Articles to be enquired in the visitation, in the firste yere of the raigne of our moste dread soueraigne lady Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of Englande, Fraunce, & Ireland, Quene, defendour of the faith, &c., anno 1559

ARTICLES .

FYrst , whether any Parson , Vicar , 1. Residencie . or Curate , be resident continually vpon his Benefice , doyng his duetie in preaching , reding and duelye ministrynge the holye Sacramentes .

2. False miracles . Item , whether in theyr Churches and Chappelles , all Images , Shrynes , all Tables , Candelstickes , Trindelles , or rolles of war , pictures , payntynges , and all other monumentes of fayned and false miracles , pylgrymages , idolatrye , and superstition , be remoued , abolyshed , and destroyed .

3. Lordes prayer . Item , whether they do not euery Holydaye when they haue no Sermon , immediatly after the Gospell , openly , playnely , and distinctly , resite to theyr paryshyoners in the Pulpitte , the Lordes prayer , the beliefe , and the tenne Commaundementes in Englyshe .

4. To bryng vp youth . Item , whether they do charge fathers and mothers , maisters , and gouernours of youth , to bryng them vp in some vertuous studye and occupation .

Item , 5. Curates . whether suche beneficed men as be lawfully absent from theyr benefices , do leaue theyr cures to a rude and vnlearned Parson , and not to an honest wel learned and expert Curate whiche can and wyll teache you holesome doctrine .

6. Redyng the Scriptures . Item , whether they do discourage any person from readyng of any part of the Byble , eyther in Latin or Englysh , and do not rather comfort and exhort euery person to read the same at conuenient tymes , as the very lyuely worde of God , and the speciall foode of mans soule .

7. Tauernes and games . Item , whether Parsons , Vicars , Curates , and other ministers , be common haunters and resorters to Tauernes or Alehouses , geuyng them selues to drynkyng , ryotyng , and playing at vnlawful games , and do not occupy them selues in the readyng or hearynge of some part of holye Scripture , or in some other godly exercyse .

Item , 8. Preachers . whether they haue admitted any man to preache in theyr cures , not beyng lawefully licensed therunto , or haue bene licensed accordyngly .

Item , 9 Superstition . whether they vse to declare to theyr parishioners any thyng to the extollyng or settyng forth of vayne and superstitious religion , pilgrimages , reliques , or ymages , or lyghtyng of candelles , kyssyng , knelyng , deckyng of the same ymages .

Item , 10. Register . whether they haue one booke or Register kept , wherein they wryte the daye of euery weddyng , chrystenyng , and burying .

Item , 11. Obedience . whether they haue exhorted the people to obedience to the Quenes Maiestie , and ministers , and to charitie and loue one to another .

12. The Sacrament . Item , whether they haue admonyshed theyr parishioners , that they ought not to presume to receiue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ before they can perfectly the Lordes prayer , the articles of the fayth , and the .x. commaundementes in Englyshe .

Item , 13. Hospitalitie . whether they be resident vpon theyr benefices , and kepe hospitalitie or no. And if they be absent and kepe no hospitalitie , whether they do relieue theyr parishioners , and what they geue them .

Item , whether proprietaries , Parsons , 14. Reparations . Vicars , and clarkes , hauyng Churches , chappels , or mansions , do kepe theyr chauncels , rectories , Vicarages , and all other houses appertaynyng to them , in due reparations .

15. Prayer in Englyshe . Item , whether they do counsayle or moue theyr parishioners rather to praye in a tounge not knowen , then in Englyshe , or put theyr trust in any certayne numbre of prayers , as in saying ouer a numbre of Beades , Beades . or other lyke .

16. Diffamed persons . Item , whether they haue receaued any persons to the communion , beyng openly knowen to be out of charitie with theyr neighbours , or dyffamed with anye notorious cryme , and not refourmed .

17. Poore mens boxe . Item , whether they haue prouided and haue a stronge chest for the poore mens boxe , and set and fastened the same in a place of the Churche most conuenient .

