❧ For the Cleargie .

INPRIMIS , you must trauell diligently and painefully to sette forth Gods true religion , and adourne the same wyth example of godlye lyfe , being circumspect that you offende no man , eyther by light behauiour , or by light apparell .

2 Item , vpon euery Sunday and holyday , ye shall in your Churche at conuenient houres reuerently and distinctly say or sing the Common prayer appoynted by the lawes of thys Realme , both in the fore noone and after noone , so turning and placing your selues , as the people may best heare the same , and vpon euerye Wednesday and Fridaye ( not beyng holydaye ) ye shall say the Letanie and other Prayers appoynted for the day , and shall also at all tymes requisite and conuenient , duely and reuerently minister the two holy Sacraments according to such order as is set forth in the booke of Common prayer , and administration of the Sacraments . &c.

3 Item , ye shall euery Sunday , and euerye holye day openly in the Churche , heare and instruct the children and seruauntes of both sexes within your parish , at the least so many of them at once by course as the tyme will serue , and as ye may well heare and instruct for an houre at the least before Euening prayer , in the ten commaundements , the Articles of the beliefe , and the Lordes prayer , and diligently examine and teach them the Cathechisme , set forth in the booke of common prayer .

4 Item , to the intent this thing maye bee more effectuallye executed , ye shall take the names of all the children and seruaunts of both sexes in your parish that be aboue sixe yeres of age , and vnder twentie , which can not saye the Catechisine , and shall call by course certaine of them by name , euery Sunday and euery holye day to come to the Catechisme , whereby you may easilye note and obserue , what parentes or maisters be negligent in sendyng theyr children and seruauntes to be instructed , and take occasion thereof both priuately and openly to exhort them to send their youth as they are appointed .

5 Item , you shall not admitte to the receyuing of the holy Communion any of your Parishe , whiche be openly knowne to liue in anye notorious sinne without repentance , vnlesse the same person do first openly reconcile him or hirselfe again to the sati●●●ction of the congregation , nor any malicious person that is notoriously out of charitye , without priuate reconciliation first made to the party agaynst whom the malice shall be conceyued and borne .

6 Item , you shall not admit to the holy Communion any of your parishe , men , or women , beyng aboue twentie yeares of age , that can not say by heart the ten commaundements , the Articles of the fayth , and the Lordes prayer , nor any beyng aboue twelue yeres , and vnder twentie yeres of age , that can not saye by heart the Catechisme that is set forth in the booke of common prayer .

7 Item , for that purpose ye shal before Easter and all other times of the yeare when the holy Communion is to be by you ministred , giue warning before vnto your parishoners to come vnto you , eyther in the after noone of some Sunday or holy day , or the day before they purpose to receyue , or at some other times before , as necessitie shall cause you to appoint , if there be any multitude , or in the morning at the furthest , before they shall receyue , so that it be afore the beginning of Morning prayer , so many of them as intende to receyue , and not onelye to signifie vnto you their names , to th intent ye may keepe a register or note of all such persons as from time to time shall communicate , but also to be by you examined , whether they can say by hart the ten commaundements , the articles of the fayth , the Lordes prayer , and the Catechisme , according as after the diuersitie of their ages is aboue required , and such of them as either can not or will not recite the same by heart vnto you , ye shall repell and put backe from the holy Communion , vntill they shall be able and willing to learne , and by heart recite the same vnto you . For your better assistance wherein , ye shall call vpon and require the Churchwardens and sworne men of your parish to be present , one of them at the least , at euery suche examination to th intent they maye helpe to put this good order in practise , and take a note of such wilfull and negligent persons , as shall be founde faultie in this behalfe , & so present the same to the Ordinarie .

8 Item , ye shall not admit to aunswere as Godfathers or Godmothers at the christening of anye childe , any person or persons , except he , she , and they haue before receyued the holy Communion , and can say by hart the articles of the christian faith , and will recite the same before the Minister , if he , she , or they be therevnto required .

9 Item , ye shall euery Sunday when there is no sermon in your Churche , distinctly and plainely read one of the Homelies set forth by the Queenes Maiesties authoritie or one part thereof at the least , in such sort as the same is appoynted to be read .

10 Item , ye shall not take vpon you to expounde any scripture or matter of doctrine by way of exhortation or otherwise , in your owne Churche or other where , vnlesse ye be admitted so to doe , by the Ordinarie , or be licenced to preach .

11 Item , you shall reade openly in your Church in time of diuine seruice , twice euery yeare vpon some of the Sundayes within one moneth next after the feastes of Easter and Saint Michaell th archaungell , plainly without addition or chaunge : A declaration of certaine principall articles of religion , set forth by both the Archbishops and the rest of the Bishops of this realme , for the vnitie of doctrine .

