were made from designs of Holbein. The name of this distinguished painter will be seen at length in the plate to p. 173, and his initials H H appear in two other places: on the book at the foot of the altar in p. 132; and on the pedestal of the table in p. 161a. It might be thought from the extract given above, that Cranmer did not set any very high value upon the art of painting: but Holbein was at this time in England, where he had been residing several years; and a Catechism set forth by the Archbishop was not an unlikely subject to exercise his pencil. A series of engravings very similar to these may be seen in a work called Icones Catecheseos Christianæ, &c. ab Hieronymo Osio, Viteberga, 1565.

The English Catechism, as printed in the present edition, was intended to be a faithful copy of the original one of 1548: and with a carefulness, which will be understood and appreciated by the typographical antiquary, not only was it wished, that the peculiar orthography should be preserved, but even the errors of the press. When those directions were given, it was not known, that the different copies presented such extraordinary variations. The errors, which have been preserved, are therefore only the errors of a particular copy, and perhaps it would have been better not to have preserved them at all. A list of them is given at

d In this last instance the engraver has neglected to copy the initials.

e He died in London of the plague in 1554.

the end of the Catechism, which is taken from the original edition; to which is subjoined a second list of such errata, as have been discovered in printing the book, but which were not noticed in the original edition.

In printing the Latin Catechism, the same scrupulous accuracy has not been observed. The punctuation has been repeatedly altered, and all palpable errors of the press have been corrected. It was however thought desirable to retain the peculiar orthography of many of the words, which though most absurdly incorrect, and by no means uniform, was evidently the result of intention, and may serve to characterize the German Latinity of that day. The Latin translations of Luther's Catechisms contain many specimens of the same orthography.

It is due to the memory of the late Bishop of Oxford to state, that the publication of these two Catechisms was owing to his intimate acquaintance with the writings of our Reformers, and to his desire of reprinting a series of works connected with the history and formation of our Liturgy. They were considered by him to be an appropriate sequel to the "Formularies of Faith," which were put forth under his direction in 1825; as well as of importance in marking the change which was effected in Cranmer's opinions concerning the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Nearly the whole of the volume was printed at the time of his death,

which took place May 31st, 1829: and that sudden and melancholy event will account for the deficiencies of this preface, which would otherwise have had the advantage of that deep research and those ample stores of information, which can now only live in our memories and our regrets.

TO THE MOSTE EXCELLENT PRINCE

EDWARD THE. VI.

By the grace of God Kyng of Englande, Fraunce and Irelande, Defendour of the Fayth, and in earth of the Churche of Englande and Irelande immediatly vnder God Supreme Heed, youre Graces humble Subiecte and Chaplayne Thomas Archebysshop of Canterbury, wissheth aboundance of al grace and godlynes with a longe and prosperous raigne.

It is not vnknowen vnto the hole world (most excellent prince) that your graces father a kynge of mooste famous memorie of a feruent and ernest godly disposition and tender zele towardes the settyng forth of Goddes glorie, moste diligently trauaylled for a trewe and a ryght reformation and a quiet concorde in Christes religion thorowout al hys dominions, wherin vndoubtedly he brought many thynges to a godlye purpose and effecte, and dyd abolyshe and take away muche blyndnes and ignorance of God, many great errors, fonde and pernitious superstitions and abuses, that had crepte into thys churche of Englande, and Irelande a longe time. And I perceiuing that your magestie by thaduyse of youre moste dere vncle my lorde protector, and the reste of youre graces moste honorable counsel, is moste desyrous perfytly to finyshe and brynge to passe, that your father

dyd mooste Godlye begynne, do thynke that there is nothynge more necessarye, for the furtherance hereof, then that it myghte be forseen, howe the youthe and tender age of youre louynge subiectes, maye be broughte vp and traded in the trewth of Goddes holy worde. For it is thought not to me onely, but to manye others, that neyther your graces father shoulde haue been inforced in hys tyme, to haue taken so greate paynes for the reformation of Christes religion, neyther yet youre hyghnes in thys your time, shoulde nede with suche greate difficultie go about to further goddes cause and hys trewe seruice, with so many lawes, iniunctions and proclamations yf so greate negligence of theducation of the youth had not bene so much suffered, and the necessarie poyntes and articles of our religion and profession omitted of those whose office and bounden dewty was to haue moste diligently instructed the youth in the same. Or yf the aunciente and laudable ceremonie of Confirmation hadde continued in the olde state, and bene duely vsed of the ministers in time conuenient, where an exacte and strayghte examination was had of all suche as were of ful age, bothe of theyr profession that they made in baptisme touching theyr belefe and kepyng of goddes commaundementes, with a generall solemne rehersall of the sayde commaundementes and of all tharticles of theyr fayth. Surely there can be no greater hope of any kinde of persones, other to be brought to all honest conuersation of lyuynge, or to be more apte to set forth and mayntayne all godlynes and trewe religion, then of suche as haue ben from childhode noryshed and fed wyth the swete milke, and as it were the pappe of goddes holy