A Perfect Pathway to Felicity, Prayers 1 – Calendrical note
Certaine Graces to bee saide before and after meat.
O Lord our God wee giuegive thee most heartie thanks for all thy benefits which thou in merciemercy hast vouchedsafe to bestow vponupon vsus, and namely (O Lorde) for these thy creatures which at this present we shall receiue of thy bounteous liberalitie, beseeching thee to giuegive vsus grace to vse them both at this and all other times, to thy honour and glorie, and to the refreshing of our hungrie bodies, that therby we may be made more apt to doe those things which thou hast commaunded vsus in thy holy word. Grant this O Lord for Iesus christ his sake our onelyonly Sauiour.
Amen.
Thankesgiuing a…ter meate.
WE yeelde thee heartie thanks, O most mercifull father for all thy benefites most liberally bestowed vponupon vsus, and especially at this time, for feeding vsus so plentifully, and graunt (good father) that wee neuer abuse them, but that wee may alwayes vse them in such sort as we neuer offende thy maiestie therby. Grant this, O father, for Iesu Christs sake.
Another prayer before meate.
O Gracious GOD, vouchsafe to looke vppon our weakenesse and want, and giuegive vsus at this time those things which may be to our comfort, sanctifie these thy gifts, that our bodies beeing replenished, we may be thankefull, and enioy at thy mercifull handes, the bread of eternall life, to the releefe of our poore soules; through Iesus Christ.
An other praier after meate.
WE thank thee, most bountiful Lord, for this thy fatherly feeding our hūgry bodies, so likewise wee beseech thee feede our hungrie soules with the breade of eternall life, yt after this life is ended, wee may ascend where christ Iesus our onelyonly redeemer is gone before.
Amen.
A praier before meate.
AL things depend vppon thy prouidence (oh Lord) to receiue at thy gracious handes due sustenance for the maintenance of their needy bodies, thou giuest it them, and they gather it, thou openest thy hande, and they are satisfied with all good things, O heauenly father, which art the verie fountaine of al goodnesse, we beseech thee to shew thy mercies vponupon vsus thy children, and sanctifie these giftes which wee receyue of thy merciful liberality.
Amen.
A thankesgiuing after meate.
O Lord God, which of thy great bountie and fatherly kindnesse, hast at this time most plentifully fedde our weake bodies, giuegive vsus grace continuallie to bee thankefull vntounto thy Maiestie, for these and all other thy benefites most aboundantly at all times bestowed vponupon vsus, thorow Iesus Christ our Lorde.
Amen.
A note to knowe the beginning and ending of the foure Tearmes of the yeare.
HIllarie Tearme beginneth the three & twentie of Ianuarie, (which if it be Sunday) then the next day following, and endeth the twelft of Februarie.
Easter Tearme beginneth seuentene dayes after Easter, and endeth foure dayes after Ascension day.
Trinitie Terme beginneth ye next day after Corpus Christi day, and endeth the wednesday fortnight after.
Michaelmasse Tearme beginneth the ninth of October (if if be not Sunday) and endeth the eight and twentie of Nouember.
The Queenes Maiesties Iudges neither sit in Westminster hall, nor heare anie matters pleaded in these dayes following. Namely, on the Ascension, Saint Iohn Baptist, All Saints, the Purification of Marie, nor the Sabboth dayes.
Note also that the Eschequer openeth eight dayes before any Terme begin, except Trinitie Terme, in which it openeth but foure dayes before.