12 Item , you shal preach , or by such as are lawfully licensed , shall cause to be preached in the Churches where ye are Persons or Uicars , one sermon euery quarter of the yeare at the least .

13 Item , none of you shal serue . ij . cures at one time without speciall licence vnder your ordinaries seale .

14 Item , no Curate shall serue anye cure within this Diocesse , without speciall licence in writing vnder the Ordinaries seale .

15 Item , for the putting of the Churchewardens and sworne men better in remembraunce of theyr dutie , in obseruing and noting all such as do offende in not comming to diuine seruice , ye shall openlye euery sunday after ye haue read the second lesson at Morning and Euening prayer , monish and warne the Churchwardens and sworn men of your parish , to loke to their charge in this behalfe , and to obserue who contrary to the lawe doe that day offende , eyther in absenting themselues negligentlye or wilfully from their parish Church or Chappel , or vnreuerently vse themselues in the time of diuine seruice and so note the same , to the entent they may eyther present such offenders to the Ordinarie , when they shall be required therevnto , or leuie and take by way of distresse to the vse of the poore , such forfeytures as are appoynted by a statute made in that behalfe .

16 Item , ye shall from time to tyme diligently call vpon and exhort your Parishioners to conferre and giue towardes the reliefe of the poore as they maye well spare , and speciallye when ye visite them that be sicke , and make their testaments , and for your owne partes also shall charitablye relieue the poore to your habilitie .

17 Item , ye shall dayly read at the least one chapter of the olde testament , and another of the newe , with good aduisement , and such of you as be vnder the degree of a Maister of Arte , shall prouide and haue of your owne , according to the Queenes Maiesties Iniunctions at the least the newe testament , both in Latin and Englishe conferring the one with the other , euery day one Chapter therof at the least , so that vpon the examination of the Archdeacon , Commissary or their officers , in synodes and visitations , it may appeare how ye profite in the studie of holy Scripture .

18 Finally , any of you shall not keepe any suspected woman in your house , or be an incontinent liuer , giuen to drunkennesse or ydlenesse , or be a haunter of Tauernes , Alehouses , or suspected places , or a hunter , hawker , dicer , carder , tabler , swearer , or otherwise giue any euill example of life , but contrariwise at all times when ye shall haue leysure , ye shall heare or read somwhat of holy scripture , or shall occupie your selues with some other honest studie or exercise , and oftentymes giue your selues to earnest prayer . And shall alway doe the thinges which appertaine to honestie , and moue your Parishioners to quiet and concorde , helping to reconcile them which shall happen to be at variance at any time , and by all meanes ye can , endeuor to profite the common wealth , hauing alwayes in mind that ye ought to excel all other in puritie of life , and should be examples to the people to liue well & christianly , not giuing any way iust cause of offence .

¶ For the Churchwardens and enquirers , commonly called the sworne men of euery Parish .

INprimis , that you the Church wardens and enquirers in euerye Parish within the Diocesse of Sarum shall vpon your othes duly and truly certifie and present in writing vnto the Ordinarie , Archedcacon of the place , or Commissarie , or to other officers appoynted in this behalfe , once or oftener in euery yere as hereafter is appoynted , at such certaine dayes and places as shall bee signified vnto you from time to tyme , all such matters as hereafter ensue . That is to say .

1 First , ye shall certifie and present once in euerye quarter of a yeare , whether your Personnes , Uicars , and Curates , doe diligentlye , obedientlye , and duly obserue and keepe all the sayde Iniunctions giuen vnto them , as is aboue mencioned , so far forth as the same doe anye maner of way concerne them or any of them , and if they doe not , then which and how many of the said Iniunctions do they not kepe , and in what poynts doe they violate and breake the same .

2 Item , whether the Queenes maiesties Iniunctions be quarterly read by your Persons , Uicars , or Curates .

3 Item , to certifie and present quarterly whether there be any among you , that is a hinderer of true religion , or a fauourer of the Romish power , or that stubbornely refuseth to conforme himselfe to vnitie and godly religion , set forth by common aucthoritie , or anye that wilfully and obstinatelye defende or maintaine any herisies , or false doctrine , contrary to the holye scriptures , and what his or their names are .

4 Item , to present quarterly , whether any parish Clark or any other person not being ordred at the least for a Deacon , doe presume to solemnise matrimonie or minister the sacrament of baptisme , or deliuer to the communicants the Lordes cup at the celebration of the holy communion , and what he or they be , that so doe . And whether anye person not beyng a Minister , Deacon , or at the least tollerated by the Ordinarie in writyng , doe attempt to say the common prayer , and other diuine seruice openlye in the Churche , and what he is that so doth .

5 Item , to certify quarterly , whether your Curate presume to serue in your Parishe Churche without licence from the Ordinarie in writing , and vnder seale , or whether anye serue twoo cures without licence .

6 Item , to certifie yearely at the visitation , whether your Parishe haue a Bible of their owne , the booke of common prayer , a Psalter , the two bookes of Homilies , the boke called the Paraphrases of Erasmus , and other bookes requisite , and a fayre and comly Communion cup of siluer with a couer of siluer for the same , which couer may serue for the ministration of the Lordes breade .

7 Item , to certifie likewise , whether your Quiere be comlye and orderly kept , whether ye haue a faire and comly Communion table standing vpon a frame with a faire linnen cloth to lay vpon the same , and some carpet or couering of silke , Buckeram , or suche like for the cleane keping thereof , and a decent large Surples with sleeues for the Minister , to be vsed of him in all his ministration within the Church , and also a chist or boxe for the almose of the poore .

8 Item , to certifie quarterly , whether your register booke of christenings , mariages and burials , be duly kept , and the same christenings , mariages , and burials as they happen from time to time , be entred by your Minister into the same booke , in the presence of you the Churchwardens or one of you .

9 Item , to certifie quarterly , whether when any christian body is in passing , the bell be tolled , & the Minister called to comfort the sicke person , and after the time of his or hir passing , there be any more ringing but one short peale before the buriall , and another short peale after the buriall . And whether on all Saints day after Euening prayer there be any ringing in your Church , or other superstitious ceremonies vsed , tending to the maintenance of the popish purgatorie , or of praying for the dead , and who they be that vse or doe the same . And whether there be any ringing or tolling of Belles on Sundayes or holy dayes betweene Morning prayer and the Letanie , or in any time of diuine seruice , or reading of the homilies or preaching , except one bel , in conuenient time to be rong or tolled before the sermon . And who they be that so do ring , or toll the belles otherwise .

10 Item , to present yearelye at the visitation , whether there be anye in your parish , man or woman , being of conuenient age , that hath not receiued the holy communion thrise at the least in euery yere , and namelye at Easter or thereabout for once , and what their names are . And whether yearely before Easter at such conuenient times ( and namelye on Sundayes in Lent at after noone ) as the Person , Uicar , or Curate shall appoint and require his parishioners to recite vnto him the Catechisme , or at the least the Lordes prayer , the Articles of the christian beliefe , & the ten commaundements by hart in English , if any wilfully & stubbornly refuse to recite the same , whether you the Churchwardens & sworn men , or some of you , do assist & aid the minister therin .

11 Item , to present quarterly , whether such scholemaisters as teach in your parish , be of a sincere and sounde religion , and be diligent in teaching and bringyng vp of your youth godly , and whether also they be allowed by the Ordinarie to teach .

12 Item , to certifie and present quarterly , whether all fathers , mothers , and maisters of your Parishe cause their children and seruauntes both mankinde and womankind , being aboue sixe yeares of age , and vnder twentie yeres , which haue not learned the catechisme , or at the least such & so many of them as your minister shall appoint , diligently to come to the church euery sunday & euery holyday at the time appointed , and there obediently to heare , learne , & be ordred by your Minister , vntill such tyme as they haue learned all the sayd catechisme by hart , & what be the names of those that do not cause their children and seruants so to come to the church to be instructed & examined .

13 Item , to certifie and present quarterly , whether the lay people of your Parish especially housholders hauing no lawfull excuse to be absent , doe faithfully and diligently endeuor themselues to resort to their parish church or Chappel on the holy dayes , & chiefly on the Sundaies , to Morning and Euening praier , and vpon reasonable let thereof , to some other vsuall place where common prayer is vsed , & then , & there abide orderly & soberly , during all the time of common praier , Homilies , preachings , & other seruice of God there vsed , and what bee the names of those that negligentlye or wilfully absent themselues , or come very late to the Church vpon the Sundaies and holy dayes , but especially vpon the Sundayes .

14 Item , to certifie & present quarterly the names of such of your parishioners as walke , talk , or otherwise vnreuerently behaue themselues in the church , or vse any gaming abroade , or in any house , or sit in the streates or churchyarde , or in anye Tauerne or Alehouse , vpon the Sunday or other holy day in the time of common prayer , sermon , or reading of any of the Homilies .

15 Item , to certifie and present quarterly , whether you the Churchwardens and sworne men doe leuie and gather of euery person that wilfully or negligently absenteth him or hir selfe from their Parishe church , or vnreuerently behaueth him or hir selfe in the church in time of diuine seruice vpon the Sundaies and other holy daies , the forfaiture of . xij . d. for euery such offence , according to a statute made in the first yere of the Queenes maiesties raign that now is , and haue put the same forfaitures to the vse of the poore of the parish , and what particuler summes of money are quarterlye forfayted that way , and by whome , and howe much thereof is leuied and deliuered to the Collectors of the poore . And if any such forfaitures be not leuied incase of such offences , by whose default it happeneth , that the same are not leuied , and what be the names of such as offende that way , and doe not pay the saide forfaiture .

