The forme of the OATH taken by the Church-wardens and Sidemen .

YOu shall sweare , that you and euery of you shall dulie consider and diligently informe your selues of these Articles giuen you in charge , and that all fauour , hatred , hope , feare , or any other corrupt affection set aside , you shall present all and euery such person now or lately of your Parish , which haue committed any offence comprized in any of these Articles , or which ar● vehemently suspected or defamed of any such offence . Wherein you shall deale according to an vpright conscience , neither presenting nor sparing t● present any person contrary to truth , So helpe you God , and his faithfull promises in Iesus Christ .

WHETHER haue you in your Church all things requisite for the common Prayer , 〈…〉ing 〈…〉 rch . and due administration of the Sacraments ? Canon . And namely a faire Bible , the Booke of common Prayer , 80. 81. 82. 83. 84 , 70. lately ordeined only to be vsed ? A Font of sto●e set vp in the ancient vsuall place ? A decent Communion table standing vpon a frame , with a carpet of silke or some other seemely stuffe , and a faire linnen clot● to lay thereon at the time of communion ? A faire communion Cup with a couer of siluer : a decent Pulpit with a cloth and Cushion for the same : a conueni●…t seat to read seruice in : a comely large surplice : a strong chest for almes for the poore with three lockes and keyes , and another chest for keeping the Ornaments of the Church and Register booke : and whether haue you a Register booke in parchment of all Christnings , Weddings , and Burials : and whether is the 〈…〉 ept according to the Canons , and a transcript thereof brought yeerely into the Office of principall Registrie of the L. Archb. of Canterbury ? And whether 〈…〉 Minister vpon euery Sunday reade the names of such as haue beene christened , married , or buried in the weeke before ?

2 Whether your Church , 85. 88. Chancell and Churchyard be kept in good reparation 〈…〉 without : whether any prophanation be or hath beene vsed in them : or whether any man hath incroached vpon them : And whether your personage or vicaridge ● thereunto belonging , be likewise maintained in sufficient reparations : If not , through whose default , and what is the defect ?

3 Whether haue you a Terrier of all the gleabe Landes , 87. Meadowes , Gardens , ●…des , Houses , Stockes , Implements , Tenements , and portions of Tythes lying within or without your Parish which belong to your Parsonage or Vicaridge , and in whose ha 〈…〉 oeth it remaine : If not , you shall together with your Minister make diligent enquirie of all the premises , and exhibite with your next presentment a true note of them in 〈…〉ent subscribed with your hands , specifying how they are buttalled or bounded , and in whose occupation at this present they are ?

4 WHether diuine seruice be said in your Church by your Minister distinctly and re●erently , 〈…〉ing 〈…〉 vpon Sundayes and such holydaies as are appointed to be obserued by the book of Common prayer , 14. 15. 58. and their Eues , and vpon Wednesdaies and Fridaies at emuenient and vsuall times : and whether doth he in ministring the Sacraments , solemnizing of matrimony , visitation of the sicke , burying the dead , churching of women , or any other rites and offices of the Church , vse the formes of prayers prescribed in the same booke , without any omission or addition : And whether doth he read the booke of Canons once yeerely , and weare a Surplice according to the Canon ?

5 Whether doth your Minister solemnly giue warning to his Parishioners for the holy Communion , 22. 64. 67. 84. 66. 26. 27. 28. 29. 62. 63. 68. 69. 62. 100. and for all Holydaies & fasting daies ? And whether doth hee visite the sick when he is thereunto desired to comfort and instruct them ? And whether doth hee offer to confere with Recusants in your Parish if there bee any ? And whether doth hee admit to the holy Communion any notorious offenders , schismatickes , or strangers of other Parishes ; or r●iect any , who are not by presentment or publique scandall infamous for some notorious crime ? And whether doth he admit any Father to be Godfather to his owne Childe ; or any to be Godfathers and Godmothers which haue not receiued the holy Communion ? or doth not vse the signe of the Crosse in baptisme ? or doth baptize in any bason or other vessell , and not in the vsuall Font ? or doth baptize any children that were not borne within the Parish ? And whether doth he marry any in any exempt place , or without banes published three , seuerall Sundaies or Holidaies , or without a sufficient dispensation or licence , or without licence in times prohibited , albeit the banes were thrice published , or not betwixt the houres of 8. and 12. in the forenoone , or if the parties bee vnder the age of 21. yeares , before their parents haue signified their consent vnto him ? or whether doth hee refuse to Christen , or to bury , or doth deferre the same longer then hee should ? and whether by his default any Childe hath died without baptisme in your Parish ?

6 Whether doth he preach , minister the communion , baptize children , 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. or church women ( vnlesse in case of necessitie ) or in any case without a faculty solemnize matrimony in priuate houses ? Or doth keepe or suffer any Fastes , Prophesies , Exercises , or Exorcismes without lawfull authoritie ; or doth hold or suffer any priuate conuenticles ? And whether doth he frequent Tauernes : Alchouses , or any place suspected for incontinencie , or doth table or ledge in any such house ? or is hee a common gamester at Dice , Cardes , Tables , or any other vnlawfull game ; a Swearer or Drunkard , or one that applieth not himselfe to his studi●… Or doth not vse decencie in his apparrell ? Or is otherwise offensiue or scandalous to his function and ministry ?

