Penitential Meditations and Vows in the King's solitude at Holmby

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my Meditation, and hearken to the voyce of my cry, my King and my God, for unto thee will I pray.

I said in my haste, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes; nevertheless, thou hearest the voyce of my supplication, when I cry unto thee.

If thou, Lord, shouldst be extream to mark what is done amiss, who can abide it? But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be feared; therefore shall sinners flie unto thee.

I acknowledg my sins before thee, which have the aggravation of my condition; the eminencie of my place, adding weight to my offences.

Forgive, I beseech thee, my personal, and my peoples sins; which are so far mine, as I have not improved the power thou gavest me, to thy glorie, and my Subjects good: Thou hast now brought me from the glorie and freedom of a King, to be a Prisoner to my own Subjects. Justlie, O Lord, as to thy over-ruling hand, because in many things I have rebelled against thee.

Though thou hast restrained my person, yet enlarg my heart to thee, & thy grace towards me.

I come far short of Davids pietie; yet since I may equal Davids afflictions, give me also the comforts, and the sure mercies of David.

Let the penitent sense I have of my sins, be an evidence to me, that thou hast pardoned them.

Let not the evils, which I and my Kingdoms have suffered seem little unto thee, though thou hast not punished us according to our sins.

Turn thee (O Lord) unto me; have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and afflicted.

The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my troubles.

Hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure?

O remember thy compassions of old, and thy loving kindesses, which have been for many generations.

I had utterly fainted, if I had not believed to see thy goodnesse in the land of the living.

Let not the sins of our prosperitie deprive us of the benefit of thy afflictions.

Let this fiery triall consume the drosse which in long peace and plentie we had contracted.

Though thou continuest miseries, yet withdraw not thy grace; what is wanting of prosperitie, make up in patience and repentance.

And if thy anger be not to be yet turned away, but thy hand of Justice must be stretched out still: Let it, I beseech thee, be against me, and my Fathers house; as for these sheep, what have they done?

Let my sufferings satiate the malice of mine, and thy Churches enemies.

But let their crueltie never exceed the measure of my charitie.

Banish from me all thoughts of Revenge, that I may not lose the reward, nor thou the glorie of my patience.

As thou givest me an heart to forgive them, so I beseech thee, do thou forgive what they have done against thee and me.

And now, O Lord, as thou hast given me an heart to pray unto thee; so hear and accept this Vow which I make before thee.

If thou wilt in mercie remember Me, and my Kingdoms; In continuing the light of thy Gospel, and settling thy true Religion among us:

In restoring to us the benefits of the Laws, and the due execution of Justice:

In suppressing the many schismes in Church, and Factions in State:

If thou wilt restore me and mine to the Ancient rights and glory of my Predecessors:

If thou wilt turn the hearts of my people to thy self in Pietie, to me in Loyaltie, and to one another in Charitie:

If thou wilt quench the flames, and withdraw the fewell of these Civill Wars:

If thou wilt bless us with the freedom of Publike Counsels, and deliver the Honour of Parliaments from the insolency of the vulgar:

If thou wilt keep me from the great offence of enacting any thing against my Conscience: and especially for consenting to sacrilegious rapines, and spoilings of thy Church:

If thou wilt restore me to a capacity to glorifie thee in doing good, both to the Church and State:

Then shall my soul praise thee, and Magnifie thy name before my people.

Then shall thy glorie be dearer to me then my Crown; and the advancement of true Religion both in puritie and power be my chiefest care.

Then will I rule my People with justice, and my Kingdoms with equity:

To thy more immediate hand shal I ever own as the rightfull succession, so the mercifull restauration of my Kingdoms, and the glorie of them.

If thou wilt bring me again with Peace safetie and honour, to my chiefest City and my Parliament:

If thou wilt again put the Sword of Justice into my hand to punish and protect:

Then will I make all the world to see, and my very Enemies to enjoy the benefit of this Vow and resolution of Christian charitie, which I now make unto thee O Lord.

As I do freely pardon for Christ's sake those that have offended me in any kind; so my hand shall never be against any man to revenge what is past, in regard of any particular injurie done to me.

We have been mutually punished in our unnaturall divisions, for thy sake O Lord, and for the love of my Redeemer have I purposed this in my heart, That I will use all means in the waies of amnesty, and indempnitie; which may most fullie remove all feares, and burie all jealousies in forgetfulnesse.

Let thy mercies be towards me and mine, as my resolutions of Truth and Peace are towards my people.

Hear my praier O Lord, which goeth not out of feigned lips.

Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, or taken his mercy from me.

O my soul commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him and he shall bring it to pass.

But if thou wilt not restore me and mine, what am I that I should charge thee foolishly?

Thou, ô Lord hast given, and thou hast taken, Blessed be thy name.

May my people and thy Church be happie if not by me, yet without me.