Touching the place of Common Praier in the Church .

WHether the Chauncell , Church and Chappell bée sufficiently repaired as well in stone , Timber , Leade , Tyle , Glasse , as all other necessary things , & if they bée not , through whose default this is omitted .

2 Whether your Churchyarde bée sufficiently fenced and decently kept , & the trées therein growing not spoiled .

3 Whether the walles of the Church bée within whited , & beautified with fruitfull sentences out of the holy Scriptures : and paued comely in the bodie of the Church & the Chancell .

4 Whether you haue in your parish Church & Chappell , all thinges necessarie for the setting forth of common praier and administration of the Sacraments , namely the booke of Common praier , two Psalters in prose and méeter : the English Bible in the largest volume , which now is authorised by consent of the Bishops of this Realme : the two tomes of Homelies : the Paraphrases of Erasmus in English : the table of the ten Commandements of God : a conuenient Pulpit well placed , a decent table standing on a frame , for the holy Communion , with a faire linnen cloth to lay vpon the same , and some couering of silke , buccharam , or other such like , for the kéeping cleane thereof , a comely Communion Cup of siluer , with a couer of siluer for the same , which may serue for the administration of the Communion Bread : a decent Surplus with large sléeues : a Regester booke in parchment of Christnings , weddings , & burials : a sure cofer with thrée lockes & keies for the kéeping of the said register booke .

5 Whether all monuments of supersticion bée defaced and cleane remoued : as Alters , Roodeloftes , Copes , Vestments , Holy water , Stockes , Images , and all popish bookes either Latine or English .

6 Whether you haue a Clarke , Sexten , or decon , to asist your priest dutifully in reading the psalmes , first lesson , the Epistle , and such other seruices : & also to kéepe the bookes and ornaments of the Church , the Church it selfe , the quier , the Communion table , the Pulpit & the Font , faire cleane and decent , against the time of seruice of the Communion , Sermon and Baptisme , and by whom he is chosen .

Touching seruice vsed in the Church .

7 Whether there bée any within your parish , or else where néere about the same , and within this Diocesse , to your knowledge or as you haue heard , that commeth not to Church , but is a recusant in that point : or that commeth , but vseth not to stay during the time of deuine seruice and Sermons , or doth not receiue the Communion in his parish Church , thrée times yéerely at the least .

8 Whether doe you know or haue heard any within your parish , or néere about the same , within this diocesse , to heare or say Masse , or any other seruice not publiquely allowed , or to receiue , entertaine , or lodge any priests , seminaries , Iesuites , or other deprauers or mistikers of the Ecclesiasticall state or gouernment , and what bée their names .

9 Whether you doe know or haue heard of any , within your parish or néere about the same , within this Diocesse that vseth to diswade any person from the Religion now professed , or to perswade any to the Romish religion .

10 Whether doth your Parson , Vicar , or Curat , or the Parson , Vicar , or Curat , or any other of any other parish within this Diocesse , néere vnto you , to your knowledge , or as you haue heard , vpon sundaies and holidaies , vse to say morning and Euening Praier , and the Letanie distinctly , and in such manner & forme , and vnder such words as are set forth and prescribed in and by the booke of Common Praier : if no , then what other forme or manner , hath he or doth he or they vse , & what hath he or they omitted or added in any of the premises , other then is in the saide booke expressed .

11 Whether doth your Parson , Vicar or Curat , or the Parson , Vicar , or Curat , or any other of any other parish , within this Diocesse , and néere about you , to your knowledge or as you haue heard , vse the ministration of the Lords Supper and Baptisme , the instruction of children , solemnization of Matrimonie , the visitation of the sicke , the buriall of the dead , and the churching of women , in such manner and forme , and vnder such words , rites and ceremonies , as are set forth and prescribed in & by the said booke of Common praier : if no , then what other forme doth hée or they vse , and what hath hée or they vsed to adde or omit of , in or about the premises , or any of them : & doth he or they vse to omit the Ring in Marriage , and crossing the Childs head in Baptisme .

12. Whether hath your Parson , Vicar or Curat , or any other within your parish , or else where néere about the same , & within this Diocesse , to your knowledge , or as you haue heard , preached , declared , vttered , or found fault with , or spoken any thing against the said booke of Common praier , or any thing in the said booke expressed , or against any doctrine , office , function , or calling Ecclesiasticall , within this Realme by publique authoritie established : or against the ordinance & election of Archbishops , Bishops , Priests , Decons , or any of them , and what was the same thing or fault so found , vttered declared , or preached , and by whom .

