Certain Prayers and Graces, newly added, to be used of Scholars, both before and after noon.  
Compiled by R. C. 

NOw that the day star doth appear,  
to God devoutly let us call,  
That in the deeds of daylight clear,  
he kéeps us from misfortunes all.   

Let him temper our tattling tongues,  
by bridling them after his will,  
Lest horror vile break us among,  
with words of strife, that sound full ill.   

Let him cover our sight also,  
feeding it as he knows best,  
Lest we delight in vain things tho,  
and so draw them into our breast.   

Let all the secrets of our hearts  
be pure and clean from filthiness;  
Let slothful sluggishness departed  
from us that study do profess.   

Let mean diet of drink and meat  
beat down pride of filthy flesh,  
Lest raging in that filthy heat,  
we lose of youth the flowers fresh.   

These things we crave that when the day  
by course of kind away shall pass,  
And night shall come, then sing we may  
in praise of him, to our solace.   

And that we may still bear in mind,  
in what works we the day shall spend,  
Let us record what words we find  
in Books that were made to that end.   

In Exodus, and other moe,  
that written were by God's Elect,  
We find Gods Precepts written so  
as after follows in effect.   

When Jacob's Séed in Wilderness  
could not abide God's voice to hear,  
Then Moses did himself address,  
for them before God to appear.   

And at the Lords Commandment  
he took to him his Servant true:  
Up to Mount Horeb then they went,  
to learn this Law which doth ensue.   

Which Law God writ in Tables twain.  
of stone so hard which might last long,  
And would the same should still remain  
among his folks both old and young.   

And first, to make their mind attend,  
he said (O Israel give ear)  
I am the Lord omnipotent,  
whom thou must serve, obey and fear.   

For I thee brought from careful thrall,  
wherein thou wast in Egypt long,  
And there could find no ease at all,  
but wert enforced to suffer wrong.   

Thou shalt have therefore in my sight  
none other Gods but only me:  
For I alone have power and might,  
And all the rest vain Idols be.   

Thou shalt not cast out, paint or draw,  
for thee, the Form of any thing  
In heaven or earth, or stand in awe,  
of aught that is of man's making.   

For why? I am a jealous God,  
and will my honour to no one give:  
I beat the Children with sharp Rod,  
that like their wicked Parents live:   

And that to three or four descents,  
in such of them as do hate me,  
And keep not my Commandments,  
but in their do wicked be.   

But such as love even as they should  
me and my Laws, and them observe,  
I show mercy a thousand fold,  
and them from evil I preserve.   

Take not in vain Gods holy Name,  
but use it with all reverence:  
For why? the Lord doth all such blame  
as herein doth commit offence.   

Remember that thou holy keep  
the day of rest, as God doth will.  
Six days thou shalt apply thy work,  
and do all things that be not ill.   

But the seventh day is the Lords rest,  
wherein no vile work may be done,  
By thee, thy Child, thy slave or beast,  
or stranger that with thee doth won.   

For in six days the Lord did frame  
the heaven, the earth, the creatures all.  
The seventh he ceased, and blest the same,  
as time for his on him to call.   

All these Precepts the Lord did write  
on the first Table made of stone,  
And would they should in him delight,  
that for his love, serve him alone.   

The second Table follows then,  
wherein the Lord instructeth us,  
How to behave us towards all men,  
and in the same is written thus.   

Unto thy Parents honour give  
as God's Commandments will thee,  
That thou long days and good mayst live  
on earth where thine abode shall be.   

Murder no man by word or deed,  
with tongue or sword or other thing:  
Do nought from whence hate may proceed,  
for Murder out of hate doth spring.   

Avoid all foul Adultery,  
and all things that thereto belong,  
All filthy thoughts and lusts of eye,  
and all unchaste talk of the tongue.   

Take not by fraud nor by rapine  
the things that others do possess:  
For so to take what is not thine,  
before God is great wickedness.   

Against no man false witness be,  
but testify the truth always:  
For God thy secret thoughts doth see,  
and will thee judge at the last day.   

Thou shalt not in thy heart desire  
thy Neighbour's Wife at will to have:  
His house nor field done't thou require,  
no nor his servant, nor his slave.   

Be not desirous to receive  
his Ox, or Ass, or any Beast,  
That he is not willing to leave,  
nor aught that by him is possessed.   

These be the Laws that God did give  
to jacob's séed in Wilderness,  
And would that they therein should live,  
that will an endless life possess.   

But such that will this Law neglect,  
and walk after fleshly desire,  
The Lord at last will them reject,  
to dwell in everlasting fire.   

