Articles to be inquired of, in the first metropoliticall visitation, of the most reuerend father, Richarde by Gods prouidence, archbushop [sic] of Canterbury, and primat of all Englande in, and for the dioces of Noruuich, in the yeare of our Lorde God 1605, and in the first yeare of His Graces translation.

❧ ARTICLES To be inquired of , by the Churchwardens and sworne men : in the Visitation of the Lorde Archbushop of Canterbury : within the Diocesse of Norwich . Anno Dom. 1605.

INPRIMIS , Whether haue you in your seuerall Churcehs and Chappels , the booke of Constitutions or Canons Ecciestastical , ready to be read by your Minister , according to his Maiesties pleasure , published by his Highnes Authoritie , vnder the great Seale of England , and whether hath your Minister read the same or any part thereof vpon Sundaies & Hollidaies , in the afternoone before diuine Seruice accordingly , yea or no ?

2. Item , Whether is there any within your Parish , that hath or doth impugne , the Kings Maiesties Supremacy , and authoritie in causes Ecclesiasticall : or doe any way or in any part impeach the same , being restored to the Crowne by the Lawes of this Realme established in that behalfe ?

3 Item , Whether is there any in your Parish , that denieth the Church of England , by Lawe establishes vnder the Kinges most excellent Maiestie , to be a true & an Apostolicall Church , teaching and mainteyning the Doctrine of the Apostles ?

4 Item Whether is there any in your Parish , that doth impugne any of the Articles of Religion , agreed vpon in Anno , 1562 , and established in the Church of England .

5 Item , Whether doth your Minister vse to pray for the Kinges Maiestie King Iames , and for the Queenes Maiestie , the Prince & all their Royall Progeny , with addition of such Stile and Titles , as are due and appertaining to his Maiestie , and exhorte the people to obedience , to his Highnes , and other Maiestrates being in authority vnder him ?

6 Item , Whether is there any in your Parish , that doe impugne , or speake against the Rites and Ceremonies , established in the Church of England , or the lawfull vse of them , you shall present their names .

7 Item , are there any in your parish , that doe impugne the gouerment of the Church of England , vnder the Kings most excellent Maiestie by Arch-bushops , Bushops , Deanes Arch-deacens and the rest that beare office in the same : Affirming that the same is Ante-christian , or repugnant to the worde of God .

8 Item , is there any in your parish , that doth impugne the forme of Consecrating and ordeining of Arch-bishops , Bishops , Priests or Deacons , Affirming that the saine is Repugnant to the worde of God , or that they who are so ordered in that forme are not lawfully made .

9 Item , is there any in your parish , that doth held or frequent any Conventicles , or priuate congregations , or any that doe either make or maintaine any Constitutions , agreed vpon in any such priuate Conventicles or assemblies ?

10. Item , Whether any persons haue lurked and tippled in Tauerns or Ale houses , on Sundayes or other Hollidaies , or vsed his or their manuall craft or trade , vpon the said dayes or any of them , and especially in the time of Diuine seruice .

11 Item , are there any in your Parish , that doe or haue prophaned ( since his Maiesties last general pardon ) the Lords day called Sunday , or other Hollidayes contrary to the orders of the Church of England , prescribed in that behalfe ?

12 Item , Whether is the prescripte forme of Diuine seruice , vsed by your Minister vpon Sundaies and Hollidayes , according to the booke of Common prayer ? And whether doth your Minister duely obserue all the Orders , Rites and Ceremonies , prescribed in the said booke of common Prayer , as well in reading publique Prayers , the Letany as also in administring the Sacraments in such manner and forme as in the booke of common Prayer is inioyned ?

13 Item , Whether hath any person in your parish quarrelled or stricken , or vsed any violence vnto or with your Minister , or any other in the Church or Church-yard , or vsed himselfe disorderly in the Church by filthy and prophane talke , or any other rude and immodest behauiour ?

14 Item whether is that due reuerence , & humble submission vsed within your Church or Chappell , in the time of Diuine seruice , as by the 18. constitution is prescribed , whether each one in the Church or Chappel do apply and order himselfe there in time of diuine Seruice , as by the latter part of the same Constitution is mos● commendably enioyned ?

15 Item , Whether the Church wardens and Questmen , from time to time doe their dilligence , in not suffring any idle persons or loytererers , to abide either in the Church-yard or Church-porch in Seruice or Sermon time , but causing them either to come into the Church to heare Diuine seruice , or to depart , and not to disturbe such as are hearers there .

