THE Kings most excellent Majesty, by the prudent advise of his most deer beloved Uncle, Edward duke of Somerset, Governor of his Majesties person, and Protector of all his highness Realms, Dominions and Subjects, with the rest of his most honourable Counsel, most graciously considering the manifold enormities, which heretofore have crept into his graces Realm, through the false usurped power of the Bishop of Rome, and the ungodly doctrine of his adherents, not only unto the great decay of Christian religion, but also (if Gods mercy were not) unto the utter destruction of innumerable souls, which, through hypocrisy and pernicious doctrine were seduced, and brought from honouring of the alone, true, living, and eternal God, unto the worshipping of creatures, yea, of stocks and stones, from doing the commandments of God, unto voluntary works and fantasies invented of men, from true religion, unto Popish Superstition: considering also, the earnest and fervent desire, of his dearly beloved Subjects, to be delivered from all errors and superstitions, and to be truly and faithfully instructed in the very word of God, that lively food of mans soul, whereby they may learn unfeignedly, and according to the mind of the holy Ghost, expressed in the scriptures, to honour God, and to serve ⟨image 3⟩their King, with all humility and subjection, and Godly and honestly, to behave them selves toward all men: Again calling to remembrance, that the next and most ready way, to expel and avoid, aswell all corrupt, vicious and ungodly living, as also erroneous doctrine, tending to Superstition, and Idolatry, & clearly to put away all contention, which hath heretofore risen, through diversity of preaching, is the true setting forth, and pure declaring of Gods word, which is the principal guide and leader unto all Godliness and virtue: Finally, that all Curates, of what learning soever they be, may have some Godly and fruitful lessons in a readiness, to read and declare unto their parishioners, for their edifying, instruction, and comfort: hath caused a book of Homilies, to be made and set forth, wherein is contained certain wholesome and Godly exhortations, to move the people to honour and worship almighty God, and diligently to serve him, every one according to their degree, state, and vocation:
THE Kynges moste excellent Maiestie, by the prudente aduyse of hys moste deere beloued Uncle, Edwarde duke of Somersett, Gouernor of hys Maiesties persone, and Protector of all hys hyghnes Realmes, Dominions and Subiectes, with the reste of hys moste honorable Counsayll, moste graciously considerynge the manifolde enormities, whiche heretofore haue crept into hys graces Realme, throughe the false vsurped power of the Bishoppe of Rome, and the vngodly doctryne of hys adherentes, not onelye vnto the greate decaye of Christian religion, but also (if Gods mercy were not) vnto the vtter destruction of innumerable soules, whiche, through hypocrysy and pernicious doctrine were seduced, and brought from honoryng of the alone, true, liuynge, and eternall God, vnto the worshippyng of creatures, yea, of stockes and stones, from doyng the commaundemētes of God, vnto volūtary workes and phantasyes inuēted of men, from true religiō, vnto Popishe Supersticion: considerynge also, the earnest and feruent desire, of his derely beloued Subiectes, to bee deliuered from all errors and supersticions, and to be truely and faythefully instructed in the verye worde of God, that liuely foode of mannes soule, wherby they may learne vnfainedly, and accordyng to the mynd of the holy Ghoste, expressed in the scriptures, to honor God, and to serue ⟨image 3⟩their Kyng, with all humilitie and subieccion, and Godly and honestly, to behaue theim selfes toward all men: Agayn callynge to remembraunce, that the next and moste ready waie, to expell and auoide, aswell all corrupte, vicious and vngodly liuynge, as also erronious doctrine, tendyng to Supersticion, and Idolatrie, & clerely to put away all contenciō, whiche hath heretofore rysen, through diuersitie of preachyng, is the true settyng furthe, and pure declarynge of Gods woorde, whiche is the principall guyde and leader vnto all Godlinesse and vertue: Finally, that all Curates, of what learnyng soeuer they be, may haue some Godly and fruitfull lessons in a readines, to reade and declare vnto their parishioners, for their edifiyng, instruction, and cōfort: hath caused a booke of Homelies, to bee made and set furthe, wherein is conteined certain wholsome and Godly exhortacions, to moue the people to honor and worshippe almighty God, and diligently to serue hym, euery one accordynge to their degre, state, and vocacion:
