I. Concerning Religion and Church-governement .

INprimis . Doe you know any that doe refuse to receive or approve the Articles of Religion agréed upon in the Convocation holden at Londen , Anno Domini 1562. and recived here in the Convocation begun at Dublin , ●●o Domini 1634 ? or have you heard of any , who have traduced or ●●●n against the same ?

● . ●lso doe you know or have you heard of any person vnthin your ●●●ish , that doth acknowledge any manner of obedience or subiecti●●● be due to any forrain power in causes Ecclesiasticall ? or that ●●●er by word or writing hath maintained , that the Kings power ●●●n this Realme of Ireland and all other his dominions and ●●●ies is not the highest power under God , to whom all men by 〈◇〉 Lawes owe all loyaltie and obedience ; and to no other power ●●tentate upon earth ?

● . Are there in your Parish any , who have traduced or spoken ●●●nst the prescript forme of Divine Service contained in the Book Common-Prayer ? or against the forme of consecrating and or●●ng our Bishops and other Ministers ? or have maintained that 〈◇〉 Churches established under this government be not true Chur●●● , or one refuse to ioyne with them in Christian profession ?

4. Is the Lords-day , and other Holy-dayes appointed by the orders of this Church duely kept and observed ? And are any other Holy-dayes observed , beside those which are appointed by the Booke of Common-Prayer ?

II . Concerning Parish Churches and Ch●pp .

5. Is your Parish Church or Chappell kept in due separation ; the windowes well glazed , and the floozes kept p●●ne , no ●●●n ? and is your Church-yard well and sufficiently s●●●● , 〈◇〉 intained with wals , rayles or pales , as hath beene heref●●● , 〈◇〉 accustomed ?

6. Have you in your said Church or Chappell 〈◇〉 sit Seate for the Minister to reade Divine Service in , a decent Pulpit forth a comely Pulpit-Cloth and Cushion , a Font-stone with a cover , a fane Communion Table with a decent Carpet and a faire Linnen-cloth for the covering of the same , a Silver Cup with a cover , and a Stoop● or Flagon of Pewter ( if not of purer mettall ) for the celebration of the holy Communion ?

7. Have you in your Church or Chappell two Bookes of Common-prayer ( one for the Minister , and another for the Clerke ) a B●●ble of the last Translation , the Booke of Canons agra● upon in th● Convocation begun at Dublin Auno 1634. and a Table of the degrées of Marriage prohibited by the Lawes of God :

8. Have you a sure Coffer , with three locks and keyes ( where of one remaineth with the Minister , the other two with the Churchwardens ) and a Parchment-booke therein to be kept ●●●th . eg●● string of every Christening , Wedding and Buriall within you Parish ? And doth the Minister every Sabbathday , in the pr●sence of the Church-wardens record in the said Book the wa●●● a surnames of all persons christened in the said Parish ●●●the● wi●● the names of all persons married or b●●ied the wo●ke 〈◇〉 ●●●ther with the day and yeere of every such Marriage , Christning , and Buriall ?

9. Have you a strong Chest , with a hole in the upper pa●t thereof ( having thrée Reyes , to be kept as aforesaid ) fastned in the most covement place , that the Parishioners way put thereinto their Almes for their poore neighbours ?

10 Dee you know of any that hath shed bloud , or stricken , or quar●●lled with any person in your Church or Church-yard ?

11. Are all monuments of idolatry and superstition a bolished in your Church or Church-yard ? Hath there been any pr●phane usage kept therein ; either playes , feasts , banquet● , Church-Ales , or●nk●●gs , exposing any wares to sale , temporall Courts or Léet● , Lay●●ies , Musters , Commissions ( other than for causes Ecclesiasticall ) playing at Ball , or any other unséemly actions or misbehavior ?

III . Concerning Ministers .

12. Is the Benefice within your Parish a Parsonage , Vicarage , or Prebend ? who i● the Incumbent there ? What tythes , Glebelands , or other rights or possessions are thereunto belonging ? You are to bring a true note , or Terrier of the same into the Bishops Registry , there to be safely preserved ?

13. Doth your Person or Vicar keepe his Manse-heuse , with all the buildings thereunto belonging in due reparation ? Doth he reside , and keepe hospitality therein ? If not , where doth he reside ? and how , and by whom is the charge supplied ?

14. Doth your Person , Vicar or Curate duely every Sunday , and Holy-day , and other times appointed doe his dnty , in reading distinctly Divine Service , and ( as occasion requireth ) administing the Sacraments ; according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common-Prayer ?