Item , 18. Testamentes . whether they haue diligently called vpon , exhorted and moued theyr paryshioners , and especially when they make theyr testamentes , to geue to the sayd poore mens boxe , and to bestowe that vpon the poore , Poore mens boxe . whiche they were wonte to bestowe vpon pilgrimages , pardons , trentalles , and vpon other like blind deuocions .

19. Sycke . Buryall . Item , whether they haue denyed to visite the sicke , or burye the deade , beynge brought to the Churche .

Item , 20. Symonye . whether they haue bought theyr benefices , or come to them by fraude , guyle , deceit , or symonye .

Item , 21. Adulterers . whether they haue geuen open monition to theyr parishioners , to detect and present to theyr Ordinary , all adulterers and fornicatours , and such men as haue two wiues liuyng , within theyr paryshes .

22. Churche goodes . Item , whether they haue monyshed theyr parishioners openly , that they should not sel , geue , nor otherwyse alienate anye of theyr Churche goodes .

23. Many Benefices . Item , whether they or any of them do kepe mo benefices and other Ecclesiasticall promotions , then they ought to do , not hauyng sufficient licences and dispensations thereunto , and howe many they be , and theyr names .

Item , 24. Communion . whether they minister the holy Communion any otherwyse , then onely after suche fourme and maner as it is set forth by the common aucthoritie of the Quenes Maiestie , and the parliament .

25. Letters of the word or preachyng . Item , whether you know any person within your paryshe , or els where , that is a letter of the worde of God to be read in Englyshe , or sincerely preached in place and times conuenient .

26. Goers out of the Church . Item , whether in the tyme of the Letanye , or any other common prayer , in the tyme of the Sermon or Homelye , and when the Priest readeth the Scriptures to the parishioners , anye person haue departed out of the Churche , without iuste and necessarye cause , or disturbe the Minister otherwyse .

27. Church money . Item , whether the money commyng and rysyng of any cattell or other moueable stockes of the Church , and mony geuen and bequeathed to the fyndyng of torches , lyghtes , tapers , or lampes , not payde out of any landes , haue not ben employed to the poore mens cheste .

28. Kepers of the Church money . Item , who hath the sayd stockes and money in theyr handes , and what be theyr names .

29. Contempt of Priestes . Item , whether anye indiscrete persons do vncharitably contemne and abuse Priestes and Ministers of the Churche .

30. The kynges Grammer . Item , whether there be any other Grammer taught in any scoole within this Diocesse , then that which is set forth by the aucthoritie of king Henry th eyght .

31. The tyme of seruice . Item , whether the seruice of the Church be done at due and conuenient houres .

32. Talkers in the Church . Item , whether anye haue vsed to common , tangle , and talke in the Churche in the tyme of the prayer , readyng of the Homylye , preachyng , readyng or declaryng of the Scripture .

Item , 33. Heresies . whether any haue wylfully mainteyned and defended any heresyes , errors , or false opinions , contrary to the faith of Chryst and holy Scripture .

Item , 34. Dronkardes whether any be common dronkardes , swearers , or blasphemers of the name of God .

Item , 35. Adulterers . whether any haue committed adulterye , fornication , or incest , or be common bawdes , or receiuers of such euyll persons , or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses .

Item , 36. Brawlers . whether any be brawlers , slaunderers , chyders , scolders , and sowers of discord betwene one person and another .

Item , 37. Sorcerers . whether you knowe any that do vse charmes , sorcery , enchauntmentes , inuocations , circles , witchcraftes , southsaying , or any lyke craftes or imaginations inuented by the deuyll , and specially in the tyme of womens trauayle .

Item , 38. Pulpittes . whether the Churches , Pulpittes , and other necessaryes apperteynyng to the same , be sufficiently repayred , and if they be not , in whose default the same is .

39. Resorters to other Churches . Item , whether you knowe any , that in contempt of theyr owne paryshe Churche , do resort to any other Church .

Item , 40. Inholders . whether any Inholders , or Alehouse-kepers , do vse commonly to sell meate & drynke in the tyme of common prayer , preachyng , readyng of the Homylyes or Scripture .

