The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.

Psalme 72. Another praier for the prosperous estate and flouri∣shing reigne of our right vertuous souereigne Queene Elizabeth.

O GOD, without whose wisedome no kingdome can stand, who of a speciall consideration hast ordeined this kingdome in the familie of Dauid, teach our Queene Elizabeth whome thou hast appointed, the rules of right gouernement: teach I saie, the Daughter of this thy Dauid, whome thou hast chosen to thy selfe, the rule of righteousnesse, that she may iustlie gouerne not hir people, but thine; especiallie that she may defend the poore against the iniuries of the mightie: thus the people being scattered heere and there in the moun∣taines and hilles, being safe vnder a iust gouernment, shall abound with all the commodities of peace.

Grant this vnto hir, that she being far from all ty∣rannie, may be a sure refuge for the poore, that she may comfort the families oppressed with pouertie and in∣iuries, that she may keepe vnder y^e false accusers with most sharpe punishment; so will it come to passe, O Lord, that the state of this kingdome being ordered by thine authoritie, all men, as it is meete, shall acknow∣ledge and feare thee, and not for anie short continu∣ance of time, but that the Sunne and Moone shall soo∣ner ceasse their course, than thou shalt faile to be woor∣shipped.

And thou againe wilt powre downe vpon thy people from heauen all good things, like a showre comming downe vpon the new mowne medowes, and none o∣therwise, than thou vsest to water the earth with sho∣wers in due season, whilest Elizabeth reigneth thus go∣uerned

by thy grace and holie spirit, the iust shall flou∣rish, and great peace shall be so continued, as is the firme course of the starres, and the Queene hir selfe shall haue dominion from the one sea to the other, e∣uen frō Euphrates, to the farthest coasts of the earth.

The inhabitants of the countries of the desert shall come vnder hir yoke, falling downe vnder hir feet, and hir enimies falling downe before hir, shall licke the dust of the earth. The kings of Silicia and of the Ilands shall offer presents vnto hir. The Ethio∣pians also, and the Arabians shall bring hir gifts; fi∣nallie, all Kings shall haue hir in admiration, for hir renowme and vertue, and all nations shall reuerence hir name and maiestie. For hir righteousnesse shall bee praised through out all the whole world, because she heareth the crie of the poore, and doth defend the needie forsaken of other. She hath mercie on them that are needie, and she refresheth those that are in danger of their life. She defendeth the poore against the iniurie of the mightie, neither doth she suffer the violence done vnto them to be vnreuenged.

Therefore thou, O God, wilt keepe hir safe, and gold shall be brought vnto hir out of the midst of Ara∣bia: all men shall make praiers for hir life and safetie, and shall dailie wish all prosperitie vnto hir. And see∣ing the safetie of all the families of our nation consi∣steth in the preseruation of hir Maiestie, let vs harti∣lie (as we haue good cause) praie incessantlie for hir Grace, and for the safetie and welfare of the Church, and of all those that loue and fauour hir therein. De∣fend, O God, with thine owne hand, this woorthie wo∣man and sacred Queene, whose endeuour thou hast v∣sed to restore peace to thy Church, and religion to thy people. O saue this woorthie Princesse Elizabeth, I saie, whome for this purpose thou hast indued with most rare and singular wisedome, power, constancie,

and roiall gifts of grace. And grant that all men may dutifullie honour and obeie hir, as a prince of peace; a mother of Israel; a nurse of thy Church, woorthilie for hir vertues set ouer vs by thee, O God, to reigne. Fi∣nallie grant, that in this gouernement of our pastor & chiefe shepheard, there may want neither integritie, & vprightnesse in taking of counsell, neither wisedome in performing all hir enterprises according to thy will.

Then shall wheate be reaped euerie-where with full handfuls in the verie tops of the mountaines; the corne growing as high as the trees of Libanus: and there shall be such a multitude of inhabitants in the cities, that they may almost seeme like plants spring∣ing out of the earth: yea, then shall hir noble memorie, and roiall fame be for euer, euen durable as the sunne; and our Queene Elizabeth be an example of all pietie and felicitie vnto all kingdoms & nations of the world, which shall accept hir blessed among women. But vn∣to thee, O Lord, the Prince of the celestiall companies, and the author of all things, for so woonderfull & rare gifts in hir Maiestie, shall all possible praise be es∣peciallie giuen: yea, the fame of thy glorie be praised and magnified for euer and euer, and let it fill both heauen and earth. So, euen so let it be, O God,

Amen.