A00171	----	Articles to be enquired of, throughout the whole diocesse of Chichester ministred and giuen in charge to the church-wardens and sidemen within the same diocesse by the reuerend father in God Richard by Gods prouidence Bishop of Chichester, in his generall visitation holden anno Domini 1631. Church of England. Diocese of Chichester. Bishop (1628-1638 : Montagu) 1631 Approx. 30 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 10 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A00171 STC 10182.5 ESTC S2094 23024568 ocm 23024568 26095 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A00171) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 26095) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1795:41) Articles to be enquired of, throughout the whole diocesse of Chichester ministred and giuen in charge to the church-wardens and sidemen within the same diocesse by the reuerend father in God Richard by Gods prouidence Bishop of Chichester, in his generall visitation holden anno Domini 1631. Church of England. Diocese of Chichester. Bishop (1628-1638 : Montagu) Montagu, Richard, 1577-1641. [16] p. Printed by R.Y. for Thomas Bourne, London : MDCXXXI [1631] Signatures: A-B⁴. Reproduction of original in the St. John's College (University of Cambridge). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. 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Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2005-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-08 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2006-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES TO BE ENQVIRED OF , THROVGHOVT The whole Diocesse of CHICHESTER : Ministred and giuen in charge to the Church-wardens and Sidemen within the same Diocesse , By the Reuerend Father in God RICHARD by Gods prouidence Bishop of CHICHESTER , in his generall Visitation . Holden Anno Domini 1631. Anno Consecrationis suae quarto . LONDON , Printed by R. Y. for Thomas Bourne . MDCXXXI . 3 Whether are there placed by the register , two tables , containing the severall rates and summes of all fees due to the Iudge , and other officers of your courts ; one in the usuall place or consistorie where the court is kept , the other in his registrie , in such sort , as every man may come to view the same without difficultie ? and whether doth the Chancellour , Arch-deacon , or any other officer or minister , exact , or extort any greater fees , or summes of money , then in the said tables are contained ? 4 Whether doth the Chancellour , Arch-deacon , or officiall , commute or change any penance , or corporall punishment , for any money , without the consent of the Bishop ? and what money have they , or any of them , received for such commutation , and of whom ; when , and what was the offense , for which any such summe of money was received , or appointed to be payd ? 5 Whether doth the Chancellour , Arch-deacon , or officiall , or any other person , using ecclesiasticall jurisdiction , speed any act , in any cause , privately of themselves , and not in the presence of some publick notarie , or actuarie ? 6 Whether is the number of apparitours increased in this diocesse ; and wherein , and in what manner is the countrey over-burdened , or grieved by them ? hath any of them , under pretence of authoritie , cited or summoned any person unlawfully ; or hath any of them taken any reward for the concealing of any offense or sinne ; or that the offenders might escape punishment ? who be they that have so done ? or do any of them take any fees that are not usuall ? have they threatned any to prosecute them , if they had no reward given them ? or do any of them cause any partie to appeare in any ecclesiasticall court , within this diocesse , without first a citation obtained from the Iudge of the court ? 7 Whether hath any ecclesiasticall Iudge or officer whatsoever , advocate , register , proctour , clerks , or other such ministers , any way abused themselves in their offices , contrarie to the laws and Canons in that behalf provided ? Lastly , Whether have you and every of you , sincerely , uprightly , and without any partiall affection , and concealment , presented and made known all and every the offenders , in any of the particulars mentioned in the precedent Articles , exhibited unto you ; either as they are taken in truth to be , or by common fame reported ? If you know any other matter of ecclesiasticall cognisance , worthy the presentment , in your judgement , and fit to be reformed by ecclesiasticall censure , though it be not expressed in these Articles , yet you shall likewise present the same , by vertue of your oathes . FINIS . The forme of the Oath which according to the 119. Canon , is to be administred vnto the Church-wardens and Sidemen . YOu shall sweare , that you , and euery of you shall duely consider , and diligently enquire of all and euery of these Articles giuen you in charge ; and that all affection , fauour , hope of reward and gaine , all feare of displeasure , or offending any , all malice , enuy , and like sinister affections set apart , you shall present all and euery such persons , of , or within your Parish , as haue committed any offence , or made any default mentioned in these or any of these Articles : wherein you shall deale vprightly , sincerely , plainely , and fully , neither presenting , nor sparing to present any contrary to truth , hauing God before your eyes , with an earnest zeale to maintaine truth and vertue , and to suppresse error and vice : So helpe you God , and the holy contents of this Booke . Articles concerning Religion and Doctrine . WHETHER be there any one , or more residing , lodging or abiding in your Parish , that hold , defend , set forth , or propose any Heresie , errors , or false opinions , contrary to holy Scripture , the Thrée Créedes , the Booke of Thirtie nine Articles , the Booke of Common Prayer , the Booke of Consecrating and ordayning Bishops , Priests , and Deacons ? 2 Whether there be any in your Parish , that oppose , denie , or otherwise traduce the Kings Maiesties lawfull , and established supremacie ouer all persons , in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall within his Highnesse Realmes and Dominions . 3 Whether there be any that affirme , or maintaine that the Church of England is not a true Church , but Hereticall , or Schismaticall , and that refuse to come into the publike Seruice , to receiue the Sacraments , to participate in other Diuine Rites and ceremonies with the Church of England , either as Popish Recusants , or Puritanicall Separatists and Schismatickes . 4 Whether there be any in your Parish that doe or hath frequented , celebrated , or vsed any vnlawfull Assemblies , priuate méetings , or conuenticles in priuate houses , vnder colour or pretext of Religion , repeating of Sermons , expounding of Scripture , or that holdeth such méetings to be lawfull , to be according to Gods word , or such as may challenge the name of a Church ? 5 Whether any in your Parish doe publish , sell , disperse , or communicate to others , any superstitious or Popish bookes , or writings , any Schismaticall , and Puritanicall , Libelles , treatises , or papers Derogatorie from , or contrary to the Religion , State , Church Gouernment of this Kingdome of England , the Lawes and Canons of the same , the Ministery and Priesthood therein ? Present their names , qualities , and conditions . Articles concerning diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments . 1 HAth any of , or in your Parish spoken , or declared any thing to disgrace , depraue , contemne or derogate from the forme of Diuine Seruice , in the Book of Common Praier ? 2 Bée there any in your Parish that either absolutely refuse to come into Church and be present at Prayer , or ordinarily walke abroad , or that vsually tarrie at home , or come not into the Church till Sermon begin ? 3 Doth your Minister reade diuine Seruice according to the Iniunctions in the booke of Common Prayer ; doth he diminish , alter , or change the forme prescribed , in part , or in all , vsing Prayers in stead thereof of his owne deuising , and conceiuing ? 4 Whether doth hee reade the Confession , and absolution thereupon to be pronounced , or doth he change the words thereof to make it a Prayer , doth hee in reading the first , and second lessons , expound the Chapters , as he readeth : doth hee stand at the Gospell and Créed , and obserue the forme prescribed in the Booke , or not ? 5 Whether is the Sacrament of Baptisme by him rightly and duely administred according to the prescript forme expressed in the Booke of common Prayer , without adding , altering , or detracting from any part , or point therein : Doth he refuse to vse the Interrogatories prescribed , the signe of the Crosse commanded : Doth he vse the words , and not doe the Acte : hath he admitted the Fathers , or Mothers in publike , or in priuate Baptisme to be Godfathers and Godmothers to their owne children : whether doth he vse to baptise the childe at the Font , or in some Bason at his seate where hée readeth Prayer , or is the Font translated and placed there , or néere thereto from the Church-doore , where it should stand , signifying that Baptisme is our entry into the Church of God ? 6 Whether hath he refused in case of necessity , to baptise Children at home , haue any so dyed vnbaptised , or will he not baptise the children of Papists being offered to baptisme : such as he borne out of wedlocke as Bastards , or vnlesse the Father will affirme publikely at the Font , being asked , it is his owne childe ? 7 Whether is the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper so administred as is prescribed , viz. once euery Moneth , or thrice at the least in the yeare ? 8 Item in time of administration are any suffered to bee present , that doe not communicate : Doth your Minister in administring it vse the garments , and vestments prescribed , Doth he consecrate the Bread and Wine , with those words that are set downe , if not , how and in what manner ? 9 Doth he first reuerently vpon his knées receiue himselfe and then seuerally , and distinctly giue it to the communicants , they méekely knéeling , and not standing or sitting either at the Table , or vpon some bench ? Whether is the Bread wholsome and swéet ? Is the Wine as it should be , representing blood ; not Sacke , White-wine , Water , or some other Liquor . And if more bread and wine be afterward brought , the first not sufficing which was consecrated , doth hée first vse the words of consecration vpon it , before he giue it to the Communicants , as is prescribed Can. xxj . 10 Whether in solemnizing of Marriage , visitation of the sicke , Buriall of the dead , Churching of women , doth your Minister vse such maner and forme , such words , Rites , and Ceremonies as are prescribed : and if not , then in what maner doth he performe them ? Articles concerning the Church , the Ornaments , sacred vtensils , and possessions of the same . 1 WHether haue you in your Church , the whole Bible of the largest volumne , and last Translation , the Booke of Common Prayer , with the Booke of Ordination of Bishops , Priests , and Deacons , the two Bookes of Homilies ? 2 Haue you a Font of Stone , for the administration of Baptisme , set vp in the vsuall place néere the Church doore , with a couer to kéepe it from dust and soyle ? 3 Haue you a conuenient , and decent Communion Table , placed conueniently as it ought , with a Carpet of silke , or some other comely stuffe to be laid vpon it in time of diuine Seruice , and a cleane linnen cloth for the time of Communion ? 4 Is it prophaned at any time , by sitting on it , casting hats or cloakes vpon it , writing , or casting vp accounts , or any other indecent vsage ? 5 Haue you in your Church a conuenient seate for your Minister to reade Diuine Seruice , and to preach in a comely , large , and fine Surplice , a Communion Cup and flagon of siluer or pewter , a Chest for Almes with thrée lockes and keyes , another chest for kéeping the bookes , ornaments , and vtensils of the Church : Haue you a Register Booke in parchment for Christnings , Burials , Marriages , and are these duely and faithfully written and recorded therein , or not , and is the same safely kept in a chest with thrée lockes and keyes according to the Canon ? 6 Whether is your Church , Chappell , Chancell , sufficiently repaired , decently and comely kept , as well within as without , be the seats maintained , the Stéeple and bels preserued , the windowes glased , the floore paued , and all things in such sort as may well be séeme the house of God ? 7 Whether is your Church-yard well mounded , and fenced , kept cleane without Nusance , or soyle cast into it : is it incroached vpon , and by whom ? doe any offensiuely kéepe doores , outletts , or passages into your Church-yard : doe any vse to quarrell , fight , play , or make méetings , banquets , Church-ales there : doe any kéepe Courts , Léetes , Lawdayes , Musters there : or otherwise vse it being a consecrated place , prophanely contrary to the 88. Canon ? Articles concerning Ministers and Preachers of Gods word . 1 WHether is your Minister a Preacher or not : of what degrée is he in the Vniuersitie , is he a licensed Preacher , doth he personally reside vpon his benefice : if not , how long doth he vse to absent himselfe , how doth he take order for seruing of his Cure , whether by a sufficient and honest man : what allowance doth he make him according to the proportion of his Benefice ? 2 Whether is your Minister or Curate a man of honest life , fame and reputation , a quarreller , make-bate , sower of strife , sedition , dissention , or doth he commonly vse Ale-houses , or vnlawfull games , is hee defamed or detected for drunkennesse , swearing , swaggering , or any indecent misbehauiour , to the disgrace of his holy function and calling ? 3 Doth your Minister catechize the youth of the Parish vpon Sundayes in the after-noone , halfe an houre before euening prayer , in that Catechisme authorised in the common booke , and no other , and if any Parishioners refuse to send their Children , or Seruants to be catechised , let them be presented ? 4 Whether doth your Minister admit to preach in his Cure any stranger without requiring his Licence , or any inconformeable man , or suspended from Preaching , and if yea , how often , and whom hath he so admitted ? 5 Hath your Minister preached against , or confuted any Doctrine deliuered by any other minister , in the same , or any other Church within the Diocesse , before hee hath acquainted the Bishop therewith , and bin directed by him what to doe : to the disturbance of the Churches peace , or the scandall , or offence of others ? 6 Hath your Minister preached or taught any new , and strange Doctrine , contrary vnto , or disagréeing from the booke of Articles , and the literall sense thereof ? Doth your Minister preach or teach any thing contrary to his Maiesties late Iniunctions , about Predestination , falling from Grace , &c. to trouble mens minds with those déep and darke points , which of late haue so distracted and ●engarboyled the world ? 7 Doth your Minister vse in his prayer , to pray for the King , the Quéene , Clergie , Counsell , &c. and conclude with the Lords prayer according to the 55. Canon ? 8 Haue you any superinducted Preacher , or Lecturer in your Parish : doth he twice in the yeare at least , reade Diuine Seruice , both morning & euening , two seuerall Sundayes , publikely in his surplice : doth he twice a yeare administer the Sacraments , with such Rites and Ceremonies as be prescribed in the Communion booke , according to the .56 . Canon ? 9 Doth your Minister solemnly bid holi-dayes , and fasting dayes in the wéek following , hath he married any without asking the banes thrice , doth he of his owne head and voluntarie motion , appoint or kéep any solemne fasts publikely or in priuate houses , other than such as by Law are , or by authority shall be appointed , or is he present at any such , in , or out of his Parish : Doth he hold , or frequent any méetings for Sermons , commonly called Prophesyings , or Exercises in market townes or other places : Doth hee vpon any pretence whatsoeuer by Fasting and Prayer take vpon him to cast out any Deuill , or Deuils in any obsessed , or possessed person ? 10 Doth your Minister vpon euery Sunday when there is no Sermon , reade an Homilie , or some part thereof , doth he once in the yeare reade ouer the booke of Canons , vpon some Sundayes , or Holi-dayes , before euening prayer , according to the Iniunction from his Maiestie ? 11 Doth your Minister vpon euery Wednesday and Friday reade the Letany in your Parish Church , or Chappell , according to the 15. Canon : hath he not diuers times omitted so to doe since your last presentments . 12 Doth your Minister alwayes , and at euery time both morning and euening , reading diuine Seruice , and administring the Sacraments , and other Rites of the Church , weare the Surplice according to the Canons , and doth he neuer omit wearing of the same at such times ? 13 Doth your Minister vse in his common course of life that decent apparell , answerable to his calling and degrée , both abroad and at home , in iourneys and otherwise , as is ordained by the 74. Canon ? 14 Hath any man residing in your Parish being a Deacon , or Priest , relinquished his Function , and betaken himselfe to a Lai-mans life , or vocation ? 15 Doth any Person of what degrée or calling soeuer , kéepe or retaine in his house any Chaplaine , or Minister , to reade Prayers , Preach , instruct his Family , who are they , how many , of what condition or degrée ? 16 Doth your Minister reside , and dwell vpon his Parsonage , the Uicarage house , or else-where , doth he kéepe it in good and sufficient reparations or not ? 17 Doth your Minister yearely in Rogation wéeke , for the knowing and distinguishing of the bounds of Parishes , and for obtaining Gods blessing vpon the fruits of the ground , walke the Perambulation , and say ▪ or sing in English , the Gospells , Epistles , Letanie , and other deuout prayers , together with the hundred and third , and hundred and fourth Psalmes ? 18 Whether your Minister be knowne to be , or is vehemently suspected to be , an Usurer , Regrator , Wood-monger , buyer and seller of Timber , or to vse any other scandalous and defamed trade , and course of life , contrary to the Statute of this Realme , and honour of his calling ? 19 Doth your Minister before the seuerall times of administring the holy Communion , especially before Easter , admonish and exhort his Parishioners , if they haue their consciences troubled , to resort vnto him , or some other learned and discréet Minister , to reueale , and open his griefe , and dis●●i●tnesse ▪ that so he may receiue such Ghostly counsell and comfort , that his conscience may be quieted , and himselfe receiue the benefit of Absolution ? 20 If any man confesse his secret and hidden sinnes to the Minister , for the disburthening of his conscience and receiuing consolation , doth , or hath the Minister at any time reuealed that thing committed to his trust and secresie , contrarie to the 113. Canon ? Articles concerning Matrimonie . 1 HAue any béene married within your Parish , that were within the degrées of affinity , or consanguinity by the law of God forbidden ; if any present their names ? 2 Haue any within your Parish , béene married secretly in priuate houses , or without their parents , or gouernours consent signified , being vnder the age of one and twenty yeares ? 3 Doe any persons lawfully married , liue asunder , vnlawfully , and in whom is the default ? 4 Haue any persons ( their banes being not thrice published in the Church ) béene married without Licence , who were present at such marriages , and what Minister married them ? 5 What Popish Recusants , or their children haue béene married in your Parish , in what sort was that Matrimonie solemnized , when , and by whom ? haue any persons béene married in prohibited times without licence ? Articles concerning the Church-wardens . 1 BEE the Church-wardens chosen by the Minister and Parishioners , according to the 89. Canon , and whether hath any taken vpon him to be Church-warden , being not chosen , or hath any continued one yeare in his office without a new choyse ? 2 Haue any Church-wardens retained any of the Church goods , and not made a iust account of what they haue receiued , and expended ? 3 Haue your Church-wardens , and Sidemen béene , and are they diligent in their office , to sée decencie kept in the Church , and order in the time of Common Prayer , and administration of the Sacraments , and that there be no disturbance , but sobernesse and quietnesse in the Church . And doe the Church-wardens kéep a booke in your Parish , wherein the Names of euery strange Preacher in your parish is set downe , and haue the Church-wardens suffered any to preach not shewing or hauing no Licence ? Articles concerning the Parishioners . DOe any in your Parish prophane the Sunday by vnlawfull games , drinking , or tipling in the time of common prayer or Sermon ; and by working and doing the ordinarie workes of their vocation and trades ? 2 Are there any in your parish that doe impugne or speake against the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England , or the lawfull vse of them ? And the gouernment of this Church vnder his Maiestie by Archbishops , Bishops and other ecclesiasticall officers ? 3 Who in your Parish doe come to Sermon onely , and not to diuine Seruice , And who doe not reuerently behaue themselues during the time of diuine Seruice , deuoutly knèeling , when the generall Confession of Sinnes the Letany , the ten Commandements , and all Prayers and Collects are read , and vsing all due and lowly reuerence , when the blessed name of the Lord Iesus is mentioned , and standing vp when the Articles of the Beliefe , and Gloria Patri are read or said ? who doe couer their heads in the Church during the whole time of Diuine Seruice , vnlesse it be in case of necessitie , in which case they may weare a night-cap , or who doe giue themselues to babling , talking , or walking , and are not attentiue to heare the Word read and preached ? Haue any to your knowledge , publikely or priuately spoken against the bending of the knée at the name of the Lord Iesus , or vsed disgracefull speech against the acte , or such as vse the act of reuerend bowing toward the Communion Table , when they come to it to administer the Sacrament &c. what words haue béene vsed , by whom , or where that way : tell their names , and words spoken , if you can ? 4 Is there any of your Parish hauing a Preacher to their Minister , that doe absent themselues from his Sermons , and resort to other places , to heare other Preachers : Or doe any in your parish communicate or baptize their children in any other parish ? 5 Are there any in your parish that refuse to haue their children baptized , or themselues to receiue the Communion of your Minister , taking exception against him , or haue any wiues that refuse to come to Church , according to the booke of Common Prayer , to giue thanks to God for their safe deliuerance , in a decent habite , as hath béene anciently accustomed ? 6 Hath any in your Parish spoken slanderous and reproachfull words against your Minister , to the scandall of his vocation , or against his Neighbour , defaming them touching any crime of Ecclesiasticall cognizance ? 7 Whether doe any in your parish exercise any trade , or labour , buy , or sell , or kéepe open shops , or set out any wares to be sold vpon Sundayes , or Holidayes , by themselues , their seruants , or Apprentices , or haue otherwise prophaned the said dayes ? 8 Is the fift of Nouember kept holy , and thansgiuing made to God , according to the order set forth in that behalfe ? 9 Is there any in your Parish that bee , or are commonly knowne , or reputed to bee Blasphemers of Gods holy name , Drunkards , Adulterers , Fornicators , incestuous persons , concealers or harbourers of Fornicators , or Adulterers : Haue any béene detected or vehemently suspected of such notorious crimes , and what penance haue they done for the same ? 10 What person , or persons haue died , and departed this mortall life since the second day of February last past ; and whether did they make any last wils , or Testaments , and who were their Executors , or whether dyed they intestate , and who hath the administration of their Goods : and what be the names of such deceased , and Executors , and Administrators ? 11 Whether haue any in your parish administred the goods of any person deceased without lawfull authority , and before he or they haue proued the will or Testament of the party deceased , or haue obtained commission from the Ordinary to dispose the said moueable goods ; or are there any Willes vnproued , or Goods not administred ? 12 What persons be excommunicate within your Parish , and for what cause to your knowledge , and doe any of them repaire to the Church , in time of prayer vnabsolued ? 13 Whether haue any in your Parish giuen to the Church-wardens or Side-men , or to any of them , any euill words for doing their duties according to their Oathes and conscience , in making presentment for any fault ? 14 Whether haue any within your Parish harboured any woman vnlawfully begotten with childe , and haue suffered her to depart away vnpunished ? Articles concerning Schoole-masters , Physitians , and Chirurgians , and Parish Clarkes . 1 IS there any Schoolemaster in your Parish that teacheth publikely or priuately , not licensed by the Ordinary , the Bishop of the Diocesse . Doth he teach any Papists , or sectuaries children that come not to Church . And doth he instruct all his Schollers to learne the short Catechisme , by Law established , contained in the booke of Common Prayer . Is he a graduate , and sufficient to teach ? 2 What Physitian or Chirurgion is in your Parish vnlicensed , and being not a Doctor of Physicke , in either of the Uniuersities , doth practise Physicke . And what ignorant persons haue left their trade , and taken vpon them to professe physicke , or Chirurgery ; and who be they that so abuse the people ? 3 Haue you a fit Parish Clarke aged twenty yeares at least , of honest life , able to reade and write . Are his and the Sextons wages paid without fraud ; if not , then whose default is it . By whom is he chosen : is he diligent in his Office , and seruiceable to the Minister ; Doth he meddle with any thing aboue his Office , doth he kéepe the Church cleane , the Doores locked . Is any thing lost or spoyled by his default , and doth he execute his Office duly ? Articles concerning Ecclesiasticall Officers . 1 HAth any Chancellor Deputy , or Surrogate , or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within this Diocesse , or any Register , Apparitor or other Officer belonging to the Ecclesiasticall Court , exacted any extraordinary or greater Fées , than heretofore of late hath béene accustomed , or than are expressed in the table of Fées set vp in the Consistory , declaring what fées are due ? 2 Lastly , Doe you know any other matter worthy of presentment , or any other person or persons , which haue committed any fault , or offence contrary to his Maiesties Ecclesiasticall Lawes , or hereof vehemently suspected not set downe or expressed in these Articles , by vertue of your Oathes present the said faults , and the names of the persons which haue committed , or are vehemently suspected for committing the same offences ? THere must be a full , and seuerall presentment , on answer made to euery seuerall Article . FINIS . MEmorandum , it is lawfull for euery Minister ( be he Parson , Vicar , or Curate ) to present any enormitie , or common fame of any enormous crime that shall arise within his Parish . And whereas it seemeth by the Canon , that the Officers are not to present oftner than twice a yeare : it is to be understood , as in that Canon appeareth , of presentments in generall . But it is lawfull and meete for euery Minister , Church-wardens , and Sidemen to make notorious offenders knowne to their Ordinaries , as often as occasion is offered , to the end that such offences may in due time be punished and reformed . 
A00190	----	Articles to be enquired of, in the ordinarie visitation of the most reuerend father in God, George by Gods providence, Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury ... holden in the yeere of our Lord God, 1632, and in the two and twenty yeere of His Graces translation. Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Archbishop (1611-1633 : Abbot) 1632 Approx. 36 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-07 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A00190 STC 10227.3 ESTC S422 22372238 ocm 22372238 25483 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A00190) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 25483) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1752:58) Articles to be enquired of, in the ordinarie visitation of the most reuerend father in God, George by Gods providence, Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury ... holden in the yeere of our Lord God, 1632, and in the two and twenty yeere of His Graces translation. Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Archbishop (1611-1633 : Abbot) Abbot, George, 1562-1633. [16] p. For Robert Milbourne, Imprinted at London : 1632. Signatures: A-B⁴. Formerly STC 10191. Reproduction of original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2003-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-04 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-05 Olivia Bottum Sampled and proofread 2003-05 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES TO BE ENQVIRED OF , IN THE ORDINARIE Visitation of the most Reuerend Father in God , GEORGE by Gods Providence , Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , Primate of all England , and Metropolitan : in , and for the Cities and Diocesse of COVENTRY and LICHFIELD , the See there being voyd . Holden in the yeere of our Lord God , 1632. and in the two and twenty yeere of his Graces Translation . Imprinted at London for Robert Milbourne 1632. The Tenor of the Oath , to bee ministred to the Church-wardens and Side-men . YOu shall sweare , That you and every of you , shall duely consider , and diligently enquire of all and every of these Articles given you in charge ; and that all affection , favour , hatred , hope , of reward and gaine , or feare of displeasure , or malice set aside , you shall present all and euery such person , of , or within your Parish , as hath committed any offence , or made any default mentioned in these , or any of these Articles ▪ or which are vehemently suspected or defamed of any such offence or default : wherein you shall deale vprightly and full ; neither presenting , nor sparing to present any , contrary to trueth : hauing in this action God before your eyes , with an earnest zeale to maintaine trueth , and to suppresse vice . So helpe you God , and the holy Contents of this booke . I. Concerning the Ministers . INprimis , Whether doeth your Minister distinctly and reuerendly say diuine Seruice vpon Sundayes and Holy-dayes , and other dayes appoynted to be obserued by the Booke of Common Prayer : Wednesdayes and Frydayes , and the Eues of euery Sunday and Holy-day , at fit and vsuall times ? And doth your Minister duly obserue the Orders , Rites , and Ceremonies prescribed in the said Book of Common Prayer , as well in reading pulibke Prayers and the Letany , as also in administring the Sacraments , solemnization of Matrimony , Uisiting the sick , Burying the dead , Churching of women , and all other like Rites and offices of the Church , in such maner and forme , as in the Book of Common prayer is enioyned ? And doth he reade the booke of the last Canons once yéerely , and weare a Surplice according to the sayd Canons ? 2 Item whether doth your Minister bid Holydayes & Fasting dayes , as by the Booke of Common Prayer is appointed ? And doth hee giue warning beforehand to the parishoners , for the receiuing of the holy Cōmunion as the 22. canon requireth ? And whether doth he administer the holy Cōmunion so often , & at such times , as that euery parishioner may receiue the same at the least thrice in euery yere : wherof once at Easter as by the Booke of Common Prayer is appointed ? And doeth your Minister receiue the same himselfe on euery day that hee administreth it to others , and vse the words of Institution according to the Booke , at euery time that the Bread and Wine is renewed , accordingly as by the Prouiso of the 21 Canon is directed ? And doeth háe deliuer the Bread and Wine to euery Cōmunicant seuerally ? Whether hath he admitted to the holy Communion any offender or Schismaticke , contrary to the 26. and 27. constitutions , or receiued any to the Communion being not of his owne Cure or put any from the Communion , not being publikely infamous for some notorious crime ? Doeth he vse the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme , or Baptize in any Bason , or other Uessell and not in the vsuall Font : or admit any Father to be Godfather to his own child , or such who haue not receiued the holy Cōmunion , or Baptize any children that were not borne in the parish , or wilfully refuse to Baptize any Infant in his Parish being in danger , hauing bene enformed of the weakenesse of the sayd child : and whether hath the child dyed through his default without Baptisme ? 3 Item , whether hath your Minister married any without a Ring or without Banes published thrée seueral Sundayes or Holydayes in time of diuine Seruice , in the seueral Churches or Chappels of their seuerall abode , according to the book of Common Prayer , or in times prohibited albeit the Banes were thrice published , without a License or dispensation from the Archbishop , the Bishop of the Diocesse , or his Chancellor , first obtained in that behalfe ? or not betwixt the houres of eight and twelue in the forenoone , or married in any priuate house : or if the parties be vnder the age of 21. yeres , before their parents or gouernors haue signified their consent vnto him ? 4 Item , whether doth he refuse to bury any , which ought to be interred in Christian buriall , or deferre the same longer then he should , or bury any in Christian burial , which by the Constitutions of the Church of England ought not to be so interred ? 5 Item , whether the body of any excommunicate person dying within your parish hath bin buried by any of your parishioners disorderly ( your Minister iustly refusing to bury it ) within your Church or Churchyard , or haue the body or bodies of any such excommunicate person or persons bin carried out of your Parish to be buried in another Parish , without consent of your Minister , or Ordinary first had and obtained ; and what are their seuerall names and sirnames ? 6 Item , whether is your Minister a Preacher allowed ? If so , then by whom ? If not , whether doth he procure some who are lawfully licensed , to preach amongst you monethly at the least ? 7 Item , whether doth your Minister ( being licensed ) preach vsually according to the Canons , either in his owne Cure , or in some other Church or Chappell , neere adioyning , where no Preacher is and how often hath he bin 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 , reade an Homily , or some part thereof , according as he ought to doe : or in case hee bee not licensed to Preach doth he take vpon him to preach or expound the Scriptures in his owne Cure , or elsewhere ? If so then you are to present the same , the time and place , when , and where he did it . 8 Item , whether doth your Minister in his Sermons , Lectures and other exercises , vse to pray for the Kings Maiesty , King Charles and for our gracious Quéene Mary , and all the Royal Progeny , with addition of such Stile and Titles as are due to his Highnes , and exhort the people to obedience to his Maiestie , and all Magistrates in authority vnder him : not omitting particular mencion of the Bishop of the Diocesse , according to his Maiesties late direction in that behalfe ? 9 Item , whether is your Minister continually resident vpon his Benifice , and how long time hath he bin absent , & in case he be licensed to be absent whether doth he cause his Cure to be sufficiently supplyed , according to the Canons : or in case hee 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 smallnesse of the liuing cannot finde a preaching Minister , doeth hee preach at both his Benefices vsually ? 10 Item , whether doeth your Minister or Curate serue any more Cures then one : If so , then what other Cure doth he serue , and how farre are they distant ? 11 Item , whether doth your Minister euery Sunday and Holyday , before Euening Prayer , for halfe an houre , or more , examine and instruct the Youth and ignorant persons of his Parish , in the Ten Commandements , Articles of the Beliefe and in the Lords prayer and the Sacraments according as it is prescribed in the Catechisme , and set foorth in the Book of Common Prayer ; and also strictly enioyned by our late Soueraigne King Iames of blessed memory , in his directions to the Bishops of each Diocesse ? 12 Item , whether doth your Minister in the Rogation dayes goe in perambulation of the circuit of the parish saying and vsing the prayers and thanksgiuing to God , appointed by law , according to his duty , thanking God for his blessings , if there be plenty on the earth : Or otherwise ▪ to pray for his grace and fauour , if there be a feare of scarcity ? 13 Item , whether hath your Minister admitted any woman , begotten with child in adultery or fornication , to be churched without license of the Ordinary ? 14 Item , whether hath your Minister , or any other Preacher , Baptized children , churched any woman or ministred the holy Communion in any priuate house , otherwise then by Law is allowed ? 15 Item , whether doth your Minister , being a Preacher , endeauour & labor diligently to reclaime the Popish Recusants in his parish from their errors ( if there be any such abiding in your Parish ) Or whether is your Parson Uicar , or Curate , ouerconuersant with or a fauourer of Recusants , whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Religion ? 16 Item , whether hath your Minister taken vpon him , to appoint any Publike or priuate Fasts , Prophecies 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 so , then you shall present them all . 67 Item , whether hath your Minister stayed the publication of any excommunications , or suspensions ? or doth he euery halfe yere denounce in his parish Church all such of his parish , as are excommunicated , & perseuere therin without séeking to be absolued , or doth he wittingly & willingly keep 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 ? 18 Item , whether doth your Minister carefully looke to the reliefe of the poore , and from time to time call vpon his Parishioners to giue somewhat as they can spare , to godly and charitable vses , especially when they make their Testaments ? 19 Item , whether doth your Minister , or any hauing taken the holy Orders , being now silenced or suspended , or any other person of your knowledge , or as you haue heard , hold any conuenticles , or preach in any place , or vse any other forme of Diuine Seruice then is appointed in the Booke of Common Prayer ? If so , then you are to present their names , and with whom . 20 Item , whether is your Curate licensed to serue , by the Bishop of this Diocesse or by any other , and by whom ? 21 Item , whether doth your Minister vse such decencie and comelinesse in his apparell , as by the 47. Canon is enioyned : and is he of sober behauiour and one that doth not vse such bodily labor , as is not séemely for his function and calling ? 22 Item , whether is your Minister noted or defamed to haue obtained his Benefice or his Orders by Simony , or any other way defamed , to be a Symoniacall person , or any way noted to be a Schismaticke , or Schismatically affected , or reputed to be an incontinent person , or to table or lodge any such in his house : or is he a frequenter of Tauernes , Innes , Alehouses , or any place suspected for ill rule : or is he a common Drunkard a common Gamester or a player at Dice , a Swearer , or one that applieth not his Studie , or is otherwise offensiue and scandalous to his function or Ministery ? 23 Item , whether are there any Lectures , or exercises vsed within your parish Church ? If so , then whether do the sayd Lecturer or Lecturers , refuse to conforme themselues to the Lawes and Ordinances of the Church of England , and especially to the late instructions for Lectures published by his Sacred Maiesty King Charles , and directed to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace , and accordingly by his Grace , sent to euery Diocesse of his Graces Prouince . Anno Dom. 1629. And so by the Lord Bishop of this Diocesse , commanded to bee published thorow this Diocesse , by his Lordships Arch-deacous , at their seuerall visitations after Easter , Anno Dom. 1630. And doth your Lecturer or Lecturers , and euery of them obserue that Article , and instruction of his Maiestie , wherein it is prouided precisely , that euery Lecturer shall before his Lecture , or Sermon , reade Diuine Seruice in his Surplice , and Hood according to his Degrée : If you know of any default or neglect hereof , in not obseruing this instruction of his Maiesties , or other the Lawes Ecclesiasticall of this Kingdome , you are to present it , otherwise you are likely to answere for this your contempt . 24 Item , whether do any Knight , or Gentlemen within your Parish maintaine or keepe any Chaplaine , contrary to the Lawes of the Land , not being thereunto Licensed by the Bishop of this Diocesse ? 25 Item , whether doth your Preacher or Lecturer reade Diuine Seruice , and Minister the Sacraments twice a yeere at least in his owne person , according to the Canons ? II. Concerning the Church , the Ornaments thereof , and the Churches possessions . 26 WHether haue you in your seuerall Churches and Chappels , the whole Bible of the largest volume , and the book of Common Prayer , as also the book of Homilies set forth by his Maiesties authority , all fairely and substantially bound : a Font of stone , set vp in the ancient vsuall place : a conuenient & decent Communion Table , with a Carpet of silke ▪ or some other decent Stuffe , continually layd vpon the Table at the time of Diuine Seruice , and a faire linnen cloth vpon the same , at the time of the receiuing of the holy Communion ? And whether is the same Table placed in such conuenient sort within the Chancel or Church , as that the Minister may be best heard in his prayer & administration , and that the greatest number may communicate ? And whether is it so vsed out of time of diuine Seruice , as is not agréeable to the holy vse of it : and as by sitting on it throwing hats on it writing on it or is it abused to other prophane vses ? And are the Ten Commandements set vpon the East end of your Church or Chappell , where the people may best see and reade them and other Sentences of holy Scripture , written on the walles likewise for that purpose ? 27 Item , whether haue you in your said Church or Chappell , a conuenient seate for your Minister to read Seruice in , together with a comely Pulpit , set vpon a conuenient place , with a decent cloth or Cushion for the same , a comely large Surplice , a faire Communion Cup , with a couer , of Siluer , & a Flagon of Siluer Tinne , or Peuter , to put the Wine in wherby it may be set vpon the Communion Table , at the time of the blessing thereof , with all other things and Ornaments necessary for the celebration of diuine Seruice & administration of the Sacraments ? And whether haue you a strong chest for almes of the Poore with thrée lockes and keyes , and another Chest for the keeping the Bookes , and Ornaments of the Church ▪ and the Register Booke ? And whether haue you a Register Booke in Parchment , for Christenings , Weddings , and Burialls , and whether the same be kept in all points , according to the Canons in that behalfe prouided ? And whether haue you in your said Church or Chancell a Table set , of the degrées , wherein by Law men are prohibited to marry ? 28 Item , whether are your Church and Chappell 's , with the Chancels thereof and your Parsonage , or Uicarage house , your Parish almes-house and Church-house , in good reparations , and are they imployed to godly , & their right holy vses ? Is your Church , Chancell & Chappell , decently and comely kept , as well within as without and the seats well maintained , according to the 85 Canon in that behalfe prouided ? Whether your Church-yard be well fenced & kept without abuse : and if not , in whose default the same is , and what the defect or fault is ? And whether any person haue encroched vpon the ground of the Churchyard , or whether any person or persons haue vsed any thing or place consecrated to holy vse prophanely or wickedly ? 29 Item , whether haue you the Terrier of all the Gleabe Lands , Meddowes Gardens , Orchards , Houses , Stockes , Implements , Tenements and portions of Tithes ( whether within your Parish or without ) belonging vnto your Parsonage or Uicarage , taken by the view of honest men in your sayd Parish ? And whether the sayd Terrier bée layd vp in the Bishops Registry , and in whose hands any of them are now ? And if you haue no Terrier already made in Parchment , you the Church-wardens and Side-men , together with your Parson or Uicar , or in his absence , with your Minister , are to make diligent enquirie and presentment of the premisses , and make , subscribe , and signe the sayd Terrier as aforesayd . III. Schoole-Masters . 30 WHether doeth 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 doeth he instruct his Schollers in the grounds of Religion now established in this Church of England ? and is hee carefull and diligent to benefit his Schollers in learning ? IIII. Parish-Clerkes , and Sextons . 31 WHether haue you a fit Parish-Clerke , aged twenty yéeres at least , of honest conuersation , able to reade and write ? Whether are his & the Sextons wages payed without fraud , according to the ancient custome of your parish : if not , then by whom are they so defrauded or denied ? By whom are they chosen ? and whether the said Clerke 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 , & seruiceable to the Minister , & doth he take vpon him to meddle with any thing aboue his Office ; as Churching of women , burying the dead , and such like ? 32 Item , whether doeth your Clerke or Sexton kéepe the Church cleane , the doores locked ? Is any thing lost or spoyled in the Church through his default ? doeth hee suffer any vnreasonable ringing , or any propane exercise in your Church : or doth he ( when any is passing out of this life ) neglect to tole a Bell , hauing notice thereof ? V. Physicians , Surgeons , and Mid-vviues . 34 HOw many Physicians , Chirurgions , or Mid-wiues haue you in your Parish ? How long haue they vsed their seuerall Sciences or Offices , and by what authority ? And how haue they demeaned themselues therein , and of what skill are they accounted to bee in their profession ? VI. Touching the Church-wardens and Sidemen . 34 WHether you the Churchwardens , Quest-men , or Sidemen from time to time do & haue done their diligences , in not suffering any idle person 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 , & not disturbe such as hée hearers there ? And whether haue they , and do you diligently sée the Parishioners duly resort to the Church euery Sunday and Holy , day , and there to remaine during diuine Seruice & Sermon ? And whether you or your predecessors Church-wardens there , suffer any Playes , Feasts , Drinkings , or any other prophane vsages , to bee kept in your Church , Chappel or Church yards , or haue suffered to your and their vttermost power and endeauour , any person or persons , to be tippling or drinking in any Inne or Uictualling house in your Parish , during the time of diuine Seruice or Sermon , on Sundayes or Holydayes ? 35 Item , whether , and how often haue you admitted any to preach within your Church or Chappell which was not sufficiently Licensed ? And whether you together with your Minister , haue not taken diligent héed and care , that euery of your Parishioners being of sixeteene yeeres of age or vpwards , haue receiued thrice euery yéere , as aforesaid : and also that no stranger haue vsually come to your Church , from their owne Parish Church ? 36 Item , whether haue there bin prouided against euery Communion , a sufficient quantitie of fine white bread , and of good and wholesome wine for the communicants that shall receiue ? And whether that wine be brought in a cleane and swéete standing pot of pewter , or of other purer mettall ? 37 Item , whether were you chosen by the consent of the Minister and the parishioners ? And haue the late Church-wardens 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 ? VII . Concerning the Parishoners . 38 Whether is there any of your Parishioners , beeing sixteene yeeres of age , or vpwards , or others lodging or commonly resorting to any house within your parish , that do wilfully absent them selues from your Parish-church vpon Sundayes or Holydayes , at Morning and Euening Prayers : or who come late to Church , & depart from Church before Seruice be done vpon the said daies ? Or who do not reuerently behaue themselues during the time of Diuine Seruice deuoutly knéeling when the generall confession of sins , the Letany , the ten Commandements , and all prayers and Collects are read & vsing all due and lowly reuerence , whē the blessed Name of the Lord Iesus Christ is mentioned , & standing vp when the Articles of the Beliefe are read , or who do couer their heads in the Church during the time of Diuine Seruice , vnlesse it be in case of necessity , in which case they may weare a Night cap or Coyse ? Or who doe giue themselues to babling ▪ talking , or walking , and are not attentiue to the word preached , or read : or reading , or praying , during the time aforesaid ? Whether any of your Parish being of sixteene yeares of age and vpwards , do not receiue the holy Communion in your Church thrice euery yéere : wherof once at Easter and whether they doe not deuoutly kneele at the receiuing thereof ? 39 Item , whether any of your Parishioners , being admonished , therof , doe not send their children , seruants , and apprentises to the Minister , to be catechised vpon such Sundayes and Holidayes as are appointed ? or whether any of them do refuse to come : or if they come , refuse to learne the Catechisme set foorth in the booke of Common Prayer ? 40 Item how many of the sayd Catechismes haue bin dispersed in your Parish or Chappell , according to the number of such children and seruants as can reade and are to learne the same , according to the late Iniunction of your Ordinary , and who they bee that haue refused to obey that order so enioyned ? and what are their seuerall names ? 41 Item , whether any of your Parish doe entertaine within their house any soiournier , common guests , or other persons , who refuse to frequent diuine Seruice , or receiue the holy Communion , as aforesayd ? Present their names , their qualities or conditions . 42 Item , what recusāt Papists are there in your parish ? or haue dwelt or made vsuall abode there within the space of two or thrée yéeres last past , and whether they still dwell or remaine there , or where doe they dwell , or make their abode ? Present their names , qualities , or conditions . And whether keepe they any Schoole-master in their house , which commeth not to Church to heare Diuine Seruice and receiue the Communion ? What is his name , and how long hath he taught there , or else where ? 43 Item , whether doe any of the sayd Popish Recusants labor to seduce and withdraw others from the Religion now established ? or instruct their Families or children in Popish Religion ? or refuse to entertaine any , especially in place of greatest seruice or trust , but such as concurre with them in their Papistry ? 44 Item , whether the tuition of the children of any of your Parishioners , dying within your Parish , be committed to any Popish Recusants conuict , contrary to the Stat. 3 I●● . Cap. 5. and if so , to present and certifie the names both of such children , and of the Tutors , or Guardians , to whose tuition and education they are committed . 45 Item , how long haue the sayd Popish Recusants abstained from Diuine Seruice or from the Communion as aforesayd ? 46 Item , whether is there any in your parish that retaine vndefaced , or sell , vtter or disperse any Popish Bookes or Writings or other Bookes , Libels , or writings of any Seetaries , touching the Religion , State , or Gouernment Ecclesiasticall of this Kingdome of England , or kéepe any Ornaments of superstition vncancelled or vndefaced ? 48 Item , whether haue you any in your parish , which hertofore being Popish Recusants , or Sectaries , haue since reformed themselues , and come to Church to heare Diuine Seruice , and receiue the Sacraments ? If yea ▪ then who they are : & how long since haue they so reformed themselues ? And whether they still remaine and abide in that conformitie ? 49 Item , whether is there any in your parish , that refuse to haue their children baptized , or themselues to receiue the Cōmunion at the hands of your Minister , taking exception against him , and what causes or exceptious doe they alledge ? Or haue any married wiues refused to come to Church according to the book of Common prayer to giue God thanks 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 cōmon prayer ? 50 Item , whether any in your parish hauing a Preacher to your Parson Uicar , 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 ? 51 Item , what persons within your parish , for any offence , contumacy or crime of Ecclesiasticall conusance , doe stand Excommunicate ? Present their names , and for what cause they are Excommunicated , and how long they haue so stood , and what person and persons doe wittingly and vsually kéepe them company . 52 Item , whether doe any , not being in Orders , execute any Priestly or Ministeriall office in your Church , Chappell or Churchyard , and what be their names ? 53 Item , whether is there any in your parish , that hauing hertofore taken vpon him the Order of Priesthood , or Deacon , hath since relinquished the same and liues a Lay-man neglecting his vocation ? 54 Item , whether hath any person or persens in your parish quarrelled or stricken or vsed any violence to your Minister , or hath strucken or quarreld with any other persō within your Church or Churchyard , or demeaned himselfe disorderly in the Church , by filthy or prophane talke , or any other lewd or immodest behauior ? Or haue disturbed the Minister in time of diuine Seruice or Sermon , or haue libelled or spoken slanderous words against your Minister to the scandall of his vocation ▪ or defamed any of his neighbours touching any crime of Ecclesiasticall conusance ? 55 Item , whether haue any of , or in your parish , without consent of the Ordinary , or other lawfull authoritie , caused any to doe penance , or to be censured or punished for any matter of Ecclesiastical conusance , by any Uestry-meetings , or otherwise by their own authority ? or haue takē any money or cōmutatiō for the same present their names that haue don it ? and who haue béen so punished : in what manner ▪ and vpon what cause . 56. Item whether any person in your parish do exercise any trade or labour ▪ buy or sell , or keepe open shops or ware-houses vpon any Sunday or Holiday by thēselues , their seruants or apprentices , or haue otherwise profaned the said daies , contrary to the orders of the Church of Englād ? And whether there be any Inne keepers , Ale-house-kéepers , Uictualers , 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 after-noone , vpon these dayes ? 57 Item , whether hath the fift day of Nouember bin kept holy , and thanksgiuing made to God ▪ for his Maiesties & this States happy deliuerance , according to the Ordinance in that behalfe ? And whether haue you in your Parish Church or Chappell the bookes in this behalfe set foorth and commanded by publike authority . 58 Item , whether doth any of your parish hold or frequent any conuēticles or priuate congregations , or make or maintain any constitutions , agreed vpon in any such assemblies ? Or are there any that do write , or publikely or priuately speake against the booke of Common prayer , or any thing therein contained , or against any of the Articles of Religion , agréed vpon in Anno 1562. or against the Kings Supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall , or against the Oath of Supremacy , or of Allegiance , as pretending the same to be vnlawful , & 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 Kings most excellent Maiestie , by Archbishops Bishops , Deanes Archdeacons and other Officers of the same : affirming , that the same is repugnant to the Word of God , & that the sayd Ecclesiastical Officers are not lawfully ordained ? Or whether be there any Authors , maintainers , or fauourers of Heresie or Schisme , or that be suspected to be Anabaptists , Libertines Brownists of the Familie of Loue , or of any other Heresie or Schisme : present their names . 59 Item whether haue any in your Parish 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 bin diuorced , which keepe company with any other at Bed or at Bord , and when and where they married ? 58 Item , whether doe any persons administer the goods of the dead without lawfull authoritie , or suppresse the last will of the dead ? Or are there in your Parish any wils not yet proued , or goods of the dead dying intestate left vnadministred ? By authority in that behalfe you shall not faile to present the Executors , and all others faulty therein : and also how many persons being possessed of any goods and chattels , haue dyed within your Parish since the yéere 1617. 59 Item , whether doth any with-hold the stocke of the Church , or any goods or other things , giuen to good and charitable vses ? 60 Item , whether are your Hospitalls and Almes-houses and other such houses and Corporations , founded to good and charitable vses : and the lands , possessions , and goods of the same , ordered and disposed of as they should bee ? And doe the Masters , Gouernours , Fellowes , and others of the said Houses and Corporations , behaue and demeane themselues , according to the godly Ordinances , and Statutes of their seuerall Foundations ? 61 Item , whether haue you any in your parish to your knowledge , or by common fame & report , which haue committed Adultery , Fornication , or Incest , or any which haue impudētly 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 solicited any woman to haue the carnall knowledge of her body , or which are commonly reputed to bee common Drunkards , Blasphemers of Gods holy Name , common Swearers , common Slanderers of their Neighbours , & sowers of discord , filthy and laciuious talkers , Usurers , Symonaicall persons , Bawds , or harbourers of women with child which be vnmarried , or conueying or suffering them to goe away before they haue made satisfaction to the congregation , or any that hauing heretofore bene presented , or suspected of any the aforesaid crimes , haue for that cause departed your parish , and are now returned again ? Or any which haue vsed any inchantments , sorceries , incantations or witchcrafts , which are not made fellony by the statutes of this Realme , or any which haue cōmitted any periury in any Ecclesiasticall Court , in an Ecclesiasticall cause , or which haue committed any forgery , punishable by the Ecclesiasticall lawes , and the procurers and abettors of the sayd offences ? You shall truely present the names of all and singular the sayd offendors , and with whom they haue committed the said offences , in case they haue not bin publikely punished to your knowledge for the same crimes . 62 Item , whether was the publike prayers and fast lately enioyned by authority for the pacifying of Gods wrath , and for asswaging the late fearefull Plague , béen duely and solemnely performed both by your Minister and Parishioners on the dayes and times appointed , as also , The day of thankesgiuing for Gods mercy in asswaging that fearefull sicknesse , being Religiously obserued , according to those publike formes set foorth by authority , and whether haue you the sayd Bookes so published , as by the same authority you were commanded . VIII . Concerning Ecclesiasticall Magistrates and Officers . 63 WHether doe you know or haue heard of any payment , composition , or agreement , to , or with any Ecclesiasticall Magistrate , Iudge , or Officer , for winking at , or sparing to punish any person for any offence of Ecclesiastical conusance , or for suppressing , or concealing of any Recusant , or any other offendour in the cases afore-sayd ? What sum of money , or other consideration hath bin receiued or promised , by , or to any of them in that respect , by whom and with whom ? 64 Item , whether hath any person within your parish , payd , or promised any sum of mony or other reward , for communication of penance for any crime of Ecclesiastical conusance ? If so , then with whom , when , and for what and how hath the same bene imployed ? 65 Item whether are your Ecclesiasticall Iudges and their Substitutes Masters of Arts or Bachelours of the Law at the least , learned and practised in the Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall Lawes : Men of good life and fame , zealously affected in Religion , and iust vpright in executing their offices ? Haue they heard any matter of Office priuately in their chambers , without their sworne Registers , or their Deputies presence ? 66 Item , whether doe you know , or haue you heard , that any Ecclesiasticall Iudge , Offcer , or Minister hath receiued or taken any extraordinary fees , or other rewards or promises , by any wayes or meanes directly , or indirectly , of any person or persons whatsoeuer , either for the granting of the administration of the goods and chattells of those that haue died intestate , to one before another , or for allotting of larger portions of the goods and chattells of those that haue dyed 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 defraud Creditors , & Legataries , or those who are to haue portions ? And what summes of money do you know , or haue you heard that any Ecclesiastical Iudge or Officer hath taken out of the state of any dying intestate , vpon pretence 
A04122	----	Anno Domini 1629 articles to be inquired of by the churchwardens and inquisitors of euery parish in the lord primates visitation metropoliticall. Church of Ireland. Province of Dublin. Archbishop (1619- 1660 : Bulkeley) 1629 Approx. 9 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A04122 STC 14265.1 ESTC S3080 33142581 ocm 33142581 28139 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A04122) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 28139) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1880:16) Anno Domini 1629 articles to be inquired of by the churchwardens and inquisitors of euery parish in the lord primates visitation metropoliticall. Church of Ireland. Province of Dublin. Archbishop (1619- 1660 : Bulkeley) 1 sheet ([1] p.). By the Company of Stationers, Jmprinted at Dublin : Anno 1629. Reproduction of original in: Society of Antiquaries. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- Ireland. Broadsides -- Dublin (Ireland) -- 17th century. 2007-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-02 Pip Willcox Sampled and proofread 2008-02 Pip Willcox Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ANNO DOMINI . 1629. ❧ Articles to be inquired of by the Churchwardens and Inquisitors of euery Parish in the Lord Primates Visitation Metropoliticall . 1 INprimis , whether is your Parson , Vicar or Curate resident continually , in , at , and vpon his Benefice , doing his dutie in reading distinctly the Diuine Seruice , Preaching the Word , and duely administring the holy Sacraments , according to the Booke of Common prayer ? 2 Item , whether doth your Parson or Vicar ( being lawfully absent from his Cure at any time ) leaue in his place a sufficient and conformable Curate , to celebrate Divine Seruice , administer the Sacraments , and teach and preach the Scriptures ? 3 Item , whether is your Parson , Vicar , or Curate a common resorter to Tauernes or Alehouses , giuing himselfe to drinking , ryoting , and playing at Cards , Dice , or other vnlawfull games : or is he a striker , dueller , dancer , or hunter ; or so reported ? 4 Item , whether is your Parson or Vicar , or any other of or in your Parish , an Vsurer , or lender of his Money for vnlawfull gaine , or whether is he , or they taken or reputed so to be ? 5 Item , whether doe the Proprietaries , Parsons , Vicars , and other possessors of the Churches , Chappels and their mansions within your Parish , keepe the Chancels of their Rectories and Vicarages , and other their houses and buildings belonging to the same in due reparations ? 6 Item , whether hath your Parson , Vicar or Curate receiued any persons to the holy Communion , being openly knowne to bee at debate and out of charitie with their neighbours , or defamed with any notorious crime , and not reformed ? 7 Item , whether hath your Parson , Vicar or Curate denied or neglected to visite the sicke , or burie the dead , being brought to the Church , and hauing thereof notice ? 8 Item , how many Benefices or Ecclesiasticall promotions hath your Parson or Vicar , and how farre distant are they the one from the other ? what Chappels hath hee to his Cures belonging ? by what names are they called , and how and by whom are they serued ? 9 Item , whether doth your Parson , Vicar or Curate minister the holy Communion any otherwise then onely after such forme and manner as is set forth in the Booke of Common prayer ? 10 Item , whether doth your Parson , Vicar or Curate ( being no Preacher allowed ) presume to expound the Scriptures , in his owne Cure , or elsewhere ? or doth hee procure ( once in a Moneth at the least ) a Sermon to be preached in his Cure , by Preachers lawfully licensed ? And vpon euery Sunday , when there is no Sermon , doth hee or his Cure reade some one of the Homilies prescribed ? 11 Item , whether doth your Minister euerie Sunday and Holy day , halfe an houre at least , before Euening prayer , examine and instruct the youth of your Parish in the Catechisme , set forth by Authoritie in the Booke of Common prayer ; and whether doth hee call them thereunto in course , and whether doe the Churchwardens of the Parish assist him therein ? 12 Item , what Schoolemasters haue you in your Parish , that eyther teach priuately or publickly , and not licensed thereunto , and by whom be they harboured ? 13 Item , whether be there in your Parish any persons that contemne or abuse , by word or dee●e , the Ministers of the Church ? 14 Item , whether the Seruice of your Church be begun and ended at due and conuenient houres , and whether the same be celebrated by your Parson , Vicar or Curate according to the Booke of Common prayer ? 15 Item , whether any person within your Parish doe wilfully maintaine and defend any Herefie , error , or opi●ion contrarie or repugnant to the Script●res doctrine of the Church ? 16 Item , whether there be any in your Parish that be common Drunkards , swearers , or blasphemers of the name of God ? 17 Item , whether there be any in your Parish who haue committed Adulterie , Fornication or Incest , or be common Bauds or receiuers of such lewd and euill persons , or that bee vehemently suspected the●eof , or of any the like crimes ? 18 Item , who they be ( if any such there bee in your Parish ) that bee Brawlers , slanderers , chiders , scolders , make-bates , and sowers of discords betweene one person and another , and especially betweene Man and Wife , Parents and their Children , Masters and their Seruants ? 19 Item , whether bee there in your Parish that doe vse and exercise Charmes , Sorceries , Inchantments , Inuocations , Circles , Witchcrafts , sooth-sayings , or any like Arts inuented by the Deuill , and especially in or at the time of Womens travaile ? 20 Item , whether is your Church sufficiently repayred , and therein your Pulpit and Communion-Table decently furnished and appointed ; if not , whose default the same is ? 21 Item , whether there be in your Parish any that ( in contempt of their owne Parish Church ) doe resort to any other Church or Chappell ? 22 Item , whether any Inne-holders or Alehouse-keepers within your Parish doe commonly vse to sell meate and drinke within the time of Common prayer , Preaching or reading of the Homilies aforesaid ? 23 Item , whether any in your Parish vnder governement of their Parents or others , haue made priuie contracts of Matrimonie , not calling thereunto two or moe witnesses , nor hauing the consent of their Parents , or such others vnder whose gouernement they are ? 24 Item , whether such Persons , or other in your Parish , haue married the Banes not first solemnely asked , or at vnseasonable houres ? 25 Item , whether you know in your Parish any Executors of Dead mens goods , which doe not bestow or haue not bestowed the same , especially such of the said goods as were bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poore , repayring of High-wayes , finding of poore Schollers , or marrying of poore Maydens , or such other charitable deedes accordingly ? 26 Item , whether any in your Parish doe vse to keepe any other holy-dayes then by order of the Churches of England and Ireland are appointed for holy-dayes by the Booke of Common prayer ? CHANCELLORS . 27 Item , whether is your Chancellor , Commissarie or Officiall learned in the Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill Lawes , and such an one as is twentie sixe yeares olde at the least , and is reasonably well practised in the course of these Lawes , and touching whose life and conuersation , no euill report hath gone ? 28 Item , whether your Chancellor , Commissarie , or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction in this Diocesse , their Registers , Actuaries , Apparitors , or Sumners haue at any time wincked at , and suffered Adulteries , Fornications Incests , or other like offences to passe and remaine vnpunished : or haue commuted any penance without speciall licence of the Lord Bishop of the Diocesle ? 29 Item , what persons are there in your Parish that haue beene married , that haue beene divorced , and haue married with others , for these three yeares last past ? By whose sentence were they diuorced , and by whose licence , and by whome were they so married ? Declare your knowledge in the premisses , and what you haue credibly heard ? 30 Item , whether doth your Chancellor , Commissarie or Officiall for his exercising the Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction of the Diocesse , giue any yearely Rent , summe or summes of Money , or other consideration for the same , to any person or persons whatsoeuer ? 31 Item , Is there in your Parish any other matter or cause of the Cognizance of the Church aboue not expressed , worthy presentment in your iudgement ? If any such matter or cause there be , you are charged likewise to present the same , as you are the rest by vertue of the same Oath . FINIS . Imprinted at DVBLIN by the Company of Stationers , Anno 1629. 
