deface With any sinful death-importing stain; But still thy heavenly lustre didst retain And all foul soule-deforming vices chase. Which to effect thou didst more grace obtain, In that thou was't to bear so long a space The sole procurer of our spiritual gain. Grant we may still (o spiritual vessel) trace Thy spotless paths and never strive in vain From th' impure stench of loathsome sin t' refrain. (a) No woman ever did, not ever shall obtain so much grace as the Mother of our Lord. Tit. Bostreusis ad c. 1. Luc. (b) There was never any filth, vice, or sin in thy glorious soul. [c] Marry received more grace utterly to overthrew Sin, who deserved to conceive & bring forth him, who it is evident had no sin. Aug. de nat. & great. c. 36. SONNET 24. VAS HONORABILE. HONOURABLE VESSEL which th'eternal word Did for his own, best service only frame, And unto thee on every side afford The glittering (a) Hail o clear and beautiful vessel of God. Ephraem orat. de laud. Deiparae. lustre of a heavenly flame. Thou art that precious vessel which to man Did from the sky lifegiving MANNA bear, In thee th' almighty's mighty son began A health to all, who do his dread name fear. Thou art that honoured vessel which (c) Hail thou who art a pit of ever living water. Chrysip. presb. de laud. v. Maria. contained Th' water of life; in thee that powerful One, Which all things fills, whole & entire remained. Help us to be (most honoured vessel) prove To virtue ever unto vices slow, And perfectly our imperfections know. (b) Hail full of grace which art a golden vessel containing heavenly Manna. Epipha. Ser. de laud. Deip. SONNET 25. VAS INSIGNE DEVOTIONIS. RENOWNED VESSEL OF DEVOTION Fountain (a) Thou art truly the most copious well of all Sanctity etc. Method. orat in Hyp. din. of Sanctity which evermore With ne'er decreasing Springs of grace dost run Weak souls to wont vigour to restore. Thy great CREATOR by (b) That most gracious Creator did throw into the flames of most fervent Charity like certain thick heapd beams of the sun 16. abundant streams With out restraint infused into thee Like to the glorious sun's cleare-shining beams, Devoutest flames of fervent Charity. Whose never-quenched heat, dispersed still Amongst us, doth our frozen hearts inflame, And our cold breast with true devotion fill. Our daily actions (sacred vessel) frame So that we may deservedly aspire, To gain but one spark of so great a fire. SONNET 26. ROSA MYSTICA. MYSTICAL ROSE, divinely white & read, white through the Candour of virginity Read through the heat of burning charity white in thy spotless flesh, in mind still read. In following virtue's pure directiones, white; Read by thy trampling upon vices head; Through the care thou hast of our good courses, read; And by thy love to thy Creator, white. Thou from the jews, as from sharp thorns, didst rise And through the word all baneful fumes expel, By thy rare virtues ever fragrant smell. Drive from our souls th' infectious stench of vice That we before thy son may without fear Perfumed (c) good perfume of Christ in every place. with virtues at our death appear. (a) Marry was a Rose white by virginity, read by charity white in flech, read in mind; white through her following of virtue, read through her trampling on vices, white in purifying her affections, read in mortifying the carnal. white in loving God, read in having compassion of her neighbour. Bernard ser. de S. Maria. (b) Rose, which art sprung from thorns, that is, from the jews, & hast filled all things with divine sweet odours. Io Damasc. orat. 1. de nat. B. V We are the SONNET 27. TURRIS DAVIDICA. TOWER (a) Thy neck is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks: a thousand targets hung one it, all the armour of the valiant. Cant. 4. OF DAVID, as that pious king Did, for his city's strength, this tower erect, So spiritual DAVID thee to th' world did bring The holy Church (his city) to protect. This tower provision through the town did spread; By thee, according unto Nature's law In humane bodies, we, from Christ the head, As by the neck, all spiritual victuals draw. In DAVID'S tower all warlike arms were laid; Thou still art ready, as the Church's sheed, Our souls against all Hell's assaults to aid. Help then o lest we unprotected yield, Secure the weak, & those who humbly weep, And fly to thee, in thy tuitions keep. (b) Holy Mary secure the wretched, help the faint hearted, comfort those who weep, pray for the people. etc. Aug. ser. 18. de Sanctis. SONNET 28. TURRIS EBURNEA. IVORY [a) Thy neck as a tower of ivory. Cantic. c. 7. TOWER, the (b) Thou therefore the nose of the Church art like to a tower, to wit, high in dignity & firm in