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Desiderius Erasmus
 
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Desiderius Erasmus

(c. 1467 - 1536) [ODNB]

b. Rotterdam; humanist scholar and reformer. Augustinian canon 1487; priest 1492. Studied at Paris and Oxford, DTh University of Turin; lectured in theology and Greek at Cambridge

Erasmus praised the learning of William Tyndale. 1570, p. 1225; 1576, p. 1049; 1583, p. 1076.

Erasmus wrote to Juan de Vergara informing him of the fall of Thomas Wolsey and his replacement as chancellor by Sir Thomas More. 1570, p. 1130; 1576, p. 968; 1583, p. 994.

Included in the injunctions of Edward VI for the reformation of the church in the realm was the requirement that every church should have a bible in English and a copy of Erasmus's Paraphrases on the gospels. 1563, p. 687; 1570, p. 1487; 1576, p. 1261; 1583, p. 1298.

Erasmus wrote on St Jerome. 1570, p. 1340; 1576, p. 1143; 1583, p. 1172.

1322 [1298]

King Edward 6. Iniunctions geuen out by the king in his visitations for reformation of Religion.

that then they should leaue in theyr rowmes some Godly learned and discreet Curate that were able to instruct the people in all truth and godlines not seking thēselues, but rather the profit of theyr flocke  

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Injunction 6.

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MarginaliaThe Bible in Englishe of the largest volume to be set vp in euery Church with the Paraphrases of Erasmus.And likewise, that they should see prouided and set vp some most conuenient and open place of euery their seuerall Churches, one great Bible in english, & one book of the Paraphrases of Erasmus vpon the gospels, both in English, that the people might reuerentlye without any argument or contention, read & heare the same as such times as they listed: and not to be inhibited therfrō by the Parson or Curate, but rather to be the more encouraged and prouoked thereto  

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In a striking reversal of the 1543 withdrawal of permission for Bible reading by commoners (see n. 41, below), Injunction 7 mandates provision of chained copies of the Great Bible and the two-volume English translation of Erasmus's Paraphrases of the New Testament (1548-49; STC 2854-2854.7) for public reading by members of the laity.

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MarginaliaEcclesiasticall persons not to haunt Tauernes, or play at vnlawfull game.And that the sayd Parsons and Curates should not at any time (but for necessary causes) haunt anye Tauerne or Ale house, neither should spend their time idlely in vnlawfull games, but at all theyr conuenient leasures shoulde geue thēselues to the reading or hearing of the holy scriptures  

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Injunction 8.

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Moreouer, that in the time of confession euery Lent, they should examine theyr parishners whether they could say the Lordes prayer, the ten commaundementes, and the articles of the Christian fayth: and that if they coulde not, they should then remoue them, declaring farther vnto thē that, they ought not to presume to come vnto þe Lordes table without the true knowledge therof, and earnest desire to fulfill the same  

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Injunction 9.

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MarginaliaNone to preach but sufficiently licensed.Also that they shoulde not admitte any man to preache within theyr cures, but suche as were lawefully licensed thereunto: and that they hauing at anye tyme before extolled and praysed any Idolatrous Pilgrimage, or other superstition, should now openly recant the same before the people  

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Injunctions 10-11.

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MarginaliaThat all hinderers of Gods word, and fauourers of the contrary proceedings should be detected.And if there were any open hinderer or disturber of the reading or preaching of the word of God within their parishes, that then they should forthwith detect the same vnto the kinges counsell, or vnto some Iustice of peace to thē next inhabiting  

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Injunction 12.

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MarginaliaEcclesiasticall and beneficed persons, what they must geue to the poore.And further, that learning and knowledge might be þe better mayntayned, it was also ordeined herein, that euery beneficed persō þt mought yerely dispend twenty poūdes or vpward (and not resident vpon their cures) should pay towardes the reliefe of the poore within theyr parishes euery yeare, the fourty part of theyr fruites and profites  

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Injunction 14.

: MarginaliaEuery benefice of a 100. pound, to finde a scholer at the vniuersitye.& likewise that euery suche as might dispende one hundreth poundes yearely or more, should for euery hundreth poūd geue a competent exhibition vnto some poore scholer within one of the Vniuersityes of Oxford or Cambridge or els in some other grammer schole of the realme  
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Injunction 15.

