¶ For the Clargie .

IN primis , you must endeuour so to order & frame your selues in the setting foorth of Gods true Religion , due administration of the Sacraments , and the reuerent and distincte saying or singing of the Common prayer , as hath bene prescribed and sette forthe vnto you beefore tyme , aswell by the booke of Common prayer set forth to be vsed through the whole Realme , as by sondry Iniunctions set foorth for that purpose . And that you take great heede , that your lyues and conuersations be such euery way , as no person haue cause to be offended thereby , somuch as in you lieth .

Item , ye shall not take vppon you to Preach , or Expounde the Scriptures by way of exhortation or otherwise , in your owne Church or else where , vnlesse you bee admitted thereto by the moste Reuerend Father , the Archbyshop of Canterbury , or the Bishop of the Dioces .

Item , you shall not marie or suffer to be maried within any of your cures , any personne or persons , that come lately out of any other Dioces , vnlesse suche persons bring with them sufficient testimoniall vnder the Seale of the Ordinarie of the Dioces from whence he or they shal come , testifying such person or persons to be free and vnmaryed , and at their liberty to mary accordingly .

Item , at such tymes as ye shall vse the perambulation in the Rogation dayes for the boundes of your parish , you shall not vse any surples vppon you , or stay at any crosse , or suffer any banners , to be caried , or other superstition to be vsed , but onely geue GOD thanks , and vse such good order of prayers and Homelies , as be appointed by the Queenes maiesties authoritie in that behalfe .

Item none of you shall ferme one cure or more within this Dioces , without speciall lycence in wryting vnder the Bishops Seale .

Finally , ye shall diligently obserue and put in vre , all such Orders & Iniunctions as haue ben appointed you before tyme , aswell by the Iniunctions of the queenes maiestie , as by the Archbishop of Canterburyes grace , and the Bishop of the Dyoces .

¶ For the Churchwardens , Questmen and others .

Item , that no Parson Vicar , propriatorie , or fermer of any benefice , doe admit any Minister or Curate to serue his said benefice , vnlesse such person shall first show his letters of Orders , where he was made Mynister , and haue also sufficient testimoniall vnder the Seale of the Ordinarye , from whence he commeth , with lycence from the Bishop to serue accordingly .

Item , that in great Churches where all the people cannot conueniently heare their minister , the Church wardens & other , to whome that charge belongeth , shal prouide and appoint , a decent and a conuenient seate in the body of the church , where the sayd minister may sit or stand , and say the diuine seruice , that all the congregation may heare and be edified therewith . And that in smaller churches , ther be some conuenient seate without the chauncell dore for that purpose .

Item , that vppon all sainctes daye and other like times , ther be no ringing of belles after Euening prayer , or any other superstitious ceremony vsed , to the maintenaunce of poperie , or praying for the dead , & that if any such shal be hence forth vsed , the same with the names of suche as shall offende therein , to bee presented to the Ordinary .

Item , that no person or persons calling them selues lordes of misrule in the Christmas tyme , or other vnreuerent persons at any other tyme , presume to come into the church vnreuerently playing their lewd partes , with scoffing , iesting , or rebaldry talke , & if any such haue alredy offended herein , to present them and their names to the Ordinary .

Item , for auoydinge of vnlawfull mariages , you shall prouide in euery of your Churches , a certayne table for the degrees of Mariage last set forth by the foresayde most Reuerend Father in God Mathew , Archbishop of Canterbury , to be sette vp in some conuenient place of the sayd Church .

Finally , you shall carefully and diligently prouide , that all such good Orders & Iniunctions , as haue ben prescribed & appointed beefore time , shal be duly by you put in execution , so far forthe , as they concerne any of you .

¶ Articles to be enquired of .

IN primis , whether your Diuine seruice be sayde or song in due tyme and reuerently , and the Sacraments duely and reuerently mynistred in such decent apparel , as is appoynted by the laws , the Queenes maiesties Iniunctions , and other orders set forthe by publike aucthoritie in that behalfe .

Item , whether the Queenes maiesties Iniunctions , be quarterly read in your Churches , & a declaration read twyse euery yeare , which was set forth by bothe the Archbishops and the reste of the Byshops , concerning certayne principall pointes of Religion , for the vnitie of Doctrine .

Item , whether you haue in your Churche a Bible , of the largest volume , the Paraphrasis , of Erasmus in English , with the Homelies , & all other boks requisite , for the Administration of Diuine seruice . And whether the Homelies be duely and distinctly read .

Item , whether you haue in your Church a decent Pulpit and Communion table furnished and placed as becommeth , with a comly communion cup , with a couer , and a chest or poore mans boxe , and the collection and distribution , for the poore , made according to a statute in that behalfe prouided :

Item , whether any person or persons haue pulled downe , any Church , Chappell , or Chauncell , almes house , or belles , or any part thereof , or haue felled or spoyled any wood or tymber in any Church yarde , or haue solde any church goodes : to whome , what it was , and for what price .

Item , whether your Church , Chauncel , and your Parsonage and Vicaredge house , be well & sufficiently repaired and maintained , & whether that your Church yard be well kept and fenced ,

Item , whether your Rodeloftes , Images , Tabernacles , and all other monuments of Idolatrie be pulled downe and defaced , and youre Church and Chauncell decently reformed . And whether you know of any Popish and superstitious bookes , Images , vestments , or such lyke , remaining within your parish and in whose hands they bee .

Item , whether your Preachers & Ministers doe ernestly and diligently teache theyr Auditory and parishiners , to lyue in faythfull and humble obedience to almighty GOD , the Queenes maiestie , and all and singuler hir officers , aswell spiritual as temporal , exhorting them from all kind of Idolatrie , superstition , and other vices .