7 Whether is hee continually resident vpon his benefice , 45 , 46. 47. 74. and how longtime hath hee beene absent from the same ? ( in case hee belicenced to be absent ) whether doth he cause his cure to be sufficiently supplied ? And whether ( if hee bee allowed a Preacher ) doth hee preach one Sermon euery Sunday ? or ( if not so allowed ) doth procure monthly sermons , and read Homilies ? And whether ( not being so allowed ) doth hee expound any Scripture , or suffer any man to preach in your Church , whom you haue not well knowne , to haue beene sufficiently licenced , and who hath not first subscribed his name , together with the day when he did preach , and who was not soberly and decently apparrelled ?

8 Whether doth your Preacher and Lecturer read diuine seruice , 56. 55. and minister the Sacraments twice a yeare at the least , in his owne person ? And whether doth hee vse the forme of prayer before his sermons for the Kings most excellent Maiestie , exhorting the people to obedience to his Maiestie , and other Magistrates in authority vnder him ?

9 Whether doth your Minister on Sundaies and Holidaies Catechize the Youth and ignorant persons in your Parish ? 59. And whether doth hee admit any women to bee churched who were begotten with childe in adultery or fornication , without licence from the Ordinarie And whether doth hee in the Rogation dayes vse the perambulation of the circuite of the Parish ?

10 Whether doth he euery sixe moneths denounce in his Parish Church all such o 〈…〉 rish as doe perseuer in the sentence of excommunication , not seeking to bee absolued ? And whether hath hee admitted any such excommunicate person to the communion , 〈…〉 Church without certificate of his absolution ? And whether doth hee or any of your Parish familiarly frequent the company of any such excommunicate person ?

11 WHether any of your Parishioners doe not cause their 〈…〉 〈…〉 rs . and Apprenti●es , to come to 〈…〉 vpon Sundaies and Holidaies to bee instructed in the Catechisme by them ? 59. or whether any of them refuse to come ? or if they come , refuse to be instructed ? And what bee the names of them so not causing , or refusing ?

12 Whether any of your Parishioners , 13. 14. 18. or other strangers soiourning , lodging , or commonly resorting to any house within your Parish , aboue 16. yeares of age , doe wilfully or negligently absent themselues from your parish Church , vpon Sundayes or Holidayes at Morning or Euening prayer ? or who come very late to Church vpon the said dayes ? or who depart from Church before seruice bee finished ? or who doe not reuerently behaue themselues during the time of diuine Seruice , deuoutly kneeling at such times as the generall Confession of sinnes , the Letanie , the ten Commandements , and all prayers and Collects are read ? or who doe vse any gameing or pastime abroad , or in any house , or doe sit in the street , or Church-yard , or in any Tauerne , or Victualing-house vpon any of those dayes in time of diuine Seruice ? or who haue quarrelled , brawled , or vsed violence to any person within your Church , or Church-yard ? or who hath vsed filthy or prophane talke , or other rude and in modest behauiour there ?

13 Whether there be any of , 21. 22 , 28. or within your parish being sixteene yeeres of age , and vpwards , that doe not receiue the holy Communion in your Church thrice in this yeare at the least , and chiefly once at Easter ? And whether any of your parish doth not deuoutly kneele at the receiuing thereof ? And whether doth not your Minister receiue it himselfe on euery day that he administreth it to others , and vse the words of institution at euery time that the bread and wine is administred ? And whether doe your selues diligently obserue your office , in marking what persons of or within your parish offend against this , or the next precedent Article , and in due presenting their names ?

14 Whether any in your parish haue a Preacher to your Parson , 46. 10. 57. 9. 10. 100. Vicar , or Curate , doe absent themselues from his Sermons , and resort to other places to heare other Preacher ? And whether any hauing beene ordeyned Priest , or Deacon , hath relinquished the same , and be ●…en him to a course of life as a lay man ? Or whether any not being in Orders , doth openly read Common prayer , or execute any ministeriall dutie in your Church , and what be their names ?

15 Whether there be any that doe publiquely or priuately speake against the Booke of Common prayer , deprauing the same or any thing therein contained ? or against any of the said Articles of Religion agreed vpon in . Anno 1562 ? Or against the Kings Royall Supremacie i●… causes Ecclesiasticall ? Or against any of the rites or ceremonies of the Church of England ? Or against the gouernment of the said Church of England vnder the Kings most excellent Maiestie , by Bishops , Archbishops , Deanes , Archdeacons , & other Officers in the same , affirming , that the same is repugnant to the word of God , and that the said Ecclesiasticall Officers are not lawfully ordeyned ? Or whether there by any that be Authors or maintainers of Scisme , or frequenters of any priuate conuenticles or meetings ? or that be , or are suspected to be Anabaptists , Libertines , Brownists , of the Familie of Loue , other herefie orschisme , And what be their names ?