16 Item Whether the Church-wardens doe prouide against euery Communion with the aduice of the Minister , a sufficiente quantity of fine white Bread , and of good and wholesome Wine for the number of the Communicants that shall receiue , and that to be brought in a cleane and sweet standing pot of pewter or of other pure mettle .

17 Item , Whether doth your Minister administer the holy Communion so often , and at such times as that euery parishioner may receiue the same at least thrice in euery yéere , whereof once at Easter , as by the booke of common prayer is appointed ? And whether doth your Minister receiue the same himselfe , on euery day that he administreth it to others , and vse the words of the Institution according to the booke at euery time that the Bread or Wine is renued , in such manner and forme as by the Proviso of the 21. Cannon is directed , or wherin is he faultie ? and whether is warning giuen by him before hand for the Communion , as the 22. Cannon requireth ?

18 Item , Whether hath your Minister admitted any Notorious Offendors , or Skismatickes to the Communion : contrary to the 26. and 27. constitutions .

19 Item , Whether the Minister together with your Churchwardens and Questmen , do take diligent héed & care : not only that all & euery of your own Parishioners , do receiue thrice in euery yéere as aforesaid : but also , that no straungers of any other Parish do come often , & commonly to your Church from their own parish Church : and you are now to present the names of all those , who being xvj . yeares of age or vpwards , & haue not in their own Parish receiued the Communion , at or since Easter last ?

20 Item , Haue any in your parish bin Godfathers or Godmothers to their own children : or whether your Minister , or any Godfathers or Godmothers haue vsed , or do vse any other forme , aunswere or speach in Baptisme : then is in the Booke of common prayer appointed ? or whether any which haue not communicated , be admytted to be Godfathers or Godmothers ?

21 Item , Whether doth your Minister vse to signe the Children with the signe of the crosse , when they are baptised : according to the booke of common prayer ? and whether he hath deferred , or wilfully refused , to baptise any Infant in his Parish beeing in daunger , hauing bin duly informed of the weakenes thereof : and whether the childe hath died in his default without baptisme ?

22 Item Whether is your Minister continualy resident with you vppon his benefice : or for how long time hath he bin absent ? And where is he Resiant for the most part , & what other benefice hath he ?

23 Item Whether doth your minister preach vsualy , according to the constitutions : eyther in his own cure with you , or else in some other church or chappel neere adioyning , where no preacher is ? or how often hath he bin negligent in that behalfe ?

24 Item . Whether is your Minister a Preacher allowed , if yea : then by whom ? if not , Whether doth hée procure Sermons to be preached among you once in euery month at the least , by such as are lawfully licensed ?

25 Item Whether hath your minister an other benefice , and whether doth he supply his absence by a Curat that is sufficiently licenced to preach in that cure of his , wheron he himself is not resident ? or otherwise in case he doth not find a preaching minister there , by reason of the smalnes thereof ? : Whether doth he preach at both of his Benefices vsually him selfe ?

26 Item , whether is your Curat licensed to serue by the Bushop of this Dioces , or any other , and by whom ?

27 Item Whether doth your Minister or Curat serue any more cures then one ? if yea , then what other cure doth he also serue ?

28 Item , If your minister be not licensed to preach as aforesaid , whether doth he take vpon him to expound the Scriptures , eyther in his own cure or else where ? if yea , then you are to present him , & specifie the place where he so hath preached .

29 Item , Whether hath any person bin admitted to preach within your church or chappel , but such as you haue well knowne to be sufficiently licensed ? whom haue you so admitted you shall present their names : & how often haue any such bin so admitted to preach , and by whose procurement ? And whether haue you caused euery straunge preacher , licensed , or not licensed , to subscribe his Name together with the day when he preached : & if he were licensed , then by whom was he licensed ? And whether haue they or any other preached in your Church not being soberly & decently appareled ?

30 Item , Whether doth your Lectorer and preacher reade diuine Seruice , & administer the Sacraments in his own person , Twice euery yéere : obseruing all the Cerimonies in the booke of common prayer established ?

31 Item , Is there any in your parish , that do refuse to haue their Children baptised : or them-selues to receiue the Communion at the bandes of your Minister , because he is no preacher . You shall present their names . And if your Minister sithence the publishing of the said booke of Canons , hath receiued any such persons [ being not of his own cure ] to the Communion , or Baptised any of their Children : you shal likewise present him .

32 Item whether doth your Minister weare the Surplice , whilst he is saying the publicque prayers , & ministring the Sacraments ? And if he be any Graduat , whether then doth he also weare vpon his surplice during the times aforesaid , such a Hood as by the orders of his Uniuersitle is agréeable to his degree ?