15. Doth your Minister begin and end Divine Service at due an● covenient houres ? and doth he examine and instruct the youth of th● Parish every Sunday in the Catechisme set forth in the Booke of Common-Prayer , for halfe an houre before Evening Praye●

16. Doth he , for the fuller information of the people in the body of Christian Religion , divide the heads thereof into so many p●●●es there are Sundayes in the yeere ? and in the hantling and ●●●●ning thereof doth he use such moderation , that he doth not ●unne in●o curious questions and unnecessary controversies , but shortly declare and confirme the doctrine proposed , and make application thereof to the behoofe of the hearers ?

17. How many Benefices or Ecclesiasticall promo●ions hath your Person or Vicar ; and how farre distant are they the one from the other ? What Chappels hath he to his Cures belonging ? by what names are they called ? and how and by whom are they served ?

18. Doth your Minister preach every Sunday in that Church where he is resident ? and if not ; doe you know that he hath any just impediment for the same ?

19. Doth your Minister teach any vaine opinions , Heresies , or Popish errors , disagreeing from the Articles of Religion generally received in the Churches of England and Ireland ? And doe you know , or have you heard any Preacher in the Pulpit particularly impugne or confute any doctrine delivered by any other Preacher in the same Church , or in any other neare adioyning ; or otherwise make any publike opposition unto him ? And have you acquainted the Bishop of the Diocese therewith ?

20. Doth your Minister , or Proprietary ( if the Benefice be impropriate ) allow a competent maintenance to the Curate , who supplieth that charge ? and what doth he allow him ? Is the Curate licensed by the Bishop ? And how many Churches or Chappels doth he serve in one day ; and how farre distant are they one from the other ?

21. Hath your Minister denyed or neglected to visit the sicke , or to Christen or bury any , when he hath been lawfully and conveniently required thereunto ?

22. Hath he married any in any other place , save in the face of the Church , and at any other time , then betweene the houres of eight and twelve in the forenoone ?

23. Doth your Minister give warning publikely in the Church at Morning Prayer the Sunday before the Communion is to be administred ; to the end the Communicants may the better prepare themselves thereunto ? or hath he admitted any knowne impenitent notorious offendors to the participation of the same ? And doth he celebrate the holy Communion so often , that every Parishioner may receive thrice in the yeare at the least ?

24. Hath he admitted any to be married , or to be Godfather or Godmother at the Baptisme of any Childe , or to receive the holy Communion ; before they can say the Articles of the Beleefe , the Lords Prayer , and the Ten commandements in such a Language as they understand ?

25. Doth your Minister conferre with Recusants within his Parish , to séeke to recall them from their ignorance and errours ? Is he of a good and sober conversation ? Or othewise doth he give himselfe to any base or servile labour , to playing at Dice , Cards or Tables , or any other game unbeséeming his function ? Is he a common resorter to Tavernes or Alehouses , a great drinker , a Simoniacall person , a knowne Vsurer , a quartellous or contentious person , or otherwise defamed ? Doth he also goe gravely and decently in his apparell ; according as the Canons doe prescribe ?

IIII . Concerning Cathedrall Churches , Deanes & Prebendaries .

26. Whether the Cathedrall Church be in good repaire ? what ●ithes or rents doe belong unto it ? who is the yearely receiver thereof ; and how is the same bestowed ?

27. Doth your Deane reside in the Cathedrall Church fourescore and ten dayes at the least in every yeare ? Hath he any house , or ground to build an house upon , belonging to his Church ? and doth he keep good hospitality , during the time of his residence ?

28. Doe your Deane and Prebendaries preach in their owne persons ( or by their substitutes , when they are lawfully absen● as often as by the ordinance and custome of their Church they are required ? and in those other places and Churches also , whence they or the Cathedrall to which they belong doe receive any yearely ●en●s or profits ?

29. Do the Prebendaries , after the daies of their ●es●ding in the Cathedrall ( appointed by their locall statutes or custome● ) presently repaire to their Benefices ; there to discharge their duties , according to the Law in that case provided ?

V. Concerning the Parishioners .

30. Are there any in your Parish , who are suspe●●ed to be of no Religion , méere Atheists , not adhering to any Church ? or any that doe wilfully maintaine and defend any heresie , errour or opinion contrary to the Word of God ? and have any gone about to seduce others from the truth of Religion taught & professed in our Church :

31. Are there in your Parish any , who séeme to professe the Faith and Religion of our Church , and formerly did frequent the Church and heare Divine service according to the Book of common-prayer , that doe now refuse or neglect diligently to frequent their Parish Church , and there reverently and devoutly to attend Gods . Service , and receive the holy Communion thrice in the yeare at the least , as it is required ? Especially , you are to present the names of those , who have not communicated at Easter last ?

