ALMIGHTIE God, whiche by thy sonne Jesus Christe haste geven to thy Apostle saincte Peter many excellente giftes, and commaundeste him earnestly to feede thy fiocke; make, wee beseche thee, all bishops and pastors diligently to preache thy holy woorde and the people obediently to folowe the same, that they maye receive the croune of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

June 29

Lessons for Matins & Evensong, 1549 only.

AT the same tyme Herode the kynge stretched furthe his handes to vexe certaine of the congregacion. And he kylled James the brother of John wyth the sworde. And because he sawe that it pleased the Jewes, he proceded farther and tooke Peter also. Then were the dayes of swete [=unleavened] breade. And when he had caught him, he put him in prison also, and delivered hym to foure quaternions [=squads] of souldiers to be kept, entending after Easter [=Passover] to bring him furth to the people. And Peter was kepte in prison; but prayer was made without ceassyng, of the congregacion unto God for him. And when Herode would have brought him out unto the people, the same night slept Peter betwene two souldiers bound with two chaynes; And the kepers before the doore, kept the prison. And beholde, the angel of the Lord was there present, and a light shyned in the habitacion. And he smote Peter on the syde, and stiered him up, saying; arise up quickly. And his chaynes fell of from his handes. And the angel sayd unto hym, gyrde thyselfe, and binde on thy sandales. And so he did. And he sayth unto hym: cast thy garment about thee, and folowe me. And he came out, and folowed him, and wyst [=knew] not that it was truth whiche was done by the angel, but thought he had seen a vision. When they were past the first and the second watche, they came unto the yron gate, that leadeth unto the citie, whiche opened to them by the owne accorde. And they went out, and passed thorough one strete, and furthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himselfe, he sayd; nowe I knowe of a suertie that the Lord hath sent his angell, and hath delivered me out of the hande of Herode, and from all the waityng for of the people of the Jewes.
 

[Acts 12:1-11]

The Second Lesson, Act iiii unto the ende.

[Matthew 16:13-19]

MERCYFUL father, geve us grace, that we never presume to synne thorough the example of any creature; but if it shall chaunce us at any tyme to offende thy divine maiestie; that then we may truely repent, and lament the same, after the example of Mary Magdalene, and by lyvely fayth obtaine remission of all our sinnes; through the only merites of thy sonne our saviour Christ.
 

July 22;
Appears in 1549 Book only.

WHOSOEVER findeth an honest faithful woman, she is muche more worth then perles. The heart of her husband may safely trust in her, so that he shall fall in no povertie. She will do hym good and not evill, all the dayes of her lyfe. She occupieth woll and flaxe, and laboureth gladly with her handes. She is lyke a marchauntes ship that bringeth her vitayles [=food] from afarre. She is up in the night season to provide meate for her houshold, and fode for her maydens. She considereth land and byeth it, and with the fruites of her handes she planteth a vyneyarde. She girdeth her loynes with strength, and courageth her armes. And yf she perceyve that her huswifery doeth good, her candle goth not out by night. She layeth her fyngers to the spindle; and her hand taketh holde of the distaffe. She openeth her hande to the poore, yea she stretcheth furth her handes to suche as have nede. She feareth not that the colde of wynter shall hurt her house, for all her houshold folkes are clothed with skarlet. She maketh herselfe fayre ornamentes, her clothing is white silke and purple. Her husband is muche set by in the gates, when he sytteth among the rulers of the land. She maketh clothe of silke, and selleth it, and delivereth gyrdles unto the marchaunt. Strength and honour is her clothyng, and in the latter day she shall rejoyce. She openeth her mouth with wisdome and in her tongue is the lawe of grace. She loketh well to the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not her bread with idlenes. Her children shall aryse, and call her blessed; and her husband shal make muche of her. Many daughters there be that gather riches together; but thou goest above them all. As for favour it is deceiptful, and beutie is a vayne thyng: but a woman that feareth the Lorde, she is worthy to bee praised. Geve her of the fruite of her handes, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
 

[Proverbs 31:10-31]

