A PRAYER FOR THE PROSPEROVS PROCEEDINGS AND GOOD successe of the Earle of Essex and his companies, in their present expedition in Ireland against Tyrone and his adherents, Rebels there.
Fit to be vsed of all loyall subiects, aswell in that Countrie, as in England.
By Iohn Norden.
Imprinted at London by Edward Allde. 1599.
A motiue to the prayer.
GOd the high guide of all godly attempts, & the beholder of all the deuises of man, requireth of all men obedience to his will, & prayer for his ayde, without which, mans endeuours are but as seed sowen on the sand, and as a foundation laid vpon the waters. And therfore such as vndertake so high & weightie a businesse as the businesse of warre, must found it on the feare of God & wade in it vnder his power in prayer for his presence and ayde. For so did Hezekiah against the king of Ashur, 2. King. 19. and preuailed, and Jehosophat beeing endaungered with enemies, 2. Cron. 18. 31. prayed and was preserued. God no doubt is so well pleased with this exercise of prayer, zealously and faithfully performed, as hee is wonne so to regard the causes of his children, that although they haue deserued the foyle by their sinnes, hee will yet giue them the victorie in his mercies. The Israelites preuailed while Moyses praied, and fell before the enemie when he was mute. In many places it appeareth how needfull a thing prayer is, not onely of them that are in the daunger of the battell, but of such also as are secure at home in their houses, who if they neglect the cause of God and their countrie, God will holde them not onely vnprofitable droanes, but reprobates: and will giue them the dregges of their neighbours daungers to drinke, and will not affoord them the least shelter of his defending power in their deepest perils. For if he in generall termes commaund vs to pray at all times one for another: as Jam. 5. 16. much more in the time of daunger and warre, especially for the cause of Gods annoynted, and state of our countrie, 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2. Let no man therefore thinke that it conscerneth not him to praye for the good of such as the Prince hath appoynted, for the restauration of the peace of Gods Church, and quiet of our Realme, by the suppressing of the violence, and quenching of the furie of that bloudie Tyrone, and his rebellious adherents in Ireland: for God is a iealous God, and holdeth no man guiltlesse that maketh no conscience of his brothers daungers. And such is the regard which hee hath of his owne glorie and his [Page] prouidence for the preseruation of his children, that hee will not admit any attempt, bee it in our owne eyes neuer so lawfull, to bee taken in hande without him, without whome all things and meanes are vaine. Our owne power, and prouidence, and counsell, and multitudes of men, and munition, and money, and what else soeuer wee vse for defending our selues, or offending the enemie, are all as cloudes in the ayre of our owne vaine conceites, that will vanish with the winde of his displeasure, without any deawe of good successe to comfort our countrie. To pray for them that fight for vs, is the least dutie, and an easie seruice: yet it preuaileth much if it be feruent. And if we seeme colde in that, wherin can we be zealous for our countrie? if carelesse of it, how can we say we loue our owne liues, libertie, lands, wiues, or children? when all these are subiect also to suddaine subuertion, without God that preserueth them vnto vs, & vs in himselfe. Therefore as God hath his eye of mercy fixed on his destressed people, to deliuer them, and his eye of iudgement vpon the rebellious to confound them: So let euery man make this generall cause his owne priuate case. And for the preuenting of future perill, beare a part with them that in our behalfes are employed in this seruice abroad: let vs pray for them at home, while they encounter the enemie abroad: Let vs I say, pray for them, that God will prosper them, and that we may prosper by their blessed successe.
The Prayer.
OH Father full of power King of all Maiestie & glory, the absolute worker of all things euen as thou wilt; Be pleased in mercie to bee present with thy seruantes, whome thou hast appoynted to goe forth against the enemies of the peace of thy childrē in the Realme of Ireland. And as thou art a continuall most diligent beholder of all the actons of men good and euill, shewing thy selfe a patient God, euen towards thine enemies, suffering them to fill vp a great measure of outrage, violence, and bloud, before thou take vp the sword of reuenge against them: and yet at the length, when in their owne conceites they seeme most strong, and not to be vanquished, euen then thou liftest vp thy deuouring sword, and consumest them. So deare father be thou pleased to be a guide, a guard and a buckler vnto thy seruant, whom thou hast chosen to go against that bloudie enemy Tyrone, who thirsting for and shedding the bloud, of many of thy people, endeuoureth all rebellions mischiefes, to cast off the yoake of obedience both to thy word, and to shine annoynted, to the great perill of thy Church, which by his outragious wickednesse, standeth in daunger of greater troubles, which violence of his (good father) and the daungers by him and his adherents complotted, cannot be stopped or preuented by man without thee.
[Page] Sée therefore and beholde their mallice, and let thy powre weaken their powre, who else will boast themselues against thée,and saye their owne powre hath gotten themselues the victorie, and that by their owne pollicies, they are become Lordes of thine heritage. Oh take part therefore with thy seruants, and suppresse these rebels: then shall thy praise be encreased, thy mercie and powre shall be séene, and thy name shall be for euer glorified. And though (deare father) our sinnes doe make vs vnworthie of this great benefit, yet for thine owne names sake deale mercifullie, in giuing good successe vnto their procéedings, that in thy name haue vndertaken this worke of reducing that Realme to Christian obedience. And the more the enemie séemeth to swell eyther in furie or pride: weaken him so much the more oh Lorde, and giue him sorrowe for his vaine hope. Let nothing that he taketh in hand against thy people preuaile, but let it appeare by his fall, how thou laughest his vaine attempts to scorne. And let him know good father, that he striueth against thée and against thine appointed in vaine. Manifest thine anger against his deuises, by frustrating his desires. Breake his enterprises, and bring his inuentions as coales enkindled vpon his owne pate. Let him eyther trulie conuert, or be suddainly confounded. And déere Father, be vnto that thy seruant the Earle of Essex, and his associates, as thou wast vnto Moyses, Iosuah, Gedion, Dauid, and the rest that haue fought vnder thy protection. Be vnto him and his companies a Father to comfort them, a Captaine to conduct them, and their God to preserue them. Let their armies marche vnder the shelter of thy wings, make strong their armes to the battell, and teach their fingers to fight. Frame their hearts to feare thee, and not to faint at their enemies power, giue them thy light to follow thée, and let them euer be preserued by thée, let nothing necessarie be wanting vnto them, but blesse them in all things. Giue them wisdome from aboue, wherein they may vse and dispose thy meanes in their seruice rightly. And in an absolute [Page] godly desire, to bring their cause to a prosperous end. Moreouer most mercifull Father, blesse the shipping, which are imployed in this action, and all other tending to the good of thy church, make their Gouernours prudent and valiant, the windes prosperous, and the successe to thy glorie: That we thy children, tasting the swéet benefit of peace, both there and héere at home, may giue glorie vnto thy name, and in more godly zeale studie to serue thée in our callings, and endeuour more effectually to plant thy sacred word in those parts, to the encrease of thy Church, and comfort of all the members of the same. Amen.
O Lord increase our faith.