Concerning the Ministers .

1 WHether doth your Minister , distinctly and reuerently say Diuine seruice vpon Sundayes and Holidaies , and other daies appointed to be obserued by the booke of Common Prayer : as Wednesdayes , and Fridaies and the eeues of euery Sunday and Holiday , at si● and vsuall times ? And doth your Minister duely obserue the Orders Rites , and Ceremonies , prescribed in the said Booke of Common Prayer , as well in reading publike prayers and the ●etany , as also in administring the Sacraments , solemnization of Matrimony , visiting the sick burying the dead , Churching of Women , and all other like Rites an● Offices of the Church , in such manner and forms , as in the said Book of Common prayer he is inioyned , without any omiss on or addition And doth hee read the Booke of the last Cannons once yearely , and wear● a Surplice according to the said Cannons ?

2 Doth your Minister bid Holidaies and Fasting-daies , as by th● Boke of Common Prayer is appointed ? And doth he giue warning before hand to the Parishioners , for the receiuing of the holy Communion , as the 22. Cannon requireth ? And whether he doth administer the holy Communion so often , and at such times , as that euery Parishioner may receiue the same , at the least thrice in euery yeare : whereof once at Easter , as by the Booke of common Prayer is appointed ? And doth your Minister receiue the same himselfe , on euery day that he administreth it to others , and vse the wordes of institution , according to the Booke , at euery time that the Breade and Wine is renewed ; accordingly as by the Prouiso of the 21. Cannon , is directed ? And doth hée deliuer the Bread and Wine to euery Communicant seuerally ? Whether hée hath admitted to the holy Communion any Offendor , or Schismaticke , contrary to the 26. and 27. constitutions , or receiued any to the communion beeing not of his owne cure , or put any from the Communion , who are not publiquely infamous for any notorious crime ? Doth hée vse the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme , or Baptize in any Bason , or other Vessel , and not in the vsuall Font ? Or admit any Father to bee God-Father to his owne child , or such which haue not receiued the holy Communion : or Baptise any children that were not borne in the parish ; or wilfully refuse to baptise any Infant in his Parish beeing in danger , hauing béene enformed of the weakenesse of the said child : and whether the saide child dyed through his default , without Baptisme ?

3 Whether hath your Minister married any without a King , or without Banes published thrée seuerall Sundaies or Holidaies in time of Diuine seruice , in the seuerall churches or chappels of their seuerall abode , according to the Booke of common Prayer , or in times prohibited , albeit the Banes were thrice published , without a License or dispensation f●om the Arch-bishop , the Bishop of the Diocesse , or his Chancellor ; first obtained in that behalfe ? Or not betwixt the houses of eight and twelue in the forenoone , or haue married any in any priuate house , or if the parties be vnder the age of twenty one yeares , before their Parents or Gouernours haue signified their consent vnto him ?

4 Doth he refuse to bury any , which ought to be inferred in christian burial , or deferre the same longer then he should , or bury any in christian buriall , which by the constitutions of the church of England ought not so to be interred ?

5 Is your Minister , a Preacher allowed ? If yea ; then by whom , if not ? Whether dooth he procure some who are lawfully licensed , to preach monthly amongst you at the least ?

6 Doth your Minister ( being licenced ) preach vsually according to the Cannons , either in his owne Cure , or in some other church or chappell néere adioyning , where no Preacher is , and how often he hath béene negligent in that behalfe , and doth he preach standing , and with his hat off ? Or whether doth he or his Curate vpon euery Sunday , when there is no Sermon , read an Homilie , or some part thereof , according as hée ought to doe ; or in case he be not licensed to preach , doth he take vpon him to Preach or expound the Scriptures in his owne Cure , or else-where ; If so , then you are to present the same , the time and place , when , and where he did it ?

7 Doth your Minister vse to pray for the Kinges Maiesty , King Iames , and for the Quéenes Maiesty , the Prince , and all their Royall Progeny , with addition of such stile and Titles as are due to his Highnesse , and exhort the people to obedience to his Maiesty , and all Magistrates in authority vnder him ?

