A declaration of the Creede.

WHich is the Rule of beleef?

It is the Symbole of the Apostles, vvhich commonlie vve call the Creede.

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Say the Creede.

I beleeue in God the Father almightie, Creator of heauen and earth.

And in IESVS Christ his onlie Sonne out Lord.

Whoe was conceiued by the holy Ghost, borne of the Virgin Marie.

Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.

Descended into hel; the third day he rose agai­ne from death.

Ascended into heauen, sitteth at the rig hand of God the Father almightie.

From thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead.

I beleeue in the holy Ghost.

The holy Catolique Church, the Com­munion of Saincts.

Remission of sinnes.

Resurrection of the flesh.

Life euerlasting. Amen.

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VVhoe made the Creede?

THe tvvelue Apostles, & therfore there be tvvelue articles.

What doe theese articles containe in summe?

All that, vvhich principallie & expressie vve must beleeue of God, and of the Church his spouse; because the eight first articles per­taine to God, the foure last to the Church.

Declare the first article.

I firmlie beleeue in one onlie God, vvhoe is the natural father of his onlie begotten son­ne, and is also father by grace of all good Christians, vvhoe are therfore called the ad­optiue sonnes of God. finally he is father by creation of all other thinges. And this God is Omnipotent, because he can doe all that he vvill, and hath created of nothing Heauen and Earth, vvith vvathsoeuer is in them, that is the vvhole vniuersal vvoorld.

Declare the second article.

I beleeue also in IESVS Christ, vvho is the onlie begotten Sonne of God the Father, because he vvas begotten of the same father eternallie, and is God eternall, infinite, om­nipotent, Creator, and Lord of vs, and of all things, as is the father.

Declare the third.

I beleeue that IESVS Christ is not onlie true God bud also true man, because he hath ta­ken [Page 24] mans flesh of the im̄aculate Virgin Ma­rie by vertue of the holy Ghost, & so vvas borne in earth of mother vvithout father, as in heauen he vvas borne of father vvithout mother.

Declare the fourth.

I beleeue that IESVS Christ, to redeeme the vvorld vvith his pretious blood, suffe­red vnder Pontius Pilate Gouernour of Iu­rie, being scourged, crovvned vvith thor­nes, and put vppon the Crosse, on the vvich he died, and taken dovvne from the same vvas buried in a nevv Sepulchre.

Declare the fifth.

I beleeue that IESVS Christ, as soone as he vvas dead, vvent vvith his sovvle to the Lim­bo or place of holie Fathers, & the third daie, vvhich vvas the Sundaie, he rose glo­rious & triumphant.

Declare the sixth.

I beleeue that IESVS Christ, after he had fortie daies remayned vvith the holie Apo­stles, to proue vvith manie apparitions his true Resurrection, mounted vp to the hig­hest heauen, & there sitteth aboue all the quires of Angels, at the right hand of the farher, that is, in glorie equall to the father, as Lord and Gouernour of all creatures.

Declare the seuenth.

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I beleeue that the same out Lord, in the end of the vvoorld, shall come from heauē vvith most great povver and glorie, and shall iud­geall men, giuing to euerie one the revvard or punishment that he hath deserued.

Declare the eight.

I beleeue in the holy Ghost, vvho is the third person of the most blessed Trinitie, and proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne, and is in all and euerie thing equall to the Father, and to the Sonne; that is, he is God, Eternall, Infinite, Omnipotent, Crea­tor, and Lord of all things, as the Father and the Sonne.

Declare the ninth.

I beleeue also that there is a Church, vvhich is the Congregation of all faithfull Christi­ans that are baptized, doe beleeue and con­fesse the faith of Christ ourd Lord, and ack­novvledge the high Bishop of Rome for Vicar of the same Christ in earth.

This Church vvhy is it called Holy, and Catholike?

Holy because it hath the head, vvich is Christ, holy; and for that it hath manie holy members, and the Faith, and Lavv, and Sa­craments holy; and it is called Catholike, that is Vniuersall.

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What signifieth the Communion of Saincts?