AND one of the Phariseis desyred Jesus that he would eate with him. And he went into the Phariseis house, and sate doune to meate. And behold, a woman in that citie (which was a synner,) as sone as she knew that Jesus sate at meate in the Phariseis house, she brought an Alabaster boxe of oyntment, and stode at his fete behynde hym wepyng, and began to washe his fete with teares, and did wipe them with the heares of her head, and kyssed his fete, and anoynted them with the oyntment. When the Pharisee (which had bydden hym) sawe that, he spake within hymselfe, saying; if this man were a prophet, he would surely know who and what maner of woman this is that touched hym, for she is a synner. Jesus answered and sayd unto him; Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he sayd; Maister, say on. There was a certaine lender whiche had two debters, the one ought [owed] hym five hundreth pence, and the other fiftie. When they had nothing to pay, he forguave them both. Tel me therfore, whiche of them will love him most? Simon answered and sayd; I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he sayd unto hym; thou hast truely judged. And he turned to the woman, and sayd unto Symon; Seest thou this woman? I entred into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my fete: but she hath washed my feete with teares, and wyped them with the heeres of her head. Thou gavest me no kysse: but she sence the tyme I came in, hath not ceased to kysse my feete. My head with oyle thou diddest not anoynt, but she hath anoynted my fete with oyntment. Wherfore I say unto thee, many synnes are forgeven her; for she loved muche. To whom lesse is forgeven, the same doth lesse love. And he sayd unto her; thy synnnes are forgeven thee. And they that sate at meate with him, began to saye within themselves. Who is this whiche forgeveth synnes also? And he sayd to the woman. Thy fayth hath saved thee; go in peace.

[Luke 7:36-50]

GRAUNT, O mercifull God, that as thyne holy apostle Saint* James, leavyng his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy sonne Jesus Christ, and folowed hym; So we, forsakyng all worldly and carnal affeccions, may be evermore ready to folowe thy commaundementes; thorough Jesus Christ our lorde. Amen.*
 

July 25

IN those daies came prophetes from the citie of Jerusalem unto Antioche. And there stode up one of them, named Agabus, and signified by the spirite, that there shoulde be great derth [=famine] thoroughout all the world, whiche came to passe in the Emperour Claudius daies. Then the disciples, every man accordyng to his habilitie, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jury [=Judea], which thing they also dyd, and sent it to the elders, by the handes of Barnabas and Saul. At the same tyme Herode the kyng stretched furth his handes to vexe certain of the congregacion. And he kylled James the brother of John with the sworde. And because he sawe that it pleased the Jewes, he proceded farther and toke Peter also.
 

[Acts 11:27-12:3]

THEN came to him the mother of Zebedes children, with her sonnes, worshippyng hym, and desyryng a certain thing of hym. And he sayd unto her; what wilt thou? She sayd unto him; Graunt that these my two sonnes may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy lefte, in thy kingedome. But Jesus answered and sayd; ye wot [=know] not what ye aske. Are ye able to drynke of the cup that I shall drynke of, and to bee baptised with the baptisme, that I am baptised with? They sayde unto hym, we are: He sayde unto them; ye shal drynke in deede of my cuppe, and be baptized with the baptisme that I am baptised with: but to syt on my right hand and on my left, is not myne to geve; but it shall chaunce unto them that it is prepared for of my father. And when the ten heard this, they disdayned at the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto hym, and sayde: ye knowe that the princes of the nacions have dominion over them, and they that are greate menne, exercise authoritie upon them. It shall not be so amonge you. But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, and whosoever wilbe chiefe amonge you, let hym be your servaunte. Even as the sonne of man came not to bee ministred unto, but to minister, and to geve his life a redempcion for many.

[Matthew 20:20-28]

Non nobis, Domine. Psalm cxv.

NOT unto us, (O Lorde) not unto us, but unto thy name geve the praise : for thy lovyng mercy, and for thy truthes sake.
    Wherefore shall the heathen say : Where is nowe their God?
    As for our God he is in heaven : he hath done whatsoever pleased him.
    Their Idoles are sylver and gold : even the woorke of mens handes.
    They have mouthes, and speake not : eyes have they and see not.
    They have eares, and heare not : noses have they, and smel not.
    They have handes, and handle not : feete have they, and walke not, neither speake they thorough their throte.
    They that make them are lyke unto them: and so are all suche as put their trust in them.
    But the house of Israel, trust thou in the Lorde : he is their succour and defence.
    Ye house of Aaron put your trust in the Lorde : he is their helper and defender.
    Ye that feare the Lorde, truste ye in the Lorde : he is their helper and defender.
    The lorde hath been myndefull of us, and he shall blesse us : even he shall blesse the house of Israell, he shall blesse the house of Aaron.
    He shall blesse them that feare the Lorde : both small and great.
    The Lorde shall increace you more and more : you and your children.
    Ye are the blessed of the Lorde : whiche made heaven and yearth.
    All the whole heavens are the lordes : the yerthe hath he geven unto the children of men.
    The dead prayse not thee (O lorde) : neither all they that go doune into the silence.
    But we will prayse the Lorde : from this tyme furth for evermore.
    Glory be to the father, and to the sonne, &c.
    As it was in the beginnyng, &c. Amen.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTIE and everlastyng God, whiche haste geven grace to thy* apostle Bartholomewe truly to beleve and to preache thy worde; graunt, we beseche thee, unto thy Churche, both to love that he beleved, and to preache that he taught; thorough Christ our Lorde.
 