32. Are there in your Parish any , that ( in contempt of their owne Parish-church ) doe resort any other Church or Chappell ?

33. Are there in your Parish any , who upon the Sunday , or other allowed holy-dayes , doe use their manuall labour ? or any that Buy ●r Sell , or frequent Tavernes and Ale-houses in time of Di●●●e Service and preaching upon those dayes , and at those times ?

34. Is there in your Parish any , that hath disturbed or hindred the Minister in the time of Divine Service or Sermon , or other wise effended the people by walking , talking , laughing , or any other noise or clamour ? Or that bring to the Church with them Hawkes with ●●ls , or ill nurtured children which cannot be kept quiet in their Seats without running up and downe ?

35. Have there any Bastards or base begotten children bene borne , ●●are nursed within your Parish since the last Visitation ? Present the names of the reputed Parents ?

36. Are there any in your Parish that live together as Man and Wife , and yet are vehemently suspected not so be married , or to ●●ve another Husband or Wife ?

37. Are there any in your Parish , who being under the governement of their Parents or others , have made privie Contracts of Ma●●mony ; not calling thereunto two or moe witnesses , nor having the consent of their Parents , or such others under whose governement they are ?

38. Are there any in your Parish marryed within the degrées prohibited ? or without their Bannes thrice solemnely published in their Parish Church , upon thrée severall Sundayes or Holy-dayes ; ●r a licence first had from the Ordinary ? or at any other time , then betweene the houres of eight and twelve in the forenoone ?

39. What married persons in your Parish have been divorced , and since married with others , for these thrée yéeres last past ? By whose sentence were they divorced ; and by whose licence , and by whom were they so married ? Declare your knowledge in the premises , and what you have credibly heard ?

40. Are there any in your Parish which are excommunicated ? and how long have they stood so ? Are there any who are reputed , or knowne to be common Drunkards , Swearers , Blasphemers , Incestuous persons , Adulterers , Fornicators , Bawdes , Per●●●ed persons , Extortioners , or Oppressors , Common scolds , Brawlers , Slanderers , Make = bates , Sowers of discord betwéene party and parlie , especially betwéene Man and Wife ? Or that have used Cha●●●es , Spels , Sorcery or Witchcraft , or are guilty of any other notorious offence belonging to Ecclesiasticall cognisance , or are suspected 〈◇〉 defamed to be guilty of the same ?

41. Hath any person within your Parish contemner 〈…〉 by word or déed , any Minister of the Church ?

42. Doe any in your Parish deny or detaine their pay●●●●●●●●ly rated towards the reparation and furnishing of the Ch●●●●● 〈…〉 other necessary pious use ?

43. What persons in your Parish , having Goode or Chattels , have died since the last Visitation ?

44. Have any within your Parish medled with the Goods or Chattels of parties deceased , without licence first had by le●t●s of administration or otherwise from the Ordinary ?

45. Doe you know in your Parish any Executors of the goods of persons deceased , that have detained any Orphans goods , or Legacies bequeathed or appointed for the repairing of Churches or Highwayes , finding of poore Schollers , marrying of poore M●●dens , or such other charitable Déeds ; and not employed the said Goods or Legacies according to their authority given and charge e●●oyned .

V , Concerning Parish-Clearks , Church-wardens , and Schoole-masters .

16. Is your Parish-Clearke of competent age and ek●●l for the ●●●cuting of his office ? Is he resident , and doth he diligently per●●me his duty in his owne person ? ●s he conformable to the Orders 〈◇〉 the Church , and of honest life and sober conversation ?

47. Were your Church-wardens and Side men duely chosen at the time , and after the manner appointed ; namely upon Monday 〈◇〉 Tuesday in Easter weeke , by the ioynt consent of the Minister and Parishioners ? or otherwise , the one by the Minister , and the ●●her by the Parishioners ? And were they sworne the next Censi●●y day after their election before the Bishop or his Chancell ? Or 〈◇〉 there any so chosen , who have refused to undertake that Office ?

48. Have the former Church-wardens , at the going forth out of 〈◇〉 Office , given up a true account of what moneyes they have re●●ved and disbursed ? Have they brought in a Register of all Chri●●●ings , Marriages and Burialls , within the yeare of their office ; ●●●t the same may faithfully be preserved in the Bishops Regestry ?

