The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

Of certaine other mysticall prayers and canticles, which the holy Frther S. Francis made.

THE CXVIII. CHAPTER.

The Holy Father in his canonicall houres said in latin these prayers following, which he composed in the prayse of God.

* 1.1 HOly, holy, holy, lord God almightie, which art, which hast bin, and art to come, thou art worthy that we offer vnto thee, and to receaue of vs, all prayse and honour, and that we exalt and acknowledge thee aboue althinges, the lambe that was slaine is worthy to receaue all vertue, diuinitie, wisdome, force, glorie, honour and be∣nediction. Lett vs alwayes prayse God, lett vs yeld the honour dew vn∣to the Father, the Sonne, and the the holie Ghost: lett vs praise God for euer: lett vs prayse the lord of heauen, and earth, and of all other thin∣ges created vnder and on the earth, with those that are in heauen: lett vs prayse God and exalt him for euer. Glorie be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the holie Ghost. Lett vs prayse God for euer and mag∣nifie him as he hath bin, is now, and shallbe world without end. Amen. Lett vs prayse God and exalt him for euer, Amen.

An other breife prayer vnto God.

Almighty most high and my soueraigne good, all good that onlie is good. We giue thee all praise, all praise, all glorie, all honour, and yeld thee all the thanckes we can, and will that all good be referred to thee alone, Amen.

An other short prayer, for the diuine office

Most high most mighty, most iust, and most mercifull lord, afford vs miserable wretches so much of thy grace, that we may accomplish thy holy will, and may with all diligence seeke that alone which plea∣seth thee: that being interiourly illuminated and enflamed with the fire of the holy Ghost, we may tread the most holy steppes of thine only Sonne our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST, that by meane of this thy gra∣ce we may see thee with the blessed, thou that art the most high God, who liuest in perfect Trinity, simplicity, and vnity, and as almighty raig∣nest in eternall glory. Amen.

A prayer to the Queene of heauen and to the Angels.

God saue thee, holy Queene, most holy Mary, mother of God, and perpetuall virgin, chosen of God the Father, and of the holy Ghost the comforter; in whome is faith and the entier perfection of all eminent vertue with all good vnited, sith thou hast merited to haue in thee the author of life and grace. God saue thee diuine Pallace: God saue thee the habitation and tabernacle of the Redeemer: God saue thee, thee robe of God: God saue thee, the seruant and mother of God: and God saue thee, with all the Angelicall powers, considering that thou art sent by the holy Ghost into the hartes of rebelles, that of Infidelles thou make faithfull and true seruantes of God. O most worthy mother of our Sa∣uiour IESVS CHRIST, Espouse of the holy Ghost, pray for vs with S. Michael the Archangell, and all the celestiall spirittes, vnto they be∣loued Sonne our lord and master. Amen.

An other prayer to the virgin.

Holy Mary virgin and lady, like vnto whome neuer woman was borne, nor shalbe, in the world, daughter and seruant of the most high king and celestiall Father, most sacred mother of IESVS CHRIST, and Espouse of the holy Ghost, pray for vs, with all the Angels and sainctes, vnto they beloued Sonne, that he will voutsafe to saue vs: Glory be to the Father, vnto the Sonne, and to the blessed holy Ghost, Amen.

Praises vnto God.

Lord God, thou art holy and God of all Goddes, that worckest merueillous thinges, that art the mighty and most high, thou art the omnipotent Father, and entierly soueraigne lord of heauen and earth, God in Trinity and Vnity and sempiternall, soueraigne good, all good, and euery good thing. Lord God liuing and true, thou art true loue and perfect charity, thou art wisdome, humility and patience, thou art the incomprehensible beauty, thou art true pleasure and assured repose, thou art our hope and ioy, thou art iustice, temperance, fortitude and pru∣dence of mortall men: thou art the richesse that can satiate vs: thou art

meeke, thou art our only protectour and our guard, thou art our vertue, faith hope and charity, and the sweetnes and consolation of all; thou art the bounty without end, a great God and admirable, God omnipotent, pittifull, merciful and our Sauiour. Glory be to the Father and to the* 1.2 Sonne &c. The holy Father sainct Francis had a very feruent deuotiō to this versicle Gloria Patri, therfore he often repeated it in his prayers. He respected not so much, Sicut erat. Saying euensong one day with Brother Leo, att euery verse of Magnificat, he said, Gloria Patri, fee∣ling therin a merueillous tast and contentment, yea such as he thought he should neuer be satisfied with saying thereof: he taught a Religious Preist, that was in affliction and extremely tempted, to say, Gloria Patri, which he did, and was incontinently deliuered of his temptation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Apoc. 3.
• * 1.2

  S. Franc. deuout to the versi∣cle Glo∣ria Pat.