gravity. Bern. sup. fall. Reg. place's dignity Which thy dear Son did for sole thee reserve, Which thy grave mind's ne'er moved constancy, This worthy title justly doth deserve, Thou art compared to purest ivory In that from (c) His Mother an immaculate Mother, an incorrupt Mother, an untouched Mother etc. Orig. hom. 1. Diversos. vid. Mater purissima at (a) (b) (c) etc. Regina confessorum at (6.) all, even from the least foul stain Of every sort of sin, thou ever free Even from thy first given being didst remain Infinite valyes of Infernal shot Hell's cursed feenes discharged against thy breast, Yet never hope of lest advantage got. Permit us ever when we are oppressed With fierce assaults of our ne'er resting foe, That unto thee we may for succour go. SONNET 29. DOMUS AUREA. O HOUSE OF GOULD, as wisest SALOMON Th almighty's temple did with great respect Adorn with gold, so thy far wiser son With gold of virtue, thee, his (a) Rejoice o most beautiful temple of divine glory. Andr. Cret. Or. in Annunc. temple, decked. Thou art that rare, than gold far brighter, house, Where the two (b) This is the shop where the natures were united. Proclus Const. hom. de Nativit. Christi. & Serg. Hierap. Or. in nat. B. V natures both united were, Where our (c) This is the bedchamber in which the word espoused humane flesh. Procl. Const. hom. de Nat. Christi. & Andr. Cret. Or. in Ann. B. V humanity Christ did espouse, And first began our miseries to bear. Thou art the mansion both of heaven and earth, Thou art (d) Hail o living temple of God: Hail o mansion both of heaven and earth. Io. Chrysost. Or. in Annuc. B. V God's living temple, he who was Before aught was, of thee received his birth. Invite my soul unto this glorious place, That there she may with fruitful wonder gaze Upon thy merits gould-surpassing rays. SONNET 30. FAEDERIS ARCA. ARK OF THE COVENANT in that (a) ark did rest The tables of God's holy testament, In thee, a far more blessed, far richer chest The Testament's great heir was willing penned; Within that costly ark the laws reposed, In thee thy son's heaven-giving Gospel lay, In that was still th' Eternal voice enclosed, In thee th' eternal word itself did stay. That wood was (b) Bern. ser. de Maria. incorruptible, so thou; Earthly decaying gold did that adorn, Thou didst all gold, which was not heavenly. scorn, Suffer (c) Rejoice o new ark of God, in which the spirit of God resteth. Ark wherein Christ our Not kept his humanity: Andr. Cret. orat. in Annunc. B. M. me then, most sacred ark, to bow Before thee still, and with submissive fear Thy son's will thence in all my actions hear. What other thing shall we say the ark to be but S. Marie? For the ark carried within the tables of the testament, but Mary did bear the heir of the testament itself, that held within it the law this the Gospel: that had the voice of God, this the word but the ark both within and without: did glitter with the brightness of gold, but holy Mary shined both within & without: with the glory of virginity: that was adorned with earthly gold, this with heavenly. Ambr. tom. 3. ser. 80. SONNET 31. JANVA CAELI. O GATE OF HEAVEN open unto all, Who with the hammer of repentance knock; No bar of malice, no revengeful lock Exclude (a) Vide; Virgo fidelis at (b) such souls as with submission call. Thou art (b) Rejoice o heaven, in which the sun of glory shines. Andr. Cret. orat. in Ann. B. V heaven itself, in 's heaven's glorious (c) Mary is made the window of heaven, because through her god sent true light to (all) ages. Fulgent. ser. de laud. B. V gate, Through which that powerful all revealing eye Gods only son past, when he came to buy Our captive souls at so extreme a rate. Eve (d) Whence death had the beginning of her entrance thence life makes herself a passage. Chr. orat. in Annunc. B. V was the door of death, through which to hell divers have passed, thou art the (e) This woman the Mother of God is the gate of life, the fountain of light, and dissolves the fault of women. Damasc. orat. 1. de Nat. B. V gate of life, By which in heaven millions now do devil. Help me, blessed gate to 'cause a pious strif Here in the world, who first amongst us shall At this most sacred gate for entrance call. SONNET 32. STELLA MATUTINA. O MORNING STAR, when we this star behold We are forewarned of th' approaching Son, Thy glorious rising to the world foretold The coming of a brighter Sun, thy Son. The sky's most glorious star cannot compare In glittering clearness with the morning star; All (a) What is more holy than she? not the Prophets, not the Apostles not Martyrs, not Patriarches, not Fathers, not Angels, not Thrones, not Dominations, not Cherubins, not Seraphins to conclude not any other thing amongst visible or invisible creatures can be found more great or excellent then only she. Io. Chrys. Hom. in Hie. dom. Angels thou and greatest Saints that are In glory, worth, and place surpassest fare. This star, though great, seems to our eyes but small So thou with thy profound (b) Behold the handmaid of our Lord, be it done to me according to thy word. Luc. 1.38. humility Didst cover still thy glorious Sanctity. Rest in our souls bright star, and thither call The Sun of justice, that his heavenly light May thence expel darkesins Infernal night. SONNET. 