8 Is your Minister continually resident vppon his Benefice , and how long time hath he beene absent , and in case he be licensed to bee absent ; whether doth he cause his Cure to be sufficiently supplied , according to the Cannons : or in case he hath another Benefice , whether doth he supply his absence by a Curate , sufficiently licensed to preach in that Cure where he himselfe is not resident . Or otherwise , in case the smalnesse of the Liuing cannot finde a Preaching Minister , doth he preach at both his Benifices vsually ?

9 Doth your Minister or Curate , serue any more Cures then one : if yea , then what other Cure , dooth hee serue , and how farre are they distant ?

10 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 Ten Commaundements , Articles of the Beléefe , and in the Lords Prayer , and the Sacrament , according as it is prescribed in the Catechisme , set foorth in the Booke of Common Prayer ?

11 Doth your Minister in the Rogation daies , goe in perambulation of the circuit of the Parish , saying and vsing the Prayers , Suffrages , and Thanksgiuing to God , appointed by Law , according to his duty , thanking God for his blessinges , if there be plenty on the earth ; Or otherwise , to pray for his grace and fauour , if there be a feare of s●●sitie ?

12 Hath your Minister admitted any Woman , begotten with child in Adultry or Fornication , to be churched without license of the ordinary ?

13 Hath your Minister or any other Preacher , baptized Children , churched any woman , or ministred the holy Communion in any priuate house , otherwise then as by Law is allowed ?

14 Doth your Minister , being a Preacher , endeuour and labour diligently to reclaime the Popish Recusants in his Parish from their errors , ( if there bee any such abiding in your Parish . ) Or whether is your Parson , Vicar , or Curate , ouer conuersant with , or a fauourer of Recusants , whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Religion ?

15 Hath your Minister taken vpon him , to appoint any publique or priuate Fasts , Prophesies , or exercises , not approued by Law , or publike authority , or hath vsed to méete in any priuate house or place , with any person or persons , there to consult how to impeach or depraue the book of common prayer , or the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church of England : If yea , then you shall present them all ?

16 Hath your Minister stated the publication of any excommunications or suspitions , or doth he euery halfe yeare denounce in his Parish-church , all such of his Parish as are excommunicated , and perseuer therein without seeking to be absolued , or doth he wittingly and willingly kéep company with such as are excommunicate : And hath he admitted into your Church , any person excommunicate , without a Certificate of his absolution from the Ordinary , or other competent Iudge ?

17 Doth your Minister carefully looke to the reléefe of the poore , and from time to time call vpon his Parishioners to giue somewhat , as they can spare , to godlie and charitable vses , especially when they make their Testaments ?

18 Whether your Minister or any , hauing taken holy orders , being now silenced or suspended , or any other person of your knowledge , or as you haue heard , hold any conuenticles , or doth preach in any place , or vse any other forme of Diuine seruice then is appointed in the Booke of Common praier : If yea , then you are to present their names , and with whom ?

19 Whether is your Curate licensed to serue , by the Bishop of this Diocesse , or by any other , and by whom ?

20 Doth your Minister vse such decency and comelinesse in his apparrell , as by the 47. Cannon is enioyned : and is he of sober behauiour , and one that doth not vse such bodily labour , as is not séemely for his suntion and calling ?

21 Is your Minister noted or defamed , to haue obtained his Benifice or his orders , by Symony , or any other way defamed , to be Symoniacall person , or any way noted to bee a Schismaticke , or scismaticallie affected or reputed to be an incontinent person , or doth table or lodge any such in his house : or is he a frequenter of Tauernes , Innes , or Ale-houses , or any place suspected for ill rule : Or is he a common Drunkard , a common Gamster , or player at Dice , a Swearer , or one that applyeth himselfe not at his study , or is otherwise offensiue and scandalous to his function or Ministry ?

22 Doth your Preacher or Lecturer read Diuine seruice , and Minister the Sacraments twice a yeare at least in his own person , according to the Cannons ?

Schoole-Maisters .

23 DOth any in your Parish take vpon him to teach Schoole , without License of the Ordinary , and is he conformable to the Religion now established ? And doth he bring his Schollers to the Church , to heare Diuine seruice , and Sermons ? And doth he instruct his Shollers in the groundes of the Religion now established in this Church of England , and is he carefall and diligent to benefit his Schollers in learning ?