16 Whether doe you know any Schoolemaster that doth teach , 77. 48. 79. or Curate that doth reade diuine Seruice within your parish , without licence of his Ordinary vnder his Scale ? And whether doth not such Schoolemaster instruct his schollers in the Catechisme , and teach them he grounds of Religion , and bring them to Church to heare diuine Seruice and Sermons ? And whether is he a common officer or artificer , or any wayes reprooueable in life ? And whether is your Clarke also allowed by the Ordinary ? And whether doth your clarke serue more cures than one ? And whether doe they demeane themselues according to their se●rall duties ?

17 How many Midwiues haue you in your Parish which doe exercise that office ? how long ●ue they so done , and by what authoritie ? Also how many in your Parish doe practise as Physitions or Chirurgions ? how long haue they so done , and of what skill are they reputed their profession ?

18 Whether doe you know any persons that doe administer the goods of the dead without la●full authoritie ? 86. or suppresse the last will of the dead ? or with-hold any stocke of the Church , or any Legacies giuen to godly and charitable vses ? and whether is the almes of the Church faithfully distributed to the vse of the poore ? And whether the late Church-wardens haue giuen a iust accompt before the Minister and Parishoners at the end of their yeere , according to the Canon ?

19 Whether doe you know in your parish any common swearers , drunkards , blasphemers , any ●…oniacal persons , or vsuerers contrary to the Statute 37. of Henry the eight , any sooth-sayers , charmers , fornicators , adulterers , incestious persons , brawlers , common slanderers of the neighbours , raylers , scoulds , silthy and lasciuious talkers , sowers of discord between neighbors , or any that receiue or lodge incontinent persons , or harbour women with childe whi●… be vnmarried , conueying or suffering them to goe away before they haue made satisfaction to the congregation ? or any persons that are by common fame noted or vehemently ●…ected of any of these crimes ? or that being heretofore suspected , or presented for any of these faults , haue for that cause departed out of your Parish , and are now returned againe ?

20 Whether there bee any persons within your Parish that be married within the prohibited ●…grees of consanguinitie or affininitie , or their old wiues or husbands being yet aliue , albeit diuorced from them ; 99. 57. or that being lawfully married , doe liue scandalously apart , 〈…〉 married in times prohibited , or without banes three seuerall Sundayes or Holy-daies published , hauing no sufficient licence or dispensation for the same ? And whether there ●…ar doe communicate , or cause their children to be baptized in other Parishes abroad , or keepe their children vnbaptized longer then is conuenient ?

21 Whether any woman deliured of childe in your Parish , in time conuenient after child-b●…th , doe not come to the vsuall place in the Church to giue God thanks ? And whether doth your Clarke lap a Cushion at the said vsuall place ? 117. whether any inhabitant within your Parish doth detaine the Clarkes wages , dueties for bread and wine , or any other Church dueties ? present particularly what be their names , and what and how much those dueties be ?

22 Whether any person in your Parish doe exercise any Trade , Handicraft , or bodily labour or doe buy and sell , or keepe open Shops or warehouses vpon any Sunday or Holiday , by themselues , their seruants or Apprentizes , or haue otherwise prophaned the sayd daies contrary to the order of the Church of England ? And whether there bee any Inne-keepers , Alehouse-keepers , or Victualers , that permit any persons in their houses to eat , drinke , or play at any games during the time of diuine Seruice , or Sermon in the forenoone or afternoone vpon those dayes ?

23 Whether doe any in your Parish familiarly frequent the company of excommunicate persons ? And whether doeth your Minister or any of your Parish without consent of the Ordinarie , cause any to doe penance , or to be censured or punished by any Vestry meetings , or otherwise by their owne anthoritie , or doe , or haue taken any money for any crime or matter punishable by the Ecclesiasticall Law ? who haue beene so punished ? in what manner ? an●… vpon what cause ?

24 If any one or more of you doe know , 113. or haue heard of any fault inquired of in these Articles or of any other crime , the reformation whereof belongeth to the spirituall iurisdicton , happening from the _____ day of _____ that then you doe informe one another thereof , and you shall likewise present the same by vertue of your oathes ?

25 The Minister of euery Parish may ioyne in euery presentment with the Churchwardens and Sidemen , 118. 118. who if they will not present , the Minister may himselfe present to the said Commissary or his Surrogat such faults or crimes abouesaid , as shall be thought to require due reformation .

You are charged to specifie the fault or crime , proper name and surname , trade or addition , and place of dwelling of euery person presented . And to bring your first generall presentment vpon all these Articles into Bowe Church in Cheapeside in the forenoone between the houres of viij . and xi . of the clocks , the 28. day of _____ next comming . And your last generall presentment on the _____ day of _____ then next following , or else they and there to appeare personally , to shew the cause of your default therein . Intimating further , that you may ( besides those generall dayes . ) present offenders , as oft as you shall thinke meete , as by the Canonis prescribed , Vnto the sayd Deane , Commissary , or his deputy , sitting at any time in the open court .