It signifieth the participation of praiers and good vvoorks, that are done in that Church; euen as in a mans body all the members be partakers of the good of one member.

Declare the tenth.

I beleeue that in the holy Cuurch there is the true remission of sinnes, by meanes of the holy Sacraments, and that in the same, men, of children of the diuel, and condem­ned to death, become the children of God, and heyres of Paradise.

Declare the eleuenth.

I beleeue that in the end of the vvoorld all men shall rise, taking againe the same bo­dies, vvich before they had, and this by the povver of God, to vvhom nothing is impos­sible.

Declare the last.

I beleeue that for good Christians there is life euerlasting full of all felicitie, and free from all sort of euill; as contrarie vvise for infidels, and for euill Christians, there is e­ternall death, replenished vvith all miserie, and void of all good.

What meane you by Amen.

I meane. So is it in truth.

A DECLARATION OF THE Pater Noster, and of the Aue Maria.

HAuing spoken novv of that vvhich vve must beleeue, let vs see yf yovv knovv that vvhich vve must hope for, and of whome vve must haue hope. Knovv you the Pater noster?

I knovv it right vvel, for this is the first thing that I learned, and I say it euerie mor­ning and euening, together vvith the Aue Maria and vvith the Creede.

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Say then the Pater noster.

OVr Father vvhich art in heauen. Halovved be thy name.

Thy kingdome come.

Thy vvill be donne in earth as it is in heauen.

Giue vs this daie our dailie bread.

And forgiue vs our debts, as vve also for­giue our debters.

And leade vs not into tentation.

But deliuer vs from euil, Amen.

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VVhoe made this praier?

CHrist our Sauiour made it, and therfo­re it is the most excellent of all others.

VVhat is brieflie conteined in this praier?

All that we can demaund, and hope for of God. For there be seuen petitions. In the first foure we demaund that he giue vs all good: in the three folovving that he deli­uer vs from all euill. And concerning that which is good, we first demaund the glorie of God. Secondlie our greatest good. Thir­dlie grace to obtaine it. Fourthlie the mea­nes to get and keepe the said grace. Touch­ing that which is euill, we demaund that he deliuer vs first from euil past; secondlie from euil to come; thirdlie from euil pre­sent, and so from all euil.

Declare those vvoords that goe before the first petition, that is, Our father which art in heauen.

This is a little preface, in which is yealded the reason, wherfore we haue couradge to speake vnto so great a Lord, and hope he will graunt our request. We s y then that God is our Father by Creation, and Adop­tion, and therfore as children we haue re­course to him; and we add that he is in heauen as Lord of the vniuersall world. [Page 36] And for this vve knovv that he can graunt our petition, if it so please him, as vve doe hope he vvill, seing that he is our father.

Declare the first petition.

In the first petition, vve demaund that God be knovvē of all the vvorld, and that so his holy name be honoured, & glorified of all, at is becometh.

Declare the second.

We demaund in the second that the king­dome, vvhich he hath promised vs, come speedilie, vvhich is to say, that the battailes ended, vvhich vve haue vvith the diuel, vvith the vvorld, and vvith the flesh, vve may arriue to euerlasting felicitie, vvhere vve shall raigne vvith God vvithout anny impediment.

Declare the third.

We demaund in the third the grace of God, vvith vvhich vve may perfectlie obey his holy commaundements, as the Angels doe alvvaies obey him in heauen. Because the ladder, to mount vp to heauen, is the Obe­dience of his commaundements.

Declare the fourth.

We demaund in the fourth our dailie bread as vvel spirituall, that is the vvoord of God and the Sacraments; as corporall, that is su­stinance and apparel. For the vvoord of [Page 37] God preached vnto vs by preachers, and read by vs in spirituall bookes, & the holy Sacra­ments, chieflie of Confession and Commu­nion, at most efficatious meanes of their part (that is, yf vve our selues be not in fault) to obtaine and conserue the grace of God, of vvhich vve haue spoken in the former petition. Sustinance & apparel is necessarie for vs, to maintaine this life in the seruice of God.