16 Item , to certifie and present quarterly , whether there be any Innekepers , alehousekepers , Uictuallers , or Tiplers , within your parish , that admit or suffer any persou or persons in their houses , to eate & drinke , or play at cardes , tables , or other games in time of common prayer , preaching or reading of Homilies on the sundayes or holy dayes , and whether there be any shops open on sundayes or holy dayes , or any Butchers or others , that vse to sell meat or other things vpon the sundayes or holy dayes in lyke tyme of common prayer , preaching , or reading of the Homilies , & what be the names of the persons that so offende . And whether in any Fayres or common Markets falling vpon the sunday , there be any shewing of any wares before Morning prayer be done .

17 Item , to certifie and to present likewise , whether you haue Collectors for the poore of your Parishe , whether they do their duetie in gathering weekely , and distributing the almes of the poore , according to a statute made in the fift yere of the Queenes Maiesties raigne , and make a iust accompt thereof quarterly .

18 Item , to certifie and present likewise all such persons as be of habilitie and doe obstinately or frowardly refuse to giue reasonablye towardes the reliefe of the poore , or doe wilfullye discourage others from so charitable a dede , and what be their names .

19 Item , to certifie & present at the least quarterly all swearers and blasphemers of Gods name , all drunkerds , adulterers , fornicators , ribauldes , incestuous persons , bawdes or receiuers of such incontinent persons , or of straunge women with childe , whose husbands are vnknowen , or any persons that are vehemently suspected of suche faultes , or that be not of good name and fame , touching such crimes and faultes , and all sowers of discorde betweene neighbor and neighbor within your Parish .

20 Item , to certify likewise , whether your church and chauncell be sufficiently repayred , and cleanlye kept , and the mansion house of your Person or Uicar with buyldings therevnto belonging likewyse well repayred , and your Churchyarde well fensed , and cleanly kept , and if any of the same be ruynous , & in decay , through whose default it is so . Whether the Churchwardens of the last yeare were enioyned to haue repayred any part of the Church , or to haue fenced the Churchyard , & did neglect to do the same .

21 Item , to certifie whether the Churchwardens of the last yeare haue giuen to the Parish a iust accompt of the church goodes that were committed to their charge , & what church goodes they haue solde , and to whome● and whether to the profite of the church or no ? And whether any person suppresse the last will of the dead , and performe not Legacies bequethed to the church , or to Orphanes , pore maydes mariages , high wayes , scholes , or to any other godly vse .

22 Item , to certifie & present , whether the churchwardens and sworne men of the last yere haue of any priuate corrupt affection concealed any crime , or other disorder in their tyme done in your parish , and haue not presented the same to the Archdeacon , or Commissarie , or other officers , hauing bene charged and enioyned vpon their othes to present the same , and what crime or disorder the same was . And whether they or any of them at any such time or times as they shoulde haue bene at diuine seruice in the church vpon the sundayes and holydayes , and should there haue obserued such Persons as then were absent from the Church , haue themselues bene absent from the church , & haue sit in the tauerne or alehouse , or haue bene ydle else where , or at the boules , cards , tables , or other gaming , in time of diuine seruice without regard of their office or dutie in that behalfe .

23 Item , to certifie and present once in the yeare , whether for the retayning of the perambulation of the circuite of your Parish in the Rogation dayes , commonly called the Gang weeke , your Minister , and your Clerke without wearing any Surplesses vpon them , and you the Churchwardens and sworn men , with certaine others of the substanciall men of your Parishe , doe yearelye walke the accustomed boundes of your Parish , with giuing of thanks , and vsing of such order of prayers and Homilies , as be appoynted by the Queenes Maiest●●s aucthoritie in that behalfe , without carying of banners , staying at crosses , or vsing anye other superstitious ceremonies in any of your perambulations .

24 Item , to present likewise , whether there haue bene any Lordes of misrule , or disguised persons in Christmas , or daunsers , minstrels , or May gamers , at any other time , that haue vnreuerently come into your Church , and there played vuseemely parts , with scoffes , ie●ts , and ribauldrie talke , or daunsing , and namely in time of Common prayer , and what their names be , and the names also of such others as came with them to maintaine such disorder .

25 Item , to present quarterly , whether ye knowe any to be maryed within the degrees of affinitie or consanguinitie prohibited by the lawes of God , or any that beyng diuorced and seperated for the same , doe yet notwithstanding cohabite and keepe companie still togither , or whether any beyng maryed without those degrees haue vnlawfullye forsaken their Wyues , or Husbandes , or marryed others . For the more certaine knowledge of which degrees , you shall procure , that the Table touching the degrees of Matrimonie ●●st set foorth by the most Reuerend father in God Mathew Archbishop of Cantorburye , be fastened in some conuenient place in your Church .