A00211	----	Articles to be inquired of in the metropoliticall visitation of the most reverend father, VVilliam, by Gods providence, Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury, primate of all England, and metropolitan in and for the dioces of London, in the yeere of our Lord God 163[blank], and in the [blank] yeere of His Graces translation. Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Archbishop (1633-1645 : Laud) 1635 Approx. 41 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A00211 STC 10265.5 ESTC S2639 24438958 ocm 24438958 27666 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A00211) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 27666) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1850:80) Articles to be inquired of in the metropoliticall visitation of the most reverend father, VVilliam, by Gods providence, Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury, primate of all England, and metropolitan in and for the dioces of London, in the yeere of our Lord God 163[blank], and in the [blank] yeere of His Graces translation. Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Archbishop (1633-1645 : Laud) Laud, William, 1573-1645. [12] p. By Richard Badger, Printed at London : 163[5?] Imprint date suggested by STC (2nd ed.); completed in manuscript as 1636. Signatures: A⁴(-A1) B⁴ (last leaf blank). Reproduction of original in the Christ Church (University of Oxford). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Pastoral letters and charges. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2000-00 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2001-11 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-03 TCP Staff (Oxford) Sampled and proofread 2002-03 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES TO BE INQVIRED OF IN THE METROPOLITICALL VISITATION OF THE MOST REVEREND FATHER , VVILLIAM , By GODS Providence , Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , Primate of all England ; and METROPOLITAN : In and for the Dioces of LONDON , In the yeere of our LORD GOD 163● , And in the 〈◊〉 yeere of his Graces Translation . EX IGNE RESVRGIT VIRTVS Printed at London , by Richard Badger . 163● . The Tenour of the Oath , to be Ministred to the Church-wardens and Side-men . YOu shall sweare , that you , and every of you , shall duly consider and diligently enquire , of all and every of these Articles given you in charge ; and that all affection , favour , hatred , hope of reward and gaine , or feare of displeasure , or malice set aside ; you shall present all and every such person , that now is , or of late was within your parish , as hath committed any offence , or made any default mentioned in these , or any of these Articles ; or which are vehemently suspected or defamed of any such offence or default : Wherein you shall deale uprightly and fully ; neither presenting , nor sparing to present any , contrary to truth : having in this action GOD before your eyes , with an earnest zeale to maintaine truth , and to suppresse vice . So helpe you GOD , and the holy Contents of this Booke . Concerning the Church , the Ornaments thereof and the Churches possessions . IMprimis , Whether haue you in your seuerall Churches , and Chappels , the whole Bible of the largest volume , and the Booke of Common Prayer , both fairely and substantially bound . A Font of stone , set vp in the ancient vsuall place : A conuenient and decent Communion Table , with a Carpet of silke , or some other decent stuffe , continually laid vpon the same at time of diuine seruice , and a faire linnen cloth thereon , at the time of the receiuing of the holy Communion . And whether is the same Table placed in such conuenient sort within the Chancell or Church , as that the Minister may bee best heard in his Prayer and Administration : and that the greatest number may communicate . And whether is it so used out of time of diuine seruice , as is not agréeable to the holy use of it ; as by sitting on it , throwing hats on it , writing on it , or is it abused to other prophaner vses : and are the ten Commandements set vpon the East end of your Church or Chappell where the people may best sée and reade them , and other sentences of holy Scripture , written on the walles likewise for that purpose ? 2 Whether are the afternoones Sermons , in your seuerall Parishes , turned into Catechizing by question and answer ; according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common Praier ? and whether doth euery Lecturer reade diuine Seruice , according to the Liturgy printed by authority , in his Surplice and Hood before the Lecture ? And whether are his Maiesties Instructions in all things duly obserued ? 3 Whether haue you in your said Church or Chappel , a conuenient seat for your Minister to read Seruice in , together with a comly pulpet set vp in a conuenient place , with a decent cloath or cufhion for the same , a comely large Surplice , a faire Communion Cup , with a couer of siluer , a Flagon of siluer , tinne , or pewter , to put the Wine in , whereby it may be set vpon the Communion Table , at the time of the blessing thereof , with all other things and ornaments necessary for the celebration of Diuine Seruice , and administration of the Sacraments ? And whether haue you a strong Chest for Almes for the poore , with thrée Lockes and Keies , and another Chest for kéeping the Bookes , and Ornaments of the Church , and the Register Book ? And whether haue you a Register Booke in Parchment , for Christnings , Weddings , and Burials , and wether the same be kept in all points , according to the Canons in that behalfe prouided ? And is the Mothers Christian name therein Registred as well as the Fathers , and a transcript thereof brought in yearely within one moneth after the 25 of March into the Lord Archbishop or Bishop of the Diocesse his principall Register ? And whether haue you in your said Church or Chancell , a Table set , of the degrées wherein by Law men are prohibited to marry ? 4 Whether are your Church and Chappels , with the Chancels thereof , and your p●rsonage or vicarage house , your parish Almes-house and Church-house , in good reparations : and are they imployed to godly , and their right holy vses ? Is your Church , Chancell , and Chappell decently and comly kept , as well within as without , and the seats well maintained , according to the 85. Canon , in that behalfe provided ? Or haue any Patrons or others decayed the Parsonage , houses , and keepe a stipendary Priest or Curate , in place where an incumbent should be possessed ? Whether is your Church-yard well fenced with walles , railes , or pales , and by whom : and if not , in whose default the same is , and what the defect or fault is ? And whether any person haue incroached vpon the ground of the Church-yard , or whether any person or persons , haue vsed any thing or place consecrated to holy vse , prophanely or wickedly ? 5 Is your Church or Chappell decently paued , and is your Church-yard well and orderly kept without abuse ? Are the bones of the dead decently interred , or laid vp in ●ome fit place as beseemeth Christians ? And is the whole consecrated ground kept free from Swine and all other nastinesse , as becommeth the place so dedicated ? 6 Whether haue any ancient Monuments or Glasse-windowes béen defaced , or any ●rasse Inscriptions , Lead , Stones , or any thing else belonging to your Church or Chap●ell , beène at any time purloyned , and by whom ? 7 Whether haue you the Terrier of all the Gleabe Lands , Medowes , Gardens , Orchards , Houses , Stockes , Implements , Tenements , and portions of Tithes ( whether wi●hin your Parish or without ) belonging vnto your parsonage or vicarage , taken by the vsew of honest men in your said Parish ? And whether the same Terrier be laid vp in the Bishops Registery , and in whose hands any of them are now ? And if you haue no Terrier already made in Parchment , you the Church-wardens and Sidemen , together wi●h your Parson or Uicar , or in his absence with your Minister , are to make diligent in●uiry and presentment of the seuerall particulars following , and make , subscribe , and signe the said Terrier , as aforesaid . 1 How many seuerall parcelis of Glebe-land , doe you know , or haue you credibly heard to belong vnto your Rectory , Church , Parsonadge , Uicaridge &c. and by what Names are they ( or any of them ) commonly called and knowne ; And what yearly Rent haue you knowne or heard to haue beene paid , vnto the Parson , Uicar , or to his or their Asignes , for euery , or any of the said parcels ? ● In Whose occupation , are the said parcells at this present ? How much doth each pa●cell conteyne by measure of the 16. foote Poale ? How is each parcell Butted , on eu●ry parte ? And who is to repaire the Fences on each side thereof ? 3 What hedge , ditch méere , trée , thorne , doole or distination , is there now , at this pr●sent , whereby the said parcells of Church-lands may bee apparentlie knowne and di●●inguished , from the lands of other men , vpon whom they doe abutt ? 4 What Cart-way , Horse way , foote way , Gates or Styles doe leade from your Parsonadge or Uicaridge-House , vnto euerie of the said parcells of Gleab-land ? Decl●re your knowledge therein . 5 Whether doe you know , or haue you crediblie heard , that some Styles , gates , hedges , ditch , méere , Trée , Thorne , or other Doole ( formerlie growing or being , betwéene the said parcells of Gleabe ( or some of them ) and the Landes of other men ) haue bin digg●d vp , felled downe , destroied , put by or defaced ? And who had the said parcell ( so wrong●d ) in occupation , when the said Style , Gate , hedge , ditch , méere , Tree , Thorne , or oher antient Doole , was so digged vp , felled downe , destroyed , put by or defaced ? Concerning the Clergy . 1 VVHether doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate , distinctlie and reuerently say Diuine seruice vpon Sundayes and Holidayes , and other dayes appointed to bee o●serued by the book of Common Prayer ; as Wednesdayes , ●nd Fridayes , and the Eues of euery Sunday and Holiday , at fit and vsuall times ? And doth he dulie obserue the Orders , Kites and Ceremonies , prescribed in the said Booke of Common Prayer , as well in reading publike prayers and the Letanie , as also in administring the Sacraments , solemnization of Matrimony , visiting the sicke , burying the dead , Churching of Women , and all other like Rites and Offices of the Church , in such manner and forme as in the said Booke of Common prayer he is inioyned , without any omission or addition . And doth he reade the Book of the last Canons yearely , and weare a Surplice according to the said Canons ? 2 Whether haue you any Lecturer in your Parish , who hath preached in his Cl●ake and not in his Gowne , and whether haue you any Lecturer who will not professe his willingnesse and readinesse to take vpon him a Liuing or Benefice , with cure of sotles , or who hath refused a Benefice when it hath béene offered vnto him ? 3 Doth your Minister bid Holidayes and Fasting-dayes , as by the Booke of Common prayer is appointed ? And doth he giue warning beforehand to the Parishioners , for the receiuing of the holy Communion , as the two and twentieth Canon requi●th : and whether hée 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 yéere : whe●eof 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 words of institution according to the Booke , at euery time that the Bread and Wine is renewed , accordingly as by the prouiso of the 21. Canon , is directed : And doth he deliuer the Bread and Wine to euery Communicant seuerally , and knéeli●g ? Whether he hath admitted to the holy Communion , any notorious Offender or Shismaticke , contrary to the 26. and 27. constitutions , or receiued any to the Communon , being not of his owne Cure , or put any from the Communion , who are not publckly infamous for any notorious crime ? Doth he use the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme , or baptise in any bason , or other vessell , and not in the vsuall Font , Or admit any Father to be God-father to his owne Child , or such who haue not receiued the holy Communion , or baptize any Children that were not borne in the parish , or wilf●lly refuse to Baptise any infant in his Parish , being in danger , hauing béene enformed of the weaknesse of the said child : and whether the child dieth through his default without Baptisme ? 4 Whether hath your Minister married any without a Ring , or without Banes p●blithed thrée seuerall Sundayes or Holidayes in time of Diuine seruice , in the seuerall Churches or Chappels of their seuerall abode , according to the book of Common p●ayer , or in times prohibited , albeit the Banes were thrice published , without a Licens● or dispensation from the Archbishop , the Byshop of the Diocesse , or his Chancellor , ●rst obtained in that behalfe ? Or not betwixt the houres of eight and twelue in the f●renoone , or haue maried any in any priuate house , or if the parties be under the age of 21. yéeres , before their Parents or gouernours haue signified their consent vnto him ? 5 Doth he refuse to bury any , which ought to be interred in Christian buriall , or defer the same longer than he should , or bury any in Christian buriall , which by the consttutions of the Church of England , or lawes of the Land , ought not to be so interred ? 6 Is your Minister a Preacher allowed ? If yea , then by whom ? If not , whether d●th he procure some who are lawfully licensed , to preach monethly amongst you at the least ? 7 Doth your Minister ( being licensed , ) preach vsually according to the Canois , either in his owne Cure , or in some other Church or Chappell neare adioyning , whre no other Preacher is , and how often he hath beèn negligent in that behalfe , and dot● he preach standing , and with his Hat off ? Or whether doth he or his Curate vpon eury Sunday , when there is no Sermon , reade an homilie , or some part thereof , accordng as hée ought to doe : or in case he bee not licensed to preach , doth he take vpon him to Preach or expound the Scriptures in his owne Cure , or elsewhere ? If so , then you ●e to present the same , the time and place , when , and where he did it ? 8 Doth your Minister use to pray for the Kings Majesty , King Charles , and for the Queenes Majesty , Prince Charles , and all the royall Progeny , with addition of such Stile and Titles as are due to his Highnesse , and exhort the people to obedience to his Majesty , and all Magistrates in authoritie vnder him : And doth he also pray for all Archbishops , Bishops , and other Ecclesiasticall persons ? 9 Is your Minister continually resident vpon his benefice , and how long time hath he ●in absent , and in case he be licensed to be absent , whe●her doth he cause his Cure to be s●fficiently supplied , according to the Canons ? Or in case he hath another Benefice , whe●her doth he supply his absence by a Curate sufficiently licensed to preach in that Cu●e where he himselfe is not resident ? Or otherwise , in case the smalnesse of the liuing can●ot find a preaching Minister , doth he preach at both his benefices vsually ? 10 Doth your Minister or Curate , serue any more cures than one : If yea , then what oth●r Cure doth he serue , and how farre are they distant ? 11 Doth your Minister or Curate euery Sunday and Holiday , before Euening pra●er , for halfe an houre or more , examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of ●is Parish in the Tenne Commandements , Articles of the Beliefe , and in the Lods Prayer , and the Sacraments , according as it is prescribed in the Catechisme , set forh in the booke of Common prayer only ? And if he doe not , where is the fault , either in he Parents and Masters of the children , or in the Curate neglecting his duty ? And in ●e carefull to tender all such youth of his Parish as haue béene well instructed in ther Catechisme to be confirmed by the Bishop in his Uisitation , or any other conuenie●t time , as is appointed by the booke aforesaid ? 12 Doth your Minister in the Rogation dayes , goe in perambulation of the circuit of the Parish , saying and vsing the prayers , Suffrages , and Thankesgiuing to God , appo●nted by Law , according to his duty , thanking GOD for his blessings , if there be plenty on the earth : Or otherwise , to pray for his grace and fauour , if there be a feare of ●carcity ? 13 Hath your Minister admitted any Woman , begotten with childe in adultery or for●ication , to be Churched without licence of the Ordinary ? 14 Hath your Minister , or any other Preacher , baptized children , churched any woman , or ministred the holy Communion in any priuate house , otherwise than by Law is allowed ? 15 Doth your Minister endeuour and labour diligently to reclaime the popish Recusa●ts in his parish from their errors ( if there be any such abiding in your parish . ) Or whether is your Parson , Uicar , or curate , ouer conuersant wish , or a fauourer of Recusa●ts , whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Religion ? 16 Hath your Minister taken vpon him , to appoint any publike or priuate Fasts , Pophestes , or exercises , not approued by Law , or publike authority , or hath vsed to met in any priuate house or place , with any person or persons , there to consult how to impeach or depraue the Booke of Common Prayer , or the doctrine or discipline of the Curch of England : If yea , then you shall present them all ? 17 Hath your Minister staied the publication of any excommunications or suspentio●s , or doth he euery halfe yéere denounce in his Parish Church , all such of his parish a● are excommunicated , and perseuere therein without seeking to be absolued , or doth he vittingly and willingly kéep company with such as are excommunicate : And hath hee a●mitted into your Church any person excommunicate , without a certificate of his abs●ution from the Ordinary , or other competent Iudge ? 18 Doth your Minister carefully looke to the reléefe of the poore , and from time to time call vpon his Parishioners to giue some what , as they can spare to godly and ch●ritable vses , especially when they make their Testaments . 19 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 co●uenticles , or doth preach in any place , or vse any other forme of Diuine Seruice ●ha●●s appointed in the Book of Common prayer : If yea , then you are to present their name , and with whom ? 20 Whether is your Curate licensed to serue , by the Bishop of this Diocesse , or b● any other , and by whom ? 21 Doth your Minister vse such decencie and comelinesse in his apparell , as by ●e 47. Cannon is enjoyned : is he of sober behauiour , and one that doth not vse such bodlie labour , as is not seemelie for his function and calling ? 22 Is your Minister noted or defamed , to haue obtained his Benefice or his orde● , by Symonie , or any other way defamed , to be a Symoniacall person , or any way no●d to be a Schismaticke , or schismatically affected , or reputed to be an incontinent perso● , or doth table or lodge any such in his house : or is he a frequenter of Tauernes , Inns , or Ale-houses , or any place suspected for ill rule : Or is he a common Drunkard , a co●mon Gamester , or player at Dice , a Swearer , or one that applieth himselfe not at hs studie , or is otherwise offensiue and scandalous to his function or Ministerie ? 23 Doth your Preacher or Lecturer reade Diuine seruice , before his Sermon , ●r Lecture , and Minister the Sacraments twice a yeere at least in his owne person , acc●ding to the Canons ? 24 When any person hath béene dangerously sicke in your Parish , hath he neglectd ●o visit him , and when any haue béene parting out of this life , hath he omitted to doe ●s last dutie in that behalfe ? 25 Doth your Minister , Curate , or Lecturer , in his or their Sermons deliuer suh doctrine as tends to obedience and the edifying of their Auditorie in faith and Religio● , without intermedling with matters of State , not fit to be handled in the pulpit , but ●o be discussed by the wisdome of his Maiesty and his Councell . And if you find any faulte herein , you shall present them ? Schoole-Masters . DOth any in your Parish openlie or priuatelie take vpon him to teach Schoole , wi●out license of the Ordinarie , and is he conformable to the Religion now establishe ? And doth he bring his Schollers to the Church , to heare diuine Seruice and Sermons ? And doth he instruct his Schollers in the grounds of the Religion now established ●n this Church of England , and is he carefull and diligent to benefit his Schollers in learning ? 2 Doth your Schoole master teach and instruct his youth in any other Catechisme than is allowed by publike authoritie ? And what Catechisme it is that he so teacheth ? 3 Is any Living or meanes giuen towards the erection or maintenance of any Schoole withholden backe or otherwise imployed , and by whom ? 4 Doth any kéepe Schoole in the Chancell or Church , by which meanes , that hoy place , and the Communion Table are many waies profaned , and the windowes brok●● ? Parish Clarke and Sextons . 1 HAue you a fit Parish Clarke , aged twentie yeeres at least , of honest conuersati●● , able to reade and write ? Whether are his and the S●xtons wages paid w●●out fraud , according to the ancient custome of your Parish : if not , then by whom are they so defrauded or denied ? by whom are they chosen ? and whether the said Clarke bee approued by the Ordinarie ? And hath hee taken an Oath , as in such cases is fit and ●●quired● and is he diligent in his Office , and seruiceable to the Minister , and doth he tale vpon him to meddle with any thing aboue his Office : as Churching of Women , burying the dead , or such like ? ● Doth your Clark or Sexton kéep the Church cleane , the doores locked at fit times ? Is any thing lost or spoiled in the Church , through his default ? are the Communion Tble , Font , Books , and other Ornaments of the Church kept faire and cleane ? doth he suffer any unseasonable ringing , or any prophane exercise in your Church ? Or doth he ( wen any is passing out of this life ) neglect to toll a bell , hauing notice thereof ? Concerning the Parishioners . 1 VVHether any of your Parishioners , being sixtéene yéeres of age or upwards , or others lodging or commonly resorting to any House within your Parish . d●e wilfully absent themselues from your parish Church , vpon Sundayes or Holidayes a● Morning and Euening prayers ? Or who come late to Church , and depart from Church before seruice be done vpon the said dayes ? Or who doe not reuerently behaue thmselues during the time of Diuine seruice , deuoutly knéeling , when the generall confession of sins , the Letany , the tenne Commandements , and all Prayers and Collets are read , and using all due and lowly reuerence , when the blessed name of the Lord ●esus Christ is mentioned , and standing vp when the Articles of the Beliefe are read ; 〈◊〉 who doe couer their heads in the Church during the time of Diuine Seruice , vnlesse 〈◊〉 be in case of necessity , in which case they may weare a Night cap or Coyfe ? Or who ●●e giue themselues to babbling , talking , or walking , and are not attentiue to heare the word preached , or read ? Whether any of your Parish , being of sixtéene yéeres of age o vpwards , doe not receiue the holy Communion in your Church thrice euery yéere : ●●ereof once at Easter , and whether they doe not deuoutly knéele at the receiuing thereo ? And whether any hauing diuerse houses of remoue , doe shift from place to place of p●rpose to defeat the performance of their Christian duties in that behalfe ? 2 Whether any of your parishioners , being admonished therof , do not send their Childen , Seruants , and Apprentices , to the Minister , to be catechized vpon such Sundayes ●●d Holydayes as are appointed ? Or whether any of them do refuse to come ; or if they cme , refuse to learne those instructions set forth in the Book of Common prayer ? 3 Whether any of your Parish doe entertaine within their house , any soiourner , cmmon guests , or other persons , who refuse to frequent Diuine Seruice , or receiue 〈◊〉 holy Communion , as aforesaid , present their names , their qualities , or conditions ? 4 What Recusant Papists are there in your Parish , or other Sectaries ? present t●eir names , qualities , or conditions ? whether they keep any Schoole master in their h●use , which commeth not to Church to heare Diuine Seruice and receiue the Com●uni●n ? What is his Name , and how long hath he taught there , or elsewhere ? 5 Whether any of the said Popish Recusants , or other Schismaticks , doe labour to ●ouce and with-draw others from the Religion now established ? Or instruct their familes or children in Popish religion : or refuse to entertaine any , especially in place of g●eatest seruice , or trust , but such as t●ntur●e with them in their opinions ? 6 How long haue the said popish Recusants abstained from Diuine Seruice ; or from the Communion , as aforesaid ? 7 Is there any in your Parish that retaine , sell , vtter , or disperse , any Popish bookes . o● Writings , or other Bookes , Libraries , or w●itings of any Sectaries , touching the Religion , State , or Gouernement Ecclesiastical of this Kingdom of England , or kéep any Monuments of Superstition vncancelled or vndefaced ? 8 Whether haue you any in your Parish , which heretofore being popish Recusants or Sectaries , haue since reformed themselues , and come to Church to heare Diuine Seruice , and receiue the Sacraments : If yea , then who are they ? 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 ●heir Children Baptised , or the●selues to receiue the Communion at the hands of your Minister , taking excep●ion against him , and what causes or exceptions doe they alleage ; or haue any maried Wiues refused to come to Church , according to the Booke of Common Prayer , to giue G●d thankes after their child-birth , for their safe deliuerance ? And whether doe any of , or ●n your Parish , refuse to haue their children Bap●ized in your Parish Church , according ●o the forme prescribed in the booke of common Prayer ? 10 Doe any of your Parish usually goe to other Parish Churches to heare Diuine Seruice or Sermons ? Or doe they communicate , or Baptize their Children in any ●ther Parish ? 11 Whether there be any in your Parish who will come to heare the Sermon , b●t will not come to publike prayers ap●ointed by the Book of Common Prayer , making● Schisme or diuision ( as it were ) betwéene the use of publike prayer and preaching ? 12 What persons within your Parish , for any offence , contumacy , or crime , 〈◊〉 Ecclesiasticall Conusance doe stand excommunicate ? present their names , and for wh● cause they are excommunicated , and how long they haue so stood , and what person 〈◊〉 persons doe wittingly and usually kéepe them company ? 13 Whether any , not being in Orders , doe execute any Priestly or Ministeriall o●fice , in your Church , Chappell , or Church-yard , and what be their names ? 14 Whether any in your Parish , that hauing heretofore taken vpon him the orde● of Priest-hood or Deacon , hath since relinquished the same , and liues as a Lay-ma● neglecting his vocation ? 15 Hath any person in your Parish quarrelled , or stricken , or vsed any violence 〈◊〉 your Minister , or haue stricken or quarrelled with any other person within your Chur● or Church yard , or demeaned himselfe disorderly in the Church , by filthie or prophan talke , or any other base or immodest behauiour ? Or hath disturbed the Minister in tim of Diuine Seruice or Sermon , or hath libelled or spoken slanderous words again● your Minister , to the scandall of his vocation , or defa●ed any of his Neighbours , to●●ching any crime of Ecclesiasticall Conusance ? 16 Whether any of , or in your Parish , without consent of the Ordinarie , or othe● lawfull authoritie , haue caused any to do pennance , or to be censured or punished for an● matter of Ecclesiasticall Conusance , by any Uestrie méetings , or otherwise by thei● own authoritie ? Or haue taken any mony or commutation for the same ? Present thei● names that haue done it ? And who haue beene so punished ? In what manner , and vpo● what cause ? 17 Whether any person in your Parish , doe exercise any Trade or labour , buy o● sell , or kéepe open Shops or Ware-houses vpon any Sunday or Holiday by themselues their Seruants , or Apprentices , or haue otherwise prophaned the said dayes , contrar● to the orders of the Church of England ? And whether there be any Inne-kéepers , Ale house-kéepers , Uictuallers or other persons , that permit any persons in their houses , t● eate , drink or play , during the time of Diuine Seruice or Sermon , or reading the Ho●milies in the forenoone or afternoone , vpon those dayes ? 18 Whether the fifth day of Nouember , be kept holie , and thankesgiuing made t● God , for his Maiesties and this States happy deliuerance , according to the Ordinanc● in that behalfe ? 19 Whether any of your Parish hold or frequent any conuen●●cles or priuate Con●gregations , or make or maintaine any constitutions , agréed vpon in any such assem●blies ? Or any that doe write , or publikely or priuately speake against the Booke o● Common prayer , or any thing therein contained , or against any of the Articles of Re●ligion agréed vpon , in Anno 1562 or against the Kings Supremacie , in causes Eccless●●sticall , or against the Oath of Supremacie , or of Allegiance , as pretending the same t● be vnlawfull and not warrantable by the Word of GOD ? Or against any of the ●ites or Ceremonies of the Church of England , now established ? Or against the Gouernment of the Church of England vnder the Kings most excellent Majesty , by Arch-Bishops , Deanes , Arch-Deacons , and other Officers of the same : affirming ; ●hat the same is repugnant to the Word of God , and that the said Ecclesiasticall Offi●rs , are not lawfully ordained ? Or whether there be any Authors , Maintainers or Fa●urers of Heresie or Schisme , or that be suspected to be Anabaptists , Libertines , ●rownists , of the Familie of Loue , or of any other Heresie or Schisme ? present their ●m●s ? 20 Whether any in your Parish haue maried within the degrées by Law prohibited , ●●d where , and by whom ? And whether any couple in your Parish being lawfullie ma●ed , liue apart one from the other , without due separation by the Law , or any that haue bene diuorced , which kéepe company with any other at Bedde or at Boord ? 21 Whether doe any persons administer the goods of the dead without lawfull autho●ty , or suppresse the last will of the dead ? Or are there in your Parish any wils not yet ●oued , or goods of the dead ( dying intestate ) left vnadministred ? By authority in that ●halfe , you shall not faile to present the Executors and all others faultie therein : and ●●o how many persons being possessed of any goods and chattels , haue died within your ●arish , since the x. day of Februarie ? 1635. 22 Whether any with-hold the Stocke of the Church , or any goods or other things , euen to good and charitable vses ? 23 Whether your Hospitals and Almes-houses , and other such houses and corporati●s , founded to good and charitable vses , and the lands , possessions and goods of the same , ● ordered and disposed of as they should be ? And doe the Masters , Gouernours , Fellwes , and others of the said Houses and Corporations , behaue and demeane themselues acording to the godly Ordinances and statutes of their seuerall Foundations ? 24 Whether haue you any in your Parish to your knowledge or by common fame or ●port , which haue committed Adultery , Fornication , or Incest : or any which haue im●dently bragged or boasted , that he or they haue liued incontinently with any person or ●rsons whatsoeuer : or any that haue attempted the chastity of any Woman , or solici●● any Woman to haue the carnall knowledge of her bodie , or which are commonly ●puted to bee common Drunkards , Blasphemers of Gods holy Name ; common ●wearers , common Slanderers of their Neighbours , and sowers of discord , filthy and ●sciuious Talkers , Usurers , Symoniac all Persons , Bawdes , or Harborers of Wo●en with childe , which be vnmaried , or Conueying or suffering them to goe away be●e they haue made satisfaction to the Church , or any that hauing heretofore béene pre●nted , or suspected of any the aforesaid crimes , haue for that cause departed your Pa●h , and are now returned againe ? Or any which haue vsed any inchantments , sorce●es , incantations , or witchcrafts , which are not made felony by the Statutes of this ●ealme , or any which haue committed any perjurie in any Ecclesiasticall Court , in an ●cclesiasticall cause , or which haue committed any forgerie , punishable by the Ecclesi●●icall Lawes , and the procurors and abettors of the said offences : you shall truly pres●t the names of all , and singular the said offendors , and with whom they haue committd the said offences , in case they haue not béene publikely punished to your knowledge 〈◊〉 the same crimes ? Physitions , Chir●rgions , and Mid-wives . 2 HOw many Physitions , Chirurgions or Mid-Wiues , haue you in your Parish ? How long haue they vsed their seuerall Sciences or Offices , and by what authorite ? And how haue they demeaned themselues therein , and of what skil are they accountd to be in their profession ? Touching the Church-wardens and Side-men . 1 VVHether you and the Church-wardens , Quest-men , or Side-men from tine to time , doe , and haue done their diligence , in not suffering any idle persor to abide either in the Church-yard , or Church-porch , in Seruice or Sermon time , bu causing them either to come into the Church to heare Diuine Seruice , or to depart , an● not disturbe such as be hearers there ? And whether they haue , and you doe diligently se the parishioners duely resort to the Church euery Sunday and Holiday and there to renaine during diuine Seruice and Sermon ? And whether you or your predecessors , Ch●rch-Wardens there , suffer any playes , Feasts , drinkings , or any other prophane vsag●s , to be kept in your Church , Chappell , or Church-yards , or haue suffered to your and heir vttermost power and endeauour , any person or persons to be tipling or drinking in any Inne or Uictualling house in your Parish , during the time of Diuine Seruice or ●ermon , on Sundayes and Holidayes ? 1 Whether , and how often haue you admitted any to preach within your Churh or Chappell , which was not sufficientlie licensed ? And whether you together with your Minister , haue not taken diligent héed and care , that euerie parishioner being of sixtene yéeres of age or vpwards , haue receiued thrice euerie yéere , as aforesaid : and also hat no stranger haue vsuallie come to your Church , from their owne Parish-Church ? 3 Whether haue there béene prouided against euerie Communion , a sufficient q●antitie of fine white bread , and good and wholesome wine for the communicants that ●all receiue ? And whether that wine be brought in a cleane and swéet standing pot of pewter , or of other purer mettall ? 4 Whether were you chosen by the consent of the Minister and the Parishiones And haue the late Church-wardens giuen vp a just account for their time , and deliu●red to their successors by Bill indented the money , ●nd other things belonging to the Church which was in their hands ? And are the Almes of the Church faithfullie distributed to the vse of the poore ? 5 Whether doe you sée the names of all Preachers which are strangers and pre●ch in your Parish Churches , to be noted in a Booke for that purpose , and whether eu●ie Preacher doe subscribe his name , and of whom he had his License ? 6 Whether any man doe trouble or molest you for doing your duties ? 7 Whether there be any Legacies witholden giuen to the Church or poore people o● to the mending of Highwayes , or otherwise by the Testators ? In whose hands it is , by whom it was giuen , and by whom it is with-holden ? 8 Do you know of any thing that hath béene complained of , that is not yet redresse ? Concerning Ecclesiasticall Magistrates and Officers . 1 VVHether doe you know or haue heard of any payment , composition or agrement , to , or with any Ecclesiasticall Magistrate , Iudge , or Officer , for wil●ing at or sparing to punish any person for any offence of Ecclesiasticall Conusance , ●r for suppressing or concealing of any excommunication , or any other Ecclesiasticall C●sure , of or against any Recusant , or any other offendor in the cases aforesaid ? Wh●t summe of money , or other consideration hath béene receiued or promised , by , or to any ●f them , in that respect , by whom , and with whom ? 2 Hath any person within your Parish , paid or promised any summe of money or ●ther reward , for commutation of pennance , for any crime of Ecclesiasticall Conusance ? If so , then with whom ? When , and for what , and how hath the same beéne impl●yed ? 3 Are your Ecclesiasticall Iudges and their substitutes Masters of Arts , or Batcellors of the Lawes at the least , Learned and practised in the Ciuill and Ecclesiastic●l Lawes : Men of good life and fame , zealously affected in Religion , and iust and v●right in executing their Offices ? Haue they heard any matter of Office priuatel●e in th●●● Chambers , without their sworne Registers , or their Deputies presence● 4 Doe you know , or haue you heard , that any Ecclesiasticall Iudge , Officer or Mi●nister hath receiued or taken any extraordinarie fées , or other rewards or promises , b● any vayes or meanes , directly or indirectlie , of any person or persons whatsoeuer , eithe● for th● granting of the administration of the Goods and Chattels of those that haue die● inte●●te , to one before another , or for allotting of larger portions of the G●ods and Chatels of those that haue died i●testate , to one more than to another : or for allowing large and vnreasonable accounts , made by Ex●cutors or administrators : or for giuing them Quietus est , or discharges , without Inuentory or account , to defraude Creditors , Leg●aries , or those who are to haue portions . And what summ●s of money doe you knov , or haue you heard , that any Ecclesiasticall Iudge or Officer hath taken out of the s●te of any dying intestat● , vpon pretence to bestow the same , in Pios vsus : and how ●aue the same béene bestowed ? 5 Hath any Ecclesiasticall Magistrate , Iudge , Officer , or any o●her exercising Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction within this your Diocesse : Or any Aduocate , Register , Procter , Cla●kes , Apparators , or other Minister belonging to the same Ecclesiasticall Courts exaced or taken by any wayes or meanes , directly or indirectly , extraordinarie or greater Fées than are due & accustomed ? And whether is there a Table for the rates of all Fée● , set vp in their seuerall Courts and Offices ? And whether they haue sent or suffered my Processe to goe out of the Ecclesiasticall Courts otherwise than by Law they oug●t ? Or haue they taken vpon them the Offices of Informers or Promoters to the said Courts , or any other way abused themselues in their Offices , contrarie to the Law and Canons in that behalfe prouided ? 6 What number of Apparators haue euery seuerall Iudge Ecclesiasticall ? And whe●ein , and in what manner is the Countrey ouerburthened by them ? And wherein hau● they caused or summoned any to appeare in the said Courts , without a presentme●t 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 behal● haue they taken ? 7 What reward or fees hath any of the Apparators taken , to saue the iournies to the Ec●esiasticall Court of any persons , & what ( after composition so made ) haue they or any of hem taken and receiued , and what acquittance or discharge haue they giuen or promised them , and whether haue they not cited some to appeare before the Arch-Deacon , or his Officiall , after they haue béene ordered by the Commissary , and done their pennance acc●rdingly , and whom haue they so cited and troubled , and what hath it cost them , as you 〈◊〉 or haue heard , or by inquiry can finde ? I● you know of any other default or crime of Ecclesiasticall Conusance , you are to ●●●ent the same by vertue of your Oathes ? ●he Minister of euerie Parish , may and ought to ioyne in presentment with the Ch●rch-wardens , and Side men , and if they will not present , the Minister may and ou●ht himselfe to present the defaults and crimes aforesaid : and there must be seuerall pr●entments made to euery seuerall article : and the Minister , Church-wardens , and Sw●rne-men , are to méete and conferre about the said presentments , and answering of eu●ry of the aforesaid Articles ? FINIS . 
A32937	----	Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiastical, exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens & side-men of every parish within the diocess of Canterbury, in the ordinary visitation of the Most Reverend Father in God, William, by divine providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury His Grace, Primate of all England, and Metropolitan Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Archbishop (1678-1690 : Sancroft) 1682 Approx. 29 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32937 Wing C4021 ESTC R40818 19328995 ocm 19328995 108636 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A32937) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 108636) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1683:40) Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiastical, exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens & side-men of every parish within the diocess of Canterbury, in the ordinary visitation of the Most Reverend Father in God, William, by divine providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury His Grace, Primate of all England, and Metropolitan Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Archbishop (1678-1690 : Sancroft) Sancroft, William, 1617-1693. 19 [i.e. 18] p. Printed by Tho. Newcomb, In the Savoy [London] : 1682. Imperfect: print show-through. Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library. 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Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2003-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-05 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-03 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2005-03 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The Form of the Oath of Church-wardens and Side-men . YOV shall swear , Truly and faithfully to Execute the Office of Church-warden , ( or Side-man ) within your Parish ; and according to the best of your skill and knowledge , present such Things and Persons , as to your knowledge are presentable by the Laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm . So help you GOD , and the Contents of this BOOK . ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry Concerning Matters ECCLESIASTICAL ; Exhibited to the Ministers , Church-wardens & Side-men Of every Parish within the Diocess of Canterbury . In the Ordinary Visitation OF THE Most Reverend Father in GOD , WILLIAM , By Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace , Primate of all England , and Metropolitan . In the Savoy , Printed by Tho. Newcomb , 1682. ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry Within the Diocess of Canterbury . TIT. I. Concerning Churches , and Chappels ; the Fabrick , Furniture , and Ornaments thereof . I. IS your Parish-Church ( or Chappel ) kept in good , and sufficient repair ? Are the Roofs thereof well covered with Lead , Tile , or Slate ? the Windows well glazed ? the Floors well paved ? the Seats well fastned , and conveniently placed ? the Utensils , and Ornaments fairly kept , and preserved from spoil , abuse , and profanation ? And all things so decently ordered , as becometh the House of God ? II. HATH the Steeple , or Tower , or any other part of your Church , or Chappel , been pulled , or fallen down ? Or have any of the Bells , Lead , or other Materials , or Utensils , formerly belonging thereunto , been imbezelled , sold , or made away ? and by whom ? III. IS there a Decent Font of Stone , fixed in the Ancient , and usual place in the lower part of the Church , for the Administration of Holy Baptism ? and a decent Table for the Holy Communion , placed in the Chancel where it ought to be , with a Carpet of Silk , or other decent Stuff , to be used upon it in the time of Divine Service ; and a fair Linen Cloth at the time of the Administration of the Holy Eucharist ? And have you a fair Chalice , or Communion-Cup of Silver , with a Cover of the same ; and a Plate , or Patin of Silver for the Bread ; and a clean , and sweet standing Pot , or Flagon of Pewter , or purer Metal , in which only the Wine for the Holy Communion is set upon the Holy Table ? IV. HAVE you in your said Church , or Chappel , a convenient Seat or Pew for your Minister to read Divine Service in ? A Pulpit with a comely Cloth , and Cushion ; A Bible of the last Translation , in a large Uolume ; and the Book of Common-Prayer , ( established by the late Act of Uniformity ; ) both well , and substantially bound ? Have you likewise the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority ? A Book of Canons , and Constitutions Ecclesiastical , set forth in the year of our Lord 1603 , by the King's Authority ? And a printed Table of the Degrees , wherein Mariage is prohibited ? V. Have you a comely large Surplice , for the Minister to wear at all times of his publick Ministration in the Church , provided , and washed at the charge of your Parish ? And also a Hood , agreeable to his Degree , or a Tippet , to be used or worn over the Surplice ? VI. HAVE you a Register-Book of Parchment , wherein the Names and Sirnames of all persons , Married , Christned , or Buried within your Parish , are duly Registred from time to time , together with the Names and Sirnames of both the Parents of the Children so Christned , and the Day , Month , and Year of all such Christnings , Marriages , and Burials ? And have your Minister , and Church-wardens subscrib'd their Names unto every Page of that Book ? And is the Transcript thereof yearly within one Month next after the 25th of March , brought into the Archbishop's Registry ▪ VII . HAVE you likewise another Book of Paper , wherein are duly Recorded the Names , and Licenses of all such Strangers , as are admitted at any time to preach in your Church , or Chappel ? As also a third Book , wherein are Entred the Church-wardens Accompts for every year ? And have you a strong Chest , or Coffer , wherein to keep the aforesaid Books , and all the aforementioned Furniture in safe custody ? And another with an Hole in the upper part thereof , placed in the most convenient part of the Church , that the Parishioners may put their Alms into it ? And are both the said Chests secured with three several Locks and Keys ; One Key remaining with the Minister , and the other two with the Church-wardens severally ? And lastly , Have you a Bier , and a Black Hearse-Cloth for the more decent Burial of the Dead ? TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard , the Houses , Glebes , Tithes , and other Dues belonging to the Church . I. IS your Church-yard sufficiently Fenced , and decently kept from all Profanation , and Encroachment ? Hath any person made any Door into it out of his own House , or Ground ? Have any Trees there growing been cut down ? How long since ? By whom ? and to whose Use , and Benefit ? II. IS there a House belonging to your Parson , Uicar , or Curate ? And is the same , with all the Out-houses thereunto belonging , kept in good , and sufficient repair ? Have any of the said Houses , or Out-houses been pull'd down , or defaced ? and by whom ? Hath any encroached upon any Garden , Yard , or Close belonging to your Parsonage , or Uicarage-House ? Or cut up any Trees growing thereon ? or changed , or removed the antient Marks , and Bounds of the same ? III. HAVE you a true , and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe-Lands , Gardens , Orchards , Tenements , or Cottages , Stocks , or Implements belonging to your Parsonage , or Uicarage ? As also a Note of such Pensions , Rate Tithes , and Portions of Tithes , or other yearly profits ( either within , or without your Parish ) as belong thereunto ? And is there a Copy of the said Terrier , and Note deliver'd in , to be laid up in the Registers Office ? Have any of these been with-held from your Minister ? and when , or by whom ? IV. HAVE any of the antient Glebe-Lands , belonging to your Parsonage , or Uicarage , been alienated , taken away , or exchanged for others , without the free consent of the Incumbent , and License of the Ordinary ? And by whom , and when hath the same been done ? And how much is your Parsonage , or Uicarage damnified thereby in the yearly value thereof , as you know , believe , or have heard ? TIT. III. Concerning the Clergy . I. IS your Minister ( so far as you know , or believe ) in Holy Orders according to the Rules of the Church of England ? And is he a Licens'd Preacher , and by whom ? II. Is he lawfully admitted to the Cure of Souls in your Parish , as you believe , or have heard ? Or is he reported , or suspected to have obtained either his Orders , or Benefice by any Simoniacal , or undue practise ? III. DID he within two Months after his Induction publickly in the Church upon some Sunday , or Holy-Day in the time of Divine Service , read the 39 Articles of the Church of England , Established by Authority ; and there publickly declare his assent thereunto ? Did he within the same time upon some Lords-Day publickly read the appointed Morning and Evening Prayers ; and thereafter declare his unfeigned Assent , and Consent to the use of all things in the Book of Common-Prayer contained , in the Form prescribed by the late Act of Uniformity ? And did he within three Months after his Induction upon some Lords-Day , and in the time of Divine Service , publickly and openly read the Declaration or acknowledgment required in the said Act ; together with the Ordinaries Certificate of his Subscription to the same ? IV. HATH he any other Ecclesiastical Benefice with Cure , or without ? and how far distant from you , and in what Diocess ? Is he constantly Resident among you ? Or how many weeks in any one year hath he been absent from you ? V. HATH he a Curate to assist him , able , and sufficient , and conformable to the Laws , and Orders of the Church of England ? Doth he , or his Curate serve in any other Church beside ? What yearly Stipend doth your Minister allow his Curate ? VI. DOTH your Parson , Uicar , or Curate read Divine Service on all Sundays , and Holy-Days , and publickly administer the Holy Sacraments of Baptism , and the Eucharist , and perform all other Ministerial Offices , and Duties in such manner and form , as is directed by the Book of Common-Prayer , lately Established , and the Act of Uniformity therewith published , without addition , diminution , or alteration ? And doth he in those his Ministrations wear the Surplice , with a Hood befitting his Degree ? VII . DOTH he administer the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist publickly in the Church at least thrice every year , ( whereof once at Easter ; ) giving solemn notice thereof before-hand by reading the Exhortation appointed for that purpose ? And doth he endeavour to his utmost doth in his publick Sermons , and private Conferences to prevail with his Parishioners to receive it oftner ? Doth he on the Lords-Day give notice of the Holy-Days , and Fasting-Days in the week following , that the people may be put in mind , and incited to resort to publick prayers in the Church upon those solemn Occasions ? And do your Minister , and Parishioners observe the yearly Perambulation in Rogation-week , for preserving the Bounds of the Parish , and desiring Gods blessing upon the Fruits of the Earth ? Doth he also duly observe the Fifth of November , giving warning of the same the Sunday before ; as also the Thirtieth of January , and the Nine and Twentieth of May , according to the Statutes , and Orders set forth in that behalf ? VIII . DOTH your Minister twice ev'ry year on some Sundays after Ev'ning Prayer in your Church , or Chappel publish the Statutes made against profane Swearing and Cursing , and against the Profanation of the Lords-Day ? and on the Fifth of November after Morning Prayer or Sermon , read distinctly and plainly the Act made in the Third of King James for publick Thanksgiving on that day , according as it is by those Laws required ? IX . DOTH he himself constantly ev'ry Sunday ( unless in case of sickness , or other reasonable impediment ) preach in your Church , or Chappel ; or procure a Sermon to be so preached by some other Licens'd Preacher ? Or one of the Homilies set forth by Authority to be there read by a Priest , or Deacon ? And doth he constantly at the beginning of his Sermons pray for the Kings Majesty in his due Stile , and Title ; for the Queen , and Royal Family ; and for all Archbishops , and Bishops , and other Ecclesiastical persons , as the Canon enjoyns ? X. DOTH your Minister diligently examine and instruct the youth of your Parish in the Church Catechism , as in the Rubrick at the end of the said Catechism is directed ? And being thus prepared , and of convenient age , doth he take care to present them to the Bishop to be confirmed ? XI . DOTH he endeavour to reclaim all Popish , and other Recusants , and Sectaries , ( if any such be inhabiting within your Parish ) to the profession , and practise of the true Religion , established in the Church of England , and to their bounden duty in obeying the Law , and submitting to the Government of the Realm ? XII . DOTH he refuse , or neglect to visit , comfort , and pray with the Sick , or to bury the Dead ? Doth he delay the Baptism of any Infant that is in danger of death ? Or Baptize them in any other place than the Church , when there is no such danger ? And when they are ( in case of necessity ) thus privately Baptized , doth he cause them afterwards , if they live , to be brought into the Church , and certifie the Congregation of the Form of Baptism used in private , and proceed thereupon in all points , as in the Office of private Baptism is directed ? Is there any Child past Infancy , or other person of riper years , through the default of your Minister or others , yet remaining unbaptized in your parish ? Doth he use to Baptize any without Godfathers and Godmothers , or admit either of the parents to be Godfather or Godmother to their own Children ? XIII . HATH he at any time ( to your knowledge , or as you have heard ) preached any false , Heretical , Schismatical , or Seditious Doctrine , which may seduce the people into parties and Factions , to the disturbance of the publick peace and Unity , either of Church or State ? XIV . HATH he presumed to Marry any persons in private Houses ? Or such , as being under age , have not the consent of their parents , or without the Banes first published on three Sundays or Holydays in the Church ? Or at any other hours , than between eight and twelve in the Morning , unless he had a License or Dispensation so to do ? XV. DOTH any person preach in your parish as a Lecturer ? Hath he License from the Bishop so to do ? Doth he before his Lecture read the Divine Service , as the late Act of Uniformity requires ? And is he in all respects conformable to the Laws and Orders of the Church of England ? XVI . DOTH your Minister , or any other , ( either Minister or Lay-person ) hold any Conventicle or Meeting within any private House or place within your Parish , to which persons of several Families , above the number of five , do resort , under any pretence of Preaching , Praying , Thanksgiving , or Humiliation , contrary to the Laws and Canons in that case provided ? XVII . IS your Parson , Uicar , or Curate , and your Lecturer ( if you have any ) of a sober , unblameable and exemplary life ; given to Hospitality , and Alms-deeds ? In his Apparel grave and decent , as the Canons of the Church require ? Or on the other side , is his carriage and conversation in any kind whatsoever disorderly , or scandalous , and unbeseeming a Minister of Iesus Christ ? Doth he familiarly converse with vitious , ungodly , or excommunicate persons ? Is he a frequenter of Taverns , Ale-houses , or other Houses of ill fame ? A common Gamester , or User of unlawful , or undecent Sports ? A Swearer , Railer , or Quarreller ? Doth he set Neighbours at variance one with another ? Or encourage them to Suits and contentions ? Is he noted to be an intemperate Drinker ? Or vehemently suspected of Incontinency with any person , either within your parish , or without ? Doth he use any Trade , Occupation , Traffique , or Merchandizing for Filthy Lucre sake ? XVIII . IS there within your parish dwelling or residing any one , who being in Holy Orders hath quitted his profession , and turn'd Lay ▪ man ? Or any stranger , or unlicens'd Minister or Preacher , that hath been deprived , ejected , or suspended for false Doctrine , Inconformity , or other evil Manners ? If so , how do they now behave themselves ? and what profession , or course of Life do they follow ? TIT. IV. Concerning the Parishioners . I. IS there in your Parish any known or reputed Heretick , Schismatick or Separatist ? Any person notoriously known , or vehemently suspected to be of Atheistical Principles , or Opinions ? Any Libertine , or profane person ? Any Depravers , Disturbers , or Contemners of the publick Service of God , and the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England by Law established ? Any Papist , Presbyterian , Familist , Anabaptist , Quaker , or other Sectary , that refuse or neglect to come unto the publick Assemblies , and to joyn in the prayers , and Service of God in the Church , or that makes profession of any other Religion , or Way of Worship , than what is established in the Church of England ? II. IS there any person in your Parish , that lieth under a common Fame , or vehement suspition of Adultery , Fornication , or Incest ? Any Common Drunkards , or Comon Swearers , or Blasphemers of God's Holy Name ? or any that are noted to be Railers , unclean or filthy Talkers , Sowers or Maintainers of Sedition , Faction , or Discord among their Neighbours ? Or in sum , any whose Life and Manners are contrary to Godliness , Peace , and Honesty ? III. DO any of your Parish upon the Sunday-days , or Holy-days follow their bodily , or ordinary Labour ? or compel , or permit their Servants so to do ? Are any Shops kept open , or Wares sold at such times ? Or do any Uintners , Inn-keepers , or other Uictuallers , and Sellers of Beer and Ale , suffer any persons to Tipple or Game in their Houses upon those days ? IV. DOTH every person inhabiting or sojourning within your Parish duly resort unto your Church or Chappel , upon every Sunday and Holyday appointed for Divine Service ? Do they then and there abide quietly with Reverence , Order and Decency , during the whole time of Common prayer , Preaching , or other Service of God there used ? Or are there any among you that come only to the Preaching , and not to the Common-prayers of the Church ? V. ARE there any in your Parish that refuse to send their Infant-Children to be Baptized publickly in the Church , unless in case of urgent danger ? Or do they send them from their own Minister , to be Baptized in any other place , or after other form , than is appointed ? Or do they keep them unbaptized any longer time , than the Church alloweth ? And are there any Infants or persons of riper years in your Parish , who as yet remain unbaptized ? VI. DO all the House-holders in your Parish cause their Children , and Servants to Learn their Catechism , and to give an accompt thereof unto your Minister ( when he doth require it of them ) openly in the Church upon Sundaies , and Holy-days as in the Book of Common-prayer is appointed ; that when they are well instructed in the same , they may be confirm'd by the Bishop ? VII . IS there in your Parish any person , who being 16 years of age , doth not receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper , at least three times in the year , of which Easter is always to be one ? Doth any in your Parish refuse to receive the same kneeling , or from the hands of your own Minister ; repairing for it to other Parishes , and Ministers abroad ? Or are there any Strangers not of your Parish , that forsake their own Churches , and usually repair to yours for it ? VIII . HAVE you any among you , that be denounced , and declared Excommunicate for any crime committed ? How long have they been so ? And do any of your Parish keep society with them before they be reconciled to the Church , and absolved ? IX . ARE there any living in your Parish , as Man and Wife , who are within the Degrees prohibited ? Or any that being lawfully Divorced have Married again ? Or any that being lawfully Married , and not separated , or Divorced by course of Law , do not cohabit together ? X. ARE there any Married Women in your Parish , who after their delivery from the peril of Child-birth , refuse to make their publick Thanksgiving to God in the Church ? And when they come so to do , do they come decently apparelled , and make their Offerings according to Custom ? XI . ARE there any belonging to your Parish , who refuse to pay their Easter-Offerings , or Duties to your Minister ? Or any that refuse to contribute , and pay the Rate assessed upon them for the repair of your Church or Chappel , and for the providing of such Books , Furniture , and Ornaments , as be requisite for the performance of all Divine Offices there ? XII . DO any refuse to Bury their Dead according to the Rites of the Church of England ? Are there any Wills or Testaments of persons dead in your Parish , that be yet unproved ? Or any Goods Administred , without a due grant from the Ordinary ? XIII . IS there any Strife or Contention among any of your Parish for their Pews , or Seats in your Church ? Or have any of them erected new Pews in your Chancel , or in the Body of your Church or Chappel , without leave from the Ordinary ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish Clerks and Sextons . I. HAVE you belonging to your Church or Chappel a fit Parish Clerk , aged 21 years at the least , of honest Life and Conversation , and sufficiently able to perform his duty in Reading , Writing , and Singing ? Is he duly chosen by your Minister ? and doth he diligently attend him in all Divine Offices ; audibly making , and repeating the Responses and Suffrages , as in the Liturgy he is directed ? Are his Wages duly paid unto him ? Or who with-holdeth the same ? II. DOTH he , or your Sexton ( if there be any such appointed in your Parish ) diligently look to the Doors of your Church , that they be Locked , and Opened at due times ? Doth he keep your Church or Chappel clean from Dust , Cobwebs , and other Annoyance ? Doth he Ring , and Toll the Bells at the due accustomed hours , before Morning and Evening Service , that the people may be warned to come unto the Church ? And when any person is passing out of this Life , doth he upon notice given him thereof , Toll a Bell as hath been accustomed , that the Neighbours may thereby be put in mind to recommend the dying person to the Grace , and Favour of God , and to meditate upon their own Death ? TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals , Schools , School-masters , Physitians , Chirurgeons and Midwives . I. IS there in your Parish any Hospital , Alms-house , or Free-school ? Who was the Founder ? Who is now the Patron thereof ? And what is the yearly Revenue ? what Stipends belong to the Governors , or Masters of the same ? Is the same ordered , and governed in every respect , as it ought to be ? And are the Revenues thereof rightly , employed according to the intention of the Founder , and the tenour of such Statutes and Ordinances , as have been made in pursuance of the same ? II. HAVE any living or dying in your Parish , or elsewhere , given any Gift , or Legacy by Will , or otherwise to the use of your Church , or Poor , or of the Parishioners in general ? How is it setled , and in whose hands ? and is it , or hath it been misemployed , or disposed of to other Uses ? III. DOTH any Man keep a publick or private School in your Parish ? Is he allowed so to do by the Ordinary ? Is he of sober Life , and honest Conversation , and conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline Established ? Doth he teach his Scholars the Catechism of Religion set forth by Authority ? Doth he upon Sundays , and Holy-days , and all good Occasions repair to your Church , or Chappel , and cause his Scholars to do so too , and see that they behave themselves there quietly , orderly , and reverently during the time of Divine Service and Sermon ? and doth he teach them good Manners , Sobriety , Modesty , and Obedience , as well as other Learning ? IV. Doth any Man or Woman in your Parish take upon them to practise Physick , or Chirurgery ? Or any Woman to exercise the Office of a Midwife , without being first examined , and approved , and thereupon Licensed by the Ordinary ? TIT. VII . Concerning Ecclesiastical Officers . I. HAVE any abuses , or offences , presented by the Church-wardens or others , been suppressed , or left unpunished by any Officers exercising Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction within this Diocess ? Do they unnecessarily delay , or protract any causes brought before them ? Do they vexatiously cite any into their Courts for greediness of Gain , or other undue Ends ? Do they demand , exact , or take unlawful or extraordinary Fees ? Or in any kind grieve , or oppress His Maiesties good Subjects ? II. IS there a Table of Fees publickly fastned , and set up in the Consistory , or Ecclesiastical Court , to which you are called to appear , and make your Presentments ; that so every one may know , what Fees he ought to pay , as the Canons enjoyn ? III. HAVE any Apparitors taken any Reward for the concealing any Offence , or the avoiding the Punishment or Reformation of Offenders ? And do they summon any to appear at the Consistory without Citation first had , and granted from the Ecclesiastical Iudge ? IV. HATH any Sum of Money been lately , or heretofore paid to any Ecclesiastical Officer for Commutation of Pennance ? What was the Sum ? Unto whom was it paid , and to what Use appointed , or employed ? If you know of any other default , or Crime of Ecclesiastical Cognizance , you are to present the same . TIT. VIII . Queries to be put to the Minister , concerning the Church-wardens and Side-men . I. ARE the Church-wardens of your Parish duly chosen by the joynt consent of the Minister , and Parishioners ? Or one of them by the Minister , and the other by the Parishioners ? Or as the custom of the Parish is ? II. HAVE the former and last Church-wardens given up their due Accompts to the Parish , and deliver'd up to the succeeding Church-wardens the Moneys remaining in their hands , together with all other things belonging to your Church , or Chappel ? III. DO your Church-wardens and Side-men take diligent care to see , and observe , who of the Parishioners are absent from Divine Service , and Sermon in your Church or Chappel every Sunday and Holy-day ? and when they find any to have absented themselves without a sufficient cause , do they by Warrant of some Iustice of the Peace , levy of them by way of Distress upon their Goods , the Sum of 12 Pence for every such day of their absence , according to the Act of Parliament in that case provided ? And do they distribute the several Sums so levied among the Poor of your Parish , according to Law ? IV. DO they present all them that come late to Church , after Divine Service is begun , or depart before it be ended ? Do they take care , that none stand idle , or talk together in the Church-porch , or walk in the Church , or Church-yard , during the time of Prayers , Preaching , or other Sacred Offices ? V. DO they take care , that no Misbehaviour or Disorder be done by Men , Women , Servants , or Children in your Church or Chappel ? that none of them sit , lean , or lay their Hats upon the Communion-Table ? That no Minstrels , nor Morris-Dancers , no Dogs , Hawks , or Hounds be brought or come into your Church or Chappel , to the disturbance of the Congregation ? VI. DO they against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel , provide a sufficient quantity of fine white Bread , and of good Wine , according to the number of Communicants , at the Parish charge ? VII . DO they cause all Strangers , that preach in your Church or Chappel , to enter their Names the same day in a Book provided for that purpose ; together with the Name of the Bishop that Licens'd them to preach in this Diocess ? and do they permit no other to preach ? VIII . HAVE they ( the Church-wardens and Side-men , now sworn to give in a true answer unto all these Articles of Enquiry in all their several Titles ) taken sufficient time to draw up their Presentments ; and therein consulted with you their Minister for your faithful assistance ? WE do not by Vertue of this Oath require or expect that the Parson , Vicar , or Curate , or any one of the Church-wardens , or Side-men of any Parish , should detect , impeach or accuse himself of any Fault enquir'd off in these Articles : Nevertheless the Faults of any one of them may and ought to be presented by the rest . And if the Church-wardens , or Side-men will not do their Duty herein ; yet the Minister of every Parish , ( or in his absence the Curate ) may , and ought to present such Persons , and Things as want due Reformation ; for upon them is the chief Care incumbent of suppressing Sin , and Wickedness , and all Irregularities in their Parishes . And let all of both sorts know assuredly , that as the Conscientious Discharge of their Duty herein is the next , and readiest Mean , whereby publick Disorders and Offences may come to be punished , and reformed ; so if they wilfully refuse , or neglect to discover such Things , as either they themselves know , or by common Fame have heard to have been , or to be amiss in their Parish , the Guilt will lie at their Doors ; and in such cases the Bishop , and his Officers will proced against them in their Courts with all the Severity , which the Law enables them to use in such cases . FINIS . 
