Articles ecclesiastical to be enquired of by the church-wardens and sworne-men within the [blank] in the visitation of the [blank] and in the ([blank] yeere of the reigne of our most dread soueraigne lord King Iames)

¶ Note , you are by your said Oath to present truely what you either know of your owne knowledge , or what is publikely or credibly famed and spoken touching any matter or thing contained in any Article following .

FIrst , whether any person whatsoeuer of your Parish doth maintaine or defend any Heresies , false opinions , or Popish errors , contrary to the word of God , and the Articles of Religion established in this Realme ?

2 Whether any person bee an impugner or deprauer either in word or writing the of forme of Ecclesiasticall gouernement of the Church of England , or of the Booke of Common prayer , or the Rites and Ceremonies prescribed therein , or of the Kings supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall , or of the Oath of Supremacie or Allegeance ?

3 Whether any Parson doth reade publique Seruice in any Church or Chappell , not beeing lawfully ordered Deacon at the least , and licensed by the Lord Bishop or his Chauncellor .

4 Whether any Parson , Vicar , or Curate presume to preach in their Cures , or elsewhere , not being licenced by the Bishop or Ordinarie ?

5 Whether is your Parson or Vicar knowen , or probably and publikely famed or reported to haue obtained his Benefice by Simony , or to let out his Liuing to farme , or any part thereof to any person in consideration of any such Simoniacall compact .

6 Whether haue you had a Sermon preached euery Sabbath day this last yeere in your Church : if not , yet how many haue you had ? and vpon those Sundaies that you had not a Sermon , haue you had an Homely read ?

7 Whether hath any stranger been suffered to preach in your Church or Chappell , without hauing first shewed his licence to preach vnto the Minister and Churchwardens according to the 50. Canon .

8 Whether doth your Minister vpon euery Sunday and Holy day in the afternoone before euening prayer call for , and instruct all the youth and ignorant persons of your Parish , of both Sexes , in the Catechisme , and grounds of Christian Religion for halfe an houre or more ?

9 Whether bee there any Parents , Masters , or gouernours , who send not their children , or seruants to bee chatechized on euery Sabbath day , and Holy day , or any children or seruants that refuse to bee instructed or examined ?

10 Whether doth your Minister neglect or forsake his calling , and betake himselfe to worldly affaires , mercenary , or manuell Trades , haunt markets , or intermeddle with , or solicite matters of Law for other men ?

11 Whether doth your Minister haunt or frequent Ale-houses , or Tauernes , or is hee probably or publikely famed or any notorious crime , or any euill example of life , to the offence and scandall of his vocation ?

12 Whether doth your Minister vse or weare any kind of apparell which is vnseeming his calling , for colour or fashion of the same , or otherwise then according to the 74. Canon ?

13 Whether doeth your Minister at all times weare the Surplesse in the time of Diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments ? And if hee bee a Graduate , whether doeth hee also vpon his Surplesse weare a hood incident to his degree ?

14 Whether doe you know , or haue credibly and publikely heard of any within your Parish that are procurers of Schismes , or maintainers of Schismatikes , or which are resorters to conuenticles , or congregations of the Kings Subiects , other then such as by the Lawes Ecclesiasticall of this Realme are allowed ?

15 Whether doeth your Minister vse any other forme of Common prayer , then is prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer , and whether doth hee vse such directions , rites , and ceremonies in Seruice , and the administration of the Sacraments , as by the said booke are required , and none other ?

16 Whether doeth your minister admit to the Communion any notorious adulterer fornicator , or incestuous person , or other great offender which hath not first done his penance , or any stranger of another Parish , contrary to the 28. Canon ?

17 Whether haue any been married within your Parish that haue not vpon the day of their marriage receiued the holy Communion ? or any been married in times prohibited , or without banes solemnely asked three seuerall Sundayes , otherwise then by licence of the Ordinary , as you know , or credibly and publikely haue heard ?

18 Whether hath your Minister vsed the forme of thanksgiuing prescribed for women after childbirth , for any woman vnlawfully begotten with childe , otherwise then in the habite of a penitent sinner , or before sufficient caution be taken for her not departing the Parish vntill shee hath done penance for her offence ?

19 Whether doth your Parson , Preacher , Lecturer , and Vicar in his owne person , at the leastwise in euery yeere vpon two Sundayes publikely , both in the forenoone and afternoone in your Church or Chappell , reade Diuine Seruice , and administer both the Sacraments in such manner and forme as is prescribed by the Booke of Common prayer according to the 56. Canon ?