The Lord God for his mercy's sake  
guide us in his most perfect way,  
That we may scape the fiery Lake  
and live with him in Bliss for aye.   

That these things may be granted us,  
at this time henceforth always.  
In the name of our Lord jesus,  
to God the Father let us pray.   

OUR Father which in Heaven art,  
and dost reign over all,  
Thy holy Name be sanctified  
amongst both great and small.   

Thy Kingdom come, wherein we may  
not wicked thing abide,  
Nor aught that doth set up itself,  
or is puffed up with pride.   

Thy will be done upon the earth,  
like as in Heaven above;  
Where all the Creatures work thy will,  
because they do thee love.   

Give us this day, our daily Bread,  
which need doth make us crave:  
For why? our souls and bodies both  
of thee their food must have.   

To ask forgiveness of our sins,  
dear Father we are bold,  
As we forgive wrongs as are done  
among us manifold.   

Do thou not us to trial bring,  
for we are weak indeed:  
But when that sin shall us assault,  
deliver us with speed.   

For why? the Kingdom, and the power,  
and glory every whit,  
Is thine, and shall be evermore:  
all Souls say, So be it.   

† O Lord, preserve our King and Queen  
with all his Royal Train:  
But chief such as zealous be  
the Gospel to maintain:  
Which grant, O God, till day of Doom,  
in Britain may remain.    

Prayers for Midday.  
NOw that we have the morning spent  
in Learning honest exercise,  
Lest Nature's Bow being over bend,  
our bodies let us not despise:  
Let us therefore take at God's hand  
such nourishment as he doth give  
To feed his folk by Sea and Land,  
without the which we cannot live.  
And that we may avoid excess,  
to him for grace now let us call:  
For surfeit doth the wit oppress,  
and drowneth good things natural:  
And more besides, the gift of God  
if we abuse, unto our shame,  
We worthy are to feel the Rod,  
for such dishonour to his Name.  
That we therefore may hold the mean,  
to him that made us let us pray:  
And to his promise let us lean,  
that willed us in his name to say.  
Our Father which art, etc.   

Prayer for Evening.  
BEfore the clear light of the day,  
by course of kind draws to an end,  
To God devoutly let us pray,  
that he will keep and us defend:  
And that all dreams filthy and vain,  
with fantasies that night doth bring,  
May fly far from our heavy Brain,  
while we by fléep seek refreshing.  
And that he will our foes suppress,  
who still do seek us to beguile,  
So that no manner of wickedness  
have power our bodies to defile.  
And more besides, that when we sleep,  
he will vouchsafe us wished ease:  
So shall we when the day doth peep,  
his Majesty with praises please.  
Now that the Father of all might  
will grant this for his dear Sons sake,  
Let's now be humble in his sight,  
as he hath taught, our Prayers make:  
Saying, Our Father, as before.   

Grace before Meat.  
THe Lord that did all things create,  
for man to serve him at his need,  
Bless all that we do drink or eat,  
And give it strength our flesh to feed.  
For whatsoever shall nourish indeed,  
Whether it be good for man or beast,  
Must by his great power be blest.  
And sigh we have an inward man,  
That must with in ward food be fed,  
Which by no means obtain we can,  
But by him that is heavenly bread,  
And of all spiritual things the head,  
Let us still feed on him in mind,  
That gave us flesh to feed mankind.  
Thus doing we shall run our race  
Without the want of any food;  
And at the last come to the place  
That promsed was to Abraham's brood,  
And by faith washed in Christ his Blood,  
Where evermore we shall him see,  
That is one God in Persons Three.  
O Lord preserve in health and peace  
King Charles, our most gracious King,  
Thy holy Spirit in him increase,  
That he may be as he hath been,  
A Sword to cut off Popery clean,  
That he and we may hold that truth  
Which he hath loved from his youth.  
Amen.   

Grace after Meat.  
NOw that you have your bodies fed,  
with food that feeble flesh must have,  
Remember that you break your bread,  
To such as need compels to crave:  
For God that to us good gifts gave,  
Would that you should therewith refresh  
Such as do lack, and are your flesh.  
You are not Lords of that you have,  
But must account of each thing make  
To him that giveth, when you ask  
Abundance for his mercy's sake,  
And would not you should see them lack.  
Be diligent always therefore,  
To help the needy with your store:  
And if you doubt what sort they be  
That should relief find at your hand,  
Among all men look whom you see  
That of your help in need doth stand,  
To be relieved and loosed from band.  
Them must you know to be that sort  
That at your hands must have comfort.  
But chief such as do profess  
The name of Christ unfeignedly,  
For in them Christ is in distress,  
And craveth help in misery,  
And will repay with usury  
All that to him you give or lend,  
And that in life which shall not end.   