Declare the fifth.

We demaund in the fifth that God deliuer vs from euils past, that is from sinnes alrea­die committed, remitting vs the debt of the fault, and of the paine, vvhich for them vve haue incurred. And vve add, As vve forgiue our debters their debts, that is, as vve pardon the offenses of our enemies: for that it is not a reasonable thing, that God forgiue vs our sinnes, vvhich ar most great offenses, yf vve vvil not pardon the injuries donne vnto vs, vvhich ar offenses of small importan­ce.

Declare the sixth.

We demaund in the sixth, that God deliuer vs from tentations vvhich ar euils to come, or not permitting vs to be tented, or giuing vs grace that vve be not ouercome.

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Declare the seuenth.

We demaund in the seuenth that God de­liuer vs from euil present, that is from al affliction and miserie and also from all vail ne prosperitie and temporall aduance­ment, yf he see that it be hurtfull to our sovvles sal­uation.

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Say novv the Aue Maria.

[figure]

Haile MARIE full of grace; Our Lord is vvith thee; blessed art thou amongst vvomen, And blessed is the fruite of thy vvombe IE­SVS.

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Holy MARIE mother of God pray for vs

[figure]

sinners, novv, and in the hovver of our death. Amen.

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Of vvhome be theese vvoords?

They be partlie of the Archangel Gabriel partlie of S. Elizabeth, and partlie of th Church.

Tho vvhat effect doe yovv say the Aue Ma­rie, afther the Pater noster.

Tho the end that by the intercession of the most blessed Virgin, I may more easilie ob­taine that vvhich I demaund of God, beacu­se shee is the Aduocatrice of sinners, full of mercie, and vvithall is in heauen aboue all the quires of Angels, and most acceptable to God.

Haue not yovv recourse for help also to other Saincts?

I haue recourse to all the Saincts, and in par­ticular to the Sainct of my name, and to my Angel guardian.

OF THE COMMAVNDE­ments of God.

LEt vs come novv to that, vvhich vve must doe to loue God and our neighbour, and say yovv the ten Commaundements.

I am the Lord thy God.

Thou shalt not haue any other God be­fore me.

Thou shalt not take the name of God in vaine.

Remember that thou sanctifie the festes.

Honour thy father and mother.

Thou shalt not murder.

Thou shalt not committ adulterie.

Thou shalt not steale.

Thou shalt not beare false vvitnesse.

Thou shalt not desire thy neigbours vvife.

Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours goods.

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VVhoe hath giuen theese commaun­dements?

GOd him-self in the old lavve, and after­vvards Christ our Lord hath confirmed them in the nevv lavve.

VVhat doe theese commaundements conteine in breefe?

All that vvhich vve must doe to loue God & our neighbour. Because the first three com­maundements teache vs hovv vve ought to behaue our selues tovvards God, vvith hart, vvith mouth, & vvith vvoorcks. The other feuē doe learne vs to doe good to our neigh­bour, and not to hurt him in his person, in his honour, in his goods, neither in deedes, nor in vvoords, nor in thought. And so the end of all the cōmaundements, is the com­maundement of Charitie, vvhich doth cō ­maund vs loue God aboue all things, and our neighbour as our selues.

Declare the first commandement.

In the beginning God doth admonish vs, that he is our true and supreame Lord, and therfore vve are obliged to obey him vvith all diligence. Next he cōmaundeth vs, that vve must not acknovvlegde any other for God; vvherin the Infidels doe sinne, vvho vvoorship the creatures in steede of the crea­tor; and also vvitches and Inchanters, vvho take the diuel for their God.

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Declare the second commaundement.

The second cōmaundement forbiddeth bla­sphemies, vvhich are most grieuous sinnes; false, or not necessarie oathes; breaking of vovves; and all other dishonour that is don­ne to God vvith vvoords.

Declare the third.

The third doth cōmaund the keeping of feastes, vvhich doth consist in abstaining from seruile vvoorcks, so to haue time to oc­cupie our selues in considering the benefits of God, visiting the Churchs, praying, rea­ding spirituall bookes, hearing diuine serui­ce & sermons, & dooing such other like spi­rituall and holy vvoorcks.