13 Whether hath your Parson , Vicar , or Curat , or any other within your parish or else where , néere about the same , and within this Diocesse , to your knowledge or as you haue heard , preached , declared , vttered , spoken , or signified in writing , word or déede , any thing in liking , maintayning , extolling , commending , or perswading , of any other doctrine , discipline or any other forme of Common praier , election or ordination of any other offices , officers Decons , Pastors , Elders , presbiteries or Ecclesiasticall Censures , then are by the lawes and statutes of this Realme established .

14 Whether you haue on Wednesdaies and Frydaies seruice in your church and chappell , according to order appointed for all our necessities set forth by authoritie .

15 Whether your Parson , Vicar , or Curat , doe euery sunday when ther is no sermon , read plainely some part of the Homelies prescribed to be read : or whether any of them not being found to haue sufficient abilitie to preach , or not lawfully admitted therevnto , doe take vpon them to expound any part of the scripture & therby omit the reading of the homelies .

16 Whether the Communion bée administred euery moneth , where there be forty households in the parish otherwise once euery quarter at the least at the discretion of the Minister .

17 Whether your Minister , or any other within the parish or else where in this Diocesse , to your knowledge or as you haue heard , hath published , spread abroad , deliuered , solde , or vttered , or receiued , retained , or kept any English bookes set forth by an English papist beyond the seas , either against the Quéenes Maiesties supremacie in matters Ecclesiasticall : or against true Religion and Catholike doctrine , now receyued or set forth by any other within this Realme or else where , against the state of the Archbishops , Bishops , and Clergie of this Realme : or against the doctrine , orders & ceremonies now retained by publique authoritie .

18 Whether your Parson , Vicar , or Curat , doe preach or cause to bée preached , euery moneth one Sermon at the least , and whether there-in they doe foure times in the yéere , teach the people that all forraine vsurped authorytie is iustly abolished : and that the Quéenes Maiestie is and ought to bée the supreame gouernour ouer all persons , & in all causes , as well Ecclesiasticall as ciuile , within hir dominions .

Baptisme .

19 Whether your Children that bée in no great perill of death , bée baptised after the last lesson of Morning prayer at the Font , vpon the sunday or holy day next after the birth thereof , with Godfathers and Godmothers that can say the Catechisme , the Lords Prayer , the Articles of the Christian faith , & the ten Commandements , and whether your Minister hath refused to baptise any child at any day in the wéeke , in case of great weakenesse .

20 Whether any child borne within your parish , hath not béene baptised in your parish Church .

21 Whether your children baptised at home in cases of extreame weakenesse and infirmitie , bée brought to the Church after their recouery , that the Minister may examine whether they be lawfully Baptised or no.

Matrimonie .

22 Whether they haue married any maner of persons with out the banes asking thrée seuerall sundaies or holy daies in time of deuine seruice , in the presence of the people .

23 Whether they haue solemnized any marriage in the night season , or at vnlawfull time of the day .

24 Whether they haue married any of diuers parishes with out a certificat of the banes asking , from the Minister or Curat , where the parties dwell , or else doe solemnize any marriage out of their owne Church , or marrie any in their owne Church , which be not of their owne parish .

25 Whether your Minister or Curat exhorteth yong persons not to make any contract of marriage priuatly or openly , with out the consent of their parents & friends that haue authoritie ouer them , according to Gods law and mans law .

26 Whether they marry any that cannot say perfectly the Lords praier , the articles of a Christian mans faith , and the ten commandements of God .

27 Whether any man haue two wiues , or any woman two husbands .

Visiting the sicke .

28 Whether they haue béene dilligent according to theyr duety , in visiting and adminstring vnto the sicke , to call the lost shéepe to Christes fold by repentance , comforting them with godly and wholesome sentences out of the sacred scripture & Gods word , whereby they may put their whole trust in the mercies of God in Christes death our Sauiour , contemning the world , and in forgiuing all men as they would be forgiuen at Gods hand .

29 Whether they haue exhorted all persons , aswell in health as in sicknesse , to make their Testaments , and dispose their goods , for the discharging of their consciences , the quietnes of their wiues and children , & satisfieng of the world .

30 Whether they doe exhort their parishioners to cause a bell to be tolled for them & their families in the time of their sicknesse , to the intent they may be commended vnto Gods mercy by the praiers of other men .