33. SALUS INFIRMORUM. HEALTH OF THE SICK, the impotent, and lame Thou often hast healed, thou (a) justus Lipsius in dinâ Sichamiensi, sive Aspricoli impr. Antwerpia 1603. cured the deaf and blind: What infirm person ever humbly came To thee for help, who did not succour found? In thy chaste womb th' worlds all preserving King? The eternal health did of our souls begin: Thou didst to all the great (b) By this (Virgin) o beloved, the physician comes to those who are sick. Io. Chrisoft. pr. in Annun B. V physician bring, Who cures the world from leprosies of sin. Thou by the virtue of that sovereign fruit Which thou brought'st forth (c) She (Eve) gave the blow, this (Marry) healed it. Aug. de Sanctis ser. 18. heald'st up the rankling sore. Which by Eve's fruit empoisoned was before. Hear o celestial balm, thy patient's suit, That when we sinn-sick are, thou wouldst be sure T' entreat thy son to take in hand our cure. SONNET 34. REFUGIUM PECCATORUM. REFUGE OF SINNERS, we when we have In curreed the just displeasure of thy Son, To thy protection, there ourselves to save, As to a Sacred Sanctuary run. Thou pardon beggst, (a) If a man call upon the name of the mother though the merits of him that calls do not deserve that he be heard, yet the merits of the Mother make intercession that he may be heard. Ans. Cant, de excel. B. V c. 6. and where our merits are Wholly defective, to entreat for grace, Thou with thy own supplies thy only care Is how from us thou may'st all perils chase. Thou art the port, where we may safely lie, Th' speedy repairer of our wrecht estate, To thee for aid, and saveguard all do fly. Open, blessed refuge, thy compassion's gate, That when we are with Hell's assaults oppressed, We safe in thee may lie, and take our rest. (b) Thou art my port, oh undefiled virgin, and present helper, lastly, I am wholly under thy custody ● and protection, Ephram. orat. de land. B. V SONNET 35. CONSOLATRIX AFFLICTORUM. O CONFORTRESSE OF AFFLICTED, thou Send's spiritual (a) Who is the comfort of them who are afflicted: who is the revenge of them, who are troubled who is the clothing of them which are naked Entychi de poenis. S. Theophili. comfort in our miseries, Thou dost revenge our greatest miseries, And still thy help on all our dangers show. What greater comfort can we ever have, Than t' think that when we most afflicted are, We have a patroness, whose only care Is how she may us from all perils save. Our souls (b) All hail, oh peace joy: and health of the world hail the joy of mankind, etc. Hail the calm port and freer of them who are tossed with waves etc. Ephr. orat. de landibus B. V craysd bark thou dost in tempests guide, Thou the disperser of our sadst annoy, Thou art the sickly world's health, peace, and joy, When the most dangerous troubles we abide Do not, o do not thy best help deny, And we'll all Hell's most powerful power defy. SONNET 36. AUXILIUM CHRISTIANORUM. (a) Marry, always cherisheth Christians in her arms. Eutich. de panit. Sancti. Theph. SUCCOUR OF CHRISTIANS, who can e'er express The infinite (b) Of all these see flores exempl. Ant. Dauroultij c. 2. tit. 38.39.40.41.42. & 43. helps we all receive from thee? From perils often, of war thou set's us free, And dost the fury of our foes repress. If e'er we be in spiritual distress, We by thee (c) Thou art the aid of sinners, and of those who are destitute of help. Ephrem. or, de land. B. V helped, by thee protected be, Thou reconcilest friends by thee we see Despair expelled, thou dost our wrongs redress. At the hour of death, when our most dangerous state Requires most succour, thou still ready art To cross our, then most busy, hellish foe. Guide now our steps, and (e) Be to me in this life, o merciful meek, and benign virgin a fervent protectrisse, & helper, repelling hostile attempts, & bringing me to salvation, & preserving in the last moment of my life my miserable soul, & driving for from it the ghastly sights of devils, but in the terrible day of judgement freing me, from eternal damnation, & lastly making me heir to the inaccessible glory of thy son, and gods 16. when