A32955	----	Articles to be enquired of within the diocese of Lincoln in the generall and trienniall visitation of the right Reverend Father in God, John, by Gods providence, Lord Bishop of Lincoln, to be held in the year of our Lord God 1641. Church of England. Diocese of Lincoln. Bishop (1621-1641 : Williams) This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A32955 of text R11624 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing C4053). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 24 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A32955 Wing C4053 ESTC R11624 12832777 ocm 12832777 94340 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A32955) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 94340) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 255:E171, no 21 or 255:E171, no 22) Articles to be enquired of within the diocese of Lincoln in the generall and trienniall visitation of the right Reverend Father in God, John, by Gods providence, Lord Bishop of Lincoln, to be held in the year of our Lord God 1641. Church of England. Diocese of Lincoln. Bishop (1621-1641 : Williams) England and Wales. Parliament. House of Lords. [19] p. Printed by M. F., London : 1641. Attached to the articles are three separate orders by the Lords in Parliament concerning visitations. Reproduction of original in Thomason Collection, British Library. eng Williams, John, 1582-1650. Church of England. -- Diocese of Lincoln. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. A32955 R11624 (Wing C4053). civilwar no Articles to be enquired of within the diocese of Lincoln, in the generall and trienniall visitation of the right Reverend Father in God, Joh Church of England. Diocese of Lincoln. Bishop 1641 4496 5 0 0 0 0 0 11 C The rate of 11 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-12 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-01 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2003-01 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES To be enquired of Within the DIOCESE of LINCOLN , In the generall and trienniall Visitation of the right Reverend Father in God , JOHN , By Gods providence , Lord Bishop of LINCOLN , to be held in the yeer of our Lord God 1641. LONDON Printed by M. F. 1641. Concerning the Church , the Vtensils and Ornaments thereof . 1. INprimis , whether have you in your severall Churches and Chappels , the whole Bible of the largest volume , and the book of common Prayer , both fairly and substantially bound , the book of Homilies , a Font of stone set up in the ancient usuall place , a convenient and decent Communion-table , with a carpet of silk , or some other decent stuffe , continually laid upon the same at time of Divine service , and a fair linen cloth thereon at the time of the receiving of the holy Communion ? And whether is the same Table placed in such convenient sort within the Chancell or Church , as that the Minister may be best heard in his prayer and administration , and that the greatest number may communicate ? Doth your said Communion ta●le stand in the ancient place where it ought to do , or where it hath done for the greatest part of these sixty years last past , or hath it been removed to the East end , and placed Altar-wise , and by whom , and whose authority hath it been so placed ? And whether are the ten Commandments set upon the East end of your Church or Chappel where the people may best see and read them , and other sentences of holy Scriptu●e written on the walls likewise for that purpose ? 2. Item , whether have you afternoon Sermons in your severall Parish●s turned into Catechizing , and an exposition of the same Catechisme and the heads thereof , and according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer , and otherwise , and whether doth every Vicar , Parson , and Curate read Divine service according to the Liturgie printed by Authority ? 3 Item , whether have you in your said Church or Chappel , a convenient seat for your Minister to read Service in , together with a comely Pulpit set up in a convenient place , with a decent cloth or cushion for the same , a comely large surplice , a fair Communion-cup , with a cover of silver , a flagon of silver , tin , or pewter , to put the wine in , whereby it may be set upon the Communion-table , at the time of the blessing thereof , with all other things and ornaments necessary for the celebration of Divine Service , and administration of the Sacraments ? And whether have you a strong chest for alms for the poor , with three locks and keyes , and another chest for keeping the books and ornaments of the Church , and the Register-book ? And whether have you a Register-book in parchment for Christnings , Weddings , and Burials , according to the former custome and practise ? 4 Is your Church or Chappell decently paved , and is your Church-yard well and orderly kept without abuse ? Are the bones of the dead decently interred , or laid up in some fit place , as beseemeth Christians ? And is the whole consecrated ground kept free from swine and all other nastinesse , as becometh the place so dedicated for praying , preaching , and the service of God ? Concerning the Clergie . VVHether doth your Parson , Vicar , or Curate distinctly and reverently say Divine Service upon Sundayes and Holidayes , and other dayes appointed to be observed by the book of Common Prayer , as Wednesdayes , and Fridayes , and the Eves of every Sunday and Holiday , at fit and usuall times ? And doth he duly observe the Orders , Rites , and Ceremonies prescribed in the said Book of Common Prayer , as well in reading publike Prayers and the Letany , as also in administring the Sacraments , solemnization of Matrimonie , visiting the Sick , burying the Dead , churching of Women , and all other Rites and Offices of the Church , in such manner and form as in the said Book of Common Prayer he is enjoyned , without any omission or addition ? 2 Doth your Minister bid Holydayes and Fasting-Dayes , as by the book of Common Prayer is appointed ? And doth he give warning before-hand to the Parishioners for the receiving of the holy Communion ? and whether doth he administer the holy Communion reverently as becometh so high a mysterie , and so often , and at such times , as that every Parishioner may receive the same at the least thrice in every yeer , whereof once at Easter , as by the Book of Common Prayer is appointed ? And doth your Minister use the words of Institution according to the Book ? And doth he deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant severally , and kneeling ? Whether hath he admitted to the holy Communion any declared notorious offender , or put any from the Communion , who are not publikely known to be infamous for some notorious crime ? Doth he use the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme ? 3 Whether hath your Minister married any without a Ring , or without Banes published three severall Sundayes or Holy-dayes , in time of Divine Service , in the severall Churches or Chappels of their severall abode , according to the Book of Common Prayer ? 4 Doth he refuse to bury any which ought to be interred in Christian buriall , or defer the same longer then he should ? or bury any in Christian buriall , which by the Constitutions of the Church of England , or Laws of the Land , ought not to be so interred ? 5 Do you know of any Parson , Vicar , or Curata , that hath introduced any offensive Rites or Ceremonies into the Church , not established by the Laws of the Land ; as namely , that make three Courtesies towards the Communion-Table , that call the said Table an Altar , that enjoyn the people at their coming into the Church to bow towards the East , or towards the Communion-Table , that call upon them to stand up at the Te Deum , Benedictus , Magnificat , the Gloria Patri , or at other times then at the Creed and the Gospel , that refuse to give the Communion to any that will not come up and receive it at the Rails , that never pray before their Sermons , but bid the people pray , or use any other new and voluntary Rite or Ceremonie not warranted by Law ? You are to present then by vertue of your offices and places . 6 Is your Minister a Preacher allowed ? If yea , then by whom ? If not , whether doth he procure some who are lawfully licenced , to preach monethly among you at least ? and what doth he allow unto him ? 7 Doth your Minister ( being licensed ) preach usually , either in his own Cure , or in some other Church or Chappell neer adjoyning where no Preacher is ? and how often hath he been negligent in that behalf ? 8 Is your Minister continually resident upon his Benefice ? or how long time hath he been absent ? and in case he be licenced to be absent , whether doth he cause his Cure to be sufficiently supplied with a preaching Minister ? 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 himself is not resident ? Or otherwise in case the smalnesse of the living cannot finde a preaching Minister , doth he preach at both his Benefices usually ? And if he be most-while absent , what order doth he take for hospitality or relief of the poor ? declare it particularly . And whether doth he give the fourtieth part of the profits of his Benefice to the poor , during his absence ? or what provision doth he make otherwise for them ? 9 Doth your Minister or Curate serve any more Cures then one ? If yea , then what other Cure doth he serve , and how far are they distant ? 10 Doth your Minister or Curate every Sunday and Holiday , before Evening prayer , for half an hour or more , examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish , in the ten Commandments , Articles of the Belief , and in the Lords Prayer , and the Sacraments , according as it is prescribed in the Catechisme set forth in the book of Common prayer ? And doth he expound and shew forth the meaning and sense of the said Catechisme ? And if he do not , where is the fault , either in the parents and masters of the children , or in the Curate neglecting his dutie ? And is he carefull to tender all such youth of his Parish as have been well instructed in their Catechisme , to be Confirmed by the Bishop in his Visitation , or at any other convenient time , as is appointed by the book aforesaid ? And you are to warn the Ministers to prepare them against this present Visitation . 11 Doth your Minister endeavour and labour diligently to reclaim the Popish Recusants in his parish from their errours ( if there be any such abiding in your parish ? ) Or whether is your Parson , Vicar , or Curate , over-conversant with , or a favourer of Recusants , whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Religion ? 12 Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any publike or private fasts , prophesies , or exercises , not approved by Law , or publike Authority ? or hath he used to meet in any private house or place with any person or persons , there to consult how to impeach or deprave the book of Common prayer , or the doctrine or discipline of the Church of England ? If yea , then you shall present them all . 13 Is your Minister noted or defamed to have obtained his Benefice or his Orders by simony , or any other way defamed to be a simoniacall person , or any way noted to be a schismatick , or schismatically affected , or reputed to be an incontinent person ? Or doth he table or lodge any such in his house ? Or is he a frequenter of taverns , innes or ale-houses , or any place suspected for ill rule ? Or is he a common drunkard , a common gamester or player at dice , a swearer , or one that applieth not himself to his study , or is otherwise offensive and scandalous to his function and ministery ? especially is he one that useth uncharitably to curse , scandal and revile his own parishioners , in his heats and choler ? If yea , then present it . 14 Do you know any Minister that doth perform , or any other person that doth hear Divine service otherwise performed then as it is now appointed by the Acts of Parliament of this Realm ? And do you know of any that hath or doth disturb that wholsom Order so appointed by the Law to be observed in Divine service ? If you do , you must present their names . 15 Do you know of any persons that deny Archbishops , Bishops , Priests , and Deacons , consecrated according to the Order prescribed by the Statute , to be rightly , orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered ? If you do , you are to present their names . 16 When any person hath been dangerously sick in your Parish , hath your Minister neglected to visit him ? and when any have been parting out of this life , hath he omitted to do his last dutie in that behalf , being sent for and desired ? 17 Doth your Minister , Curate , or Lecturer , in his or their sermons deliver such doctrine as tends to obedience , and the edifying of their auditorie in faith , religion , and good life , without intermedling with particular matters of State , not fit to be handled in the Pulpit , but to be discussed by the wisdome of His Majestie and his Councel ? And if you finde any faultie herein , you shall present them . Or doth he spend most of the hour in points of controversie , and new start-up questions of Arminianisme , debarred by the Kings authority from the Pulpit ? 18 Whether doth your Minister misbehave himself in preaching or praying , so that the congregation are offended thereat ? And whether doth he teach publickly opposite doctrine against the Articles and Homilies prescribed by Law in the Church of England ? Doth he preach and maintain , or palliate with distinctions and limitations , any points of Poperie ? Declare the points as neer as you can . Or doth he make any personall invectives in the Pulpit , to the offence of particular men , and the scandall of the Parish ? 19 Whether hath the form of Commination against impenitent sinners , been read in your Church to the people , according to the book of Common Prayer ? Concerning Schoolmasters . 1 Doth any in your Parish openly or privately take upon him to teach School without licence of the Ordinary ? And is he conformable to the religion now established ? And doth he bring his scholars to the Church to hear Divine service and sermons ? And doth he instruct his scholars in the grounds of the religion now established in this Church of England ? and is he carefull and diligent to benefit his scholars in learning ? 2 Doth your schoolmaster teach and instruct his youth in the Catechisme or grounds of Religion ? and doth he instruct them in any other Grammar , Accidence , or any other Catechisme then is allowed by publick Authority ? and what Grammar , Accidence , or Catechisme is it that he so teacheth ? Parish-Clerks and Sextons . HAve you a fit Parish-Clerk , aged twenty yeers at the least , of honest conversation , 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 denied ? 2 Doth your Clerk or Sexton keep the Church clean , the doors locked at fit times ? Is any thing lost or spoiled in the Church through his default ? Are the Communion-table , Font , Books , and other Ornaments of the Church kept fair and lean ? Doth he suffer any unseasonable ringing , or any proane exercise in your Church ? or doth he ( when any is weak ●nd assured to him to be passing out of this life ) neglect to toll bell , to give notice thereof to all devout Christians . Concerning the Parishioners . WHether do any of your Parishioners , being sixteen yeers of age or upwards , or others lodging or commonly resorting to any house within your Parish , wilfully ●bsent themselves from your Parish-Church , upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes , at Morning and Evening prayers ; or who come late to Church , and depart from Church before Service be done upon the said dayes ; or who do not reverently behave themselves during the time of Divine Service , devoutly kneeling when the generall Confession of sins , the Letanie , the ten Commandments , and all Prayers and Collects are upon any Sunday or Holiday , by themselves , their servants or apprentises , or have otherwise profaned the said dayes , contrary to the Orders of the Church of England ? And whether be there any Inne-keepers , Alehouse-keepers , Victuallers or other persons , that permit any persons in their houses to eat , drink , or play during the time of Divine Service or Sermon , in the forenoon or afternoon upon those dayes ? 14 Whether is the fifth day of November kept holy , and thanksgiving made to God for his Majesties and this States happy deliverance , according to the Ordinance in that behalf ? 15 Whether do any of your Parish ( otherwise then fathers and mothers in their own families ) hold or frequent any conventicles or private congregations , or make or maintain any Constitutions , agreed upon in any such Assemblies ? Or be there any that do write , or publikely or privately speak against the Book of Common Prayer , or any thing therein contained , or against any of the Articles of Religion agreed upon Anno 1562. or against the Kings Supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall , or against the oath of Supremacie , or of Allegeance , as pretending the same to be unlawfull 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 government of the Church of England under the Kings most Excellent Majestie , by Bishops , affirming that the same is repugnant to the word of God , and that the said Ecclesiasticall Officers are not lawfully ordained ? Or whether be there any Authours , Maintainers , or Favourers of Heresie or Schisme , or that be suspected to be Anabaptists , Libertines , Brownists , of the Family of Love , or of any other Heresie or Schisme : Present their names . 16 Whether do any withhold the stock of the church , or any goods or things given to good and charitable uses ? 17 Whether your Hospitalls , Almes-houses , and other such houses and Corporations , founded to good and charitable uses , and the lands , possessions and goods of the same , ordered and disposed of as they should be ? And do the Masters , Governours , Fellows , and others of the said houses and Corporations , behave and demean themselves according to the godly ordinances and statutes of their severall foundations ? 18 Whether have any Inne-Keepers , Ale-wives , Victuallers , or Tiplers , received , harboured , or suffered any person to eat , drink , stay , or play in their houses in time of Common prayer or Sermon , on Sundayes or Holidayes ? And what persons were so received , harboured , or suffered ? And have they sold forth any drink or victualls at the like time ? And have any of your parish loytered or been gaming abroad at the same time ? 19 Whether have any laboured , wrought , or gone to cart on the Sunday or Holiday ? And have any artificers , shoe-makers , chandlers , mercers , butchers , and the like , set open their shop-windows or doors , or used their trade or any manuall occupation upon any of those dayes , or sold any wares or goods belonging to their trade , in the time of prayer , sermon , or homilie , upon any Sunday or Holiday ? and who were the same that did so ? Physicians , Chirurgians , and Midwives . HOw many Physicians , Chirurgians , and Midwives have you in your parish ? How long have they used their severall sciences or offices , and by what authoritie ? and how have they demeaned themselves therein ? and of what skill are they accounted to be in their profession ? Touching the Churchwardens and Sidemen . VVHether you , and the Churchwardens , Questmen , or Sidemen , from time to time , do and have done your diligence , in not suffering any idle person to abide either in the churchyard or churchporch in service or sermon-time , but causing them either to come into the church to hear diuine service , or to depart , and not disturb such as be hearers there . And whether they have , and you do diligently see the parishisoners duly resort to the church every Sunday and Holiday , and there remain during Divine Service and Sermon . And whether you , or your predecessours , Churchwardens there , suffer any playes , feasts , drinkings , or any other profane usages , to be kept in your Church , Chappell ; or Churchyards ; or have suffered to your and their uttermost power and endeavour , any person or persons to be tipling or drinking in any Inne or victualling-house in your parish , during the time of Divine Service or Sermon on Sundayes and Holidayes . 2 Whether doth any man trouble or molest you for doing your duties ? or are any of the Ecclesiasticall Judges or their Surrogates over-easie to receive frivolous complaints against you for doing your duties , and to hold you in long and tedious suits concerning the same ? If so , you must present , and by what Judge , Surrogate , Proctour , or Apparitour you have been troubled . 3 Whether is there any Legacie withholden , given to the Church or poor people , or to the mending of high wayes , or otherwise by the Testatours ? In whose hands is it , by whom was it given , and by whom is it withholden ? Concerning Ecclesiasticall Magistrates and Officers , VVHether do you know or have heard of any payment , composition or agreement , to or with any Ecclesiasticall Magistrate , Judge or Officer for winking at or fearing to punish any person for any offence of Ecclesiasticall cognisance , 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 sum of money or other consideration hath been received or promised , by or to any of them , in that respect , by whom , and with whom ? 2 Hath any person within your parish paid or promised any summe of money or other reward , either of late or heretofore , for commutation of penance , for any crime of Ecclesiasticall cognisance ? If so , then with whom , when , and for what summe of money ? and how hath the same been imployed ? You are to present these particularly . 3 Are your Ecclesiasticall Judges and their Substitutes Batchelours of the Laws , or Masters of Arts at the least , learned and practised in the civile and Ecclesiasticall Laws , men of good life and fame , zealously affected in religion , and just , upright and diligent in executing their offices ? Have they heard any matter of office privately in their chambers , without their sworn registers or their deputies presence ? 4 Do you know or have you heard , that any Ecclesiasticall Judge , officer , or minister hath received or taken any extraordinarie fees , or other rewards or promises , by any wayes or means , directly or indirectly , of any person or persons whatsoever , either for the granting of the administration of the goods and chattels of those that have died intestate , to one before another ; or for allotting of larger portions of the goods and chattels of those that have died intestate , to one more then to another ; or for allowing larger and unreasonable accounts , made by Executours or Administratours ; or for giving them Quictus est , or discharges , without inventorie or account , to defraud Creditours , Legataries , or those who are to have portions ? And what summes of money do you know , or have you heard , that any Ecclesiasticall Judge or Officer hath taken out of the estate of any , dying intestate , upon pretence to bestow the same in pious uses either of late or heretofore ? and how have the same been bestowed ? 5 Hath any Ecclesiasticall Magistrate , Judge , Officer , or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction within this Diocese , or any Advocate , Register , Proctour , Clerks , Apparitours , or other ministers belonging to the same Ecclesiasticall Courts , exacted or taken by any wayes or means , directly or indirectly , extraordinary or greater fees then are due and accustomed ? And whether is there a Table for the rates of all fees set up in their several Courts and Offices ? And whether have they sent or suffered any Processe to go out of the Ecclesiasticall Courts , otherwise then by law they ought ? Or have they taken upon them the offices of Informers or Promotours to the said Courts , or any other way abused themselves in their places ? You are by your office to present the same . 6 Whether hath any Ecclesiasticall Judge or his Surrogates , without the allowance of the Bishop , lately taken upon them to set up any new consistories or courts , and to keep courts of concurrencie in Peculiars , and other and more places then heretofore hath been accustomed ; and to call the people to those concurrent courts unduly without presentments , or other just cause , but onely to trouble the countrey , and to get unjust fees to their own purses ? And have they in those new concurrent courts cited the people into Peculiars , and out of the jurisdiction , and for matters whereof they were dismissed by their ordinary Judge before , so that they have been troubled in severall places for one and the same thing contrary to the Law ? And whether are the same late-erected consistories to the grievance of the people , and by whom have the said new courts been lately set up , and by what authority , and where , and in what places ? Declare the same particularly . 
A00214	----	Articles to be enquired of vvithin the diocesse of London In the third trienniall visitation of the Right Honourable, and Right Reverend Father in God, William, Lord Bishop of London, Lord High Treasurer of England. Holden in the yeare of our Lord God, 1640 Visitation articles. 1640 Church of England. Diocese of London. Bishop (1633-1660 : Juxon) This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A00214 of text S101627 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 10267). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 69 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 14 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A00214 STC 10267 ESTC S101627 99837436 99837436 1757 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A00214) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 1757) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1485:7) Articles to be enquired of vvithin the diocesse of London In the third trienniall visitation of the Right Honourable, and Right Reverend Father in God, William, Lord Bishop of London, Lord High Treasurer of England. Holden in the yeare of our Lord God, 1640 Visitation articles. 1640 Church of England. Diocese of London. Bishop (1633-1660 : Juxon) Juxon, William, 1582-1663. Heylyn, Peter, 1600-1662. [28] p. Printed by Richard Badger, London : M.DC.XL [1640] Drawn up by Peter Heylyn. Signatures: A-C⁴ D² . Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. eng Church of England -- Pastoral letters and charges -- Early works to 1800. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England -- London -- Early works to 1800. A00214 S101627 (STC 10267). civilwar no Articles to be enquired of vvithin the diocesse of London. In the third trienniall visitation of the Right Honourable, and Right Reverend Fa Church of England. Diocese of London. Bishop 1640 12772 350 0 0 0 0 0 274 F The rate of 274 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2002-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-11 Olivia Bottum Sampled and proofread 2003-02 Aptara Rekeyed and resubmitted 2003-04 Olivia Bottum Sampled and proofread 2003-04 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES TO BE ENQUIRED OF Within the Diocesse of LONDON . In the third Trienniall Visitation Of the Right Honourable , and Right Reverend Father in GOD , WILLIAM , Lord Bishop of LONDON , Lord High Treasurer of ENGLAND . Holden in the Yeare of our LORD GOD , 1640 LONDON , Printed by RICHARD BADGER . M.DC.XL The Oath to be administred to the Church-wardens and Sworn-men . YOu shall sweare that you and every of you shall diligently enquire of the Articles given you in charge ; and without any affection , favour , 〈◊〉 , hope of reward and gaine , or feare of displeasure , or malice of any person , you shall present all and every such person and persons that now is , or ●f late was within your Parish , as hath committed any incest , adultery , fornication , or simony , and any misdemeanour or disturbances committed or made in any Church or Ch●ppell , in time of Common Prayer , Preaching , or Divine Service there used , to the disturbance thereof : and also that have committed or done any other offence , fault or default , presentable in the E●clesiasticall Court , according to the Articles now delivered to you . Wherein you shall deale uprightly and according to truth , neither of malice presenting any contrary to truth , nor of corrupt affection sparing to present any , and ●o conceale the truth : having in this action God before your eyes , with an earnest zeale to maintaine the truth , and suppresse vice . So helpe you God , and the Contents of this Booke . Articles to be enquired of within the Diocesse of LONDON , in the Visitation to be holden in the Yeare of our LORD , 1640. Concerning Religion , and the true worship of God ▪ In This Realme established . IS there any who doth affirme & teach that the 39 ▪ Articles agréed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops in b●th Provinces , and the whole Clergie , in the Convocation h●lden at London , Anno ▪ 1562. are in any part superstitio●s or 〈◊〉 , or such as hée may not with a good conscience subscribe unto ? Who is that so teacheth or affirmeth , and what is his name ? 2 Is there any who doth affirme and ●ea●h ▪ that the forme of Gods worship in the Church of ●●gland , established by the Law , and contai●●d in the booke of Common ●rayer and administration of Sacraments , is a corrupt , superstitio●s , 〈◊〉 unlawfull worship of God , or containeth any thing in it that is rep●g●●nt , to the Scriptures , Who is it that so teacheth , & c. ? 3 Is there any who doth affirme or teach , that the Rites and Ceremo●ies of the Church of England by Law established , are wicked , antichristian , or superstitious , or such as being commanded by lawfull Authoritie , ●ay not with good cons●ience ●ee approved , used , or subscribed unto , by men who are zealously and godly affected , who is it , & c ? 4 Is there any that separateth himselfe from the Communion of Saints , as it is approved by the Apostles Rules in the Church of England , and c●mbine themselves together in a new brother-hood , accounting the Christians who are conformable to the Doctrine , Governement , ●ites , and Ceremonies of the Church of England , to be prophane or unmeet for him to ioyne within Christian profession , who are they that so separa●e ●●mselves , and what are their names ? Concerning the Church , the Governement , Authoritie , and Discipline thereof . 1 IS there any who doth affirme or teach , that the Church of England by Law established under the Kings Maiestie , is not a true and Apostolicall Church , teaching and maintaining the Doctrine of the Apostles . Who is it that doth so affirme and teach , & c ? 2 Is there any who doth affirme and teach , that the Governement of the Church of England under his Maiestie by Archbishops , Bishops , Deanes , Archdeacons , and the rest that beare office in the same , is antichristian and repugnant to the Word of God . Who is it that doth , &c. 3 Is there any who doth affirme or teach , that the formes or manner of making and Consecrating Bishops , Priests , and Deacons , containeth any thing in it , that is repugnant to the Word of God : or that they who are made Bishops , Priests , and Deacons in that forme , are not lawfully made , nor ought to be accounted either by themselves or others , to be truly either Bishops , Priests , or Deacons , untill they have some other calling unto those Divine Offices . Who is it , &c. 4 Is there any who doth affirme or teach , that the Church hath no power to decree Rites or Ceremonies , nor any authoritie in Controversies of Faith , or in the changing & abolishing of Ceremonies and R●tes of the Church , ordained only by mans authority , contrary to the 20. and 34. Articles of the Church of England . Who is it , &c. 5 Is there any who doth affirme or teach , that the Kings Maiestie hath not the same Authoritie in causes Ecclesiasticall , that the godly Kings had among the Iewes , and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church . Or that the Kings Maiestie within his Realmes of England , Scotland , and Ireland , and all other his Dominions and Countries , is not the highest Power under God , to whom all men , as well Inhabitants as bor●e within the same , doe by Gods law owe most loyaltie and obedience . Or that impeach any part his Royall Supremacie in the said causes restored to the Crowne , and by the Lawes of the Realme therein established . Who is it , & c ? 6 Is there any who doth affirme or teach , that no manner of person eith●r of the Clergie or Laitie , are to be subiect to the Decrees and Constitutions of the Church in causes Ecclesiasticall , made and ratified by the Kings Maiesties Supreme authoritie , other then such as are particularly assembled in the sacred Synods of the Church for the making of the said Decrees , and Constitutions , and have given their voices , to the same . Who is it , & c ? 7 Is there any that doth affirme or teach , that it is lawfull for any sort of Ministers and lay persons , or either of them to ioyne together , and make rules , orders , and Constitutions in Causes Ecclesiasticall without the Kings Authority , or any that submit themselves to be ruled and Governed by the same . Who is it , & c ? 8 Is there any who doth affirme , teach ▪ maintaine or publish , that such Ministers who refuse to subscribe to the forme and manner of Gods worship in the Church of England , and their adherents may truly take unto them the name of another Church : or that there are within this Realme , other meetings , assemblies , or congregations of the Kings borne Subiects , then such as by the lawes of this Land are held and allowed , which may rightly chalenge to themselves the name of true and lawfull Churches . Who is it that doth so affirme , & c ? 9 Doth any Minister or Ministers , without the Licence and direction of the Bishop of the Diocesse first obtained , appoint or keep any solemne Fasts publikely , or in any private houses , other then such as are or shall be appointed by lawfull authoritie , or not being Licensed as afore is said , presumes to appoint or hold any meeting for Sermons , Sermon Lectures , Prophecies , or exercises in Market Townes or other places , or doth attempt without such Licence upon any pretence whatsoever , either of possession or obsession , to cast out any Divell or Divels . Who is it that offendeth in the premises , &c. 10 Doe any Priests or Ministers of the Word of God , or any other persons meet together in any private hou●e or el●ewhere , to consult upon any matter or course to be taken by them or by any other , upon their motion and direction , which may any way tend to the impeaching or depraving of the Church of E●gland , or of the booke of Common Prayer , or of any part of the Government or Discipline in the Church of England now established , and who are they ? Concerning Churches , the Ornaments , Vtensils , and other necessaries to the same belonging . 1 IS your Parish Church or Chappell well and sufficiently repaired , and so from time to time maintained and kept ? Are the windowes well glazed , the floare kept paved plaine and even , and all things there in such ●n orderly ●nd decent sort , without dust , or any thing that may bee either noysome or un●eemely , as best becommeth the house of God ? 2 Are the ten Commandements set upon the East end of your Church or Chappell , where the people may best see and reade the same , and other chosen sen●ences written upo● the walls of your said Church or Chappell , in convenient places ? 3 Doe the Cha●cels remaine as they have d●ne in times past , that i● to say , in the convenient situation of the Seates , and in the ascent or 〈◊〉 unto the place appointed anciently for the standing of the holy Tab●● ? Is the Chancell of your Church or Chappell cleane kept , and repaire● within and without , in the windowes and otherwhere as appertaineth ▪ And is there a comely partition betwixt your Chancell and the body of the Church or Chappell , as is required by the Law ? 4 Is the Church-yard of your Church or Chappell well and sufficiently sensed , maintained and kept with walls , ●ailes or poles , as hath beene heretofore accustomed : And if not , then by whose neglige●●e or default is it , that the fenses of the same are grown into decay ▪ 5 Are there any Playes , Foasts , Banquets , Suppers , Church-Ales , Drinkings , Temporall Courts or Le●tes , Lay-iuries or Musters : or is there any other prophane usage , kept in your Church , Chappell , o● Churchyards , of what sort soever ▪ By whom ●re your said Church or Chappell , or Churchyard so prophaned as afore is said , and by whose permission . 6 Have you in the Chancell of your Church or Chappell a decent and convenient Table for the celebration of the Holy Comm●●ion ? Is i● so set as is directed in the Queenes Iniunctions , and appointed by the Canon made in the Synod held at London , Anno 1640. Have you a Carpet of silke or other decent stuffe , appointed by the Ordinary , to lay upon the Table in the time of Divine Service , and a faire linnen cloth to lay upon the same in time of the Communion ? And is the said Carpet and linnen cloth laid constantly upon the Table , at the times aforesaid ? 7 Have you a faire Communion Cup , or Chalice of silver , with a cover of the same , and a decent standing pot or Flagon of pewter , if not of purer metall , in which the wine for the Communion is to be brought unto the holy Table ? Is the said Table , Carpet , Linnen cloth ▪ Cup , or Flagon , or either of them any wayes prophaned , or otherwise imployed , then to their owne proper and right holy uses ? 8 Have you in your Church or Chappell a Font of stone , where Baptisme is to be administred , decently made , and kept as it ought to be ? Is the same set in the Ancient usuall place appointed for it , and doth your Minister publikely baptize , in the same Font only ? 9 Have you in your Church or Chappell , a convenient Seat made 〈◊〉 the Minister to reade Service in , as also a comely and decent Pulpit set in a convenient place within the same for the preaching of Gods Word , and there seemely kept ? 10 Have you in your Church or Chappell a strong Chest with an hole in the upper part thereof , 〈◊〉 the Almes of the poore ? Hath the same chest three severall keyes , and is the one of them in the castodie of the Parson , Uicar , or Curat ? Is the same so set and fastened in the most convenient 〈◊〉 , to the intent the parishioners may put into it their Almes , for their poore neighbours ? 11 Have you a true note and Terrar , of all the Glebes , Lands , Meadowes , Gardens , Orchards , Houses , stockes , implements , Tenements and portions of tythes lying out of your Parish , which belong unto your Parsonage , or Uicarage ? And is the same , or a true Coppie of the same layed up in the Bishops Registry for a perpetuall Memory thereof ? 12 Have you a comely decent Surplisse with sleeves for the use of your Minister in saying the publike prayers , or ministring the Sacraments , and other rites of the Church : together with an Universitie hood , according to the degree of your said Minister ? And doth the Parson , Uicar , or Cu●●te use the same , as oft as he officiates Gods publike Service , administreth the Sacraments , or dischargeth any publike duty in the Congregation ? 13 Have you a Bible of the largest volume , allowed by Authoritie , the booke of Common Prayer , and the booke of Homilies , all very well , and fairely bound ? As also a booke of the Canons And Constitutions , made in the Synod held at London , Anno 1603. and ratified by the Kings Authority ? A booke of prayers for the 5. of November , and for the 27. of March being the day of his Maiesties most happy Inauguration ? Have you a parchment Register booke wherein to keep upon record , the severall Christenings , Weddings , and Burials , which happen weekly , quarterly , or yearly , in your Parish ? Have you also a Register booke wherein to write the names of all Preachers , which come and Preach in your Church from other places ? And have you one sure Co●er with thrée lockes and keyes , for keeping of the bookes aforesaid . And doth one of your keyes remaine alwayes in the hands of your Minister ? Whether is your Parsonage-house or Vicarage-house , Barnes , Stables , and other out-houses thereto belonging , in good and sufficient repaire . Whether hath any person in●roached upon the ground of your Church-yard , or other consecrated ground , if any hath , then you shall present him , and set out what quantitie of ground is so incroached upon , and whether any new doore or window hath be●ne lately made into your Church or Church-yard ▪ and by what authority ? Concerning the Celebration of Divine Service , the Administration of the Sacraments . &c. DOth your Minister or Curate that ministreth in your Parish Church or Chappell , say daily the Morning and Evening Prayer , in the same Parish Church or Chappell where he ministreth , unlesse he be lawfully hindered ? And doth he cause a Bell to be tolled thereunto , a convenient time before he begin , that such as be disposed may come to heare Gods Word , and to pray with him ? Especially , Is the Common Prayer said or sung distinctly and rev●rently upon such dayes as are appointed to be kept holy , and upon their E●es ? Is the same said or sung at convenient and usu●ll times of those dayes , and in such pl●ce of every Church , as the people may be most edified thereby ? And doth the Pars●n U●car or Curate ▪ observe the Orders Rites and Ceremonies prescribed in the booke of Common Prayer , as well in reading the holy Scripture , and saying of prayers , a● in administration of the Sacraments : without either diminishing in regard of Preaching , or in any other respect , or adding any thing , in the matter and forme thereof ? 2 Doth the Minister reade the Psalmes , and Lessons appointed in the Kalendar for Morning and Evening Prayer ? And at the end of every Psalme throughout the yeare , and likewise at the end of the Benedictus , Benedicite , Magnificat , and Nunc dimittis , doth he repeate , Glory be to the Father , &c. And at the reading of the Lessons , doth he stand and turne him so , as he may best be heard of all such as be present ? And is the Creed called Athanasius Creed , beginning with ( Whosoever will be saved ) said by your Minister constantly at the times appointed in the Common Prayer booke , and doth your Minister sing or say any other Psalmes or Hymns other then aforesaid in the place of those , contrary to Law ? 3 Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate , say the Letanie on every Sunday duely throughout the yeare ▪ as also upon all Wednesdayes and Fridaies weekely , though they be not holy-dayes ? In what convenient place of your Church or Chappell doth hee say the same , and by whom was that place appointed ? Doth hee say the same at the accustomed houres of Service , and is there warning giuen to the people by the tolling of a Bell ? And doth euery house-holder dwelling within halfe a mile of the Church , come , or send one at the least of his houshold to ioyne with the Minister ? 4 Doth your Minister read the Communion Service , or the second Service on every Sunday and Holyday throughout the yeare , though● there bee no Communion , according as it is appointed in the Booke of Common Prayer ? 5 Doth your Parson re●ide upon his Bene●●ce or not , If yea , then , being a licensed Preacher , doth he preach one Sermon every Sunday in the yeare in his owne Cure , or in some Church or Chappell neare adioyning , having no lawfull impediment ? And being not a licensed Preacher , doth he offer at any time to preach or expound the Scriptures , or rather doth he procure Sermons to bee Preache● in his Cure once every moneth at the least by Preachers which bee lawfully licensed ? If he be licensed by the Lawes of this Realme not to reside upon his Benef●ce , then in that Case doth he supply his cure by one that is a sufficient and Licensed Preacher ? And is your Curate allowed to serve there by the Bishop of the Diocesse , or by the Ordinary of the place having Episcopall iurisdiction , and by no other ? 6 Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate upon every Sunday and holy-day throughout the yeare when there is no Sermon , reade one of the Homilies set forth by publike Authority ? Doth he use to read the same in the Pulpit only , according as he is required in the Canons of the yeare 1571. And doth your Minister as well before the Homilie as before his Sermon move and exhort the people ●o ioyne with him in Prayer according to the forme laid downe in the book of Canons , and doth hee use any other forme then is there prescribed ? 7 Have you in your Parish , besides your Parson , Uicar , and Curate , any Lecturer or Lecturers not having cure of soules therein ? Doth your Lecturer use before his Lectures , the forme of prayer before remembred , and no other forme ? And doth he twice at the least every yeare read the Divine Service on two severall Sundaies both in the fore-noone and afternoone , publikely and at the usuall times , and doth he as oft in every yeare administer the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper , in such manner and form , and with the observation of such Rites and Ceremonies as are prescribed in the book of Common Prayer ? 8 Doe your Lecturer or Lecturers preach in their Gownes and not in their Cloaks , according to his Maiesties Instructions , An. 1629. Doth he professe his willingnesse to take upon him a Living with cure of soules , in that place or Parish , in the which he Lectures or elsewhere . And doth he actually take such Cure or Benef●ce if any hath beene offered to him ? 9 Is your Lecturer licensed by the Bishop of the Diocesse ? And doth your Lecturer or any other Preacher that Lectureth or preacheth in your Church or Chappell , impugne or confute any Doctrine formerly delivered in the same , or in any Church neare adioyning , before hee hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocesse therewith , and received order from him what to doe in that case for the avoiding of dissention ? 10 Doth your Lecturer conforme himselfe to the Lawes , Ordinances , and Rites Ecclesiasticall established in the Church of England ? If not , you are to certifie the same unto the Bishop of the Diocesse , or other Ordinary of the place , to the end that if the said Lecturer doe not conforme himselfe after admonition , his Licence may be voided , and himselfe removed ? 11 Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate , administer the Communion in your Church or Chappell so often , and at such times , as every parishioner may communicate at least thrice in the yeare , whereof the Feast of Easter to be one ? And doth he give warning to his parishioners publikely in the Church at Morning prayer the Sunday before , for the better preparation of themselves ? And doe such as purpose to communicat● signifie their minds unto the ●urate over night or the morning early ? 12 Doth your Minister admit to the receiving of the holy Communion , such of his Cure which be openly knowne to live in sinne notorious without repentance , or any who have openly or maliciously contended with their neighbours , and will not be induced by him to a reconcilement ? Or any Church-wardens or Sidemen , who having taken oath to present to their Ordinaries every such publike offence , as they are particularly charged to enquire of in their severall parishes , shall wittingly incurre the horrible crime of periurie ? 13 Doth he wittingly administer the same to any but to such as kneel , or to any that refuse to bee present at the publike prayers , or to any that bee common and notorious depravers of the booke of Common-prayer , or of any thing contained in the Booke of Articles agreed upon in the Convocation , Anno 1562. Or in the booke of Ordering Priests and Bishops , or to any that hath spoken against , and depraved his Maiesties Soveraigne Authority in causes Ecclesiasticall , except such persons doe first acknowledge to the Minister before you the Church-wardens that hee is sorry for the same , and promise either by word of mouth , or under his hand to doe so no more ? 14 Is the bread provided for the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper , of the best and purest white-bread that may conveniently be gotten ? Doth the Minister take the same into his hands to blesse and consecrate it to that holy use as oft as he administreth the Communion ? Doth he so likewise with the wine provided ? And if any bread or wine bee newly brought , doth he first use the words of the Institution before it be distributed to the Communicants ? 15 Doth your Minister as oft as he celebrateth the Communion , receive the Sacrament first in both kindes himselfe , and having so received the same , doth he severally deliver the bread and wine to every Communicant in their ha●ds knéeling ? And at his delivery of the same , doth hee reherse the whole forme mentioned in the Communion Booke saying ( The body of our Lord Iesus Christ , &c. ) or doth he only use some part thereof , as he list himselfe ? 16 Doth your Parson Uicar or Curate administer the Communion at any time publikely in the congregation except there be foure or three ( at the least ) to communicate with him ? Doth he administer the same to any strangers , which come often and commonly from their owne Parish Churches ? And doe you the Church-wardens give notice to your Minister of such strangers , that so hee may remit them home to their owne Parish Churches , there to Communicate with their owne Minister and neighbours ? 17 Doth your Minister , except it be in times and cases of necessity , Preach or administer the holy Communion in any private house in which there is no Chappell dedicated and allowed by the Ecclesiasticall lawes of this Kingdome ? Doth any Chaplaine living within your parish , preach or administer the Communion in any other place then in the Chappell of the said houses ? Doth the Lords and Masters of such Chaplaines , or houses , at other times resort to their owne Parish Churches , and there receive the holy Communion , at least once in the yeare ? And doe any under Noble men , and men qualified by law keepe any private Chaplaine in their house or houses ? 18 Doth your Minister refuse or delay to Christen any child that is brought to him to the Church on Sundayes or Holy-dayes , knowledge thereof being given to him over night or in the morning before Morning prayer ? Doth hee proceed therein in all things according to the forme of publike Baptisme in the Common prayer Booke , doth he neglect , refuse , or pretermit at any time to signe the child baptized with the signe of the crosse , or doth hee admit the parent of a childe to answer as a Godfather to his own childe , or any other person to be a Godfather or Godmother , before the said pers●n so undertaking hath received the holy Communion ? 19 Doth your Minister being duly informed of the weaknesse and danger of death of any infant unbaptized in his Parish , and being thereupon desired to goe unto the place and baptize the same , either wilfully refuse to d●e it , or negligently delay the time , so that the child departeth without Baptisme ●hrough his def●ult : if the childe so baptized doe recover afterwards , is it brought into the Church by the Godfathers and Godmothers , to the intent the congregation may bee certified of the Baptizing thereof , according to the ●orme prescribed in the Common prayer Book ? 20 Doth your Minister having Cure and charge of ●oules , doe his best endeavour to prepare children , and make them ready for confirmation ? And to that end , doth hee on every Sunday and Holyday before Evening prayer for the space of halfe an houre or more instruct the youth and ignorant ▪ persons of the parish , according 〈◊〉 the Catechisme set forth in the Common prayer booke ? And are the afternoone Sermons in your● parish ( if you had any formerly ) turned into Catechising by way of questions and answers according to the Kings Instructions ? 21 Doth your Minister either bring , or send in writing to the Bishop of the Diocesse the names of all those Children of his parish which can answer to the questions contained in the Catechisme , that by the imposition of hands and prayer , they may receive strength and defence against temptation ? And doth he admit any person or persons to y● holy Comm●nion , untill such time as he or they can orderly say the catechisme and be confirmed ? 22 Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate celebrate Matrimony betwixt any persons , without a facultie or Licence granted by authority Lawfull , or without the Banes of Matrimony first published , on three severall Sundayes or Holydayes , in the parish Church or Chappell where the said parties dwell , or at the times by Law prohibited without speciall Licence : Or doth he celebrate the same in any other place than in the Church , or in the Church at any other time than betweene the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoone , and at that time betwixt such persons as are under the age of twenty one yeares , without the consent of their parents signifie● unto him ▪ or a Licence granted to him so to doe ? 23 Doth your Minister in the solemnizing of holy Matrimony keepe himselfe to the forme and Ceremonies prescribed in the Common Prayer booke , doth he at any time marry any without a King , or without going to the Lords Table , as it is appointed : Doth he in case there bee no Sermon read those Texts of Scripture , wherein the offices of man and wife , are declared , according as it is prescribed ? And doe the new married persons the same day of their marriage receive the holy Communion , as by Law they ought ? 24 Doth your Minister or Curate resort to such of your parish as are dangerously sick ( if the disease be n●t probably suspected to be infectious ) to instruct and comfort them in that distresse , doth hee exhort the sick party to be in charity with all the world , and to dispose of his goods , and declare his debts , and doth he move him and that most earnestly to liberalitie towards the poore , and to unburden his conscience ? 25 If any sick person finde his conscience troubled with anyweighty matter , and doth unburden the same to his Priest or Minister , doth the said Priest or Minister give him absolution according to the forme prescribed : And have you ever heard that the said Priest or Minister hath revealed and made knowne at any time to any person whatsoever , any crime or ●ffence committed to his trust and secrecy , either in case of such extremity , or any other case whatsoever ( except they be such crimes as by the lawes of this Realme , the life of the sai● Priest or Minister ma●●e called in questi●n for concealing of it ) declare the name of the offender , when and by whome you heare the ●ame ? 26 Doth the Curate that ministreth in your parish , upon convenient notice giuen him , administer the Communion unto such as be dangerously sicke , and not able to come unto the Church , and yet are desirous to receive the same in their houses , and are unquiet for he lack thereof : Or doth hee obstinately and wilfully refuse so to doe being thereunto required , and finding all things necessary for the doing of it ? 27 Doth your minister refuse or delay to bury any corps that is brought into the Church or Church-yard , convenient warning being given him before , except the partie deceased were denounced excommunicate for some grievous crime , Majori Excommunicatione , and no man able to testifie of his repentance : And doth he do it decently and gravely , not swerving from the forme prescribed by the Church in the Common prayer booke ? 28 Doth any woman in your parish after her delivery from the paines and perill of Childbirth refuse to come into the Church to render thanks to God for so great a mercy : Doth she goe thither covered with a decent veil according to the laudable and ancient custome : And being come doth she goe ▪ n●ere unto the place where the Table standeth , and offereth her accustomed offerings : And doth your Minister doe his dutie in churching the said women according to the forme prescribed : And doth the woman that commeth to give her tha●kes ▪ receive the holy Communion if there by any ? 29 Doth your Minister at and upon seasonable times , especially on the first day of Lent , cause the people , to bee called together and assembled in the Church by the ringing of a Bell : And being drawne together doth hee read unto them the commination against sinners , with the other prayers appointed ? Concerning the Clergie , their Duty , Carriage ▪ &c. DOth your Parson , Uicar , Curate , or Lecturer , ( if you have any ) purely and syncerely teach , manifest and declare foure times every yeare at the least in his Sermons and other Collations and Lectures that all usurped and forraigne power is for most iust cau●es taken away and abolished , and that therefore no obedience or subiection within his Maiesties Realmes and Dominions , is due unto any such forraigne power . And doth he preach the Doctrine of obedience , and the Kings authority according to the Canons published , and set out by the late holy Synod , Anno 1640. 2 Doth your Minister declare to the parishioners , every Sunday at the time appointed in the Communion booke whether there be any Holy-dayes or fasting-dayes in the following weeke : And doth hee call upon them to observe the same , according to the Lawes of the Land , and of holy Church ? 3 Doth your Minister or Curate in the Rogation dayes goe in perambulation about your parish saying and using the Psalmes and suffrages by Law appointed , as viz. Psalme 103. & 104. the Letany and suffrages , together with the Homily set out for that end and purpose : Doth hee admonish the people to give thankes to God , if they see any likely hopes of plenty , and to call upon him for his mercy , if there be any feare of scarcitie : And doe you the Churchwardens assist him in it ? 4 Doth your Curate serve more then one Church or Chappell upon one day , except the said Chappell be a member of the parish Church or united thereto : How farre distant are the said Churches or Chappels which he serveth from one another ? What wages hath he for his paines ? 5 Doth your Minister if he be commanded by the Ordinary , openly on some Sunday denounce and declare for excommunicate , all those , who either for refusing to frequent the divine service of the Church , or for notorious contumacie , or other notable crimes stand lawfully excommunicated by the lawes of the Church , that others thereby may bee admonished to refraine their Companies : And doth your Minister himselfe refraine the company of persons excommunicated and so denounced ? 6 Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate usually weare such apparell as is prescribed by the Canon , that is to say , a gowne with standing colla● and wide sleeves straite at the hands , and a square cap : Or doth hee go● at any time abroade in his dublet and ho●e without coat or cassock , or doth he use to weare any light coloured stockings , doth he weare any ●oi●e , and wrought nightcaps , or only plaine night-caps of silke , sattin , or velvet : And in his iourneying , doth he usually weare a cloake with sleeves , commonly called the Priests cloak , without guards , we●ts , long buttons or cuts ? 7 Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate resort at any time , other then for his honest necessities to any Tavernes , or Ale●ouses , or doth your Curate lodge or board , in any such places : Doe they or either of them give themselves to any base or servile labour , or to drinking or Riot , or to playing at di●e , cards or tables , or to an● other unlawfull game , or games : or doe they otherwise spend their time idly by day or by night ? 8 Is there any in your Parish , who having beene a Deacon or Minister hath voluntaryly relinquished his calling , and doth u●e himselfe in the course of his li●e as a lay man , what are their names that have forsaken their said callinge ? 9 Doth your Minister ( if he be a Preacher , and thought fit by your Bishop ) having any popish Recusant , or Recusants in his parish , labour diligently with them from time to time , thereby to reclaime them from their errours : And if he be n● Preacher , or not such a Preacher , doth hee procure some that are Preachers so qualified , to take paines with them to that purpose ? 10 Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate , carefully informe himselfe every yeare , how many popish Recusants , men , woemen , and children above the age of thirteene yeares , or being otherwise popishly given , are inhabitants within their parish or parishes , or make their abode there , either as soiourners or common guests ? 11 Doth your Minister every Sunday weekly ( if there be occasion ) in the presence of you the Churchwardens , write and record in the ▪ Register-booke the names of all persons christened , together with the names and surnames of their parents , as also , the names and surnames of all persons married and buried in that parish the weeke before , and the day and ●eare of every such Christening , Marriage , and Burial , and unto every page therof when it is fild , do you and your said Minister subscribe your names : And is a true coppie of the said Christnings , Marriages , and Burials , subscribed with the names of your Minister and you the Churchwardens , transmit●ed yearely within one moneth after the 25 of March , unto the Bishop of the Dio●esse to be preserved in his Registry ? 12 Doth your Minister in the parish Church or Chappell , where ●ee hath charge , reade the Canons , Orders , and Constitutions , ( agreed on in the Synod held at London , Anno 1603. ) once every yeare upon some Sundayes or Holydayes in the afternoone before Divine Service : and doth he so divide the same , as the one halfe may be read one day ▪ and the other halfe the other day ? Whether hath your Minister , Churchwardens , and Sidemen , presented unto the Lord Bishop of London , or his Chancellour , within fortie dayes after ●aster , the names of all the Parishioners , as well men as woemen , which being ●bove 16. yeares of age , received not the Communion , at or about Easter be●ore according to the 112. Canon ; If not , you shall present , whether that ●resentment should have beene brought in by your selves or your predecessors , ●nd specifie the names of every one that should have made such presentment at ●aster last past ? Concerning Schoolemasters , Parish Clarkes , and Sextens . DOth any man in your Parish ●each either in publike Schoo● or ●●iva●e house , but such as ●e allowed by the Bishop of the Diocesse or other Ordinary of the place under his hand and Seale : And if there 〈◊〉 no publike Grammer-schoole founded in y●ur parish , doth any other teac● Schoole in your parish , than your Cura●e only , if he be willing so to doe ? 2 Doth your Schoolemaster teach in English or Latine , as the chil●dren are able to beare , the shorter or longer Catechisme set forth by Autho●rity and no other : doth he on Sundayes and Holydayes when there is● Sermon cause his S●hollers to ●ome unto the Church , and there see the● quietly and orderly behave themselves ▪ And doth he traine them up at 〈…〉 in sentences of holy Scripture ▪ And doth he teach them any o●ther Grammar than that which was set forth by King . Henry VIII . an● hath since conti●ued ▪ 3 Have you belonging to your Church or Chappell a Parish Clark● aged : 21. yeares at the least ? As he of 〈◊〉 convers●tion , sufficient 〈◊〉 his reading , writing : and also for his 〈…〉 said Clarke chosen by any your Parson , Uicar , o● other Minister . An● doth your Clarke so chosen as before is said , receiv● his 〈…〉 , without any fraud or diminution , as hath beene a● 〈…〉 who is it that denyeth to pay that wages ? 4 doth your Se●ten or your Parish Clarke ( if there be no Se●ton ) wh●n , and as often as any person in passing out of this life , cause 〈◊〉 Bell 〈◊〉 be tolled , that so his neighbours may be warned to recommend his soule 〈◊〉 the grace of God ? And after the said parties death ( if it so ●all out ) doth 〈◊〉 ring or cause one short peale to be ●orthwith run● , that so his neighbour may have notice that he is departed : Whether do you the Churchwardens of every Parish within the Ci●ie an● Suburbs of London ( according to the Kings Majesties Letters Patents , unde● the great Seale of England in that behalfe granted ) suffer your Parish Clar●● to gather his wages himselfe , in as full and ample manner , as the fame ha●● formerly beene gathered , in or by colour of his name , without dimin●tio● upon pre●ence of pewage , or the like , and without any manner of disturban●● or interruption or forbidding any one so to pay the same unto him , and wh●●ther doe you assist your Clarke in collecting his wages ( if need be ) accordin● to his Majesties said Letters Patent : and whether doe you duely present a● such persons of your Parish as refuse to pay the said Clarkes accustomed wage● as by his Majesties said grant , you are required and commanded ? Concerning Parishioners . IS there any in your Parish either Mas●er or servant , Soiour●er or Inhabiter , that hath offended either by Adultery , Whoredome , Incest , or drun●ennesse , or by swearing , ribaldry , ( or filthy speaking ) usury , or any other uncleannesse , or wickednesse of life ? you shall faithfully present all and every the said offenders . 2 Doe you know of any in your Parish , or elsewhere , that is an hinderer of the word of God to be read , or syncerely preached , or of the execution of any Ecclesiasticall Canons , now by law in force ? or a fa●●our of any usurped or forraigne power , by the lawes of this Realme ●ustly rejected and taken away , or a defendour of any popish and erronious doctrine ? you shall de●ect , and faithfully present . &c. 3 Have you in your parish any popish Recusants , men , women ▪ or children , above the age of 13. yeares , whether inhabitants , or sojourners , and common guests , that refuse to come to Church , or comming to the Church , refuse to receive the Communion ? you shall set downe their names in writing , if you know their names , or otherwise ▪ those names by which they are called , and who they are that entertaine such guests or sojourners . 4 Have you any that disswade any of his Majes●ies subjects , from comming to the Divine Service in this Church established , or that haue or doe practise with any of them to disswade them from taking the oath of Allegiance ▪ or that have any wayes offended against the Canon lately made , for the suppressing of popish superstition : 5 Doe all and every person or persons inhabiting or so●ourning within your Parish , diligen●ly and faithfully resort unto your parish Church , or Chappell accustomed , upon euery Sunday , and other dayes appointed to be u●ed and kept as Holydayes , doe they then and there abide orderly and soberly , 〈◊〉 the time of common prayer , preaching , or other service of God there to be used , or m●nistred ? Or , ( which is contrary thereunto ) have you any that come unto the preachings only , and not unto the common prayer , or comming to the common prayer , neither use to come at the beginning , nor ●arry out unto the end ? Or that being there doe rudely and disorderly behave themselves , or which by walking , talking , or any other noise doe hinder the Minister or Preacher ? 6 Have you any that upon the Sundayes or Holydaies , imploy themselves in their bodily and ordinary labour , or that permit their servants so to doe ? Or that keepe open Shops in time of divine Service ? Or any Uintners , Inn-keepers , or other Uictuallers , that permit any to lie tipling in their houses , or that doe tipple , dice ▪ or play at cards , or any other game in time of divine Service on the aforesaid dayes ? Or that use any plowing , carting , or workes of husbandry , on any of those Sundayes or holydayes , throughout the yeare , unlesse according to Law , or otherwise dispose themselves then according ●o Gods holy will and pleasure , and the orders of the Church of England pres●ribed in that behal●e , and by Law in force ? 7 Doth any manner of person cover his head in your Church or Chappell in time of divine Service or Sermon , or any part thereof , except he have some infirmitie , and in case of such infirmitie , doth he weare a co●● or nightcap only , and not his hat ? doe all and every person of your parish reverently kneele upon their knees , when the generall Confession , the Letany , the ten Commandements and other prayers are read , and also at the receiving the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper , doe they all say the Creed , and Lords prayer , next immediately following in a loud voice together with the Minister ? doe they stand up at the saying of the Beliefe , and such other parts of divine Service as former●y they have beene used to stand up at , according to the Rules and ancient custome of this Church ? And when and as often as in the time of divine Seruice the Lord Iesus shall be mentioned , is due and lowly reverence done by all persons present ? have you any that offend in the neglect of these particulars ▪ and what are there names ? 8 Have you any parishioner that being 16. yeares of age doth not receive the Communion , at the least thrice in the yeare , of which Easter to be one , or that doth not receive the Sacraments , and other rites according to the order of the common prayer booke ? Or that doth not reckon with his Parson Uicar or Curate , or his or their deputies at Easter , yearely paying such Ecclesiasticall du●ies as are accustomably due then , and at that time to be paid ? 9 The Minister standing as he is appointed at the North side , or end of the Table , when hee prepares to celebrate the holy Communion , and calling on those who doe intend to communicate , to draw neare and take that holy Sacrament to their comfort , as it is in the words of the common prayer booke , have you any in your parish that keepe their seats , and sit still in their places , not drawing neare as is commanded by the Church , but looking that the Minister should forsake the place of his station , by the Church appointed , to bring it to them ? 10 Is there any of your parish , who doth forsake his owne Church or Chappell to receive the Communion at the hands of any other than their owne Minister , or any strangers that usually repaire to your Church or Ch●●●ell to the same intent , or any that refuse to receive the holy Communion at ●●e hands of their owne Minister , because hee is no Preacher or to have their children baptized by him in the same respect , or that in the same respects communicate , or cause their children to be baptized in other Parishes abroad ? Or doth your Minister baptize any children presented unto him out of other Parishes ? you shall present the names of all offenders in these particulars . 11 Have you any that procure their children to be baptized at home in their houses without great cause and necessity , or by any other than their own lawfull Minister if he may be had ? Or after any other form and manner than is pr●scribed by the Liturgie of the Church of England , or any that procure themselves to be married privately , or ●fter any other manner than the Church prescribes ? 12 Do all and every housholder of your Parish , Fathers , Mothers , Masters & Mistresses , cause their children , seruants , and apprentises , which have not learned their catechisme , come unto the Church on Sundayes and Holydayes in the afternoone , obediently to heare and to be ordered by the Minister till they have learnt the same . 13 Have you any in your Parish that refuse to contribute , and pay the rate ass●ssed ●pon him , for the repaire of your Church or Chapp●ll , or the providing of any bookes , utensils or necessary ornaments to the same belonging ? present the names of those which doe so refuse . 14 Have you any that keepe company and hold society with suc● as are denounced and declared Excommunicate ? 15 Have you any living in your Parish , which have beene legally separated and divorced , have afterwards beene married unto others , either men or women , during the life of each other , or that being so divorced as afore is said , keepe company with each other at bed and at board ? Or any that being lawfully married , doe yet live asunder , without a separation in due course of law ? 16 Have you any persons in your Parish ▪ which are and have been married within the d●grees prohibited by the Lawes of God , and expressed in a Table set forth by authority ? And is the said Table publikely set up and fix●d in your Church or Chappell at the Charge of the Parish ? 17 Are there in your Parish any Wills unproved , or any goods unadministred by lawfull Authority ? Did any dying in your Parish give any legacy unto your Church or Chappell , or to the use of the ▪ poore and needy ? 〈◊〉 how have the said legacies so given beene disposed of by whom and by whose Authority ? And have they otherwise beene disposed of , then to the said pious and charitable uses ? Whether is there in your parish , a common fame and report of any which have committed Adulterie , Fornication , or Incest , or any Baudes , harbourers , or receivers of such persons , or vehemently suspected thereof , if yea , then specifie their names ; Whether have you any in your Parish , which are by common fame and report and vehement suspition , reputed and taken to be common Drunkards , blasphemers of Gods holy Name , common and usuall swearers , filthy speakers , railers , sowers of discord among their neighbours , or speakers against Ministers Marriages ; or Vsurers , contrary to the Sta●ute made in the 37. yeare of King Henry the eighth ? you shall not faile to present their names . Whether have any in your Parish , received or harboured any women with child , suspected to be of a● incontinent life , or have had any such woman delivered of child in his or her house , or have suffered such women to depart without penance first inflicted upon them by the Ordinary , if yea , you shall present as well the partie harbouring , as harboured , and all that help to conveigh them away , and the parties suspected to have committed adultery or fornication with them . Whether doe you know , or have heard of any Patron , or any having an Advowson in your Parish , that have made gaine by any colour , deceit , or Symoniacall pact in bestowing his Be●efice and presenting to the same for gaine , for or receiving money , or promise of the Lease of the whole or part ▪ or by reserving his owne tithes , or any pension to himselfe , or any other ? What Almes-houses , Hospitals , Free-schooles have you in your Parish , that are not of t●e Foundation or Patronage of the King , and who was the Patron or Founder thereof , and whether the said Almes-houses , Hospitals , or Free-schooles in your Parish , being under the Rule and Government of the Lord Bishop of London , be well and godly used , according to the ancient Foundations and Ordinances of the same . Whether any Persons within your Parish , either for the offences aforesaid , or for any other contumacy or crime , doe remaine excommunicated , what be their names , and for what cause , and how long have they stood excommunicated ? Concerning Church-Wardens and Sidemen . ARe you the Churchwardens chosen by the ioynt consent of your Minister and Parishioners , or one of you by the Minister , and the other by the Parishioners : Have the last Churchwardens given up their accounts , delivering up to the Parishioners the money remaining in their hands , and other things of right belonging to your Church or Chappell , and is the same delivered to you by bill indented ? 2 Do you the Churchwardens and Sidemen diligently see that all your parishioners resort duly to your Church or Chappell , upon Sundayes and Holydayes , and there continue the whole time of Divine Service ? doe you suf●er any to walke or stand idle or talk in the Church or in the Church-yard , or Church●porch , during that time , to the disturbance of the Minister and scandall of the congregation ? You must present the names of such as offend herein ? 3 Do you against the time of every Communion , at the charge of the Parish provide a sufficient quantitie of fine white bread , and of good and wholesome wine , for the number of the Communicants ? And doe you doe the same with the advice and direction of your Minister ? And the wine so provided , do you bring to the Communion Table in a cleane and sweet standing pot or flaggon ? 4 Doe you the Churchwardens and Sidemen see , that the names of all Preachers which come to your Church from other places , be noted in a booke prouided for that purpose ? And doth every such Preacher subscribe his name in the said booke , the day when he preached , and the name of the Bishop of whom he had licence to preach ? 5 If there be any publike dissension and contradicting in your Pulpit , betweene the Minister of your Church or Chappell , and any other Preacher or Preachers , whereby disq●ietnesse and offence may grow among the people , doe you forthwith signifie the same unto the Bishop , and not suffer the partie to enjoy the place so by him abused , untill the Bishop hath taken further order in it ? 6 Doe any person or persons , trouble or molest you the Churchwardens , for presenting all or any of those persons , which do off●nd in any of the premisses , who are they that doe so molest or trouble you , and before whom , and in what Court doe they so molest you ? 7 Doe you the Churchwardens leuie by way of distresse , on the goods Lands and Te●ements of every person in your Parish , that doth not re●ort unto your Parish Church or Chappell on every Sunday and Holy-day throughout the yeare , ( having no reasonable excuse to bee absent ) the ●umme of xii . pence , for every Sunday or Holydaie that he is so absent ? And doe you dist●ibute the severall summes so levied as before is said , among the poore of the parish , according to the Law in that case provided ? 8 Have you had time sufficient for drawing up of your presentments ? ●ow long is it since this booke of Articles was sent unto you ? have you ●erused and considered as well the Oath you are to take , as the Articles ●hereon to ground your presentments , and ●very branch and clause thereof , and have you framed your presentments punctually , according to the ●everall branches and clauses of those Articles ? For know assuredly that as well the discharging of your Office , is the chie●e me●●es whereby publike sinnes and offences may be reformed and punished , so if you wil●●lly omit to present such crimes as either you know to be commi●●ed , or otherwise have heard by publike fame , that in such cases your Ord●naries are to proceed against you , as in causes of wilfull perjurie , in their Ecclesiasticall Courts ? Concerning Chancellors , Registers , Proctors , Apparators , and other Ecclesiasticall Officers . IS the Chancellor , Commissarie , or Officiall , that exerciseth Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction according as you know or have heard in holy Orders of the Ministerie , or if he be not , is he well affected and zealously bent towards Religion , and such a man touching whose life no evill example is had ? 2 Doe they or any of them substitute any in their absence to keepe Court for them , that is not either a grave Minister , and a Graduate , o● a licensed publike Preacher , and a Benificed man neare the place where the Courts are kept , or a Batchellour of Law , or a Master of Ar●s at the least , who hath some skill in the Civill and Ecclesiasticall Lawes ? Is he or they so substituted , a favourer of true Religion , and a man of modest and honest conversation ? Declare the truth according to your knowledge or best information in these particulars . 