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MarginaliaCertaine thinges to be prouided for of the churchmen.And also that euery priest bring vnder the degree of a Bacheler of Diuinity should haue of his owne, one newe Testment in English and Latine, with the Paraphrases of Erasmus vpon the same, and should diligētly read and study therupon, and should collect and keep in memory all such comfortable places of the scripture, as do set forth the mercy, benefites, and goodnes of almighty God towardes all penitent & beleuing persons, that they might therby cōfort theyr flock in al daūger of death, dispayre or trouble of conscience: and that therfore euery bishop in theyr visitations should from time to time try and examine them how they had profited in these theyr studyes  

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Injunction 20 is designed to eliminate ignorance of the New Testament on the part of clerics.

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MarginaliaThe Gospel & epistle to be read in the hearing of the people.And although the Masse was then still by the Law reteyned, yet was it enioyned, that at euery high masse the sayer or singer therof should openly and distinctly read the Gospell and Epistle in English, in the Pulpit or in some other conuenient place that the people mought heare the same. And in like place and maner should read euery holy day and Sonday at Mattins one chapter of the new Testament in English, omitting therfore three of theyr 9. Latine Lessons with theyr Respondes: and at Euensong like wise immediately after Magnificat, one chapter of the old Testament in stead of theyr wonted Respondes and Memories  

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In requiring the reading of passages from the Old and New Testaments in vernacular translation, Injunction 21 represents the starting point in a radical departure from the Latin service that survived England's 1534 schism from the Church of Rome. Readings from the Great Bible in conjunction with those from the forthcoming Book of Homilies (Injunction 32) and Book of Common Prayer (forthcoming in 1549) would comprise a wholly new church service in the English language. King, English Reformation Literature, pp. 123-38.

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MarginaliaProcessions laid downe.Furthermore, because of the vayne contention that often fall among the people for goyng on Procession, it was ordeined that thenceforth the Priests and Clerkes should kneele in the midst of the Church, & there distinctly sing or reade the Letany in English sette forth by the authority of K. Henry the eight: and that no person should depart the church in the time of reading the Scripture or the Letany, or during the time of any Sermon, without iust and vrgent cause  

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Injunction 23. The 1544 Litany was the first component in the vernacular worship service contained in the Book of Common Prayer (forthcoming in 1549).

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MarginaliaThe true vsing of the holy day.Likewise that the people should spend the holydaies in hearing the word of God, in priuate and publick prayers, in knowledging theyr offences vnto God and amendmēt of the same, in reconciling themselues charitablye to theyr neighbors where displeasure hath bene, in often receiuing the Communnion of the body and bloud of Christ, in visi-ting the poore & sicke, & in all sober and godly conuersatiō: and not in vanity, idlenes, or dronkenes, neither yet in any bodily labor, otherwise then in þe time of haruest, to saue the fruites of the earth, if necessity so required  

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Injunction 24.

: MarginaliaDiligent preparation to be had before the comming to the Communion.and that no curate should admit vnto the receiuing of the holy cōmunion, any person who had maliciously and opēly contēded with his neighbors, vnlesse the same did first also openlye reconcile himselfe agayne, and remit all rancor and malice whatsoeuer.  
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Injunction 25.

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MarginaliaA godly charge geuen to euery beneficed minister to preach personally twise at least in the yeare and what to preach.Moreouer it was ordeined that euery Dean, Archdeacon master of Collegiat Churches or Hospitals, and Prebendaries (being Priest) should himselfe personally preach twise euery yeare at the least, in some such place where hee had iurisdiction and liuing  

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Injunction 26.

: and that they and all other curates should teach þe people that as no man of any priuate affection ought maliciously to violate any ceremony in the Church, then not abrogated by þe kings authority: so likewise they ought not on the other side to vse them superstitiously or idolatrously, in attributing to them remission of sinnes, driuing away of euill spirits, & other such like dreames & fātasies of men, or els in putting any confidence of saluation or health in thē  
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Although Injunction 27 mandates strict observance of ecclesiastical ceremonies, it anticipates the forthcoming abrogation of many elements in the traditional service by denying that ceremonies discharge any soteriological function.

. MarginaliaAll monuments of Idolatry to be taken away out of Churches, houses, & windowes.And farther that they should vtterly take away and destroy all Shrines and Monumēts of fayned Miracles, Pilgrimages, and other Idolatrous superstition, as well in theyr Churches, as wythin theyr priuate houses  
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Injunction 28 gives official sanction to the iconoclastic destruction of shrines and religious images and to shrines that constitute objects of veneration, including those in stained glass windows.

