An order of prayer and thanksgiving, for the preservation of her Majesty and the Realm, from the traitorous and bloody practices of the Pope, and his adherents: to be used at times appointed in the Preface. Ecclesiastes 10. ¶ Wish the King no evil in thy thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber: for the birds of the air shall carry thy voice, and with their feathers shall they bewray thy words. Eodem. ¶ He that diggeth a pit, shall fall therein himself, and who so breaketh down the hedge, a serpent shall bite him. proverbs 21. ¶ There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, there is no counsel against the Lord. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth victory. Published by authority. ¶ Imprinted at London, by Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queen's most excellent Majesty. 1586. royal blazon of Elizabeth I, surmounted by a crown and flanked by the English lion and the Welsh dragon HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT ❧ The Preface. COnsidering the great peace and quietness, wherewith God hath continually blessed this Noble Realm of England, since the time that it pleased him by the hand of her Majesty to have the sincere truth of the Gospel of our Saviour planted among us, and his great blessings of all sorts, wherewith he hath enriched us, and given us our hearts desires to our comfort, and the admiration of our neighbours round about us: It were too great impiety, not to show ourselves daily thankful for these great mercies, and not to crave the continuance of God's holy hand over us. But weighing further, with what peril of violent death, by means of wicked popish practices, our gracious sovereign hath maintained the truth, which we profess, upon whose life (next under God) the profession of the same in this land, and the continuance of the lives and welfare of us her faithful Subjects, do depend: and knowing that the Almighty most miraculously hath preserved her highness, from all treason hitherto intended against her most Royal person, and kept our blood from flowing in every street like water, our Cities & Houses from sacking, and the whole Land from extreme ruin: with what zeal ought every one of us to be inflamed to praise the Lord, for the detecting and confusion of our secret foes, whom his right hand hath bruised? and how ought we to detest that doctrine which bringeth forth so traitorous and bloody fruits? Moses and Miriam, and the whole host of Israel had never greater cause to sing unto the Lord for the overthrow of Pharaoh and his army: nor Deborah and Barac for the victory of Sisera: nor judith, and the Citizens of Bethulia for the end of Holofernes and the flight of his host, than we have for the wonderful preservation of the life of our most gracious Queen, and thereby for our own safety. Wherefore, let every one that feareth the Lord among us, not only with the jews in the book of Esther yearly hold a memorial with great joy of so notable deliverance, but daily in common assemblies have this great goodness in remembrance, and pray that God will not suffer the light of Israel to be quenched, but that it will still please him to preserve his anointed from the peril of the sword, and to give her long and happy days, to the glory of his Name, to the comfort of his chosen, & to the stablishing of his truth in this Land, till the coming of his Son in the clouds of Heaven. That this may the better be accomplished, this little book is by authority published, daily to be used in Common prayer, where any is, or otherwise at such times as are by law appointed for Divine Service: viz, the Prayer, and one or two of the Psalms following, according to the discretion of the Minister, and likewise to be adjoined unto those prayers, that are already of late set forth, for turning from us the scarcity of victual, and war, at such times as they are appointed to be read in the Church. decorative device whose focal point is a Tudor rose ❧ The prayer. O Eternal God and merciful Father, we thy virworthie creatures most humbly do confess, that we are not able with our tongues to utter, nor in our hearts to conceive, the exceeding measure of thine infinite goodness in this latter age showed to this Noble Realm, in that thou (O Lord) hast in most dangerous times, by thy providence, beyond expectation of man, preserved the Noble person of our now Sovereign Lady Elizabeth, by thy grace: First, according to her right to come to this kingdom and Royal seat of her Noble Father, and next, by her (being therein established) to deliver us thy people, that were as captives to Babylon, out of thraldom of the enemies of thy true Church, and to restore us again to the free fruition of the Gospel of thy Son our Saviour Christ. For the enjoying whereof now many years, we do confess and acknowledge, that when we by our daily unthankfulness, and by our sinful lives, have most justly provoked thee to withdraw these thy favours from us, thou (O Lord) with thy mighty power didst strengthen thy servant our most gracious Queen, constantly against the threatenings of the greatest of the world to persist, in maintenance of us in all manner of prosperity, peace and wealth: But most singularly in a peaceable freedom, to