O Almightie and eternall Lord God , who delightest not in the death of a sinner , but wouldest rather that all should liue and come to the knowledge of the truth : we humbly intreate thee by thy Christ , thine onely Sonne , our Lord ; that thou wouldest please to bestow thy grace upon all faithfull Doctors and Teachers ; to the intent they may purely and clearely deliver thy Word : and that all such as eyther hate it , or with false doctrine corrupt it , or by force persecute it ; thy teachers may be able manfully to resist ; and so enlighten them , that they may bring them to the knowledge of thy selfe . Grant , mercifull Father , thy Holy Spirit unto all Christian and lawfull Magistrates , that they may well and peaceably rule their own Subjects ; and that under them we all leading a quiet and a blamelesse life ; may with a true faith celebrate the riches of thy grace ; and with a constant mind in all holinesse and righteousnesse , as may be pleasing ; serue thee the true God and Lord of Lords , thorough thy only beloved Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord . Amen .

ALmightie and everlasting God , Creator of Heaven and Earth ; we thy poore children , doe from the bottome of our hearts in the name of thy beloved Sonne Iesus Christ entreat thee : that by the power of thy Spirit thou wouldst be pleased to direct thine owne Christian Church , with all the true servants of it : that with constancy they may cleaue unto thy Word ; so increasing in faith , hope , charitie , and patience unto to the end , that they may be saved . Vouchsafe thy divine grace also , unto all Christian Kings , Princes , and Governours ; and especially the King our Soveraigne Lord : and to all their Counsellours and chiefe Officers ; that they may so rule their Subjects , thy people , well and according to thy good pleasure ; as that peace , good dealing , and righteousnes , may be cherished ; troubles , injustice , and all wickednesse , may be banished , and quite taken out of the way .

Looke mercifully upon our enemies , and upon all those that persecute us : cause that both they and we , may seriously repent us of our sinnes : grant them and us and all the whole Christian world , such a minde to the loue of peace , that we may serue thee , O holy God , in all pietie and honestie .

Comfort , moreover , all those that are afflicted , poore , sicke , sorrowfull , distressed captiues , troubled in minde , those that suffer persecution or temptation ; that they may beare the crosse patiently , and obtaine at last a happie issue out of all their troubles . Blesse the fruits of the earth also unto us , for the necessary nourishment of our bodies ; and preserve them from all danger and ill weather . And especially be thou present with us in this our expedition ; pardon our sinnes , and mercifully turne away from us these punishments which we haue deserved .

Keepe safe , moreover , our Lord the King from all dangers both of soule and body , preserue all his Captaines & Commanders , higher and lower together with his whole Army , and our fellow-Souldiers . Grant us , O Lord our God , unanimous and sincere minds , wise direction , happie proceedings , and our desired end , in all our actions and endevours : So as may best make to the glory of thy holy Name , the quietnesse , peace , comfort , joy , and happinesse , finally , both temporall and eternall ; of our selues , Countrey , and all these afflicted Christians , which professe the Orthodox and true faith . Shew us some token for good , Psal. 86.17 . that they which hate us may see it and be ashamed : because thou Lord hast holpen us , and comforted us . These blessings that thou wouldest vouchsafe unto us , we thy poore children entreate thee humbly , by the death & passion of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ , who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end . Amen .

MOst mercifull God , and heavenly Father : wee giue unto thee all thankes for those thy benefits , which untill this day thou out of thy Fatherly goodnesse hast bestowed upon us . And first of all , for that thou hast redeemed us by thy Sonne , and hast in thy Word revealed him unto us , in whom thou offerest remission of sinnes , righteousnesse , and everlasting life , unto all men , that with a penitent heart and true faith embrace it .

Preserue we beseech thee pure and uncorrupt , thine owne holy Word & Sacraments , in these dangerous times , against all Hereticks and false Teachers . Especially against the Papists : who at this present with many bloudy slaughters , and inhumane tyranny , doe like ravening Wolues & roaring Lyons , undeservedly scatter and devoure thy poore Christian flooke . Looke downe O Lord upon the miserable condition of thy people , refraine the insolency of their enemies , hinder thou their bloudy purposes , that so they may perceiue , that thou thy selfe fightest for thy holy Church ; nor wilt giue it for a prey unto them .

Next , O Lord , pray we for all those Deputies of thine , to whom thou hast committed the government of the Common-wealth , and the sword of justice . For our own King first of all , whom thou in mercy hast set over us , to be our head and protector : Preserue his Majestie from all perills , as well secret as open : grant prosperitie of successe unto him : victory and deliverance against the enemies of his person and Kingdome . Defend him , Lord , with the strength of thy right hand in this present and dangerous expedition ; which for the safetie of his owne Kingdome , and for the obteyning of a good Peace , he hath undertaken : and graunt that the Warres being brought unto a happie end , both himselfe and his whole Army , may safely returne againe into their owne Countries .

