A19564:81
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.
Fifthly they do misuse the name of God, which do abuse it to charms, witchcraft, sorceries, nicromā cies, enchantments, & conjurings. And this is not only a great sin, but a thing of his own nature most vain and foolish. For persuade your selves this thing for a surety, good children, that all kind of witchcraft is of his own nature nothing else but lies, giles and subtilenes, to deceive ignorant and simple men, as many have proved by experience to their great loss and utter undoing. Wherefore beware of them, believe them not, do not learn them, neither ⟨p. xxv⟩fear that an nother mans enchantments are able to hurt you. For they be nothing else but the devils instruments, by the which he doeth provoke men to horrible since, that the name of God may be blasphemed diverse ways, that we may defile our souls with detestable idolatry, that one man may suspect an other, that anger, envy and hatred might be sown among men, and that out of this root might spring up backbiting slandering & all mischief. This vice pleaseth well the devil, but God hath forbid it, and commanded in the old law that witches, sorcerers and conjurers should suffer punishment of death.
Fyftly they do misuse the name of God, whiche do abuse it to charmes, witchcraft, sorceries, nicromā cies, inchaūtemētes, & cōiuringes. And this is not onely a great syn, but a thynge of hys owne nature moste vayne and folishe. For perswade your selfes this thynge for a suertie, good chyldren, that all kynd of witchecraft is of hys own nature nothing elles but lies, gyles and subtilenes, to deceaue ygnoraunt and simple mē, as manye haue proued by experiēce to theyr great losse and vtter vndowynge. Wherfore beware of them, beleue them not, do not learne them, neyther ⟨p. xxv⟩feare that an nother mans inchauntementes are hable to hurte you. For they be nothing els but the deuils instrumentes, by the whiche he doeth prouoke men to horrible synnes, that the name of God may be blasphemed dyuerse wayes, yt we may defile our soules with detestable ydolatrie, that one man may suspecte an other, that anger, enuy and hatred myght be sowen amonge men, and that out of thys roote myght sprynge vp backbytyng slaūderyng & al myschief. This vice pleaseth well the deuyll, but God hath forbid it, and cōmaūded in ye olde lawe that whitches, sorcerers and cōiurers should suffre punishmēt of death.