3 Do they or any of them ( not being themselves in holy Orders ) pronounce the sentence of Excommunication , or leave it only to the Bishop , and is the same pronounced only by the Bishop , or by some grave man o● his appointment , which is in the Ministery ? Or doe they or any of them absolve any that are Excommunicated at his or their owne house or houses , or otherwise in private houses , or only openly and in the Consistorie● declare your knowledge in this point . 4 Doth your Chancellor , Archdeacon , Commi●sarie or Officiall take upon him , or them to a●ter any penanc● enjoyned without leave o● the Bishop ? Have they or either or any of them , comm●ted any penan●● with any dwelling in your Parish ? What summe of monie hath beene taken for the said commutation ? Is the said summe made knowne unt● you in the congregation either by the penitent himselfe , or by the Ministe● of your Parish , As by the Canons of the yeare 1597. it ought to be ● An● being so made knowne , hath the same summe or summes of monie , bee● distributed on the poore of your Parish ▪ or otherwise bestowed upon pio●● uses ? And on what pious uses , as you have beene credibly informed , wa● the samebestowed ? 5 Doth your Chancellor , Archdeacon , Of●iciall , or other Ecclesiasticall Iudge , suffer any generall Processe of Quo●um Nomina ▪ to be sent out of the Court , except the names of all such as be cited ▪ are first expres●●e entered by the hand of the Register or his Deputie , and the said proc●sses and names be subscribed by the Iudge or his Deputie , and his seale of Office thereto affixed ? 6 Doth the Chancellor , or any Commissarie within your Diocesse , cite any of your Parish for any crime into his court , that hath beene formerly detected or presented to the Archdeacon ? Or doth your Archdeacon cite any dwelling in your Parish , to appeare before him for any ●rime presented to the Chancellor in his Uisitation ? by which of the two aforesaid Iuris●ictions was the partie offending cited last ? 7 Doth your Chancellor , Commissarie ▪ Archdeacon , Officiall , or any other using Ecclesiasticall Iuris●iction , speede any Iudiciall ▪ Act except he have the Ordinary ▪ Register of the court , or his lawfull Deputy , or else such persons to write and speed the same , as are by ●aw allowed in that behalfe ? Or have they , or either , or any of them , without the Bishops consent any moe seales then one , for the sealing of all matters incident to his or their Office ? And doth the said Seale remaine in the custodie of the Iudge himselfe , or of the lawfull substitute by him appointed ? And is the same kept in the Citie or principall Towne in the ●ountie , as the Law requireth ? 8 Doth your Chancellor , Commissarie , Archdeacon , Officiall or others exercising any Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction , or eith●r or any of them , appoint such place or places for the keeping of their Courts , as are convenient for the entertainment of those that are to make their appearance there , and most indifferent for travell ? And doe they end in their Courts in such convenient time or times , as every man may returne homewards in as due season as may be ? 9 Hath any Register unto your knowledge , or as you have credibly beene informed , receiued wittingly any certificate without the knowledge of the Iudge ? Or willingly omitted to call any persons cited to appeare upon any Court day ? Or that hath unduely put off , and deferred the Examination of witnesses to be examined by a day , set and assigned by the Iudge ? Or that hath set downe or enacted any thing false , or conceited by himselfe , as decreed by the Iudge , or not as so ordered or decreed by the Iudge ? Or that hath received any reward in any Causes whatsoever in favour of any partie , or that is of counsell directly or indirectly with either of the parties in suit ? declare your knowledge in these particulars . 10 Do●h any Register or any other Minister of Ecclesiastical Courts or any of the Iudges of the said Courts take or receive any other or greater fees , then such as were ratified and approved by the Archbishop of Canterbury , Anno 1597. and contained in the Tables of fees , for that purpose made : And are two Tables , containing the severall rates and summes of the said fees , set up according to the Law in that case provided ? That is to say , one of them in the usuall place or Consistorie where the Court is kept , and the other of them in the Registry , or Registers Office ? And are they set up in such sort that every man whom it concerneth may without difficultie come to the view thereof and take a copie of them if they so desire ? And doth any Register or other Ecclesiasticall Officer take more for shewing Letters of Orders ▪ then is appointed in the 137. Canon ? 11 Doth any Proctor take upon him to appeare in any Cause or pretend to be entertained in the same , unlesse hee be constituted and appointed by the party himselfe either before the Iudge and in open Court , or by sufficient Proxie con●●rmed by some authenticall Seale , the parties ratification therewithall concurring ? If you know any such present him , that so he may be punished as the law provides ? Or doth any Proctor ●ake the oath in Animam Domini , in any cause what ever , contrary to the ordinance of holy Church ? 12 How many Apparatours have you in your Dioc●sse or Archdeaconrie , as you either know or doe conjecture ? Doe they or any of them execute their Office by themselves or by their Deputies ? And if by their Deputies , then is the cause of such their deputation and employment made knowne and approved of by the Ordinary of the place ? Doe they take upon them the Offfce of Promot●rs or Informers for the Court , or exact more or greater fees then are prescribed in the Tables before remembred ? What other abuses and aggrievances can you complaine of justly in the said Apparators ? Whether any Archdeacon or Officiall within the Diocesse of London hath or doth commute or change any p●nance or corporall punishment , in whole or in part , and what money such Archdeacon or Officiall hath received , what 〈◊〉 offence was for which any summe of money was received , or appointed to be paid ? set downe the particulars of the premisses . Whether any Archd●acon or Officiall , or his Surrogate , have within thes● three yeares last past , granted any Licences for the Marriage of any parties in your parish Church , or elsewhere , whether hath your Minister by vertue o● the said Licences , so married them , and by whom the said Licences were so granted , and you are likewise required by vertue of your corporall oath to make diligent search in the Register booke of marriages kept within your parish , what parties have beene married by the said authoritie , and if you know any such , present their names , and places where they dwell . Whether have you in your Parish any Curats , Schoolemasters , Physitians , Ch●●urgions , Parish Clarkes , or Midwives , licensed by any other authority than of the Lord-bishop of this Diocesse , or his Chancellor , and whether any fees have beene demanded or received by any other besides the Lord Bishop of this Diocesse , or his Chancellor , in the Lord Bishops Visitation , for exhibiting the said licences ? Whether any Commissarie , Archdeacon , or Officiall , have at any time , especially within these three yeares last past , intermedled in the placing or displacing of any persons in pewes , in your Parish Churches , or have granted any confirmation of seates , under his seale of office , or by his authority hath caused to be removed the Pulpit , or Font , or reading Deske f●om their ancient and accustomed place , or given way to making of doores or windowes in Churches or Chappels , or erecting of Galleries ? Whether any Commissarie , Archdeacon or Officiall have proved the Wils , or granted Administration of the goods of any beneficed man or Curat dying within his Iurisdiction , or of any other person being in holy Orders ? The Charge of the Church-wardens and Sworn men set downe for the better performance of their duties , and discharge of their Oaths . THey are not to bring in any Bills into the Archdeacons Court upon the Articles to be enquired of in their Visitation , by reason of my Lords Visitation , but only now during the said Visitation , to make their presentments upon these Articles . They are therefore charged , that after their Oath taken , and their returne home , they doe require their Minister to reade over both the Book of Canons or Constitutions , set forth by his Majestie , in the Convocation holden in the year of our God , 1604. and also these Articles unto them , and to consider of every particular Article , and of the offences by them to be presented , as also of such persons in their Parish as shall bee noted to offend in the same : and so the Church-wardens and Side-men assembling themselves together within some convenient time , are to make their Bill , answering every Article by it selfe , before the time hereafter appointed them , which Bill shall be signed with the hands of all the Church-wardens and Side●men , with conference had with their Minister upon the said Bill of presentment , who , according to the 26. Canon ▪ is to see that the said Church-wardens doe their duties in presenting , upon the penaltie in the 26. Canon prescribed . These Bills shall be brought by both the Church-wardens AT the delivery of your Bill of presentment , at the time and place before set downe , you the Church-wardens are likewise in the said Bill , to set downe the names of all such as have died within your parish at any , time since the day of Iuly last past being Men , Maides or Widowes : and what person or persons have beene married since the said time , and by what Licence or authority : and likewise you the Minister , Church-wardens and Side-men of every Parish , must in the end of the said Bill of presentment , set downe , the number of all Recusants , and non-Communicants as followeth Recusants men — Recusants women . — Non-Communicants of both sex . — Communicants of both sex in the whole Parish So setting down the number of every one , you the Minister , Church-wardens and Side-men must put your hands to the said Note . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A00214e-140 Can. 5. Can. 4. Can. 6. Can. 9. Can. 3. Can. 7. Can. 8. Art. 20. 34. Can. 2. & 1. ●an . ● 4 Can. 12. Can. 10. Can. 11. Can. 72. Can. 73. Can. 85. Can. 82. Rubr. before Morning Prayer . Orders of Queene Elizabe●● , An. 1561. Ib. Order ● . Can , 85. Can. 88. Injunct . of Q ▪ Eliz. Orders of Q ▪ Eli● . Can. 82. Com. Book . Can. 20. Can. 81. Can. 82. 83. Can. 84 Can. ●7 Can. 58. Can. 80. Can. 70 ▪ Can. 52 Can. 70 Rubrick after the Pre●ace . Can. 14 ▪ Rub●i●k of the Common P●ayer booke ▪ Can. 15. Rubr. f●●r the Communion . Can. 4● Can. 4● 46 ▪ Can. 47 Can. 48 Rubr ▪ Cap. 4. Can. 55 Can. 55 ▪ Can. 56 Can. 5● can. 5● Can. 21 ▪ Can. 2● ▪ Can. 26 ▪ Can. 27. ●ubr . ●an . ●1 . ●ubr . ●an . 21. Rubr. & Can. 28. 57. Can. 71 ▪ Instructions . Can. 6● ▪ Rubr ▪ o● Bap. Can. 30. Can. 29. Can ▪ 69 Can. 61 Can ▪ 59. Rubr. of Con●ir . Inst●ucti●ns ▪ Rub. of Confirm . Can. 62. Rubr ▪ of Matrimo●ie . Can. 87. Rubr. of ●isitation . Rubr. of Visitation . Can. 130 Rubrick of Com. Can. 68. Rubr. Can. 1. Can. 64. Rub. of Com. Injunctions and Adver●isements of Q Eliz●b . Can. 48. Can An. 1571. Cap. ult. Can. 65. Can. 74. Can. 75. Can. 76. Can. 66 ▪ Can. 66. Can. 114 Can. 70. Can. 77. Can. 78. Can. 79. Can. 91. Can. 67. Can 109 Can. 110 Can. 114. Q Eliz. ● . ● 1 E●z . c. ● Can. Ann● 157 1. c● . 5 Can. 111 Can : An● 1571. Can. 18. Can. 18. Can. 114 Rubr. Can. 122 Rubr. ●nvi●ation ●an . 58. Rubr of B●● Can. 59 Can. 91 Can. 8 Can. 6● Can. 10 Can. 9 Can. ● ●●n . 89 Can. 90 ▪ Can. 19. 90 Can. 20. Can. 52. Can. 53. Can. 115● 1. Eliz. ● . ●● Ca● . 1571 ▪ Can. 119 Can. ●6 . C●n . 117 Can. Art. 1571. p. 11. Can. An. 1603. c. 127. Can. 178 Can An. 1571. Can. An. 1571. & 1597. Can. 120 ▪ Can. 12● . Can. 123 ▪ Can. 125. Ca● . 134 〈…〉 Can. 136 Can. 137 Can. 1●9 Can. 138 
A00233	----	Articles to be inquired of vvithin the dioces of Norwich in the first visitation of the R. Reverend Father in God, Matthevv, Lord Bishop of Norwich. Visitation articles. 1636 Church of England. Diocese of Norwich. Bishop (1635-1638 : Wren) 1636 Approx. 68 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A00233 STC 10298 ESTC S122526 99857650 99857650 23417 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A00233) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 23417) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1350:4) Articles to be inquired of vvithin the dioces of Norwich in the first visitation of the R. Reverend Father in God, Matthevv, Lord Bishop of Norwich. Visitation articles. 1636 Church of England. Diocese of Norwich. Bishop (1635-1638 : Wren) Wren, Matthew, 1585-1667. [20] p. By Richard Badger, Printed at London : 1636. Signatures: A-B⁴ C² . This edition has A2r catchword "tering"; B1r line 4 ends "is". Reproduction of the original in the Union Theological Seminary (New York, N.Y.). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England. -- Diocese of Norwich -- Early works to 1800. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England -- Norwich -- Early works to 1800. 2004-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-11 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2005-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES TO BE INQVIRED OF VVITHIN THE DIOCES OF NORWICH : In the first Visitation of the R. Reverend Father in God , MATTHEVV , LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH . Printed at London , by Richard Badger . 1636. The Tenour of the OATH to be Ministred to the Church-wardens , and any other of every Parish , that shall be sworne to make Presentments . YOu shall sweare , that you and every one of you , shall and will duly consider , and diligently enquire of every one of these Articles here given you in charge and of all the branches therof , and make true answere , to all particulars therein demanded ; and that all affection , or favour , or hatred or hope of reward and gaine , or feare of displeasure , or malice of any person , and all other pretences set aside , you shall and will present every such person of your Parish , or within it , as hath committed any offense or f●ult , or made any default mentioned in any of these Articles ; or which is vehemently suspected , or otherwise defamed of any such offense , fault , or default ; wherein you shall deale uprightly and fully according to the truth ; neither presenting nor sparing to present any contrary to the truth : Having in this action God before your eyes , with an earnest zeale to maintaine truth and vertue , and to suppresse vice , and to discharge your owne consciences . So helpe you God , and the Holy Contents of this Booke . God save the KING . Articles to be enquired of in the Dioces of Norwich , at the Visitation , holden in the yeere of our Lord , 1636. Chap. 1. Concerning Religion and Doctrine . ARE there any abiding in your Parish , or resorting to it , who haue wilfully maintained any heresies , errours , or false opinions , contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture ? Or that do impugne any of the 39. Articles of Religion , agréed vpon in Anno. 1562. and stablished in the Church of England ? And is the declaration , which the Kings Maiesty prefixed before those 39. Articles , concerning the setling of the questions late in difference , duly obserued by all within your Parish , according to his Maiesties commandement ▪ 2 Be there any in your Parish that haue denied , or perswaded any other to deny , withstand , or impugne , the Kings Maiesties authority , and supremacy , in causes Ecclesiasticall within this Realme ? 3 Is there in your Parish any that hath béene , or is vehemently suspected to haue béene present at any vnlawfull assemblies , conuenticles , or méetings , vnder colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion ? Or do any affirme and maintaine such meetings to be lawfull ? 4 Be there any abiding in , or resorting to your Parish , that are commonly reputed to be ill affected in matter of the religion professed in our Church , or taken to be Recusant Papists , or factious separatists , refusing to repaire vnto the Church , to heare diuine Seruice , and to receiue the holy Communion ? Or that haue or do publish , sell or disperse any superstitious , seditious , or schismaticall Bookes , Libels , or Writings , touching the Religion , State , or Ecclesiasticall gouernment of this Kingdome of England ? Present their names , qualities , and conditions , if you know or haue heard of any . Chap. 2. Concerning publike Prayer and administration of the holy Sacraments , &c. 1 HAue any in your Parish spoken , or declared any thing in derogation or deprauation of the forme of Gods worship , establ●shed in the Church of England , and the administration of the Sacraments , Rites , and Ceremonies , set forth and prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer ? Or do any preach , speak , or declare , that the Book of Common Prayer containeth any thing that is repugnant to the holy Scripture , or not méet to be vsed ? Or do vse any scornefull words against those godly Sermons , called , The Homilies of the Church ? 2 Hath any in your Parish , caused , procured , or maintained any Minister , to say any common or publike prayer , or to administer the Sacrament of Baptisme , or of the Lords Supper , otherwise , or in any other manner , than is mentioned in the said Book of Common Praier ? Or hath any interrupted , hindered , let , or disturbed the Minister in reading of diuine Seruice , or administring the Sacraments in such manner , as is mentioned in the said Book ? Or hath any interrupted him in his preaching , or reading the Homilies ? 3 Is the Sacrament of Baptisme rightly and duly administred according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer ; with due obseruation of all Rites and Ceremonies prescribed to be vsed in the same , without adding or altering of any part of any prayers , or interrogatories ? Is the signe of the Crosse euery time vsed , and the Surplice neuer but worne in the administring of it ? 4 Hath the administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme beene at any time deferred longer than till the next Sunday or Holiday , immediately following the birth of the childe ? 5 Hath the Sacrament of Baptisme béene refused to be administred to any children , borne in , or out of wedlock , their birth being made knowne to the Minister of the Parish , and they offered vnto him to be baptized ? Or haue any such children died vnbaptized ? 6 Haue the Parents of the childe baptized , beene at any time admitted to be Godfathers or Godmothers to the same ? Or haue any been admitted to be Godfathers or Godmothers to any child , before they haue receiued the holy Communion ? Or haue any Godfathers or Godmothers vsed any other answers or speech in Baptisme , then is by the Book of Common Prayer appointed ? Or haue they giuen to the children baptized any name that is absurd , or inconuenient for so holy an action ? 7 Haue any children been baptized in priuate houses , or by any Lay-person , or Midwife , or popish Priest ; or by any other than your owne Minister ? And haue all children priuately baptized , if they liued , beene afterwards brought to your Church , that the Congregation and the Minister of the Parish ( in case they were not baptized by him ) might be certified , whether they , or any of them were lawfully baptized or no ? 8 Haue the children that haue béene borne to any popish Recusant in your Parish , beene publikely baptized in your Parish Church , by your owne Parson , Uicar , or Curate ? Or by whom else were they baptized , or where , to your knowledge , or as you haue heard ? 9 Hath the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper béene duely and reuerently administred in your Church or Chappell , so often and at such conuenient times , that , at least thrice euery yeere ( whereof once at Easter ) euery parishioner within your Parish , being of the age of 16. yeeres , or vpwards , might receiue the same ? 10 Hath the said blessed Sacrament been deliuered vnto any , or receiued by any the Communicants within your Parish , that did vnreuerently either sit , stand , or leane ; or that did not deuoutly and humbly kneele vpon their knees , in plaine and open view , without collusion or hypocrisie ? 11 Haue any of your Parish , which are openly knowne to liue in notorious sin without repentance ; or any excommunicate persons or schismaticks , common and notorious deprauers of the Religion and Gouernment of this Realme ( without vnfained sorrow shewed by them for their impiety and wickednesse ) been admitted to be partakers of the holy Communion ? 12 Hath any of your Parish beene debarred from the said holy Communion , without iust cause , or without intimation presently giuen to the Ordinary or Bishop of the Diocesse ? Chap. 3. Concerning the Church , the furniture , and possessions thereof . HAue you in your Church or Chappell , the whole Bible in the largest Uolume , of the last translation , the Book of Common Prayer , the two bookes of Homilies , and Bshop - Iewels Apologie , all well and fairely bound ? And haue you also in your Church , the forme of the Diuine Seruice , for the 5 th day of Nouember , and for the 27 th day of March , and the Book of Constitutions or Canons Ecclesiasticall ? 2 Haue you in your Church or Chappell , a Font of stone set in the ancient vsuall place , whole , and cleane , and fit to hold water ? A conueniet and decent Communion Table , with a Carpet of silke , or some other decent stuffe continually laid vpon the Table , at the time of diuine Seruice ; and a faire linnen cloth thereon laid , at the time of administring the Communion ? And is the same Table placed conueniently , so as the Minister may best be heard in his administration , and the greatest number may reuerently communicate ? To that end doth it ordinarily stand vp at the East end of the Chancell , where the Altar in former times stood , the ends thereof being placed North and South ? Is it at any time vsed vnreuerently , by leaning or sitting on it , throwing Hats or any thing else vpon it , or writing on it ; or is it abused to any other prophane or common vse ? And are the ten Commandemens set vp in your Church or Chappell , where the people may see and reade them , and other chosen sentences also written vpon the walls of your said Church or Chappell , in places conuenient for the same purpose ? 3 Haue you in your said Church or Chappell a conuenient seat for your Minister to reade diuine Seruice in ? Where doth it stand ? how farre from the Chancell ? and which way doth the standing thereof cause the Minister to turne his face , when he knéeleth therein at prayer ? Haue you also 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 siluer , and a couer agréeable to the same ; a Flagon of Siluer or Pewter , with all other things , and Ornaments necessary for the celebration of diuine Seruice , and administration of the Sacraments ? And haue you a Chest wherein to put the almes for the poore , with thrée locks and keyes vnto it , and another Chest for the kéeping of the Bookes , and the Communion Uessels , and Ornaments of the Church ? Or where are they kept ? 4 In the said Chest , haue you a Register-booke in Parchment , wherin to register the Christnings , Weddings , and Burials ? And is the same booke written and kept in all points according to the Canon ? And is the Christian name of the mother , as well as of the father , therein duly registred ? And is there a transcript thereof transmitted euery yéere into the Bishops principall Registry ? Haue you also a faire Paper-booke , wherein euery Preacher which is a stranger , is to subscribe his name , the day he preached , and by whose authority he is licensed ? And haue you also a Table set vp in your Church , of the Degrées , wherein by Law men are prohibited to marry ? 5 Is your Church or Chappell , with the Chancell thereof , and your Parsonage house or Uicarage-house , and all other houses thereto belonging , your parish Almes-house and Church-house , in good reparations ? and are they imployed to godly and their right holy vses ? And if any of them be ruinated and wasted , in whom is the default ? And is your Church , Chancell , and Chappell , decently and comely kept , as well within as without ? and are the seats in them well maintained , the Stéeple and Bels preserued , the windowes in no part stopt vp , but well glazed , the roofe and wals cleane , the whole floore kept paued , plaine , and euen , and all things there in orderly and decent sort , without dust , straw , or litter , or any thing that may be either noisome or vnséemely for the house of God ? 6 Is there any in your Parish , that hath or doth refuse to contribute towards the reparation of your Church , or towards the prouision of such things as belong thereunto ? 7 Is your Church-yard , or Chappell-yard well fenced , and kept without abuse ? and if not , whose is the default ? Hath any person within your memory , or that you haue credibly heard of , incroached vpon the Church-yard , by setting vp any kinde of building or fence vpon it , or by opening any doore , gate or stile into it ? Hath any vsed that place ( consecrated to an holy vse ) prophanely or wickedly ? Hath any quarrelled or stricken one another , either in the Church or Church-yard ? Hath any person behaued himselfe rudely and disorderly in either ; or vsed any filthy or prophane talke , or any other rude & immodest behauiour in them ? Haue any Playes , Feasts , Banquets , Suppers , Church-ales , Drinkings , Temporall-Courts or Léets , Lay-iuries , Musters , exercise of dancing , Stoole-ball , Foot-ball , or the like , or any other prophane vsage béene suffered to be kept in your Church , Chappell , or Church-yard ? Haue any annoied your Church-yard or the fences thereof , by putting in of Cattell , by hanging vp of cloathes , or by laying any dust , dung , or any other filthinesse there ? When Graues are digged , are the bones of the dead piously vsed , and decently interred againe , or laide vp in some fit place as beséemeth Christians ? And is the whole consecrate ground kept frée from swine , and all other nastinesse ? 8 Are your Church-wardens carefull to take speciall order , that no Dogs be at any time suffered to come into the Church , to the disturbance of the diuine Seruice , and the polluting of that holy place of the Christian Congregation ? And do any of the Inhabitants ( of what condition soeuer ) or of their company , bring their Hawkes into the Church , or vsually suffer their Dogs of any kinde to come with them thither , to the prophanation of the house of God , and his holy worship ? 9 What Legacies haue beene giuen to the vse and benefit of your Church , and how haue they béen bestowed ? Who hath receiued and detained them without due imployment ? Doth any detaine or imbezell , or hath sold and made away any of the Church-goods , or vsed or imployed them otherwise , then by law they ought to doe ? 10 Is your Church full , or vacant of an incumbent ? And if vacant , who receiueth the fruits thereof , and who serueth the Cure , and by what authority ? And is it a Parsonage , Uicarage , or Donatiue ? 11 Is there in your parish ( or any where about you , that you know or haue heard of ) any Church , Chappell , or Oratory , now demolished , or likely to be ruined , or that is conuerted to any priuate or secular vse ? 12 Hath any private man , or men , of his or their owne authority ( for ought you know ) erected any Pewes , or builded any new Seats in your Church ? And what Pewes or Seats haue been of late yéeres new built , by whose procurement , and by whose authority ? And are all the Pewes and Seats in the Church , so ordered , that they which are in them , may all conueniently knéele downe in the time of prayer , and haue their faces vp East-ward , toward the holy Table ? Is the middle Alley of the Church , or any of the other Alleyes or Iles , or the body of the Chancell , built vpon ( in any part thereof ) for the setting vp of Pewes or Seats , or for the inlarging of any there adioyning ? Are there also any kind of Seats at the East end of the Chancell , aboue the Communion Table , or on either side vp euen with it ? 13 Are there any priuie Closets , or close Pewes in your Church ? Are any Pewes so loftily made , that they doe any way hinder the prospect of the Church or Chancell , or that they which are in them be hidden from the face of the Congregation ? What Galleries also haue you in your Church ? How are they placed , and in what part of the Church ? When were they built , and by what authority ? Is not the Church large enough without them to receiue all your owne parishioners ? Is any part of the Church hidden or darkned thereby , or any of the Parish anoyed or offended by them ? 14 Hath any in your parish defaced , or caused to be defaced , or purloined any Monuments or Ornaments in your Church , or any inscriptions of Brasse , any Lead , or Stones there , or the Glasse-windowes ? When was it done , and by whom ? 15 Hath any popish Recusant being lawfully excommunicate , or any other excommunicated person béene buried in your Church or Church-yard , before absolution from that censure and excommunication obtained ? And if yea , then by whom , and when ? 16 Be the profits , tithes , or any commodities Ecclesiasticall , belonging to the Parsonage or Uicarage of your Parish , conuerted to the vse and benefit of the Patrons or of any other , and by them receiued and detained ? And how long haue they beene so ? And is there but a Curate or stipendary Priest kept in any place , where you haue heard or do beleeue , an Incumbent should be possessed , and what allowance hath be ? 17 Is there any other Cure annexed to your Parish , or any Chappell of ease belonging to the same ? How are they serued , by whom , and vpon what allowance ? Or haue you in your Parish any dwelling-house with a Chappell therein ; or in which any roome is ordinarily vsed for preaching , or saying the diuine Seruice , and administring the holy Sacraments ? 18 Haue you a true Terrier of all the Glebe-lands , Meadows , Gardens , Orchards , Houses , Stocks , Implements , Tenements , and portions of Tithes , within your Parish , or without , belonging to your Parsonage or Uicarage , taken by the view of honest men in your said Parish , appointed by the Ordinary ? And is it safely kept and preserued , and in whose hands ? And hath there a true copie thereof , vnder the hands of the Minister and Church-wardens , béene transmitted and laid vp in the Bishops Regestry , there to continue for a perpetuall memory thereof ? And if you haue no such Terrier yet made , you the Church-wardens and Side-men , together with your Parson or Uicar , or in his absence , your Curate , are now appointed to make diligent inquiry of the premises , and to make , subscribe , and assigne the said Terrier , and to bring in a true copie of it into the Bishops Regestry , as is aforesaid . Chap. 4. Concerning the Ministers , Preachers , and Lecturers . IS your Minister , Parson , Uicar , or Curate , a Graduate in either of the Uniuersities , yea , or no ? And if he be a Graduate , then of what degrée is hee ? and what kinde of Hood doth he vse to weare in the Church ? 2 Is your Minister a licensed Preacher , yea or no ? And if he be licensed , then by whom ? Doth he preach vsually in his owne Cure , or in some other Church or Chappell neere adioyning , where there is no Preacher , once euery Sunday ? And how often hath he béene negligent in so doing ? Doth he also preach standing , and in his Cassock and Gowne ( not in a Cloake ) with his Surplice and Hood also , if he be a Graduate , and with his head vncouered ? And if he be not a licensed Preacher , doth he take vpon him in his owne Cure , or elsewhere , to expound any Scripture or matter of Doctrine , or doth he kéepe himselfe only to the reading of Homilies published by authority ; and besides , procure Sermons to be preached amongst you , once euery Moneth at least , by such as are lawfully licensed ? And doth he or his Curate vpon euery Sunday when there is no Sermon , reade some one of the Homilies prescribed by authority , and before the said Homily , vse that forme of prayer ( only ) which is prescribed in the fifty fifth Canon ? 3 Is your Minister resident with you vpon his benefice ? or if absent , how long time hath he béene so ? and where is he resident for the most part ? And doth he in his absence make allowance to the poore , and what allowance doth he make ? Hath he any other Benefice , and doth he supply his absence by a Curate that is licensed to preach , and what allowance doth he make to his Curate ? 4 Is your Curate licensed by the Bishop of the Dioces ? And doth your Minister or Curate serue any more Cures than one ? If yea , then what other Cure doth he serue , and how far are his Cures distant one from the other ? 5 Hath any being no Minister , or Deacon , presumed at any time to read common prayers openly in your Church or Chappell ; or to serue the Cure of your Parish ? Or hath any Deacon not hauing receiued the full order of Priesthood , taken vpon him alone to administer the Communion in your Church or Chappell ? You are to present the names of any , that haue herein offended . 6 Doth your Minister , Preacher , or Lecturer , begin his Sermon at any time , or part of the diuine Seruice , but immediately after the Beliefe called the Nicene-créed ? Doth he before his Sermon ( or Homilie , if he reade one ) vse any forme of prayer which is of his priuate conceiuing or collecting , and of his owne inuenting or choosing , or doth hee containe himselfe within that briefe forme only , which is prescribed by the Church ( in the 55. Canon ) thereby to moue the people to ioyne with him in prayer for Christs holy Catholike Church , and for the Kings most excellent Maiestie ( naming him and his Royall Titles ) for the Quéene , the Prince , and the Royall Issue ; for the Archbishops also and the Bishops ; for the Councell , the Nobility , the Magistracy and Commons of the Land , and to giue thanks to God for the faithfull departed out of this life ? And doth he alwayes conclude it with the Lords Prayer ? Doth the Preacher or Minister also after his Sermon , wholly forbeare to vse any kinde or forme of prayer ( not being prescribed , ) as also to pronounce the Blessing ( out of the Pulpit ) wherewith the Church vseth to dismisse y e people ? But doth he there conclude , only with , Glory to God the Father , the Sonne , and the holy Ghost : and then comming from the Pulpit ( if the Sermon were made within the Church or Chappell ) doth he , or whosoeuer then officiates , at the same place , where he left before the Sermon , procéed to reade the remainder of the diuine Seruice , and at the close of all , to giue the Blessing ? 7 Doth euery Priest and Seacon in your Parish daily say the Morning and Euening prayer , either priuately or openly , vnlesse he be vpon lawfull cause hindered ? Doth your Curate say the same daily in your Church or Chappell , with the tolling of a Bell before he begin ? Especially doth your Minister or Curate do it on euery Sunday and Holiday , and their Eues , and on the day of the conuersion of S. Paul , S. Barnabies day , and euery day of the holy wéeke next before Easter ; as also on all Wednesdayes and Fridayes , at fit and vsuall times , according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer , in a reuerent manner euer , and as audibly and distinctly as he vseth to preach ? Doth he also reade all those Psalmes and Lessons , and no other , with the Collect , Epistle , and Gospell , which are appointed for the day ? At the end of euery Psalme , doe they stand and say , Glory be to the Father , &c. and doth he leaue out the Contents of the Chapters ? After the Lessons , doth he vse any other Psalme , or Hymne , but those which the Booke of Common Prayer hath appointed ? Doth he reade the Créed of S. Athanasius ( called the Quicunque vult ) on all those dayes for which it is appointed , and the Commination on Ashwednesday , and the Letany on euery Wednesday and Friday ? 8 Doth your Minister and Curate , at all times , as well in preaching or reading the Homilies , as in reading the Prayers and the Letany , in administring the holy Sacraments , solemnization of Mariage , burying of the dead , churching of women , and all other Offices of the Church , duly obserue the Orders and Rites prescribed , without omission , alteration , or addition of any thing ? And doth he , in performing all and euery of these , weare the Surplice duly , and neuer omit the wearing of the same , nor of his Hood , if he be a Graduate ? 9 Doth your Parson or Uicar hauing a Curate vnder him , notwithstanding read diuine Seruice himselfe vpon two seuerall Sundayes in the yéere , publikely at the vsuall times , both in the forenoone and afternoone , in the Church which he possesseth ? and doth he also administer both Sacraments , as often in euery yéere in such manner , and with the obseruation of all such Rites and Ceremonies , as are prescribed in the booke of Common Prayer in that behalfe ? 10 Doth your Minister , Preacher and Lecturer , euery yéere , of purpose and expresly , ( yet not by way of disputation , but by plaine conclusion and determination ) teach and declare the lawfull authority which the King hath ouer the State , both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill ; and the iust abolishing of all forraigne power or iurisdiction ouer the same ? 11 Doth your Minister publish in his Sermons any doctrine , which is new and strange , and disagréeing from the Word of God , and from the Articles of Christian Faith and Religion , agréed on and published Anno Domini 1562. And doth he teach any thing , which he would haue the people religiously obserue and beleeue , but that which is agréeable to the Scriptures and that which the Catholike Fathers and ancient Bishops haue gathered out of that Doctrine , according to the Canon ? 12 Doth your Minister go to the administration of holy Baptisme , euer immediately after the second Lesson ? Doth he alwayes ( at first ) aske , whether for childe be baptized or no ? Afterward , doth he euer vse and neuer omit , both to take the childe in his hands , and also to make the signe of the Crosse , so as to touch the childs forehead in making the same ? Doth he at any time baptize but in the Font , or with any Bason or Paile , or other Uessell set into the Font ? Hath he euer deferred or willingly neglected or refused to baptize any infant within the Parish , being in danger of death , notice thereof hauing beene giuen to him ? And hath any childe died without baptisme , by his default ? 13 Doth your Minister or Curate often admonish the people , that they defer not the baptisme of their infants any longer , after they are borne , than is prescribed , vnlesse vpon a great and reasonable cause , declared to the Minister or Curate and approued by him ; nor that they procure them to be baptized at home without great necessity ? 14 Hath your Minister admitted any person to answer as Godfather or Godmother , at the christning of a childe , that hath not before receiued the holy Communion , and is not able to recite the Lords Prayer , the ten Commandements , and the Articles of Beliefe , and to answer to the same , being required ? And doth he , at the Font , as soone as he hath baptized any child , admonish them to bring the child to the Bishop to be confirmed , as soone as he hath learned the Catechisme ? 15 Doth your Minister , euery Sunday and holyday before euening prayer , where no Sermon was wont to be , halfe an houre , or more , catechize and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of your parish , in the ten Commandements , the Articles of Beliefe , and the Lords Prayer ? And doth be vse for that purpose , the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common Prayer , and diligently heare , instruct , and teach them in the said Catechisme ? Or what other Catechisme doth he vse either in publike or priuate ? And bee the youth and ignorant persons of your parish , sent in due time vnto your Church , by them that ought to send them , to be catechized and instructed by the Minister ? And if not , you are to present the names of those that make default in sending them , and of all those that vse not to come . 16 Are your after-noone Sermons ( if there were wont to be any ) turned into catechizing by question and answer , where and whensoeuer , there is 〈◊〉 great cause apparent to the contrary ? And is this truly and sincerely performed , without mockery , or in shew only ? 17 Doth your Minister vse to administer the holy Communion , at least thrice in the yéere ( whereof once at Easter ) to euery parishioner in your Parish , that is sixtéene yeeres of age and vpwards ; and first to receiue the same himselfe , knéeling , on euery day that he administreth it to others ; and to administer it to none but to such as doe knéele at the receiuing thereof ? And doth he alwayes vse the words of Institution , according to the Booke of Common Prayer , without alteration , at euery time , that the Bread and Wine is renewed ? Doth hee also vse to deliuer the Bread and Wine to euery Communicant seuerally , and with his owne hand , repeating to euery one , all the words appointed to be said at the distribution of the holy Body and Bloud of our Lord IESUS , and vpon no pretence omitting any part of the words , or saying them all but now and then to many at once ? And is there warning giuen by him , to the parishioners , publikely in the Church , at morning prayer the Sunday before euery time of his administring of the holy Communion , for their better preparation thereunto ? 18 Hath your Minister admitted vnto the holy Communion any of his cure or flock , which bee openly knowne to liue in sinne notorious without repentance , or any that haue maliciously and openly contended with their neighbours , before they be reconciled ; or any Church-wardens or Side-men , who hauing taken their oathes , to present to their Ordinarie all such publike offences , as they are particularly charged to inquire of in the Parish , haue and doe notwithstanding , wittingly and irreligiously incurre the horrible crime of periury , either in neglecting or refusing to present such publike offences , as they themselues know or haue heard to be committed within your Parish ? 19 Hath your Minister at any time admitted vnto the Communion any that refuse to bee present at publike prayers , or who are notorious deprauers of the Booke of Common Prayer and administration of the Sacraments , or of the Orders , Rites , or Ceremonies therein prescribed ; or of any thing contained in the thirty nine Articles , or in the Booke of ordaining Priests and Bishops ? or who haue spoken against , or depraued his Maiesties Soueraigne Authority in causes Ecclesiasticall , vnlesse they and euery of them do first acknowledge their repentance for their sin , and promise to do so no more ? 20 Doth your Minister or Curate admit any to the Communion , before they can say their Catechisme , and be confirmed ? 21 Doth your Minister together with the Churchwardens and Quest-men , take diligent héed and care , not onely that all and euery one of your owne Parishioners doe receiue thrice euery yéere ; but also that no strangers of any other Parish , doe come often and commonly to your Church from their owne Parish Church , or doe there receiue the Holy Communion ? 22 Doth your Minister , before the seuerall times of the administration of the Lords Supper , admonish and exhort his Parishioners , if any of them haue their conscience troubled and disquieted , to resort vnto him , or to some other learned Minister , and open their griefe , that they may receiue such ghostly counsell and comfort , as their conscience may be relieued , and by the Minister they may receiue the benefit of Absolution , to the quiet of their conscience and auoiding of all scruple ? And if any man confesse his secret and hidden sinnes , being sicke or whole , to the Minister , for the vnburthening of his conscience and receiuing of spirituall consolation or ease of minde from him , doth he the said Minister ( or hath hee at any time ) by word , writing , or signe , openly or couertly , directly or indirectly , reueale and make knowne to any person whatsoeuer , any crime or offence , so committed to his trust and secresie ? 23 Hath your Minister solemnized the mariage of any person vnder the age of twenty one yéeres , without the consent of their Parents or Gouernours ; or hath he maried any , which doe not audibly say and answer in all things appointed by the Liturgie ; or any without a King , or in times prohibited , or without the Banes first published thrée seuerall Sundayes or Holydayes , in time of diuine Seruice , in the seuerall Churches or Chappels of their seuerall abodes , without a speciall license from the Arch-bishop , or Bishop of the Diocesse , or his Chancellor , or the Commissary , first had and obtained ? And doth hee begin in the body of the Church , and then goe vp to the Table , as is appointed ? Also doth your Minister , so oft as there is any mariage , appoint to haue a Communion ? After the Gospell , doth he say a Sermon ( if hee bee licensed to preach ) wherein to declare the office of man and wife , according to holy Scripture ; or else doth hee reade that which the Church hath appointed to bee read at matrimony ? 24 Doth your Minister vse the forme of thanksgiuing for women after childe-birth immediately before the Communion Seruice ? Or hath he admitted thereunto any women begotten with-childe in adultery or fornication , without license of his Ordinary ? 25 Doth your Minister carefully looke to the reliefe of the poore , and from time to time call vpon his Parishioners to giue somewhat according to their abilities , to godly and charitable vses ; especially doth hée in force it vpon them with earnest exhortation ( as is prescribed ) at the time of the oblation or offering before the Communion , and vpon their sick beds , or when they make their wils ? 26 Doth your Minister or Curate resort vnto such as bee dangerously sicke in your Parish ( if he be sent for , or notice thereof be giuen to him ) to instruct or comfort them in their distresses , according to the order of the Booke of Common Prayer ; not omitting then especially , to mooue them earnestly to liberality towards the poore ? 27 If any being sick doe desire the prayers of the Congregation , is it done according to the forme in the Liturgie , at the time of diuine Seruice ; or is it done onely by giuing their names to the preacher , and mentioning of them in the Pulpit , before or after Sermon ? 28 Hath your Minister euer refused to bury any which ought to be interred with Christian buriall ? Or hath hee deferred the same longer than hee should ? Doth hee goe before the Corps to the graue , and there say the whole seruice appointed , not omitting the Lesson or any other part ? Doth he deuoutly kneele , when hee saith the prayers and the Collect at buriall ? or hath he admitted any to Christian buriall , which by the Lawes of the holy Church , or of this Realme , ought not to bee so interred ? 29 Doth your Minister being a Preacher and hauing any popish Recusant or Recusants in your Parish , labour diligently with them from time to time , to reclaime them from their errours ? Or otherwise is he ouer-conuersant with them , or suspected to fauour them ? 30 Hath ydur Minister , ( or any other taking vpon him the calling of a Minister ) preached , baptized children ( except in case of necessity ) solemnized mariage , churched any women , or ministred the holy Communion in any priuate house or houses ? If yea , then where , when , and how often hath he done it ? 31 Doe you know , or haue heard of any which are reputed to be Ministers ( or of any other of the Laity , either Male or Female ) that presume to make matters of Diuinity their ordinary Table-talke ? Or that vnder pretence of holinesse and edification , take the liberty at their Trencher-meetings , or where seuerall company ( not being all of the same family ) are assembled , rashly and prophanely to discourse of holy Scripture ? Or amidst their cups , to dispute or determine any Articles of Faith and Religion , or touching any point of doctrine or Ecclesiasticall discipline , at their owne pleasure , and to their owne phansie ? You shall name the persons , times , and places , as far as you know , or haue heard , and can remember ? 32 Doth your Minister , euery six moneths , in your Parish Church , openly in the time of diuine seruice , vpon some Sunday , denounce and declare , excommunicate by name , such as doe perseuere in the sentence of excommunication , not séeking to bée absolued ? And hath he said diuine Seruice , whiles any excommunicate person hath beene present in the Church ? Or hath he admitted any person , that hath beene excommunicate , into the Church , without a Certificate of his absolution from his Ordinary ? Or hath be staied or forborne to denounce any excommunication , or suspension or absolution that hath beene sent him from his Ordinary ? 33 Hath your Minister béene at any priuate mé etings or conuenticles , to consult there , about the impeachment or deprauing of the Doctrine of the Church of England , or of the Booke of Common Prayer , or of any part of the gouernement and discipline of the Church ; or to practise any forme of their owne , either for worship or discipline ? 34 Doth your Minister , vpon Sundayes at Morning Prayer , declare vnto the parishioners what Fasting-dayes and Holy-dayes are to be kept , the wéeke following ? 35 Doth your Minister in the Rogation-dayes , go the perambulation of the circuit of your Parish , saying and vsing the Prayers , Suffrages , and Thanksgiuing vnto God , appointed by Law , according to his dutie ; thanking God , for his blessings , and praying for his grace and fauour ? 36 Doth your Parson or Uicar maintaine and kéepe in due reparation , the Mansion-house , and all other edifices belonging to his Parsonage or Uicarage , without suffering them to grow into ruine or decay ? 37 Hath your Minister taken vpon him , to appoint , or to hold or continue any priuate or publike Fasts , or meetings , for preaching or lecturing on any working-day , in his owne Parish or elsewhere , or prophesies or exercises , or any other such thing , not approued by his Ordinary for the time being ? 38 Is your Minister studious in holy Scripture , and abstaineth from mechanicall trades , bodily labour , soliciting of causes in Law , common buying and selling of Horses or other Cattell , and all other imployments not befitting his calling and holy Function ? Doth he vsually weare a Gowne with a standing collar , and sléeues strait at the hands , and a square Cap ▪ Doth he in iourneying vse a cloake with sléeues , commonly called a Priests-clerke , without guards , buttons or cuts ? Doth he at any time in publike weare any coife or wrought night-cap , but only a plaine cap of black silk , satten , or vel●et : Doth he at any time goe abroad in his doublet and hose without a coat or cassock , or weare any light coloured stockings ? Or is he any way excessie in apparell , either himselfe or his wife ? 39 Is your Minister suspected , or knowne to haue obtained his Benefice by any Simonai●●ll compact , directly or indirectly ? Or is he reputed to be an incontinent person , a frequenter of Tauernes , Innes , or Ale-houses , a common gamester or player at dice or cards , a common swearer or drunkard , or otherwise faulty in any o●her kinde that is scandalous to his function ? 40 Hath your Minister publikly in your Parish Church or Chappell , once euery yeere read ouer the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall agreed vpon by the Clergie of both Prouinces , An●o Dom 1603. in such manner as the same is commanded to bée done ? 41 Is there any in your Parish or resorting thereunto , who hauing taken holy Orders of Priest or Deacon , doth voluntarily relinquish and forsake●h h●s calling , and liues in the course of his life as a Lay-man ? Or any that hauing beene sil●nced , or suspended by authority , so remaineth without conforming himselfe in due obedience to the Church ? And how doth he imploy his time ; and where or whence hath he his maintenance , as you know or haue heard ? 42 Are any admitted to preach in your Church , who doe not before the Churchwardens subscribe their na●●s in your book prouided for that purpose , and the day when he or they preached , and the name of the Bishop or Bishops of whom they had license to preach ? 43 Doth any Preacher particularly impugne and confute any doctrine deliuered by any o●her Preacher in the same Church , or in any Church neere adioyning , before he hath acquainted the Bishop of the Dioces therewith , and receiued order from him , what to do in that ease ? 44 Haue you any Lecturer in your Parish , and on what day is your Lecture ? If any such be , doth he , twice at the least euery yéere , reade diuine Seruice both morning and euening , two seuerall Sundayes , publikely in his Surplice and Hood ? And also twice in the yéere administer both Sacraments , with such Rites and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the Booke of Common Prayer ? 45 Doth the Lecturer ( whosoeuer he be ) reade the diuine Seruice according to the Liturgie printed by authority , in his Surplice and Hood before euery Lecture ? 46 Doth your Preacher or Lecturer behaue himselfe in his Lectures and Sermons , as he ought to doe , teaching obedience , and edifying his auditory in matters of faith and good life , without intermedling with matters of State , or newes , or other discourses not fit for the Pulpit ; and also without fauouring or abetting Schismaticks or Separatists ( that are at home , or are gone abroad ) either by speciall prayer for them , or by any other approbation of them ? 47 Haue you any Lecture of Combination set up in your Parish ? And if so , is it read by a companie of graue and orthodox Diuines , néere adioyning , and in the same Dioces ? And doth euery one of them preach in a Gowne and not in a Cloake ? And when and by whom were they appointed ? And what be their names ? 48 Is any single Lecturer ( maintained by your Towne or otherwise ) suffered to preach , he not first pro●essing his willingnesse to take vpon him the cure of soules , nor actually taking a Benefice or Cure , so soone as it may be fairely procured for him ? What is his name , and what license hath he ? And hath he a setled contribution affixed to the Lecturers place ; or is it arbitrary , and for this Lecturer only ? What sum doth it amount to ordinarily ? By whom is it vsually paid or collected , or of late yéeres hath béene ? 49 If any Psalmes be vsed to be sung in your Church , before or after the morning and euening prayer , or before or after the Sermons ( vpon which occasions only , they are allowed to bee sung in Churches ) is it done according to that graue maner ( which first was in vse ) that such doe sing as can reade the Psalmes , or haue learned them by heart ; and not after that vncough and vndecent custome of late taken vp , to haue euery line first read , and then sung by the people ? Chap. 5. Concerning Matrimony . BE there any in your Parish , that haue maried within the degrées of affinity or consanguinity , by the Law of God forbidden , as is expressed in a certaine Table published by authority in Anno 1563. And if any haue so maried , what be their names , and where were they maried , and by whom ? 2 Hath any béene maried secretly in priuate houses , or without their Parents or Gouernours consent signified , being vnder the age of 21. yéeres ? 3 Haue any persons beene maried in your Parish , the Banes hauing not been thrice published , three seuerall Sundayes or Holydayes , in time of diuine Seruice ? Who were the parties , and who were present at such mariages ; and what Minister maried them ? 4 Haue any persons by license or without , beene maried in your Parish Church , neither of them at that time dwelling in your towne ? Or hath any mariage ( that you know or haue heard of ) been made at any time , by license or without , but betweene the houres of eight and twelue in the morning ? Or was not the diuine Seruice then openly and duly said , the Assembly being called together by the tolling or ringing of the Bels , as is at other times vsed ? Or hath the Minister solemnized any mariage ( without Banes published ) by vertue of any License granted by the Arch-deacon or his Officiall , or by any other license then of the Arch-bishop or Bishop of this Dioces , or their Chancellours , Commissaries , or Uicars generall , or the Commissary for faculties . And hath any License beene granted by any to such persons as were not of good state and quality ? Name the persons and all particulars , as far as you know , or can remember ? 5 What popish Recusants , or their children haue béene maried in your parish ? In what sort was the matrimony solemnized ? when ? and by whom ? 6 Doe any persons being lawfully maried , liue asunder ? and in whom is the default ? 7 Doe any ( heretofore diuorced or not ) keepe company at bed and board , with any other man or woman , then with the person that he and she were maried to ? what bee their names ? when and where were they maried , and how long haue they continued so together ? 8 Haue you any in your Parish , which liue together as man and wife , and yet not knowne , by whom , where , or when they were maried ? 9 Haue all new-maried persons ( the same day of their mariage ) duly receiued the holy Communion ? If not , by whose default was it , as you conceiue ? Chap. 6. Concerning the Church-wardens and Side-men . BE the Church-wardens chosen by the Minister and Parishioners yéerely in Easter-wéeke , according to the 89. Canon ? And hath any taken vpon him to be Church-warden , not being so chosen ? Or hath any continued aboue one yeere in his office , without a new choise ? 2 Haue any of the Church-wardens retained any of the Church-goods in their hands , and not made a iust account at their going out of their office , of what they haue receiued and expended ; or not deliuered to their successors , by Bill indented betwéene them , whatsoeuer money or other things belonging to the Church , that remained in their hands ? 3 Are there in your Parish yéerely , two , thrée , or more discréet persons , either chosen by the Ministers and Parishioners in Easter-wéeke ; or if they cannot agrée , appointed by the Ordinary to be Side-men , or Assistants in ioynt office with the Church-wardens ? 4 What rates or leuies ( as you know or haue heard ) are yéerely or commonly made in your parish for Church-uses ? What is the yeerely summe thereof ordinarily ? and what are the particular vses , or where are they written downe , to which the same are for the most part imployed ? 5 Doe the Church-wardens and Sides-men or Assistants , diligently see , that all the Parishioners doe duly resort to the Church , vpon all Sundayes and Holydayes , and there continue the whole time of diuine Seruice and Sermon ; suffering no idle persons to walke , or talke , or stand idle , either in the Church , Church-yard , or Church-porch , during the time of diuine Seruice or Sermon ; but causing them either to come into the Church , or else to depart ? And haue they the said Church-wardens and Side-men forborne , either for reward , fauour , or affection , to present them , that haue beene , or are negligent in comming to Church , or that vse to walke or talk therein , or that haue been found by them standing idle , or talking abroad , either in the Church-yard or streets in the time of diuine Seruice or Sermon , on Sundayes or Holydayes ; or that haue not receiued the Communion yeerely , at the Feast of Easter , or within one moneth after ? 6 Doe you know of any Church-wardens , which within forty dayes after Easter , in their yeere , did not exhibit to the Bishop or his Chancellor , the namer & sirnames of all the parishioners , as well men as women , which ( being of the age of 16. yeeres and vpward ) receiued not the Communion the Easter before ? And haue you , this last yeere exhibited a bill of them ? or are you ready now so to doe ? 7 Doe the Church-wardens against euery Communion , aduise with the Minister , about the prouiding of a sufficient quantity of fine white-bread , and of good and wholesome wine , for the number of Communicants that are to receiue ? And is the wine brought in a cleane & swéet standing Pot of Pewter , or of other finer metall ? Upon the Communion daies , doe your Churchwardens ( immediately after the Sermon or Homilie , and the Ministers exhortation to remember the poore ) gather the deuotion of the people in a faire and solemne manner , and put the same into the poore mans bore ? 8 Haue the Churchwardens suffered the Church , Church-yard , or Chappell , to be prophaned by Playes , games , feasts , banquets , suppers , church-ales , drinkings , temporall Courts , or Léets , Lay-iuries , musters , &c. at any time acted , kept , or held in them ? 9 Hath any man , that you know or haue heard of , by spéech or writing , or vpon the assertion of any other man affirmed ; That men ought not to take the office , or the Oath of a Churchwarden , or of presenting at the Bishops visitation ? Or that the said Oath is vnlawfully giuen them ; Or that being taken , it is but of course , and binds them not , nor néede to be regarded ; Or that ( the said Oath notwithstanding ) it is frée for them , neither to make enquirie , nor to answere ; but to doe what they list , and to leaue out and passe by whom they will , and what they will , in their presentments ? Chap. 7. Concerning the Parishioners . 1 DOe any in your Parish prophane any Sunday or Holiday , by any vnlawfull gaming , drinking or tipling in Tauernes , Innes , or Ale-houses , in the time of Common-Prayer or Sermon ; or by working , or doing the worke of their Trades and Occupations ? Doe any in your Parish buy or sell , or keepe open their Shops , or set out any wares to be sold on Sundaies , or Holidayes , by themselues , their seruants or apprentices ; or haue they any otherwaies prophaned the said daies ? And hath the Kings Declaration concerning the lawfull sports and recreations béene published among you , yea or no ? If so , when was it done , in what manner , and by whom ? 2 Is the fifth day of Nouember obserued and kept in your Parish , with Prayer and Thanksgiuing vnto God , in such Forme , as is by Publike Authoritie appointed for that Day ? 3 Is there any in your Parish that hath béen heard to impugne or speake against the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England , or the lawfull vse of them ; or to affirme by word or writing , that the form of Making and Consecrating Bishops , Priests and Deacons , or any thing therein contained , is repugnant to the word of God ; or that the Gouer●ment of this Church vnder his Maiestie by Archbishops , Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall Officers , is Antichristian ? Or hath spoken reproachfully , or disgracefully of the Kings Maiesties Courts Ecclesiasticall , or of the procéedings thereof ? 4 Haue you any in your Parish , that doe come to the Sermon onely , and not to Diuine Seruice ; or which vse to come late to Church , and to depart from Church before the Blessing be giuen , wherewith they are to be dismissed at the end of Seruice ? Or that do not reuerently behaue themselues , entring into the Church , and during the time of Diuine Seruice ? Doe all ( both men and women ) deuoutly knéele , when the Generall confession of sinnes , the Letanie , the Ten Commandements , and all Prayers and Collects are read , as well at Baptismes , Mariages and Burials , as at other parts of the Diuine Seruice ? Doe all vse due and lowlie reuerence , when the blessed Name of the Lord IESUS is mentioned : and stand vp when the Articles of the Creed are read ? Doe any men couer their heads in the Church , ( vnlesse it be for infirmity , in which case , they may only were a coife or night-cap , ) or then and there giue themselues to babling , talking or walking , and are not attentiue to the Prayers and Hymns , and to heare Gods word read and preached ? Doe all say Amen audibly , and make such other answers both in the Letanie , and all other parts of diuine Seruice , as by the Rule of the Common Prayer booke , are to be made by the people ? 5 Doth any within your Parish , men or women , being sixteene yeeres of age and vpwards , or any other , lodging or commonly resorting to any house in your Parish , wilfully absent themselues , from your Parish Church or Chappell , vpon Sundayes and Holydayes and other dayes appointed , at morning and euening prayers , or refuse to receiue the Communion , or perswade others from comming to Church , or receiuing the holy Communion ? 6 Haue you any popish or puritanicall Recusants in your Parish , that be of insolent behauiour , not without publike offence ; or that do boldly busie themselues in seducing or withdrawing others , either abroad , or in their owne Families , from the Religion established in y e Church of England ? And how long haue the said popish or puritanicall Recusants obstinately abstained , either from diuine Seruice , or from the Communion ? Whether of any long time , or of late only ? 7 Are there any in your Parish , who do absent themselues at any time from your own Church , and doe resort to any other Parish or place to heare other preachers ? Or are there any in your Parish , that doe communicate , or that do baptise their children in any other Parish ? 8 Is there within your Parish in any house or familie , any one that is called or reputed a Chaplaine , or that is knowne or supposed to haue entred into holy Orders ? Or any that liueth there in imployment as a scholler ? Present their names if there be any such , and how long they haue béene there ? 9 Is there any in your Parish , who do refuse to haue their children baptized , or themselues to receiue the Communion , at the hand of your Minister , because hee is no Preacher , or doth not edifie in their phansie ? 10 Doth any maried woman within your Parish , after childe-birth neglect to come to Church according to the Booke of Common Prayer to giue thankes to God for her safe deliuerance , vailed in a decent manner , as hath beene anciently accustomed ? And doth she then knéele in some conuenient place nigh to the Communion Table , w●ile the Priest ( standing by her ) giueth thankes for her ? And if there be a Communion , doth she then offer her accustomed offerings and receiue the holy Communion ? 11 Are there within your Parish or thereunto resorting , any players on Stage , or with Puppets , or any Musitians , Fidlers , Rimers , or Iesters , which do vse any prophane or filthy passages , in their songs , speeches , or gestures , to the dishonour of God , abuse of Scripture , or the corrupting of good manners ; or which do publish any thing scandalous to the State , or reproachfull to the Holy Clergy ? 12 Haue you any in your Parish that are commonly knowne , or reputed to bee blasphemers of Gods holie Name , common and vsuall swearers , drunkards , vsurers , filthy speakers , adulterers , fornicators , incestuous persons , bawds , concealers of fornicators or adulterers ? Haue any in your Parish beene detected of such notorious crimes , and what penance haue they done for the same ? 13 What corporall punishment for any such offence , hath beene commuted and changed into a pecuniary mulct or summe of money , by any Ecclesiasticall Iudge exercising iurisdiction within this Dioces , by vertue of any Graunt or Commission ? What was the sum of money by any of them so receiued and taken , and to what vses was the same imployed ? And vpon such Commutations , was the vnfained repentance of the delinquent published in the Church ? 14 Doe all Fathers , Mothers , Masters , & Mistrisses , cause their children , seruants and apprentises to come to the publike catechizing on Sundayes and Holydayes , to be instructed and taught therein ? And those that do not their duties herein , in not sending them to it , or not comming , or not learning and answering , you shall present their names ? 15 Haue any in your Parish receiued or harboured any women gotten with-childe out of wedlock , and suffered her to depart without punishment first inflicted on her by the Ordinary ? You shall truly present as well the party harbouring , as harboured ; and who is suspected to be the father of the childe ? 16 Is any person or persons suspected or detected heretofore of incontinency and therfore departing out of your Parish for a season , 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 ? 17 Doe all your Parishioners , of what sort soeuer , according as the Church expresly them commandeth , draw néere , and with all Christian humility and reuerence come to the Lords Table , when they are to receiue the holy Communion ? And not ( after the most contemptuous and vnholy vsage of some , if men did rightly consider ) sit still in their Seats or Pewes , to haue the blessed Body and Bloud of our Sauiour go vp and downe , to séek them all the Church ouer ? 18 Are there any lately deceased in your Parish , whose last Wils and Testaments haue not yet béene proued ? or did they dye intestate ? And if so , who hath taken vpon him the administration of their goods , and whether by lawfull authority from the Ordinary , or without ? What be the names of such deceased , and of their executors and administrators ? 19 What persons be excommunicated in your Parish , and for what cause to your knowledge ? and how long haue they stood excommunicate ? And doe any of them , not being absolued , presume to be present in the Church at diuine Seruice ? And doe any familiarly vse the company of such as do obstinately stand excommunicate , knowing the same ; and what be their names ? 20 Doe you know of any that haue abused the Church-wardens , or other sworne men of your Parish , or giuen them euill words for executing their office , or to disharten and deter them from executing it , as by oath and duty they are bound ? Chap. 8. Concerning Schoole-masters , Physitians , Chyrurgions , Midwives , and Parish-Clarkes . HAue you any Schoole-master in your Parish , that teacheth publikely or in priuate houses ? Is there any teaching of Schollars to reade or write in the Chancell , or in any part of the Church ? Doth any Papist kéepe a Schoolemaster in his house , who commeth not to Church to heare diuine Seruice and to receiue the holy Communion ? What is his name , and how long hath he taught there or elsewhere ? Doth your Schoolemaster teach any Papists or Sectaries children , that come not to Church ? Doth he bring his schollars to church , and duely instruct them all to learne the Catechisme in the Booke of Common Prayer , at the least once euery wéeke ; or what other Catechisme doth he teach ? Is he of honest and sincere life , and religion , and conuersation ? Is he a Graduate and sufficient to teach , and diligent in teaching and bringing vp of youth ? 2 Is any thing with-holden and otherwise imployed , that hath béene giuen to the vse of a Schoole in your Parish ? What is it ? By whom is it imbezelled ? 3 What Physitian or Chyrurgion haue you in your Parish , who not being a Doctor of Physick or otherwise sufficiently licensed in either of the Uniuersities , doth notwithstanding practise physick ? What other persons haue you among you , either male or female , who take vpon them to professe physick or chyrurgery ? And who be Midwiues in your parish ? 4 Haue you a fit Parish-Clark ( aged 20. yéeres at least ) of honest life , able to reade and write ? Are his and the Sextons wages duly paid without fraud or diminution , according to the ancient custome of your Parish ? By whom is he chosen ? Is he diligent in his office , and seruiceable to the Minister ? Doth hee keepe the Church cleane and the doores locked ? Is there any thing lost or spoyled , by his default ? 5 Doth your Clarke or Sexton take vpon him to haue , or suffer any superstitious or any vnseasonable ringing of the bels at any time , or any ringing without good cause , such as the Minister and Church-wardens haue not allowed ? When notice is giuen of any Christian passing out of this life , within the Parish , doth he neglect to toll a passing bell , or to ring after the departure ? Chap. 9. Concerning Ecclesiasticall Officers . WHat peculiar or exempt iurisdictions know you of , within y e compasse of this parish ? 2 Are there any Ecclesiasticall Officers exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within this Diocesse , or any Ministers or Clarkes vnder them , who do take or exact any extraordinary fées , for any cause that you know of ? 3 Haue any Church-wardens and Quest-men , concealed and not presented any abuses or offences punishable in the Ecclesiasticall Court ? Or haue any such offences , being by them presented to the Chancellor , Archdeacon , Commissary , Officiall , or any other vsing Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction within this Diocesse , beene suppressed , or left vnpunished , for bribe , reward , pleasure , friendship , feare , or any other partiall respect ? 4 Are any Assemblies called Uestry-méetings , held in your Parish ? when , and how often are they ? In what place , and by whom ? Hath any thing ( that you haue heard of ) been proposed , treated , or concluded therein , touching the diuine Seruice , or the doctrine and discipline of the Church ? Or any thing medled with , for the gouernment of the Church or Parish , which belongs to the Ecclesiasticall cognition and Iurisdiction ? 5 Doth the Arch-deacon once in thrée yéeres , visit and suruey your Church , touching the repaires of the same , and vpon any defect found , hath he made certificate of it , as far as you know or haue heard ? 6 Are there placed by the Registrar , two Tables containing the seuerall rates and summes of all fées due to the Iudge , and other officers of your Courts ; one in the vsuall place or consistory , where the Court is kept ; the other in the Registry ; in such sort as euery man may come to view the same without difficulty ? And doth the Chancellor , Arch-deacon , Commissary , or Officiall , or any other Minister of the Court , exact or extort any other greater fées or sums of money , than in the said Tables are contained ? 7 Doth any Arch-deacon , Officiall , or Surrogate vnder him , make commutation of any penance ; or doth the Chancellor or any Commissary , or any Surrogate vnder any , commute or change any penance or corporall punishment , for any money , without the consent of the Bishop ? And what money haue they or any of them receiued for such commutation , and of whom ? when , and what was the offence , for which any such sum of money was receiued , or appointed to be paid ? 8 Doth the Chancellor , Arch-deacon , Commissary , or Officiall , or any other person vsing Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction , speed any act in any cause , priuately of themselues , and not in the presence of some publike Notary or Actuary ? 9 Is the number of Apparitors increased in this Diocesse ? And wherein , and in what manner is the Countrey ouer-burthened or grieued by them ? Hath any of them vnder pretence of authority , cited or summoned any person vnlawfully ; or hath any of them taken any reward for the concealing of any offence or sin , or that the offenders might escape punishment ? Who be they that haue so done ? Or doe any of them take any fées that are not vsuall ? Haue they threatned any to prosecute them , if they had no reward giuen them ? Or do any of them cause any party to appeare in any Ecclesiasticall Court within this Diocesse , without a citation first obtained from the Iudge of the Court ? 10 Hath any Ecclesiasticall Iudge or Officer whatsoeuer , Aduocate , Registrer , Procter , Clerke , or other such Ministers , any way abused themselues in their Offices , contrary to the Lawes and Canons in that behalfe prouided ? 11 Were there any particular or speciall iniunctions giuen ( as you know , or haue heard ) by the Uicar generall or any other Commissioner , at the last Metropoliticall Uisitation of the most Reuerend the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury his Grace ? And how haue the same béene performed or obserued by the Minister or any other of the Parish , whom they concerne ? 12 Lastly , haue you and euery of you , by your selues , read , or haue caused to be read to you , all these Articles ? Haue you well examined and inquired into euery particular therein intended ? Haue you sincerely , vprightly , & without any partiall affection or concealement , presented and made knowne all and euery of the offenders in any of the particulars , either as they are taken in truth to be , or by common fame reported ? If you know any other matter of Ecclesiasticall cognisance , worthy the presentment in your iudgement and fit to be reformed by Ecclesiasticall censure , though it be not expressed in these Articles , yet you shall likewise present the same by vertue of your oaths . The Minister also of euery Parish may and ought to ioyne with the Church-wardens , or other Sworne-men , for the presenting of offences ; and if they be so irreligious as not to do it , the Minister of himselfe may & ought to present the offences , or the Church-wardens and Quest-men , for not presenting , and is required in his Canonicall obedience so to doe . There must be distinct answer made to euery Article , and to euery branch thereof , as far as they know , or haue heard of any offence . And if ( their Oath and all this aduertisement notwithstanding ) any Church-wardens or other Sworne-men , shall follow the customary manner , and be carelesse in inquiring and presenting as they ought , then shall they not be able hereafter to say , that they had not faire warning to the contrary giuen them in the spirit of meeknesse ; or to complaine that they are hardly dealt with , if ( vpon information and proofe otherwise had ) they be called to answer their willfull periury , in some other course of iustice , for neglecting to inquire and present to all the particulars herein proposed ? And to the intent that all things aboue mentioned may ( by the helpe of God ) as well be kept , as set in good order , the Chancellor of the Diocesse , and all the Commissaries are hereby required , that so far as to them in their seuerall places it shall appertaine , when the Synods and Generals are holden respectiuely , they do faithfuly inquire after all these things , & in all places of their Iurisdictions exact a due obseruance of the same . The Parson , Uicar or Curate of this Parish is required to receiue this Booke , and vpon the Sunday next after the receipt hereof , immediatly after the Morning Seruice , to publish the contents of the Process which is sent forth . That all Preachers and Lecturers ( if there be any in the Parish ) together with the Church-wardens both of this present yeere and of the last yeere , and two or three of the chiefest parishioners beside , as also all Physitians , Schoole-masters , Chyrurgions , Midwiues , and Sequestrators , may take notice of the day & place specified in the said Processe , for appearance at the Lord Bishops Uisitation : and after publication so made , this book of Articles is to be presently deliuered to some of the said Church-wardens , for the vse of themselues and the rest that are to make Presentments . Ma. Norvicen . FINIS . 