at deaths pale gate We quaking stand, force thou our foeed departed, That we to heaven with thee may joyful go. (d) O hope of them who despair 16. SONNET 37. REGINA ANGELORUM. O QUEEN OF ANGELS, since thy blessed child, Whose death, true life did to our dead souls bring Is (all do know it) a most powerful thing Thou well, and justly master a (a) Since he who was borne of the virgin is a king, a Lord, and God, therefore the mother which brought him forth is properly, and truly esteemed a queen, a lady, and mother of God, etc. Atha. m. Euang. de B. V queen be styled. The highest, and most glorious Hierarchy Of Angels cannot with thy height compare; The greatest Angels, and the purest that are, Thou dost by much surpass in purity. O how they all, in thee, thy son admire Who gave thee such a place, to whose great height The great'st of them never could, nor can aspire. Ask thy sweet son, that when with Hell we fight, He would vouchsafe his blessed Angels sand T'help us, our souls against our foes defend. (b) O Mary higher, than the blessed of heaven, purer than the beams, and glory of the Sun, more honourable than the Cherubins, and polyomatis. i, many eyed spirits, holier than the Seraphins, without comparison more glorious than all the other hosts of heaven, etc. Ephrem. orat. de laud. B. V the same saith Epiphanius serm. de land. B. V SONNET 38. REGINA PATRIARCHARUM. O QUEEN OF PATRIARCKS, how this blessed troop Of father's wished to see thee whose chaste womb (a) O blessed virgin, pure dove, and heavenly spouse Mary, heaven, Temple, and throne of the Divinity, who hast for son Christ shining gloriously in heaven and earth etc. Epiph. ser. de laud. B. V The Temple, throne, & heaven should become Of the great power, to which all powers stoop. On thee their hopes, and expectations say, (b) All hail oh honour of all prophets, and Patriarches etc. Andr. Cret. in An. B. V Thou art the honour, grace, and ornament Of all their name, thou (c) Thou didst not want the purity of Angels, not the faith of Patriarches, not the zeal of Apostles, not the patience of Martyrs, not the sobriety of Confessors, not the innocence or humility of Virgins. Idiota. contempt. de Beata V c. 2. not less eminent In the perfection of true faith then they. Thou in the whole course of thy life's pure race Them in their own rarest virtues didst excel And now in glory dost them all surpass. Help that we may, great Queen, such thoughts expel As may against us move thy sons dread wrath, And show us how to imitate thy Faith. SONNET 39 REGINA PROPHETARUM. O QUEEN OF PROPHETS, the art that pure white At which the words of these great Saints did aim, How often have they, taught by th'w spirit (a) To thee oh virgin, the Prophets give praise, etc. Hezych. Hier. orat. de S. Maria Deipara. Extolled the glory of thy sacred name? How often have they that virgin wished to see Which the (b) Hail armoury of life, etc. hail example of a gem exceeding all price, hail vine producing fair grapes, etc. Chrisos. presb. de land. B. V rare gem, the fayrgrape bearing vine The armoury of life, the radiant (c) Hail most bright star forth of which Christ came etc. Ephrem. orat. de land. B. V star should be From whence to us Christ's heavenly beams should shine. No virtue they nor privilege enjoyed, Which on thee (as on far above them all) In far more great abundance did not fall. Grant, gracious queen, our time may be employed So that with these blessed Saints we ever may To all the world thy matchless worth display. SONNET 40. REGINA APOSTOLORUM. QUEEN OF TH' APOSTLES, the dread King thy son Being by them, he most affected, slain Thou, than the great'st on earth (thy son being gone) Didst Queen & Mistress to these saints remain. When thou this world chang'dst for a heavenly crown, (a) We have received by ancient and most true tradition, that at the time of her glorious departure, all the holy Apostles who travailed the world for the salvation of nations lifted up on high in a moment met together at Jerusalem. etc. Euthymius Eremita Hist. Eccle. l. 3. c. 40. All, as at fun'ralls of their sou'rayne Queen, Though they before to fortaine lands are gone, Present at thy blessed sepulchre were seen. Although their zeal, as by their acts appear, Their love of God and sanctity was great, Yet they in all, by thee surpassed were. Thy powerful son, most gracious Queen, entreat● That at our death we perfectly may see How they all joy, to be surpased by thee. SONNET 41. REGINA MARTYRUM. O Queen of Martyrs who can e'er express The wondrous grief, which when thy dearest son To give his servant's life gave up his own, Did all the powers of thy soul oppress? The sword of sorrow which then pierced