Nor lesse earnestly doe wee recommend unto thee our Soveraigne Lady the Queenes Majestie , with her royall Daughter : Blesse Lord both him and her , and keepe them both with thy Fatherly goodnesse and mercy . Wee recommend unto thee in like manner the Right Honourable the privie Counsellours and chiefe Magistrates of his Kingdome : so governe and direct them all with thy Holy Spirit ; that they may preferre thy glory before all ; and with an honest and a good heart , study the prosperitie both of King and Kingdome , Pray we also for his Majesties Army , and Navy , and for all his Mettall mynes , and all things else , which may be beneficiall unto the Common-wealth , and commodious unto the Subject . Turne away , for thy Christs sake , what ever may eyther destroy or endanger them : and giue a blessing unto any thing , that may any wayes advance the truth of our Religion , and our Country in generall . Looke favourably , O heavenly Father , upon all the Professors of the same true religion with us ; who being sorely at this present oppressed by the Papists , suffer the losse both of their liues and fortunes : Succour them , Lord , that they may bee delivered from these troubles . Keepe us in health from the noysome pestilence , from sudden and unhappie death ; from dearth , famine , scar-fires , mutinyes , disagreements amongst our selues , and from hayle and tempest . Infuse into our hearts concord , faithfulnesse , and mutuall charitie . Comfort all those that are afflicted , sicke , in prison or calamitie . Succour and comfort all widowes and fatherlesse , women with childe , and that giue sucke . Be thou guide unto all those that travell eyther by land or by water : that they walking in thy right paths , and having prosperously dispatched their owne businesse , may safely returne at length unto their owne families . Deliver us , Lord God , from all evill : and when our fatall houre of death shall come , mercifully receiue us into thy Kingdome : translate our soules out of this vale of misery , into thy heavenly Paradise , where we may laud and prayse thee for it , world without end , Amen .

O Wel-beloved Lord Iesus Christ , haue mercy upon us miserable sinners ; and looke with the eyes of compassion upon us , as thou somtimes diddest upon Mary Magdalene , that penitent sinner , when lying at thy feete , shee from the bottome of her heart sincerely bewayled her owne transgressions : and the Publican in the Temple when he smote upon his breast , and implored thy favour : and the Theefe upon the Crosse when he entreated and obteyned thy pardon . Lord grant us to receiue the same this day from thee : absolue thou us in Heaven , forgiue us our sinnes , O God , thou author of all comfort . Cast us not away from thy presence ; but cause us so to walke in thy feare , that in faith and loue wee may serue and please thee , thorough Iesus Christ our Lord . Amen .

GIue peace , in our time , O Lord : because there is no other that fighteth for us , but onely thou O God . Giue peace unto our King , and all other Princes : direct them rightly to govern the Common-wealth : and grant that under them wee may liue a quiet and a peaceable life , in all pietie and honestie . Amen .

O Almightie and eternall God , King of glory and Lord of Heaven and Earth ; by whose Spirit all things are governed , and by whose becke and providence all things are directed : thou onely art the God of peace , from whom all peace and concord doe proceede : wee humbly beseech thee to forgiue us our sinnes , and to giue us thy holy peace and true concord : that in thy feare we may serue thee , and for ever laud & praise thee : who together with the Sonne and Holy Ghost livest and reignest one true and eternall God . Amen .

ALmightie God , heavenly Father , for Iesus Christ thy beloved Sonne we beseech thee , favourably to looke downe upon our King : guide him with thy holy Spirit : keepe him with a guard of thine Angels , against all dangers both of soule and body : keepe him safely from all misfortunes : so bring it to passe , that by the expedition which he now makes , we may be delivered from our enemies ; and that by his safe returne , we being made joyfull ; may from thenceforth laud , honour , and prayse thee , world without end . Amen .

THe King shall rejoyce in thy strength , O Lord : Psal. 21. exceeding glad shall he be of thy salvation . Thou hast given him his hearts desire ; and not denyed him the request of his lippes For thou hast filled him with the best of thy blessings ; and hast set a Crowne of pure gold upon his head . He asked life of thee , and thou gavest him a long life , even for ever and ever . His honour is great in thy salvation : glory and great worship hast thou laid upon him . For thou hast filled him with all kind of blessings for ever ; and thou shalt make him glad with the joy of thy countenance . Heare him , Lord , Psal. 20.1 . in the time of trouble , let thy Name set him in a safe place . Send him helpe from the Sanctuary , and strengthen him out of Sion . Remember also all his offerings ; and accept his burnt Sacrifice . Grant him his hearts desire , and fulfill all his mind . Helpe Lord thine Anointed , and heare him from thy Sanctuary , through Iesus Christ . Amen .