A32941	----	Articles of visitation and enquiry within the diocess of Chichester, in the first episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Peter, by divine permission, Lord Bishop of Chichester in the second year of his consecration. Church of England. Diocese of Chichester. Bishop (1669-1675 : Gunning) 1670 Approx. 51 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32941 Wing C4027 ESTC R40820 19329228 ocm 19329228 108638 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A32941) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 108638) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1683:42) Articles of visitation and enquiry within the diocess of Chichester, in the first episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Peter, by divine permission, Lord Bishop of Chichester in the second year of his consecration. Church of England. Diocese of Chichester. Bishop (1669-1675 : Gunning) Gunning, Peter, 1614-1684. [2], 21, [1] p. Printed by A. Maxwell, London : 1670. Reproduction of original in the British Library. Includes bibliographical references. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Pastoral letters and charges. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2003-09 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-09 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-10 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2003-10 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY Within the Diocess of CHICHESTER , In the First Episcopal Visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God , PETER , by Divine Permission , Lord Bishop of Chichester . In the Second Year of his Consecration . LONDON , Printed by A. Maxwell , 1670. The Tenour of the Oath to be administred to the Church-Wardens and Side-men . YOU shall Swear diligently to Enquire , and true Presentment make , of every person now or lately of your Parish , which hath made any default or offence enquirable by the King's Laws Ecclesiastical , and become known unto you : For your direction wherein , you shall duly consider all and every of these Articles given you in charge ; and neither present , nor spare to present any for favour or malice , hope of reward , or fear of displeasure : So help you God. Concerning Religion , and the Government of the Church established in this Realm . IMprimis . Is there any in your Parish , who are guilty of Atheistical or blasphemous Speeches against the Majesty of Almighty God , or Scoffers of Religion , ●n the Soul 's future Immortal state ? Is there any guilty of Speeches of Infidelity against the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ ? Any who in their communication , or otherwise , defend the Sociman , or Arrian Heresie , denying the Eternal Godhead of the Lord Iesus , or Pelagian , denying the nece●sity of Grace , and of Baptism for the washing away of Original Sin ? II. Is there any one that doth affirm or teach ( and who is he ) that the Holy Scripture doth not contain all things necessary to Salvation ? or , that what is contain'd in the thrée Créeds ought not throughly to be receiv'd and believed , or that the Church hath not Authority in Controversies of faith ? III. Is there any in your Parish that doth affirm and teach that the Church of England by law established , is not a true and Apostolical Church ▪ and a true member of the Catholick Church , having in her ●ll things necessary to Salvation ? Or is there any that d●th ●ffirm and teach that the xxxix Articles agreed upon by the Arch ▪ B●shops and Bishops of both Provinces , and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London , A D. 1562 , are in any part erroneous , or superstitious , or such as may not with a good conscience be subscribed unto ? IV. Is there any in your P●rish that doth affirm and teach , that the form of God's W●rship in the Church of England established by law , and contain'd in the book of Common-Prayer , and Administration of Sacraments ▪ is a corrupt Popish , or any way superstitious or unlawful Worship of God , or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to Scripture ; or to the Doctrine and Worship in the Catholick or Primitiv● Church ? V. Is there any that doth affirm or teach ( and who is he ) that Baptism of Infants according to the Church of England is unlawful or unnecessary , or better to be delayed , or not appointed for the Remission of Sins , or that it may be repeated , or that Infants duly baptized according to the ●hurch's Order , and dying before they commit ●ctual st●●●re not saved , everlastingly through God's grace given th●m in Baptis● ? VI. Is there any who doth affirm or teach that the K●ng's , Majesty hath not the same Preroga●ive in C●uses E●●●●si●st●cal , which we see hath been given ●lwaies to ●ll god●y Princes by God himself both among the Iews , and in the Christian Church ? Or that doth any way deny or impugn the King's Majesty's Royal Authority or Supremacy in C●use● Ecclesiastical in this Realm ? Or who denies that within his Maiestie's Realms of England , Scotland , and 〈◊〉 , and all other his Dominions and Countries ▪ our Lord the King is the highest Power under God , to whom the chief G●vernment of all Estates whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in ●ll Causes doth appertain without any subjection due from Him or his Subjects to any foreign Iurisdiction ? VII . Is there any who doth affirm and teach ( and who is he ) that the Government of the Church of 〈◊〉 under his Majesty by Arch-Bishops , Bishops , Deans , Arch-De●cons , or other chief Ministers bearing office in the same , or that the forms or manner of Ordaining and Consecrating of Bishops , Priests and Deacons established by law contains any thing that is Antichristi●n , or repugnant to the ●ord of God , or to the practice of the Catholick Church ? Or th●t pers●●s so ordained Bishops Priests or De●cons h●●e not s●ffic●ent external calling , or that they ought not to be 〈◊〉 truly Bishops , Priests , or Deacons till they h●ve some other external calling unto those divine Offices ? or 〈◊〉 teaches that those three Holy Orders above●●●● have not b●en ever in Christ's Church even from the Apostles time ? VIII . Is there any in your P●●i●h ( ●nd who is h● ) that by separation of himself from the Church , or by joyning himself to Convonticles breaks the Communion of the Church of England , or accounts of others as prophane , and none of the godly , for their orderly conforming themselves to the Church of England as established by law ? Or that any combining themselves in Assemblies or Congreg●tions of the King 's born Subjects within this Land , other then such as by the laws of this Land are held and allowed may truly take unto themselves the name of another purer Church , or of the Church of England ? IX . Is there any who doth affirm and teach ( and who is he ) that the Rites and Ceremonies , and the Rules of the Chu●ch of England by law established , are Antichristian , supe●stitious , or frivolous ; Or any way unlawful or burdensome , or such as may not be subscrib'd unto , and practis'd with a good consc●ence , or that the Church hath no power to decrée any such Rites and Ceremonies ? Concerning the Clergy ▪ their Duty and Office. I. IS the Parson , Uicar ( or also Curate ) in holy Orders by Episcopal Ordination , a Pri●st ordained according to the laws of the Church of England ▪ hath he béen legally instituted and inducted into his Benefice , or is he known or suspected to have obtain●d his Parsonage or Uicaridge by any Symoniacal Contract ? II. Did he within two Months after his Induction publickly in your Church or Chappel upon som● Sunday or Holy-day in the time of D●vine S●rvice openly read the xxxix . Articles established by Authorit● in this Church , A.D. 1562 ; and then profess and publish his assent , and subscribe his name thereto in the presence of the Church W●rdens ? Do you not know , or have you not ●ear● that ●n his reading , or pretending to read those xxxix Articles , he p●ssed over some one or more of them , or some part of one or more , and what part of the Articles was it that he left u●read ▪ Di● your P●rson ▪ Uicar or Curate upon some Lord●-d●y before ●he Feast of St. ●●rtholomew , A.D. 1662 , or some Lord●-day within two Months after Sis Induction , solemnly read in your Church or Chappel both Morning and Evening Prayer , as it is appointed in the book Common-Prayer by law established ? And did he after such reading , publickly before the Congregation declare his un●eigned assent and consent to the use of all things in the said book contained , as is prescribed in the Act of Parliament lately made for the Uniformity of publick Prayers ? And did he within thrée Months after the said Feast of St. Bartholomew 1662 , or within three Months after his Induction into your Church or Chappel , publickly upon some Lords-day in your Parish-Church read a Certificate under the hand and seal of the Arch-Bishop , Bishop or Ordinary of the Diocess , That he the said Parson , Uicar or Curate , did before his admission to be incumbent , subscribe a declaration of the unlawfulness to take up arms against the King , of his conforming to the Liturgy of this Church , and of his disavowing the unlawful Oath commonly call'd , The Solemn League and Covenant , according as is prescribed in the aforesaid Act for Uniformity ? III. Or after his lawful Entrance is your Pa●son or Uicar resident upon his benefice : or if his residence be legally dispens●d with , is his place supplied by a Curate allowed by the Bishops , and a licensed Pre●c●er , and const●ntly resident amongst you ? and what yearly Stipend doth your Minister allew him ? And if your P●rson or Uicar be both resident himself and keep a Curate , doth he notwithstanding himself , at least once a Month , openly read Common-Prayer in your Church or Ch●ppel , and ( if there be occ●sion ) administer each Sacrament in such order , manner and form as is prescribed in the Liturgy and Canons of this Church ? IV. Having both lawful Entrance and Residence among you ; is he ( your Parson , Uicar , or also Curate ) of blameless Conversation , the Husband of one Wife , sober , grave , not double tongu'd , not given to much wine , not greedy of filthy lucre , ruling his Children , and his own house well , sound in faith , in chari●y , in patience ? Or on the contrary , is he a frequenter of T●verns or Ale-houses , a common G●mester a prophane or obscene jester , a swearer , railer , scoffer , or qu●rreller ? Doth he set Neighbours at v●riance one with another ? Doth he f●miliarly converse with persons Excommunicate , ungodly or vicious ? Doth he resort to suspected and infamous houses ? Or is he himself vehemently suspected of Incontinency , with any person within or without your Parish ? Or doth your Curate or Minister lodg or board at any Tavern , Inn , Ale-house , or house of any ill report ? V. Doth your Minister or Curate plainly , audibly , distinctly , and reverently read the Divine Service of Morning and Evening-Prayer , without any diminution , addition , or alteration , upon all Sundays and Holy-days , not omitting also other days appointed by the book of Common-Prayer as fit and usual times , as Wednesdays and Fridays ( with the Litanies added ) and the Eves of every Sunday and Holy-day , with Ember and Rogation days ? And moreover , when he is at home , and not otherwise reasonably hindred himself , or not able to get two or three gathered together , doth he every day say Divine Service Morning and Ebening in the Parish-Church , where he ministers , and cause a Bell to be toll'd thereunto , that the People may come to hear Gods Word , and to pray with him ? VI. Doth your Minister reverently and publickly , at the Font only , administer the Holy Sacrament of Baptism ? Or doth he refuse or delay to Christen any child that is brought to him to Church on any Sunday or Holy-day , knowledg thereof being given to him over Night , or in the Morning before Morning-Prayer , or neglect to perswade all those who have the use of Reason , and are still unbaptiz'd ( having been seduced by An●b●p●ists ) to come to Holy Baptism , and doth he take care for their Baptism as in the Common-Prayer-book is prescribed ? Or doth he refuse or neglect at any time to sign the child baptized with the sign of the Cross ; or doth he admit such to be God-fathers or God-mothers who are either the Parents or who have not themselves receiv'd the Holy Communion ? VII . Doth your Minister duly and reverently administer the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord so often , at least , and at such times , as every Parishioner may Commu●icate at the least three times in every year in publick , whereof the Feast of Easter to be one ? And doth he reverently and carefully in all things obse●ve all the Churches Order in the Celebration ? D●th he give warning publickly in the Church at Morning-Prayer the Sunday before for the better preparation of his Parishioners ? And do such as purpose to Communicate , signifie their Names at least some time the day before ? and when he seeth the People negligent to come to the Communion , doth he use the Churches second Exhortation ? and when there is no Communion , doth your Minister every Sunday and Holy-day through●ut the year re●d the Communion Service , so much of it as is appointed to be read by the Book of 〈◊〉 - Prayer ▪ and a● the place app●●n●e● ▪ the●eb● ▪ profess●ng his and the Churches re●diness to the ●ore frequent Celebr●tion of th● Holy Eucharist , if Communi●●●●s 〈◊〉 of wanting ? V●II Doth your Minister wittingly admit to the receiving the Holy Communion , any one such who is known to live in open and notorious sin without repentance ? or that h●s wronged his Neighbour by word or deed , so as th●t the Congregation is thereby offended , or such betwixt whom he perceives malice or hatred to reign , and will not be reduc'd by him to a reconcilement , or to any who refuse to be present at the other publick Prayers of the Church or to any th●t be common or notorious depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer , or of any thing contained in the xxxix Articles ; or in the Book of Ordaining Bishops , Priests , and Deacons or to any that has spoken against his Majesties Supream Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical , except such persons do acknowledg to the Minister , before you the Church-Wardens that he is sorry for the same , and promise under his hand ( if he can write ) or otherwise by word of mouth , that he will do so no more ? Or lastly , to any that refuse to receive the said Holy Communion knéeling , and of all such persons by him put from the communion , doth he give an account to his Ordinary according to Law ? IX . Doth he at the Celebration of the Holy Communion in the due places appointed by the Liturgy , take the Paten into his hands , and break the bread , and lay his hand upon all the bread , and take the cup into his hand , and lay his hand upon every Uessel in which there is any Wine to be consecrated ? and when that which is consecrated is spent , doth he communicate any persons without consecrating more according to the form prescribed , and doth he severally deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant ; and at his delivering the same , doth he rehearse , the whole form prescribed in the Communion-book , saying , The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. And The Blood o● ou● Lord Jesus Christ which wa●shed , &c Or doth he use only some part thereof as he listeth himself ? and when all h●ve communicated doth he cover wh●t rem●ineth of the Consecrated Elements wi●h a fair Linnen-cloth ? and what remains is it reverently eaten and drunken by some of the Communicants within your C●urch ? X I●●ny person si●k or in health ( especially before the Rec●●ving th● Holy Communion fi●ding his conscience troubled with any w●ighty m●tters , doth for the quieting of his conscience , and for fu●●her comfort and counsel , unburden his conscience to his Priest or Minister ; doth then the said Priest or Minister upon special confession of his sins made ( to make which ●l●o h● is by the Minister to be moved ) upon his repentance administer unto him absolution , together with Ghostly counsel and advice ? and have you ever heard that the said Priest or Minister ha●h reveal'd or made known at any time to any person whatsoever directly or indirectly any crime or offence confessed to him in secret by any such Penitents whatsosoever ( except they be such crimes as by the Laws of this Realm for the publick concern , the Life of the said Priest may and ought to be called in question for concealing of them ? ) II. Is you● Minister ● li●ensed Preacher , by the Bishop , or either of the two Universities ? and if so , doth he then constantly , ● unless in case of sickness ▪ necessary absence , or other reasonabl● imped●ment himself preach in your Church or Chappel , or in some other near adjoyning , one Sermon every Lords-day ? or in such cases of impediment , doth he procure some lawful Minister and licensed Preacher , to read Praye●s and to pre●ch one Sermon and to pe●form other Ministerial Duties each such Day besides the F●●st● of Christs Nativity , Passion , and Ascension at the least ▪ or if no Sermon be , take care that one of the Hom●●ie● set forth by Authority , be there read by a Priest or Deacon lawfully ordained on every Sunday , and Holy-day in the Year ? hath he in his own Sermons at any time or in other Discourse ( as you know or have heard of ) preached or maintain'd any unsound Heretical , Seditio●s , or Schismatical Doctrine so far as you can judg ? or spoken ought privately in contempt of Religion , or that Religion or any part of it , which he by his office in this Church professeth ? XII . Doth he or any other admitted to preach in your Church , omit before his Sermon or Homily briefly to move and exhort the people in the form laid down in the 55 th Canon , or to the same effect , ( declaring for whom , and for what mercies they are to pray , and to give God thanks ) to joyn with him finally in Prayer for all those mercies in that most Holy and Comprehensible Prayer of our Lord ? XIII . Doth your Minister diligently catechize the Youth of your P●rish every Sunday and Holy-day by way of Question and Answer , according to the Church's publick Catechism , or also further instruct them in the sense thereof , as he shall think fit , and this after the second lesson openly in the Church ? Doth he by this and all other good me●ns and admonitions , prepare and procure them ( as occasion is offer'd devoutly to come and seek to be confirmed by the Bishop ; and himself either bring or send in writiting under his hand the names of● all such persons in his Parish , as he shall find by his Examination fit to be presented to the Bishop , humbly to seek and ask that benefit of Confirmation ? XIV . Doth your Minister endeavour privately to reclaim & reduce all Popish Recusants , & all Sectaries in your Parish to the Communion in the publick and established Worship of God in this Church ? Is he also ready to visit the sick ? And doth he call upon them to receive the holy Sacrament in their sickness ? And doth he administer it to them ? And is he also ready to baptize Infants in danger of death ▪ Is any Infant or more aged person in the Parish yet unbaptized by his default ? Have those Children that have been baptized in private houses by your Minister or other law●ul Minister , afterwards been brought into the Church and the Order of the Church concerning them , there duly observed ? XV. Hath your Minister , or any other , baptized Children , churched any Women , or ministred the holy Communion in any private house , ( where they have any Church or Chappel in the Parish ) otherwise then by Law is allowed in cases of necessity ? XVI . Doth your Minister on the three R●gation days before the Feast of the holy Ascension , go in pe●●m●ulation of the Circuit of the Parish ? And when he so goeth , do●● he admonish the people to give thanks to God , in the beholding of his benefits , for the encrease and abundance of his 〈◊〉 upon the face of the Earth ? And when there appears any ●ear of scarcity , to pray to God for his mercy and favo●● unto the L●nd , going into the Church with them , and reading the Litany and one part of one of the Homiles , set forth and appointed for that purpose of the Rogations ? XVII . Doth he bid or observe the Holy-days ▪ and Fasting-days , and days of Abstinence , and other solemn days for which particular Services are appointed , as they occur or return from time to time , giving notice to the Parishon●rs of every of the same in the Church , in the time of Divine Service , the Sunday next before ? XVIII . Doth your Minister always at the reading or celebrating any divine office , constantly wear the Surplice and other Scholastical Habit , according to his degree if he be a Gr●duate , and without a Ho●d ( only instead thereof a Tipet of black Stuff , not Silk being permitted him ) if he be no Graduate ? And doth he wear his Hair of a moderate and comely length ? Is his usual Apparel decent in fashion and in colour , such as in enjoyn'd him by the Canons of the Church ? XIX . Doth he in the presence ●f the Church-wardens , write and record in your Register Book , the Names and Sirnames of all persons baptiz'd , m●rried , and buried in your Parish from time to time , yearly transmitting a Copy of those Christenings , Marrying , and Bu●yings , subscribed with his own the Church-wardens or Overseers names into the Bishops and Registry ? XX. Doth your Minister permit any strange Ministers to preach in your Church who is not sufficiently licensed and Authoriz●d thereto ? XXI . Doth your Parson , U●●ar , or Curate celebrate Matrimony betwixt any persons without the Banes of Matrimony first pub●ished on three several Sundays or Holy-days in the Parish Church or Chappel where the said Parties dwell , or at the time by Law prohibited , without special Faculty or License in either case , granted by lawful Authority ? Or doth h● celebrate the same in any other place than in the Church ? or in the Church at any other time , then between the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon ? Or betwixt such persons as are prohibited by the Laws of God. expressed in the Table of Marriage ; or under the Age of One and twenty years ▪ with●ut the consent of their Parents or of th●ir Guardians and Governours ( if their Parents be de●d ) signified unto him ? XXII . Or have any any such Licenses as above mention'd , that you know of , been granted by any under the Iurisdiction of this Dioc●ss , for the Celebr●tion of Matrimony , until it do appear to the person himself , who is judg in these cases , by the O●ths of two sufficient witnesses , one of them known to the Iudg , or to some person , whom the Iudg dares trust in this particular , That the express consent of the Parents or Parent ( if one be dead ) or Guardian or Guardi●ns of the Parties , is thereunto had and obtain'● , and until one of the Parties to be married have pesonally sworn , that he believeth there is no let or impediment of Pre-contract , Kindred or Alliance , nor any other lawful cause , nor any suit commenced in any Ecclesiastical Court to bar or hinder the proceeding of the said Matrimony ? XXIII . Hath your Minister admitted any Women begotten withChi●d in Adultery or Fornication , to be churched without license from the Ordinary ? XXIV . Doth your Minister serve more than one Church or Chappel in distinct Parishes on one day ? if so , how f●r distant are those Churches or Chappels which he so serveth ? XXV . Doth your Parson Uicar or Curate ( if commanded by the Ordinary ) openly some Sunday denounce and declare for to Excommunicate all such as stand Excommunicate by the Law of the Church , that others may be admonished to refrain their Company ? hath he s●id Divine Service whilst he knew such Excommunicate persons to have been in the Church ? or admitted such to the Communion whilst they stood so excommunicate . XXVI . Doth your Parson , Uicar , or Curate ( having convenient notice given ) delay or refuse to bury any that are brought to the Church or Church-yard according to the form prescrib'd in the Book of Common-Prayer except such as die unbaptized , Excommunicate 〈◊〉 Excommunicationepunc ; and no man able to testifie their Repentance , or have l●id violent hands upon themselves ? ) XXVII . Doth your Minister in the Parish Church or Chappel where he hath charge , read the Book of Can●ns and Constitutions , agréed on at the Synod holden at London A.D. 1603 , once every year upon some Sundays or Holy-days , in the afternoon before Divine Service , and doth he so divide the same , as the one half may be read one day , and the other half the other day ? XXVIII . Is any Lecture preach●d in your Church ? is he or are they who preach it , Licensed so to do by the Bishop ? Doth every such one , before his Lecture either read the whole publick Service himself appointed for that day by the Church in his Surplice , or at least be present at the whole reading thereof ? and is he in all respects conformable to the Laws and Orders of the Church of England ? Or doth he any way ende●vour to bring the Parson or Uicar of the place into disrepute with his Parishioners ? XXIX . Doth every one abide in his own calling whereunto he is called ? viz. Doth any Lay-man that is not duly ordain'd openly read Common-Prayer , or execute any Ministerial duty in your Church ? Or is there any Clergy-man , viz. in Holy Orders who doth voluntarily relinquish those his Orders , and use himself as a Lay-man only without taking any care of the Church of God ? Concerning the Pari●hioners . I HAve you any 〈◊〉 or person living in your Parish tha● to you● 〈◊〉 live not as becomes a Christian , according to his 〈◊〉 and vow made in his Baptism ; viz. de 〈…〉 world●y 〈◊〉 , living sob●●●y , j●stly and god 〈…〉 II. 〈…〉 in your Parish who wilfully absent themselves 〈…〉 Chu●ch or Ch●●pel either at Morning or 〈…〉 up●n S●ndays and other days ●ppointed by 〈…〉 ? Or who come late to the Ch●rch or 〈…〉 b●fore Service be done , and the blessing 〈…〉 up●n ●ny Holy-days imploy themselves in thei 〈…〉 labour , or apply or permit their servants so to 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 of u●ge●t necessity , as may be in Ha●vest ? have you any that upon such days kéep open shops or sell wares especially in time of Divine Service ? Or have you any Uintuers , Inn-keep●rs , or other Uictuallers , or sel●ers of Bée● or Ale , that permit any on such days to tipple or game in their houses , or upon any pretence whatsoever , ( except in some necessity as of sickness ) to remain in their houses in the time of Divi●e Service , or Sermon , forenoon , or afternoon , upon those d●ys ? or any th●t will come to hear S●●mons but will not come to Common-Prayer and Worship of G●● appointed in this Church ? III A●● there any in your Parish of years of unde●standing that remain unbaptiz'd , or any that refuse to send their Infants to be b●p●iz●d publickly in the Church ( except in cases of necessi●y ) or in such cases do they procure them to be b●ptiz'd at home in due manner according to the order of the Church of England ? Or any persons that being unconfirmed are not brough●●o confirmation , or being of years , neglect themselves to seek it upon pretence of having receiv'd the Communion , or Orders , or upon any other pretence whats●ever ? Or are there any that being Sixteen years of Age , do not receive the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist three times in the year , ( whereof E●ster to be one ? ) Or that doth forsake their own Parish-Church to receive elsewhere ? Or are there any marryed Women , who after their delivery from the Pai● and Peril of Child-bearing , refuse in convenient time to return a pubblick Thansgiving to God , according to the Order o● the Church ? Or are there any that refuse to bury their d●●d according to the Rites of the Church ? IV. Do any in your Parish entertain in their house any Sojou●n●● , common Guests , or other persons , who ●e●use to ●requent Divine Service , or receive the Holy Communion as aforesaid , and what are the names , qualities , and conditions of such S●journ●rs ? V. Do any refuse to be uncovered during the ●i●e of Divine Service , or dev●utly to kneel w●en by the Common-Prayer-book they are comm●nded so to do ? or to stand up , at the Glory be to the Father , &c. and at the C●●●ds and Holy G●sp●l , and to make answer at all the 〈…〉 appointed by the the said Book , and due reverence , when the N●me of ou● Lord Jesus is mentioned ? And say the Cre●d and the Lor●'s 〈◊〉 in a loud voyce with the Minister ▪ 〈…〉 in the time of Divine Service behave themselves 〈…〉 walking , talking , whispering , laughing ▪ or sleepi●● ▪ VI. Do any persons 〈…〉 into your Church in time of Divine 〈…〉 , or d●th any other person disturb your Ministe● doing 〈◊〉 part of his Ministerial Office ? or 〈…〉 challenge one another ▪ or fight in the Church or 〈…〉 Or are any Plays , Feasts Drinkings 〈…〉 in your Church or Church-yard ? VII Do an● 〈◊〉 ●n you● P●rish ●egles to ●●use 〈…〉 or other Persons living in their 〈…〉 yet learn't the Church's Catechism , to 〈…〉 come to Church on Sundays & Holy-days 〈…〉 by their Minister and instru●te● therein ? 〈…〉 any in your Parish , Master or S●●v●nt , 〈◊〉 , 〈…〉 Man or Woman , that live in Adultery , 〈…〉 h●ving married within the degrees pr●h●●i●ed 〈…〉 in a T●able set ●orth by Authority ) Or 〈◊〉 you 〈…〉 tog●ther in your Parish as man & wi●e , wh● 〈◊〉 in make known , when , where , or by whom they were Married ? Or any that being lawfully Married do yet live asunder wi●hou● separation in due form of Law ? Or h●ve you any B●wd● , Entertainers or concealers of incontinent persons , or any common Drunkards E●●ortioners , Swearers , Railers , R●vilers , common Slandere●s of their Neighbours , fi●thy and lascivious talkers , or which h●ve sollicited any person to unchastity ? or any which have used any Charmes , Inchantments ▪ or consult●ti●ns of these call'd Wizards , or cunning men and Sorc●rie● , such ●s a●e not made Felony by the Laws of this Realm ? or w●ich h●ve committed perjury in any Ecclesi●stical C●urt 〈…〉 ? IX . Are there any Recusants in your Parish or other Schismatically affect●d ●h● ke●p in their houses any that take upon them to be spiritual guides and iust u●ters , or any Schoolmaster in their Family which come n●t to Church to hear Divine Se●vice , and to receive the Holy C●mm●nion ? or that labour to seduce and w●thdraw others within , or without the Family , from the Religion in th●s Church est●blished ▪ or any in your Parish that retain , sell , or disperse any Popish books or writings , or other books or writings of ●ny Sectaries touching the Religion , State , or Government Eccl●si●stical of this Kingdom of England , or books of Heresie ? X. Have you any in your Parish that are suspected to be Ana-Baptists , Familists , Lib●rtin●s Brownists , Qu●kers , Independents , or Presbyterian opposers of the Epis●op●l Government . XI . Are there any in your Parish that do to your knowledg , or as you h●ve heard , with-hold the stock of the Church , or any part thereof , or any goods or legacies , or other things given to pious and charitable uses , any pr●visio●e for frée Schools , A●ms-houses or Hospitals ( such as are not of his M●jesties Found●tion or Patron●ge ) employed otherwise than according to the intent of their several fou●dations ? Are there any T●st●ments or Wills by any conce●l'd or improv'd , or any Goods unadministred by lawful Authority ? XII H●ve you any in your P●rish that refuse to pay their duty for ●●ster off●rings to your Minister or 〈◊〉 re●kon with him then , or tha● refuse to contribute and 〈◊〉 Rate c●ssed u●on them for the repair of your Church or Ch●●p●l ▪ or for the providing of such Books , Furniture , or necessary Ornaments as are requisite for the performance of any of the Divine Offices there ? XIII . Do you know of any person in your Parish having the Presentation or gift of any Ecclesi●stical Benefice , who hath presented a Minister to it upon any Bargain , either for Money , or Pension , or Lease , or reserve of Tythes , or Glebe , or any part thereof , or upon any other Symon●acal contract whatsoever ? Concerning Church-Wardens , Side-men , Parish-Clarks and Sextons . I. ARe the Church-Wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen , and sworn ? Have the last Church-Wardens given up their Accounts before the Minister and Parishioners , delivering up also the money remaining in your hands , and other things of right belonging to your Church or Chappel ? and is the s●me delivered to you by bill indented ? II. Doth any person or persons trouble or molest you the Church-Wardens for presenting any offenders in any of the premises , or for performing the duty that lies upon you in executing any part of your office , and who are they that do so molest and trouble you ? III. Do you the Church-Wardens against every Communion provide a sufficient quantity of fine white bread , and good and wholsome Wine for the number of the Communicants ? and do you bring ●he Wine so provided in a cle●● and swéet standing Flagon of Pewter , or other purer Metal . IV. Do you suffer the Table for the Holy Communion to be applied at any time , to any prophane ●r com●on use , as of writing , setting dead Corps upon it at Funerals , or others in the Church to sit upon it , or irreverently to make it a place to lay their arms or hats upon it ? V. Do you the Church-Wardens note them that come late to Church after Divine Service is begun , or depart before it be ended ? and do you take diligent notice of the absent and ( by Warrant desir'd from some of the Iustices of peace ) according as by law you are directed , do you lev●e by way of distress from every person of the Parish that doth not resort to your Parish-Church or Chappel on every Sunday and Holy-day ( having no l●wful or reasonable excuse to be absent ) the summ of 12 d. for every Sunday or Holy-day in which he is so absent ? and do you distribute the several summs so levied to the poor of your Parish according to the law in that case provided ? and before you present any for such default , do you first seriously admonish them ? VI. Do you suffer none in time of Divine Service to stand idle , or talk together in the Church-porch , or to walk in the Church or Church-yard , nor children playing or crying in or about the Church ? nor suffer any to bring Dogs , Hawks , or Hounds into the Church to the disturbance of the Congregation ? VII . Are the Side-men duly chosen ? do they assist the Church-Wardens in the executing their Office ? and do they joyn with them in framing Presentments ? VIII . Have you a Parish Clark aged 20 years at the least , chosen by your Minister , of honest life and conversation , and sufficiently able to perform his duty in reading , writing , and singing ? and doth he duly attend the Minister in all Divine Offices at the Church ? doth be kéep clean the Church , and carefully look to it , and to the Books ? and is he pay'd the ancient and usual wages as hath been accustomed ? IX . Doth your Clark , or your Sexton ( if there be any such in your Parish ) diligently look to the doors of the Church that they be locked and opened at due times , and the Bells toll'd and rung at the due and accustomed hours before the beginning of Morning and Evening Service , that the People may be warned and invited ; to come to the Church ? and when any person is passing out of this life , doth he upon notice given thereof , toll a Bell as hath been accustomed , that ●evout and charitable persons may thereby be warned to recommend the Soul of the dying person to the grace , mercy , and peace of God Almighty ? X. Do they at the instance of any , make any grave in any part of the Church ( except in such Isles where some person hath propriety ) w●thout the express consent of your Minister . Concerning Churches , and their Possessions , Ornaments , Utensils , and other Necessaries to the same belonging . I. IS your Church or Chappel kept in good repair ? are the roofs , the walls , the floors , windows , seats and doors , well maintained ? & is your Porch and Steeple in good repair , and Bels kept in good order by the care and oversight of the Church-Wardens at the charge of all persons occupying any La●ds or Tenements within your Parish , as well out-dwellers as Inhabitants , rating all proportionably for the Lands and Tenements they occupy therein ? And is your Church or Chappel-yard sufficiently fenced with walls , rails , or pales , as hath been accustomed , and that by the moneys cessed upon Lands and Tenements in your Parish as aforesaid , except you have a special custom otherwise directing you ? II. Are there any Isles adjoining to your Church or Chancel which time out of mind have been repair'd by the owners of any M●ss●age in your Parish ? if so do the owners thereof repair the same ? III. Is the Chancel of the Church sufficiently repair'd and beautifi●d by the Minister or other person to whom that doth belong ? IV. Is there any in your Parish that hath converted to his own , or to any common secular use , any Timber , Wood , Stone , or other Materials belonging to any Church or Chappel , Parson●ge or Uicaridge house , or out-houses thereof ? V. Have you in your Church a decent Font of stone for the Administration of Holy Baptism , and the same set in the ancient and usual place appointed for it ; and have you in the Chancell a decent Table for the Celebration of the Holy Communion , and for the Communion-service , and a Carpet of silk or other decent stuff , to lie continually upon th● T●ble , during the time of Divine Service , and a fair linnen cloth to lay on the same , at the time of the Holy Communion ? and have you i● fair Communion Cup of Silver , with a Cover , a Plate , and a Flagon of Pewter , or purer Metal , the one to place the Bread on , the other to bring the Wine into the Holy Table , and a fair linnen cloth for covering the Consecrated Elements ? Have you in your Church or Chappel a convenient reading Seat or Pew , erected for your Minister wherein to read the dayly Morning and Evening Service , as also a decent Pulpit set in a convenient place for the preaching of God's Word . VI. Have you belonging to the Church or Chappel a perfect Bible of the largest Uolumn , of the last Translation allowed by Authority ? Have you two Books of Common-Prayer set forth according to the last Act of Parliament for the Uniformity of publick Prayers ? And are both also of the largest Uolumn , fairly bound , one for the Minister , and another for the Clark , to use at the celebration of all Divine Offices ? the Book of Homilies , the Book of Canons and Constitutions made in the Synod held at London 1603 , a Table of Degrees in marriage prohibited , set forth by Authority , A. D. 1563 ; a Parchment Register-book , to register the several Christenings , Marriages , and Buryings within the Parish ? Have you a Book to set down the names of such Strangers as preach in your Church ? and another Book wherein to write down and keep the Accounts of the Church-Wardens , and an Inventory of all things provided and belonging to your Church ? Have any other Books , as the Works of Bishop Jewel , Erasmus his Paraphrase upon the Gospel , or any other good Books been carried out of the Church , into any mans private House , Or been l●s● ? VII . Are the ten Commandments and chosen Sentences of Scripture , or the Lords Pr●yer and others set up in your Church or Chappel , as the Canon does require ? V●II . Have you a large and decent Surplice , one , or more , for the Minist●r to wear at all times of his publick Ministrati●n ? And have you a Ho●d or Typet for your Minister to wear over his Surplice , if he be a Graduate ? IX H●ve you in your Church or Chappel a strong Chest 〈◊〉 three Lo●k● and Keys for the Alms of the poor , and a hole therefore in the upper part thereof ? and is one of those Keys in the custody of the Parson , Uicar , or Curate ? And have you one other convenient Chest , for keeping the Books and Furniture belonging to the Church ; and a Bier with a Herse-cloth for the burial of the dead ? X. Have any trees been cut down , growing in the Church-yard or fences thereof , and by whom , and for what use was it done ? what private doors are made into the Church-yard , whereby Nusances are committed , and by whom were those doors made ? Is any Encroachment made upon that ground ? XI . Have you any Lands or Tenements given or belonging to the repairing of your Church ? what is the quantity and value thereof , and in whose possession are they ? XII . When any of those things mentioned in the 6 , 7 , 8 or 9. Articles above are wanting , are they provided by the Church-Wardens , at the charge only of the Inhabitants of the Parish , according to each Inhabitants personal State , and not otherwise ? And do you the Church Wardens when you make a Rate for the same , and also for the buying of Bread and Wine for Communions , and for the expences of your selves and Side-men at Uisitations , and to pay for scouring your Plate , and washing the Surplice and Communion clothes , and if you have not a Custom to the contrary ) to pay your Parish Clark his ancient Wages ; When you m●ke , I say at any time such a Rate , or a Rate according to the first Article for the repair of your Church , do you give publick notice in the Church to the Parishioners of the time and place of your making them , and also of the time and place when and where your Rate shall be ●ffer'd to be confirmed by your Ordinary ? that the Objectio●s of any may be heard , before they be by the Ordinary ratified ? X●II . Is the House of your Parson Uicar , or Curate , with all the out● houses thereto belonging , kept in good and sufficient repair ? or have any of the said houses or out-houses been pull'd down without License from the Ordinary ? and by whom ? Hath any person 〈◊〉 upon any Orchad , Garden , Yard , or 〈◊〉 belonging to your Parsonage or Uicaridg●house , or fe●●d any tree thereon growing ? X●V 〈…〉 of the ancient Globe Lands belonging to your Minist●rs , been taken aw●y , or exchanged for other Lands , wi●●out the free consent of the Patron Incumbent , and License from the Ordinary ? And have you a perfect terrier of all Glebe-Lands , Maddows , Gardens , Orchads , Stocks , Implements , Tenements or Cottages belonging to your Parsonage , or Uicaridg ? as also , a Note of such Pensions , Rate-tithes , and Portions of Tithes ( or other yearly profits either within or without your Parish ) as belong thereunto ? and finding no such terier , do you the Church-Wardens and Side-men , together with your Minister and others of your Parish , make a terrier of the Premises in Parchment , subscribed and signed by you to be kept by your Minister , and a Copy thereof subscrib'd and sign'● sent into the Bishops Registry ? XV. Are the Bones of them th●t h●ve been buried in your Church or Church-yard kept decently , interred there , or laid up in some ●it place as beseemeth Christians ? and is the whole consecrated ground kept free from Swine and other filth and annoyance , as becomes a place so dedicated ? Concerning School-Masters , Physicians , Chyrurgeons and Midwives . I. DO any in your Parish teach or instruct Youth in any publick School , or private House , without License from his Ordinary ? and doth he cause his Scholars on Sund●ys and Holy-days to resort to Church , to hear Divine Service , Sermons and Catechize ? and does he see that they behave themselves there orderly and reverently ? and doth he himself teach them the Catechism set forth by Authority ? and is he deligent to bring them up in the fear of God , in good learning , and manners ? II. Do any in your Parish practise Physick or Surgery without a License from the Bishop himself if at home , or in his absence by the Ordinary upon the place ? Are your Midwives also licensed by the Ordinary ? Touching Publick Ecclesiastical Officers of the whole Diocess ( within the Bishops Visiration . ) I. ARe there any Ecclesiastical Officers ( within the Bishops Uisitation ) any Advocate , Register , Proctor , Clerk , Apparitor , or other Minister belonging to the Ecclesiastical Court , that takes and exacts any extraordinary or greater fees then are due and accustomed ? II. Hath any Apparitor taken Reward or Fee to excuse any appearance before the Ecclesiastical Court ? or hath the Register-sped any Act , or dismissed any person detected without the knowledg and actual consent of the Iudg ? Are any gifts or rewards taken by any for perverting justice . III. Hath ay person within your Parish paid or promised any summ of Money , or other reward for commu●ation of Penance for any crime of Ecclesiastical Cognisance ? If so , how hath the same been disposed of , to pious and charitable uses ( as far as you know ? ) FINIS . An Advertisement to the Church-Wardens , and Side-men , and Minister . IF you know of any other Default or Crime of Ecclesiastical Cognizance , you are to present the same . The Minister of every Parish , may joyn in Presentment with the Church-Wardens and Side-men , and if they be not faithful in their Care to admonish and present , then the Parsons or Vicars , or in their absence , the Curates ( being the persons that should principally have care of suppressing of sin and impieties in their Parishes ) may , and may find themselves in conscience obliged to present especially the greater Crimes , and whatsoever in their conscience they know needeth reformation in their Parish , as they tender the good of the Souls of their Parish ; Forsomuch as in both the Church-Wardens , with the Sidemen and the Minister , the true discharge of the duty of presenting is one chief means apppointed whereby publick Disorders , Sins , and Offences against God , may be reformed and punished ; so that their wilful refusing to make true presentment , leaves the unreformed Vices of the Nation at the Doors of such Officers , and for which they are to answer to Almighty God , and the sworn-men also to the King in his Ecclesiastical Courts . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A32941-e120 Artic. 1.2 , 3 , &c. Artic. 8. Can. 3. Can. 5. Can. 4. Galat. 3. Rubrick after Baptism Can. 1 & 2. Art. 37. Can. 7. Can. 8. Can. 9. Can. 6. Can. 10. Notes for div A32941-e660 Act. of Unifor . Car. II. 14. Ibid. Act of Parliament . Can. 47.48 . 1 Tim. 3. Can. 75 , Act of Uni●or . Rubric . Can. 14. Can. 15. Rubrick after Preface . Rubrick Can. 68. Rubr. of Baptism Can. 29.30 . Rubric . Rubr. Can. 21. Can. 22. R●b●ick Rubr. Can. 26. Can. 27. Rubr. Rubr. Can. 21. ● . Exhort . to Con. m. Can. 113 1. Exhort . for the Comm. in the Rubr. of the Visitation of the sick . & Can. Can. 45.46.49.47 . Can. 55. Rubric . Can. 66. Can , 67. Rub●ic . Rubric . Can. 22. Can 64. Rubric . Can. 62. Can. 103 & Constit●t . 1597. Tit. d. Moderandis indulgentiis . Can. 48. Can. 15.71 . Can. 65. Can. 68. Can. 53 , 54. Can. 76. Notes for div A32941-e2310 Tit. 2. 1 〈◊〉 cap. 2. R●br . of B●pti●m . C●n. 112 Can. 51. Can. 18. C●n 111 C●n. 59. C●n. 10● 115 Can. 114 Can. 92. Can. 112 114 Rubrick a●ter Comm. Notes for div A32941-e3010 C●n. 89. C●n. 90. C●n. 115 Rubr. Can. 20. Act. 1. ● Eliz. Can. 90. Can. 91. Can. 67. Notes for div A32941-e3410 Can. 15 Can. Can , 82 Can. Can. 87. Notes for div A32941-e3870 Can. 77.79 . Notes for div A32941-e4050 Can 113 
A32956	----	Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiastical exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens, and side-men of every parish within the Diocess of Lincoln, in the first episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Robert ... Lord Bishop of Lincoln. Church of England. Diocese of Lincoln. Bishop (1660-1663 : Sanderson) 1662 Approx. 25 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-08 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32956 Wing C4054 ESTC R6104 12416637 ocm 12416637 61684 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A32956) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 61684) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 864:12 or 324:1i) Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiastical exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens, and side-men of every parish within the Diocess of Lincoln, in the first episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Robert ... Lord Bishop of Lincoln. Church of England. Diocese of Lincoln. Bishop (1660-1663 : Sanderson) Sanderson, Robert, 1587-1663. [2], 13 p. Printed for A. Seile, London : 1662. On reel 324:1 ninth title in a filmed collection of visitation articles. Reproduction of originals in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York and Bodleian Library. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2004-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-03 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-04 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2004-04 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry Concerning MATTERS Ecclesiastical : EXHIBITED To the Ministers , Church-Wardens , and Side-men of every Parish within the DIOCESS of LINCOLN . In the first EPISCOPAL VISITATION OF THE Right Reverend Father in God ROBERT By Divine Providence Lord Bishop of LINCOLN . LONDON ▪ Printed for A. Seile . M.DC.LXII . The Tenor of the Oath to be Administred to the Church-wardens , and Sidemen , of every Parish . YOu shall Swear to enquire with your best diligence , and to make a true Answer unto every Article in this Book now given you in Charge ; and to Present every Person that now is , or of late was , inhabiting within your Parish , that hath done any Offence , or omitted any Duty , therein mentioned . And this you shall do , as in the sight of God , uprightly and truly , without Favour or Malice , Hope of Reward , or fear of Displeasure . So help you God. ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry Within the DIOCESS of LINCOLN . TITUL. I. Concerning Churches and Chappels , with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging . I. IS your Parish Church or Chappel kept in good and sufficient repair ? Are the Roofs thereof well covered with Lead , Tile or Slate ; the Windows well Glazed , the Floors well Paved , the Seats well fastned , and conveniently placed ; and all things so decently ordered , as becometh the house of God ? II. HATH the Steeple or Tower of your Church or Chappel , or any part thereof , been pulled down , or any of the Lead or Bells formerly belonging thereunto , been imbezelled , sold or made away ? In whose hands or Custody doth the same , or any part thereof remain ? Declare what you know , or have heard herein . III. IS there a Font of Stone , with a good Cover thereunto , standing in a convenient place towards the lower part of your Church , for the Administration of Baptism ? And is there in your Chancel , a decent Communion Table , for the Administration of the Lords Supper ; with a Carpet of Silk , Stuff , or fine Woollen cloth , and another Covering of white and pure Linnen , to spread thereupon ? And have you a fair Communion-Cup , or Chalice , with a Cover of silver , and one or more Flagons of silver , or pewter , thereunto belonging ? IV. HAVE you in your said Church , or Chappel , a convenient Seat , or Pew , for your Minister to read Divine Service in ? A Pulpit , with a comely Cloth or Cushion for the same ? A Bible , of the last Translation , in a large Uolum , and the Book of Common Prayer ; both well and substantially bound ? Have you likewise the Book of Homilies , set forth by Authority ? A Book of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical ? And a Printed Table of the Degrees wherein Marriage is prohibited ? V. HAVE you a comely large Surplice for the Minister to wear at all times of his Publick Ministration , in the Church ; provided , and to be duly washed at the Charge of the Parish ? VI. HAVE you a Register Book of Parchment , wherein to Register the Names and Surnames of all such persons as are Married , Christned , or Buried , within your Parish ? together with the Names and Surnames of both the Parents of the Children so Christned , expressing the day , month , and year of all such Christenings , Marriages , and Burials ? And is the transcript thereof yearly , within one Month next after the 25 of March , brought into the Bishops Registry ? VII . HAVE you likewise another Book of Paper , wherein to record the Names and Licences of all such Strangers as are admitted at any time to Preach in your Church or Chappel ? As also a third Book wherein to write down the Church-wardens Accounts : together with a strong Chest with Locks and Keys , wherein to keep the aforesaid Books , and all other the aforementioned Furniture in safe Custody ? And lastly , have you a Bier , with a black Hears-cloth , for the Burial of the Dead ? TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard , the Houses , Gleabs , and Tithes , belonging to the Church . I. IS your Church-yard sufficiently fenced with Walls , Rails , or Pales ; and decently kept from the annoyance of Swine , Horses , and other Cattel ? Hath any person encroached upon the same ? or made any dore into it , out of his own ground or habitation , without allowance from the Ordinary ? Have any Trees there growing been cut down ? how long since ? by whom ? and to whose use and benefit ? II. IS the House of your Parson , Uicar , or Curate , ( with all the out-houses thereunto belonging ) kept in good and sufficient repair ? Or , have any of the said Houses , or Out-houses , been defaced or pulled down without licence from the Ordinary ? and by whom ? Hath any person encroached upon any Garden , Yard , or Close , belonging to your Parsonage or Uicarage house ? or cut up any Trees growing thereon ? or changed or removed the ancient Marks and Bounds of the same ? III HAVE you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe-lands , Gardens , Orchards , Tenements , or Cottages , belonging to your Parsonage or Uicarage ? As also a note of such Pensions , Rate-tithes , and Portions of Tithes , or other yearly Profits ( either within or without your Parish ) as belong thereunto ? Have any of the same been withheld from your Minister ? and by whom ; as you know or have heard ? VI. HAVE any of the Antient Glebe-lands belonging to your Parsonage or Uicarage , been taken away or exchanged for other , without the free consent of the Incumbent , and licence from the Ordinary ? Have any Inclosures been made in your Parish , to the detriment of the Church , by the decay of Tillage , and converting Arable-Land into Pasture ? by whom hath the same been made ? and how many years since ? and how much is your Parsonage or Uicarage damnified thereby in the yearly value thereof ; as you know , believe , or have heard ? TIT. III. Concerning Ministers . I. IS your Minister a Priest or Deacon , Episcopally Ordained , according to the Laws of the Church of England ? II. IS he defamed or suspected to have obtained either his Benefice or Orders , by any Simonaical compact ? III. HATH he been legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice ? and did he within two months after his Induction , publickly in the Church , upon some Sunday or Holy-day , in the time of Divine Service , read the 39 Articles of the Church of England , established by Authority , and there publickly declare his assent thereunto ? IV. HATH he any other Ecclesiastical Benefice , Prebend , or Dignity ? Is he constantly resident upon his Benefice amongst you ? How many weeks in any one year hath he been absent from it , without urgent necessity ? V. HATH your Minister a Curate to assist him ? Is the said Curate in Holy Orders ? an able and discreet person , and conformable to the Laws and Orders of the Church of England ? Is he allowed by the Bishop to serve in your Church or Chappel ? and doth he serve in any other Church beside ? and what yearly Stipend doth your Minister allow him ? VI. DOTH your Parson , Uicar , or Curate , in reading the dayly Morning and Evening Service , Administration of the holy Sacraments , celebration of Marriage , Churching of Women after Childbirth , Uisitation of the Sick , Burial of the Dead , and pronouncing Gods Commination against impenitent Sinners , use the form and words prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer , without any addition , omission , or alteration of the same ? And doth he use all such Rites and Ceremonies in all parts of Divine Service , as are appointed in the said Book ? VII . DOTH your Minister at the Reading or Celebrating any Divine Office in your Church or Chappel , wear the Surplice , together with such other Scholastical Habit as is suitable to his Degree ? VIII . DOTH he observe the Holy-dayes and Fasting-dayes , as also the Ember weeks , and the yearly Perambulation in Rogation-week , as in the Common-Prayer-book , or by the Ecclesiastical Canons , is appointed ? giving notice to the Parishioners of every of the same in the Church , in the time of Divine Service upon the Sunday next before ? IX . HATH your Minister been licenced to preach by the Bishop , or either of the two Universities ? If so ; Doth he then constantly ( unless in case of Sickness , necessary absence , or other reasonable impediment ) himself preach in your Church or Chappel , one Sermon every Sunday ? Or if he be not a Licensed Preacher , or being so Licensed be hindred by Sickness , or otherwise , as aforesaid ; doth he procure a Sermon to be so preached by some other Minister , a Licensed Preacher ? or one of the Homilies set forth by Authority to be there read by a Priest or Deacon lawfully Ordained ? X. DOTH your Minister diligently instruct the youth of your Parish , in the Church Catechism ? and doth he prepare and present them , being so instructed , to be Confirmed by the Bishop ? And doth he endeavour to reclaim all Popish Recusants and other Sectaries ( if any such be inhabiting within your Parish ) to the true Religion established in the Church of England , and to their bounden duty in obeying the Laws , and submitting to the Government thereof ? XI . DOTH he neglect to visit the Sick , or delay the Baptism of any Infant that is in danger of death ? Is there any Child past Infancy , or other person of more years , through your Ministers default , yet remaining unbaptized in your Parish ? Doth he baptize any without Godfathers and Godmothers , or admit either of the Parents to be Godfather or Godmother to their own Children ? XII . DOTH he in his Sermons preach sound Doctrine tending to the edification of the people in the knowledge and faith of Iesus Christ , and obedience to Gods holy Commandements ? or hath he at any time ( as you know or have heard ) preached any False , Heretical , Seditious , or Schismatical Doctrine , thereby to seduce the people into parties and factions , to the disturbance of the publick peace and unity either of Church or State ? XIII . HATH he presumed to Marry any persons in private houses ? or such as , being under age , have not the consent of their Parents , or without the Banes first published on three Sundays or Holy-days in the Church ? or at any other hours then between Eight and Twelve in the Morning ; unless he had a License or Dispensation so to do ? XIV . DOTH any person preach in your Parish as a Lecturer ? Hath he allowance from the Bishop for so doing ? Doth he before his Lecture , read Divine Service , according to the Book pf Common Prayer ? and is he in all respects conformable to the Laws and Orders of the Church of England ? XV. Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any publick or private Fasts , Prophecyings or Exercises , not appointed by Authority ? or doth he , or any other , either Minister or Lay person , hold any Conventicles or Meetings in private houses within your Parish for people of several Families to resort unto , under the pretense of Preaching , Praying , Thanksgiving or Humiliation , contrary to the Laws and Canons in that case provided ? XVI . IS your Parson , Uicar , Curate or Lecturer , a man of a sober , unblamable , and exemplary life ? Doth he familiarly converse with ungodly , vicious , and excommunicate persons ? Is he a frequenter of Taverns , or Ale-houses ? a common Gamester ? a prophane or obscene Iester ? a Swearer , Railer , Scoffer , or Quarreller ? Doth he set Neighbours at variance one with another ? or encourage them to Suits and Contention ? Is he noted to be an intemperate Drinker ? or vehemently suspected of Incontinency with any person , either within your Parish , or without ? Doth he wear his hair of an immoderate or uncomely length ? Is his apparel grave and decent , both for fashion and colour , as the Canons of the Church require ? Or is his Carriage and Conversation , in any kind whatsoever , Disorderly or Scandalous , and unbeseeming a Minister of Iesus Christ ? TIT. IV. Concerning the Parishioners . I. IS there in your Parish any person a known or reputed Heretick or Schismatick ? any Papist , Familist , Anabaptist , Quaker or other Sectary that refuse to come unto the publick assemblies , prayers or services of the Church , or that make profession of any other Religion then what is established in the Church of England ? and if there be any such , what are their Names ? II. IS there any person in your Parish , that lyeth under a common fame , or vehement suspicion of Adultery , Fornication or Incest ? Are there any common drunkards within your Parish , or common swearers , or blasphemers of Gods name , or any that are noted to be railers , unclean or filthy talkers , or sowers of sedition , faction , and discord amongst their neighbours ? III. DO any of your Parish upon the Sundays or Holy-dayes , follow their bodily and ordinary labour ? or permit their servants so to do ? are any shops kept open or wares sold ? or do any Uintners , Inne-keepers , or other victuallers and sellers of Beat or Ale , suffer any persons to tiple or game in their houses upon those dayes ? IV. DOTH every person inhabiting or sojourning within your Parish , duly resort unto your Church or Chappel , upon every Sunday and Holyday appointed for divine service ? Do they then and there abide quietly with reverence , order and decency , during all the whole time of Common-Prayer , Preaching , or other service of God there used ? and are there any among you that come only to the Preaching , and not to the Common-Prayers of the Church ? V. DOTH every person reverently uncover his head , and so continue all the time of Divine Service and Sermon in the Church ? Do they all reverently kneel at the Prayers , and stand up when the Creed and Gospel are read , making due reverence when the name of our Lord Iesus is mentioned ? VI. ARE there any in your Parish that refuse to send their Infant-children to be baptized publickly in the Church , unless in case of urgent danger ; in which case , the child may be baptized at home by a lawful Minister , after the form and rites appointed in the Liturgy ? Or do they send them to be baptized in any other Parishes , or after other form than is appointed ? Or do they keep them unbaptized any longer time then the Church alloweth ? And are there any Infants or more aged persons in your Parish as yet unbaptized ? VII . DOTH every Housholder in your Parish cause their children and servants to learn their Catechism , and to give an account thereof unto your Minister , as he shall require it of them openly in the Church upon Sundayes and Holydayes , as in the Book of Common-Prayer is appointed : that when they are well Instructed in the same , they may be confirmed by the Bishop . VIII . IS there any person in your Parish who being 16. years of age , and well instructed in Religion , doth not receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper , at least three times in the year , of which Easter is alwayes to be one ? Doth any in your Parish refuse to receive the same kneeling ? or from the hands of your own Minister , repairing for it to other Parishes and Ministers abroad ? Or are there any strangers not of your Parish , that forsake their own Churches , and usually repair to yours for it ? IX . HAVE you any among you that be denounced and declared excommunicate for any crime committed ? How long have they been so excommunicated ? And do any of your Parish keep society with them before they he reconciled to the Church , and absolved ? X. ARE there any living in your Parish who have been unlawfully married contrary to the laws of God ? Or any that being lawfully divorced have marryed again ? Or any that being lawfully marryed , and not separated or divorced by course of law , do not cohabit together ? XI . ARE there any marryed-women in your Parish , who after their delivery from the peril of Child-birth , refuse to make their publick thanksgiving to God in the Church ? And when they come so to do , do they come decently apparelled , and make their offerings according to custom ? XII . ARE there any belonging to your Parish , who refuse to pay their duty for Easter offerings to your Minister ? Or any that refuse to contribute , and pay the rate assessed upon them , for the repair of your Church or Chappel , and for the providing of such books , furniture and ornaments , as be requisite for the performance of all Divine offices there ? XIII . DO any refuse to bury their dead according to the Rites of the Church of England ? And are there any Wills or Testaments , of persons dead in your Parish , that be yet unproved ? Or any goods administred , without a due grant from the Ordinary ? Did any dying in your Parish or else where , leave any Legacy to your Church or Chappel , or to the use of the poor , or to any other pious and charitable purposes ? What were those Legacies , and how have they been bestowed ? XIV . DO you know , or have you heard , of any Patron or other person in your Parish , having the presentation or gift of any Ecclesiastical benefice , who hath made gain thereof by presenting a Clerk or Minister to it upon any bargain , either for money or pension , or lease , reserve of Tithes or Elebe , or any part thereof , or upon other Simoniacal compact whatsoever ? XV. IS there any strife and contention among any of your Parish for their Pews or Seats in your Church ? Have any new Pews been erected in your Chancel , or in the Body of your Church or Chappel without leave from the Ordinary ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks , and Sextons . I. HAVE you belonging to your Church or Chappelry a Parish Clerk , aged 21 years ar the least ? Is he of honest life and conversation ? and sufficient or able to perform his duty in reading , writing , and singing ? Is he chosen by your Minister , and doth he duly attend him in all Divine Services at the Church ? Are his wages duly paid unto him ? or who with-holdeth the same from him ? II. DOTH he or your Sexton ( if there be any such appointed in your Parish ) diligently look to the doors of your Church , that they be locked and opened at due time ? And doth he keep your Church or Chappel clean from dust , cobwebs , and other annoyance ? Doth he toll or ring the Bels at the due accustomed hours before the beginning of Divine Service , Morning and Evening , that the people may be warned to come unto the Church ? And when any person is passing out of this life , doth he upon notice given him thereof , toll a Bell , as hath been accustomed , that the neighbours may thereby be warned to recommend the dying person to the grace and favour of God ? TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals , Schools , School-masters , Physitians , Chirurgeons , and Midwives . I. IS there any Hospital , Almes house , or Free-School founded in your Parish ? Who was the Founder , or is now the Patron thereof ? And what is the yearly Revenue , or Stipend , belonging to the Governours , or Masters , of the same ? Is the same ordered and governed in every respect as it ought to be ? and are the Revenues thereof rightly employed , according to the intention of the Founder , and of such grants and ordinances as have been made concerning the same ? II. DOTH any man keep a publick or private School in your Parish , who is not allowed thereunto by the Bishop or his Chancellor ? Doth your School-master teach his Scholars the Catechism of Religion , set forth by Authority ? Doth he cause them upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes , orderly to repair to your Church or Chappel ? and see that they behave themselves there quietly and reverently , during the time of Divine Service and Sermon ? III. DOTH any man in your Parish , practise Physick , or Chirurgery , or any Woman take upon her to exercise the Office of Midwife , without approbation and license from the Ordinary ? TIT. VII . Concerning Church-wardens and Side-men . I. ARE the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen by the joynt consent of your Minister and Parishioners ; or one of them by your Minister , and the other by the Parishioners ? II. HAVE the former and last Church-wardens given up their due Accompts to the Parish , and delivered up to the succeeding Church-wardens the Moneys remaining in their hands , together with all other things belonging to your Church or Chappel ? III. DO you the Church-wardens and Side-men take diligent care , and see who of your Parishioners be absent from the Divine Service and Sermon in your Church or Chappel , upon Sundayes and Holydayes ? And if you find any to have absented themselves without a sufficient cause , do you by Warrant from some of the Iustices of Peace , levy of them , by way of distress upon their goods , the sum of 12 pence for every such day of their absence , according to the Act of Parliament in that case provided : And do you distribute the several sums so levied , among the poor of your Parish , according to the law ? IV. DO you note them that come late to Church after Divine Service is begun , or depart before it be ended ? Do you suffer none to stand idle or talk together in the Church-porch , or to walk in the Church , or Church-yard , during the time of Prayers , Preaching , or other Sacred Offices ? V. DO you suffer no mis-behaviour or disorder to be done by men , women , or servants , or children in your Church or Chappel ? Are you careful that none of them sit , lean , or lay their Hats upon the Communion-Table ? Do you permit no Minstrels , no Moris-dancers , no Dogs , Hawks , or Hounds to be brought or come into your Church , to the disturbance of the Congregation ? VI. DO you against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel , provide a sufficient quantity of fine white Bread , and of good Wine , according to the number of Communicants ? VII . DO you cause all Strangers that preach in your Church or Chappel , to subscribe their names the same day in a Book provided for that purpose , together with the name of the Bishop that licensed them to preach in this Diocess ? and do you permit no other to preach ? VIII . Have you ( the Church-wardens and Side-men ) now sworn to give in a true answer unto all these Articles of Inquiry in all their several Titles , taken sufficient time to draw up your presentments , and therein consulted with your Minister for his faithful assistance ? FOR know you assuredly , that as the true discharging of your Office is the chief means whereby publick Disorders , Sins , and Offences in your Parish may be reformed and punished : So if you wilfully refuse to present such crimes and faults as either you know to have been committed , or otherwise have heard of by publick fame ; That in such cases , the Bishop and his Officers are to proceed against you , in their Ecclesiastical Courts , as in Cases of wilful Omission and Perjury . ROB. LINCOLN . THE Ministers of every Parish are desired to give in the Names of such of the younger sort , in their several Parishes , as they judge fit to receive Confirmation from the Bishop , and to present them to be confirmed : especially such as having competently learned their Catechism , have not yet received the Holy Communion . Also the Clergy within the County of Lincoln are desired to bring with them , in writing , a note of all such Coats of Armes as are in the Church windows , and of all such Monuments , Gravestones , and Inscriptions , whether of ancient or later times , as are yet remaining in their several respective Churches or Chappels , or the Chancels thereof . 