Item whether your Minister be geuen to filthy lucre , whordome , dronkennesse , or other like notorious vices , or doe haunt or frequent any suspitious house or company , or any vaine pastimes as hawking , hunting , dising , carding , and suche like vanities , and geue not him selfe to prayer , fasting , almes dedes , with such like . And whether he pray diligently for the prosperous estate of the Queenes maiestie , as to duety belongeth .

Item , whether your Mynister doe eudeuour him selfe diligently to teach & instruct the youth of the parish , the Catechisme , and do otherwise see them brought vp in the feare of God , and in due obedience and reuerence , to their parentes , maysters and elders .

Item , whether your curate or Minister haue admitted any to Preache within your parishe church not being lawfully lycensed thereunto , or haue refused any suche as are licensed , and whether you haue your quarter sermons .

Item , whether you know of any sectaries , the vse to make any priuate conuenticles in priuate mens houses , in contempt of the lawes and good orders set forthe by authoritie , and doe preache , teach , or minister the Sacraments there , and by that meanes attempt to withdrawe the people from due obedience , and to raise and maintaine scismes & sectes , who they are that so doe , where they do it , and what be the articles and contents of their doctrine and opinions .

Item , whether there be any Minister , Priest , or other persone or persons whatsoeuer within your parish , that doeth willingly , sinbburnely , or negligently , absent him selfe from the church and receuinge of the Sacramentes , and do refuse to contribute to the poore mens box , and that walk vp and downe iangling and talking in the tyme of Common praier , or administration of the Sacraments , any that vse any other booke of prayers then is set forth by publike authoritie , or that haue not communicated thrise euery yeare at the least , nor submit him selfe to the laws and orders set forth by common authoritie , and where suche person or persons doe remaine , and who they are that doe maintaine them .

Item whether your Vicar or Parson be resident and kepeth hospitalitie in and vppon hys benefice , & howe many benefices he hath , expressing their names .

Item , who is patroue of your benefice , whether that he witholde the glebe landes or tithes pertayning to the same , or any parte thereof , or vseth any simonicall pactes in the bestowinge of his sayd benefice , and whether he or any in hys name , hath in the tyme of the vacation of the church , taken the fruits and profits thereof , and by what authoritie .

Item , whether ye know any Parson or Vicar , that sel their benefice to meare lay men , absenting them selues from the same , to the defacing of their callinge , decay of hospitalitie , contempt of the lawes , neglecting of their duties , bothe towards God , and the Queenes maiestie , and euill example of the church of God .

Item , whether your church be vacant , & how long it hath ben so , and what is the cause therof .

Item , whether you know , any maintainers of foren power , letters or hinderers of Gods holy word , and slaunderers of the Preachers or of the ministery or publike prayer , or that defend or hold any opinions againste them or any of them , who they are expressing their names , and what was theyr communication .

Item , whether ye know any spiritual Iudge or his officers , that neglect truely with sinceritie to mynister Iustice , according to the lawes ecclesiasticall , indifferently to euery party .

Item , whether they be diligent , and vigilant to enquire of such as be noted and commonly famed & suspected of any notorius crime , as of Adultery , fornication , backbiting , dronkennesse , & such like , and whether they be carefull to correcte such offenders , and circumspect with charitie to refourme smaller faultes .

Item , whether they vse to permitte for summes of money the penaunce of suche as are notorious offenders , not caring for the euil example , & encoragement of others , to commit the lyke offences , & therby suffer the sinners to sleepe in theyr sinnes .

Item , whether you know any Parentes , maysters , maystresse , or dames , who doe not see theyr children or youth taught the Cathechisme , or that do not send their sayd children or youth diligently to the church to be instructed therin , & who they are .

Item , whether the Register booke of Christnings , mariages , and buryings , be well kept , and the names entred accordinge to the Queene hir maiesties Iniunctions .

Item , whether there be any Inne kepers , Tauernes , or Ale house kepers , that maintaine eating and drinkinge in them vppon any sonday or holiday in the time of preaching or common praier , or if there be any faires or common markets , falling on those days , whether they open or make any shew of their wares before Morning prayer be ended .

Item , whether ye knowe any Blasphemers of the name of God , abusers of his holy word or sacraments , adulterers , fornicatours , bawds , & maintayners of them , any suspect of Incest , any dronkerdes , ribaldes , or vsers of vnsomely or filthy talk , common slaunderers of their neighbours , or sowers of discord betwene party and party .

Item , whether ye knowe any that minister any dead mens goods without authoritie , or any executours that haue not fulfilled the testatours wyll . And whether your Hospitalls be vsed according to the foundation thereof . And whether they receue any other then the poore .

Item , whether ye know any scholemaister or instructour of youth that teach , not being lawefully lycensed thereto , vnder the Bishops Seale . Or any Phisition or surgeon , that practyse their artes , being not lawfully authorised .

Item , whether your scholemaisters or instructors of youth , be of sounde religion , and haue taken the Othe to the Queenes maiestie , and doe bring vp his sayde youth , in the feare of GOD , with humilitie , obedience and good maners , to reuerence and geue place to their elders and betters , and doe teach them godly sentences of the Scripture .

Item , whether ye know any that vse any sorcerie , Inchauntments , Magika , Necromancie , Incantations , or Witchcrafte , or that be suspected of the same .

Item , whether any of your parish haue maryed within the degrees of Affinitie , or Consanguinitie , contrary to the lawes , and a ceetayne Table for that purpose , laste set foorth by the moste Reuerend Father , Mathew , Archbyshop of Canterburye , or whether there be any that hath two wiues , or woman that hath two Husbandes , any maryed where a precontract was to an other , any deuorsed , or otherwise seperated that maryed againe , any that haue made priuie or secret contracts , or haue maryed without asking the banes not being thereunto lawfully lycensed .