GRant peace , O God , unto our King and all his Officers , well to governe the Common-wealth : that vnder them we may lead a Christian , a quiet , and a peaceable life , in all devotion , and in honestie , Amen .

O Eternall and mercifull God , heavenly Father , that hast the hearts of all Kings in thy hands , and bowest them which way thou pleasest ; so bring it to passe that by this troublesome warre , the meanes of making a good agreement , and of establishing a sure peace , may be found out : all heart-burning , offences , and dissention removed . Thou from whom all helpe in earch commeth , helpe us ; that so we may liue peaceably and quietly in all devotion and honestie . We haue , to confesse the truth , plucked downe all thy plagues , vpon our selues , by our sinfulnesse , faultinesse , and transgressions . But rebuke vs not in thine anger , neyther chasten vs in thy heavie displeasure . Correct vs , to amend vs , but not vtterly to destroy vs . Enlighten our eyes , that we sleepe not in death . Returne at length , and be gracious vnto vs : satisfie vs with thy goodnesse , that we may rejoyce & be glad all the dayes of our life . Comfort vs according to the time thou hast afflicted vs ; and the yeares wherein we haue suffered adversitie . Remember not our former iniquities . Haue mercy vpon vs , and that soone ; for wee are brought very low . Helpe vs , O God our helper , for the honour of thy Name . Deliver vs and forgiue vs our sinnes , for thy Names sake ; because thou are the Lord , the highest aboue all the world : thou art long-suffering , of great goodnesse , and gratious : nor art thou prone vnto anger and to vengeance ; seeing to those that repent , thou hast promised remission of all their sinnes . So shall we thy people , and the sheepe of thy pasture , giue thee thankes for ever , and will speake of thy praise from generation to generation . Amen .

O Lord God , heavenly Father , that despisest not the sighing of the miserable , nor the desire of such as be afflicted , mercifully heare our prayers which we make before thee in these our necessities : and grant that those evills which the Devill or man worketh against vs , be brought to nought , and that by the providence of thy goodnesse , they may be dispersed : that we being hurt by no persecution , may giue thee thankes in thy holy Church , and prayse thee evermore for the same , thorough Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord . Amen .

O Lord God heavenly Father , who well knowest , that by reason of our humane frailtie we are not able of our selues to subsist in so many dangers : graunt such strength vnto vs both of soule and body , that whatsoever doth vexe or trouble vs by reason of our sinnes , wee may by thine assistance be able to overcome , through Iesus Christ our Lord . Amen .

THen sayd Iudas to the men that were with him , Feare yee not their multitude , neyther be yee afraid of their assault . Remember how our Fathers were delivered in the red Sea , when Pharaoh pursued them with an Army . Now therefore let vs cry vnto Heaven , if peradventure the Lord will haue mercy vpon vs , and remember the Covenant of our Fathers , and destroy this Host before our face this day . That so all the Heathen may know , that there is one , who delivereth and saveth Israel .

A Almightie God , Lord and Father of all grace and consolation , haue mercy vpon vs , and vpon thy Christian people . Consume vs not in thy fury by this contagious pestilence : but as in the time of David thou commaundedst the destroying Angell to hold his hand , and giue over killing : so cause , O most gracious Lord , this terrible rod of thine anger to cease from vs , and not to destroy thine afflicted people . Strengthen vs with the wholsome power of thy Word , that we may be healthy both in soule & body ; that we may laud & prayse thee here on earth for a time , and for ever in the Heavens . O Lord Iesus Christ , succour vs in this sickly time , for those bitter paines that for our sakes thou sometimes enduredst : make intercession for vs with thy heavenly Father : defend vs against the heavie wrath of God ; forgiue vs our trespasses ; giue thine innocency vnto vs . Call to minde in this grievous plague-time , how much our Redemption cost thee , and suffer not that thy bloud-shed for vs , to be lost , or become in vaine . O Holy Ghost , vouchsafe thou to descend sweetly into our languishing hearts ; refresh thou and recreate our soules . And if it so fall out that this plague strike vs also , then take thou the cure of our soules in that houre , in which we must depart out of this life : lay vs in the most sweete bosome of Christ our Redeemer , that we may be there partakers of eternall joy and quietnesse . Fulfill all thy most sweete promises in us , which are in thy Word made unto vs . Take from us all unbeliefe , doubting , and impatience : make us ever readie to obey the will of God , even thou , who with the Father and the Sonne , livest one God world without end . Amen .