20 Whether doth your Minister dayly visite the sicke , and exhort them truely to beleeue in Christ , and repent therof their sinnes , and comfort and pray for them , as is prescribed in the Booke of Common prayer ?

21 Whether doth your Parson , Vicar , or Farmor of the Tithes , suffer either the Parsonage or Vicarage-house or other buildings thereto belonging , or the Chancell to fall to ruine or decay , and doth not presently repaire them ?

22 Whether hath any person taken away or vncouered any Church , Chappell or Chancell , or any part of them , or any Church porch , or Vestrie , or hath pulled downe the belles , or made any other spoile or waste vpon his Benefice , either in timber , or woods ?

23 Whether is your Church euery way sufficiently , and well repayred , and no defect in glazing , tiling , sieling , pauing , or in any thing else belonging to the same : and whether the Church bee beautified , and adorned with Scripture sentences ?

24 Whether is your Church-yard sufficiently fenced with Wall , Raile , Pale or other fence , and is your Church-yard profaned , or swine suffered to roote there ?

25 Whether haue you in your Parish Church or Chappell the new booke of Common prayer , two Psalters , the Bible in English of the largest volume , lately set foorth by his Maiesties authoritie , the two volumes of Homilies , Master Iewels workes , Erasmus Paraphrase , the table of the tenne Commandements , and the Table of the degrees of Affinitie and Consanguinitie , wholly and vntorne , a conuenient Pulpit , a fit seate for your Minister , a decent Communion Table vpon a frame , a linnen cloth to couer it , with some other couer of silke , or such like , a Communion cuppe of siluer , and couer of the same , a cleane sweete standing Pet , or stoope of pewter , or other purer mettall , to put in the wine for the vse of the Communion , a sufficient fou● well couered , decent Surplesse of fine holland , with large sleeues , a sure coffer with three lockes for the Register Booke , a strong chest with three lockes there to for the almesboxe , and haue your Minister and Churchwardens seuerall keyes to those Coffers according to the 70. Canon ?

26 Whether doth your Minister and Churchwardens euery Sunday after Euening prayer take the Register booke , and then Register the names of all those who were Christned , married or buried the weeke before , and is the same a faire booke of parchment , and safely kept vnder lockes and keyes ?

27 Whether doth any Parson serue two Cures , or any Curate serue his Cure not in due time ? and what slipend hath your Curate by the yeare ?

28 Whether hath your Minister published and executes all such processes , excommunications , and penances as haue been directed vnto him from the Lord Bishop or his Chancellour , in such sort as was prescribed and without delay ? and whether hath he duly made Certificates thereof , and of all penances according as they haue beene performed and no otherwise , as you know , or credibly and publiquely haue heard ?

29 Whether hath your Parson or Vicar moe Benefices then one , how many , and in what places be they ? what be the names , and values of them , and whether is he absent from among you aboue 80. dayes in all in any one yeare ? and if hee hath two Benefices , hath he a preaching Curate on that Benefice whereon he doth not reside ? and whether doth he let any lease of any of his Benefices , or any part thereof ? and to whom ? and for how long ?

30 Whether is your Clarke aged twenty yeares at least , and approued by the Ordinary , and hath hee taken an Oath , and is he able to read distinctly , as by law is required , and is he diligent in keeping the Church , Chauncell , Communion table , Font , Bookes , ornaments of the Church , and all such things as belong to his charge safe , decent and cleane ?

31 Whether is there any Schoolemaster teaching either openly or priuately in your Parish , or any person who practiseth Phisick , or Surgerie ? and what be their names ?

32 Whether haue any Lords of Misrule , Dauncers , Players , or any other disguised persons beene suffered to enter the Church , Chappell , or Churchyard with their sports ? and if they haue , what be the names of such disordered persons ?

33 Whether be there in your Parish any vnlawfull exercises vsed vpon any Sabaoth , or Festiuall dayes ? whether doe any vse dauncing or such like sports on the Sabaoth day before the end of all diuine Seruice appointed for that day ? whether be there any common drinking in your Church ? who were present at such drinking , or sports , and whether any doe sit in the Tauerne , Alehouse , or Streete vpon Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the time of morning or euening prayer ?

34 Whether be there any in your Parish that vse any handie craft , or worke , or keepe open shop vpon any Sabbaoth or Festiuall day , or that within time of Haruest doe vpon Holy-dayes labour about their Haruest , or then vse any carriages by Wayne , or otherwise , vnlesse necessity shall require , or the law permit it ?

35 Whether there be in your Parish any disturbers of the diuine seruice of God , or which doe vse any talking , walking , or any vnreuerent behauiour in Church or Churchyard in time of diuine seruice ?