Parish Clearkes and Sextons .

24 HAue you a fit Parish Clark , aged twenty yeares at least , of honest conuersation , able to read and write ? whether are his and the Sextons wages paid without fraud , according to the ancient custome of your Parish : if not , then by whom are they so defrauded or denyed ? By whom are they chosen ? And whether the said Clarke be approued by the Ordinary ? And hath he taken an Oath , as in such cases is fit and required : And is he diligent in his office , and seruiceable to the Minister , and doth he take vpon him to meddle with any thing aboue his Office : as Churching of Women , burying the dead , or such like ?

25 Doth your Clarke or Sexton kéepe the Church cleaue , the doores locked ? Is any thing lost or spoyled in the Church , through his default ? doth he suffer any vnseasonable ringing , or any prophane exercise in your Church ? Or doth he ( when any is passing out of this life ) neglect to tole a Bell , hauing notice thereof .

Concerning the Parishoners .

1 WHether any of your Parishoners , béeing sixtéene yeares of age or vpwards , or others lodging or commonly resorting to any House within your Parish , do wil●ullie absent themselues from your Parish-church , vpon Sondaies or Holidaies at Morning and Euening Prayers ? Or who come late to Church , and depart from church , before ●●ruice be done vpon the said daies ? Or who doe not reuerently behaue ●●emselues during the time of Diuine Seruice , deuoutly knéeling , when ●e generall confession of sinnes , the Letany , the ten Commandements , and all Prayers and Collects are read , and vsing all due and lowly reue●●nce , when the blessed name of the Lord Iesus Christ is mentioned , and ●tanding vp when the Articles of the Beleefe are read ; or who doe couer ●heir heads in the Church during the time of Diuine seruice , vnlesse it be a case of necessity , in which case they may weare a Night-cap or coy●e ? Or who doe giue themselues to babling , talking , or walking , and are ●ot attentiue to heare the word preached , or read ; or reading , or praying , ●●ring the time aforesaid ? Whether any of your Parish being of sixtéen yeares of age or vpwards , doe not receiue the holie communion in your ●hurch thrice euery yeare ; whereof once at Easter , and whether they ●●e not deuoutly kneele at the receiuing thereof ?

2 Whether any of your Parishioners , being admonished thereof , ●●e not send their Children , Seruants , and Apprentizes , to the Minister , 〈◊〉 be catechized vppon such Sondaies and Holidaies as are appointed ? Or whether any of them doe refuse to come ; or if they come , refuse to ●●ne those instructions set forth in the Booke of common prayer ?

3 Whether any of your parish doe entertaine within their house , ●●y soiourner , common guests or other persons , who refuse to frequent ●iuine seruice or receiue the holie communion , as aforesaide ? present ●●eir names , their qualities , or conditions .

4 What Recusant Papists are there in your parish ? present their ●●nes , qualities , or conditions ? whether kéepe they any Schoolemaister 〈◊〉 their house , which commeth not to church to heare Diuine seruice and ●●trine the Communion ? What is his Name , and how long hath hée ●●ght there , or else-where ?

5 Whether any of the said popish Recusants , doe labour to seduce 〈◊〉 withdraw others from the Religion now established ? Or instruct 〈◊〉 Families or children in popish Religion : or refuse to entertain any , ●●●cially in place of greatest seruice , or trust , but such as concurre with 〈◊〉 in their papistry ?

6 How long haue the said Popish Recusants abstained from diuine ●●●uice , or from the communion , as aforesaid ?

7 Is there any in your parish that retaine vndefaced , or sell , vtter , 〈◊〉 verse , any popish Bookes or writings , or any Bookes , Libels , or ●●●ings of any Secturies , touching the Religion , State , or Gouern●●nt Ecclesiasticall of this Kingdome of England , or kéepe any Ornaments of superstition vncancelled or defaced ?

8 Whether haue you any in your Parish , which héeretofore being Popish Recusants or Sectuaries , haue since reformed themselues , and come to Church to heare Diuine Seruice , and receiue the Sacraments : If yea , then who they are ? And how long since haue they so reformed themselues ? And whether they still remaine and abide in that conformitie ?