ANd now that you may know that the King of Sweden doth not onely enjoyne others to pray , but that in his owne person he practises these devotions by himselfe ; I will here subjoyne you two severall prayers , conceived , no doubt , in his owne more private and premeditated consideration ; and uttered in publicke , and extempore , as it seemed . The first was at his Majesties first landing upon the coasts of Germanie ; where so soone as ever he out of his long boate set his foote upon the dry Land , he thus by prayer and thankesgiving , in Gods Name tooke possession of the Countrey ; himselfe whilest his men were landing , stepping a little aside , and before them all , upon his knees , uttering these words of devotion . O most great God , that commaundest what ever thou pleasest both in heaven , and earth , and in the surging Seas : what thankfulnesse am I now bound to render unto thee , for that thou hast preserved me thus safely , in all this so perilous a voyage ? Againe and againe doe I from the very bottome of my heart and soule , giue thankes unto thee : and here I humbly beseech thee , that seeing , as thou very well knowest , I haue not undertaken this expedition for any private end of mine owne , but onely for thine honours sake ; and to be some comfort and assistance unto thine afflicted Church : so ( if so be the time which thy selfe hast appoynted , be alreadie come ) thou wouldst now be pleased to favour and blesse me hereafter also : and that , especially , thou wouldst send me a fayre winde and a prosperous ; that the Army yet left behinde , which out of so many people and Nations I haue gathered together ; I may with joyfull eyes shortly here behold , and with a happie beginning promote with them the glory of thy holy name . Amen .

When his Counsellors and Commanders then next his person , saw their devout King thus on the bare ground upon his knees ; and heard with what a fervencie of spirit he uttered these devotions ; an inward comfort and an holy joy they tooke at it , wrought more with them than their enemies could yet ever doe ; that is , even forced , and pressed teares out of their manly eyes . This his pious Majestie then perceiving , Forbeare to weepe , sayes he to them , but heartily conjoyne your prayers with me : for the greater the army of prayers is , the greater and more assured shall the victory be . He that prayes diligently , hath in part overthrowne the enemy already , and already gotten the victory . Thus having sayd , he out of two hundred long boates lands his men , then on the shoares side , and then sends them to his shippes to fetch more : and God so heard him , and the winde so favoured him ; that according to his former prayers , his whole Army very shortly , and very safely arrived .

I will not here compare this prayer of this pious and victorious Prince , vnto that of the great Iosuah ; at whose request the Sunne stood still , as the winde here did at his : but that you may see that God did indeed heare the prayers of this King too ; I will now giue you a more eminent example of it . The Papists , had one of theirs done it , would undoubtedly haue cryed out , A miracle : and well they might : for few such they haue , but I will onely thinke of it , as of a present and a visible blessing sent from that great God , to whom the windes and the Seas obeyed . And thus it was .

The King a little after this , having a designe upon Stetin ; and his Army now readie upon the shoare , and his boats readie upon the River to imbarke them ; the winde , behold , was contrary , and so had beene for some dayes before . This the King observing , turning a little aside , he before his Army with bended knees , and hands lift up to Heaven , uttered these words .

O thou most just God! full well thou knowest , that this enterprise I did not at first undertake , out of any rashnesse , or ambition , but for the glory of thy most holy Name , and the defence of the truth of thy Word : here , therefore , now call I vpon thy Godhead , and most humbly doe I beseech thee ; that with the ayre of thy favour , and with a prosperous winde , thou wouldst vouchsafe to breath vpon this my vndertaking . Amen .

No sooner was this prayer ended , but the winde suddenly , as a man might say , chopt about , and swel'd the Swedish sayles with so hard a gale , that the whole Fleete passing the Swing , or arme of the Oder , was in two houres space runne full sixe Germane myles ( twentie of ours perchance if not more ) and all on the sudden , when they were little looked for , came to an Anchor within an English myle of Stetin , to the great admiration of the beholders , and the greater defeate of the hopes and purposes of the Imperialists ; who had a designe within two dayes after , to haue layd siege to the same Towne , had not God thus miraculously prevented them .

And thus much , though I now giue you , out of a Latine Copie ; yet , to confesse the truth , did I in the writing of my former Booke , finde mentioned in one of the weekly Currantoes : how that the Kings Fleete was by a strong and a sudden Northerly winde , strangely advanced through the Oder , even to the very walles of the Citie . But this I durst not then write , vpon the bare credite of a common Curranto ; nor durst I with this winde ( though a strong one it were ) adventure to stemme the tyde of popular opinion ; which I found not onely to runne against , but ( to vse the language of the Sea ) with a stiffe currant strongly to be set against the credite of these weekly Currantoes . Which warinesse of mine , made me indeed to leaue out many notable particulars , which I since finde reported , in the Booke called Arma Suecica .

God Almightie , that hath so graciously both heard and granted , these two prayers of this pious King ; heare all the rest also ; both those that himselfe makes , and what other good Christians make likewise for him . And those Englishmen that will not , I wish they would say Amen vnto it .