49. Doe the Church-wardens , with the advice and direction of the ●●●●ster , provide against every Communion a sufficient quantitie 〈◇〉 fi●e white Bread , and of good and wholesome Wine , for the number of the Communicants that shall from time to time receive ? And 〈◇〉 they performe all other duties aswell in the Church as without , ●●●uired of them by the Canons and Constitutions of this Church ?

50. What Schoole-masters or Vshers have you in your Parish , ●ho teach Schoole either publikely or privately without Licence ; 〈◇〉 by whom are they harboured ?

VII . Concerning Ecclesiasticall Courts and their Officers .

51. Is your Chancellour , Commissary , Officiall , or Surr●gate ●●●sonably well practised in the course of the Ecclesiasticall and C●●ll Lawes ; and such an one as is twenty si● yeares old at least , and ●●●ching whose life and conversation no evill report hath gone ? And doth he give any yearely Rent , summe or summes of money , or other consideration for his exercising of the Ecclesiasticall Im●●e●●●●● to any person or persons whats●ever ?

52. Do such as exercise Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction deliver to the Churchwardens of every Parish such Bookes of Articles as any of them shall require for the yeare following ; to ground th●● presentiments upon , at such times as they are to exhibite them ?

53. Doth any Ecclesiasticall Iudge suffer any generall Preces 〈◇〉 Quorum nomina to be sent out of his Count ; wherein the ●●●●es o● all such as are thereby to be cited are not first entred by the hand o● the Register or his deputy ? and are such Processes also names first subscribed by the Iudge or his deputy , & his Seale affixed thereunto ?

54. Do you know any person appearing upon a ●●●ation , that hat● not bene dismissed with his costs ; if the next Court day a●●●● the●● have not bene Articles or a Libell put in against him ? And der 〈◇〉 know of any , that hath bene excommunicated upon the first citation ?

55. Hath any person executing Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction expedited any iudiciall Act , without the Register of the Court or his law full deputy , or ( in their absence ) in the presence of such perious as 〈◇〉 Law are thereunto allowed ?

56. Do you know or have heard of any exercising Ecclesiasticall Iutisdiction , that useth more then one Seale , for the sealing of all matters incident to his Office ?

57. Do those that exercise Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction appoint suc● meete places for the kéeping of their Courts ( by the assignement o● approbation of the Bishop of the Diocese ) as shall be convement for entertainment of those who are to make their appearance there , and most indifferent for their travell ? And doe they keepe and end their Courts in such convenient time , as every man may returne homewards , in as due season as may be ?

58. Hath any Iudge Ecclesiasticall , or his Surrogate yeèlded 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 probation of any Testament , or to the granting of an Admini●●tion of the good●s of any person dying intestate ; before the Execu●●●● or suiter for such administration hath first in his owne person ( and 〈◇〉 by Proctor ) taken the Oath accustomed in these cases ?

59. Do you know or have you heard , that any Register or his de●●●y hath received any certificate without the consent of the Iudge ●●●e Court ? or willingly omitted to cause any persons ( cited to ●●●●are upon any Court day ) to be called ? or unduely deferred the ●●●●mation of witnesses to bee examined by a day assigned by the ●●age ? or hath falsified any acts or records ; or hath done any other ●●●ng whereby the Iudge of the Court or his proceeding may be de●●●ed ?

60. Do you know or have you heard , that any Proctor doth retaine ●●●●es without lawfull assignement of the parties ? or doth refuse to 〈◇〉 the Oath De Calumnia , wheresoever in the suit the same shall ●●●dred before sentence ?

61. Hath any Apparitor cited any within your Parish to appeare 〈◇〉 any Ecclesiasticall Court without lawfull processe ? Or hath mole●●● any without iust cause and ground ; upon bare suspition , without ●●●entment made or publique same preceding ? Hath he exacted more ●●●es then his due ? Or hath he taken Bribes to defeat the Court , and ●●●lease any delinquents ?

62. Hath any Officer or Substitute in any Ecclesiasticall Court ●●dulently delayed or betrayed any cause brought before them ? or ●●●●ed more Fées then were due ? or have taken any Bribes or Mo●●● under-hand , to winke at , and to suffer offences to escape unpuni●ed ?

63. Is there in your Parish any other matter or cause of the Cognizance of the Church , above not expressed , worthy presentment in your iugdement ? If any such matter or cause there be ; you are charged likewise to present the same , as you are the rest , by vertue of your Oath ?

FINIS .