Item , 41. Diuorse . whether you knowe any to be marryed within the degrees prohibited by the lawes of God , or that be seperated or diuorsed without the degrees prohibited by the lawe of God , and whether any such haue marryed agayne .

42. Priuie contractes . Item , whether you knowe any to haue made priuie contractes of Matrimonye , not callyng two or mo witnesses therevnto , nor hauyng thereto the consent of theyr parentes .

Item , 43. Banes . whether they haue maryed solempnly , the banes not fyrst lawfully asked .

Item , 44. Erecutours whether you knowe any executours or administratours of dead mens goodes , which do not duelye bestowe suche of the sayde goodes as were geuen and bequeathed , or appoynted to be distributed among the poore people , repayryng of hygh wayes , fyndyng of poore scollers , or marying or poore maydens , or such other lyke charitable dedes .

Item , 45. Images . whether you knowe any that kepe in theyr houses vndefaced , any Images , Tables , Pictures , payntynges , or other monumentes of fayned and false miracles , pylgrimages , idolatry , and superstition , and do adore them , and specially such as haue ben set vp in Churches , Chapelles , or Oratories .

Item , 46. Bookes . what Bookes of Gods Scripture you haue deliuered to be burnt , or otherwise destroyed , and to whom ye haue deliuered the same .

Item , 47. Brybes . what brybes the accusers , promoters , persecutors , Ecclesiasticall iudges , and other the Commissioners appoynted within the seuerall Diocesse of this Realme , haue receiued by them selues or other , of those persons whiche were in trouble , apprehended , or imprisoned for Religion .

48. Losse of goodes . Item , what goodes , moueable landes , fees , offices , or promotions , hath ben wrongfully taken away in the tyme of Quene Maries raigne , from any person whiche fauoured the Religion nowe set forth .

49. How many burnt . Item , howe many persons for Religion haue dyed by fyre , famine , or otherwyse , or haue ben imprisoned for the same .

50. Certificat of the dead . Item , that you make a true presentment of the number of all the persons which dyed within your parishes , sithen the feast of Saint Iohn the Baptist , which was in the yere of our Lorde God a thousande fiue hundreth fiftie and eyght , vnto the same feast last past . Makyng therein a playne distincte declaration , howe many men , women , and men chyldren the same were . And the names of the men .

51. Secrete Masses . Item , whether ye knowe any man in your paryshe , secretlye or in vnlawfull conuenticles , say or heare Masse , or any other seruice prohibited by the lawe .

52. False rumours . Item , whether you knowe any person in your Paryshe , to be a slaunderer of his neyghbours , or a sower of discorde betwene partie and partie , man and wyfe , parentes and theyr chyldren , or that hath inuented , bruted , or set foorth any rumours , Vnlawfull bookes . false and sedicious tales , slaunders , or makers , bryngers , byers , sellers , kepers , or conueyers , of any vnlawfull bookes , whiche myght stirre or prouoke sedition , or mainteyne superstitious seruice within this Realme , or any aydours , counsaylours , procurers , or maynteyners therevnto .

53. Patron . Tythes . Vacation . Item , whether the Churche of your paryshe be nowe vacant or no , who is the Patrone therof , howe long it hath ben vacant , who doth receiue the tythes , oblations , and other commodities duryng the tyme of the vacation , and by what aucthoritie , and in what estate the sayde Church is at this tyme , and howe long the Parson , or Vicar hath had that Benefice .

Item , 54. Minstrelles . whether any Minstrelles , or any other persons do vse to syng or saye any songes or dytties that be vyle or vncleane , and especiallye in derision of any Godly order nowe set foorth and establyshed .

55. Letany in Englyshe . Item , whether the Letany in Englyshe , with the Epistle & Gospel , which was by the Quenes highnesse Proclamation wylled to be read to the people , were put in vse in your Churches , and if not , who were the letters therof .

56. Distinct readyng . Item , whether the Curates and Ministers do leysurely , playnely , and distinctly , reade the publique Prayers , Chapters , and Homylyes , as they ought to do .

God saue the Quene .