August 24
* added 1559.

BY the handes of the Apostles were many signes and wonders shewed among the people. And they were altogether with one accorde in Salomous [Solomon's] porch. And of other durste no man joyne himselfe to them: nevertheles the people magnified them. The nombre of them that beleved in the Lord, both of men and women, grewe more and more: insomuche that they brought the sicke into the stretes, and layde them on beddes and couches, that at the leaste waye the shadowe of Peter, when he came by, might shadowe some of them, [(and that they might all be delivered from their infirmities.)]* There came also a multitude out of the cities rounde about unto Jerusalem, bringing sicke folkes, and them which were vexed with uncleane spirites. And they were healed every one.
 

[Acts 5:12-16]

* 1549 only.

AND there was a strife among them, which of them should seme to be the greatest. And he sayd unto them; the kinges of nacions reigne over them; and they that have authoritie upon them are called gracious Lordes: But ye shall not be so. But he that is greatest among you, shalbe as the yonger; and he that is chiefe, shalbe as he that doth minister. For whether is greater he that sytteth at meate, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meate? But I among you, as he that ministreth. Ye are they, which have bidden with me in my temptacions. And I appoynt unto you a kyngdome, as my father hath appointed to me, that ye may eate and drynke at my table in my kingdome, and sytte on seates judging the xii tribes of Israel.

[Luke 22:24-30]

ALMIGHTIE God, whiche by thy blessed sonne dyddest call Mathewe from the receipte of custome [=tax office] to be an Apostle and Evangelist; Graunt us grace to forsake all covetous desires, and inordinate love of riches, and to folowe thy sayed sonne Jesus Christ; who lyveth and reigneth, &c.
 

Sept. 21
* added 1559.

SEYNG that we have suche an office, even as God hath had mercye on us, we go not out of kynde [i. e., do not swerve], but have cast from us the clokes of unhonestye, and walke not in craftines, neither handle we the worde of God deceiptfully, but open the trueth, and reporte ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. If our gospel be yet hid, it is hid among them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the mindes of them whiche beleve not, leste the light of the gospell of the glory of Christe (whiche is the image of God) should shyne unto them. For we preache not ourselves, but Christe Jesus to be the Lorde, and oureselves youre servauntes for Jesus sake. For it is God, that commaunded the light to shyne out of darkenes, whiche hath shyned in our heartes, for to geve the light of the knowlege of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christe.
 

[2 Cor. 4:1-6]

AND as Jesus passed forth from thence, he sawe a man (named Mathewe) sitting at the receipt of custome [=tax office], and he sayd unto him, folowe me: and he arose, and folowed him. And it came to passe as Jesus sate at meate in his house; beholde, many Publicans also and synners that came, sate downe with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Phariseis sawe it, they sayd unto his disciples; why eateth your Master with Publicanes and synners? But when Jesus heard that, he sayed unto them; They that be strong nede not the phisicion, but they that are sicke. Goe ye rather and learne what that meaneth; I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, for I am not come to cal the righteous, but synners to repentaunce.

[Matthew 9:9-13]

Laud ate, pueri. Psalm cxiii.

PRAYSE the Lorde (ye servauntes) : O prayse the name of the Lorde.
    Blessed be the name of the Lorde : from this tyme furth for evermore.
    The Lordes name is praysed : from the risyng up of the Sunne, unto the goyng downe of the same.
    The Lorde is hye above all heathen : and his glory above the heavens.
    Who is lyke unto the Lorde our God, that hath his dwellyng so hye : and yet humbleth himselfe to beholde the thynges that are in heaven and earth?
    He taketh up the simple out of the dust : and lifteth the poore out of the myre;
    That he may set him with the princes : even with the princes of his people.
    He maketh the baren woman to kepe house : and to be a joyfull mother of children.
    Glory be to the father, and to the sonne, &c.
    As it was in the beginning, &c.
 

The Collect.

EVERLASTYNG God, which haste ordayned and constituted the services of all Angels and men in a wonderfull ordre: mercifully graunt, that they whiche alwaye doe thee service in heaven, may by thy appoyntment succour and defende us in earth: through Jesus Christe our Lorde, &c.
 