9 Is there any in your Parish that refuse to haue their Children Baptized , or themselues to receiue the Communion at the hands of your Minister , taking exception against him , and what causes or exceptions doe they alledge ; or haue any married Wiues refused to come to church , according to the Booke of common Prayer , to giue God thankes after their Child-birth , for their safe deliuerance ? And whether doe any of , or in your Parish , refuse to haue their children Baptized in your parish-church , according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of common Prayer ?

10 Whether any of your Parish hauing a Preacher to their parson , Vicar , or Curate , doe absent themselues from his Sermons , and resort to other places to heare other Preachers ? Or whether any of your parish doe communicate or baptize their Children in any other parish ?

11 What persons within your parish , for any offence , contumacy , or crime , of Ecclesiasticall Conusance do stand excommunicate ? present their names , and for what cause they are excommunicated , and how long they haue so stood , and what parson or persons doe wittingly and vsualli● keepe them company ?

12 Whether any , not being in orders , doe execute any priestlie o● ministeriall office , in your Church , Chappell , or Church-yard , and wha● be their names ?

13 Whether any in your parish , that hauing héeretofore taken vpon him the order of Priest-hood or Deacon , hath since relinguished th● same , and liues a Lay-man , neglecting his vocation ?

14 Haue any person in your Parish , quarrelled , or stricken , or vsed any violence to your Minister , or haue strucken or quarrelled with any other person within your Church or Church-yard , or demeaned him selfe disorderedly in the Church , by filthy or prophane talke , or any othe● leud or immodest behauiour ? Or haue disturbed the Minister in time o● Diuine seruice or Sermon , or haue libelled or spoken slanderous worde against your Minister , to the scandall of his vocation , or diffamed an● of his Neighbours , touching any crime o● Ecclesiasticall conusance ?

15 Whether any of , or in your parish , without consent of the Ordinary , or other lawfull authority , haue caused any to doe pennance , or 〈◊〉 be censured or punished for any matter of Ecclesiasticall conusance , by any Vestry meetings , or otherwise by their own authoritie ? Or haue ta●en any Money or commutation for the same ? Present their names that ●●ue done it ? And who haue beene so punished ? In what manner , and vpon what cause ?

16 Whether any person in your parish , doe exercise any Trade or ●●bour , buy , or sell , or keepe open Shoppes or Ware-houses vppon any Sunday or Holliday , by themselues , their Seruants , or Apprentizes , ●r haue otherwise prophaned the said daies , contrary to the orders of the ●hurch of England ? And whether there bée any Inne-kéepers , Ale-house-kéepers , Victulers , or other persons , that permit any persons in their Houses , to eate , drinke , or play , during the time of Diuine Seruice or Sermon , or reading the Homilies in the forenoone or afternoone , ●pon those daies ?

17 Whether the fift day of August , and the fift day of Nouember , b●eacute ; e kept holie , and thanksgiuing made to God , for his Maiesties and this States happy deliueraunce , according to the ordinance in that behalfe ?

18 Whether any of your parish , hold or frequent any conuenticles or priuate congregations , or make or maintaine any constitutions , agréed vppon in any such assemblies ? Or any that doe write , or publiquelie or priuately speake against the Booke of common praier , or any ●hing therein contained , or against any of the Articles of Religion agréed vpon , in Anno 1562. or against the Kinges Supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall , or against the Oath of Supremacy , or of Alleagiance , as pretending the same to be vnlawfull , and not warrantable by the word of God ? Or against any of the Rites or ceremonies of the Church of England now established ? Or against the gouernment of the church of England , vnder the Kinges most excellent Maiestie , by Arch-Bishops , Byshoppes , Deanes , Arch-Deacons , and other Officers of the same : affirming , that the same is repugnant to the Word of God , and that the saide Ecclesiasticall Officers , are not lawfully ordained ? Or whether there be any Authours , Maintainours , or Fauourers of Heresie or Scisme , or that be suspected to be Annabaptists , Libertines , Brownists , of the Familie of Loue , or of any other Heresie or Scisme ? present their ●●mes ?