Declare the fourth.

The fourth ordaineth, that vve honour our father & mother, not onlie vvith reuerence of vvoords, of vncouering our head to thē; but also vvith helping and fauouring them in their necessities. And that vvhich vve say of father and mother, vve ought also to ob­serue tovvards other our neighbours, altho­ugh there be not so great obligation as to fa­ther and mother, vvho haue giuen vs our being, and haue brought vs vp vvith their great paine.

Declare the fifth.

In the fifth it is cōmaunded, that vve kill no [Page 54] boddie vniustlie, nor doe them other harme in their person: & I say vniustlie, because Iudges vvho condemne malefactours to de­ath, and the ministres of Iustice, vvho put them to death, as also souldiars in iust vvar­re, doe not sinne vvhilest they vvound and kill.

Declare the sixth.

The sixth cōmaundeth that vve cōmit not adulterie, that is sinne vvith the vvife of o­ther men: and it is also vnderstoode that vve commit not fornication, nor anie other car­nall sinne.

Declare the seuenth.

The seuenth cōmaundeth, that no man ta­ke avvay the goods of others secreatlie, vvhich is called Theft; nor manifestlie, vvhich is called Robberie; not cōmit annie deceite in selling, bying, and like contracts; and finallie doe no harme to his neighbour in his goods.

Declare the eigth.

In the eigth is forbidden false vvitnesse, mur­muring, detracting, flattering, lying, and all other hurt vvhich is donne to our neigh­bour vvith the tongue.

Declare the tvvo last.

God cōmaundeth in the thvvo last precepts, that none desire the vvife, nor goods of o­thers; [Page 55] because he that seeeth our hearts, vvill haue vs holy & cleane, not onlie outvvardlie, but also invvardlie, that so vve may be en­tierlie and trulie iust.

Of the Commaundements of the Church, and of Counsels.

ADd to the Commaundements of God, those fevve vvhich the Church hath added

The Commaundments of the holy Church are six,

Tho heare masse vppon all the Sundaies, & Holie daies of commaundement.

To fast Lent, Vigills commaunded, & Ember­daies, & not to eat flesh on fridaies & Sat­turdaies.

To confesse, at the lest, once a yeare.

To receaue, at the lest, at Easter.

To paye tithes.

Not to celebrate marriage in time forbidden that is from the first Sundaie of Aduēt vntill Tvvelfday, & from the first day of Lent to Lovv-sundaie inclusiue.

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Besides the Commaundments, vvhich vve all are bound to keepe, be there annie Counsels of Perfection?

There be three Counsels, by our Sauiour Christ giuen to thoase that desire to attai­ne to perfection.

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VVhich be theese Counsels?

Voluntarie Pouertie.

Perpetuall Chastitie.

Obedience in euerie thing that is not sinne.

OF THE SACRA­ments.

We haue alreddie treated of all that which vve must beleeue, hope for, & dooe; it remaineth that vve speake of the holie Sacraments, by vvhose meanes vve obtai­ne the grace of God. Say therfore, hovv manie be the Sacraments?

They be seuen.

Baptisme.

Confirmation.

Eucharist.

Penance.

Extreme Vnction.

Ordre.

Matrimonie.

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VVhoe ordained them?

Christ IESVS our Lord.

What effect doth Baptisme vvorck?

It maketh a man become the child of God and heire of Paradise: it blotteth out all sin­nes, and filleth the soule with grace and spirituall gifts.

What effect doth Confirmation or Chrisme vvoorck?

It fortifieth a man that he be not afraid to confesse the faith of Christ our Lord, and so it maketh vs become the true souldiars of our Sauiour.

What effect vvoorcketh the Eucharist?

It nourrisheth Charitie, vvhich is the life of the sovvle, & doth dailie increase it more. And therfore it is giuen vnder the forme of bread; though trulie it be not bread, but the true bodie of our Lord: as likevvise that vvhich is in the chalice, is not vvine, albeit it seeme vvine, but it is the true bloud of the same Christ our Lord vnder the forme of vvine.