Sept. 29

THERE was a great battaile in heaven: Michael and his Angels foughte with the Dragon, and the Dragon fought and his Angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon that olde serpente, called the devill and Sathanas [Satan], was cast out, whiche deceiveth all the worlde. And he was cast into the earth, and his Angels were cast out also with him. And I heard a loude voyce, saying; in heaven is nowe made salvacion, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast downe, whiche accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the bloud of the lambe, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therfore rejoyce, heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe unto the inhabitors of the earth, and of the sea: for the devill is come downe unto you, whiche hath great wrathe, because he knoweth that he hathe but a shorte tyme.
 

[Rev. 12:7-12]

AT the same tyme came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the kyngdome of heaven? Jesus called a childe unto hym, and sette hym in the myddest of them, and sayed; Verely I saye unto you, excepte ye turne and become as children, ye shall not entre into the kyngdome of heaven. Whosoever therfore humbleth hymselfe as this childe, that same is the greatest in the kyngdome of heaven. And whosoever receyveth such a childe in my name, receyveth me. But whoso doth offende one of these lytle ons which beleve in me, it were better for him that a milstone were hanged aboute his necke, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the worlde, because of offences: necessary it is that offences come: But woe unto the manne, by whom the offence cometh. Wherfore, yf thy hande or thy foote hynder thee, cut him of, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to entre into life halt or maimed, rather then thou shouldest (having two handes or two fete) be cast into everlasting fyer. And yf thine iye offende thee, plucke it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to entre into life with one iye, rather then (having ii iyes) to be cast into hell fyer. Take hede that ye despise not one of these lytle ons. For I saye unto you; that in heaven their Angels doe alwayes beholde the face of my father, whiche is in heaven.

[Matthew 18:1-10]

ALMIGHTIE God whiche calledst Luke the phisicion, whose prayse is in the gospell, to be a phisicion of the soule ; it may please thee, by the holsome medicines of his doctryne, to heale all the diseases of our soules; through thy sonne Jesus Christe our Lorde.
 

Oct. 18

WATCHE thou in all thinges, suffre afiliccions, doe the worke throughly of an Evangelyst, fulfyll thyne office unto the utmoste, be sobre. For I am nowe ready to be offred, and the tyme of my departing is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have fulfilled my course, I have kept the fayth. From hencefurth there is layed up for me a crowne of righteousnes, whiche the Lorde (that is a righteous judge) shall geve me at that day: not to me only, but unto all them also that love his commyng. Doe thy dylygence that thou mayst come shortly unto me. For Demas hath forsaken me, and loveth this presente worlde, and is departed unto Thessalonica. Crescens is gone to Galacia, Titus unto Dalmacia, only Lucas [Luke] is with me. Take Marke and bring him with thee, for he is profytable unto me for the ministracion. And Tichicus have I sent to Ephesus: The cloke that I left at Troada [Troas] with Carpus, when thou commest, bryng with thee, and the bookes, but specially the parchement. Alexander the copper-smith did me muche evyll; the Lorde rewarde him accordyng to his dedes, of whom be thou ware [wary] also. For he hath greatly withstande [withstood] our wordes.
 

[2 Timothy 4:5-15]

THE Lorde appointed other seventy (and two) also, and sente them two and two before hym into every citie and place, whither he himselfe would come. Therfore sayd he unto them; the harvest is great, but the labourers are fewe. Praye ye therfore the Lorde of the harvest, to sende furthe labourers into the harvest. Go your wayes; beholde, I sende you foorth as lambes among wolves. Beare no wallet, neither scrip [=bag], nor shoes, and salute no man by the waye: into whatsoever house ye entre, fyrst saie, peace be to this house. And if the sonne of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: if not, it shall returne to you againe. And in the same house tary styll, eatyng and drinking suche as they geve. For the labourer is worthy of his reward.

[Luke 10:1-7]

ALMIGHTIE God, whiche hast builded the congregacion upon the foundacion of the Apostles and prophetes, Jesu Christ himselfe beyng the head corner-stone; graunte us so to bee joyned together in unitie of spirite by their doctrine, that we maye be made an holye temple acceptable to thee; throughe Jesu Christe our Lorde. Amen.
 

