A19564:13
Catechismus, that is to say, a short instruction into Christian religion for the singular…Catechismus, that is to say, a shorte instruction into Christian religion for the synguler…
Catechismus, that is to say, a short instruction into Christian religion for the singular commodity and profit of children[n] and young people. Set forth by the most reverend father in God Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and MetropolitanCatechismus, that is to say, a shorte instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profyte of childre[n] and yong people. Set forth by the mooste reuerende father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, primate of all England and Metropolitane
printed for Gwalter Lynne, 1548
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶A short Instruction into Christian religion for the singular commodity and profit of children and young people. Overseen and corrected by the most reverend father in God the Archbishop of Canterbury. The preface.
¶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.
This treatise gentile reader, is not written for the Curates & preachers, for many of them have so much knowledge in holy scripture (thanks be to God) that they be already sufficiently instructed in these matters: But it is written ⟨image 8⟩for the behove of the young children, which must be brought up with plain and short lessons. For we see daily by experience, that who so ever will teach children, must use much discretion & wisdom, not to give them to much at one time, (lest he dull and oppress their wits) and yet that which he giveth them, he must often and many times rehearse and repeat unto them again, as near as he can after one manner of wise, and with the same words. For if they teach them now this, now that, now with these words, now with other, then the children learn little or nothing, they keep almost nothing in memory, & beside that, they wax weary of learning, & conceive a loathsomeness thereto, and be more slothful and unapt to learn. Forasmuch therefore as it was to be feared, ⟨p. ii⟩that every pastor would not take the pains to draw out such a short form of teaching to the children, nor we thought good to burden every one with so great labours, and also if every pastor severally should devise a form for his parish, it might chance that there should be as many sundry forms, as there be pastors, which diversity might engender much division and controversy, and be also much hinderance to the children, if in one place they learn one form, and in an other place an other form. For to eschew the said inconveniences, we have thought good to devise this short manner and form to instruct children and young men, whereby they may both shortly and easily learn the chief principles and beginning of Christen religion and doctrine, and