What effect vvorcketh Penance?

It forgiueth sinnes committed after Baptis­me, & bringeth againe to the frendship of God him, who thorough sinne vvas becō ­me his enemie.

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VVhat must vve doe to receaue this Sacrament?

We must first haue sorovve for ovvne sin­nes, with purpose neuer more to commit them. Then vve must confesse them all to a Priest approued by Superiors; and finallie vve must doe the penance that is inioyned vs by the Priest.

What effect doth Extreme Vnction vvoorck?

It blotteth out the reliques of sinnes; giueth ioye and strength to the sovvle, to fight a­gainst the diuell in the last hovver; and also helpeth to recouer bodilie health, if it be so expedient for the saluation of the sovvle.

What effect vvoorcketh the Sacrament of Order?

It giueth vertue and grace to Priests and other ministers of the Church, to be able to doe vvell their duties.

VVhat effect vvorcketh the Sacrament of Matrimonie?

It giueth vertue and grace to those that be lavvfullie ioined together, to liue in matri­monie vvith peace and charitie, and to be­gett, and bring vp their children in the holy feare of God, to the end they may haue ioy in this life and in the other.

Of Theologicall and Cardinall ver­tues.

WE haue novv ended the foure principall parts of the Christian Doctrine vvhich be the Creede, the Pater noster, the Com­maundemēts, and the Sacraments. I vvill novv that vve talk of Vertues and Vices, of some other things vvhich doe help vs much to liue conformablie to the vvill of God. Tell me therfore, Hovv manie be the principall Vertues?

They be seuen; Three Theologicall, and foure Cardinall.

VVhich be the Theologicall?

Faith, Hope, and Charitie.

VVerfore be they called Theologicall?

Because this vvoord Theologicall signifieth a thing, that regardeth or appertaineth to God.

Hovv doth faith then appertaine to God?

Because it maketh vs beleeue all that, vvhich God hath reueiled to the holy Church.

VVherfore doth Hope pertaine to God?

Because it maketh vs put our trust in God, and hope eternall life of him, by meanes of our merites, vvhich yet doe proceede from his grace.

VVhy doth Charitie pertaine to God?

Because it maketh vs loue God aboue all-things [Page 76] things, and our neighbour as our selues, for the loue of God.

Which be the Cardinall vertues?

Prudence, Iustice, Fortitude and Temperāce.

Why be they called Cardinall?

Because they be principall, and as it vvere the fountaines of Good vvoorcks.

Declare vnto me the office of theese vertues?

Prudence maketh vs considerate & vvarie in euerie thing, to the end vve our selues be not deceiued, nor deceiue others. Iustice maketh vs render vnto others, that vvhich is theires. Temperance maketh vs bridle our disordinate desires. Fortitude maketh that vve feare not annie daunger, no nor de­ath it selfe for Gods seruice.

Of the gifts of holy Ghost.

HOvv manie be the gifts of the holy Ghost?

They be seuen.

• 1. Wisdome.
• 2. Vnderstanding.
• 3. Counsaile.
• 4. Fortitude.
• 5. Knovvlegde.
• [Page 77]6. Pietie.
• 7. Feare of God.

VVhereto doe theese gifts serue.

They serue for the help of vertues, & to ma­ke vs perfect in the vvay of God, because through feare vve absteine from sinnes: through Pietie vve are devoure & obediēt to God; through Knovvledge vve are taught to vnderstand the vvill of God; through For­titude vve are holpen to put the same in exe­cution; through Counsaile vve are admonis­hed of the deceits of the diuell; through vnderstanding vve are eleuated to penetrate the mysteries of faith; through VVisdome vve become perfect ordaining all our life, & all our vvoorks to the glorie of God, because the vviseman doth knovv the last end, & the­reunto doth direct euerie thing.

Of the vvoorks of mercie.

HOvv many be the vvoorks of mercy of vvhich vve shalbe demaunded account in particular at the day of iudgment?