Oct. 28

JUDAS, the servaunte of Jesu Christe, the brother of James, to them whiche are called and sanctifyed in God the father, and preserved in Jesu Christe: Mercy unto you and peace, and love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to wryte unto you of the common salvacion, it was nedeful for me to wryte unto you, to exhort you that ye shoulde continuallye laboure in the faith, which was once geven unto the saintes. For there are certain ungodly men craftely crept in, of which it was written aforetyme unto suche judgement. They turne the grace of our God unto wantonnes, and denye God, (which is the only lorde) and our lord Jesus Christ. My mynde is therfore to putte you in remembraunce, forasmuche as ye once knowe this, how that the lord (after that he had delivered the people out of Egypt) destroyed them which afterward beleved not. The Angels also which kept not their firste estate, but left their own habitacion, he hath reserved in everlasting chaines under darknes, unto the judgement of the great daye: even as Sodom and Gomor [Gomorrah], and the Cities aboute them, whiche in like maner defiled themselves with fornicacion, and folowed straunge fleshe, are set furth for an example, and suffre the paine of eternall fyre: likewyse these beyng deceyved by dreames, defyle the fleshe, despise rulers, and speake evell of them that are in aucthoritie.
 

[Jude 1-8]

THIS commaunde I [give] you, that ye love together. If the world hate you, ye know yt it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the worlde, the world would love his owne: Howbeit because ye are not of the worlde, but I have chosen you out of the worlde, therfore the worlde hateth you. Remembre the worde that I sayed unto you, the servaunt is not greater than the lorde. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kepte my saying, they wil kepe yours also. But al these thinges will they doe unto you for my names sake, because they have not knowen him that sente me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they should have had no synne: but nowe have they nothyng to cloke their synne withall. He that hateth me hateth my father also. If I had not done among them the workes which none other man did, they should have had no synne. But nowe have they both seen and hated: not only me but also my father. But this happeneth that the saying myght be fulfilled that is writen in their lawe. They hated me without a cause. But when the comforter is come, whom I wyll sende unto you from the father, even the spirite of trueth, (whiche procedeth of the father,) he shall testifie of me. And ye shal beare witnes also, because ye have been with me from the beginnyng.

[John 15:17-27]

ALMIGHTIE God, whiche haste knitte together thy electe in one Communion and felowship, in the misticall body of thy sonne Christe our Lord; graunt us grace so to folow thy holy Saynctes in all virtues*, and godly livyng, that we maye come to those inspeakeable joyes, whiche thou hast prepared for all them that unfaynedly love thee; through Jesus Christe.
 

Nov. 1
Lessons for Matins & Evensong, 1549 only.

[Wisdom 3:1-13]
[Hebrews 11:33-12:7a]

BEHOLDE, I John sawe another Angell ascende from the rising of the Sunne, whiche had the seale of the lyvyng God, and he cryed with a loude voyce to the foure Angels, (to whom power was geven to hurt the earth and the sea,) saying; Hurt not the earth neither the sea, neither the trees, tyll we have sealed the servauntes of our God in their foreheades. And I heard the nombre of them whiche were sealed; and there were sealed an C. and xliiii.M. [144,000], of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
    Of the tribe of Juda were sealed xii.M [12,000].
    Of the tribe of Ruben were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Gad were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Aser were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Neptalim [Naphtali] were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Symeon were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Levy were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Isachar were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed xii.M.
    Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed xii.M.
    After this I behelde, and loe a great multitude, (whiche no manne could nombre) of all nacions and people, and tongues stode before the seate and before the lambe, clothed with long white garmentes, and Palmes in theyr handes, and cried with a loude voyce, saying; salvacion be ascribed to him that sitteth upon the seate of our god, and unto the lambe. And al the Angels stode in the compasse of the seate, and of the elders, and of the foure beastes, and fell before the seate on their faces, and worshipped God, saying; Amen. Blessyng and glory, and wisedome, and thankes, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for evermore. Amen.
 

[Rev. 7:2-12

JESUS seing the people, went up into the mountaine: and when he was set, his disciples came to hym, and after that he hadde opened his mouth, he taught them, saying; Blessed are the poore in spirite, for theirs is the kyngdome of heaven. Blessed are they that morne; for they shall receyve comfort. Blessed are the meke: for they shall receyve the enheritaunce of the earth. Blessed are they whiche hunger and thirst after righteousnes: for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the mercyfull: for they shall obtaine mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shal see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shalbe called the children of God. Blessed are they whiche suffre persecucion for righteousnes sake: for theirs is the kyngdome of heaven. Blessed are ye when men revile you, and persecute you, and shall falsly saye all maner of evill sayinges against you for my sake: reioice, and be glad; for great is youre rewarde in heaven. For so persecuted they the Prophetes whiche were before you.

[Matthew 5:1-12]

The First Lesson, Sap. v. (unto) "His jealousy also."
The Second Lesson, Apoc. xix. (unto) "And I saw an angel stand."