deserved this plague of rain and waters, yet upon our true repentance thou wilt send us such weather, whereby we may receive the fruits of the earth in due season; and learn both by thy punishment to amend our lives, and for thy clemency to give thee praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ In the time of dearth and famine.

O GOD, heavenly Father, whose gift it is that the rain doth fall, the earth is fruitful, beasts increase, and fishes do multiply; Behold, we beseech thee, the afflictions of thy people; and grant that the scarcity and dearth (which we do now most justly suffer for our iniquity) may through thy goodness be mercifully turned into cheapness and plenty; for the love of Jesu Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost &c.

¶ Or thus.

O GOD, merciful Father, which, in the time of Heliseus the prophet, didst suddenly turn in Samaria great scarcity and dearth into plenty and cheapness, and extreme famine into abundance of victual; Have pity upon us, that now be punished for our sins with like adversity, increase the fruits of the earth by thy heavenly benediction; and grant, that we,

receiving thy bountiful liberality, may use the same to thy glory, our comfort, and relief of our needy neighbours; through Jesu Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the time of war.

O ALMIGHTY God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to them that truly repent; Save and deliver us (we humbly beseech thee) from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, which art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the time of any common plague or sickness.

O ALMIGHTY God, which in thy wrath, in the time of king David, didst slay with the plague of pestilence sixty and ten thousand, and yet remembering thy mercy didst save the rest; Have pity upon us, miserable sinners, that now are visited with great sickness and mortality; that like as thou didst then command thy angel to cease from punishing, so it may now please thee to with

draw from us this plague and grievous sickness; through Jesu Christ our Lord.

¶ And the Litany shall ever end with this Collect following:

ALMIGHTY God, which hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise, that when two or three be gathered in thy name thou will grant their requests; Fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

Of the Administration of Public Baptism to be used in the Church,

The Ministration of Baptism to be used in the Church.

It appeareth by ancient writers, that the sacrament of Baptism in the old time was not commonly ministered but at two times in the year, at Easter and Whitsuntide; at which times it was openly ministered in the presence of all the congregation: which custom, (now being grown out of use,) although it cannot for many considerations be well restored again, yet it is thought good to follow the same as near as conveniently may be. Wherefore the people are to be admonished, that it is most convenient that Baptism should not be ministered but upon Sundays and other holydays, when the most number of people may come together: as well for that the congregation there present may testify the receiving of them that be newly baptized into the number of Christ's church; as also because in the baptism of infants every man present may be put in remembrance of his own profession made to God in his baptism. For which cause also it is expedient that baptism be ministered in the English tongue. Nevertheless (if necessity so require) children ought at all times to be baptized either at the church or else at home.

4 children may at all times be baptized at home 1552.

When there are children to be baptized upon the Sunday or holyday, the parents shall give knowledge over night, or in the morning afore the beginning of rMatins, to the Curate. And then the godfathers, godmothers, and people, with the children, must be sready at the church door, either immediately afore the last Canticle at Matins, or else immediately afore the last Canticle at Evensong, as the Curate by his discretion shall appoint. And then, standing there, the Priest shall ask whether the children be baptized or no. If they answer, No, then shall the Priest say thus:

DEAR beloved, forasmuch as all men be conceived and born in sin; "and that no man born in sin can enter into the kingdom of God, (except he be regenerate and born anew of water and the Holy Ghost;) I beseech you to call upon God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that of his bounteous mercy he will grant to these children that thing which by nature they cannot have; that is to say, they may be baptized with the Holy Ghost, and received into Christ's holy church, and be made lively members of the same.

Then the Priest shall say,
Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, which of thy justice didst destroy by floods of water the whole world for sin, except eight persons, whom of thy mercy (the same time) thou didst save in the ark; and when thou didst drown in the Red sea wicked king Pharaoh, with all his army, yet (at the same time) thou didst lead thy people the children of Israel safely through the midst thereof; whereby thou didst figure the washing of thy holy baptism; and by the baptism of thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ thou didst sanctify the flood Jordan, and

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, which of thy great mercy didst save Noe and his family in the ark from perishing by water; and also didst safely lead the children of Israel thy people through the Red sea, figuring thereby thy holy baptism; and by the baptism of thy wellbeloved Son Jesus Christ, didst sanctify the flood Jordan, and all other waters, to the mystical washing away of sin; We beseech thee, for thy infinite mercies, that thou wilt mercifully look upon these children; sanctify them and wash them with thy Holy Ghost; that they, s ready at the font, either immediately after the last Lesson at Morning Prayer, or else immediately after the last Lesson at Evening

r Morning Prayer 1552.

Prayer, as the Curate 1552.

u and that our

Dearly beloved 1552.

* that they may be baptized with

Saviour Christ saith, None can enter 1552. water and the Holy Ghost 1552.