A32965	----	Articles to be enquired of in the Diocesse of Norwich in the first visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward, Lord Bishop of Norwich. Church of England. Diocese of Norwich. Bishop (1661-1676 : Reynolds) 1662 Approx. 20 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-08 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32965 Wing C4072 ESTC R5012 12579884 ocm 12579884 109308 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A32965) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 109308) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 324:1d or 1698:1) Articles to be enquired of in the Diocesse of Norwich in the first visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Edward, Lord Bishop of Norwich. Church of England. Diocese of Norwich. Bishop (1661-1676 : Reynolds) Reynolds, Edward, 1599-1676. [3], 7 p. Printed by T.R. for G.T., London : 1662. Running title: Articles of visitation. Fourth title in a filmed collection of visitation articles. Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library and the Union Theological Seminary. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2004-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-05 Rachel Losh Sampled and proofread 2004-05 Rachel Losh Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES TO BE Enquired of in the DIOCESSE of NORWICH In the First Visitation , OF THE Right Reverend Father in GOD ; Edward LORD BISHOP of NORWICH . LONDON , Printed by T. R. for G. T. 1662. The Tenor of the Oath , to be tendred to the Church-Wardens and Sidemen . YOU shall , upon due consideration of these Articles given you in Charge , diligently Enquire , and true Presentment make of such defaults and offences against the same , as are Enquirable by the Laws Ecclesiastical of this Land : So help you God. ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry within the Diocess OF NORWICH . Concerning Churches or Chappels , with the Ornaments and Furniture belonging to them . I. IS ●o●r Parish Church or Chappel with the Chancel thereof , the Steeple , or Tower , the 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 , Pavements , 〈…〉 dows , Seats , and all 〈◊〉 〈…〉 in good and sufficient Re●a●r , as ●ecometh the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cafed to Gods Publick Worship . II. IS there a Font of Stone standing in the ancient usual place for the Administration of Baptism ? III. IS there a comely Table conveniently placed for the Administration of the Lords Supper with a Carpet of Silk , or other decent stuffe to cover it in time of divine Service , and a fa●●●●nnen Cloth to spread on it at the time of Administration ? What Cup , Chalice , Pa●●en , or Fl●gons , have you belonging to that service ? IV. HAVE you a convenient Seat for the Minister to read divine service in ? and a comely Pulpit with a fair Cu●hion or Pulpit-Cloth see●ly kept for the Preaching of Gods. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 Bible of the largest Uolume , and of the last Tra●●●ation , with the Book of Common Prayer 〈◊〉 estab●●hed , the B 〈…〉 s of Ho 〈…〉 lies allowed by Authority , and the Book of Canons o● Constitutions Ecclestastical ? And have you the works of Bishop Jewel , in defence of the Church of England , and a printed Table of the Deg●●●● , wherein by Law men are prohibited to marry ? V. HAVE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b●●k of 〈◊〉 , wherein to set down the names and sir-names of all that are Baptized , Married , and Buried within your Parish ? Is there a Book wherein to keep the Church-Wardens Accompts ? and anothe● book , wherein to enter the name of any stranger t●●t preache●● in your Parish , and of th● Bishop that gave 〈◊〉 a Li●●●se to pr●●ch ? VI. HAVE you a large Surplice for the use of the Minister in his publick Administrations ? VII . HAVE you a Box wherein to keep the Alms for the poor ? and have you a strong Chest with locks and keys , wherein may be safely kept the plate , vessels , books , carpets , vestmen●s belonging to the Church ? and have you a Bier with a Herse-cloth for the decent burial of the dead ? C●●cer●●ng the Ch●●c●-ya●● , H●use● , ●leb● , and Tythes belongi●● to th● Church . I. IS ●om : ●●urch-●●rd ●●fficie●●ly fe●●ed and main●ained with Walls , Railes , or Pales as hath been accustomed , and so as it may be kept from all Annoyance ? Hath any person encroached upon the same ? Have any Trees there growing been cut down , by whom , and for what use ? II. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 belonging to your Minister kept in good and sufficient repair ? Have any encroached upon the Gardens , Orchards , ●or ●●●ses belonging to the same ? or cut up any trees growing thereon ? Are there any other Houses belonging to the Church ; and are they likewise kept in good repair ? III. ARE there any ●lede-la●●● belonging to y●●r Parso●●ge or Uicar●●ge , and have you a 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 ●e●r●er kept of the sa●● ? and a C●●y thereof delivered 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Register ? And hav●●ou a ●●te of such Pensions , Rate-Tythes , and portions of Tythes as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereunto ? Are any of these taken away , or with-held from your Minister ? or hath the ●ust value of your Parsonage or Uicaridge by any undue means been diminished ? IV. IS there any Hospital , Al●●s-House or 〈◊〉 School ( being not of the Kings foundation ) in your Parish ? and are they and their G●dowments preserved and employed to their right use ? Concerning Ministers . I. HATH your Minister been freely presented , and legally instituted , and 〈◊〉 into his 〈◊〉 Did he withi● two moneths after his In●●●tion rea● upon so●● Sunday or Holy-day publickly in the Church in the time of divine Service , the thirty nine Articles of Religion , and declare his Assent thereunto ? II. IS your Minister constantly Resident upon his Bene●●ce ? or hath he any other Benefice or Dignity , and is he qualified to hold the same ? How many weeks in a year hath he béen Absent without urgent necessity ? III. HATH your Minister a Curate to assist hi● ? and is he a Man of able parts , and of a pious and discreet conversation , and allowed by the Bishop to serve in your Church ? V. IS your Minister a person of a Godly , sober , and peaceable conversation ? Doth he so frame his own Life , and the Lives of such as are of his Family , that he and they may be Examples to the Flock of Christ ? Or on the contrary , is he a frequenter of Taverns and Alehouses , a common Gamester , a profane or obscene person , a Swearer , Curser , Blasphemer , Railer , Scoffer , Quarreller , Fomenter of Suits , and contention , among Neighbours , an ordinary Companion of Drunkards and Riotous persons in such their wicked Courses : a Resorter unto suspected and infamous Houses ? Is his carriage and course of Life in any kind scandalous , and such as becometh not a Minister of Iesus Christ ? Doth he exercise himself in any such secular Imployments , or sordid Labour , as is unbe●●tting the Duty and Dignity of his Office ? Is he grave and comely in his Hair and Apparrel ? and doth he in all his behaviour , so carry himself , as that he may adorn the Gospel , whereof he is a Minister ? V. DOTH he with all diligence attend upon his Ministry , and discharge all the duties belonging thereunto ? Doth he read the publick Prayers , Psalms and Lessons out of the Old and New Testament , and other parts of divine service , and celebrate every divine Office , in such form , manner , and habit as is prescribed ? VI. DOTH he rightly and duly administer the holy Sacraments , of Baptism and the Supper of the Lord ? Doth he take care that Godfathers and Godmothers present Infants unto Baptism , and undertake for them ? and doth he being thereunto desired baptize Infants at home in case of weakness or danger . Doth he frequently , or at the least thrice every year whereof Easter to be one , administer the Lords Supper ? and doth he give warning therof the Lords day before at Morning-prayer , and exhort the people duly to prepare for the same ? Is he careful not to admit thereunto any strangers , or any that live in any atrocious or grievous Crime , or in open Malice and Hatred , to the offence and scandal of the Church ; and doth he , having upon ●ust Reasons not admitted them , give within a fortnight notice thereof unto the Bishop ? or doth he admit any before they have been first Catechised & instructed in the Principles of Religion , ●●d are able to give an accompt of the same , and before they have been Confirmed , and are ready and desirous to be Confirmed ? VII . DOTH he give notice of Holydays , and of the Ember-we●ks , that the people may ve minded to pray for such as are to be solemnly called to the work of the Ministry ? Doth he give notice of the yearly Perambulation in Rogation w●●k for preserving the Bounds of the Parish , and for desiring Gods blessing upon the fruits of the Earth ? Doth he observe the 5th . of November , the 30th . of January , and the 29th . of May ? VIII . IS he a Licensed Preacher ? Doth he , if not hindred by some necessary Impediment , constantly Preach in your Church every Lords day , or being hi●●r●d , doth he take care that it be done by another ? & doth he diligently instruct children & servants , 〈◊〉 Ignorant persons of the Parish in the principles of Religion , contained in the Creed , ten Commandments Lords prayer , and doctrine of the Sacraments , according to the Church-catechism , that so they may be brought to understand and take upon Themselves their Baptismal Covenant , and be Confirmed and admitted Communicants ? Doth he in his Sermons preach only sound and wholsome doctrine , tending to Peace , Holinesse , and Edi●●cation ; consonant to the Holy 〈…〉 ord of God , and the doctrine contained in the Articles of the Church of England ? And doth he four times in the year teach the doctrine of the Kings Supremacy , and put the people in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers , and to obey Magistrates ; or doth he at any time preach any false , Heretical , seditious , dangerous doctrine , tending to publick disturbance , and to alienate the Hearts of the people from their Loyalty and obedience ? IX . DOTH he endeavour to reclaim Popi●h Recusants , or any other Persons of corrupt Iudgements , from such their Errours to the acknowledgement of the Truth ? X. HATH he celebrated Matrimony between any persons ( without faculty granted by such as have Authority to grant it ) except the Banes of Matrimony have been first published three severall Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the time of divine Service , in the Parish Churches or Chappels where the said parties dwell ? or doth he Marry Persons , ●hough Licensed , at any unseason●ble times , and not between the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon ? Or , doth he Marry them in any private place , and not in the Church or Chappel ? Or doth he , after the banes are thrice asked , Marry any under the age of one and twenty years before the Parents or Governours of the said Parties have either person●lly , or by sufficient testimony , signified their consent to the said marriage ? XI . DOTH he , when any Persons are dangerously sick , having notice thereof , resort unto them to pray with them , to instruct , to comfort , to exhort them to faith , repentance , brotherly love , and works of charity ? XII . DOTH herefuse , having had convenient warning given him , to bury any Corpse that is brought to the Church or Church-yard , the dead Person being such as is not denied Christian burial ? XIII . DOTH he and the Church-Wardens cause the names of all that have been baptized , marryed , and buried , to be entred into the Register , Book , and a transcript from thence yearly sent into the Bishop's Office ? If not , you are to send in such transcripts for the several years past as have not been hitherto sent in . XIV . HAVE you a weekly Lecture in your Parish ? is it preached by the Parson or Uicar himself , or by a combination of neighbour-Ministers ? or by one single Lecturer ? if so , is he in holy Orders , of good learning , of a godly and peaceable life ? is he Licensed to preach your Lecture , and doth he therein behave himself as by the Lawes and Constitutions of this Church is required ? Concerning Parishioners . I. ARE there any in your Parish that come not to the Publick Assemblies and services of the Church , or that make profession of any other then the true Reformed Religion which is professed and established in the Church of England , or do any wayes reproach the same Religion , or seduce others from it ? II. HAVE you any in your Parish that oppugne or gain-say his Majesties Supremacy over all persons , and in all causes Ecclesiastical and Civil , within any of hi● Dominions ? III. DO any in your Parish profane the Lords day by working in their ordinary callings , by loytring , tipling , or any other unlawful practices ? and do they observe all the holy days appointed by the Church , according to the orders of the Church prescribed in that behalf ? Or , do any Uintners , Inne-keepers , or any other Uictuallers or sellers of B●●r or Ale ; suffer any persons to tipple & game in their houses upon those days in the time of divine service ? IV. DO all in your Parish resorting unto your Church or Chappel , upon every Lords day , & holy day appointed for divine service , in their carriage and gesture there behave themselves with such reverence , order , decency & attention , during the time of common Prayer , preaching , and other service of God there used , as the nature of such holy duties , and the order of the Church doth require ; none neglecting or disturbing the publick service by sleeping , talking , walking , laughing , removing , going out , or any other profane , rude and offensive behaviours ? or do any interrupt the Minister in any of his Administrations ? V. ARE there any in your Parish that kéep their Infant-children unbaptised or are there any persons of riper years in your Parish unbaptised ? VI. DO all Governours of Families instruct their children and servants in the Catechism , and send them to the Minister to give an account thereof openly in the Church upon the Lords days and holy days , as is appointed ? VII . DO all Communicants thrice at the least every year , whereof Easter to be one , in that méek and reverent manner which is required , partake of the Lords Supper : and do such signifie their names , and purpose to communicate unto the Minister , at least the day before the celebration of the said holy Sacrament ? VIII . DO any persons that are open and notorious evil doers , who live in malice and hatred , with whom for such their wickedness the Congregation is justly offended , presume to come to the Lords Table , not having first declared their repentance that the Congregation may thereby be satisfied ? IX . DO all Communicants pay their Easter dues to your Minister , and do they pay all other Rates assessed upon them for relief of the poor , repairs of the Church , and providing all things required of them to provide in order to divine Offices ? X. ARE there any in your Parish that have married within the forbidden degrées of affinity or consanguinity ( Have any béen clancularly married in private houses ? Do any lawfully married and not separated by due course of Law , yet live asunder , and not co-habit together ? Do married women after they have béen safely delivered , come in due time to the Church to offer thanksgiving unto God for so great a mercy , and pay their accustomed duties ? XI . ARE such as dye in your Parish decently buried according to the order of this Church ? XII . ARE there any Wills or Testaments of persons-dead in your Parish that be not yet proved , or are any goods administred without a due grant from the Ordinary ? Have any left Legacies to pious uses in your Parish , and how are those Legacies bestowed ? XIII . ARE there in your Parish any that are common swearers , or blasphemers of Gods holy Name , drunkards , adulterers , fornicators , concealers or harbourers of fornicators and adulterers , incestuous persons , railers , unclean and filthy talkers , sowers of sedition , faction , and discord amongst their Neighbours ? and who are they ? XIV . IS there any person in your Parish , who having the gift of any Ecclestastical Benefice , hath made gain thereof by presenting a Clerk or Minister to it by any bargain or symoniacal compact ? or is suspected thereof ? Concerning Parish Clerks and Sextons . I. HAVE you a Parish Clerk chosen by your Minister , Aged twenty years at the least , of honest conversation , and sufficient for the executing of his place by skill in reading , writing , and singing ? II. DOTH he diligently attend the Minister in all divine services at the Church , and are the antient wages belonging unto him duly paid without fraud or diminution ? Doth he or the Sexton ( if you have any ) keep your Church or Chappel clean , and free from all annoyance , in due time ring or Toll the Bells before the beginning of divine Service ; open and lock the Church-doors , and carefully preserve all the things belonging unto the Church , that are committed unto his custody ? Concerning School-masters . I. Have you any Publick or Private School in your Parish , is your School-master of sober , honest , and religious conversation ? And is he allowed by the Bishop or his Chancellor ? doth he instruct his Schollars in the Church-catechism , and take care to train them up , not onely in Learning , but in Religion , and in the Fear of God , framing their manners unto Modesty and Uertue ? Doth he upon holy and Festival dayes cause his Schollars orderly to repair to your Church or Chappel , and there to behave themselves attenti●ely and reverently , during the whole time of service and Sermon ? and doth he enquire after their proficiency in the things which they have there learned , by examining them at convenient times what they have remembred of such Sermons ? Concerning Physitians , Chirurgions and Midwives . I. DO any practise Physick or Chirurgery in your Parish without due License ; Or doth any woman take upon her to exercise the Office of a Midwife there , without approbation and License from the Ordinary ? Concerning Church-Wardens . I. ARE the Church-Wardens of your Parish , chosen every year in Easter week by the joint consent of the Minister and Parishioners , or one by the Minister , and the other by the Parishioners ? And are Side-men likewise chosen by the Minister and Parishioners ; II. HAVE the last Church-Wardens within a moneth after the end of their year given before the Minister and Parishioners a just account of the moneys they have received , and what they have expended for reparations and other uses of the Church ? And have they truly delivered up to the Parishioners whatsoever money or other things are of right belonging to the Church or Parish ? YOU the Church-Wardens and sidemen are to take diligent care to sée the Parishioners duly resort on the Lords dayes and holy dayes to their Church , and there continue the whole time of Publick Worship in due attendance thereupon ; You are not to suffer any to Walk , or Talk , or play , or stand Idle , or any way to behave themselves unseemly in the Church , Church-porch , or Church-yard , during the time of the publick Worship to the disturbance and offence of the Congregation : if any so do , you are to present them ; as also all such as at any time Strike , Quarrel or Brawle in the Church or Church-yard . Concerning Ecclesiastical Officers . HAVE any Ecclesiastical Iudge or Officer any Advocate , Register , Procter , Clerk , Apari●or , or Summoner , any way offended in their Offices , Ministeries , or Services , contrary to the Laws and Canons Ecclesiastical in that behalf provided . FINIS . 
A32969	----	Articles of visitation & enquiry exhibited to the ministers, churchwardens, and sidemen of every parish in the primary episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God John by divine permission lord bishop of Oxford Visitation articles Church of England. Diocese of Oxford. Bishop (1676-1686 : Fell) 1674 Approx. 8 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32969 Wing C4076 ESTC R214893 99826944 99826944 31356 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A32969) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 31356) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1845:18) Articles of visitation & enquiry exhibited to the ministers, churchwardens, and sidemen of every parish in the primary episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God John by divine permission lord bishop of Oxford Visitation articles Church of England. Diocese of Oxford. Bishop (1676-1686 : Fell) Fell, John, 1625-1686. 7, [1] p. s.n., [Oxford? : 1674?] Suggested imprint from Wing; not in Madan. In MS. on title page: Fell 1675. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- Oxford (diocese) -- Early works to 1800. 2005-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-05 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2006-05 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF Visitation & Enquiry Exhibited to the MINISTERS , CHURCHWARDENS , and SIDEMEN Of every Parish in the primary Episcopal Visitation Of the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN By Divine Permission Lord Bishop of OXFORD . 〈…〉 The tenor of the Oath to be administred to the Church-wardens , and Sidemen of every Parish . YOU Shall swear truly and faithfully to execute the Office of a Church-warden within your Parish , and according ●o the best of your skill and knowledg present such Things and Persons , as you ●now to be presentable by the laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm . So help you God , ●nd the contents of this Book . ARTICLES OF INSTRUCTION FOR Visitation and Enquiry IN THE DIOCESS of OXFORD . TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chapels , with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging . 1. IS your Church or Chapel in good and sufficient repare , and so decently and cleanly kept as becomes the house of God ? 2. Is the furniture of your Church or Chapel , as Bells , Communion plate and Cloths , Ministers surplice , Pulpit-cloth , Herse-cloth , with other usual Ornaments duly provided , and decently kept ? 3. Have you a fair Bible , book of Common Praier , books of Homilies , and Canons ; a Register of Births , Burials and Mariages , and is the said Register duly kept , and the transcript return'd every year into the Bishops Registery ? Have you also a Register of such Strangers as are admitted to Preach ; and a book for the entry of the Church-wardens accounts ? And are the said books carefully lookt to , and constantly emploied ? TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard , the Houses , Glebes , and Tiths belonging to the Church . 1. IS your Church-yard sufficiently fenced and preserved from anoiance , encrochments , and wast ? 2. Is the dwelling-house , and all the out-houses of your Parson , Vicar , or Curate kept in good repare : and are the Glebe-lands , Orchards , Gardens , and other easements belonging to them , preserv'd from being embezel'd , or endammag'd ? And have you a perfect Terror of such Glebe-lands , Orchards , &c. and also of Pensions , Tiths , and compositions as belong unto them ? TIT. III. Concerning Ministers . 1. HAve you a Parson , Vicar , or Curate legally setled among you ? 2. Is he constantly resident ? or how long , and on what occasion is he absent ? has he a Curate ? how is he licensed , and how maintain'd ? During his absence , what care is taken for hospitality , and charity to the poor ? 3. Do's your Parson , Vicar , or Curate constantly , reverently , and regularly Officiate on the Lords daies , Holidaies , and the Eves of them ; as also read the Letany upon all wenesdaies ; and fridaies weekly ; and observe Rogation and Emberdaies according to the order of the Church ; and so perform all offices , without addition or diminution ? 3. Do's your Minister diligently instruct the youth of your Parish in the Church Catechism ? and do's he endeavor to reclame all profane persons , Papists , and Sectaries ; and press the great duties of piety , justice , temperance , charity , allegiance , and conformity ? And is he diligent in visiting the sick , and satisfying the doubts of troubled consciences ? Lastly , is he peaceable , sober , and exemplary in his conversation , and grave in his demeanor , company , hair , and apparel ? TIT. IV. Concerning the Parishioners . 1. ARE there in your Parish any persons known or reputed to be Jews , Heretics , or Schismatics , whether Papists , or Fanatics ? what are the numbers of each particular Sect of them ? and are they studious to pervert the Orthodox ; or insolent towards them for doing their duty ? 2. Are any of your Parish known or suspected to be guilty of Incest , Adultery , Fornication , or any other enormous crimes ? Do any profane the Lords day , or the Name of God , or are irreverent in the Church , or neglect the respective duties incumbent on them in reference to the Sacraments of Baptism , and the Lords Supper , and other Rites ; as of Catechizing , Confirmation , Mariage , thanksgiving after Child-birth , burial of the dead , or the censures of the Church ? 3. Are the Wills and Testaments of the dead in your Parish , or the administration of their Goods duly taken out and executed ? Have any Lands , Legacies , or charitable gifts bestowed on your Parish , or any other good uses ; bin embezled , or unduly dispos'd of ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish Clerks , and Sextons . HAve you belonging to your Parish or Chapelry a sufficient Clerk or Sexton , and do's he faithfully and diligently execute his office ? TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals , Scholes , Scholemasters , Physicians , Chirurgions , and Midwives . 1. JS there in your Parish any Hospital , Almes-house , or Free-schole ? How are they endowed , ordered , and governed ? Do's any one keep Schole without licence from the Bishop : or if licensed , neglect to teach the Youth committed to him the Catechism of the Church , and Grammar set forth by autority ; and to bring them to the Service of the Church ? 2. Do's any in your Parish practice Physic , or Chirurgery , or do the Office of a Midwife , without approbation and licence from the Ordinary ? TIT. VII . Concerning Ecclesiastical Officers . 1. HAve any Officers that exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in this Diocess ; taken , or exacted any excessive Fees for any Cause or Act ; or any Bribe , or Reward for the concelement or impunity of delinquents : or sped any Act privately , and not in the presence of a public Notary ? 2. Is the number of the Apparitors in this Diocess excessive ; have they summon'd any person unlawfully ; or taken reward for concelements ; or threatned prosecutions where they had no reward , or otherwise misbehaved themselves in their Office ? Advertisements . I THe Minister of every parish may joyn in presentment with the Churchwardens and Sidemen ; and if they fail to present , the Ministers themselves ( who have the highest obligation to endeavour the suppressing of impiety and disorder ) may do it . II. The Minister , Churchwardens and Sidemen , at the delivery of their bill of presentment , are required to draw up in writing and attest under their hands , a particular account of the number of Recusants , whether Popish or other ; and also the number of the Orthodox and conformable in their Parish , as follows . 1. What number of Persons is there in common estimation in your Parish ? 2. What number of Popish Recusants , or persons thereof suspected , is there ? 3. What number of other Dissenters is there , who relinquish the Communion of the Church ? III. The Ministers are to take notice , that the Bishop at his Visitation will be ready to confirm the Youth that shall be fitted and brought before him ▪ and therefore are desir'd by diligent Catechizing to prepare those under their charge , and to bring them , at the time appointed , unto the Bishop . 〈…〉 FINIS ▪ 
A41029	----	Articles of visitation & enquiry exhibited to the ministers, church wardens, and sidemen of every parish in the primary episcopal visitation of ... John, by divine permission Lord Bishop of Oxford Church of England. Diocese of Oxford. Bishop (1676-1686 : Fell) 1679 Approx. 8 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A41029 Wing F606 ESTC R24323 08121864 ocm 08121864 40912 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A41029) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 40912) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1229:9) Articles of visitation & enquiry exhibited to the ministers, church wardens, and sidemen of every parish in the primary episcopal visitation of ... John, by divine permission Lord Bishop of Oxford Church of England. Diocese of Oxford. Bishop (1676-1686 : Fell) Fell, John, 1625-1686. 8 p. s.n., [Oxford?] : 1679. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England. -- Diocese of Oxford. -- Bishop (1676-1686 : Fell) Visitations, Ecclesiastical. 2005-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-12 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-03 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2006-03 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF Visitation & Enquiry Exhibited to the MINISTERS , CHURCHWARDENS , and SIDEMEN Of every Parish in the primary Episcopal Visitation Of the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN By Divine Permission Lord Bishop of OXFORD . 〈…〉 The tenor of the Oath to be administred to the Church-wardens , and Sidemen of every Parish . YOu Shall swear truly and faithfully to execute the Office of a Church-warden within your Parish , and according to the best of your skill and knowledg present such Things and Persons , as you know to be presentable by the laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm . So help you God , and the contents of this Book . ARTICLES OF INSTRUCTION FOR Visitation and Enquiry IN THE DIOCESS of OXFORD . TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chapels , with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging . 1. IS your Church or Chapel in good and sufficient repare , and so decently and cleanly kept as becomes the house of God ? 2. Is the furniture of your Church or Chapel , as Bells , Communion plate and Cloths , Ministers surplice , Pulpit-cloth , Herse-cloth , with other usual Ornaments duly provided , and decently kept ? 3. Have you a fair Bible , book of Common Praier , books of Homilies , and Canons ; a Register of Births , Burials and Mariages , and is the said Register duly kept , and the transcript return'd every year into the Bishops Registery ? Have you also a Register of such Strangers as are admitted to Preach ; and a book for the entry of the Church-wardens accounts ? And are the said books carefully lookt to , and constantly emploied ? TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard , the Houses , Glebes , and Tiths belonging to the Church . 1. IS your Church-yard sufficiently fenced and preserved from anoiance , encrochments , and wast ? 2. Is the dwelling-house , and all the out-houses of your Parson , Vicar , or Curate kept in good repare : and are the Glebe-lands , Orchards , Gardens , and other easements belonging to them , preserv'd from being embezel'd , or endammag'd ? And have you a perfect Terror of such Glebe-lands , Orchards , &c. and also of Pensions , Tiths , and compositions as belong unto them ? TIT. III. Concerning Ministers . 1. HAve you a Parson , Vicar , or Curate legally setled among you ? 2. Is he constantly resident ? or how long , and on what occasion is he absent ? has he a Curate ? how is he licensed , and how maintain'd ? During his absence , what care is taken for hospitality , and charity to the poor ? 3. Do's your Parson , Vicar , or Curate constantly , reverently , and regularly Officiate on the Lords daies , Holidaies , and the Eves of them ; as also read the Letany upon all wenesdaies ; and fridaies weekly ; and observe Rogation and Emberdaies according to the order of the Church ; and so perform all offices , without addition or diminution ? 3. Do's your Minister diligently instruct the youth of your Parish in the Church Catechism ? and do's he endeavor to reclame all profane persons , Papists , and Sectaries ; and press the great duties of piety , justice , temperance , charity , allegiance , and conformity ? And is he diligent in visiting the sick , and satisfying the doubts of troubled consciences ? Lastly , is he peaceable , sober , and exemplary in his conversation , and grave in his demeanor , company , hair , and apparel ? TIT. IV. Concerning the Parishioners . 1. ARE there in your Parish any persons known or reputed to be Jews , Heretics , or Sohismatics , whether Papists , or Fanatics ? what are the numbers of each particular Sect of them ? and are they studious to pervert the Orthodox ; or insolent towards them for doing their duty ? 2. Are any of your Parish known or suspected to be guilty of Incest , Adultery , Fornication , or any other enormous crimes ? Do any profane the Lords day , or the Name of God , or are irreverent in the Church , or neglect the respective duties incumbent on them in reference to the Sacraments of Baptism , and the Lords Supper , and other Rites ; as of Catechizing , Confirmation , Mariage , thanksgiving after Child-birth , burial of the dead , or the censures of the Church ? 3. Are the Wills and Testaments of the dead in your Parish , or the administration of their Goods duly taken out and executed ? Have any Lands , Legacies , or charitable gifts bestowed on your Parish , or any other good uses ; bin embezled , or unduly dispos'd of ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish Clerks , and Sextons . HAve you belonging to your Parish or Chapelry a sufficient Clerk or Sexton , and do's he faithfully and diligently execute his office ? TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals , Scholes , Scholemasters , Physicians , Chirurgions , and Midwives . 1. JS there in your Parish any Hospital , Almes-house , or Free-schole ? How are they endowed , ordered , and governed ? Do's any one keep Schole without licence from the Bishop : or if licensed , neglect to teach the Youth committed to him the Catechism of the Church , and Grammar set forth by autority ; and to bring them to the Service of the Church ? 2. Do's any in your Parish practice Physic , or Chirurgery , or do the Office of a Midwife , without approbation and licence from the Ordinary ? TIT. VII . Concerning Ecclesiastical Officers . 1. HAve any Officers that exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in this Diocess ; taken , or exacted any excessive Fees for any Cause or Act ; or any Bribe , or Reward for the concelement or impunity of delinquents : or sped any Act privately , and not in the presence of a public Notary ? 2. Is the number of the Apparitors in this Diocess excessive ; have they summon'd any person unlawfully ; or taken reward for concelements ; or threatned prosecutions where they had no reward , or otherwise misbehaved themselves in their Office ? Advertisements . I THe Minister of every parish may joyn in presentment with the Churchwardens and Sidemen ; and if they fail to present , the Ministers themselves ( who have the highest obligation to endeavour the suppressing of impiety and disorder ) may do it . II. The Minister , Churchwardens and Sidemen , at the delivery of their bill of presentment , are required to draw up in writing and attest under their hands , a particular account of the number of Recusants , whether Popish or other ; and also the number of the Orthodox and conformable in their Parish , as follows . 1. What number of Persons is there in common estimation in your Parish ? 2. What number of Popish Recusants , or persons thereof suspected , is there ? 3. What number of other Dissenters is there , who relinquish the Communion of the Church ? III. The Ministers are to take notice , that the Bishop at his Visitation will be ready to confirm the Youth that shall be fitted and brought before him : and therefore are desir'd by diligent Catechizing to prepare those under their charge , and to bring them , at the time appointed , unto the Bishop . FINIS 
A32947	----	Articles of visitation and enquiry within the diocess of Ely in the second episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God Peter by divine permission Lord Bishop of Ely in the fifth year of his translation. Church of England. Diocese of Ely. Bishop (1675-1684 : Turner) 1679 Approx. 55 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32947 Wing C4037 ESTC R27643 10056260 ocm 10056260 44478 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A32947) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 44478) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1352:19) Articles of visitation and enquiry within the diocess of Ely in the second episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God Peter by divine permission Lord Bishop of Ely in the fifth year of his translation. Church of England. Diocese of Ely. Bishop (1675-1684 : Turner) Gunning, Peter, 1614-1684. 21, [1] p. Printed by S. Roycroft, London : 1679. Reproduction of original in the Cambridge University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Visitations, Ecclesiastical. 2003-09 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-10 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-12 Olivia Bottum Sampled and proofread 2003-12 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY Within the Diocess of ELY : IN THE Second Episcopal Visitation OF THE Right Reverend FATHER in GOD , PETER , By Divine Permission LORD BISHOP of ELY . In the fifth Year of his Translation . LONDON , Printed by S. Roycroft , 1679. The Tenour of the Oath to be administred to the Church-wardens and Side-men . YOU shall Swear , diligently to Enquire , and true Presentment make , of every person now or lately of your Parish , which hath made any default or offence enquirable by the King's Laws Ecclesiastical , and become known unto you . So help you God , and the Contents of his Holy Gospel . Articles of Instruction and Direction to the Church-wardens and Side-men , of what they are to take more especial Notice in their Presentments . Concerning Religion , and the Government of the Church Established in this Realm . IMprimis . Is there any in your Parish who are guilty of Atheistical or blasphemous Speeches against the Majesty of Almighty God , or Scoffers at Religion , and the Souls future immortal state ? Is there any guilty of Speeches of Infidelity against the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ ? Any who in their communication , or otherwise , defend the Socinian or Arrian Heresie , denying the Eternal Godhead of the Lord Iesus , or Pelagian , denying the necessity of his Grace , and of Baptism for the washing away of Original Sin ? II. Is there any one that doth affirm or teach ( and who is he ) that the holy Scripture doth not contain all things necessary to Salvation ? or , that what is contained in the 3 Creeds ought not throughly to be received and believed , or that the Church hath not Authority in Controversies of Faith ? III. Is there any that doth affirm and teach that the Church of England by law established , is not a true and Apostolical Church , and a true member of the Catholick Church , having in her all things necessary to Salvation ? Or is there any that doth affirm and teach that the XXXIX Articles agreed upon by the Arch-bishops and Bishops of both Provinces , and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London , A.D. 1562. are in any part erroneous or superstitious , or such as may not with a good conscience be subscribed unto ? IV. Is there any in your Parish that doth affirm and teach that the Form of God's Worship in the Church of England established by law , and contained in the Book of Common Prayer , and Administration of Sacraments , is a corrupt , Popish , or any way superstitious or unlawful Worship of God , or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to Scripture ; or to the Doctrine and Worship in the Catholick or Primitive Church ? V. Is there any that doth affirm or teach ( and who is he ) that Baptism of Infants according as is practised in the Church of England , is unlawful or unnecessary , or better to be delayed , or not appointed for the Remission of Sins , or that it may be repeated , or that Infants duly baptized according to the Churches Order , and dying before they commit actual sin , are not saved everlastingly through God's grace given them in Baptism ? VI. Is there any who doth affirm or teach , that the king's Majesty hath not the same Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical which we see hath been given always to all godly Princes by God himself , both among the Iews , and in the Christian Church ? Or that doth any way deny or impugn the king's Majesties Royal Authority or Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiastical in this Realm ? Or who denies that within his Majesties Realms of England , Scotland , and Ireland , and all other his Dominions and Countries , our Lord the king is the highest Power under God , to whom the chief Government of all Estates , whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil , in all Causes doth appertain , without any subjection due from Him or his Subjects to any foreign Iurisdiction ? VII . Is there any who doth affirm and teach ( and who is he ) that the Government of the Church of England under his Majesty by Arch-bishops , Bishops , Deans , Arch-Deacons , or other chief Ministers bearing office in the same , or that the forms or manner of Ordaining and Consecrating of Bishops , Priests and Deacons , established by law , contains any thing that is Antichristian , or repugnant to the word of God , or to the practice of the Catholick Church ? Or that persons so ordained Bishops , Priests or Deacons , have not sufficient external calling , or that they ought not to be accounted truly Bishops , Priests , or Deacons till they have some other external calling unto those divine Offices ? or that teaches that those three holy Orders abovesaid have not been ever in Christ's Church even from the Apostles time ? VIII . Is there any in your Parish ( and who is he ) that separating himself from this Church , and from the Communion of Saints therein , & joyning himself to Conventicles , breaks the Communion of the Church of England , and so the Communion of the Catholick Church , of whose Communion hers is a part ; or accounts of others as prophane , and none of the godly , for their orderly conforming themselves to the Church of England as established by law ? Or that any combining themselves in Assemblies or Congregations of the king's born Subjects within this Land , other then such as by the Laws of this Land are held and allowed , may truly take unto themselves the name of another purer Church , or of the Church of England ? IX . Is there any who doth affirm and teach ( and who is he ) that the Rites and Ceremonies , and the Rules of the Church of England by law established , are Antichristian , superstitious , or frivolous ; or any way unlawful , or such as may not be subscribed unto , and practised with a good conscience , or that the Church hath no power to decree any such Rites and Ceremonies ? Concerning the Clergy , their Duty and Office. I. IS your Parson , Vicar , ( or also Curate ) in holy Orders by Episcopal Ordination , a Priest ordained according to the laws of the Church of England ? hath he been legally instituted and inducted into his Benefice ? or is he known or suspected to have obtained his Parsonage or Vicarage by any Symoniacal Contract ? II. Did he within two Months after his Induction publickly in your Church or Chappel upon some Sunday or Holy day in the time of Divine Service , openly read the XXXIX Articles ' established by Authority in this Church , A. D. 1562. and then profess and publish his assent , and subscribe his name thereto in the presence of the Church-wardens ? Do you not know , or have you not heard , that in his reading , or pretending to read those XXXIX Articles , he passed over some one or more of them , or some part of one or more , and what part of the Articles was it that he left unread ? Did your Parson , Vicar or Curate , upon some Lord's-day within two Months after his Induction , solemnly read in your Church or Chappel both the Morning and Evening Prayer , as it is appointed in the Book of Common-Prayer by law established ? And did he after such reading , publickly before the Congregation , declare his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all things in the said Book contained , as is prescribed in the Act of Parliament made for the Uniformity of publick Prayers ? And did he within three Months after his Induction , in your Church or Chappel , in publick upon some Lord's day read a Certificate under the hand and seal of the Arch-bishop or Bishop , Ordinary of the Diocess , that he the said Parson , Vicar or Curate , did before his admission to be Incumbent , subscribe a declaration of the unlawfulness to take up arms against the king , and of his conforming to the Liturgy of this Church , and of his disavowing the unlawful Oath commonly called , The Solemn League and Covenant , according as is prescribed in the aforesaid Act for Uniformity ? III. Or after his lawful Entrance , is your Parson or Vicar resident upon his benefice ? or if his residence be legally dispensed with , is his place supplied by a Curate allowed by the Bishop , and a licensed Preacher , and constantly resident among you ? and what yearly stipend doth your Minister allow him ? And if your Parson or Vicar be both resident himself , and keep a Curate also , doth he notwithstanding himself at least once a Month , openly read Common Prayer in your Church or Chappel , and ( if there be occasion ) administer each Sacrament in such order , manner and form , as is prescribed in the Liturgy and Canons of this Church ? IV. Having both lawful Entrance and Residence among you ; is he ( your Parson , Vicar , or also Curate ) of blameless conversation , the Husband of one Wife , sober ▪ grave , not double tongu'd , not given to much wine , not greedy of filthy lucre , ruling his Children , and his own house well , sound in faith , in charity , in patience ? Or on the contrary , is he a frequenter of Taverns or Ale-houses , a common Gamester , a prophane or obscene jester , a swearer , railer , scoffer , or quarreller ? Doth he set his Neighbours at variance one with another ? Doth he familiarly converse with persons Excommunicate , ungodly or vicious ? Doth he resort to suspected and infamous houses ? Or is he himself vehemently suspected of Incontinency with any person within or without your Parish ? Or doth your Curate or Minister lodge or board at any Tavern , Inn , Ale-house , or house of any ill report ? V. Doth your Minister or Curate plainly , audibly , distinctly , and reverently read the Divine Service of Morning and Evening-Prayer , without any diminution ( in regard of Preaching , or any other respect ) addition , or alteration , upon all Sundays and Holy-days , not omitting also other days appointed by the Book of Common-Prayer as fit and usual times , as Wednesdays and Fridays ( with the Litanies added ) and the Eves of every Sunday and Holy day with Ember and Rogation days ? And moreover , when he is at home , and not otherwise reasonably hindred himself , and able to get two or three gathered together , doth he every day say Divine Service Morning and Evening in the Parish-Church , where he ministers , and cause a bell to be toll'd thereunto , that the People may come to hear God's Word , and to pray with him ? VI. Doth your Minister reverently and publickly , at the Font only , and that without the use of a Basin , Administer the holy Sacrament of Baptism ? Or doth he refuse , or delay to Christen any Child that is brought to him to Church on any Sunday or Holy-day , knowledge thereof being given to him over Night , or in the Morning before Morning Prayer ; or neglect to persuade all these who have the use of Reason , and are still unbaptiz'd ▪ having been seduced by Anabaptists ) to come to holy Baptism , and doth he take care for their Baptism as in the Common-Prayer-Book is prescribed ? In the solemn Publick Baptism doth he Baptize any without God-fathers or God-mothers ? Or doth he then refuse or neglect to sign the Child baptized with the sign of the Cross ? Or doth he admit such to be a God-father or God - mother , who are either one of the Parents of the Child , or who have not themselves received the holy Communion ? VII . Doth your Minister duly and reverently Administer the holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord , so often , at least , and at such times ▪ as every Parishioner may communicate , at the least three times in every year in publick , whereof the Feast of Easter to be one ? And doth he reverently and carefully in all things observe all the Churches Order in the Celebration ? Doth he give warning publickly in the Church at Morning-Prayer , the Sunday before , for the better preparation of his Parishioners ? And do such as purpose to Communicate , signifie their Names at least some time the day before ? and when he seeth the People negligent to come to the Communion , doth he use the Churches second Exhortation ? and when there is no Communion , doth your Minister every Sunday and Holy-day throughout the year , read so much of the Communion Service , as is appointed to be read by the Book of Common-Prayer , and at the place appointed , ( if he can thence be well heard of all ) thereby professing his and the Churches readiness to the more frequent Celebration of the Holy Eucharist , if Communicants were not wanting ? VIII . Doth your Minister wittingly admit to the receiving the Holy Communion , any one such who is known to live in open and notorious sin without Repentance ? or that has wronged his Neighbour by word or deed , so as that the Congregation is thereby offended , or any such betwixt whom he perceives malice or hatred to reign , and will not be reduced by him to a reconcilement , or to any who refuse to be present at the other publick Prayers of the Church , or to any that be common or notorious depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer , or of any thing contained in the XXXIX Articles , or in the Book of Ordaining Bishops , Priests , and Deacons , or to any that has spoken against His Majesties Supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical , except such persons do first acknowledge to the Minister , before you the Church-Wardens , his Repentance for the same , and promise under his hand ( if he can write ) or otherwise by word of mouth , that he will do so no more ? Or lastly , to any that refuse to receive the said Holy Communion kneeling ? And of all such persons by him put from the Communion , doth he give an account to his Ordinary according to Law ? IX . Doth he at the Celebration of the Holy Communion in the due places appointed by the Liturgy , take the Paten into his hands , and break the Bread , and lay his hand upon all the Bread , and after likewise take the Cup into his hand , and lay his hand upon it , and every Vessel in which there is any Wine to be Consecrated ? and when that which was Consecrated is spent , doth he communicate to any persons without Consecrating more according to the form prescribed , and doth he severally deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant ; and at his delivering the same , doth he rehearse the whole form prescribed in the Communion-Book , saying , The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ , &c. And The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed , &c. Or doth he use only some part thereof as he listeth himself ? And when all have communicated , doth he cover what remaineth of the consecrated Elements with a fair Linnen-cloth ? and what remains is it reverently eaten and drunken by some of the Communicants within your Church ? X. If any person sick or in health ( especially before the Receiving the holyCommunion , ) finding his conscience troubled with any weighty matters , doth for the quieting thereof , and for further comfort and counsel , unburden his conscience to his Priest or Minister ; doth then the said Priest or Minister upon special confession of his sins made , together with fruits meet for repentance having been perform'd ( to both which also he is by the Minister to be moved ) upon his Repentance administer unto him Absolution , together with Ghostly counsel and advice ? and have you ever heard that the said Priest or Minister hath revealed or made known at any time to any person whatsoever directly or indirectly any crime or offence confessed to him in secret by any such Penitents whatsoever ( except they be such crimes as by the Laws of this Realm for the publick concern , the Life of the said Priest may and ought to be called in question for concealing of them ? ) XI . Is your Minister a licensed Preacher , by the Bishop , or either of the two Universities ? and if so , doth he then constantly ( unless in case of sickness , necessary absence , or other reasonable impediment ) himself preach in your Church or Chappel , or in some other near adjoyning , where no Preacher is , one Sermon every Lords-day ? or in such cases of impediment , or himself not being licensed , doth he procure some lawful Minister and licensed Preacher to preach one Sermon and to perform other Ministerial Duties each such day , ( besides the days of Christ's Nativity , Passion , and Ascension at the least ) or if no Sermon be , take care that one of the Homilies set forth by Authority , be there read by a Priest or Deacon lawfully ordained on every Sunday and Holy-day in the Year ? hath he in his own Sermons at any time , or in other Discourse ( as you know or have heard of ) preached or maintained any unsound , Heretical , Seditious , or Schismatical , Doctrine so far as you can judge ? or spoken ought privately in contempt of Religion , or that Religion , or any part of it , which he by his office in this Church professeth ? XII . Doth he or any other admitted to preach in your Church , omit before his Sermon or Homily briefly to move and exhort the people in the form laid down in the 55. Canon , or to the same effect , ( declaring for whom , and for what mercies they are to pray , and to give God thanks ) to joyn with him finally in Prayer for all those mercies in that most holy and comprehensive Prayer of our Lord ? XIII . Doth your Minister diligently Catechize the Youth of your Parish every Sunday and Holy-day by way of Question and Answer , accordingto the Churches publick Catechism , or also further instruct them in the sense thereof , as he shall think fit , and this after the second Lesson at Evening Service , openly in the Church ? Doth he by this and all other good means and admonitions , prepare and procure them ( as occasion is offered ) devoutly to come and seek to be confirmed by the Bishop ; and himself either bring or send in writing under his hand the names of all such persons in his Parish , as he shall find by his Examination fit to be presented to the Bishop , humbly to seek and ask that benefit of Confirmation ? XIV . Doth your Minister ( if he be thought fit by his Ordinary ) endeavour privately to reclaim and reduce all Popish Recusants , and all Sectaries in your Parish , to the Communion in the publick and established worship of God in this Church ? Is he also ready without delay to visit the sick ? And doth he call upon them to receive the holy Sacrament in their sickness ? And doth he administer it to them ? And is he also ready being called , without delay to baptize Infants in danger of death ? Is any Infant or more aged person in the Parish yet unbaptized by his default ? And those Children that have been baptized in private houses , have they been so baptized by any Popish Priest on pretended necessity ? or if at home for true cause of necessity , have they been by your Minister or other lawful Minister , baptized and afterward brought into the Church and the Order of the Church concerning them , there duly observed ? XV. Hath your Minister , or any other , baptized Children , churched any Women , or ministred the holy Communion in any private house , ( where they have any Church or Chappel in the Parish ) otherwise then by Law is allowed in cases of necessity ? XVI . Doth your Minister on the three Rogation days before the Feast of the holy Ascension , go in perambulation of the Circuit of the Parish ? And when he so goeth , doth he exhort the people to give thanks to God , in the beholding of his benefits , for the increase and abundance of his fruits upon the face of the Earth ? And when there appears any fear of scarcity , doth he move them to pray unto God for his mercy and favour unto the Land , going into the Church with them , and reading the Litany and one part of the Homily , set forth and appointed for that purpose of the Rogations ? XVII . Doth he bid and observe the Holy-days , and Fasting-days , and days of Abstinence , and other solemn days for which particular Services are appointed , as they occur or return from time to time , giving notice to the Parishioners of every of the same in the Church , in the time of the Morning Service the Sunday next before ? XVIII . Doth your Minister always at the reading or celebrating any Divine Office , constantly wear the Surplice and other Scholastical Habit , according to his degree if he be a Graduate , and without a Hood ( only instead thereof a Tipet of black Stuff , ( not Silk ) being permitted him ) if he be no Graduate ? And doth he wear his hair of a moderate and comly length ? Is his usual Apparel decent in fashion and in colour , such as is enjoyned him by the Canons of the Church ? XIX . Doth he in the presence of the Church-wardens , write and record in your Register Book , the Names and Surnames of all persons baptized , married , and buried in your Parish from time to time , yearly transmitting a Copy of those Christnings , Marryings , and Buryings , subscribed with his own , the Church-wardens or Overseers hands , into the Bishops Registry ? XX. Doth your Minister permit any strange Minister to preach in your Church , who is not sufficiently licensed and Authorized thereto , or that doth not subscribe his name in your book provided for that purpose , and by whom he was so licensed to Preach , and the day of his Preaching ? XXI . Doth your Parson , Vicar , or Curate celebrate Matrimony betwixt any persons , without the Banns of Matrimony first published on three several Sundays or Holy-days in the Parish-Church or Chappel where the said Parties dwell , or at any times by Law prohibited , without special Faculty or License , in either case , granted by lawful Authority ? Or doth he celebrate the same in any other place than in the Church ? and in such Church or Chappel only , where both or one of the parties dwell ( though he have License granted by the Ordinary ) or in the Church at any other time , then between the hours of eight and twelve in the Forenoon ? Or betwixt such persons as are prohibited by the Laws of God , and are within those Degrees of Consanguinity or Affinity which are expressed in the Table of Marriage ; or under the Age of One and twenty years compleat , without the consent of their Parents or of their Guardians and Governours ( if their Parents be dead ) first signified unto him ? XXII . Or have any such Licenses as above-mentioned , that you know of , been granted by any under the Iurisdiction of this Diocess , for the celebration of Matrimony , until it do appear to the person himself , who is judge in these cases , by the Oaths of two sufficient witnesses , one of them being known to the Iudge , or to some person whom the Iudge may reasonably trust in this particular , That the express consent of the Parents or Parent ( if one be dead ) or Guardian or Guardians of the Parties ( except they both were in the state of Widowhood ) is thereunto had and obtained , and until one of the Parties to be Married have personally Sworn , that he believeth there is no let or impediment of Precontract , Kindred or Alliance , or any other lawful cause , nor any suit commenced in any Ecclesiastical Court to bar or hinder the proceeding of the said Matrimony ? XXIII . Hath your Minister admitted any Women delivered of any Child begotten in Adultery or Fornication , to be churched without License from the Ordinary ? XXIV . Doth your Minister serve more than one Church or Chappel in distinct Parishes on one day ? if so , how far distant are those Churches or Chappels which he so serveth ? XXV . Doth your Parson , Vicar or Curate ( if commanded by the Ordinary ( openly some Sunday denounce and declare for Excommunicate all such as stand Excommunicate by the Law of the Church , to the end that others may be admonished to refrain their Company ? hath he said Divine Service whilst he knew such Excommunicate persons to have been in the Church ? or admitted such to the Communion whilst they stood so excommunicate ? XXVI . Doth your Parson , Vicar , or Curate ( having convenient notice given ) delay or refuse to bury any that are brought to the Church or Church-yard according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer , except such as die either unbaptized , or Excommunicate Majori Excommunicatione , and no man able to testifie their Repentance , or have laid violent hands upon themselves ? XXVII . Doth your Minister in the Parish Church or Chappel where he hath charge , read the Book of Canons and Constitutions agreed on at the Synod holden at London , A. D. 1603 once every year upon some Sundays or Holy-days , in the Afternoon before Divine Service , and doth he so divide the same , as the one half may be read one day , and the other half the other day ? XXVIII . Doth your Minister publickly read the whole XXXIX Articles unto the people twice every year , so that they may the better understand the same , and be made more throughly acquainted with the Doctrine of the Church of England , and not be so easily drawn away from the same ( as formerly ) before they know what it is ? XXXIX . Is any Lecture preached in your Church ? is he or are they who preach it , Licensed so to do by the Bishop ? Doth every such one , before his Lecture either read the whole publick Service himself appointed for that day by the Church in his Surplice , or at least be present at the whole reading thereof ? and is he in all respects conformable to the Laws and Orders of the Church of England ? Or doth he any way endeavour to bring the Parson or Vicar of the place into disrepute with his Parishioners ? XXX . Doth every one abide in his own Calling whereunto he is called ? viz. Doth any Lay-man that is not duly ordained openly read Common-Prayer , or execute any Ministerial duty in your Church ? Or is there any Clergy-man , viz. any in Holy Orders , who doth voluntarily relinquish those his Orders , and use himself as a Lay man only without taking any care of the Church of God ? Concerning the Parishioners . I. HAve you any persons or person living in your Parish that to your knowledge live not as becomes a Christian , according to his promise and vow made in his Baptizm ; viz. denying ungodliness and worldly lusts , living soberly , justly and godly ? II. Have you any in your Parish who wilfully absent themselves from your Church or Chappel either at Morning or Evening Prayer upon Sundays and other days appointed by law to be used and kept as Holy-days , or who come late to Church or depart from thence before Service be done , and the blessing given ? Or hate you any that upon any Holy-days keep open shops or sell wares , or follow their bodily and ordinary labour or trade , or permit their Servants so to do in time of Divine Service ? Or have you any Dintners , Inn-keepers , or other Victualiers , or sellers of Beer or Ale , that permit any on such times to tipple or game in their houses , or upon any pretence whatsoever , ( except in some necessity as of sickness ) to remain in their houses in the time of Divine Service or Sermon , Forenoon or Afternoon , upon those days ? or any that will come to hear Sermons but will not come to the Common-Prayer and Worship of God appointed in this Church ? III. Are there any in your Parish of years of understanding that remain unbaptized , or any that refuse to send their Infants to be baptized publickly in the Church in due time ( except in cases of necessity ) or in such cases do they procure them to be baptized at home in due manner according to the order of the Church of England ? Or are there any that send their Children away from their own Minister ( present among them ) to be baptized in other Churches ? Or any persons that being unconfirmed are not instructed in their Catechism , or not Religiously brought up , or not brought to confirmation , or being of years , neglect themselves to seek it upon pretence of elder age , or of having received the Communion , or Orders , or upon any other pretence whatsoever ? Or are there any that being Sixteen years of Age , do not receive the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist three times in the year , ( whereof Easter to be one ? ) Or that doth forsake their own Parish-Church to receive elsewhere ? Or are there any married Women , who after their delivery from the pain and peril of Child-bearing refuse in convenient time to return a publick Thanksgiving to God , according to the Order of the Church ? Or are there any that neglect to obtain the Christian burial of their dead according to the Rites of the Church of England ? IV. Do any in your Parish entertain in their house any Sojourner , common Guests , or other persons , who refuse to frequent Divine Service , or receive the holy Communion as aforesaid and what are the names , qualities , and conditions of such Sajourners ? V. Do any refuse to be uncovered during the time of Divine Service , or Sermon , or Homily prescribed therein , or devoutly to kneel when by the Common-Prayer-Book they are commanded so to do ? or to stand up at the Glory be to the Father , &c. and at the Creeds and holy Gospel , and to make answer at all the Responsals appointed by the said Book , and due reverence when the Name of our Lord Jesus is mentioned ? or to say the Creed and the Lord's Prayer in a loud voice with the Minister ? Or do any in time of Divine Service , or Sermon , or Homily , behave themselves rudely by walking , talking , whispering , laughing , or sleeping ? VI. Do any persons excommunicate intrude into your Church in time of Divine Service , or doth any other person disturb your Minister doing any part of his Ministerial Office ? or do any brawl , quarrel , challenge one another , fight or strike in the Church or Church-yard ? Or are any Plays , Feasts , Drinkings , or Church-Ales kept in your Church or Church-yard ? VII . Do any Housholders , Fathers , Masters , Mothers , Mistresses in your Parish neglect to cause their Children and Servants , Apprentices , or other Persons living in their House , which have not yet learnt the Churches Catechism , to learn the same , and to come to Church on Sundays and Holy-days in the Afternoon , there to be examined by their Minister , and instructed therein ? VIII . Is there any in your Parish , Master or Servant , Sojourner or Inhabiter , Man or Woman , that lieth under a common fame or suspicion or notoriety of Adultery , Fornication or Incest or other Incontinency ( having married within the degrees prohibited by God , and expressed in a Table set forth by Authority A.D. 1563. ) Or have you any that live together in your Parish as a man and wife , who refuse to make known , when , where , or by whom they were married ? Or any that being lawfully married do yet live asunder without separation in due form of Law ? Or have you any Bawds , Entertainers or Concealers of incontinent persons , or any common Drunkards , Extortioners , Swearers , or Blasphemers of God's Name , any sowers of Sedition , Faction , or Discord among their Neighbours , any Railers , Revilers , common Slanderers of their Neighbours , filthy and lascivious talkers , or which have sollicited any person to unchastity ? or any which have used any Charms , Inchantments , or consultations of those called Wizards , Witches , or cunning men or any Sorceries , ( not including here such as are made Felony by the Laws of this Realm ) or which have committed perjury in any Ecclesiastical Court and Cause ? IX . Are there any Recusants in your Parish , or other Schismatically affected , who refuse communion with the Church in her Prayers and Sacraments , who keep in their Houses any that take upon them to be spiritual guides and instructers , or any School-master in their Family , which come not to Church to hear Divine Service , and to receive the holy Communion ? or that labour to seduce and withdraw others within or without the Family , from the Religion in this Church established ? or any in your Parish that retain , sell , or disperse any Popish books or writings , or other books or writings of any Sectaries touching the Religion , State , or Government Ecclesiastical of this kingdom of England , or Books of Heresie ? X. Have you any in your Parish that are suspected to be Antinomians , Anabaptists , Familists , Libertines , Brownists , Quakers , Muggletonians , Independents , or Presbyterian opposers of Episcopal Government ? XI . Did any dying in your Parish or elsewhere , leave any Legacy to your Church or Chappel , or to the Poor , or to any other pious or charitable purposes ? What were the Legacies , and how have they been bestowed ? Are there any in your Parish living that do to your knowledge , or as you have heard , with-hold any part of the stock , goods or legacies , given to any Church or Pious and Charitable use , any provision for free Schools , Alms-houses or Hospitals ( not including here such as are of his Majesties Foundation or Patronage ) or that employ them otherwise then according to the intent of their several foundations , and the allowance of the Laws ? Are there any Testaments or Wills by any concealed or unproved , or any Goods unadministred or administred without a due grant from the Ordinary ? XII . Have you any in your Parish that refuse to pay their duty for Easter offerrings to your Minister , or to reckon with him then , or that refuse to contribute and pay the Rate cessed upon them for the repair of your Church or Chappel , or for the providing of such Books , Furniture , or necessary Ornaments as are requisite for the performance of any of the Divine Offices there ? XIII . Do you know of any person in your Parish having the Presentation or gift of any Ecclesiastical Benefice , who hath presented a Minister to it upon any Bargain , either for Mony , or Pension , or Lease , or reserve of Tythes , or Glebe , or any part thereof , or upon any other Symonical contract whatsoever ? Concerning Church-wardens , Side-men , Parish-Clerks and Sextons . I. ARe the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen by the joint consent of your Minister and Parishioners ? or one of them by your Minister , and the other by the Parishioners ? and are they sworn ? Have the last Church-wardens given up their Accounts before the Minister and Parishioners , delivering up also the money remaining into your hands , and other things of right belonging to your Church or Chappel ? and is the same delivered to you by bill indented ? II. Doth any person or persons trouble or molest you the Church-wardens for presenting any offenders in any of the premises , or for performing the duty that lies upon you in executing any part of your office , and who are they that do so molest and trouble you ? III. Do you the Church-wardens against every Communion provide a sufficient quantity of fine white Bread , and good and wholsome Wine according to the number of the Communicants ? and do you bring the Wine so provided in a clean and sweet standing Flagon of Pewter , or other purer Metal , kept for that use ? IV. Do you suffer the Table for the holy Communion to be applied at any time , to any prophane or common use , as of writing , setting dead Corps upon it at Funerals , or others in the Church to sit upon it , or irreverently to make it a place to lay their arms or hats upon it ? V. Do you the Church-wardens note them that come late to Church after Divine Service is begun , or depart before it be ended ? and do you take diligent notice of the absent ? And if upon your Complaint you receive Warrant from some of the Iustices of Peace , and any sums of money be thereupon levied according as by law it is directed , do you distribute the several sums so levied to the poor of your Parish according to the law in that case provided ? and before you at any time present any for such default in the Spiritual Court , do you first seriously admonish them once and again ? VI. Do you suffer none in time of Divine Service to stand idle , or talk together in the Church-porch , or to walk in the Church or Church-yard , nor children playing or crying in or about the Church ? nor suffer any to bring Dogs , Hawks , or Hounds into the Church to the disturbance of the Congregation ? VII . Are the Side-men duly chosen ? do they assist the Church-wardens in the executing their Office ? and do they joyn with them in framing Presentments ? VIII . Have you a Parish-Clerk aged 20 years at the least , chosen by your Minister , of honest life and conversation , and sufficiently able to perform his duty in reading , writing , and singing ? and doth he duly attend the Minister in all Divine Offices at the Church ? doth he keep clean the Church , and carefully look to it , and to the Books ? and is he payed the ancient and usual wages as hath been accustomed ? IX . Doth your Clerk , or your Sexton ( if there be any such in your Parish ) diligently look to the doors of the Church , that they be locked and opened at due times , and that the Bells be toll'd and rung at the due and accustomed hours before the begining of Morning and Evening Service , that the People may he warned and invited to come to the Church ? and when any person is passing out of this life , doth he upon notice given thereof coll a Bell as hath been accustomed , that devout and charitable persons may thereby be warned to recommend the Soul of the dying person to the grace , mercy , and peace of God Almighty ? X. Do they at the instance of any , make any grave in any part of the Church ( except in such Isles where some person hath propriety ) without the express consent of your Minister ? Concerning Churches , and their Possessions , Ornaments , Vtensils , and other Necessaries to the same belonging . I. IS your Church or Chappel in good repair ? are the Roofs , the Walls , the Floors , Windows , Seats ( if you have them ) and Doors well maintained ? and all things there in such a decent sort , without dust or any thing that may be either noisom or unseemly , as becometh the House of God ? And is your Porch and Steeple in good repair , and Bells kept in good order by the care and oversight of the Church-wardens at the charge of all persons occupying any Lands or Tenements within your Parish , as well out-dwellers as inhabitants , rating all proportionably for the Lands and Tenements they occupy therein ? And is your Church or Chappel-yard sufficiently fenced with walls , rails , or pales , as hath been accustomed , and that by the moneys cessed upon Lands and Tenements in your Parish as aforesaid , except you have a special custom otherwise directing you ? II. Are there any Isles adjoyning to your Church or Chancel which time out of mind have been repaired by the owners of any Messuage in your Parish ? if so , do the owners thereof repair the same ? III. Is the Chancel of the Church sufficiently repaired and beautified by the Minister or other person to whom that doth belong ? IV. Is there any in your Parish that hath converted to his own , or to any common secular use , any Lead , Timber , Wood , Stone , or other Materials belonging to any Church or Chappel , Parsonage or Vicarage-house , or out-houses thereof ? Have any of your Church or Chappel Bells been taken down , sold , or lessened ; And by whom ? V. Have you in your Church a decent Font of Stone with a cover , for the Administration of holy Baptism , and the same set in the ancient and usual place appointed for it ? and have you in the Chancel a decent Table for the Celebration of the holy Communion , and for the Communion-Service , and a Carpet of Silk or other decent Stuff , to lie continually upon the Table , during the time of Divine Service , and a fair Linnen cloth to lay on the same , at the time of the Holy Communion ? and have you a fair Chalice or Communion Cup of Silver , with a cover , a Plate and a Flagon of Pewter , or purer Metal , the one to place the Bread on , the other to bring the Wine unto the holy Table ; or have they been prafaned by any common use ? Have you a Basin or some other decent Vessel for receiving the offerings at the Communion Service ? and have you a fair Linnen cloth for covering the consecrated Elements ? Have you in your Church or Chappel a convenient reading Seat or Pew , erected for your Minister wherein to read the daily Morning and Evening Service , as also a decent Pulpit set in a convenient place for the preaching of God's Word ? VI. Have you belonging to the Church or Chappel a perfect Bible of the largest Volumn , of the last Translation allowed by Authority ? Have you two Books of Common-Prayer set forth according to the last Act of Parliament for the Uniformity of publick Prayers ? And are they both of the largest Volumn , fairly bound , one for the Minister , and another for the Clerk , to use at the celebration of all Divine Offices ? the Book of Homilies , the Book of Canons and Constitutions made in the Synod held at London , 1603. Have you hanging up in your Church a Table of Degrees in marriage prohibited set forth by Authority , A.D. 1563. a Parchment Register-book , to Register the several Christnings , Marriages , and Buryings within the Parish ? Have you a Book to set down the names of such Strangers as preach in your Church ? and another Book wherein to write down and keep the Accounts of the Church-wardens , and an Inventory of all things provided and belonging to your Church ? Have any other Books , as the Works of Bishop Jewel , Erasmus his Paraphrase upon the Gospel , or any other good Books been carried out of the Church into any man's private House ; or been lost ? VII . Are the ten Commandments or the Lords Prayer and other chosen Sentences of holy Scripture set up in your Church or Chappel , as the Canon does require ? VIII . Have you a large and decent Surplice , one , or more , for the Minister to wear at all times of his publick Ministration ? And have you a Hood or Tippet for your Minister to wear over his Surplice ? IX . Have you in your Church or Chappel a strong Chest with three Locks or Keys for the Alms of the poor , and a hole therefore in the upper part thereof ? and is one of those Keys in the custody of the Parson , Vicar , or Curate ? And have you one other convenient Chest , for keeping the Books and Furniture belonging to the Church ? and a Bier for the carrying of the dead to Burial ? X. Is your Church-yard well and sufficiently fenced , and kept with walls or pales ? Have any Trees been cut down , growing in the Church-yard or fences thereof , and by whom , and for what use was it done ? what private doors are made into the Church-yard , whereby Nusances are committed , and by whom were those doors made ? Is any Encroachment made upon that ground ? XI . Have you any Lands or Tenements given or belonging to the repairing of your Church ? what is the quantity and value thereof , and in whose possession are they ? XII . When any of those things mentioned in the 6 , 7 , 8 , or 9 Articles above are wanting , are they provided by the Church-wardens , at the charge only of the Inhabitants of the Parish , according to each Inhabitants Estate , and not otherwise ? And do you the Church-wardens when you make a state for the same , and also for the buying of Bread and Wine for Communions , and for the expences of your selves and Side-men at Visitations , and to pay for scouring your Plate , and washing the Surplice and Communion-clothes , and ( if you have not a custom to the contrary ) to pay your Parish-Clerk his ancient wages ? When you make , I say at any time such a Rate , or a Rate according to the first Article for the repair of your Church , do you give publick notice in the Church to the Parishioners of the time and place of your making them , and also of the time and place when and where your Rate shall be offered to be confirmed by your Ordinary ? that the Objections of any may be heard , before they be by the Ordinary ratified ? XIII Is the House of your Parson , Vicar , or Curate , with all the out-houses thereto belonging , kept in good and sufficient repair ? or have any of the said-house or out-houses been pulled down without License from the Ordinary ? and by whom ? Hath any person encroached upon any Orchard , Garden , Yard , or Close belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage-house , or felled any tree thereon growing ? XIV . Have any of the ancient Glebe-lands belonging to your Ministers , been taken away , or exchanged for other Lands , without the free consent of the Patron , Incumbent , and License from the Ordinary ? And have you a perfect Terrier of all Glebe-lands , Meadows , Gardens , Orchards , Stocks , Implements , Tenements or Cottages belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage ? as also , a Note of such Pensions , Rate-tithes , and Portions of Tithes ( or other yearly profits either within or without your Parish ) as belong thereunto ? and finding no such Terrier , do you the Church-wardens & Side-men , together with your Minister and others of your Parish , make a Terrier of the Premises in Parchment , subscribed and signed by you to be kept by your Minister , and a Copy thereof subscribed and signed sent into the Bishops Registry ? XV. Are the Bones of them that have been buried in your Church or Church-yard kept decently , interred there , or laid up in some fit place as beseemeth Christians ? and is the whole consecrated ground kept free from Swine and other filth and annoyance , as becomes a place so dedicated ? Concerning School-masters , Physicians , Chirurgeons , and Midwives . I. DO any in your Parish teach or instruct Youth in any publick School , or private House , without License from his Ordinary ? and doth he cause his Scholars on Sundays and Holy-days to resort to Church to hear Divine Service , Sermons and Catechize ? and does he see that they behave themselves there orderly and reverently ? and doth he himself teach them the Catechism set forth by Authority ? and is he diligent to bring them up in the fear of God , in good learning , and manners ? II. Do any in your Parish practise Physick or Surgery without a Licence from the Bishop himself if at home , or in his absence , by the Ordinary upon the place ? Are your Midwives also licensed by the Ordinary ? Touching Publick Ecclesiastical Officers of the whole Diocess ( within the Bishops Visitation . ) I. ARe there any Ecclesiastical Officers ( within the Bishops Visitation ) any Advocate , Register , Proctor , Clerk , Apparitor , or other Minister belonging to the Ecclesiastical Court , that takes and exacts any extraordinary or greater fees then are due and accustomed ? II. Hath any Apparitor taken Reward or Fee to excuse any appearance before the Ecclesiastical Court ? or hath the Register sped any Act , or dismissed any person detected without the knowledge and actual consent of the Iudge ? have any gifts or rewards been taken by any for the perverting of Iustice ? III. Hath any person within your Parish paid or promised any sum of Money , or other reward for commutation of Penance for any crime of Ecclesiastical cognisance ? If so , how hath the same been disposed of , to what pious and charitable uses ( as far as you know ? ) FINIS . An Advertisement to the Church-wardens and Side-men , and also to the Minister . IF you know of any other default or crime of Ecclesiastical cognizance , you are to present the same . The Minister of every Parish may joyn in Presentment with the Church-wardens and Side-men ; and if they be not faithful in their care to admonish and present , then the Parsons or Vicars , or in their absence , the Curates ( being the persons that should principally have care of suppressing of sin and impieties in their Parishes ) may , and may find themselves in conscience obliged to present , especially the greater crimes , and whatsoever in their conscience they know needeth reformation in their Parish , as they tender the good of the Souls of their Parish . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A32947-e90 Can. 119 Notes for div A32947-e140 Artic. 1 , 2 ▪ 3. Can. 11 2. Artic 2. Artic. 6. Artic. 8. Artic. 20. Can. 5. Can. 4. Can. A. Rubrick after Baptism . Can. 1 , & 2. Artic. 37. Can. 9. Can. 8. Pref. before Form of Ord. Can. 9. Can. 6. Can. 10. Artic. 20. Act of Uniformity , Car. II. 14. Ibid. Act of Parliament . Can. 47 , 48 〈◊〉 . 3. Can. ●5 . Act of 〈…〉 . Can. 14. Can. 15. Rubrick after Pref. Rubrick . Can. 68. Rubrick of Baptism . Can. 81. Can. 29 , 31 Rubrick . Can. 69. Rubrick . Can. 21 , 22 Can. 22. Rubrick . Rubrick . Can. 26. Can. 26 , 27 , 28. Rubrick . Can. 27. Rubrick . Rubrick . Can. 21. 1. Exhortation to the Communion . Rubrick Visitation of the sick . Can. 113. Can. 45 , 46 , 47 , 49. Can. 55. Rubrick . Can. 19 , 61 Can. 66. Can. 67. Rubrick . Rubrick . Can. 71. 2 Eliz. Injunction 18 , 19. Rubrick before Litany . Can. 22. Can. 64. Rubrick . Can. 58. Can. 70. Can. 50. Can. 52. Can. 62. Can. 99. Can. 100. 101 , 104. Can. 102 , 103 , 104. and Constitut . 1597. Tit. de Moderandis , &c. Can. 48. Can. 65. Can. 68. 〈◊〉 . of Canon . Can. 2. direct . to Preachers , An. 1662. Can. 53 , 54 Can. 76. Tit. 2. 1 Eliz. c. 2. Can. An. 1571. Rubrick of Baptism Rubrick . Can. 112. Can. 28. Can. 51. Can. 99 , 〈◊〉 . Can. 18. Can. 〈◊〉 . Can. 88. Can. 89. Can. 100 & Can. 115. A.D. 1563. Qu. Eliz. Artic. 33. Can. 114. Can. 112. Can. 110. Can. 92. Can. 85 , 86 Rubrick after Com. Can. 40. Can. 89. Can. 90. Can. 115. Rubrick . Can. 20. Act 1. 1 Eliz. Can. 90. Can. 90. Can. 51. Can. 〈◊〉 . Can. 67 : Can. 85. Can. 81 , 82 Can. 83. Can. 80. Can. 70 , 90 Can. 52. Can. 82. Can. 58. Can. 84.70 Can. 87. Can. 77 , 79 Can. 135. Can. 138. Can. 134 , 138 , 123 , Can. An. 1571. & An. 1597. Notes for div A32947-e4900 Can. 113. Can. 113. 