36 Whether doth your Minister giue warning afore-hand to his Parishioners for the receiuing of the Communion , and are there any in your Parish of conuenient age , viz. aboue sixteene yeares , that doe not receiue the Communion thrice in euery yeare at the least ? or any that receiue the Communion otherwise then most reuerently kneeling on their knees ?

37 Whether any of your Parish doe receiue Seminarie Priests or other Seducers into their houses , and whether there be any Strangers that socourne in your Parish , especially about Easter , and doe absent themselues from Church ?

38 Whether haue your Churchwardens beene diligent themselues in frequenting diuine seruice , and doing their office ? and duly giuen account at the yeares end of the goods , and rents of the Church , or not distributed the publique almes indifferently ?

39 Whether when any man or woman is passing out of this life , the Bell be tolled to giue warning to the people to pray for the sicke person ? if not , in whose default .

40 Whether any person of your Parish hath remained excommunicate by the space of fourty dayes ? and whether any excommunicate person hath intruded himselfe or beene admitted vnto diuine seruice , the Sacrament or like publique assemblies ? and who are keepers of company with any excommunicate person , or doe harbour any excommunicate person in their houses , or set them to worke contrary to the law ?

41 Whether any excommunicate Recusant , or other obstinate excommunicants haue beene buried in your Church , or Churchyard ? by whom were they so buried ? and who were present ?

42 Whether any of your Parish be knowne , or credibly and publiquely famed to be attempters of the chastity of any woman , or incestuous persons , or adulterers , or fornicatours before or after marriage ? Bawdes or receptors of incontinent persons into their houses , or which conuay them away before they haue done penance for the same ? and whether any that heretofore haue for those crimes departed your Parish vnpunished , are now returned againe ?

43 Whether there be any blasphemers of the name of God , or swearers , or any common drunkards , slaunderers or defamers of their neighbours in your Parish ? and what are their names ?

44 Whether any person in your Parish be knowne or reputed to vse any Witchcraft , Sorcerie , Charmes , or any that doe take vpon them to tell destinies , or to guide men to things lost , or any that resorteth vnto such for helpe and counsell ?

45 Whether haue there beene any children borne in your Parish , which haue not beene brought to be baptized in your Parish Church ? ( and whether any children of your Parish haue been baptized by a Seminarie Priest ? what is the name of that Priest ? and whether any of the children of Recusants or Soiourners with Recusants haue had their baptisme deferred longer then the next Sabboth day , or which remaine as yet vnbaptized ? and whose are those children ? )

46 Whether hath any Father answered as Godfather to his owne childe , and whether haue any beene admitted to be Godfather or Godmother to any childe in your Parish , who before that time haue not receiued the holy Communion ?

47 Whether any persons of your Parish diuorced lawfully , doe notwithstanding accompany together ? and whether any persons lawfully married , haue forsaken their wiues or husbands , or liue not together , or any which haue married any person contracted to others , or which had not the consent of their parents ? and whether any were married in any priuate house , or within the degrees prohibited , or not betweene the houres of eight and twelue of the clocke in the forenoone ?

48 Whether doe you know any person formerly presented , which hath not beene conuented and censured by the ordinarie for the same ? or any enioyned to doe pennance , who either hath not done it , or done it not penitently , but scornfully , and not in forme , habite , and time prescribed , or any that haue laughed or scorned at those , who haue done their pennance ? and what be their names ?

49 Whether any Hospitall or Almes-house be either pulled downe or growne to decay ? whether the number of poore and impotent persons appointed by the founders are maintained there ? and if not , in whose default ? whether any lands or legacies giuen to such or other godly vses , are not imployed accordingly ? and whether any rights , or duties belonging to your Church be detained by any person ?

50 Whether doe you know any person within your Parish , who directly or indirectly taketh vsurie or interest for money lent , contrary to the lawes of God and this Realme ? who are they ? and what is the manner of their vsurie ?

51 Whether any person of your Parish hath suppressed the last will and testament of any person deceased , or administred the goods of any person intestate before administration committed vnto him ? whether doe you know any forgers or changers of such will ? or any Executor which hath not fulfilled the Testators will in payment of Legacies to good and godly vses ?

52 Whether haue your Churchwardens solde or alienated any of the Church bookes , ornaments , or goods ? if yea , then to whom ? and vpon what cause ? and in whose possession are they ? and whether hath any Churchwarden or Sworneman at any time concealed any disorder , crime , or fame of any crime , and not presented the same to be reformed ?