31 Whether they haue called vppon them that haue made their testaments , to bestow according to their abilitie some part of their goods vpon the true workes of mercy : as vpon the poore and néedie , vpon the fatherlesse and motherles , vpon desolate widowes and marriages of poore maidens , vpon the maintenance of the ministrie & Schooles , vpon the reparations of the Church , high waies and such like , and whether the Churchwardens call for the same .

32 Whether they haue béene diligent to bury the dead being brought to the Churchyard , vsing no other ceremony then is appointed for burialls .

33 Whether after the decease of any person there is any more ringing then one short peale before the buriall , and an other after the buriall .

34 Whether there bée any excessiue ringing or toling vsed vpon sundaies or hollidayes , or their euens , sauing to common prayer , and to a Sermon , or such as doe not tend to supersticion , and to the maintenance of popish purgatorie and of praier for the dead .

Commination .

35 Whether they vse out of the pulpit in a publique assembly to read the commination against sinners once euery quarter , immediatly after the Letanie is said vpon some sunday or holliday .

Touching the Function of Ministers .

36 Whether your Parson , Vicar , or Curate , doe trauaile diligently & painefully , according to their abilitie to set foorth true religion , to adorne the same with the examples of good life , to beate downe , vice , supersticion , Idolatry , papistrie , & all manner of heresies : to exhort all men to vnity , peace , and brotherly loue , & to their dutifull obedience to their Prince & such as hée in authoritie vnder hir , vnto the diligent hearing , reading , and teaching of Gods word .

37. Whether they indeauour to haue the parishioners to say seruice and sing Psalmes in prose and méeter with them in the Church .

38. Whether they say the common prayers , reade their Psalmes and Chapters , and other prayers , so audibly plainly and distinctly , in conuenient time , and at such a place , as all the people may well heare , and vnderstand the sence therof to their edifying .

39. Whether they vse after morning and euening prayer sayd , to bestow themselues in godly meditation of good learning , and instructing of youth .

40. Whether they vse the exhortation set foorth in the administration of the Lords Supper , thereby to stir vp theyr parishioners to the oftner receiuing of the same .

41. Whether they haue admitted any notorious offendour or malicious person , or any notoriously knowen to bée out of charitie , or that hath done any open wrong to his neighbour eyther by word or by déede , to the holy Communion , without open acknowledging of their fault and reconciliation .

42. Whether there be any in your parish , that readeth any priuate Lectures in the same , or vseth exposition of scriptures in any priuate mans house whatsoeuer , or that preacheth any Doctrine of innouation , to with-draw the people from theyr due obedience : and whether any Preacheth , and doth not at certaine times in the yéere , minister the Sacraments , and say seruice according to order . Also whether any new presbiterie or consistorie of Elders bée in the parish erected , or any priuate Conuenticle of those whose eares ich with singularities , and impertinent matters , in the which schismaticall Ministers bée admitted to deale in the Ecclesiasticall function and such as despise rulers & speake euill of them that are in authoritie , or whether any of your parish contribute to such schismaticall dealings and conuenticles .

43. Whether doth your minister or any other , vse any solemne Feastes or publique exercise , vpon any day not appoynted by publique authoritie : and who were at the sayde feast or exercise .

44. Item , whether doth your Parson , Vicar , or Curat or any other , preach , expound , interpret , exercise or Catechise , in any priuat méetings or conuenticles within your parish wher are the same held , and who resort thereto .

45. Whether doth your Parson , Vicar , & Curate , at their Sermons , Lectures , or exercises , pronounce all that forme of prayer for hir Maiestie and the whole Realme , set foorth in the end of the Quéenes Iniunctions .

46. Whether doth your Minister bid all such holydayes and fasting dayes , as are appointed by the booke of common prayer , and say seruice vpon the same holidayes , and vpon euery Wednesday and Friday : and doth any of your parishioners worke vpon any of the sayd holidayes .

47. Whether your Parson , Vicar , or Curat , doe Preach , expound the Scriptures in his owne cure , or in any other place , not being lycenced so to doe by the Ordinarie .

48. Whether any Curat or Minister bée suffered to serue in the Church , before hée bée examined and admitted by the ordinary in writing vnder the seale of his office , and before he shew his lycence vnto the Churchwardens .

49. Whether the Register of all weddings , burialls , and christnings within your parish , be well kept , and a coppie of them once euery yéere , within one moneth after Easter , transmitted to the register , and whether the Quéenes Maiesties Iniunctions be quarterly read .

