[Interrogatories vpon which ... churchwardens shalbe charged, for searche, of al such things as now be amysse.]

FIrst if there be within theyr parishe a Parson , Vicar or Curat , resident continuallie vpon his benefice and cure , doyng his dutye there as he is bound to do in al things , especially in preaching , saying Matins , Masse , and Euensonge at due tyme , christening , visiting the sicke , buryeng , and doynge al other such like , and whether he hath solempnized Matrimonie , the bannes not duly before asked , or haue celebrated the same , or other diuine seruice in any oratorie or priuate chappell not allowed nor licenced so to do by th ordinary or other sufficient auctoritye in that behalfe .

Item whether the said Parson , Vicar , or Cuirat , haue been heretofore maried or no , & if he continue with his woman or either of them suspiciouslye doo resorte to other .

Item whether within the said parish there be openly or secretly any maried priest , or any woman heretofore maried to a priest , and whither they be suspected of any euell rule and euel conuersation or no , and who be noted to be the supporters , maynteiners , fauourers or bearers of them in any wise .

Item whither ther be within the said parish any that doth maintayne or vphold the opinion that priestes and religious persones may lawfullye be maryed and continue together .

Item whether there be within your parish any prieste that taketh vpon hym to serue the cure , not being before examined and allowed thereto by th ordinary , and whither the said priest hath in the tyme of the late scisme here in the realme preached heresy or euil doctrine , and not recanted the same , or doth not now preache and sette forth the true doctrine of the catholike church , and also pray for the three estates of the catholike churche , and especiallye for the Kynge and Quenes Maiesties , and also whither prayinge for the thyrd estate , they do name Purgatorye or no.

Item whither there be within the sayde parishe any that do obstinately persist and stande in any heresie or hereticall opinion , or be suspected of erronious and false doctrine or a fauorer , mainteiner or aider of any erronious or hereticall person or persones , or of any heresies or hereticall opinions , or noughty doctrine .

Item whether you knowe or haue heard say of any person or persones within your said parish , that hath kept , or at this present doth kepe any hereticall , noughtye , or sedicious erronious booke or bookes , especially english testamentes or Bibles falsely translated , secretlye or otherwise , and whither ye haue any suspectes thereof .

Item whyther ye knowe or haue hearde of anye Prynters or Bookesellers wythin youre Parishe that hathe solde , or nowe dothe sell or keepe anye the sayde hereticall , nawghtye , or sedicious booke or bookes , letters or wrytynges , and whyther ye haue anye suspectes thereof .

Item whyther ye knowe or haue hearde saye of anye person or persones within your Parishe that wyllynglye or obstinatelye dothe neglecte or refuse to make theyr confession to the Priest , and to receyue absolution and penaunce at hys hande for hys offences , or obstinatelye or wyllynglye doo refuse to receyue the Sacrament of the Aultare , or extreme Vnction , in extreme daunger of syckenesse , or to heare Masse , or to come to hys Paryshe Churche , or refuse to go on Procession , or to take Holywater , or otherwyse doo mysuse them selues in breakynge the Rytes and Ceremonyes of the Catholyque Churche , speciallye in fastynge on the Ember dayes and other dayes by the Churche speciallye appoynted , or in prayinge , or other suche lyke .

Item whyther ye knowe or haue hearde of anye person or persones wythin your Paryshethat haue murmured , grudged or spoken directlye or indirectlye agaynste the Masse , or other ecclesiasticall seruice , vsed or commaunded in the Churche , or againste anye Sacramentes or Sacramentalles of the same , as holye breade , holy water , ashes , palmes , creping to the crosse , holye Oyle , and Chrisme , bearynge of Palmes or Candelles , buryinge of the deade , or praying for them , speciallye in sayinge of Diriges and Commendations , or in vsinge anye other laudable or Godlye Ceremonye or vsage of the Churche .

Item whither there be within your Paryshe anye that dothe fauoure , or is suspected to recept or receyue any noughty person or persones . especially to rede the english seruice , vsed in the time of king Edwarde the sixte , or the booke of Communion , or anye booke prohibited or forbydden to be redde or taught , or to set forth any noughtye opinion or doctrine .

Item whither there be within the sayde parish any priuie lectures or sermons , or other deuises , or anye vnlawfull conuenticles or assembles .

Item whether there be within the sayde parishe any , that at the sacring time of the Masse dothe hange downe theyr heades , or hyde them selues behinde pillers , or turneth away their faces , or departeth out of the church , because they woulde not looke vpon the blessed sacrament of the Aultare .

Item whether ye knowe or haue hearde saye of any persone or persones within your parishe that haue committed Lollardie , as in eatyng of fleshe at dayes and times forbydden or otherwise , practising or allowinge anye the opinions of the Lollardes .