enjoy the blessed benefits of thy holy word against the mighty enemies of thy Church daily conspiring against this Realm, and especially against the Royal person of our gracious Queen, thy humble servant and true handmaiden, whose estate being in the opinion of a number of wicked persons many times in great and secret dangers, yet thou (O Lord) of thy heavenly goodness hast always preserved and defended her by many miraculous means, and (as we have good cause to think) by many other means, and at many other times, then to us are yet known. But yet, besides thy preservation of her person from the attempt of two wicked persons, that suffered for the same of late years, even now in this present time, when we had no thought, that any would have minded such a wicked fact, we have fully felt the power of thy miraculous goodness, by the discovery of sundry wicked Conspirators, very secretly bend and combined to make desperate attempts against her life, and against the peaceable estate of thy Church and this Realm. The stay whereof only hath proceeded (good Lord) by thy most continual, tender and fatherly care over her, in the strange discovering, and the manner of apprehending of the malefactors, being many, and not by the wit or strength of any worldly creature. For otherwise then by thy special goodness, we do now perceive, and that with trembling of our hearts, that she could not at sundry times have escaped the danger of violent death, wickedly and resolutely against her intended, so that we may truly say with David in his Psalm, That all men that see it, shall say, This hath God done: for they shall perceive, that it is his work. Wherefore we now thy humble creatures, acknowledging our unworthiness of these great graces, beseech thee (O Lord) that thou wilt without regard of our former unthankfulness, and contempt of thy word, show thy mercy to us, and continue thy blessings over us, that we may, for these so unspeakable benefits, be more thankful than we have been, not only in words, or as hearers, but in deeds also, as doers of thy will, according to the direction of thy holy word. And that it would please thee still to hold this thy blessed hand over our Queen Elizabeth, and preserve her Royal person from all manner of open or secret perils, whereby her years may be prolonged, as far as it may please thee to grant, by the course of Nature, for the maintenance of thy glory, and of thy son jesus Christ, and of his Gospel, and for continuance of us thy people her natural subjects in the due fear and service of thee, and in our natural obedience to her, whereby we and our posterity may still enjoy such peace, as we have had these many years, under her majesties government, far above any like example in any age by past. Grant this (O heavenly Father) for jesus Christ's sake, thy only son our Saviour, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. The first Psalm. We rejoice in thy strength, Psal. 21. (O Lord:) exceeding glad are we of thy salvation. Thou hast given us our heart's desire: and hast not denied the request of our lips. Thou hast prevented us with the blessings of goodness: and hast made us glad with the joy of thy countenance. For the ungodly had drawn out the sword, and had bended their bow: Psal. 37. to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of a right conversation. Their sword shall go through their own heart: and their bow shall be broken. All thine enemies shall feel thine hand: Psal. 22. thy right hand shall find out them that hate thee. Thou shalt make them like a fiery Oven in the time of thy wrath: the Lord shall destroy them in his displeasure, and the fire shall consume them. Their fruit shalt thou root out of the earth: and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended mischief against thee: and imagined such a device, as they are not able to perform. Therefore hast thou put them to flight: and the strings of thy bow hast thou made ready against the face of them. Thy mercy (O Lord) reacheth unto the heavens: Psal. 36. and thy faithfulness unto the clouds. Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains: and thy judgements are like the great deep. Thou Lord dost save both man and beast: how excellent is thy mercy, O Lord? and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. O continue forth thy loving kindness unto them that know thee: and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart. O let not the foot of pride come against us: and let not the hand of the ungodly cast us down. Withdraw not thou thy ivercie from us, O Lord: let thy loving kindness and thy truth always preserve us. But let the ungodly perish, let thine enemies consume as the fat of lambs: yea, even as the smoke let them consume away. So we that be thy people, and sheep of thy pasture shall give thee thanks for ever: Psal. 79. and will always be showing forth thy praise from generation to generation. The second Psalm. Deliver us, O Lord, Psal. 14. from the evil men: and preserve us from the wicked men. Which imagine mischief in their hearts: and stir up strife all the day long. The proud have laid a snare for us, and spread a net abroad with cords: yea, and set traps in our ways. They courage themselves in mischief: Psal. 6a. & common