The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

¶ The prayer.

O Most mighty God, the Lord of hosts, the governor of all creatures, the only giver of all victories, who alone art able to strengthen the weak against the mighty, and to vanquish infinite multitudes of thine enemies with the countenance of a few of thy servants calling upon thy name, and ⟨p. 561⟩trusting in thee: Defend O Lord, thy servant and our governor under thee, our Queen Elizabeth, and all thy people committed to her charge. O Lord withstand the cruelty of all those which be common enemies aswell to the trueth of thy eternal word, as to their own natural Prince and country, and manifestly to this crown and Realm of England, which thou haste of thy divine providence assigned in these our days to the government of thy servant, our Sovereign and gracious Queen. O most merciful father (if it be thy holy will) make soft and tender the stony hearts of all those that exalt themselves against thy trueth, and seek either to trouble the quiet of this realm of England, or to oppress the crown of the same, and convert them to the knowledge of thy son the only saviour of the world Jesus Christ, that we and they may jointly glorify thy mercies. Lighten we beseech thee their ignorant hearts, to embrace the trueth of thy word, or else so abate their cruelty (O most mighty Lord) that this our Christian region, with others that confess thy holy Gospel, may obtain by thine aide and strength, surety from all enemies, without shedding of christian blood, whereby all they which be oppressed with their tyranny, may be relieved, and they which be in fear of their cruelty, may be comforted: & finally that all christian realms, and specially this realm of England, may by thy defence and protection continue in the trueth of the Gospel, and enjoy perfect peace, quietness, and security: and that we for these thy mercies, jointly ⟨p. 562⟩