Grace before Meat.  
AS to the sick all pleasant things  
have still unsavoury taste:  
So shall Gods gifts be unto us,  
if vainly we them waste.  
Take heed therefore, saith Christ our Lord  
that surfeiting ye eat:  
Let not your hearts with banqueting  
be drowned and overcome.  
Receive God's gifts with giving thanks,  
and nature's weakness feed:  
When you have done, remember those  
which want and stand in need.  
So shall God bless and eke increase  
your basket and your store,  
And give you life in Christ our Lord,  
which lives for evermore.   

Grace after meat.  
Man's life preserved is by food;  
as God hath well decreed:  
But on God's grace and holy word  
our souls must daily feed.  
Through want of food material,  
the body soon will pine:  
So will the soul, if long it lack  
the spiritual food divine.  
To thee be praise (O Father dear)  
which at this time hath sent  
Both for our souls and bodies food,  
thy Children to content. Amen.   

Grace after Meat.  
THanks be to God in heaven above,  
for he hath fed us well:  
And we beseech his gracious love  
to feed our souls as well.  
Repentance with the fruits thereof  
that we never forget.  
Tender (O Lord) thy holy Church,  
good Rulers in it set,  
And evermore upon England  
thy heavenly grace down send,  
That we may by thy word and truth  
our sinful lives amend.  
And finally, all such as be  
afflicted for thy word,  
Comfort them by the Holy Ghost,  
through jesus Christ our Lord.  
O Lord preserve in peace and wealth.  
Our noble King, and send him health. Amen.   

Grace before Meat.  
TO eat and drink doth small avail,  
the World is all but vain:  
Except the Lord our hearts do guide,  
our pleasures are but pain:  
Grant us therefore, O Christ, that we  
may all with one accord,  
Not live to eat, but eat to live,  
and live to praise the Lord. Amen.   

Grace before Meat.  
THe eyes of all things do look up and trust in thee (O Lord,) thou givest them meat in due season: thou openest thy hand, and fillest with thy blessing every living creature. Good Lord, bless us and all the gifts that we receive of thy bounteous liberality, through jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   

Grace after Meat.  
THe God of all power, who hath called from death the great Pastor of his Sheep, the Lord jesus, comfort and defend the flock which he hath redeemed by the Blood of his eternal Testament: increase the number of true Preachers: repress and mitigate the malice of obstinate Tyrants: enlighten the hearts of the ignorant: release the pains of such as be afflicted, but especially those that suffer for the Testimony of the Truth; and finally confound Satan by the power of our Lord jesus Christ. So be it.   

Grace before Meat.  
CHrist which at his last Supper gave himself unto us, promising his body to be crucified, and his blood to be shed for our sins, bless us and our meat. Amen.  
The God of peace and love vouchsafe always to dwell with us, and thou Lord have mercy upon us.   

Grace before Meat.  
GLory, Honour and Praise be given to thee, O Lord, which hath fed us from our tender age, and givest sustenance to every living thing replenish our hearts with joy and gladness, that we (always having sufficient, may be rich and plentiful in all good Works; through our Lord jesus Christ. So be it.  
Our King and Queen, O Lord defend.  
And bless them both, World without end.   

A Prayer.  
GOD preserve our Realm, the King's Majesty, with his Royal Ouéen, the honourable Council, and the Nobility and Commons of the same: God assist the Clergy with his Holy Spirit, in setting forth his truth: God defend the Favourers of the Gospel, and make us all faithful and zealous in the same: God change the hearts of our Enemies: The mighty power of God destroy Antichrist with his wicked Kingdom: God send the Gospel a joyful and free passage through the whole World, that every one of us may live godly and uprightly in our vocation and calling, through jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   
FINIS.   


BOoks Printed for George Conyers, where Country Chapmen may be furnished with all sorts of Books and Ballads.  
Ornatus and Artesia.  
Seven Champions.  
Seven Wise Masters.  
Seven Wise Mistresses.  
Long Meg.  
Mad Men of Gotam.  
Parliament of Women.  
Ball's Catechism.  
Don Quixote.  
Book of Riddles.  
Dorastus and Faunia.  
Garland of .  
Gesta Romanorum.  
Great Assize.  
David's Repentance.  
Gakers' Arithmetic.  
David's Blessed Man.  
Mother's Blessing.  
Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven.  
Help to Discourse.  
York's Arithmetic.  
Garden of Spiritual Flowers.