thy hart, Caused ' thee such pains as thou mayst well compare With greatest Martyrs: (a) Her glory is amongst martyrs. etc. Epiph. Hoer. 78. nay the great'st that are Be fare surpassed by thee, in every part. Their glory may (b) If the Apostle Paul do, truly affirm of other saints whom the world was not worthy of, what is it fitting we should think of the virgin mother of God, who as fare exceed all martyrs in brightness, as doth the son the other stars? Basil seleucius on in Annuntiat. deipar. be equalled to thine As may the stars unto th' irradiant rays Of sol, when as he doth most clearly shine. If ever Hell death-threatning storms do raise Against our constancy, thou for us pray And th' subtle force of all such tempests stay. (c) Give me the effect of my petition & my desire (oh lord) the glorious virgin thy mother Marie my Lady entreating, praying, & prevailing for me with all thy saints. Amen. Aug. in medit. c. 35. SONNET 42. REGINA CONFESSORUM. QUEEN OF CONFESSORS, thy divine-wrought mind Was with (a) Thou didst not want any kind of virtue, oh most glorious virgin, not in part but in whole etc. Idiota contempl. de B. V c 2. all virtues so exactly deced, So free from sin, so void of all defect, As sins, to thee th' world could no equal find. Who had a more firm lively faith than thou? Who was more glad, more ready for that faith To suffer pains? the cruelest tyrant's wrath Can ne'er have force thy constancy to bow. The great'st Confessor never did excel In any virtue (c) In thee all virtues as well active, as contemplative met together, and make then more admirable thee all creatures. 16. which we do not see T'have shined more truly, and more full in thee. Obtain we may our souls adorn so well With these thy virtues that when as we die We may through thee the devil's force defy. (b) There neither is, nor ever was, nor will be any sport of sin in thee either Original, or actual, or mortal or venial: but thou hast all grace of Natural benefits, spiritual graces, and celestial gifts, ibidem. SONNET 43 REGINA VIRGINUM. O QUEEN OF VIRGINS, thou the glorius (a) Thou art the ornament, crown, & joy of virgins. Ephraem. our. de laud. B. V crown And chiefest grace art of that spotless state; Thy (b) Certain men affirm that Marie married after the birth (of our saviour) but they have not any means to prove it, for those sons who wear said to be of joseph, were not borne of Marie, neither is there any scripture which makes mention of it. Orig. in Luc. homil. 7. sacred womb to man was never known! Yet he's thy child, who doth Hell's pride abate: Thou though a mother, yet without compare Than purest virgins wast by fare more pure From the deceits of each entrapping snare: Thy thoughts, words, deeds were ever all secure: None but thy greatest son whose wondrous birth Did not at all thy virgin-bands (c) Vide matter Castissima at (a). untie, Deserved (d) Marry was most clear wool, & most renowned for virginity, & (vithous comparison) purer then all the virgins which were under heaven and the was such an one, and of so great excellency that she alone deserved this no other should be closed with her, but he who was of Royal dignity. Alevimus de Trinitate. l. 3. c. 14. in thy virgin womb to lie. Vouchsafe (chaste queen) while yet we live on Earth, With all blessed Virgins which still wait on thee, Before thy son our advocate to be. SONNET 44. REGINA SANCTORUM OMNIUM. Queen of all Saints, o supreme governess Next to thy son, of all thy son hath made: But only he no other can be said So powerful as thyself, Hell's force t' repress. Thou not all women only didst (b) She is holy and holier than all Saynes: etc. Damasc. or. 2. de g●rmine meo etc. excel In virtue, but th' great'st saints, yea (b) She is holy and holier than all Saynes: etc. Damasc. or. 2. de g●rmine meo etc. all that are: Th' Æternall thee, his mountain, did prepare On top of mountains, there himself to dwell. In fine there is 'twix't other saints and thee, As great a difference, as betwixt the taste And smell of th' most delicious fruits that be. Make intercession that we may be placed Great Queen, among these saints with them to sing. Th' immortal praises of thy son, our King. (a) God did not choose any of the ordinary sex of women to be his mother but her, who should surpass all women in virtue. justinut quest. 136. (c) Is not Marie a high Mountain etc. for Isayas' prophesying of the most excellent dignity of this mountain, saith: The mountain of our Lord shall in the latter day: be prepared in the top of mountains. Suerly there was a mountain in the top of mountains, because the height of Marie shined gloriously above all Saynes. Greg. mag. l. 1. Reg. c. 2. FINIS.