Articles to be inquired of, in the first metropoliticall visitation, of the most reuerend father, Richard by Gods prouidence, Arch-bushop [sic] of Canterbury, and primat of all England in, and for the dioces of Peterborough, in the yeare of our Lord God 1607, and in the third yeare of His Graces translation.

❧ ARTICLES To be inquired of , by the Churchwardens and Sworne-men : in the Visitation of the Lord Arch-bushop of Canterbury : within the Diocesse of PETERBOROVGH . Anno Dom. 1607.

INPRIMIS , Whether haue you in your seuerall Churches and Chappels , the booke of Constitutions or Cannons Ecclesiasticall , ready to be reade by your Minister , according to his Maiesties pleasure , published by his Highnes Authoritie , vnder the great Seale of England , and whether hath your Minister reade the same or any part thereof vpon Sundaies and Holidaies , 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 supremacie , 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 established vnder the Kings most excellent Maiestie , to be a true and an Apostolicall church , teaching and mainteyning the Doctrine of the Apostles ?

4 Item Whether is there any in your parish , that doth impagne any of the Articles of Religion , agréed vpon in Anno , 1562 , and established in the Church of England .

5 Item , Whether doth your minister vse to pray for the Kings Maiestie King Iames , and for the Quéenes Maiestie , the Prince and all their Royall Progeny , with addition of such Stile and Titles , as are due and appertaining to his Maiestie , and exhort the people to obedience , to his Highnes , and other Maiestrates being in authoritie 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 lawful 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-deacons , 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-bushops , Bushops , Priests or Deacons , affirming that the same 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 holde or frequent any conuenticles , or priuate congregations , or any that doe eyther make or maintaine any Constitutions , agréed vpon in any such priuate Conuenticles or assemblies ?

10. Item Whether any persons haue lurked and tippled in Tauernes or Ale-houses , on sundaies or other holidaies , or vsed his or their manuall craft or trade , vpon the said daies 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 generall pardon ) the Lords day called sunday , or other holidaies contrarie to the orders of the Church of England , prescribed in that behalfe ?

12 Item , Whether is the prescript forme of diuine seruice , vsed by your Minister , vpon Sundaies and Holidaies , 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 puplique 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 fricken , 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 , and 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 Chappell do apply and order himselfe there in time of diuine Seruice , as by the latter part of the same Constitution is most commendably enioyned ?

15 Item , Whether the Church-wardens and Questmen , from time to time doe their dilligence , in not suffring any idle persons or loyterers , 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 sufficient 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 , wherof 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 turned in such manner and forme as by the Proviso of the 21. Common is directed , or wherein 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 ●●●●dors , or Skismatickes to the Communion : contrary to the 26. and 27. constitutions .

19 Item Whether the Minister together with the Churchwardens & Questmen , doe take diligent héede and care : not only that all and euery of your owne parishioners , doe receiue thrice in euery yeere as aforesaid : but also , that no straungers of any other parish doe come often , and commonly to your church from their owne parish church : and you are now to present the names of all those , who being 16. yeares of age or vpwards , and haue not in their owne parish receiued the Communion , at or since Easter last ?

20 Item , Haue any in your parish bin Godfathers or Godmothers to their owne 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 admitted 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 defected , or wilfully refused , to baptise any Infant in his parish being in daunger , hauing bin duely informed of the weakenes thereof : and whether the childe hath died in his default without Baptisme ?

22 Item , whether is your Minister continually resident with you vpon his benefice , or for how long time hath he bin absent ? And where is he restant for the most part , and what other benefice hath he ?

23 Item , Whether doth your Minister preach vsually , according to the constitutions , eyther in his owne cure with you , or else in some other church or chappell néere 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 he 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 licensed to preach in that cure of his , wheron he himselfe is not resident ? or otherwise in case he doth not finde a preaching minister there by reason of the smallnes thereof ? whether doth he preach at both of his benefices vsually himselfe ?

26. Item , Whether is your curat licensed to serue by the Bushop of this Dioces , or by 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 owne cure or else where ? if yea , then you are to present him , and specifie the place where he so hath preached ?

29 Item Whether hath any person bin admitted to preach within your church or chappell , but such as you haue well knowne to be sufficiently licensed ? whom haue you so admitted , you shal 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 apparelled ?

30 Item , Whether doth your Lectorer and preacher reade diuine seruice , and administer the Sacraments in his owne person , twice euery yéere : obseruing all the Ceremonies in the booke of common prayer established ?

31 Item , Is there any in your parish , that do refuse to haue their children baptised : or themselues to receiue the Communion at the hands 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 owne cure ) to the Communion , or baptised any of their children : you shall likewise present him ?

32 Item , Whether doth your minister weare the surplice , whilst he is saying the publique prayers , and 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 Vniuersitie is agréeable to his degrée ?

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 , maisters and mistresses , cause their children , seruants and apprenstises , to come thither to beare and 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 this Diocesse or his Chancelor , 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 seuerall abode according to the booke of common prayer , and 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. yeeres , although the banes be thrice asked , before such time as the parents haue made knowne vnto him their consent therevnto , and whether hath he married any of another Diocesse , who are they ? and by what authoritie , and when ?