A32972	----	Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiasticall according to the laws and canons of the Church of England, exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens, and side-men of every parish within the diocese of Worcester / by the right Reverend Father in God, John, Lord Bishop of Worcester. Church of England. Diocese of Worcester. Bishop (1662 : Gauden) 1662 Approx. 25 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A32972 Wing C4090 ESTC R38740 17962131 ocm 17962131 106784 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . 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Visitations, Ecclesiastical. 2005-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2006-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY Concerning Matters Ecclesiasticall , according to the Laws and Canons of the Church of ENGLAND , EXHIBITED To the Ministers , Church-Wardens , and Side-men of every Parish within the Diocese of Worcester , By the Right Reverend Father in God , JOHN Lord Bishop of WORCESTER . LONDON , Printed by J. G. for Richard Royston , Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty , 1662. The Tenor of the Oath to be tendered to the Church-Wardens and Side-men of every Parish in the Diocese of VVorcester . YOu shall Swear , after diligent enquiry , to make a true answer , according to your knowledge , unto the Articles in this Book now given you in Charge ; and to present such of your Parish as are Offenders therein , contrary to the duty they owe to God and the Laws Ecclesiasticall : and this you shall do , as in the sight of God , uprightly and truly . So help you God. ARTICLES Of Visitation and Enquiry , &c. TITUL. I. Concerning Churches or Chappels , with the Ornaments and Furniture belonging to them . I. IS your Church-Fabrick ( or Chappel ) with all things appertaining to it , kept in good repair within and without , with such cleanlinesse , decency and order , as becometh the house dedicated to the Publick Worship and solemn service of God ? II. Hath any part of them , or any thing belonging to them , béen sold or embezelled ? when ? and by whom ? III. Is there in your Church or Chappel an handsome Font of Stone , standing in a convenient place , with a good cover to it , for the Administration of Baptisme ? Is there also a decent Communion-Table , with a fair Carpet of Silk or fine Cloth , also a fine linnen covering to be used at the holy Administration of the Lords Supper ? What Cup , Chalice , Patin , or Flagons have you belonging to that Service ? IV. Have you in your Church ( or Chappel ) a convenient Pew for your Minister to read Divine Service in ? Also a Pulpit , with a decent Cloth and Cushion ? Have you a large Folio Bible of the last Translation , with two Books of Common-Prayer well bound , one for the Minister , the other for the Clark ? Have you the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority ; also the Book of Canons , and a Table of allowed deg●ée● in Marriage ? V. Have you a Register Book of Parchment for all that are Christned , Married , and Buried in your Parish , in which are set down the names of the parties , with the Day , Moneth and Year of each Christning , Marriage , and Burial ? Is the transcript of these every year within one moneth after March 25. brought in to the Bishops Registry ? VI. Have you a Paper-Book , in which the names of strangers that Preach or Officiate in your Church or Chappel are set down ; and another Book for your Church-wardens accounts . VII . Have you a fair Surplice and other Ornaments , according to his degrée , for your Minister to use in his Publick Administrations , onely for outward decency , order , and distinction ? VIII . Have you a strong Chest , with Locks and Keys , wherein the Plate and other Vessels , with the Books and Vestments belonging to the Church , may be safely and decently kept ? Have you a Bier with a black Herse-cloth for the decent interment of the dead ? TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard , Houses , Glebes , Tithes or Rents belonging to the Church . I. IS your Church-yard sufficiently senced with Walls , Rails , or Pales , and decently kept from all annoyance and encroachment ? Are the trées therein preserved ? II. Is the Mansion-house of your Minister , with all other houses thereto belonging , kept in good repair ? Have any of them béen pulled down or defaced ? Hath any encroached upon the Land thereto belonging , or felled the Trées there on growing ? III. Have you a perfect Terrier of all Glebe-lands , Gardens , Orchards , and Tenements belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage ? Also a particular List of such Pensions , Tithes , Rents , Customs , and other yearly Profits within or without your Parish , as belong thereto ? Are any of them withheld from your Minister ? and by whom ? IV. Have any of the ancient Glebe-lands belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage béen taken away , or alienated by Lease , Sale , or Exchange , without License from the Ordinary , and the frée consent of the Incumbent ? Have any Inclosures béen made in your Parish to the detriment of the Church ? TIT. III. Concerning Ministers . I. IS your Minister Episcopally Ordained ( Deacon or Priest ) according to the Laws of the Realm of England , and the ancient practice of the Church universall , no lesse then of this National Church ? II. Is he defamed or suspected to have obtained his Orders or Benefice by any Simoniacal compact ? III. Hath he béen legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice ? Did he within two moneths after his Induction publickly read in the Church , upon some Lords-day or other Holy-day , in the time of Divine Service , the 39. Articles of Religion established in the Church of England ? Did he then and there publickly declare his assent thereunto ? IV. Hath your Minister béen Licenced to officiate by the Bishop of this Diocese , or either of the two Universities ? Doth he being thus Licenced diligently read Divine Service , and Preach every Lords-day , in your Church or Chappel , unlesse hindered by Sicknesse or reasonable absence ? and in such cases doth he procure some lawfull Minister to read Prayers , to Preach , and perform other Ministerial duties ? V. Doth your Minister Preach sound Doctrine onely , both for Faith and Manners , tending to the Edifying of people in the knowledge of God and their Saviour Iesus Christ , according to the holy rule of the Scripture , and the obedience of the Gospel ? Do you know that he hath at any time within one years space last past preached any False , Heretical , Seditious , Scandalous or Schismatical Doctrine , thereby to seduce people to Errour or Faction , to the danger of their Souls , and the disturbance of the Peace of this Church and Kingdom ? VI. Doth your Minister in his Prayer before Sermon devoutly and discréetly commend to the grace of God the Church Catholick here on earth , particularly these British Reformed Churches ; also the Kings most Excellent Majesty , according to his just and Royal Titles ; together with all Estates Ecclesiastical and Civil ? Doth he praise God for the faithful , who have overcome this World , and are at rest from their labours ? Doth he alwayes conclude with the Lords Prayer ? Doth he in his Prayer or Sermon affect any odde or Fanatick expressions , or excessive length ? VII . Doth your Minister in the Morning and Evening Service , and in the Administration of the Holy Sacraments , and in performing of other publick Religious Offices appointed by the Church of England , use the respective Forms in the Book of Common Prayer , together with those Rites and Ceremonies which are enjoyned in this Church , and declared to be not any necessary parts of Divine Worship , but onely things of Decency , Order , and Edification , tending to the Peace and Uniformity of the Church ? VIII . Doth your Minister diligently examine in the Church - Catechisme the Youth of your Parish every Lords-day in the afternoon ? Doth he also instruct others that are ignorant in the Fundamental points of Christian Religion ? Doth he prepare and , as occasion is offered , present the Youth so instruct to the Bishop , to be Confirmed by the laying on of his hands , with Prayer and Benediction , in that faith they professe , according to the Primitive practice of the Church of Christ ? Doth he endeavour to reclaim all Popish Recusants , and other Sectaries in your Parish , to the true Religion established in the Church of England ? IX . Is your Minister , whether Parson , Vicar , or Curate , conformable in his Doctrine and Life to the holy Rule and great example of the Lord Jesus Christ ? Is he a man of a studious , sober , peaceable , unblameable and exemplary life , for Piety , Sanctity , Charity , and Industry in his calling ? Is he Grave , Modest , and Regular in his outward demeanor , for Haire and Clothes , according to the Constitutions and Customes of the Church of England ? Is his Company , Carriage and Conversation in Word and Déed such as becometh a Minister of the Gospel , who remembers the great account he must give for his own and other mens Souls committed to his charge ? X. Is he ready to visit the Sick , and to perform those Offices to them which are required in the Church of England ; al●o to Baptise any Infant in danger of Death , when he is desired so to do ? Is any Infant or other by his default yet unbaptized in your Parish ? Doth he refuse to give the Sacrament to any in your Parish , and for what Cause ? or doth he give it to such as are scandalous notorious sinners , or such as are excommunicate , or refuse to be reconciled to their Neighbou●s ? XI . Doth your Minister Marry any persons in private Houses , or such as are under Age , not having the consent of their Parents or Guardians ? Doth he marry any without Bannes first published three Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the Church ? Doth he marry at other Houres than betweene eight and twelve in the Forenoone , without having any Licence so to do ? XII . Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any publick or private Fasts , Prophecyings , or Religious exercises , without lawfull Authority ? Doth he in those that are duly appointed use the Forms prescribed by Authority ? Doth he , or any other Minister or Lay-person , hold any Conventicle or Religious meetings in private houses within your Parish , for people of severall Families to resort unto , contrary to the Laws and Canons in that case provided ? XIII . Is your Minister constantly Resident among you ? And how many wéeks in a year hath he been absent from his Benefice ? Hath he any Curate to assist him in his absence or presence ? Is that Curate in Holy Orders according to the Church of England ? Hath he a Licence from his Bishop to serve the Cure ? And doth he carry himself also as an able and discréet Minister , and conformable to the Church of England ? What yearly stipend hath he ? XIV . Is there in your Parish beside the Parson , or Vicar and Curate , any that Preacheth onely as a Lecturer ? Is he in Holy Orders , and conformable to the Church of England , and Licenced by the Bishop of this Diocese ? Doth he read Divine Service before his Lecture , and in all things demean himself as is most for the Peace of the Church of England and of your Parish ? XV. Doth your Minister give notice of and duly observe Holy-dayes , Festivals , or Fasts , with other solemn times , as Ember and Rogation Weeks , according as is by the Laws and Canons of this Church appointed ? TIT. IV. Concerning Parishioners . I. IS there any in your Parish that are reputed Hereticks or Schismaticks , refusing Communion with the Church of England , or professing any other Religion than what is Established in this Church , seducing others from it , and rayling against it ? Are there any convicted Papists , known Anabaptists , Familists , Quakers , and other Separatists in your Parish ? II. Is there any person in your Parish that lyeth under any common fame or vehement suspicion of Adultery , Fornication , or Incest ? Are there any common Drunkards , Swearers , or Blasphemers of Gods Name , and his Holy Word ? Are any noted for railers , unclean and filthy talkers , or sowers of sedition , or living in discord and contention ? Are there any excommunicated by the censures of the Church , and not yet reconciled ? III. Do any of your Parish profane the Lords-day , by neglecting of publick Holy Duties , or by doing the works of their ordinary callings , or by using unlawful Recreations , or permitting their Children and Servants so to do ? Do they duly observe other Holy-dayes , Festivals , or Fasts appointed by Authority , for the advancement of piety , charity , and devotion ? IV. Do those that inhabit or sojourn in your Parish duly resort to your Church or Chappel , there to worship God according to the Religion of the Church of England ? Do they come thither , and continue there during Divine Service , Sermons , and other Holy Duties , with that reverence , order and decency , befitting humble and devout Christians , as is required by the Laws , Canons , and laudable customs of the Church of England ? V. Are there in your Parish any that refuse to have their Infant Children Baptized by your Minister ? or do they keep them unbaptized longer than this Church alloweth ? Are there any Infants or more aged persons in your Parish not yet Baptized ? VI. Doth every House-holder in your Parish cause their Children , Apprentices and Servants to learn the Church Catechisme , and give account of it to your Minister , as he shall require it in the Church on Sundayes or other Holy-dayes , as is appointed ? And when they are therein well instructed , do they take care to have them brought by the Minister to Confirmation , when occasion is offered , by the Bishop , for the increase of all spiritual gifts and graces in them ? VII . Is there any person in your Parish , who being sixtéen years of age , and well instructed in Religion , neglecteth or refuseth to receive the Blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper at least thrée times in one year ( of which Easter to be one ? ) Do all receive this Sacred Mystery with that outward gesture of humility , reverence , and lowly adoration , which becomes them to their God and Saviour , méekly knéeling , according to the Order and Custom of the Church of England ? VIII . Are there any of your Parish who do keep familiar Society with them that are excommunicated , so as to countenance them in their sins , or encourage them in their contumacy ? IX . Are there any of your Parish who are known or suspected to be unlawfully marryed , contrary to the Laws of God and this Church ? Are there any who having béen lawfully divorced do live together again ; or who being lawfully marryed and not divorced , do yet live asunder ? X. Are there any marryed Women in your Parish , who after their safe delivery from Child-birth refuse to make their humble and publick thanksgiving to God for so great a mercy , according to the Rites and Appointment of the Church of England ? XI . Are there any of your Parish who refuse to pay their Easter-Offerings and other Duties to your Minister ; or to pay the Rates assessed on them for the repaire and provisions of the Church ? XII . Do any among you refuse to bury their dead according to the Forms and Rites of the Church of England , which are so consonant to the faith , hope , and charity of true Christians , towards those that dye in the peace of the Church ? Are there any Wills or Testaments of persons dead in your Parish yet unproved , or any Goods Administred without a legal grant from the Ordinary ? Do you know of any Legacies given to your Church , or the poor , or other pious and charitable uses , not yet received by you , or detained from you ? XIII . Do you know or have heard of any in your Parish , who having the presentation of an Ecclesiastical Living , hath made any Simoniacal compact or gain thereby , either in mony , or by reserve of any part of the Tithes or Glebe belonging to that Benefice ? XIV . Have any Pews or Seats been erécted in your Church or Chappel without leave from the Ordinary ? Is there any strife or contention about Seats in the Church ? Have any occasioned Riot , Clamor , or Fighting in the Church at any time ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks and Sextons belonging to the Church . I. HAve you a Parish-Clerk , who is of a sober life and good report ? Is he able for Reading , Writing , and Singing as a Clerk ? Is he chosen by your Minister and approved by the Parish ? Are his wages duly paid him ? II. Doth he or your Sexton take care of the Church , to kéep it lockt and clean , to open the doors , and to ring the Bells in due time , to call the living to the Worship of God ; also to admonish them by tolling of a Passing-Bell of any that are dying , thereby to meditate of their own Deaths , and to commend the others weak condition to the mercy of God ? TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals and Almes-houses , Schools and School-masters , Physicians , Chirurgeons , and Midwives . I. WHat Hospital , Almes-house , or Free-school hath béen Founded in your Parish ? Are they so ordered in the Revenue and Vse as the Founders appointed , and the Law of the Land allows ? II. What School-master private or publick is there in your Parish ? Is he ( or they ) Licenced by the Bishop or his Chancellor ? Doth he instruct his Scholars in the Catechisme and Religion of the Church of England , according to that Conformity and Order which is established as necessa●y for the Publick Peace ? III. Do any in your Parish practise Physick , Chirurgery or Midwifery , without Licence from the Ordinary ? TIT. VII . Concerning Church-Wardens and Side-men . I. ARe the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly chosen according to Law , and do they appoint Side-men to assist them for the due ordering of the Church ? II. Have the last Church-wardens given up their accounts to those that succéed them , together with all monies and other things belonging to your Church or Chappel ? III. Do your Church-wardens and Side-men diligently take notice of their names , who without a sufficient cause are absent from Divine Service and Sermons on the Lords-dayes and other Holy-dayes ? Do they by Warrant from the next Iustices levy 12. pence by way of distresse ( according to Law ) upon their Goods , in case they refuse to pay it , for their wilful and causelesse absence ? and is the money so levyed distributed to the poor of your Parish , and kept upon account in a Book ? IV. Do you suffer none to stand idle , or to play , or walk , or talk together , or to behave themselves rudely and unseemly within or without the Church during the time of Gods Holy Worship and Service , to the scandal and disturbance of the Minister and Congregation ? V. Do you provide fine White-Bread and good Wine against every Communion , according to the number of Communicants ? VI. Do you cause all strangers who preach in your Church to enter their names in a Book , and by what Bishop they are Licenced to Preach ? VII . Have you taken care to give a true Answer unto these Articles , and to draw up your presentments according to your Oaths , consulting with your Minister and other Neighbours ? THis you are seriously to consider , That as the faithful discharge of your Offices according to your Oaths and Duties is a special means to repress , punish , and reform sins , scandals , and disorders in your Parish ; also to preserve the honour of Religion and the Peace of this Church , to the glory of our God and Saviour ( which are the great Uses and Ends of all Church-Government and Discipline : ) So if you neglect your Duties herein , you sin against God , your Consciences , and the Churches Prosperity , being liable , in case of wilful Omission and Perjury , to those Punishments which are by the Law to be inflicted on you for your defaults . The Ministers of every Parish , are desired to given in the Names of such as having not yet received the Lords Supper , are by them upon examination judged fit for Confirmation , and so for the Holy Communion . THE END . 
A75668	----	Articles of instruction for enquiry, exhibited to the church-wardens and side-men within the peculiar jurisdiction of the King's Free Chappel of S. Maires in Salop. Church of England. 1690 Approx. 7 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 4 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A75668 Wing A3860AB ESTC R176512 47682798 ocm 47682798 172756 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A75668) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 172756) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2648:11) Articles of instruction for enquiry, exhibited to the church-wardens and side-men within the peculiar jurisdiction of the King's Free Chappel of S. Maires in Salop. Church of England. Harwood, John, 1660 or 61-1731. [7] p. [s.n.], London : Printed in the Year 1690. "Advertisement" (to the clergy), p. 7, signed: John Harwood, L.L.D. Official. Reproduction of original in: Birmingham Central Reference Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Pastoral letters and charges. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England -- Shropshire. 2008-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2008-09 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-11 Megan Marion Sampled and proofread 2008-11 Megan Marion Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF Instruction for Enquiry , Exhibited to the Church-Wardens and Side-Men Within the peculiar Jurisdiction of the King 's Free Chappel OF S. MARIES in SALOP . LONDON : Printed in the YEAR 1690. Canon CXIX . Convenient time to be assigned for framing Presentments . FOR the avoiding of such Inconveniences as heretofore have happened by the hasty making of Bills of Presentments , upon the Days of the Visitation and Synods , it is ordered , That always hereafter , every Chancellour , Arch-Deacon , Commissary , and Official , and every other Person having Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction , at the ordinary time when the Church-Wardens are sworn , and the Arch-Bishop and Bishops , when he or they do summon their Visitation , shall deliver , or cause to be delivered to the Church-Wardens , Quest-Men , and Side-Men of every Parish , or to some of them , such Books of Articles , as they or any of them shall require for the Year following , the said Church-Wardens , Quest-Men , and Side-Men , to ground their Presentments upon , at such times as they are to exhibit them , in which Book shall be contained the Form of the Oath , which must be taken immediately before every such Presentment , to the intent , that having beforehand time sufficient not only to peruse and consider what their said Oath shall be , but the Articles also whereupon they are to ground their Presentments , they may frame them at home both advisedly and truly , to the Discharge of their own Consciences , after they are sworn , as becometh honest and godly Men. The Tenour of the OATH to be administred to the Church-Wardens and Side-men of every Parish . YOU shall swear truly and faithfully to Execute the Office of a Church-Warden within your Parish , and according to the best of your Skill and Knowledge , present such things and Persons , as you know to be presentable by the Laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm . So help you God , and the Contents of this Book . ARTICLES OF INSTRUCTION FOR ENQUIRY , &c. TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chappels , with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging . I. IS your Church or Chappel , with the Chancel , in good Repair , and decently kept , as becomes the House of God ? II. Is the Furniture of your Church or Chappel , as Bells , Communion-Plate and Cloths , Minister's Surplice , Pulpit-Cloth , Hearse-Cloth , with other usual Ornaments duly provided and looked after . III. Have you a fair Bible , Book of Common-Prayer , Books of Homilies , and Canons , Register of Births , Burials , and Marriages , and is the said Register duly kept , and the Transcript returned every Year into the Official's Registry ? Have you also a Registry of such Strangers as are admitted to Preach , and a Book for the Entry of the Church-Wardens Accounts ? And are the said Books carefully looked to , and made use of ? IV. Is the Church-Yard sufficiently fenced and preserved from Anoyance , Encroachments , and Waste ? T IT II. Concerning Ministers and Parishioners . I. DOes your Parson or Curate , constantly , reverently and regularly officiate on the Lord's-day Holy-dayes and the Eves of them , as also read the Litany upon all Wednesdays and Fridays weekly ; and observe Rogation and Ember days according to the Order of the Church ; and so perform all Offices , without Addition or Diminution ? II. Are there in the Parish any Persons known or reputed to be Jews , Hereticks , Papists or Schismaticks , and are they studious to pervert the Orthodox , or insolent towards them for doing there Duty ? III. If there be any Assemblies for Religious Worship in your Parish , besides the Parish-Church or Chappel ; Have the Places of such Meetings been certified according to the Statute ? Do any upon that pretence , and who , wholly abstain on Sundays from coming to any publick Place where there are Prayers or Sermons , but spend their time in Ale-Houses or Houshold-Affairs IV. Are any of your Parish known or suspected to be guilty of Incest , Adultery , Fornication , or any other enormous Crimes ? Do any profane the Lord's Day , or other great Holy-Days , or the Name of God , or are irreverent in the Church , or neglect the respective Duties incumbent on them in reference to the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper , and other Rites as of Catechizing , Confirmation , Marriage , Thanksgiving after Child-Birth , Burial of the Dead , or the Censures of the Church ? V. Are the Wills and Testaments of the Dead in your Parish , or the Administration of their Goods duly taken out and executed ? Have any Lands , Legacies , or charitable Gifts bestowed on your Parish , or any other good uses , been embezled , or unduly bestowed ? Has any Mony belonging to the Fabrick of your Church , or other charitable purposes , been employed to other uses ? TIT. III. Concerning Parish-Clerks and Sextons , Schools , Schoolmasters , Physicians , Chyrurgions and Midwives . I. HAVE you belonging to your Church or Chappelry a sufficient Clerk , or Sexton , and doth he faithfully and diligently execute his Office ? II. Does any one within your Parish or Chappelry keep School without Licence from the Official ; or if Licensed , neglect to teach the Youth committed to him the Catechism of the Church , and to bring them to the Service of the Church ? III. Doth any within your Parish or Chappelry practise Physick or Chyrurgery , or do the Office of a Midwife , without Approbation and License from the Official ? Advertisement . THE Curate of every Church or Chappel may joyn in Presentment with the Church-Wardens and Side-Men , and if they fail to present , the Ministers themselves ( who have the highest Obligation to endeavour the suppressing of Impiety and Disorder ) may and ought to do it . JOHN HARWOOD , L , L. D. Official . FINIS . 
A69744	----	Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiastical exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens, and side-men of every parish within the diocese of Hereford, in the first episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Herbert by divine providence Lord Bishop of Hereford. Church of England. Diocese of Hereford. Bishop (1662-1691 : Croft) 1662 Approx. 26 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A69744 Wing C4048 ESTC R2053 08939658 ocm 08939658 42007 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69744) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 42007) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 324:1u, 1279:27) Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiastical exhibited to the ministers, church-wardens, and side-men of every parish within the diocese of Hereford, in the first episcopal visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, Herbert by divine providence Lord Bishop of Hereford. Church of England. Diocese of Hereford. Bishop (1662-1691 : Croft) Croft, Herbert, 1603-1691. [1], 13 p. Printed for G. Bedell and T. Collins, London : 1662. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library and Pembroke College Library, Cambridge. Twenty-first item in a collection of visitation articles. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Croft, Herbert, 1603-1691. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2007-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-04 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-05 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2007-05 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY Concerning MATTERS Ecclesiastical : EXHIBITED To the Ministers , Church-wardens , and Side-men of every Parish within the DIOCESSE of HEREFORD . In the first EPISCOPAL VISITATION OF THE Right Reverend Father in God , HERBERT , By Divine Providence , LORD BISHOP of HEREFORD . LONDON , Printed for G. Bedell , and T. Collins . M. DC . LXII . The Tenor of the Oath to be Administred to the Church-wardens and Side-men of every Parish . YOu shall Swear to enquire with your best diligence , and to make a true Answer unto every Article in this Book now given you in Charge ; and to Present every Person that now is , or of late was , Inhabiting within your Parish , that hath done any Offence , or omitted any Duty therein mentioned . And this you shall do , as in the sight of God , uprightly and truly , without Favour or Malice , Hope of Reward , or Fear of Displeasure . So help you God. ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY WITHIN THE DIOCESSE of HEREFORD . TITUL. I. Concerning Churches and Chapples , with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging . I. IS your Parish-Church or Chappel kept in good and sufficient repair ? Are the Roofs thereof well covered with Lead , Tile , or Slate ; the Windows well Glazed , the Floors well Paved , the Seats well Fastned , and conveniently Placed ; and all things so decently ordered , as becometh the house of God ? II. HATH the Stéeple or Towre of your Church or Chappel , or any part thereof , béen pulled down , or any of the Lead , or Bells formerly belonging thereunto , béen imbezelled , sold or made away ? In whose hands or custody doth the same , or any part thereof remain ? Declare what you know , or have heard therein ? III. IS there a Font of Stone , with a good Cover thereunto , standing in a convenient place towards the lower part of your Church , for the Administration of Baptism ? And is there in your Chancel , a decent Communion Table , for the Administration of the Lords Supper ; with a Carpet of Silk , Stuff , or fine Woollen Cloth ; and another Covering of white and pure Linnen , to spread thereupon ? And have you a fair Communion-Cup , or Chalice , with a Cover of silver , and one or more Flagons of silver , or pewter , thereunto belonging ? IV. HAVE you in your said Church or Chappel , a convenient Seat , or Pew , for your Minister to read Divine Service in ? A Pulyit , with a comely Cloth or Cushion for the same ? A Bible , of the last Translation , in a large Volumn , and the Book of Common-Prayer ; both well and substantially bound ? Have you likewise the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority ? A Book of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical ? And a printed Table of the Degrées wherein Marriage is prohibited ? V. HAVE you acomely large Surplice for the Minister to wear at all times of his Publick Ministration in the Church ; provided , and to be dilly washed at the charge of the Parish ? VI. HAVE you a Register-Book of Parchment , wherein to Register the Names and Surnames of all such persons as are Married , Christned , or Buried within your Parish ? together with the Names and Surnames of both the Parents of the Children so Christned , expressing the Day , Month , and Year of all such Christnings , Marriages , and Burials ? And is the Transcript thereof Yearly , within one Month next after the 25. of March , brought into the Bishops Registry ? VII . HAVE you likewise another Book of Paper , wherein to Record the Names and Licenses of all such Strangers as are admitted at any time to Preach in your Church or Chappel ? As also a Third Book , wherein to write down the Church-wardens Accounts : together with a strong Chest , with Locks and Keyes , wherein to kéep the aforesaid Books , and all other the aforementioned Furniture in safe Custody ? And lastly , Have you a Bier , with a black Hears-Cloth , for the Burial of the Dead ? TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard , the Houses , Gleabs , and Tithes , belonging to the Church . I. IS your Church-yard sufficiently fenced with Walls , Rails , or Pales ; and decently kept from the annoyance of Swine , Horses , and other Cattel ? Hath any person encroached upon the same ? or made any door into it , out of his own Ground or Habitation , without allowance from the Ordinary ? Have any Trées there growing béen cut down ? how long since ? by whom ? and to whose use and benefit ? II. IS the House of your Parson , Vicar , or Curate , ( with all the Out-houses thereunto belonging ) kept in good and sufficient repair ? Or , have any of the said Houses , or Out-houses , béen defaced , or pulled down , without License from the Ordinary ? And by whom ? Hath any Person encroached upon any Garden , Yard , or Close , belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage-house ? Or cut up any Trées growing thereon ? Or changed , or removed the Ancient Marks and Bounds of the same ? III. HAVE you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe-lands , Gardens , Orchards , Tenements , or Cottages , belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage ? As also a Note of such Pensions , Rate-tithes , and Portions of Tithes , or other yearly Profits ( either within , or without your Parish ) as belong thereunto : Have any of the same béen with-held from your Minister ; and by whom , as you know , or have heard ? IV. HAVE any of the Ancient Glebe-lands belonging to your Parsonage or Nicarage , béen taken away or exchanged for other , without the frée consent of the Incumbenf , and Licence from the Ordinary ? Have any Inclosures béen made in your Parish , to the detriment of the Church , by the decay of Tillage , and converting Arable Land into Pasture ? by whom hath the same béen made ? and how many years since ? and how much is your Parsonage or Vicarage damnified thereby in the yearly value thereof , as you know , believe , or have heard ? TIT. III. Concerning MINISTERS . I. IS your Minister a Priest or Deacon , Episcopally Ordained , according to the Lawes of the Church of England ? II. IS he defamed or suspected to have obtained either his Benefice or Orders , by any Simonaical Compact . III. HATH he béen legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice ? And did he within two Months after his Induction , publickly in the Church , upon some Sunday or Holy-day , in the time of Divine Service , read the 39. Articies of the Church of England ; established by Authority , and there publickly Declare his Assent thereunto ? IV. HATH he any other Ecclesiastical Benefice , Prebend , or Dignity ? Is he constantly resident upon his Benefice amongst you ? How many wéeks in any one Year hath he béen absent from it , without urgent Necessity ? V. HATH your Minister a Curate to assist him ? Is the said Curate in holy Orders , an able and discréet Person , and conformable to the Lawes and Orders of the Church of England ? Is he allowed by the Bishop to serve in your Church or Chappel ? And doth he serve in any other Church beside ? And what yearly Stipend doth your Minister allow him ? VI. DOTH your Parson , Vicar or Curate , in reading the daily Morning and Evening Service , Administration of the holy Sacraments , Celebration of Marriage , Churching of Women after Child-birth , Visitation of the Sick , Burial of the Dead , and pronouncing Gods Commination against impenitent Sinners , use the Form and Words prescribed in the Book of Common-Praper , without any Addition , Omission , or Alteration of the same ? And doth he use all such Rites and Ceremonies in all parts of Divine Service , as are appointed in the said Book ? VI. DOTH your Minister , at the Reading or Celebrating any Divine Office in your Church or Chappel , wear the Surplice , together with such other Scholastical Habit as is sutable to his Degrée ? VIII . DOTH he observe the Holy-dayes and Fasting-dayes , as also the Ember-wéeks , and the yearly Perambulation in Rogation-wéek , as in the Common-Prayer-Book , or by the Ecclesiastical Canons is appointed ; giving notice to the Parishioners of every of the same in the Church , in the time of Divine Service upon the Sunday next before ? IX . HATH your Minister béen Licensed to Preach by the Bishop , or either of the two Vniversities ? If so ; Doth he then constantly ( unless in case of sickness , necessary absence , or other reasonable impediment ) himself Preach in your Church or Chappel , one Sermon every Sunday ? Or if he be not a Licensed Preacher , or being so Licensed , be hindred by sickness , or otherwise , as aforesaid ; Doth he procure a Sermon to be so preached by some other Minister , a Licensed Preacher ? or one of the Homilies , set forth by Authority , to be there read by a Priest or Deacon lawfully Ordained ? X. DOTH your Minister diligently instruct the Youth of your Parish , in the Church-Catechism ? And doth he prepare and present them , being so instructed , to be Confirmed by the Bishop ? And doth he endeavour to reclaim all Popish Recusants , and other Sectaries ( if any such be inhabiting within your Parish ) to the true Religion established in the Church of England , and to their bounden Duty , in obeying the Lawes , and submitting to the Government thereof ? XI . DOTH he neglect to visit the Sick , or delay the Baptism of any Infant that is in danger of death ? Is there any Chillde past Infancy , or other person of more Years , through your Ministers default , yet remaining unbaptized in your Parish ? Doth he Baptize any without Godfathers and Godmothers , or admit either of the Parents to be Godfather or Godmother to their own Children ? XII . DOTH he in his Sermons Preach sound Doctrine , tending to the Edification of the People , in the Knowledge and Faith of Iesus Christ , and Obedience to Gods Holy Commandments ? Or hath he at any time ( as you know , or have heard ) Preached any False , Heretical , Seditious , or Schismatical Doctrine , thereby to seduce the People into Parties and Factions , to the disturbance of the Publick Peace and Vnity either of Church or State ? XIII . HATH he presumed to Marry any persons in private Houses ? Or such , as being ▪ under Age , have not the consent of their Parents , or without the Banes first published on three Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the Church ? Or at any other houres than betwéen Eight and Twelve in the Morning ; unless he had a License or Dispensation so to do ? XIV . DOTH any person Preach in your Parish as a Lecturer ? Hath he allowance from the Bishop for so doing ? Doth he before his Lecture , read Divine Service according to the Book of Common-Prayer ? And is he in all respects conformable to the Lawes and Orders of the Church of England ? XV. HATH your Minister taken upon him to appoint any Publick or Private Fasts , Prophecyings or Exercises , not appointed by Authority ? Or doth he , or any other , either Minister or Lay-person , hold any Conventicles or Méetings in private Houses within your Parish for people of several Families to resort unto , under the pretence of Preaching , Praying , Thanksgiving , or Humiliation , contrary to the Lawes and Canons in that case provided ? XVI . IS your Parson , Vicar , Curate , or Lecturer , a man of a sober , unblameable , and exemplary life ? Doth he familiarly converse with ungodly , vitious , and excommunicate persons ? Is he a Frequenter of Taverns , or Ale-houses ? a common Gamester ? a profane or obscene Iester ? a Swearer , Railer , Scoffer , or Quarreller ? Doth he set Neighbours at variance one with another ? Or encourage them to Suits and Contention ? Is he noted to be an intemperate Drinker ? Or vehemently suspected of Incontinency with any Person , either within your Parish , or without ? Doth he wear his hair of an immoderate or uncomely length ? Is his Apparrel grave and decent , both for Fashion and Colour , as the Canons of the Church require ? Or is his Carriage and Conversation in any kind whatsoover , Disorderly or Scandalous , and unbeséeming a Minister of Iesus Christ ? TIT. IV. Concerning the Parishioners . I. Is there in your Parish , any person , a known or reputed Heretick or Schismatick ? Any Papist , Familist , Anabaptist , Quaker , or other Sectary , that refuse to come unto the Publick Assemblies , Prayers or Services of the Church , or that make Profession of any other Religion than what is established in the Church of England ? And if there be any such , what are their Names ? II. IS there any person in your Parish , that lieth under a common Fame , or vehement suspition of Adultery , Fornication , or Incest ? Are there any common Drunkards within your Parish , or common Swearers , or Blasphemers of Gods Name , or any that are Noted to be Railers , unclean or filchy Talkers , or Sowers of Sedition , Faction , and Discord amongst their Neighbours ? III. DO any of your Parish upon the Sundayes or Holy-dayes , follow their bodily and ordinary Labour ? Or permit their Servants so to do ? Are any Shops kept open , or Wares sold ? Or do any Vintners , Inne-kéepers , or other Victuallers and Sellers of Béer or Ale , suffer any persons to Tiple or Game in their Houses upon those dayes ? IV. DOTH every Person inhabiting or sojourning within your Parish , duly resort unto your Church or Chappel , upon every Sunday and Holy-day appointed for Divine Service ? Do they then and there abide quietly with Reverence , Order and Decency , during all the whole time of Common-Prayer , Preaching , or other Service of God there used ? And are there any among you that come only to the Preaching , and not to the Common-Prayers of the Church ? V. DOTH every Person reverently uncover his Head , and so continue all the time of Divine Service , and Sermon in the Church ? Do they all reverently knéel at the Prayers , and stand up when the Créed and Gospel are read , making due Reverence when the Name of our Lord Iesus is mentioned ? VI. ARE there any in your Parish that refuse to send their Infant-children to be baptized publickly in the Church , unless in case of urgent Danger ; in which case , the Child may be baptized at Home by a lawful Minister , after the Form and Rites appointed in the Liturgy ? Or do they send them to be bap●ized in any other Parishes , or after other Form than is appointed ? Or do they kéep them unbaptiz●d any longer time than the Church alloweth ? And are there any Infants , or more aged persons in your Parish , as yet unbaptized ? VII . DOTH every Housholder in your Parish cause their Children and Servants to learn their Catechism , and to give an Account thereof unto your Minister , as he shall require it of them openly in the Church upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes , as in the Book of Common-Prayer is appointed : that when they are well instructed in the same , they may be confirmed by the Bishop ? VIII . IS there any person in your Parish , who being Sixteen Years of Age , and well instructed in Religion , doth not receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper , at least three times in the year , of which Easter is alwayes to be one ? Doth any in your Parish refuse to receive the same kneeling : or from the hands of your own Minister , repairing for it to other Parishes and Ministers abroad ? Or are there any strangers not of your Parish , that forsake their own Churches , and usually repair to yours for it ? IX . HAVE you any among you that be denounced and declared Excommunicate for any Crime committed ? How long have they béen so Excommunicated ? And do any of your Parish kéep Society with them before they be reconciled to the Church , and absolved ? X. ARE there any living in your Parish , who have béen unlawfully Married , contrary to the Lawes of God ? Or any that being lawfully Divorced , have Married again ? Or any that being lawfully Married , and not Separated or Divorced by course of Law , do not Cohabit together ? XI . ARE there any Married women in your Parish , who after their Delivery from the Peril of Child-birth , refuse to make their Publick Thanksgiving to God in the Church ? And when they come so to do , Do they come decently Apparrelled , and make their Off●rings according to Custom ? XII . ARE there any belonging to your Parish , who refuse to pay their Duty for Easter-Offerings to your Minister ? Or any that refuse to contribute , and pay the Rate Assessed upon them , for the Repair of your Church or Chappel , and for the providing of such Books , Furniture and Ornaments , as be requisite for the performance of all Divine Offices there ? XIII . DO any refuse to bury their Dead according to the Rites of the Church of England ? And are there any Wills or Testaments of persons dead in your Parish , that be yet unproved ? Or any Goods Administred , without a due Grant from the Ordinary ? Did any dying in your Parish , or elsewhere , leave any Legacy to your Church or Chappel , or to the use of the Poor , or to any other pious and charitable purposes ? What were those Legacies , and how have they béen bestowed ? XIV . DO you know , or have you heard , of any Patron , or other person in your Parish , having the Presentation or Gift of any Ecclesiastical Benefice , who hath made gain thereof , by presenting a Clerk or Minister to it upon any Bargain , either for Money or Pension , or Lease , reserve of Tithes , or Glebe , or any part thereof , or upon other Simonaical Compact whatsoever ? XV. IS there any Strife and Contention among any of your Parish , for their Pews or Seats in your Church ? Have any new Pews béen erected in your Chancel , or in the Body of your Church or Chappel , without leave from the Ordinary ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks and Sextons . I. HAVE you belonging to your Church or Chappelry , a Parish-Clerk aged Twenty one Years at the least ? Is he of honest Life and Conversation , and sufficient or able to perform his Duty in Reading , Writing , and Singing ? Is he chosen by your Minister , and doth he duly attend him in all Divine Services at the Church ? Are his Wages duly paid unto him ? Or who with-holdeth the same from him ? II. DOTH he or your Sexton ( if there be any such appointed in your Parish ) diligently look to the Doors of your Church , that they be locked and opened at due time ? And doth he keep your Church or Chappel clean from Dust , Cobwebs , and other Annoyance ? Doth he Toll or Ring the Bells at the due accustomed houres before the beginning of Divine Service , Morning and Evening , that the people may be warned to come unto the Church ? And when any person is passing out of this Life , doth he upon notice given him thereof , Toll a Bell , as hath béen accustomed , that the Neighbours may thereby be warned to recommend the dying person to the Grace and Favour of God ? TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals , Schools , School-masters , Physitians , Chyrurgyons , and Midwives . I. IS there any Hospital , Almes-house , or Frée-School founded in your Parish ? Who was the Founder , or is now the Patron thereof ? And what is the Yearly Revenue , or Stipend , belonging to the Governors , or Masters of the same ? Is the same Ordered and Governed in every Respect as it ought to be ? And are the Revenues thereof rightly employed , according to the intention of the Founder , and of such Grants and Ordinances as have béen made concerning the same ? II. DOTH any man kéep a publick or private School in your Parish , who is not allowed thereunto by the Bishop or his Chancellor ? Doth your School-master teach his Scholars the Catechism of Religion set forth by Authority ? Doth he cause them upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes , orderly to repair to your Church or Chappel ; and sée that they behave themselves there quietly and reverently , during the time of Divine Service and Sermon ? III. DOTH any man in your Parish practice Physick , or Chyrurgery ; or any Woman take upon her to exercise the Office of Midwife , without Approbation and License from the Ordinary ? TIT. VII . Concerning Church-wardens and Side-men . I. ARE the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen by the joint consent of your Minister and Parishioners ; or one of them by your Minister , and the other by the Parishioners ? II. HAVE the former and last Church-wardens given up their due Accounts to the Parish , and delivered up to the succéeding Church-wardens the Moneys remaining in their hands , together with all other things belonging to your Church or Chappel ? III. DO you the Church-wardens and Side-men take diligent Care , and sée who of your Parishioners be absent from the Divine Service and Sermon in your Church or Chappel , upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes ? And if you find any to have absented themselves without a sufficient Cause , do you by Warrant from some of the Iustices of Peace , levy of them by way of Distress upon their Goods , the Sum of Twelve Pence for every such day of their absence , according to the Act of Parliament in that Case provided : And do you distribute the several Sums so levied , among the Poor of your Parish , according to the Law ? IV. DO you Note them that come late to Church after Divine Service is begun , or depart before it be ended ? Do you suffer none to stand idle , or talk together in the Church-Porch , or to walk in the Church , or Church-Yard , during the time of Prayers , Preaching , or other Sacred Offices ? V. DO you suffer no Misbehaviour or Disorder to be done by Men , Women , or Servants , or Children in your Church or Chappel ? Are you careful that none of them sit , lean , or lay their Hats upon the Communion Table ? Do you permit no Minstrels , no Morris-Dancers , no Doggs , Hawks , or Hounds , to be brought , or come into your Church , to the disturbance of the Congregation ? VI. DO you against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel , provide a sufficient quantity of fine white Bread , and of good Wine , according to the Number of Communicants ? VII . DO you cause all Strangers that Preach in your Church or Chappel , to Subscribe their Names the same day in a Book provided for that purpose , together with the Name of the Bishop that Licensed them to Preach in this Diocess ? And do you permit no other to Preach ? VIII . HAVE you ( the Church-wardens and Side-men ) now Sworn to give in a true Answer unto all these Articles of Inquiry in all their several Titles , taken sufficient time to draw up your Presentments , and therein consulted with your Minister for his faithful Assistance ? FOR know you assuredly , That as the true discharging of your Office , is the chief means whereby Publick Disorders , Sins and Offences in your Parish may be Reformed and Punished : So if you wilfully refuse to Present such Crimes and Faults as either you know to have been committed , or otherwise have heard of by Publick Fame ; That in such Cases , the Bishop and his Officers are to proceed against you in their Ecclesiastical Courts , as in Cases of wilful Omission and Perjury . HERBERT . HEREFORD . THE Ministers of every Parish are desired to give in the Names of such of the younger Sort , in their several Parishes , as they judge fit to receive Confirmation from the Bishop , and to Present them to be Confirmed ; especially such as having competently learned their Catechism , have not yet received the Holy Communion . Also the Clergy within the County of HEREFORD , are desired to bring with them in Writing , a Note of all such Coats of Arms as are in the Church-windows , and of all such Monuments , Gravestones and Inscriptions , whether of ancient or later Times , as are yet remaining in their several respective Churches or Chappels , or the Chancels thereof . FINIS . 
