Reading
Working
Preface Cranmer's catechismvs
Text Profile
Genre
Preface Treatise Doctrinal
Date
1548
Full Title
"A short Instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profite of children and yonge people. Ouersene and corrected by the moost reuerende father in God the Archebyshoppe of Canterburie." In: Cranmer, Thomas. Cathechismvs. That is to say a shorte Instruction into Christian Religion [...]
Source
STC 5992.5
Sampling
Sample 1
The original format is octavo.
The original contains first paragraphas are introduced by decorated initial,
A short Instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profite of children and yonge people. Ouersene and corrected by the moost reuerende father in God the Archebyshoppe of Canterburie.
The preface.
THys treaticegentle
reader, is not
wrytten for
the Curattes
& preachers,
for manye of
them haue so
muche knowledge in holye scripture
thankes be to God that they
be alreadye sufficiently instructed
in these matters: But it is written
A.i.
1
for the behoue of the yong childre~,whiche muste be brought vp with
playne and shorte lessons. For
wee see daylye by experience, that
who so euer wyll teache children,
must vse muche discretion & wysedome,
not to geue them to much at
one time, lest he dull and oppresse
their wittes and yet that which he
gyueth theim, he muste often and
many times reherse and repete vnto
theim agayne, as nere as he can
after one manner of wise, and with
the same wordes. For if thei teache
them now this, now that, now with
these wordes, nowe with other, the~
the childre~ learne litle or nothing,
thei kepe almost nothing in memorye,
& besyde that, they waxe wearie
of learnyng, & conceaue a lothsomnes
therto, and be more slothfull
and vnapte to learne. Forasmuch
therfore as it was to be feared,
2
that euery pastore woulde nottake the paynes to drawe out such
a shorte forme of teachynge to the
children, nor we thoughte good to
burden euery one with so great labours,
and also yf eueri pastore seuerally
should deuise a fourme for
his parishe, it myght chaunce that
there should be as many soundrye
formes, as there be pastors, which
diuersitie myght engender muche
diuision and controuercie, and be
also much hynderaunce to the children,
yf in one place thei learne one
forme, and in an other place an other
forme. For to exchewe the said
inconueniences, we haue thoughte
good to deuise this shorte manner
and forme to ynstructe children and
yong men, wherby they maye both
shortlie and easely learne the chief
pryncipilles and begynnynge of
Christe~ religion and doctrine, and
A.ii.
3
learne aswell howe they oughte tolyue, as also what they shoulde belyue.
And whan they haue learned
this in their tender age, they shall
not onely vnderstande godlye sermons
and all other godly doctrine
and bookes ye better, but also they
shall become godly men, and wyse,
louers of true religion and godlines,
and to al states and orders of
lyfe, aswell ecclesiasticall as Ciuill
be more apte and towarde, vnto
whiche godly purpose, all fathers
and mothers, Curattes and preachers,
and al christen Maiestrates
and officers, should with all theyr
mynde and endeuore gyue their
ayde and helpe. Wherunto
God of his grace graunt
his fauour and
assistaunce.
Amen.