33 Item , Whether doth your Minister euery Sunday and holliday before Euening-prayer , for halfe an houre or more , examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish , in the x. commandements , Articles of beliefe , and in the Lords prayer , as also in the Catechisme , set forth in the booke of Common prayer ? And whether doe all Fathers , Mothers , Masters and Mistresses , cause their children , seruants and apprentises , to come thither to heare & to be instructed and taught therein , and those that doe not their duties herein , you shall present their names .

34 Item , Whether hath your Ministers without license from the Archbushop , the Bushop of the Diocesse or his Chancellor , solemnized mariage betwixt any parties , the banes not being thrée seuerall sundaies or hollidaies first published in time of diuine seruice , in the seuerall Churches or Chappels , of their seueral abode according to the booke of Common prayer , & that also betwixt the houres of eight and twelue in the fore-noone . And furthermore , whether hath your minister since the last Cannons published , solemnized any mariage betwixt any persons being vnder the age of 21. yéers , although the banes be thrice asked , before such time as the parents haue made knowne vnto him their consent thervnto , and whether hath he married any of an other Diocesse , who are they ? and by what authoritie , and when ?

35. Item , Whether doth your Minister euery sunday , bid holidaies & fasting daies , as by the booke of Common prayer is appointed ?

36. Item , Whether doth your minister euery sixe monethes , denounce in his parish , all such of his Parish as doe perseuer in the sentence of excommunication , not séeking to be absolued , and whether hath he admitted into the church any person excommunicat , with-out a certificat of his absolution from the ordinary or other competent iudg ?

37. Item , Whether doth your Minister being a preacher , endeuor and labour dilligently , to reclaime the popish recusants , in his parish from their errors : if there be any such abiding ? and whether is he painefull in visiting the sicke according to the booke of Common prayer ?

38 Item , Whether is your Parson vicar or Curat , to frequent or to be ouer-conuersant with , or a fauorer of recusants , whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in religion .

39 Item , Whether doe you know or haue heard of any payment , Composition or agréement , to , or with the Bushop , Chancellor , or any inferior Officer Ecclesiastical , for suppressing or concealing of excommunication , or other Ecclesiastical censure , of , or against any Recvsant ? what summe of Money , or other Consideration hath bin received or promised ? by , or to any of them in the respect , by whom ? and with whom ? and for what summe or other consideration ?

40. Item , whether is there in your Church or Chappel one parchment Register Booke , prouided for Christnings , Mariages & Burials , and whether is the same duely and exactly kept according to the Constitutions in that behalfe prouided ?

41 Item , Whether hath your minister or any other preached , baptised Children , solemnized Mariage , churched any woman or mininistred the holy Commvnion in any priuate house or houses , otherwise than as by law is allowed yea or no ? if yea , then where ? whom ? when and how often hath he offended in any of the Premisses ?

42 Item , Whether hath your minister taken vpon him to appoint any publicque or priuate Fasts , prophecies , or exercises not approued & established by Law or publique authoritie , or hath he attempted vyon any pretence eyther of possession or obsession , by fasting and prayer to cast out deuils yea or no ?

43. Item , whether hath your minister or any other person or persons : which in your parish vsed to méet in any priuat house or otherplace , there to consult togither , how to impeach or depraue the Booke of Common prayer , or the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church of England , if yea , then you shall present them all ?

44. Item , Whether doth your minister vse such decency & Comlinesse in his apparell , as by the 74 constitution is inioyned ?

45 Item , Whether doe you know any in your parish that hauing heretofore taken vpon him or them , the order of Priest-hoode or of a Deacon , hath since relinquished the same , and betaken himselfe in the course of his life as a lay man neglecting his vocation if yea , then you shall present his name , and the place of his abode ?

46 Item , Doth any take vpon him to teach Schoole in your parish without speciall licence of his ordinary ? & whether doth your Schoolemaister bring his schollers to the Church to heare Diuine seruice and Sermons ?

47 Item , Whether is your minister noted or defamed to haue obteined his benefice by Symony , or reputed to be an incontinente person , a common drunkard a common gamster , or player at dice , or faulty in any other crime punishable by the Eccesiasticall censures , whereby he is offensiue and scandalous to his function or ministery .