50. Whether yéerely in the Rogation wéeke , for the better knowing and retayning of the circuite of your parish , & for the obtayning of gods blessing vpon the fruits of the ground , the Parson , Vicar , or Curat , the Churchwardens and certaine other of the substantiall of the parish , with other of the younger sort , walk the accustomed bounds of the parish , saying or singing in English the hundred and third , the hundred and fourth psalmes , the Letanie with an homily deuised for that purpose , and other deuout prayers .

Beehauiour of Ministers .

51. Whether your Parson or Vicar be resident vpon his benefice , and kéepe hospitalitie according to his abilitie .

52. Whether they kéepe their mansion houses and chauncels in good sufficient reparations .

53. Whether they kéepe in their houses any persons , men or women suspected of euill life , or of euill religion .

54. Whether your Minister or Curat be suspected of any notorious crime , as of filthie lucre , couetousnesse , adulterie , blasphemie , periurie , drunkennesse , idlenesse , filthie and vaine talke , or else is flaunderous in any part of his conuersation , thorow brawling , fighting , quarrell picking , & peace breaking .

55. Whether they haunt ale-houses , tauerns , Innes , or any suspected place , or vse any vnlawfull gaming , as dauncing , carding , dicing , hawking and hunting .

56. Whether your Minister and Curate doe vse at home and abroad such apparell as publick order appoynteth to bée decent for them to weare , and that their wiues , children and families , bée appareled handsomly without vanity , and great charges fit for the calling of their husbands , and doe vse the Surples at the time of common prayer .

57. Whether your Parson or Vicar hath at any time since the thirtéenth yéere of the Quéenes Maiesties raigne , made any manner of lease or graunt of his Parsonage or Vicaridge , or any part thereof , he being absent and not risident vpon the same , to any other then to his Curat that dyd or doth serue his cure in his absence .

Schooles .

58. Whether the Schoolemaisters & Teachers within your parish , be examined , allowed or licensed by the Ordinarie vnder his seale , whether they teach the Grammer set foorth by King Henry the eyght , and no other : whether they teach any thing contrarie or repugnant to the order , Doctrine , and ceremonies of this church of England by publique authoritie established , and whether they teach the Catechisme in Latin , set foorth Anno. 1570. and allowed , and such other Godly learning , as may induce them to godlinesse , true religion and good conuersation .

59 Whether they doe encourage the youth committed to their charge , to the loue of true religion , and godlines , causing them daily , comming and departing from the schole , to pray vnto God for increase of learning & godly life , and also teaching them such sentences of the holy scriptures , as may frame them to feare God & liue vertuously , and also causing them to say grace in English before meat & after , and to giue thanks to God for all his benefites that they at any time receiue of his mercy , and not of their deserts .

60 Whether your Scholemaisters be negligent in teaching , or else be common officers , farmers , artificers , or otherwise intangled in other affaires , that they cannot benefit their scholers in learning , and what schoolemaisters be in any priuate house .

61 Whether aswell the Schoolemaister as the scholers doe come to schoole and leaue it in due time and houres .

Hospitalls .

62 Whether your Hospitals , spittles , and Almes houses , be well repaired and godly vsed , according to the foundation & auncient ordinaunces of the same , and whether there bée any other placed in them , then poore impotent and néedy persons , that haue not wherewith or whereby to liue .

Churchwardens .

63 Whether your Churchwardens be chosen yéerely one by the parish or the maior part thereof , and the other by the Minister , vpon the day accustomed .

64 Whether at any time héeretofore , the Churchwardens , or the Minister , or the parishioners , or any of them to your knowledge , or as you haue heard , haue with-held or detained in their custody , or haue sold , wasted , spent , or otherwise alienated any of the Church goods or stocke .

65 Whether the Churchwardens yéerely in writing , make their accounts to the parish , as well of all receipts as of their necessary expences .

66 Whether they doe leuy for not comming to the Church to heare deuine seruice vpon sundaies & holidaies , xii . pence , for euery person absent without lawfull cause , or present euery such person .

67 Whether they doe wast or spoile any part of the church goods & whether they call for all manner of legaces giuen to the poore of the parish , to the reparations of the Church , and such other good vses , & whether they call for the mony due to be paid for those that are buried in the Church .

