Pro Duce Buckinghamiae.
Prayers for the Duke's Prosperity
A petition for the Duke of Buckingham's spiritual and temporal well-being and his continued friendship.
Gracious Father, I humbly ask you to bless the Duke of Buckingham with every spiritual and temporal blessing, but especially those that are spiritual. Make him faithful to his Prince, serviceable to his Country, and devout in your Truth and Church: a most happy Husband and a blessed Father; filled with the constant love and honor of his Prince, so that all your blessings may flow upon him and his descendants after him. Continue him as a true-hearted friend to me, your poor servant whom you have honored in his eyes: Make my heart religious and dutiful to you, and true, secret, stout, and provident in all things he shall be pleased to commit to me. Even so, Lord, make him serve you continually, so that you may bless him through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Savior. Amen.
Intercession for the Prince's Journey
A prayer for the safety of the Prince on his travels and the Duke's success in his service.
O most merciful God and gracious Father, the Prince has committed himself to a great adventure. I humbly ask you to clear a path before him. Give your angels charge over him, and be with him yourself in mercy, power, and protection in every step of his journey, in every moment of his time, and in every consultation and decision for action, until you bring him back safely, with honor and satisfaction, to serve you in this place. Bless his most trusted and faithful servant, the Lord Duke of Buckingham, that he may be diligent in service, wise in counsel, and successful in his endeavors, for the honor of your Name, the good of your Church, the preservation of the Prince, the contentment of the King, and the satisfaction of the State. Preserve him, I humbly ask you, from all envy that surrounds him; and bless him so that he may see the Prince safely delivered to the King and the State, and afterwards live long in happiness to serve them and you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Supplication for the Admiral and the Fleet
A prayer for God's protection and guidance over the Duke as Admiral of the fleet.
O most gracious God and merciful Father, you are the Lord of Hosts; all victory over our enemies and all safety against them comes from you. I humbly ask you to go out with our armies and bless them. Bless my dear Lord the Duke who has gone as Admiral with them, that wisdom may guide all his counsels, and courage and success may accompany all his endeavors; that through his and their efforts you will be pleased to bring safety to this kingdom, strength and comfort to religion, and victory and honor to our country. And may he return with our navy entrusted to him, and with safety, honor, and love from both the Prince and the people. Grant this for the sake of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lament and Commemoration
A prayer of mourning following the Duke's death, seeking comfort for his family and justice for his murder.
O merciful God, your judgments are often hidden, always just: At this time they weighed heavily on the poor Duke of Buckingham, on me, and on all who had the honor to be near him. Lord, I have no doubt that you have given him rest, light, and blessedness in you. I also beg you to comfort his Lady. Bless his children, uphold his friends, and don't forget his servants. Lay bare the depths of all that irreligious and graceless plot that spilled his blood. Bless and preserve the King from danger, and from complacency in these perilous times. And for myself, O Lord, though the sorrows of my heart are great, since you gave this most honorable friend into my life and have taken him away again from me; yet blessed be your Name, O Lord, for you have given me patience. I will see him no more until we meet at the Resurrection. O make that joyful for us and all your faithful servants, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read the original Latin
GRacious Father, I humbly beseech thee, bless the Duke of Buckingham with all spiritual and temporal blessings, but especially spiritual. Make and continue him faithful to his Prince, serviceable to his Country, devout in thy Truth and Church: a most happy Husband and a blessed Father; filled with the constant love and honour of his Prince, that all thy blessings may flow upon himself and his posterity after him. Continue him a true-hearted friend to me thy poor servant whom thou hast honoured in his eyes: Make my heart religious & dutiful to thee, and in and under thee true, and secret, and stout, and provident in all things which he shall be pleased to commit unto me. Even so, Lord, and make him continually to serve thee, that thou mayest bless him, through Iesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.
O most merciful God and gracious Father, the Prince hath put himself to a great Adventure, I humbly beseech thee, make a clear way before him: Give thine Angels charge over him, be with him thy self in mercy, power, and protection: in every step of his journey: in every moment of his time: in every consultation and address for action, till thou bring him back with safety, honour, and contentment, to do thee service in this place.
Bless his most trusty and faithful Servant the Lord Duke of Buckingham, that he may be diligent in service, provident in business, wise and happy in counsels: for the honour of thy Name, the good of thy Church, the preservation of the Prince, the contentment of the King, the satisfaction of the State. Preserve him, I humbly beseech thee, from all envy that attends him; and bless him, that his eyes may see the Prince safely delivered to the King and State, and after it live long in happiness to do them and thee service, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O most gracious God and merciful Father, thou art the Lord of Hosts; all victory over our Enemies, all safety against them is from thee: I humbly beseech thee go out with our Armies, and bless them. Bless my dear Lord the Duke that is gone Admiral with them, that wisdom may attend all his Counsels, and courage and success all his Enterprises: that by his and their means thou wilt be pleased to bring safety to this Kingdom, strength and comfort to Religion, victory and reputation to our Country. And that he may return with our Navy committed to him, and with safety, honour, and love both of Prince and People. Grant this for thy dear Sons sake Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O merciful God, thy Judgments are often secret, alwayes just: At this time they were temporally heavy upon the poor Duke of Buckingham, upon me, upon all that had the honour to be near him. Lord, thou hast (I doubt not) given him rest, and light and blessedness in thee. Give also, I beseech thee, comfort to his Lady. Bless his Children, uphold his Friends, forget not his Servants. Lay open the bottom of all that irreligious and graceless plot that spilt his blood. Bless and preserve the King from danger, and from security in these dangerous times. And for my self, O Lord, though the sorrows of my heart are inlarged, in that thou gavest this most honourable Friend into my bosom, and hast taken him again from me; yet blessed be thy Name, O Lord, that hast given me patience. I shall now see him no more till we meet at the Resurrection: O make that joyful to us and all thy faithful servants, even for Iesus Christ his sake.
Amen.
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