19 Whether any in your Parish haue married within the degrées by Law prohibited , or any couple in your Parish being lawfully married : liue apart one from the other , without due separation of the Law , or any that haue beene diuorced , which keepe company with any other at Bed● and at Boord , and when and where were they married ?

Phisitions , Surgeons , and Mid-wiues .

20 HOw many Phisitions , Chirurgions , or Mid-wiues , haue you in your parish ? How long haue they vsed their seuerall science : or offices , and by what authority ? And how haue they demeaned them selues therein , and of what skill are they accounted to be in their profession ?

21 Whether do any persons administer the goods of the dead without lawfull authority , or suppresse the last will of the dead ? Or are there in your parish , any Wils not yet prooued , or goods of the dead ( dying intestate ) left vnadministred ? By authority in that behal●e , you shal not faile to present the Executors , and all others faulty therein ; and also how many persons beeing possessed of any Goods and Chattels , haue dyed within your parish , since the xvij . day of Aprill 1613.

22 Whether any with-hold the stocke of the Church , or any goods , or other thinges , giuen to good and charitable vses .

23 Whether your Hospitals and Almes-houses , and other such houses and Corporations , founded to good and charitable vses ; and the lands , possessions , and goods of the same , be ordered and disposed of as they should be ? And doe the Maisters , Gouernours , Fellowes , and others of the said Houses and Corporations , behaue and demeane themselues , according to the godlie Ordinances and Statutes of their seueral Foundations ?

24 Whether haue you any in your Parish to your knowledge , or by common fame or report , which haue committed , Adultry , Fornication , or Incest ; or any which haue impudentlie bragged or boasted , that he or she haue liued incontinently with any person or persons whatsoeuer : or any that hath attempted the chastity of any woman or sollicited any Woman to haue the carnall knowledge of her bodie , or which are commonly reputed to be common Drunkards , Blasphemers of Gods holy Name ; common Swearers , common Slanderers of their Neighbours , and owers of discord , filthy and lasciuious Talkers , Vsurers , sc●monicall persons , Bawds , or Harborers of Women with Childe , which be vnmarried , or conueying or suffering them to goe away before they haue made satisfaction to the Congregation , or any that hauing heretofore béene presented , or suspected of any the foresaid crimes , haue or that cause departed your Parish , and are now returned againe ? Or any which haue vsed any inchantments , sorceries , incantations , or witch ●asts , which are not made fellony by the statutes of this Realme , or any which haue committed any periury in any Ecclesiasticall Court , in an Ecclesiasticall cause , or which haue committed any lorgerie , punishable by the Ecclesiasticall Lawes , and the procurors and abettors of the saide ●fences : You shall truely present the names of all , and singuler the said Offendors , and with whom they haue committed the saide offences , in ●ase they haue not beene publikely punnished to your knowledge for the ●●me crimes ?

Tou●hing the Church-wardens and Side-men .

● WHether you and the Church-wardens , Quest-men , or Side-men , from time to time , doe , and haue done their diligences , 〈◊〉 not suffering any role person to abide eyther in the Church-yard , or Church-porch , in Seruice or Sermon time , but causing them either to ●●me into the Church to heare Diuine Seruice , or to depart , and not di●●urbe such as be hearers there ? And whether haue they , and do you di●●gentlie see the Parishioners duely resort to the Church euery Sundaie and Holidaie , and there to remaine during Diuine seruice and sermon ? ●nd whether you or your predecessors , Churchwardens there , suffer any places , Feasts , Drinkings or any other prophane vsages , to be kept in ●ur Church , Chappeil , or Church-yards , or haue suffered to your and ●●●ir vttermost power and indeuour , any person or persons , to bée tip●ng or drinking in any Inne or Victuling House in your Parish , du●●g the time of Diuine Seruice or Sermon , on Sundaies and Holie●ies ?

2 Whether , and how often haue you admitted any to Preach ●●thin your Church or chappell , which was not sufficientlie licensed ? ●nd whether you , together with your Minister , haue not taken diligent ●●e and care , that euery of your Parishioners , being of sixteene yeares ●●ge or vpwards haue receiued thrice euery yeare , as aforesaide ; and 〈◊〉 that no stranger haue vsually come to your church , from their owne ●ish-church ?