68 Whether the Minister of the Church & the Churchwardens , doe certifie in writing vnder their hands and seales to the Ordinary at least wise 14. daies before the Assises or quarter Sessions , throughout all the whole yéere , all such persons as be absent from hearing diuine and publique seruice in the Church , the space of a moneth together at any time , that the same certificat may be deliuered to the Iustices , and the offenders therin indited according to a statute , what lands tenements , anuities , or goods or chattels are belonging to any vse about the Church and in whose hands the euidences thereof remaine .

Midwiues

69 Whether your Midwiues be honest , sober , and skilfull , void of supersticion , drunkennesse , & vnséemely behauiour .

Of the Parishioners .

70 Whether the Parishioners and euery of them doe come dayly vpon the sundaies and holydaies to church , or kept open his shop , or done any worke vpon any such day , or vsed at any time to braule or fight in the Church or Churchyarde , or vse Maygames , Lords of Misrule , dauncing , on the Sabaoth day , or holy day in time of deuine seruice .

71 Whether any that kéepeth an Alehouse , Tauerne , or Inne or any other , suffereth any to daunce or play at any vnlawfull game , or vttereth any meate or drincke , in time of diuine seruice , either of Sunday or holiday .

72 Whether there be any within your parish , or néere about you within this Diocesse , suspected or knowne to tell fortunes , to help men to things lost , vse charmes , witchcraft , sorceries , soothsayings , prophecieng , or any such other supersticious and deuillish illusion : whether any within your parish haue committed adultery , fornication , or incest , or be a common drunckarde , or a common swearer , or an vnlawfull vsurer , aboue ten in the hundreth , or is suspected of any of the premisses .

73. Whether any within your parish do entertaine or kéepe in his house , or other place , any woman suspected to bée of lewde life , or any woman with childe , and after hir deliuerie shall suffer hir to depart , before she haue done pennaunce , and how many such haue you knowen or heard of .

74. Whether the people vpon any occasion do eate or drink in the church , or any excommunicate person hath intruded himselfe into the church at the time of common prayer , and who doth kéepe company with any excommunicate person , knowing him so to bée .

75. Whether euery householder , their wiues , children and seruaunts , doe vse to make prayers vnto God euery morning , before they goe to their worke , and euery euening beefore they goe to bed .

76. Whether they , their Children and seruaunts , béehaue themselues reuerently in time of common prayer , preaching , or ministring of the Sacraments , without walking , talking , sléeping , or disturbing the congregation .

77. Whether euery Parishioner haue framed himselfe to receiue oft the holy Communion , and hath receiued at least thrise the Communion this yéere , according to the dutie of a Christian man , and namely at Easter last , or receiuing haue not signified the same to the Minister , or haue not come to the Minister to be examined and to be better instructed touching his duety towards God and man .

78 Whether any man woman or child , vse to occupie himselfe otherwise in the Church in the time of diuine seruice , then in praying and in marking attentiuely , that which is read or preached by the Minister .

79. Whether there bée any in the parish that presume to execute or to minister the goods of those that bée departed out of this world , without an administration or probate of testament , or haue falsified , or suppressed the will of any person , or any executors that haue not fulfilled the testators will , & hath not lawfully proued the same will before the Ordinarie .

80. Whether any childe being borne since the thirtéeneth yéere of the Quéenes Maiesties raigne , hath not béene brought to be baptized at his parish church .

81. Whether any mis●iuer or doer , hath had his pennaunce or any part thereof omitted , without consent of the Bishop himselfe first had .

Patrons of Benefices .

82. Whether your Parson or Vicar , or any other for him , hath for or in respect of any summe of money , reward , gift , profit or benefit directly or indirectly , or for or by reason of any promise , agréement , graunt , bond , couenant , or other , assurance , of or for any summe of money , reward , gift , profit , or benefit what so euer , directly or indirectly , procured or obtayned the gift or presentation of his benefice .

83. Whether you know any Patrone or any Aduousoner in your parish , that hath made a gaine by any colour , deceit , or simoniacal pack , in bestowing his benefice , or by receiuing money , or promise of the lease of the whole , or of part , or by reseruing his owne tithes , or any pension to himselfe , his childe , seruant or friend .

84. Whether doth your Parson or Vicar , let out , or suffer any to enioy his benefice , or any part thereof , or giue any pension out of the same , or suffer any man to holde or enioy his owne tythes , or to enioy any of the gléebe land .

And you shall make and bring in your presentments touching all the Articles aboue mentioned , within four-teene dayes after the feast of Easter , Saint Iohn the Baptist , S. Michaell the Archangell , and the natiuitie of our Lord .