Item whither there be within the sayde parish any person , man , woman , or childe , being of sufficient age and discretion that can not saye theyr Pater noster , Aue Maria , and the Crede .

Item whither there be within your parish any schole master or scolemastresse that do teach Children to rede , write , sing , or play , not beyng first examined and admitted thereunto by th ordinarie or his sufficient deputie , and whither the said scolemaster and scolemaistresse be sound in religion , and of honest lyuing and discrete behauiour , causing theyr scholers to fast , to praye , to come to the church , and to do theyr duties ther , specially in hearing Masse and other diuine seruice , and whither they teache them to helpe the Priest to Masse , and to saye their Pater noster , the Aue Maria , and the Crede with De profundis for all Christen soules , and whither the scholes , especially being commen be faithfully and diligently kept or no.

Item whither there be within the sayde parishe any that do absent them selues willynglie from the churche , loosinge Mattins , Masse , or Euensong , or anye parte thereof , and whyther there be any suspectes vpon Sondayes or holydaies colorable to absent them selues from theyr owne parish church , and to go into the countrie vnder pretence to see theyr house and the state of theyr thynges there , hearynge diuine seruice in no place .

Item whether you knowe or haue hearde of any in your parishe , that haue bene , or is a scold or a slaunderous person of his neighbours , or a sower of discorde and debate betwene partye and partie , especially betwene man and wyfe , or the parentes and theyr children , or any suche like , or that hath inuented , bruted , or set forth any rumours , false or sedicious tales , or sclaunders , or of any makers , bryngers in , byers , sellers , readers , keepers , or conueyers of anye vnlawfull letters , bookes , or wrytinges , stirringe or prouoking sedicion within thys realme , or of any theyr ayders , counsaylours , abbettors , procurers or mayntayners therein .

Item whither ye know or haue heard of any within the sayde parish that haue geuen occasion to moue or sturre vp any deuision , strife , contention or sedition , especially betwene the king and Quenes maiesties and their Subiectes .

Item whether ye knowe or haue heard saye of any concelementes , contempts , conspiracies , false rumors , tales , sedicious , misbehauiours , slaunderous woordes , bruted or spred by anye person or persones against the King and Quenes Maiesties , or either of them , or agaynst the quiet rule and gouernaunce of theyr subiectes or realmes .

Item whither the Patrones and other hauing aduowsons of benefices haue sincerly , truly , and iustly presented in due time , and in good order an able Clerke to the benefice vacant , not suffring the said benefice long to remaine without a Pastor or Curate .

Item whither you know of anye Patrones or other , hauing aduowsons that haue directly or indirectly practised , couenanted or agreed with any person or persones before the presentation or after , to haue anye summe of money for the same , or any other profite , commoditie or pleasure in anye wise vnder anye colour or conueyaunce , what so euer it be .

Item whither ye know any Patrones or other , hauing such aduowsons or any other persone that of his owne priuate authoritie and pleasure haue pulled downe any Church , chappel , or other ecclesiastical buildinge , or haue taken away the lead , belies , ornamentes , goodes , or landes of the said places , or anye of them , or spoyled anye of the same , or haue conuerted the tithes , profites , commodities , reuenewes , and possessions of anye of the same to his owne priuate and prophane vse .

Item whether ye knowe or haue hearde of any Parson , Vicar , or other , hauing ecclesiasticall promotion , that hathe made alienation of suche thinges as perteyned to his Parsonage , Vicarege , or spirituall promotion , or let the same to farme , without licence of his Ordinarye , and if he so in anye the premisses haue done , what it was , when it was , and by what authority or warrant it was done .

Item whither the churche of your parishe be nowe vacante or no , who is the patrone therof , how long it hath bene vacant , who doth receiue the tythes , oblations , and other commodities thereof , during the sayd vacation , and by what authoritie , and in what estate the sayde churche as in .

Item whither within the saide parishe there be any woman that doth exercise th office or rome of a Midwyfe , not beyng before examined and admitted thereto by th ordinary or his sufficient deputy , or whither there be any woman , hauing bene a priests wife or suspect of heresy , that is a common keper of women lying in childbed or no.

Item whither the said Midwife haue heretofore bene , and now is catholike , faithfull , discrete , sober , and diligent , ready to helpe euerye woman trauelyng with childe , aswel the poore as the riche .

Item whither the saide woman or any other comming to such trauelling do vse any Witchecraft , charmes , or vnlawful praiers or inuocations , or do omit or alter the lawdable rytes and ceremonies accustomed and vsed of antiquitie .

Item whither the said midwife or other woman denieth or letteth the newe borne childe to be brought to the church , and to be duly , reuerently and orderlye baptised , and the mother to be duly and accustomably purified .