3 Whether haue there béene prouided against euerie communion , sufficient quantity of fine White Bread , and of good and wholesome ●me for the Communicants that shall receiu● ? And whether that wine brought in a cleane and swéete standing Pot of Pewter , or of other ●●r Mettall ?

4 Whether were you chosen by the consent of the Minister and the parishioners ? And haue the late Churchwardens giuen vp a iust account for their time , and deliuered to their Successors the Money , and other things belonging to the Church , which was in their hands ? And are the Almes of the Church faithfully distributed to the vse of the poore ?

Concerning Ecclesiasticall Magistrates and Officers .

1 WHether doe you know or haue heard of any payment , composition or agreement , to , or with any Ecclesiastical Magistrate , Iudge , or Officer , for winking at , or sparing to punish any person for any offence of Ecclesiasticall Conusance , or for suppressing or concealing of any excommunication , or any other Ecclesiasticall Censure , of , or against any Recusant , or any other offender in the cases aforesaid ? what summe of Money , or other consideration hath béene receiued or promised , by , or to any of them , in that respect , by whom , and with whom ?

2 Hath any person within your parish , paide or promised any sum of Money or other reward , for comutation of pennance for any crime of Ecclesiasticall Conusance ? If so , then with whom ? When , and for what , and how hath the same beene imployed ?

3 Are your Ecclesiasticall Iudges and their substitutes Maisters of Artes , or Batchellors of the Lawes at the least , learned and practised in the Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall Lawes : Men of good Life and Fame , zealously affected in Religion , and iust and vpright in executing their offices ? Haue they heard any matter of office priuately in their Chambers , without their sworne Registers , or their Deputies presence ?

4 Do you know , or haue you heard , that any Ecclesiasticall Iudge , Off cer , or Minister , hath receiued or taken any extraordinary Fées , or otheir rewards or promises , by any waies or meanes , directly or indirectlie , of any person or persons whatsoeuer , either for the graunting of the administration of the Goods and Chattels of those that haue died intestate , to one before another , or for allotting of larger portions of the goods and Chattels of those who haue died intestate , to one more then to another : or for allowing large and vnreasonable accounts , made by Executors or Administrators : or for giuing them Quietus est , or discharges without Inuentory or account , to defraude Creditors , Legataries , o● those who are to haue portions . And what summes of Money doe you know , or haue you heard , that any Ecclesiasticall Iudge or Officer hath taken out of the state of any dying intestate , vpon pretence to bestow th● same , in pios vsus : And how haue the same béene bestowed ?

5 Hath any Ecclesiasticall Magistrate , Iudge , Officer , or any othe● exercising Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction within this your Dioces ; or any Aduocate , Register , Procter , Clarkes , Apparators , or other Minister belonging to the same Ecclesiasticall Courts , exacted or taken by any waies or meanes , directly or indirectly , extraordinary or greater Fées then are ●ue and accustomed ? And whether is there a Table for the rates of all fées , set vp in their seueral Courts and Offices ? and whether haue they sent or suffered any Processe to go out of the Ecclesiasticall Courts otherwise then by Law they ought ? Or haue they taken vpon them the office if Informers of Promoters to the said Courts , or any other way abused themselues in their Offices , contrary to the Law and Cannons in that behalfe prouided ?

5 What number of Apparators hath euery seuerall Iudge Ecclesiasticall ? And wherein , and in what manner is the Country ouerburthened by them ? And wherein haue they caused or summoned any to appeare in the said Courts , without a presentment or Citation first had ? Or whether haue they threatned any to prosecute them in the said Courts , if they would not giue them some rewards , and what bribes in that behalfe haue they taken ?

If you know of any other default or crime of Ecclesiasticall Conusence , you are to present the same by vertue of your Oaths ?

The Minister of euery Parish , may , and ought to ioyne in present●ent with the Church-wardens and Side-men , and if they will not present , the Minister may and ought himselfe , present the defaultes and mines aforesaid : and there must be seueral presentments made to euery seuerall article : and the Minister , Church-wardens and Sworne-men , are to méete and conferre about the said presentments , and answering of euery of the aforesaid Articles .