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The catechisme
The catechisme, that is to say, ane common and catholik instructioun of the christin people in materis of our catholik faith and religioun, quhilk na gud christin man or woman suld misknaw. (St.Andrews, 1552).
The first book printed in St Andrews, The Catechisme was designed by the Catholic Church in Scotland to make its doctrines accessible to all. To this end, the book was written in the vernacular. Indeed, it is one of the best surviving examples of Middle Scots prose.
While the contents of The catechisme were aimed at everyone, the actual copies of the book were sent to the clergy. The Archbishop of St Andrews, John Hamilton (1510/11-1571), wrote the preface himself. In it, he explains:
'Heirfor it is to yow expedient to use this present Catechisme, first to your awin instructioun ... Secundly, according to the decreit maid in our prouincial counsale, our will is that ye reid ye samyn Catechisme diligently, distinctly & plainly ilk ane of yow to your awin parochianaris, for thair common instructioun & spiritual edificatioun in ye word of God.'
The image shows the text of the Lord's prayer in the familiar Latin version and below in Scots. This is probably the first time it was ever printed in Scots! Here is a transcription:
The Same prayer of our LORD
In Inglis.
Our Father, quhilk is in Heuinnis. Thy
name mot be hallowit. Thy kyngdome mot
cum. Thy wyll mot be done in erd, as it is
in heuin. Geue vvs this day, our daylie breid.
And forgyff vvs our dettis, as we forgyfe our
dettour. And lede us nocht in temptatioun.
Bot delyver vvs fra euyl. Sa be it.
The use of the word "Inglis" does not in fact signify English, but Scots: until well into the 16th century, this was common usage, though the term "Scots" was being used synonymously. This is also a nice example of the interchangeable use of 'u', 'v' and 'vv'.
In the Catholic tradition, the words "but deliver us from evil" are followed by a short prayer; the line "For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever" does not formally belong to the Lord's prayer. However, "Sa be it" is the Scots translation of "Amen" that ends both versions.
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