They be seuen.

To giue to eate to the hungrie.

To giue to trincke to the Thirstie.

To cloth the naked.

To harbour pilgrimes.

To visit the sicke.

To visit the imprisoned.

To burie the dead.

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Theese be corporall woorks of mercie: be there anie others spirituall?

There be other seuen that is. I.

1. To giue counsaile to the dout full.

To instruct the ignorant.

To admonish sinners.

To comfort the afflicted.

To pardon offences.

To patientlie support those that be troublesome.

To pray God for the quicke and dead.

Of Sinnes.

TO come novv to Sinnes, hovv manie sorts be there of them?

Two, Original and Actual, which is after­wards diuided into Mortal and Venial.

What is Originall sinne?

It is that with which we at all borne, and we haue it as it were by heritage from our first Father Adam.

Hovv is this sinne blotted out?

VVith holie Baptisme. And therfore he that dieth without Baptisme goeth to Limbus, and is depriued for euer from the glorie of Heauen.

VVhat is Mortall sinne?

It is that Which we commit against the cha­ritie of God, or of our neighbour. And it is called mortall, because it depriueth the so­wle of her spirituall life, which is the gra­ce of God.

Hovv is this sinne forgiuen vs?

VVith holie Baptisme, when a man is bap­tized in age to haue committed sinne actual­lie; or vvith the Sacramento of Penance as [Page 93] hath ben said before. And vvho dieth in mortall sinne, goeth to the euerlasting paines of hell.

VVhich is Ʋeniall sinne?

It is that vvhich is not against Charitie, and depriueth not the sovvle of grace, nor sen­deth it to the paines of hell: but neuerthe­les it displeaseth God, because it is not con̄ ­formable to his vvill, and it diminisheth the feruour of charitie, And therfore it is need­full to purge it in this vvoorld, or in purga­torie, vvhich is in the other life.

Hovv many be the Capitall sinnes & as it vvere fountaines of all sinnes?

They be seuen, and to euerie one is opposi­te a contrarie vertue.

Pride, to which is contrarie Humilitie.

Couetousnes, to vvhich is contrarie Liberalitie.

Lecherie, to vvhich is opposite Chastitie.

Angre, to vvhich it opposite Patience.

Gloutonie, to vvhich is opposite Ab­stinence.

Enuie, to vvhich is opposite brotherlie loue.

Slouth, to vvhich is opposite Diligence.

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How manie be the sinnes against the holie Ghost?

They be six.

Despaire of Saluation.

Presumption to be saued vvithout merites.

To impugne the knovven truth.

Enuie at an other mans grace.

Obstination in sinne.

Finall impenitence.

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Hovv manie be the sinnes that crie vengeance in the sight of God?

They be foure.

VVillfull murder.

Carnall sinne against nature.

Oppression of the poore.

To defraude woorkmen of their vvages.

Of the foure last things, and of the Rosarie.

HOw mannie be the last things of man which the Scripture calleth last, which being well considered doe make vt ab­staine from sinne?

Foure.

Death.

Iudgment.

Hell.

Heauen.

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VVhat exercise haue you to main­taine deuotion?

I saie the Rosarie of our Ladie, and doe me­ditate the fifteene mysteries of the same, in vvhich is contained the life of our Lord Ie­sus Christ.

VVhich be the fifteene Mysteries of the Rosarie?

There be fiue loifull. 1. The Annuntiation of the Angel. 2. The Visitation of S. Eliza­beth. 3. The Natiuitie of our Lord. 4. The Presentation in the Temple. 5. The dispu­ting of the child IESVS with the Doctors.

Other fiue be sorowfull

1. The praier in the garden. 2. The whip­ping at the pillar. 3. The crowning with thornes 4. The carying of the Crosse. 5. The crucifying and death of our Sauiour.

The last fiue be glorious.

1. The Resurrection of our Lord. 2. His As­cension. 3. The cōming of the holy Ghost. 4. The Assumption of our Ladie. 5. The coronation and exaltation of her aboue all the quites of Angels.