35 Item , Whether doth your minister euery sunday , bid holidaies and fasting daies , as by the booke of common prayer is appointed ?

36 Item whether doth your minister euery 6 monethes , denounce in his parish , all such of his parish as doe perseuer in the sentence of excommunication , not seeking to be absolued , and whether hath he admitted into the church any person excommunicat , without a certificat of his absolution from the ordinary or other competent iudge ?

37 Item , Whether doth your minister being a preacher , endeuor and labor 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 agreement , to , or with the Bushop , Chancellor , or any inferior officer Ecclesiastical , for suppressing or concealing of excommunication , or other Ecclesiasticall censure , of , or against any recusant ? what summe of money , or other consideration hath bin receiued 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 Chappell one parchment Register booke , prouided for Christnings , Mariages , and 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 preacher baptised children , solemnized Mariage , churched any woman , or ministred the holy Communion 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 and established by Law or publique authoritie , or hath he attempted vpon 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 : within your parish vsed to meete in any priuat house or other place , 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 and comlines 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-hood 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 ? and 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 incontinent person , a common drunkard , a common gamster , or player at dice , or faulty in any other crime punishable by the Ecclesiastical 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 authoritie , and the booke of Homilies , and whether haue you in your Church or chappell a Fonts of stone set vp in the ancient vsuall place , a conuenient and decent Communion table with a carpet of silke , or some other decents stuffe , and a taire linnen cloth to lay thereon at the Communion time : and whether is the same Table then placed in such conuenient sort within the Chauncell or church , as that the minister may be best heard in his prayer and administration , and that the greater number may communicate : And whether are the x. commandements set vpon the East ende of your Church or Chappell , where the people may best sée and read 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 agreeable for the same , with all other things and ornaments necessarie for the celebration of Diuine seruice and administration of the Sacraments ?

50 Item , Whether are your church or chappels with the Chancels thereof , and your parsonage or vickeredge house and all other housing thereto belonging in good reparations , and 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 churchyards wel fenced & kept without abuse , if not , then through whose default and what defects are ?

51 Item , Whether haue you or your predecessors Church-wardens there suffered since the last pardon , any plaies , feasts , banquets , churchales , drinkings , or any other prophane vsages , to be kept in your church chappels or church-yard , or bels to be rung superstitiously vpon hollidaies or dayes 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 degrée state or trade of life are they , you are to present then 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 diuine seruice , or receiue the holy Communion as aforesaid , what be their names ? of what qualitie or condition they are ?

54 Item , Whether are any of the said popish recusants of insolent behauiour not without publique offence , or doe boldly buisy themselues in seducing & 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 Recusants haue obstinately abstained , eyther from diuine seruice or from the Communion as is aforesaid : Whether of any long time , or onely since his Maiesties raigne ?

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 Recusants 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 excommunicat , what be their names and for what cause , and how long they haue so stood excommunicate ?

58 Item , Whether were you the Churchwardens and Questmen chosen by the consent of the Minister and 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 stand idle , or talking in church or churchportch , or churchyard during that time : and whether doe all the parishioners and their families accordingly frequent their parish church , and there behaue themselues soberly , attentiuely and decently , all the time of diuine seruice , yea or no ? if no , then you shall present their names ?

59 Item , Whether doe all persons aboue th' age of 16 yéeres , vsually resort to heare diuine seruice vpon sundayes and hollidayes 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 yeeres at least of honest conuersation , and sufficent for reading and writing , and whether he be paide his wages without frauds according to the most auncient custome of your parish , if not , then by whom is be so defrauded and denied ? and whether he be chosen by the parson or vicar or by whom ?

61 Item , Whether haue any in your parish béene maried 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 , and fastened to some conuenient place there ?

62 Item , Whether doth any heretofore diuorced kéepe 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 Childe-birth , and whether hath he admitted any therevnto , 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 child-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 kéepe any Schoole-maister in their house , which commeth not to church to heare diuine seruice and receiue the Communion ? what is his name , and how long hath be taught ?

66 Item , Whether haue you any in your parish to your knowledge or by common fame and report , any which haue committed adulterie fornication or incest , which haue not bin publiquely punished to your knowledge ? if yea , then with whom ? Are there any which are or by common fame and report are reputed and taken to be common drunkards , blasphemers of Gods holy name , common and vsuall swearers , filthy speakers , Vsurers , symoniicall persons , Fighters , Brawlers , or Quarellers in church , or churchyard , you shall not faile to present their names ?

67 Item , Whether haue any in your parish receiued or harbored any woman gotten with childe out of Wedlocke , and suffered them to depart againe 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 summe 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 Ecclesiasticall 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 ciuill 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 shall 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 other faulty and culpable therein ?

72 Item , Hath any Chancellor , Commissary , Arch-deacon , officiall , 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 sées 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 , Doe any , of , or within your Parish affirme , or haue any 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 Laitie , that were not pertinently present in the said late Synode , are subiect to the decrees thereof in causes Ecclesiasticall , made and ratified by the Kings supreame authoritie : because they gaue not vp their voices vnto them , yée shall 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 proceedings 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 Ecclesiasticall , 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 Ecclesiasticall 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 .