48 Item , Whether haue you prouided the booke of common prayer lately set forth by his Maiesties aucthoritie , and the booke of Homylies , and whether haue you in your Church or chappell a Fonte of stone set vp in the ancient vsuall place , a conuenient and decent communion Table with a carpet of silke , or some other decente stuffe , and a faire linnen cloth to laye thereon at the Communion time , and whether is the same Table then placed in such conuenient sort within the Chauncel or church , as that the minister may be best heard in his prayer & Administration , & that the greater number may communicate : And whether are the ten commandements set vpon the East ende of your church or chappell , where the people may best see and reade them , and other sentences of holy scripture written on the walls likewise for that purpose ?

49 Item , Whether haue you a conuenient seate for your minister to reade Seruice in , together with a comely Pulpit set vp in a conuenient place with a decent cloth or cushion for the same : a comely large Surplice , a faire Communion Cup of gold , siluer , or other pure mettle , and a couer agréeable for the same , with all other thinges and ornaments necessarie for the celebration of diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments ?

50 Item , Whether are your Churches or Chappels with the Chancels thereof , and your personage or Uickeredge house and all other housing thereto belonging in good reparations , & decent and comely kept as well within as without , the seates well mainteined , a sure coffer with thrée lockes and keyes for the safe kéeping of your Register booke , your Church-yardes wel fenced and kept without abuse , if not , then through whose default & what defects are ?

51 Item , Whether haue you or your predecessors Church-wardens there suffered since the last pardon , any plaies , feasts , banquets , Church ales , drinkings , or any other prophane vsages to be kept in your church , Chappell or church yard , or bels to be rung superstiiously vpon hollidayes or daies abrogated by Lawe .

52 Item , How many inhabitants within your parish , men or women aboue th' age of 16 yéeres , do refuse to frequent diuine seruice established by publique authoritie of this Realme , or to receiue the holy Communion , what be their names , and of what degree state or trade of life are they , you are to present them all of both sorts ?

53 Item , Whether doe any of the inhabitants of your said parish entertaine within their house any soiorners , lodgers , or any common resorters and guests , who refuse to frequent diuitie seruice , or receiue the holy Communion as aforesaid , what be their names ? of what quality or condition they are ?

54 Item , Whether are any of the said popish recusants of insolent behauiour not without publique offence , or d ee boldly buisy themselues in seducing and withdrawing others , either abroad or in their owne families by instructing their children in popish Religion , or by refusing to entertaine any especially in place of greatest seruice or trust , but such as concurre with them in opinion of religion ?

55. Item , How long the said popish Recusantes haue obstinately abstained either from diuine Seruice , or from the Communion as is aforesaide : Whether of any long time , or onely since his Maiesties Reigne ?

56 Item , Whether is your Minister a preacher sufficiently qualified and if he be , whether doth he from time to time offer quiet and temperate conference to reclaime the said popish Recusantes from their errors , and whether they or any of them doe refuse such conference with your Minister or any other Preacher , who shall present vnto them his dilligence in that behalfe ?

57. Item , What persons aforesaid within your parish either for th' offence aforesaid , or for any other Contumacy , or crime , doe remaine excomunicat , what be their names and for what cause , and how long they haue so stoode excomunicate ?

58 Item , Whether were you the Churchwardens and Quest men chosen by the consent of the Minister & Parishioners : and whether haue the Churchwardens before you , giuen vp a iust accompt for their time , and deliuered to you their successors whatsoeuer money or other things of right belonging to the Church , which was in their hands , and whether doe you and euery of you diligently sée that all the parishioners doe duely resort to their church euery sunday and holiday , and there continue the whole time of Diuine seruice , and none to walke or stande Idle , or talking in Church or Church-portch or Churchyarde during that time : and whether do al that parishioners and their familes accordingly frequente their Parish Church , & there behaue them-selues soberly , attentiuely , & decently , al the time of Diuine seruice , yea or no ? if no , then you shal present their names ?

59 Item , Whether doe all persons aboue th' age of 16 yéeres vsually resort to heare Diuine Seruice vpon sundayes and holidayes approued , and whether hath each one of your parishioners , ( being aboue th' age of 16 yéeres aforesaid ) receiued the holy Communion thrice this last yéere , chiefely once at Easter in your parish church knéeling , if no , then you shall present their names which haue not so done ?

60 Item , Whether haue you a fit parish Clarke aged twenty yéers at least of honest conuersation , and sufficient for reading and writing , and whether he be paide his wages without fraude according to the most auncient custome of your parish , if not , then by whom in he so defrauded and denied ? and whether he be chosen by the parson or Uicar or by whome ?

61 Item , Whether haue any in your parish béene married within the prohibited degrées , forbidden by the Lawe of God , and expressed in a certaine table published by Authoritie in Anno , 1563. if yea , then you shall present their names , and whether haue you the said Table publiquely set vp in your Church , & fastened to some conuenient place there ?