Item whither any woman by them selues or by the smistre counsell of other , haue after their own fantasies purified them selues or done any thing therein contrary to the law , ordenaunce , and custome of the catholike church .

Item whither the Churchwardens of your parishe haue and do prouide all thinges necessary and requisite to be had in your church , accordynge as hathe bene accustomed wythin thys realme of Englande , before the time of the late schisme in the same .

Item whither within your said parishe there be a roode and a roode loft , hauing the Images of Mary and Iohn , & lightes before the same , and whither in the Lent season there be a couering for the saide Crucifixe decentlye prouided , and whither there be any lightes vpon the high Aultare , and whither there be an Image of the patrone of the church or no.

Item whither there be any Inuentary made and kept of the church goodes , and a boke concerning the regestringe of those that are baptized , maried , or buryed .

Item whither the bestimentes for the priests and other ministers , and al the ornamentes for and about the altar , be kept clene and sufficiently repayred and mainteined , and whither there be any thing lacking or no , and whither there be a comely pixe to kepe the blessed sacrament in & vpon the high Aultar , and whither there be any light burning before it , especially in the time of diuine seruice , and whither the blessed Sacrament be caryed decentlye and deuoutlye to the sicke , the Clerke goynge before the Prieste in a surplesse with lighte in his hand , and a litle sacring bell ringing .

Item whither the church or chauncel of your parish be in ruine or decay , and in whose default or negligence the same is .

Item whither there haue bene or be anye legacies or gyftes made for the repayrynge and mayntenaunce of your church , or of high waies , finding of the poore , maryenge of poore Maydens , or anye suche like , and the same not payde and aunswered accordingly .

Item whither there be any man within your parishe , that besides his wyfe keepeth incontinently any other woman , or any woman which besides her husband taketh or vseth with any other man , or whither any man doth put awaye his wife , or any wyfe doth withdrawe her selfe from her husband , not beynge lawfullye before diuorsed , and beyng lawfully diuorced , whither anye of the parties duringe the life of the other do mary or no.

Item whyther ye knowe of anye man that hath two wiues liuing , or of anye woman that hath two husbandes lyuing , no lawful diuorce beyng made betwene them .

Item whither you knowe of any vsurers , or of any bawdes , man or woman , or of any other vicious and notable offendours and breakers of Gods holye commaundementes , and of the godly orders , lawes , and lawdable customes of the holy catholike church in any wise , especially vpon Embring or fasting dayes , or vpon Sondayes or holydayes .

Item whither the church or churchyard haue bene violated , poluted , or suspended in any maner of wayes , especially by effusion of blood , violently made or done in the same .

Item whither anye dothe take vpon hym to ministre the goodes of any that is deade before the Testament be proued , or administration to him by th ordinary dulye committed , or doth let the Testament or last wyll in anye wyse to be fulfilled .

Item whither suche as can not reade vpon the booke , haue euerye one of theym a payre of beades , and doo vse the same deuoutlye and accordingly .

Item whither anye Minstrels or anye other persons do vse to syng or say any songes or dities that be vncleane or vile , especiallye against any of the. vii . Sacramentes , or against any the rites and ceremonies of thys Churche of Englande , whyche is a notable member of Christes catholike churche .

Item whither any do depraue or contempne the auctoritie or iurisdiction of the Popes holynes , or the sea of Rome , or do let the processe of anye Archbyshoppe or Byshoppe , or of anye of theyr deputies .

Item whither any playes or Interludes not beyng first examined , allowed , and approued by th ordinary , are vsed at any tyme , especiallye in the Lent , or vpon Sondaies or holydaies , especiallye at the tyme of diuine seruice , and whyther any other vyle or lewde pastimes at any of the sayde times , are in anye wyse vsed or accustomed .

Item whither there be any that doth vse to bye & sel vpon the sundayes or holydayes , or do vpon those dayes kepe open theyr shoppes , Tauernes , Alehouses , or victualyng houses , especially in the time of diuine seruice ,

Item whither ye haue procured or consented in any wyse , that duryng anye part of the Sermon made at Paules Crosse , there shoulde be ●rynging of belles , playing of Children , cryinge or making lowde noyse , rydinge of horses , or otherwyse , so that the Preacher there , or his audience was troubled thereby , and if ye haue not so procured or consented , whither haue you yet to the best and vttermoste of your power endeuowred your selfe to let such ringinge , playeng , cryeng , and noyse , that the said Preacher might the better doo his duty , and the audience be the better instructed and edified .

Item whither ye do know , or crediblye haue heard that within any part of the citye of London there hath bene any set tables kept for such as woulde thyther resorte to eate and drynke , and whither it be not vsed at the said tables to haue Diner and Supper vpon the Fryday and Embryng dayes , and all other dayes , aswell within the Lent time as without , or whither there be at the saide tables any flesh eaten at times prohibited .

FINIS .