53 Whether for the retayning of the circuite , and limits of your Parish doe your Parson , Vicar , or Curate , Churchwardens , and certaine of the substantiall men of your Parish in the dayes of perambulation , commonly called the Rogation weeke , walke and compasse the accustomed bounds of your Parish ? and whether in the said perambulation doth the Minister vse any other right or ceremonie , then to say or sing to the praise of God some Psalme of Dauid of thankesgiuing , as the hundred and third , or hundred and fourth Psalmes , with the Lettanie and prayers following , or reading some part of holy Scripture or homely , and without carrying of Banners or handbels , or such like Popish obseruations ?

54 Whether are there any persons in your Parish which doe not diligently resort to your Parish Church , or Chappell accustomed , euery Sunday and Holiday according to the statute ? what are their names , who doe not so resort ? when haue they so beene absent ? and whether doth your Minister admonish the Churchwardens openly in the Church after the second Lesson at morning and euening prayer , to looke to their charge in that behalfe ?

55 What Recusant Papists are there in your Parishes ? present their names , qualities , and conditions , how long haue they abstained from diuine Seruice or from the Communion : or doe any of them keepe any ornaments of superstition vndefaced .

56 Whether any in your Parish ( who heretofore being Popish Recusants , haue reformed themselues ) doe still remaine and abide in the same conformity , and is there a booke prouided in your Parish , to register the names of all such Recusants , who so conforme and submit themselues according to the Statute of 35. Eliz.

57 Whether haue you a terrier of all the gleabelands , medowes , gardens , orchards , houses , stockes , implements , tenements , and portions of tythes ( whether within your Parish or without ) belonging to your Parsonage or Vicaridge , taken by the view of honest men in your Parish : and whether the same terrier be laide vp in the Bishops Registrie ? and in whose hands are any of them now : and if you haue no terrier already made in parchment , you the Churchwardens & Side-men together with your Parson or Vicar , or in his absence with your Minister , are to make diligent inquirie and presentment of the premisses , and to make , subscribe , and signe a terrier as aforesaid .

58 Whether doth your Minister vpon Wednesdayes and Fridayes , not being Holydayes , reade in your Church or Chappell publiquely the Letany , and other prayers appointed in the booke of Common prayer for those dayes : and whether doth hee read the Commination against sinners , in such order and forme as it is there also prescribed .

59 Whether doth your Minister vpon some Sundayes or Holidayes in the after noone before diuine seruice , reade ouer once euery yeare all the Canons Ecclesiasticall , published by his Maiesties authority Anno 1603. publiquely in your Church or Chappell where hee serueth , diuiding the same in such sort , as that the one halfe may be read one day , and the other another day .

60 Whether doth your Minister refuse or delay to christen any childe brought to be christned vpon Sundayes and Holy-dayes , according to the booke of Common prayer : or being informed of his weakenesse , or danger of death , doth refuse to goe to the place where the said Infant remaineth to baptize it .

61 Whether hath there beene since the last Visitation or before , which is not presented , any contention , brawling , or fighting in your Church , or Churchyard , betwixt any of the Parishioners touching the placing or displacing of any in any seat or Pew in the Church , or touching any other cause ? and whether hath there beene any Pew builded , or alteration made since the foresaid time in any your Churches , without the expresse leaue of the Ordinary of the Diocesse , and by whom hath the same beene done ?

62 Whether are there any Inne-keepers , Alewiues , or Victualers in your Parish , that suffer any person to eate , drink , or play at Dice , Cards , Tables , Bowles , or such like games in their houses in the time of Common prayer , or Sermon on Sundayes or Holydayes : whether any Butchers or others doe sell meate or other things in the time of Common prayer , preaching , or reading of Homilies .

63 Whether hath any person cut downe any tree or trees growing in your Churchyard , to the hurt or preiudice of the Church : and to what vse was it conuerted as you know , or credibly and publiquely haue heard .

64 Whether hath your Minister or any other Minister baptized any childe in your Parish , without vsing the signe of the Crosse at the baptisme thereof : or solemnized marriage without vsing the Ring therein according to the book of Common prayer .

65 Whether is all due reuerence vsed in time of diuine seruice , and of euery part thereof , according to the 18. Canon , and whether there be any in your Parish that vse any vnreuerent speeches or iestures against Ministers , and in contempt of their calling and function .

66 Whether any Apparitor or other person hath compounded or smothered for reward or fauour , any cause or matter of office belonging to the Ecclesiasticall Court : if yea , then doe you declare the same , and what money or reward hee had for the same .

67 And generally whether doe you know of any of the Lawes Ecclesiasticall violated or broken , or any Ecclesiasticall matters worthy of redresse : and if you doe , then you are to present the same , and in all your presentments as neere as possible you may , you are to note the yeare , time , and place of euery offence committed .

FINIS .