among themselves, how they may lay snares, and they say no man shall see them. They imagine wickedness and practise it: that they keep secret among themselves, every man in the deep of his heart. But let not the ungodly have their desire, Psal. 140. O Lord: let not their mischievous imaginations prosper, lest they be too proud. Thou, O Lord, shalt suddenly shoot at them with a swift arrow: that they shall be wounded And all men that see it, shall say, This hath God done: for they shall perceive, that it is his work. Praised be the Lord daily, Psal. 68 even the God that helpeth us: and poureth his benefits upon us. He is our God, even the God of whom cometh Salvation: God is the Lord by whom we escape death. He hath given victory unto us: Psal. 144. and hath delivered David his servant from the peril of the sword. O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness: Psal. 107. and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men. That they would exalt him in the congregation of the people: and praise him in the seat of the Elders. That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving: and tell out his works with gladness. Then shall our sons grow up as the young plants: and our daughters be as the polished corners of the Temple. Our garners shall be full and plenteous with all manner of store: our sheep shall bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our streets. Our Oxen shall be strong to labour, there shall be no decay: no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets. Happy are the people that be in such a case: yea blessed are the people, that have the Lord for their God. The third Psalm. WE will magnify thee, Psal. 145. O God our King: and will praise thy Name for ever and ever. Every day will we give thanks unto thee: and praise thy name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and marvelous worthy to be praised: there is no end of his greatness. One generation shall praise thy works unto another: and declare thy power. The memorial of thine abundant kindness shall be showed: and men shall sing of thy righteousness. The Lord is righteous in all his ways: and holy in all his works. The Lord is night unto all that call upon him: yea, all such as call upon him faithfully. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will help them. The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but scattereth abroad all the ungodly. Though we walk in the midst of trouble, Psal. 138. yet shall he refresh us: he shall stretch forth his hand upon the furiousness of our enemies, and his right hand shall save us. The snares of death compassed us round about: Psal. 116. & the pains of hell gate hold upon us. But thou Lord, hast delivered our souls from death: our eyes from tears, and our feet from falling. Thou hast turned our heaviness into joy: Psal. 30. thou hast put off our sackcloth, and girded us with gladness. Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing: O God, we will give thanks unto thee for ever. The fourth Psalm. O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: Psal. 106. and his mercy endureth for ever. Who can express the noble acts of the Lord: or show forth all his praise? For we have sinned with our Fathers: we have done amiss and dealt wickedly. We have not regarded thy wonders, nor kept thy great goodness in remembrance: but have been disobedient to thy holy will. Nevertheless, he hath helped us for his name's sake: that he might make his power to be known. For lo, the ungodly had bend their bow, Psal. 11. and made ready their arrows within the quiver: that they might privily shoot at us. Many Oxen purposed to have come about us: Psal. 22. fat Bulls of Basan intended to close us in on every side. They gaped upon us with their mouths: as it were ramping and roaring Lions. The counsel of the wicked laid siege against us: they set traps in our ways. They had privily laid their net to destroy us without a cause: yea, Psal. 35. even without a cause had they made a pit for our soul. But thou (O Lord) hast delivered our soul from the sword: Psal. 22. thy darling from the power of the dog. Thou hast saved us from the Lions mouth: thou hast heard us from amongst the horns of the Unicorns. A sudden destruction is come upon them unawares, Psal. 35. and the net that they had laid privily, hath catched themselves: they are fallen into their our own mischief. They are confounded and put to shame, that did seek after our soul: they are turned back & put to confusion that imagined mischief for us. Wherefore praise the Lord, Psal. 22. ye that fear him: magnify him all ye of the seed of jacob, and fear him all ye of the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised, nor abhorred the low estate of the poor: he hath not hid his face from him, but when we called unto him, he heard us. Therefore our praise is of thee in the great Congregation: our vows will we perform in the sight of them that fear him. Glory be to the Father, to the son etc. ❧ Hereunto also may be added at the discretion of the Minister the lxxxiii. the Ciii. and the Cxxiiii. Psalms. And for the first Lesson, when he shall see occasion, he may read one of these Chapters: Viz. Exod. xv. judg. v. Esther. vi. seven. viii. and ix.