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MarginaliaA chest to be prouided vpon publicke charge to receaue the almes of the poore, & the Curates to call vpon their parishioners to geue to the same chest.Also that they should see prouided within their churches a strong and fit chest for the safe keeping of þe peoples beneuolence geuen towards the reliefe of the poore, and that the sayd Curates should earnestly exhort and moue theyr Parishioners (especially at the making of theyr Testaments) that as they had bene thertofore willing to bestow much of theyr substance vpon vayne superstitions & blind deuotiōs contrary to gods word, so now they would be much more readier to geue som portion therof vnto theyr poore & nedy brethren, knowing the same to be not only commaūded in þe word of God, but also promised to be rewarded. And for the better reliefe of the poore it was also appoynted that all mony & profits rising vpon Fraternities, guildes, stocks of Churches or geuen to the finding of Idolatrous lights should be cōuerted for that present vnto the same vse  

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Injunction 29.

. MarginaliaHomelies to be read euery sonday when there is no sermon.Last of all, for the want of learned Curates & other good preachers, it was enioyned that þe Curates (hauing no sermō) should euery sōday read vnto the people in their churches one of the homilies which should be shortly set forth for þe same purpose by the kinges authority: & that whē any homily or sermō should be preached or read, then the Prime and Houres should be omitted  
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Acknowledging the existence of an inadequate supply of learned clerics, Injunction 32 enjoins unlicensed preachers to read officially authorized sermons in Certain sermons, or homilies, appoynted by the kynges maiestie, to be declared and redde. Its initial publication on 31 July 1547 coincided with that of the Royal Injunctions. The King's Printer, Richard Grafton, or his associate, Edward Whitchurch, published eleven editions of the Book of Homilies during 1547 (STC 13638.5-13641.9). Various hands contributed twelve sermons on a range of topics (e.g., exhortations on original sin, against whoredom and adultery, and against strife and contention). It is a virtual certainty that Archbishop Cranmer composed the homilies on Bible reading, salvation, faith, and works, which expound the core Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone and the concomitant position that good works lack efficacy in themselves and possess no validity if they are not grounded in faith. King, English Reformation Literature, pp. 131-34.; MacCulloch, Thomas Cranmer, pp. 372-75.

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There were also diuers other articles in the same Iniunctiōs appoynted for comelines & due order in the churches: as for repayring of Chauncels and Priestes houses, for keeping of a Register booke of weddinges, christenings and burials, for reading of these Iniunctions euery quarter for due paying of tithes for forbidding of any other alteracion of seruice in the Church, or fasting dayes, for making of comely Pulpits for the preachers, for auoyding of simony in buying and selling of benefices of the charitable vsing of Priestes, for praying onely vpon the English and Latine primmers set forth by K. Henry the eight for þeteaching of his grammer in the common scholes. At last that the Chauntry Priestes should teach yong children, eyther to write and read, or els some other good and profitable exercises: as it doth more fully and amply apeare in the same Iniunctions at large set forth in the 684  

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Foxe advises the reader to consult page 684 of the first edition of the Book of Martyrs in order to consult a more expansive paraphrase of Injunctions 13, 16-19, 22, 30-31, and 33-34.

.MarginaliaRead the former edition of the booke of Actes and Monumentes, pag. 684. page of the fyrste booke of the Actes and Monuments of the church heretofore imprinted.

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Besides these generall Iniunctions for the whole estate of the Realme, there were also certayne others particularly appoynted for the Bishops onely, which being deliuered vnto the Commissioners, were likewise by theyr visitations committed vnto the sayd byshops with charge to be inuiolably obserued and kept vpon payne of the kinges Maiesties displeasure: the effect whereof is as in maner foloweth.

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MarginaliaAnno 1547.First that they should to the vttermost of theyr wit and vnderstanding, see & cause al and euery singuler the kings IniunctionsMarginaliaIniunctions geuen to the Bishops. theretofore geuen, or after to bee geuen from time to time, in and through our Dioces, duely, faythfully and truely to be kept, abserued and accomplished, and that they should personally preach within theyr Dioces, euery quarter of a yeare once at þe least, that is to say once in theyr Cathedrall Churches, and thrise in other seueral places of theyr Diocesses, wheras they should see it most conuēniēt and necessary, except they had a reasonable excuse to the cōtrary. Likewise, that they should not reteine into their seruice or houshold, any chaplein but such as were learned, or able to preach the word of God, and those they should also cause to exercise the same.

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