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SHORT INSTRUCTION

INTO

CHRISTIAN RELIGION,

BEING

A CATECHISM

SET FORTH BY

ARCHBISHOP CRANMER

IN MDXLVIII:

TOGETHER WITH

THE SAME IN LATIN,

Translated from the German by

JUSTUS JONAS

IN MDXXXIX.

OXFORD,

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

MDCCCXXIX.

608.2 C89.4 ca 1829

971

PREFACE

OF

THE EDITOR.

THE present volume consists of two parts. The first contains the treatise, which is commonly known by the name of Cranmer's Catechism : the second, the same work in Latin, from which the former was translated. It is singular that bishop Burnet should have been ignorant of the real author of this Catechism, and should have ascribed it to Cranmer himself. Thus he says in his History of the Reformation, without taking any notice of its being a translation, "The next thing Cranmer set about was, the publishing "of a Catechism, or large instruction of young persons in the grounds of the Christian religiona" and still more strongly at the end of the account which he gives of the Catechism; "It "is plain that he had now quite laid aside those singular opinions which he formerly held of the "ecclesiastical functions; for now, in a work "which was wholly his own, without the concurrence of any others, he fully sets forth their "divine institution"." This mistake is noticed in

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a Part II. book I. vol. II. p. 145. ed. 1829.

b Ib. p. 147.

the "Observations and Corrections of the two vo"lumes of the History of the Reformation, made

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by Mr. Strype," which are printed in the Appendix to the first and second volumes. It is there said, "This Catechism was first made in "Latin by another, but translated by Cranmer's "order, and it was reviewed by him."

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Burnet may have been led into this error by Cranmer's own words. The Catechism is said in the title-page to be "set forth by the mooste re"verende father in God Thomas archbishop of Canterbury." In the words which stand at the head of the preface, immediately after the epistle dedicatory, it is said to be "oversene and cor"rected by the moost reverende father in God "the archebyshoppe of Canterburie:" though in some copies, instead of "oversene and corrected," we find "set forth," as in the title-page. Cranmer speaks still more strongly in his " Defence of "the true and catholike doctrine of the sacra"ment," published in 1550, two years after the Catechism: " And in a Catechisme by me trans"lated and set furth, I used like maner of speeche, "&ce" And in his answer to Smith, to be quoted more at length hereafter, he says, "not long be"fore I wrot the sayd Catechisme." Notwithstanding these expressions, nothing is more cer

c Vol. III. part II. P. 545.

d Strype writes inadvertently, "it is said in the title page to "be overseen and corrected by the archbishop." Memorials of Cranmer, p. 160.

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tain, than that Cranmer's Catechism was translated from a Latin work, which was itself a translation from the German, made by Justus Jonas. This fact appears to have been well known at the time; at least it was known to Gardiner, bishop of Winchester. Cranmer, as has been stated, published a work upon the sacrament in the year 1550: to which book Gardiner, who was then in the Tower, wrote an answer, which he exhibited at Lambeth, when he was examined before the archbishop and the king's commissioners: the title of which was, " An explication and "assertion of the true Catholique fayth, touchyng "the most blessed Sacrament of the aulter with "confutation of a booke written agaynst the same. "Made by Steven Bishop of Wynchester, and ex"hibited by his oune hande for his defence to the kynges maiesties Commissioners at Lambeth 8." In this work Gardiner speaks of the Catechism, as "in his (i. e. Cranmer's) name set forth" and again," a booke set forth in the archbishoppe of "Cantorburies name called a Catechismei:" but he says in another place, "Justus Jonas hath translated a Catechisme out of Douch into La"tin, taught in the citie of Noremberge in Ger

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g There is also added “anno 1551" but over this date, in the Bodleian copy, there is pasted a small piece of paper with the words, "And nowe authorised by the Queenes high

nesse Counsaile. Imprinted at Roan." The book was certainly printed in France, as is stated by Cranmer in his Reply, p. 44-5; and he accuses Gardiner of not having adhered to the written copy which he exhibited at Lambeth. i Page 17.

h Page 2.

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