62 Item , whether doth any heretofore diuorced kéep company with any other at Bed and at Boord ? what be their names ? When and where were they maried ?

63 Item , Doth your Minister vse the forme of thankes giuing to women after Child birth , and whether hath he admitted any thervnto , that was begotten with child in adultery or fornication without licence of his ordinarie , and whether haue any maried Wiues refused to come to church according to the booke of common prayer , to giue God thankes after Childe-birth , if any be faulty herein you shall present their names ?

64 Item , whether haue you any in your parish which heretofore being popish recusants or sectuaries , haue since conformed themselues and come to church to heare Diuine seruice and receiue the Sacraments if yea , then who they are , and how long si'thence haue they so conformed themselues , and whether doe they still remaine and abide in that conformitie ?

65 Item , What Recusant papists are there in your parish , and whether doe they or any of them keep any Schoole-maister in their house , which commeth not to church to heare diuine seruice & receiue the Communion ? what is his name , and how long hath he taught ?

66 Item , Whether haue you any in your parish to your knowledge or by common fame and report , which haue committed adulterie fornication or Incest , which haue not bin publiquely punnished to your knowledge ? if yea , then with whome ? Are there any which are or by common fame and Reporte are reputed and taken to be common Drunkards , Blasphemers of Gods holy name , common and vsuall Swearers , filthy speakers , Usurers , Symoniacal persons , fighters , Braulers , or Quarellers in Church or Church-yard , you shall not faile to present their names ?

67 Item , whether haue any in your parish receiuedor harbored any woman gotten with childe out of Wedlocke , and suffered them to depart again without punishment first inflicted on them by their ordinary , you shall truely present as well the partie harboring as harbored , and who is suspected to be father of her child ?

68 Item , Whether hath any person within your parish promised or payed any somme of money or other reward directly or indirectly by himselfe or any other , or committed his or her pennance for any incest , adultery , fornication , or any other Ecclesiastical crime , if so , then with whom ? when ? and for what ? and how hath the same béene imployed ?

69 Item , Whether is your Chancelor , and euery other inferior Ecclesiasticall iudge a Maister of Artes , or Batchelor of Lawes at the least , and learned and practised in the civill and Ecclesiasticall Lawes , a man of good life and conuersation and Zealously affected in Religion ?

70 Item , Whether any person or persons suspected or detected heretofore of incontinency , and therefore departing out of your parish for a season is now returned againe , or in what place else is he or she now abiding to your knowledge or as you haue heard ? you shal not faile to present the whole truth in that behalfe ?

71 Item , Whether are there in your Parish any Wills not yet proued , or goods of the dead dying intestate left vn-administred by authoritie of the ordinarie in that behalfe ? you shal not faile to present the Executors , and all others faulty and culpable therein .

72 Item , Hath any Chanceller , Commissary , Arch-deacon , official , or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Iuris-diction within this your Diocesse , or any Register , Apparator , or Minister belonging to the same Ecclesiasticall courts , exacted extra-ordinary or greater fées then heretofore of late haue béene accustomed , and whether is there a table of the rates of all fées set vp in their seuerall Courts and Offices , or whether they or any of them haue taken vpon them th' office of Informers or Promotors to the courts , or any other way abused themselues in their Offices contrary to the Lawe and Cannons in that case prouided ?

73 Item , Do any , of , or within your Parish affirme , or haue they affirmed that the sacred synode of this Nation assembled by the Kings authoritie , is not the true church of England by Representation : or hath or doth any of your parish affirme , that no persons eyther of the Clergie or laity , that were not pertinently present in the said late Synode , are subiect to the decrées thereof in causes Ecclesiastical , made & ratified by the Kings supreame Aucthoritie : because they gaue not vp their voices vnto them , yée shal present their names ?

74 Item , is there any among you , that haue or doe depraue the foresaid late Synode , saying or affirming , that the same was a company of such persons as did conspire togither against godly and religious professors of the Gospell , and that therefore both they and their procéedings in that behalfe are and ought to be despised and contemned or words to the like effect , you shall not faile to present their names ?

75 Item , What Number of Apparators hath euery seueral iudge Ecclesiastical , and wherein , and in what manner is the countrey ouer-burthened and grieued by the said Apparators ?

76 Item , Whether doe you know of any other matter of Eccle-siasticall cognisance , worthy the presentment in your iudgement aboue not expressed , which you holde fit to be reformed , and if you doe , you shall likewise present the same by vertue of your oaths .

FINIS .