many- headed multitude [Sidney]; numerous as glittering gems of morning dew [Young]; vel prece vel pretio

They are sometimes referred to as the preces flebiles, tearful prayers, because they are said in times of penance, and are formed to excite tears.

Qua te laude, Deus, qua prece prosequar?

Mr. Lysons, of Clifford's Inn, has favoured me with the two following: In Holy Rules and Helps to Devotion, by Bryan Duppa, Lord Bishop of Winton, 'Preces quidam (? quidem) videtur diligenter tractasse; spero non inauditus (? inauditas).