A79599	----	Articles of enquiry concerning certain matters ecclesiastical, exhibited to the church-wardens and side-men of every parish within the arch-deaconry of Huntington; for their better direction in their presentments in the visitation of John Hammond, Arch-Deacon of Huntington. Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntington. 1674 Approx. 13 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 6 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A79599 Wing C4050A ESTC R176255 45789231 ocm 45789231 172541 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A79599) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 172541) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1641-1700 ; 2638:6) Articles of enquiry concerning certain matters ecclesiastical, exhibited to the church-wardens and side-men of every parish within the arch-deaconry of Huntington; for their better direction in their presentments in the visitation of John Hammond, Arch-Deacon of Huntington. Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntington. Hammond, John. [2], 8 p. Printed by James Cotterel, London : 167[4] Numeral [4] in date is in ms. Reproduction of original in: Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/National Library of Wales. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Pastoral letters and charges. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2008-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2008-06 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-08 John Pas Sampled and proofread 2008-08 John Pas Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES OF ENQUIRY Concerning certain MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL , EXHIBITED To the Church-wardens and Side-men of every Parish within the ARCH-DEACONRY OF HVNTINGTON ; For their better direction in their Presentments in the VISITATION OF JOHN HAMMOND , 〈◊〉 - Deacon of HVNTINGTON . London : Printed by James Cotterel . 167● The Tenour of the Oath of the Church-wardens and Side-men of every Parish . YOu shall well and faithfully execute the Office of Church-wardens ( or Side-men ) in the Parish of N. and true presentment make of such defaults and offences as are mentioned in the Articles given you in charge , or you know to be enquirable by the laws Ecclesiastical of this Land. So help you God. ARTICLES of Inquiry Within the Arch-Deaconry of HVNTINGTON . TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chappels , with the Posessions , Furniture and Ornaments thereunto belonging . 1. IS your Church or Chappel , with the Chancel and Steeple thereof , in good and sufficient repair both within and without ? 2. Are all things therein kept orderly and in decent sort , free from any thing that may be either noisome or unseemly ? 3. Hath any part thereof been demolished or pulled down ? do you know , or have you heard of any person who hath imbezelled , or converted to his own use any of the Bells , Lead , Timber , or Utensils thereunto belonging ? 4. Have you in your Church or Chappel a large Bible of the last translation , the book of Common-Prayer lately established , the Book of Homilies allowed by authority , the Table of degrees wherein Marriages are prohibited , a Register-book in parchment , for Christenings , Marriages and Burials ; a Book for such strangers as Preach , to write their Names and Licenses in , as also another for the Church-wardens accounts ? and are the same kept in all points as is required ? 5. Have you a Font of stone standing in the usual place for publick Baptism ? and doth your Minister therein onely Baptize Publickly ? 6. Have you a decent Communion-table , with a Carpet , in the time of Divine-Service , and another covering of white linen , at the time of administring the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ? What cup , chalice , patten or flagons have you belonging to that Service ? 7. Have you a convenient Seat or Pew for your Minister to read Service in , a comely Pulpit set in a convenient place to Preach the Word in , with a decent cloth or cushion for the same ? have you also a decent and comely Surplice for the use of the Minister in his publick administrations ? 8. Have you in your Church a Box for the Alms for the poor , a strong chest with locks and keys ? and are the Plate , Vessels , Carpets , Vestments and Books belonging to the Church safely kept therein ? and have you a Bier with a Herse-cloth for the decent Burial of the Dead ? 9. Is your Church-yard well and sufficiently fenced , and decently kept ? Have any encroached upon the Ground thereof , or cut down any Trees growing therein , unless for necessary reparation of the Church or Chancel ? 10. Have you in your Parish a house for your Minister to dwell in ? Is the same , with the out-houses thereunto belonging , in good and sufficient repair ? Have any of them been defaced or pulled down without License ? 11. Have you a true and perfect Terriar of all the Glebe-lands and tenements belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage , taken by the view of your Minister and other honest men of your Parish ; as also a Note of such Pensions , rate-tithes , and portions of tithes both within and without your Parish , as belong thereunto ? And is a copy thereof delivered into the Bishops Registry ? 12. Is there any Alms-house , Hospital , or Free-School , ( being not of the Kings foundation ) in your Parish ? And are they and their endowments preserved and employed to their right use ? 13. Have any dying in your Parish given any Legacy to the Church or Poor , which hath been mis-impolyed , and disposed of to other uses ? TIT. II. Concerning Ministers . 1. HAve you a setled Minister in your Parish ? If not , how long have you been destitute ? What is the living yearly worth , and who is the Patron thereof ? By whom are the fruits received , and how are they disposed of ? 2. Doth your Parson , Vicar , or Curate audibly and distinctly read all Morning and Evening Service ; and in reading of the same , administration of the Sacraments , celebration of Marriage , burial of the Dead , and in all other Offices , use the form and words prescribed in the book of Common-Prayer , without any addition , omission , or alteration ? 3. Doth he diligently instruct the Youth of your Parish in the Church-Catechism ? Doth he read the Canons of the Church publickly once every year , give notice of the Holy-days and Fasting-days , of the Communion , Banns of Matrimony , and Perambulation in Rogation-week , read the Briefs and Excommunications delivered to him , and every year publish in your Church or Chappel the Statute against profane swearing and cursing , according as it is enacted 12 Jac. cap. 20 ? 4. Doth he at reading or celebrating any Divine Office in your Church or Chappel constantly wear the Surplice , together with such other Scholastical Habit as is suitable to his degree ? and in Preaching doth he wear a Gown ? 5. Hath he at any time , that you know of , publickly or otherwise spoken against the Order or Government of the Church of England as is now by Law established ? 6. Doth he administer the Sacraments in private houses otherwise than is by law allowed ? 7. Doth he permit any strange Minister to Preach in your Church or Chappel who is not sufficiently authorized thereunto ? 8. Doth he serve more than one Church or Chappel in distinct Parishes upon one day ? If so , how far distant are those Churches or Chappels which he so serveth , and what Wages and Salary hath he for his pains ? 9. Is your Minister a man of a godly , sober and peaceable conversation ? or on the contrary , Is he a frequenter of Taverns or Alehouses , or doth he board therein ? Is he a common Gamester , a profane Swearer , an obscene Jester , or an intemperate Drinker ? Is he vehemently suspected of Incontinency ? Is he a fomenter of suits and contention among Neighbours ? Doth he give himself to any base or servile labour , or secular trade , unbefitting the duty and Dignity of his Office ? Is his apparel grave and decent , both for fashion and colour , as the Canons of the Church require ? Or is his carriage and conversation in any kind disorderly , scandalous , or unbeseeming a Minister of Jesus Christ ? TIT. III. Concerning Parishioners . 1. DO any of your Parish make profession of any other Religion than what is professed and established in the Church of England ? Do any reproach the same Religion , or seduce others from it ? Or endeavour to alienate the hearts of the people from their Loyalty and Obedience to the King ? 2. Do any absent themselves from the publick Assemblies and Service of the Church , or not come in due time , as well to Service as Sermons , or not behave themselves , when they are there , with such reverence , order , decency and attention as is required ; or depart thence before the Service and Sermon be ended , and the blessing pronounced ? 3. Do any refuse to send their Infant-children to be Baptized in your Church or Chappel , unless in case of extreme danger ? Or are any children kept unbaptized longer than is allowed ? Or are there any more aged persons yet unbaptized ? Or are any children not Communicants admitted to be Godfathers or Godmothers in Baptism ? 4. Doth every House-holder in your Parish cause their children and servants to come to Church , to learn their Catechism , and to give an account thereof unto your Minister , that so they may be brought to understand and take upon them their Baptismal covenant , and be confirmed , and admitted Communicants ? 5. Do all Communicants in your Parish , upon timely notice given by the Minister , thrice at the least every year ( once whereof at Easter ) in that meek and reverend manner which is required , partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ? and do such signifie their names and purpose to Communicate unto the Minister at least the day before the celebration thereof ? 6. Do any of your Parish repair to other Parishes or Ministers , of them to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ? Or are there any strangers , not of your Parish , who forsake their own Churches , and usually repair to yours for it ? 7. Are there any living in your Parish , who have been unlawfully married contrary to the laws of God ? or any who being lawfully divorced have married again ? or any who being lawfully married , and not separated or divorced by due course of law , do not cohabit together ? 8. Have any been clancularly married in private houses , or in the Church without licence , the Banns not being thrice published ; or by licence or without , neither of the persons so married dwelling at that time in your Town ? 9. Do any married Women in your Parish after their delivery from the danger of Child-birth , refuse in due time to make their publick thanksgiving in your Church for so great a mercy , or to pay their accustomed duties as is required ? 10. Do any profane the Lord's day , by working in their ordinary callings , by tipling , gaming , or any unlawful exercises or pastimes ? 11. Do any walk , talk , or stand idle in the Church-yard , or Church-porch , during the time of Divine Service or Sermon ; Or at any other time quarrel , braul , smite , or lay violent hands upon one another either in the Church or Church-yard ? 12. Have any irreverently used your Minister , or spoken slanderous or reproachful words against him to the scandal of his vocation , or interrupted him in his administrations ? 13. Do any refuse to pay the Rates assessed upon them for the repair of the Church or Chappel , and the providing of Books , Utensils , and other necessary Ornaments for the same ? 14. Are there any in your Parish Blasphemers of Gods Holy Name , any common Drunkards or Swearers , any commonly known or suspected to be guilty of fornication , adultery , incest , or any other notorious crime of Ecclesiastical cognizance ? Declare who they are , that they may be punished according to their deserts . TIT. IV. Concerning Church-wardens . 1. ARe the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen ? Have the former and last Church-wardens given up their accounts to the Minister and Parishioners , and also delivered up to their Successors the moneys remaining in their hands , together with all things else belonging to your Church or Chappel ? 2. Do they against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel provide a sufficient quantity of fine white Bread , and of good Wine , according to the number of Communicants ? TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks . HAve you a Parish-Clerk chosen by your Minister aged twenty years at least ? Is he of ability to perform his duty ? and doth he perform the same in all respects as is required of him ? Are his accustomed Wages duly paid unto him ? or do any withhold the same from him ? IF you ●iow any other default or crime of Ecclesiastical Cognizance not exprest in these Articles , you are like 〈…〉 〈◊〉 present the same , and therein to take the assi 〈…〉 of your Minister . The Minister of every Parish may joyn in Presentment with the Church-wardens and Side-men : And if they will not present such enormities as require reformation , the Minister himself , ( being the Person that should have the chief care for the suppressing of sin and impiety in the Parish ) may present the same . FINIS . 
B00011	----	Articles to be inquired of by the church-wardens and sworne-men, in the ordinarie visitation of the reuerend father in God, Lancelot Lord Bishop of Elie, within the Diocesse of Elie, Ann. 1613. Church of England. Diocese of Ely. Bishop (1609-1619 : Andrewes). 1613 Approx. 25 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). B00011 STC 10196 ESTC S92330 52633219 ocm 52633219 174022 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. B00011) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 174022) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 2114:36) Articles to be inquired of by the church-wardens and sworne-men, in the ordinarie visitation of the reuerend father in God, Lancelot Lord Bishop of Elie, within the Diocesse of Elie, Ann. 1613. Church of England. Diocese of Ely. Bishop (1609-1619 : Andrewes). [12] p. Printed by Cantrell Legge., At Cambridge, : 1613. Printers' ornaments, t.p. and at end; initial. Reproduction of original in: Jesus College (University of Cambridge). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2008-01 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2008-01 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-02 Pip Willcox Sampled and proofread 2008-02 Pip Willcox Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ARTICLES To be inquired of by the Church-wardens and sworne-men , in the ordinarie visitation of the Reuerend Father in God , LANCELOT Lord Bishop of ELIE , within the Diocesse of Elie , Ann. 1613. AT CAMBRIDGE Printed by Cantrell Legge . 1613. The tenor of the Oath of the Church - wardens and sworne-men . YOu shall sweare , that vpon due consideration of these Articles giuen you in charge , you shall present euery such person of or within your Parish , as you shall know to haue committed any offence , or omitted any dutie mentioned in any of these Articles , or which are publikely defamed , or vehemently suspected of any such offence or negligence . So helpe you God by the contents of his holy Gospell . Articles . Touching the Church . WHETHER is your Church or Chappell , with the Chauncell thereof , and euery part of either of them , well and sufficiently repaired , the windowes well glased , the floares paued plaine and euen , without dust , or any thing noisome or vnseemely ? 2. Whether is your Churchyard well fenced with walles , rayles , pales , as hath beene accustomed : if not , whose default is it ? 3. Whether hath there beene any fighting , chiding , brawling , or quarrelling , any plaies , feasts , temporall Courts or Leets , lay Iuries , musters , or other prophane vsage in your Church or Churchyard : any bels superstitiously rung on holy dayes or their Eues , or at any other time , without good cause allowed by the Minister and Churchwardens : haue any trees beene felled in your churchyard , and by whom ? 4. Whether is the mansion house of your Parson , Vicar , or Curate , with all the buildings therunto belonging , your Parish Almes-house , and church house sufficiently repaired , maintained , and to godly and their right vses employed ? 5. Whether haue you in your church the Bible in the largest volume , the booke of common prayer lately authorised by his Maiestie , the books of Homilies allowed , the two Psalters , a conuenient pulpit for the preaching , a decent seat for the minister to say seruice in conueniently placed , a strong chest with an hole in the lidde , and three locks and keies , one for the Minister , the other for the Churchwardens , for the Almes of the poore , and the keeping of the Register booke of the Christenings , mariages , and burials ? 6. Whether haue you in your Church a Font of stone for baptisme , set in the auncient vsuall place , a decent table for the Communion conueniently placed , couered with silke or other decent stuffe in time of diuine seruice , and with a faire linen cloath ouer that at the administration of the Communion ? 7. Whether haue you all such bells , ornaments , and other vtensils as haue aunciently belonged to your Church , a communion cup of siluer with a couer , a faire standing pot or stoope of pewter or purer mettall , for the wine vpon the communion table , a comely surplesse with sleeues , a Register booke of parchment for christenings , marriages , and burials , booke for the name of all strange preachers , subscribed with their names , and the name of the Bishop or others where they had licence ? 8. Whether is your almes for your poore quarterly at the least distributed by you the church-wardens and the Minister in the presence of sixe of the chiefe Parishioners to your poore ? And are weekely the names and surnames of all persons married , christened , and buried , and of their Parents , with the day and yeare , entred in your said parchment booke , and is euery leafe beeing full , subscribed by you the Minister and churchwardens ? 9. Whether are the tenne commandements set vp in the east ende of the church , and other chosen sentences of holy Scripture vpon the wals in conuenient places : are all your seates in your church in good repaire , cleanly kept , conueniently placed , and the Parishioners in them , or elsewhere orderly set , and is there no contention or striuing for any seat or place among them ? Touching the Ministrie , Seruice , and Sacraments . WHether is the common prayer said or sung by your Minister both morning & euening distinctly & reuerently , euery Sonday and holy-day and on their Eues , and at conuenient and vsuall times of those dayes , and in most conuenient place of the church for the edifying of the people ? 2. Whether doth your Minister obserue the orders , rites , and ceremonies prescribed in the booke of common prayer , in reading the holy Scriptures , prayers , and administration of the Sacraments , without diminishing , in regard of preaching or any other respect , or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof ? 3. Whether doth your Minister on wednesdayes and fridaies , not being holydaies , at the accustomed houres of seruice resort to the church and say the Letanie prescribed , and doth your clarke or sexton giue warning before by tolling of a bell on those dayes ? 4. Whether doth your Minister as oft as he administreth the communion , first receiue it himselfe . Whether doth he vse any bread or wine newly brought , before the words of institution be rehearsed , and the bread and wine present on the table , doth he not deliuer the bread and wine to euerie communicant seuerally ? 5. Whether doth your Minister giue warning publikly in the church at morning prayer the Sonday before hee administreth the communion for the better preparation of the parishioners ? 6. Whether hath your Minister admitted to the communion any notorious sinner openly knowne or defamed , or any who hath openly and maliciously contended with his Neighbour , before repentance and reconciliation made and done by appointment of the Ordinarie ? 7. Whether hath your Minister admitted to the communion any church-warden or Side-man , who hath wittingly and willingly neglected , contrarie to his oath , to present any publike offence or scandall , beeing mooued to present either by some of his neighbours , the Minister , or his Ordinarie ? 8. Whether hath your Minister administred the Communion to any but such as kneele , or doe any refuse to kneele : hath he administred to any who refuseth to be present at Publike prayer : or who hath depraued the Booke of common prayer , administration of the Sacraments , or the Rites and Ceremonies prescribed , or the Articles of Religion agreed vpon , or the Booke of ordering Preists and Bishops ; or against his maiesties Supremacie ; or haue any beene for these causes repelled , and haue they repented in writing , or otherwise , and what be their names ? 9. Whether hath your Minister more Benefices then one , if he haue , how farre distant are they , how often is he absent in the yeare : when he is absent , hath he an allowed preacher for his Curate ? 10. Whether is your Minister an allowed Preacher , if he be , doth he euery Sunday in your church , or some other neere adioyning , where no Preacher is , preach one Sermon euery Sunday ? 11. Whether doth your Minister beeing no Preacher allowed , presume to expound the Scripture in his owne Cure , or else where doth he procure euery moneth a Sermon to be preached in his cure by Preachers lawfully licensed , and on euery Sunday when there is no sermon , doth he or his Curate read some one of the Homilies prescribed ? 12. Whether is your Curate allowed by the Ordinarie , vnder his hand and seale , to serue for your cure , and whether doth he serue two churches or chappels in one day ? 13. Whether doth your Minister in saying the publike prayers , and administring the Sacraments , weare a decent surplesse with sleeues , and beeing a graduate , doth he weare therewith a hood , by the order of the Vniuersities , agreeable to his degree ? 14. Whether hath your Minister or any other Preacher in your church , preached any thing to confute and impugne any Doctrine deliuered by any other Preacher , and hath he and they praied for Christs catholike church , as is prescribed by the canon ? 15. Whether hath or doth any preach in your church , which refuseth to conforme himselfe to the Lawes , Rites , and ordinances established , or which hath not first shewed a sufficient licence ? 16. Whether doth your Minister in his sermons , foure times in the yeare at the least , teach and declare the Kings Maiesties power within his Realmes to be the highest power vnder God , to whom , all within the same owe most loyaltie and obedience , and that all forraine power is iustly taken away ? 17. Whether doth your Minister euery sunday and Holyday , halfe an houre before euening prayer or more , examine and instruct the youth in the ten commandements , the Beleefe , the Lords prayer , and the catechisme set forth in the Booke of common Prayer ? 18. Whether hath your Minister maried any which haue not bin three seuerall Sundayes or Holidayes asked in your Church in the time of Diuine seruice , without licence , and hath he with licence or without married any , wherof neither dwelt in your Parish , or with any licence but only from the Bishop of Elie , or his Chancellers , or from his grace of Canterbury ? 19. Whether hath your Minister with licence or without , married any at any other times then betweene the houres of Eight and Twelue in the fore-noone , or in any priuate house , or when there is no licence , before their Parents and Gouernours ( the parties beeing vnder the age of 21. yeares ) haue testified their consents ? 20. Whether doth your Minister declare to the people euery Sunday at the time appointed , what Holydaies and fasting-dayes be the weeke following ? doth he beeing a Preacher , conferre with all Recusants and persons Excommunicate or suspended ? beeing no Preacher , doth he procure a sufficient Preacher to reclaime them thereby ? 21. Whether doth your Minister keepe a Note of all persons excommunicate , and once euery sixe moneths doth he denounce them which haue not obtained their absolution , on some Sunday in seruice time , that others may be admonished to refraine their company ? 22. Whether doth your Minister hauing notice giuen him , diligently visit the sicke ( the Disease not beeing infectious , ) doth he instruct and comfort them , doth he then mooue them to make their Testaments , and remember the poore , and other workes of charitie , and the passing Bell tolling , doth he then neglect his last dutie ? 23. Whether hath your Minister refused to baptize any Childe brought to the Church vpon any Sunday or holiday , or to burie any Corps brought into the Church or churchyard , or to church any women hauing had conuenient warning thereof ? 24. Whether hath your Minister beeing truely enformed of the danger of death of any Infant vnbaptized , and beeing desired to goe to the place where the child is , to baptize it , neglected to goe , by meanes whereof the child died vnbaptized ? 25. Whether doth your Minister at any time preach or administer the Communion in any priuate house , except when any are so impotent that they cannot goe to Church , or verie dangerously sicke ? 26. Whether hath your Minister held or appointed any publik fast , or beene present at such , doth he or any other in your Parish hold any lecture or exercise , or attempt by fasting or prayer , or otherwise , to cast out any Deuills , without the licence of the Bishop vnder his hand and seale ? 27. Whether hath there beene any secret conuenticles or meetings in your parish by any Priest , Ministers , or others , tending to the deprauing of the forme of prayer , doctrine , gouernment of the Church ? 28. Whether doth your Minister in his iourney , weare a cloake with sleeues called a preists cloake , without gards , welts , long buttons , or cuts ? 29. Whether doth your Minister weare a wrought night-cap abroad , or a peccadilly , with a broad falling band , or doth hee weare any cut or pinckt apparell , doth he in publike goe in his Dublet and Hose , without a coat or cassocke , and doth he weare any light coloured stockings ? 30. Whether doth your Minister resort to any Tauerns or Ale-houses , except for his honest necessities , or doth hee boord or lodge in any such place , doth he vse any base or seruile labour , drinking , ryot , dice , cards , tables , or any other vnlawfull games ? is he contentious , a hunter , hawker , swearer , dauncer , suspected of incontinencie , or giue euill example of life ? 31. Whether is there in your parish any Minister or Deacon , who hath forsaken his calling , vsing himselfe in his course of life as a gentleman or other lay man ? Touching Schoole-masters . WHether haue you in your Parish any Schoole-master , who teacheth either in publike Schoole , or priuate house , doth he giue any euill example of life , is he allowed by the Ordinarie , or doth your Minister or Curate teach , and is he allowed in like manner ? 2. Whether doth your Minister or Schoolemaster , who teacheth , teach the catechisme by authoritie set forth , doth he when there is any sermon or diuine seruice , bring his Schollers to church , & see thē quietly and soberly ordered , doth he examine them after their returne what they haue learned of the sermon ? 3. Whether doth he at other times teach them such sentences of holy Scripture as may induce them to godlinesse , doth he teach the Grammar set forth by King Henrie the eight , continued by King Edward the sixt , and Queene Elizabeth ? 4. Whether hath he spoken , writ , or taught against any thing whereunto he formerly subscribed , as the Kings supremacie , the Articles of religion , Booke of common prayer , or any thing therein contained ? Touching the Parish Clarke and Sexton . WHether haue you a Parish Clarke sufficient for his place , of the age of 20 , yeares at the least , is he of honest conuersation , can he read , write , and sing , is he diligent in his office , and seruiceable to his Minister , and not giuen to ouermuch drinke ? 2. Whether doth your Clarke meddle with any thing aboue his Office , as churching of women , burying of the dead , reading of Prayers , or such like ? 3. Whether doth your Clarke or Sexton , keep your church cleane , the doors safe locked , is any thing by his default lost or spoiled in the church , doth he suffer vnseasonable ringing , or any prophane exercise in your Church ? 4. Whether doth your Clarke or Sexton , when one is passing out of this life , neglect to toll a Bell hauing notice thereof : or the partie beeing dead , doth he suffer any more then one short peale , and before his buriall one , and after the same another ? 5. Whether doth any of your Parish , refuse to pay vnto the Parish Clarke or Sexton such wages as are vnto them due , and haue been accustomably paid ? Touching Parishioners . WHether hath any in your Parish spoken against , or any way impugned the Kings Maiesties supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall , the Truth and Doctrine of the Church of England , the forme of Gods worship contained in the booke of common praier , and administration of the Sacraments ? 2. Whether hath any in your Parish spoken against or impugned the Articles of religion agreed vpon in An. 1602. the Rites , and ceremonies established in the Church , the gouernment by Archbishops , Bishops , Deanes , Archdeacons , and others that beare office in the same ? 3. Whether haue any in your parish spoken against or impugned the forme of making and consecrating Bishops , Priests , or Deacons , or haue any separared themselues from the societie of the congregation , and combined in a newe Brotherhood , or depraued the Synod lately held by the Kings authoritie ? 4. Whether hath any in your parish maintained or defended any such Ministers or Schoolemasters as refuse to subscribe to the order of the Church , haue they affirmed that such Ministers , and their adherents may make rules and orders in causes Ecclesiasticall , without the Kings authoritie ? 5. Whether doth any in your parish prophane , violate , or mispend the Sabbath , or holy daie , or any part of them , vsing any offensiue conuersation , or worldly labour in those dayes , or any of them ? 6. Whether hath any in your Parish in the time of diuine seruice couered his head , albeit he hath an infirmitie , in which case a cap or night-quoife is allowed , or is there any who hath not reuerently kneeled when the generall confession , Letanie , and other prayers are read , and which haue not stood vp at the saying of the beleefe ? 7. Whether hath any in your Parish disturbed the seruice or Sermon by walking , talking , or any other way , or departed out of the church during the seruice or Sermon without some vrgent cause , or loitered about the church or church porch ? 8. Whether doth all parishioners receiue the holy communion thrise euery yeare at the least , whereof the feast of Easter to be one , and haue all beeing of the age of 16. yeares , dulie receiued , or not ? 9. Whether hath any Parent beene vrged to be present or admitted to answeare as Godfather for his owne childe , or hath any Godfather or Godmother made any other answer or speech then is prescribed by the Booke , or haue any beene admitted for such at Baptisme , who haue not first receiued the communion ? 10. Whether doe all Fathers , Mothers , masters , mistrisses come , and cause their children , seruants , & apprentises to come duely to the church , and according to the ministers direction to be instructed and catechised , or who be they that haue not obeyed the minister herein ? 11. Whether haue any persons married together within the degrees of consanguinitie or affinitie prohibited , set forth in a table , appointed to be placed in euery church , or haue any married or contracted themselues vnder the age of 21. yeares , without the consent of their Parents or Gouernours , if their Parents be dead ? 12. Whether haue any persons , once lawfully married , forsaken each other , or doe liue asunder without the authoritie of the Ordinarie , or doe any beeing diuorsed or separated , marrie againe , the former wife or husband yet liuing ? 13. Whether haue any beene married in the times wherein marriage is by law restrained , without lawfull licence , viz. from the Saturday next before Advent Sunday , vntill the Fourteenth of Ianuarie : and from the Saturday next before Septuagesima Sunday , vntill the Monday next after low Sunday : and from the Sunday before the Rogation weeke , vntil Trinitie Sunday ? 14. Whether hath any of your Parish vnreuerētly vsed your Minister , or haue any laid violent hands vpon him , or disgraced his Office and calling , by word or deed ? 15 Whether haue you in your Parish any dweller or soiournour , a maintainer of Popish Doctrine , or suspected to keepe scismaticall books , or to fauour any heresie or errour ? 16. Whether haue you any common resorters to your Church , which are not of your parish , or doe any such receiue the Communion amongst you : what be their names , and of what parishes are they ? 17. Whether haue any in the time of seruice opened their shops , exercised their trade , vsed any gaming , beene in any Tauerne , or Alehouse , or otherwise ill imployed ? 18. Whether are there in your parish any Adulterers , Fornicators , incestuous persons , bawdes , receiuers , close fauourers , conueyers away , or which suffer to depart any incontinent person vnpunished , any blasphemers , common swearers , drunkards , ribauds , vsurers , malitious slanderers , scolds , or sowers of discord , or any defamed of the said crimes ? 19. Whether doe any in your parish administer the goods of the dead without authoritie , or suppresse their will or Testament , haue any Executors neglected to performe their Wills , especially in paying of Legacies giuen to the church , to the poore , or to any other charitable , or godly vses ? 20. Whether doe any refuse to pay to the reparations , ornaments , and other things required in your church , as they are ceassed by a lawfull vestrie , or any dwelling out of your Parish , which hold land in your Parish ? 21. Whether hath any person suspended or excommunicated , beene suffred co heare diuine seruice , or the Sermon , to receiue the Sacraments , to be maried or churched , or haue any Excommunicants beene buried in christian buriall ? 22. Whether haue any in your Parish beene christened , churched , buried , or receiued the communion , or been maried out of your church , both parties dwelling in your parish ? 23. Whether haue all women in your parish deliuered of child , come at conuenient time after to church to giue thanks , and haue they beene churched according to the forme of the Booke of common prayer ? 24. Whether hath the preambulation of the circuit of your Parish beene obserued once euery yeare , if not , whose default is it ? 25. Whether haue any in your parish giuen the churchwardens , or sidemen , or any of them euill words for doing their dutie , according to their oath and conscience in making presentment for any fault ? Touching Churchwardens and Swornemen . WHether doe any in your Parish take vpon them to be churchwarden or side-man , which is not lawfully chosen by the Minister , & Parishioners according to the canon , or do any continue that office longer then one yeare , except they be chosen againe , and are all such Officers chosen yearely in Easter weeke ? 2. Whether doe your churchwardens within one Moneth at the most after their yeare ended , before the Minister and Parishioners giue vp a iust account of all such money , and other things , as they haue receiued and bestowed , haue they deliuered all remaining in their hands belonging to their church or parish , by bill intended , to bee deliuered to the next church wardens ? 3. Whether haue the church-wardens with the advise of the the Minister , from time to time prouided a sufficient quantitie of fine white bread and wholesome wine for the number of communicants ? 4. Whether doe the church wardens and Swornemen , before euerie Visitation , and at other times when there is iust occasion , meete and conferre about their presentments , and the answering of these Articles , and who hath ( after notice giuen him of the time and place ) carelesly absented himselfe ? 5. Whether the forfeiture of twelue pence for absence from church , appointed by statute for the vse of the poore , be taken and leuied by the church-wardens , and employed according to the said Statute : and whether is the same forfeiture taken of all persons which stand wilfully suspended or Excommunicated ? 6. Whether haue any churchwardens lost , sold or detained any 〈◊〉 ornaments , Bels , Rents , or implements of the Church ? 7. Whether doe you the Churchwardens and Sidesmen about the middest of Diuine Seruice , vsually walke out of the Church , and see who are abroad in any alehouse , or elsewhere absent , or euill employed , and haue you presented all such to the Ordinarie ? 8. Whether doe you know , or haue heard a fame of any offence , cōmitted , or dutie omitted by any of your Parish before your time , and heretofore not presented to the Ordinarie , or as yet not reformed , and haue you presented the same ? 9. Finally , doe you know of any matter or cause which is a breach of the lawes Ecclesiasticall here not expressed , and haue you presented the same ? FINIS . 
A61530	----	The Bishop of Worcester's charge to the clergy of his diocese, in his primary visitation begun at Worcester, Sept. 11, 1690 Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1691 Approx. 103 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 30 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-08 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A61530 Wing S5565A ESTC R17405 12727921 ocm 12727921 66382 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A61530) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 66382) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 369:11) The Bishop of Worcester's charge to the clergy of his diocese, in his primary visitation begun at Worcester, Sept. 11, 1690 Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. [6], 52 p. Printed for Henry Mortlock ..., London : 1691. Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Church of England -- Pastoral letters and charges. Church of England -- Clergy. Visitations, Ecclesiastical -- England. 2004-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-04 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2004-04 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER'S CHARGE To the CLERGY OF HIS DIOCESE , IN HIS Primary Visitation , BEGUN At WORCESTER , Sept. 11. 1690. LONDON , Printed for Henry Mortlock , at the Phenix in S. Paul's Church-Yard . M DC XC I. To the Reverend CLERGY Of the DIOCESE Of WORCESTER . My BRETHREN , WHat I lately delivered among you in the several Places of my Visitation , and what I have since thought fit in some particulars to add , I have here put together , and sent it to you , that it might remain with you , not only as an Instance of my Duty , but as a Monitor of your own . And I may reasonably hope , as well as desire , that the frequent Reading and Considering the Things I here recommend to you , will make a deeper Impression on your Minds , than a mere transient Discourse ; for I know nothing will more effectually preserve the Honor and Interest of the Church of England , than a diligent and conscientious Discharge of the Duties of our several Places . In this time of general Liberty , our Adversaries , of all kinds , think themselves let loose upon us ; and therefore we have the more reason to look to our selves , and to the Flock committed to our Charge . Yet , I do not question , but through the Goodness of God , and the serious and vigorous Application of our Minds to the great Business of our High and Holy Calling , that Church which we so justly value , will escape sinking in the Quick-Sands , as it hath hitherto , being dashed against the Rocks . If we behave our selves with that Prudence and Zeal and Circumspection which becomes us , I hope the Inclinations of the People will never be made use of as an Argument against us . For , although in a Corrupt Age , that be one of the weakest Arguments in the World ( if it be true ) and only shews the Prevalency of Folly and Faction ; Yet there is no such Way to prevent the spreading of both , as our constant Care to instruct our People in the main Duties of Religion , and going before them in the Ways of Holyness and Peace . In the following Discourse , I have first endeavoured to Assert and Vindicate the Authority of Bishops in the Christian Church ; and in as few Words , and with as much Clearness as I could , I have proved their Apostolical Institution . And the Judgment and Practice of the Universal Church from the Apostles Times , will prevail with all unbyas'd Persons above any modern violent Inclinations to the contrary . In the next place I have recommended to you such things , which I am sure are much for the Churches Service and Honour , as well as our own , and therefore , I hope you will the more regard them . In the last place , I have made it my Design to clear several Parts of the Ecclesiastical Law , which concerns Church-Men , and have shewed the Nature , Force , and Extent of it ; and how agreeable it is to the Common Law of England . In these things , my aim was to do something towards the Good of this Church , and particularly of this Diocese . And that the Glory of God , the Salvation of Souls , and Holiness and Peace may be Promoted therein , is the hearty Prayer of Westminst . Jan. 33. 1690 / 1. Your Affectionate Brother , and Fellow-Servant to Our Common Lord , ED. Wigorn. My BRETHREN , THIS being my Primary Visitation , I thought it fitting to acquaint my self with the Ancient as well as Modern Practice of Episcopal Visitations , and as near as I could , to observe the Rules prescribed therein , with respect to the Clergy , who are now Summon'd to appear . And I find there were Two principal Parts in them , a Charge and an Enquiry . The Charge was given by the Bishop himself , and was called Admonitio Episcopi , or Allocutio ; wherein he informed them of their Duty , and exhorted them to perform it . The Enquiry was made according to certain Articles drawn out of the Canons , which were generally the same ; according to which the Juratores Synodi ( as the Ancient Canonists call them ; or Testes Synodales ) were to give in their Answers upon Oath ; which was therefore called Juramentum Synodale ; for the Bishop's Visitation was accounted an Episcopal Synod . The former of these is my present business ; and I shall take leave to speak my mind freely to you , this first time , concerning several things which I think most Useful , and fit to be considered and practised by the Clergy of this Diocess . For , since it hath pleased God , by his wise and over-ruling Providence , ( without my seeking ) to bring me into this station in his Church , I shall esteem in the best Circumstance of my present Condition , if he please to make me an Instrument of doing good among you . To this End , I thought it necessary in the first place , most humbly to implore his Divine Assistance , that I might both rightly understand , and conscientiously perform that great Duty which is incumbent upon me ; for without his help , all our Thoughts are vain , and our best Purposes will be ineffectual . But God is not wanting to those who sincerely endeavour to know , and to do their Duty ; and therefore in the next place , I set my self ( as far as my Health and other Occasions would permit ) to consider the Nature and Extent of my Duty ; with a Resolution not to be discouraged , altho I met with Difficulties in the performance of it . For such is the State and Condition of the World , That no man can design to do good in it ; but when that crosses the particular Interests and Inclinations of others , he must expect to meet with as much Trouble as their unquiet Passions can give him . If we therefore consulted nothing but our own Ease , the only way were to let People follow their Humors and Inclinations , and to be as little concerned as might be , at what they either say or do . For if we go about to rowze and awaken them , and much more to reprove and reform them , we shall soon find them uneasie and impatient ; for few love to hear of their Faults , and fewer to amend them . But it is the peculiar Honour of the Christan Religion , to have an Order of Men , set apart , not merely as Priests , to offer Sacrifices ( for that all Religions have had ) but as Preachers of Righteousness , to set Good and Evil before the People committed to their Charge ; to inform them of their Duties , to reprove them for their Miscarriages ; and that , not in order to their Shame , but their Reformation : Which requires not only Zeal , but Discretion , and a great mixture of Courage and Prudence , that we may neither fail in doing our Duty , nor in the best means of attaining the end of it . If we could reasonably suppose , that all those who are bound to tell others their Duties , would certainly do their own , there would be less need of any such Office in the Church as that of Bishops ; who are to inspect , and govern , and visit , and reform those who are to watch over others . But since there may be too great failings even in these ; too great neglect in some , and disorder in others ; too great proneness to Faction and Schism , and impatience of Contradiction from mere Equals ; therefore S. Jerom himself grants , That to avoid these mischiefs , there was a necessity of a Superior Order to Presbyters in the Church of God ; ad quem omnis Ecclesiae Cura pertineret , & Schismatum seminatollerentur ; as he speaks , even where he seems most to lessen the Authority of Bishops . But whatever some expressions of his may be , ( when the Bishop of Jerusalem and the Roman Deacons came into his head ) his Reasons are very much for the Advantage of Episcopal Government . For can any Man say more in point of Reason for it , than that nothing but Faction and Disorder followed the Government of Presbyters , and therefore the whole Christian Church agreed in the necessity of a higher Order , and that the Peace and Safety of the Church depends upon it ; that if it be taken away , nothing but Schisms and Confusions will follow . I wish those who magnifie S. Jerom's Authority in this matter , would submit to his Reason and Authority both , as to the Necessity and Usefulness of the Order of Bishops in the Church . But beyond this , in several Places , he makes the Bishops to be Successors of the Apostles , as well as the rest of the most Eminent Fathers of the Church have done . If the Apostolical Office , as far as it concerns the Care and Government of Churches , were not to continue after their Decease , how came the best , the most learned , the nearest to the Apostolical Times , to be so wonderfully deceived ? For if the Bishops did not succeed by the Apostles own Appointment , they must be Intruders and Usurpers of the Apostolical Function ; and can we imagine the Church of God would have so uniuersally consented to it ? Besides , the Apostles did not die all at once ; but there were Successors in several of the Apostolical Churches , while some of the Apostles were living ; can we again imagine , those would not have vindicated the Right of their own Order , and declared to the Church , That this Office was peculiar to themselves ? The Change of the Name from Apostles to Bishops , would not have been sufficient Excuse for them ; for the Presumption had been as great in the Exercise of the Power without the Name . So that I can see no Medium , but that either the Primitive Bishops did succeed the Apostles by their own Appointment and Approbation , ( which Irenaeus expresly affirms , Qui ab Apostolis ipsis instituti sunt Episcopi in Ecclesiis ) or else those who governed the Apostolical Churches after them , outwent Diotrephes himself ; for he only rejected those whom the Apostle sent ; but these assumed to themselves the Exercise of an Apostolical Authority over the Churches planted and settled by them . But to let us see how far the Apostles were from thinking that this part of their Office was peculiar to themselves , we find them in their own time , as they saw occasion , to appoin r others to take care of the Government of the Churches , within such bounds as they thought fit . Thus Timothy was appointed by St. Paul at Ephesus , to examine the Qualifications of such as were to be Ordained ; and not to lay hands suddenly on any ; to receive Accusations , if there were Cause , even against Elders , to proceed judicially before two or three Witnesses ; and if there were Reason , to give them a publick Rebuke . And that this ought not to be thought a slight matter , he presently adds , I charge thee before God , and the Lord Jesus Christ , and the Elect Angels , that thou observe these things , without prefetring one before another , doing nothing by partiality . Here is a very strict and severe Charge for the Impartial Exercise of Discipline in the Church upon Offenders . And although in the Epistle to Titus , he be only in general required to set in order the things that are wanting , and to ordain Elders in every City , as he had appointed him ; yet we are not to suppose , that this Power extended not to a Jurisdiction over them when he had ordained them . For if any of those whom he Ordained ( as believing them qualified according to the Apostles Rules ) should afterwards demeam themselves otherwise ; and be self willed , froward , given to Wine , Brawlens , Covetous , or any way scandalous to the Church , can we believe that Titus was not as well bound to correct them afterwards , as to examine them before ? And what was this Power of Ordination and Jurisdiction , but the very same which the Bishops have exercised ever since the Apostles Times ? But they who go about to Unbishop Timothy and Titus ; may as well Unscripture the Epistles that were written to them ; and make them only some particular and occasional Writings , as they make Timothy and Titus to have been only some particular and occasional Officers . But the Christian Church preserving these Epistles , as of constant and perpetual Use , did thereby suppose the same kind of Office to continue , for the sake whereof those excellent Epistles were written : And we have no greater Assurance that these Epistles were written by St. Paul , than we have that there were Bishops to succeed the Apostles in the Care and Government of Churches . Having said thus much to clear the Authority we act by , I now proceed to consider the Rules by which we are to govern our selves . Every Bishop of this Church , in the Time of his Consecration , makes a solemn Profession , among other things , That he will not only maintain and set forward , as much as lies in him , quietness , love and peace among all Men ; but that he will correct and punish such as be unquiet , disobedient and criminous within his Diocess , according to such Authority as he hath by God's Word , and to him shall be committed by the Ordinance of this Realm . So that we have Two Rules to proceed by , viz. the Word of God , and the Ecclesiastical Law of this Realm . ( 1. ) By the Word of God ; and that requires from us , Diligence , and Care , and Faithfulness , and Impartiality , remembring the Account we must give , that we may do it with Joy , and not with Grief . And we are not merely required to correct and punish , but to warn and instruct , and exhort the Persons under our Care , to do those things which tend most to the Honour of our Holy Religion , and the Church whereof we are Members . And for these Ends there are some things I shall more particularly recommend to You. ( 1. ) That you would often consider the Solemn Charge that was given you , and the Profession you madeof yourResolution to do yourDuty at your Ordination . I find by the Provincial Constitution of this Church , that the Bishops were to have their solemn Profession read over to them twice in the year , to put them in mind of their Duty . And in the Legatine Constitutions of Otho , ( 22 H. 3. ) the same Constitution is renewed , not merely by a Legatine Power , but by Consent of the Archbishops , and Bishops of both Provinces ; wherein it is declared , that Bishops ought to visit their Diocesses at fit times , Correcting and Reforming what was amiss , and sowing the Word of Life in the Lord's Field ; and to put them the more in mind of it , they were twice in the year to have their solemn Profession read to them ; It seems then , that Profession contained these things in it ; or else the reading that could not stir them up to do these things . What the Profession was which Presbyters then made at their Ordination , we have not so clear an Account , but in the same Council at Oxford , 8 H. 3. it is strictly enjoined , that all Rectors and Vicars should instruct the People committed to their Charge , and Feed them , Pabulo Verbi Dei , with the Food of Gods Word ; and it is introduced with that Expression , that they might excite the Parochial Clergy to be more diligent in what was most proper for those times . And if they do it not , they are there called Canes muti : and Lyndwood bestows many other hard Terms upon them , which I shall not mention ; but he saith afterward , those who do it not , are but like Idols , which bear the similitude of a Man , but do not the Offices proper to Men. Nay , he goes so far as to say , That the Spiritual Food of God's Word is as necessary to the Health of the Soul , as Corporal Food is to the Health of the Body . Which words are taken out of a Preface to a Canon in the Decretals De Officio Jud. Ordinarii , inter Caetera . But they serve very well to shew how much even in the dark times of Popery , they were then convinced of the necessity and usefulness of Preaching . These Constitutions were slighted so much , that in 9 Edw. I the Offices of Preaching was sunk so low , that in a † Provincial Constitution at that time , great complaint is made of the Ignorance and Stupidity of the Parochial Clergy , that they rather made the people worse than better . But at that time the Preaching Friers had got that Work into their hands by particular Privileges , where it is well observed , that they did not go to places which most needed their help ; but to Cities and Corporations , where they found most Incouragement . But what Remedy was found by this Provincial Council ? Truly , every Parochial Priest four times a year was bound to read an Explication of the Creed , Ten Commandments , the Two Precepts of Charity , the Seven Works of Mercy , the Seven deadly Sins , the Seven principal Vertues , and the Seven Sacraments . This was renewed in the Province of York , ( which hath distinct Provincial Constitutions ) in the Time of Edw. 4. And here was all they were bound to by these Constitutions . But when Wicliff and his Followers had awakened the People so far , that there was no satisfying them without Preaching , then a new Provinciat Constitution was made under Arundel , Archbishop of Canterbury ; and the former Constitution was restrained to Parochial Priests who officiated as Curates ; but several others were Authorised to Preach ; as ( 1. ) The Mendicant Friars were said to be authorised Jure Communi ; or rather Privilegio Speciali , ( but therefore Lyndwood saith , it is said to be Jure Communi , because that Privilege is recorded in the Text of the Canon Law ) These were not only allowed to Preach in their own Churches , but in Plateis publicis , saith Lyndwood , out of the Canon Law ( wherein those words were expressed ) , and at any Hour , unless it were the Time of Preaching in other Churches ; but other Orders , as Augustinians and Carmelites , had no such general Licence . Those Preaching Friars were a sort of Licensed Preachers at that time , who had no Cures of Souls ; but they were then accounted a kind of Pastors . For Jo. de Athon distinguisheth Two sorts of Pastors ; Those who had Ecclesiastical Offices , and those who had none ; but were such only Verbo & Exemplo ; but they gave very great Disturbance to the Clergy , as the Pope himself confesses in the Canon Law. ( 2. ) Legal Incumbents authorised to Preach in their own Parishes Jure Scripto . All Persons who had Cures of Souls , and legal Titles were said to be missi à jure ad locum & Populum Curae suae , and therefore might preach to their own People without a special Licence ; but if any one Preached in other Parts of the Diocess , or were a Stranger in it , then he was to be examined by the Diocesan , and if he were found tam Moribus quam Scientia idoneus , he might send him to Preach to one or more Parishes , as he thought meet ; and he was to shew his Licence to the Incumbent of the Place before he was to be permitted to Preach , under the Episcopal Seal . And thus , as far as I can find , the Matter stood as to Preaching , before the Reformation . After it , when the Office of Ordination was reviewed and brought nearer to the Primitive Form ; and instead of delivering the Chalice and Patten , with these words , Accipe potestatem offerre Deo Sacrificium , &c. the Bishop delivered the Bible with these words , Take thou Authority to Preach the Word of God , and to minister the Holy Sacraments in the Congregation , &c. The Priests Exhortation was made agreeable thereto , wherein he exhorts the Persons in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ , to consider the weight and importance of the Office and Charge they are called to ; not barely to instruct those who are already of Christ's Flock ; but to endeavour the Salvation of those who are in the midst of this naughty World. And therefore he perswades and charges them from a due regard to Christ , who suffered for his Sheep , and to the Church of Christ , which is so dear to him , to omit no Labor , Care , or Diligence in instructing and reforming those who are committed to their Charge . And the better to enable them to perform these things , there are some Duties especially recommended to them , viz. Prayer and Study of the Holy Scriptures , according to which that they are to instruct others , and to order their own Lives , and of those who belong to them . And that they might the better attend so great a Work , they are required to forsake and set aside ( as much as they may ) all worldly Cares and Studies , and apply themselves wholly to this one thing , that they may save themselves and them that hear them . After which follows the solemn Profession , wherein they undertake to do these things . This is that , my Brethren , which I earnestly desire of you that you would often consider . You are not at liberty now , whether you will do these things or not ; for you are under a most solemn Engagement to it . You have put your hands to the Plow , and it is too late to think of looking back ; and you all know the Husbandman's Work is laborious and painful , and continually Returning . It is possible after all his pains , the Harvest may not answer his expectation ; but yet if he neither plows nor sows , he can expect no Return ; if he be idle and careless , and puts off the main of his Work to others , can he reasonably look for the same Success ? Believe it , all our Pains are little enough to awake the sleepy and secure Sinners , to instruct the ignorant , to reclaim the vitious , to rebuke the profane , to convince the erroneous , to satisfie the doubtful , to confirm the wavering , to recover the lapsed , and to be useful to all , according to their feveral Circumstances and Conditions . It is not to Preach a Sermon or two in a Weeks time to your Parishoners , that is the main of your Duty ; that is no such difficult Task , if Men apply their Minds as they ought to do to Divine Matters , and do not spend their Retirements in useless Studies ; but the great Difficulty lies in Watching over your Flock , i. e. knowing their Condition , and applying your selves suitably to them . He that is a Stranger to his Flock , and only visits them now and then , can never be said to watch over it ; he may watch over the Fleeces ; but he understands little of the State of his Flock , viz. of the Distempers they are under , and the Remedies proper for them . The Casuists say , That the reason why there is no Command for Personal Residence in Scripture , is , because the Nature of the Duty it self requires it ; for if a Person be required to do such things which cannot be done without it , Residence is implyed . As a Pilot to a Ship needs no Command to be in his Ship ; for how can he do the Office of a Pilot out of it ? Let none think to excuse themselves by saying that our Church only takes them for Curates , and that the Bishops have the Pastoral Charge ; for , by our old Provincial Constitutions ( which are still in force so far as they are not repugnant to the Law of the Land ) even those who have the smallest Cures are called Pastors ; and Lyndwood there notes , that Parochialis Sacerdos dicitur Pastor ; and that not merely by way of Allusion , but in respect of the Care of Souls . But we need not go so far back . For what is it they are admitted to ? Is it not ad Curam Animarum ? Did not they promise in their Ordination , To teach the People committed to their Care and Charge ? The Casuists distinguish a threefold Cure of Souls . 1. In foro interiori tantum , and this they say is the Parochial Cure. 2. In foro exteriori tantum , where there is Authority to perform Ministerial Acts , as to suspend , excommunicate , absolve , ( sine Pastorali Curâ : ) and this Archdeacons have by virtue of their Office. 3. In utroque simul ? where there is a special Care , together with Jurisdiction : this is the Bishops . And every one of these , say they , secundum commune Jus Canonicum , is obliged to Residence ; i. e. by the common Law Ecclesiastical ; of which more afterwards . The Obligation is to perpetual Residence , but as it is in other positive Duties , there may other Duties intervene , which may take away the present force of it ; as Care of Health , necessary Business , publick Service of the King , or Church , &c. But then we are to observe , that no Dispensation can justifie a Man in point of Conscience , unless there be a sufficient Cause ; and no Custom can be sufficient again the natural Equity of the Case , whereby every one is bound from the Nature of the Office he hath undertaken . I confess the Case in Reason is different , where there is a sufficient Provision by another fit Person , and approved by those who are to take Care that Places be well supplied , and where there is not ; but yet , this doth not take off the force of the Personal Obligation , arising from undertaking the Cure themselves , which the Ecclesiastical Law understands to be , not merely by Promise , but cum effectu , as the Canonists speak ; which implies personal-Residence . Not that they are never to be away ; Non sic amare intelligi debet ut nunquam inde recedat , saith Lyndwood ; but these Words are to be understood civili modo , as he expresses it , i. e. not without great Reason . There must not be , saith he , Callida Interpretatio sed talis ut cessent fraudes & negligentiae ; i. e. There must be no Art used to evade the Law , nor any gross Neglect of it . It 's true , the Canonists have distinguished between Rectoriēs and Vicarages , as to Personal Residence ; but we are to consider these things . 1. The Canon Law strictly obliges every one that hath a Parochial Cure to perpetual Residence ; and excepts only two Cases , when the Living is annexed to a Prebend or Dignity ; and then he who hath it , is to have a perpetual Vicar instituted , with a sufficient Maintenance . 2. After this Liberty obtained for dignified Persons to have Vicars endowed in their Places , the Point of Residence was strictly injoyned to them : and we find in the Provincial Constitutions a Difference made between Personatus and Vicaria ; but this was still meant of a Vicarage endowed . This was in the time of Stephen Langton , Archbishop of Canterbury ; and in another Constitution he required an Oath of Personal Residence from all such Vicars , altho' the Place were not above the value of five Marks ; which , as appears by Lyndwood else where , was then sufficient for Maintenance and Hospitality . And to cover the shameful Dispensations that were commonly granted to the higher Clergy , under Pretence of the Papal Power , the poor Vicars by a Constitution of Otho , were bound to take a strict Oath of continual Residence ; and without it their Institution was declared to be Null . But even in that Case the Gloss there saith , That they may be some time absent for the Benefit of the Church or State ; but not for their own particular Advantage . 3. The Obligation in point of Conscience remains the same , but Dispensing with Laws may take away the Penalty of Non-Residence in some Cases . Joh. de Athon , Canon of Lincoln , who wrote the Glosses on the Legatine Constitutions , doth not deny , but that Rectors are as well bound to Residence as Vicars ; but these are more strictly tied by their Oath , and because a Vicar cannot appoint a Vicar , but a Parson may . And altho that Name among some be used as a Term of Reproach , yet in former Ages Personatus and Dignitas were the same thing ; and so used here in England in the Time of Henry II. but afterwards it came to be applied to him that had the Possession of a Parochial Benefice in his own immediate Right ; and was therefore bound to take Care of it . For the Obligation must in Reason be supposed to go along with the Advantage ; however Local Statutes may have taken off the Penalty . II. When you have thus considered the Obligation which lies upon you , to take Care of your Elock , let me in the next place recommend to you a plain , useful , and practical Way of Preaching among them . I mean , such as is most likely to do good upon them ( which certainly ought to be the just Measure of Preaching . ) I do not mean therefore a loose and careless way of Talking in the Pulpit , which will neither profit you , nor those that hear you . He that once gets an ill Habit of speaking extempore , will be tempted to continue it by the Easiness of it to himself , and the Plausibleness of it to less judicious People . There is on the other side a Closeness and Strength of Reasoning , which is too elaborate for common Understandings ; and there is an affected Fineness of Expression , which by no means becomes the Pulpit : but it seems to be like stroaking the Consciences of People by Feathers dipt in Oil. And there is a way of putting Scripture Phrases together without the Sense of them , which those are the most apt to admire , who understand them least : But for those who have not improved their Minds by Education , the plainest way is certainly ●he best and hardest , provided , it be not flat , and dry , and incoherent , or desultory , going from one thing to another , without pursuing any particular Point home to Practice , and applying it to the Consciences of the Hearers . And give me leave to tell you , That mere general Discourses have commonly little Effect on the Peoples Minds ; if any thing moves them , it is particular Application as to such things which their Consciences are concerned in . And here I must recommend to you the pursuing the Design of His Majesties Letter , which hath been some time since communicated to you ; by it you are required to Preach at some Times on those particular Vices which you observe to be most prevalent in the Places you relate to , such as Drunkenness , Whoredom , Swearing , Profaning the Lord's Day , &c. If ever we hope to reform them , you must throughly convince them , that what they do is displeasing to God. And there are two sorts of men you are to deal with , 1. Profane Scoffers at Religion . These seldom trouble you ; but if any Good be to be done upon them , it is by plain and evident Proofs of the Good and Evil of Moral Actions . For , as long as they think them indifferent , they will never regard what you say , as to the Rewards or Punishments of them . 2. Stupid and sensless People , whose Minds are wholly sunk into the Affairs of the World , buying and selling , and getting gain . It is a very hard thing to get a thought into them above these Matters . And whatever you talk of mere Religion , and another Life , is like Metaphysicks to them ; they understand you not , and take no Care to do it : but if you can convince them , that they live in the Practice of great Sins , which they shall certainly suffer for , if they do not Repent , they may possibly be awakened this way ; if not , nothing but immediate Grace can work upon them ; which must work on the Will , whatever becomes of the Understanding . III. After preaching , let me intreat you to look after Catechising and instructing the Youth of your Parishes . He that would Reform the World to purpose , must begin with the Youth ; and train them up betimes , in the Ways of Religion and Virtue . There is far less probability of prevailing on those who have accustomed themselves to vicious Habits , and are hardened in their Wickedness . It seems strange to some , that considering the shortness of Human Life , Mankind should be so long before they come to Maturity ; the best Account I know of it is , that there is so much longer time for the Care of their Education , to instil the Principles of Virtue and Religion into them , thereby to soften the Fierceness , to direct the Weakness , to govern the Inclinations of Mankind . It is truly a sad Consideration that Christian Parents are so little sensible of their Duties , as to the Education of their Children ; when those who have had only Natural Reason to direct them , have laid so much Weight upon it . Without it , Plato saith , that Mankind grew the most unruly of all Creatures . Aristotle , that as by Nature they are capable of being the best , so being neglected , they become the worst of Animals , i. e. when they are brought up without Virtue . Education and Virtue , saith he , is a great thing , yea , it is all in all , and without it they will be much worse than Beasts . The main Care of the Education of Children must lie upon Parents ; but yet Ministers ought not only to put them in mind . of their Duty , but to assist them all they can , and by publick Catechising , frequently to instruct both those who have not learned , and those who are ashamed to learn any other way . And you must use the best means you can to bring them into an Esteem of it ; which is by letting them see , that you do it , not merely because you are required to do it , but because it is a thing so useful and beneficial to them , and to their Children . There is a great deal of difference between Peoples being able to talk over a Set of Phrases , about Religious Matters , and understanding the true Grounds of Religion ; which are easiest learned , and understood , and remembered in the short Catechetical Way . But I am truly sorry to hear , that where the Clergy are willing to take pains this way , the People are unwilling to send their Children . They would not be unwilling to hear them instructed , as early as might be , in the way to get an Estate , but would be very thankful to those who would do them such a kindness ; and therefore it is really a Contempt of God and Religion , and another World , which makes them so backward to have their Children taught the way to it . And methinks those who have any Zeal for the Reformation should love and pursue that which came into request with it . Indeed the Church of Rome it self hath been made so sensible of the Necessity of it ; that even the Council of Trent doth not only require Catechising Children , but the Bishops to proceed with Ecclesiastical Censures against those who neglect it . But in the old Provincial Constitutions I can find but one Injunction about Catechising ; and that is when the Priest doubts whether the Children were Baptized or not ; and if they be born eight days before Easter and Whitsuntide , they are not to be baptized till those days , and in the mean time they are to receive Catechism . What is this receiving Catechism by Children , before they are eight days old ? It is well Exorcism is joyned with it ; and so we are to understand by it the Interrogatories in Baptism : and Lyndwood saith , the Catechism is not only required for Instruction in Faith , but propter sponsionem , when the Godfather answers , De Fidei Observantiâ . It is true the Canon Law requires in adult Persons Chatechising before Baptism ; but I find nothing of the Catechising Children after it ; and no wonder , since Lynd. wood faith , the Laity are bound to no more than to believe as the Church believes ; nor the Clergy neither , unless they can bear the Charges of Studying , and have Masters to instruct them . This was good Doctrin , when the Design was to keep People in Ignorance . For Learning is an irrecøncileable Enemy to the Fundamental Policy of the Roman Church ; and it was that which brought in the Reformation , since which a just Care hath still been required for the Instruction of Youth ; and the fifty ninth Canon of our Church is very strict in it , which I desire you often to consider with the first Rubrick after the Catechism , and to act accordingly . IV. After Catechizing , I recommend to you the due Care of bringing the Children of your Parishes to Confirmation . Which would be of excellent use in the Church , if the several Ministers would take that Pains about it , which they ought to do . Remember that you are required to bring or send in Writing , with your Names subscribed , the Names of all such Persons in your Parish , as you shall think fit to be Presented to the Bishop to be Confirmed . If you take no Care about it , and suffer them to come unprepared for so great , so solemn a thing , as renewing the Promise and Vow made in Baptism , can you think your selves free from any Guilt in it ? In the Church of Rome indeed great Care was taken to hasten Confirmation of Children all they could : Post Baptismum quam citius poterint , as it is in our Constitution Provincial ; in another Synodical , the Parochial Priests are charged to tell their Parishioners , that they ought to get their Children Confirmed as soon as they can . In a Synod at Worcester , under Walter de Cantilupo , in the time of Henry III. the Sacrament of Confirmation is declared necessary for Strength against the Power of Darkness ; and therefore it was called Sacramentum pugnantium : and no wonder then that the Parochial Priests should be called upon so earnestly to bring the Children to Confirmation ; and the Parents were to be forbidden to enter into the Church , if they neglected it for a Year after the Birth of the Child , if they had opportunity . The Synod of Exeter allowed two Years , and then if they were not Confirmed , the Parents were to Fast every Friday , with Bread and Water , till it were done . And to the same purpose , the Synod of Winchester in the time of Edw. I. in the Constitutions of Richard Bishop of Sarum , two Years were allowed , but that Time was afterwards thought too long ; and then the Priest as well as the Parents was to be suspended from entrance into the Church . But what Preparation was required ? None that I can find : But great Care is taken about the Fillets to bind their Heads to receive the Unction , and the taking them off at the Font , and burning them , lest they should be used for Witchcraft , as Lyndwood informs us . But we have no such Customs nor any of the Reformed Churches ; We depend not upon the Opus operatum , but suppose a due and serious Preparation of Mind necessary , and a solemn Performance of it . I hope , by God's Assistance , to be able , in time , to bring the Performance of this Office into a better Method ; in the mean time , I shall not fail doing my Duty , have you a care you do not fail in yours . V. As to the Publick Offices of the Church , I do not only recommend to you a due Care of the Diligent but of the Devout Performance of them . I have often wondered how a fixed and stated Liturgy for general Use , should become a matter of Scruple and Dispute among any in a Christian Church ; unless there be something in Christianity which makes it unlawful to pray together for things which we all understand beforehand to be the Subject of our Prayers . If our common Necessities and Duties are the same ; if we have the same Blessings to pray and to Thank God for in our solemn Devotions , why should any think it unlawful or unfitting to use the same Expressions ? Is God pleased with the Change of our Words and Phrases ? Can we imagine the Holy Spirit is gi ven to dictate new Expressions in Prayers ? Then they must pray by immediate Inspiration ( which I think they will not pretend to , lest all the Mistakes and Incongruities of such Prayers be imputed to the Holy Ghost ) , but if not , then they are left to their own Conceptions , and the Spirits Assistance is only in the Exciting the Affections and Motions of the Soul towards the things prayed for ; and if this be allowed , it is impossible to give a Reason why the Spirit of God may not as well excite those inward Desires , when the Words are the same as when they are different . And we are certain , that from the Apostles times downwards , no one Church or Society of Christians can be produced , who held it unlawful to pray by a set Form. On the other side , we have very early Proofs of some common Forms of Prayer , which were generally used in the Christian Churches , and were the Foundations of those Ancient Liturgies , which , by degrees , were much enlarged . And the Interpolations of latter times , do no more overthrow the Antiquity of the Ground-work of them , than the large Additions to a Building , do prove there was no House before . It is an easie matter to say that such Liturgies could not be S. James's or S. Mark 's , because of such Errors and Mistakes , and Interpolations of things and Phrases of latter times ; but what then ? Is this an Argument ; there were no ancient Liturgies in the Churches of Jerusalem or Alexandria ; when so long since , as in Origen's time we find an entire Collect produced by him out of the Alexandrian Liturgy ? And the like may be shewed as to other Churches , which by degrees came to have their Liturgies much inlarged by the Devout Prayers of some extraordinary Men , such as S. Basil and S. Chrysostom in the Eastern Churches . But my design is not to vindicate our use of an excellent Liturgy , but to put you upon the using it in such manner , as may most recommend it to the People . I mean with that Gravity , Seriousness , Attention , and Devotion , which becomes so solemn a Duty as Prayer to God is . It will give too just a Cause of Prejudice to our Prayers , if the People observe you to be careless and negligent about them ; or to run them over with so great haste , as if you minded nothing so much as to get to the end of them . If you mind them so little your selves , they will think themselves excused , if they mind them less . I could heartily wish , that in greater places , especially in such Towns where there are People more at liberty , the constant Morning and Evening Prayers were duly and devoutly read ; as it is already done with good Success in London , and some other Cities . By this means Religion will gain ground , when the publick Offices are daily performed ; and the People will be more acquainted with Scripture , in hearing the Lessons , and have a better esteem of the Prayers , when they become their daily Service , which they offer up to God as their Morning and Evening Sacrifice ; and the design of our Church will be best answered , which appoints the Order for Morning and Evening Prayer daily to be said , and used throughout the Year . VI. As to the Dissenters from the Church ; the present Circumstances of our Affairs require a more than ordinary Prudence in your Behaviour towards them . It is to no purpose to provoke or exasperate them , since they will be but so much more your Emies for it ; and if you seem to court them too much , they will interpret your Kindness to be a liking their Way better than your own ; so that were it not for some worldly Interest , you would be just what they are ; which is in effect to say , you would be Men of Conscience , if ye had a little more Honesty . For they can never think those honest Men , who comply with things against their Consciences , only for their temporal Advantage ; but they may like them as Men of a Party , who under some specious Colours promote their Interest . For my own part , as I do sincerely value and esteem the Church of England ( and I hope ever shall ) , so I am not against such a due temper towards them , as is consistent with the preserving the Constitution of our Church . But if any think , under a Pretence of Liberty , to undermine and destroy it , we have reason to take the best care we can , in order to its Preservation . I do not mean by opposing Laws , or affronting Authority , but by countermining them in the best way ; i. e. by outdoing them in those things which make them most Popular , if they are consistent with Integrity and a good Conscience . If they gain upon the People by an appearance of more than ordinary Zeal for the good of Souls ; I would have you to go beyond them in a true and hearty Concernment for them ; not in irregular Heats and Passions , but in the Meekness of Wisdom ; in a calm and sedate Temper ; in doing good even to them who most despightfully reproach you , and withdraw themselves and the People from you . If they get an Interest among them by Industry , and going from Place to Place , and Family to Family ; I hope you will think it your Duty to converse more freely and familiarly with your own People . Be not Strangers , and you will make them Friends . Let them see by your particular Application to them , that you do not despise them . For Men love to value those who seem to value them ; and if you once slight them , you run the hazard of making them your Enemies . It is some Tryal of a Christians Patience as well as Humility , to condescend to the Weaknesses of others ; but where it is our Duty , we must do it , and that chearfully , in order to the best End , viz. Doing the more good upon them . And all Condescension and Kindness for such an End , is true Wisdom , as well as Humility . I am afraid Distance and too great Stiffness of Behaviour towards them , have made some more our Enemies than they would have been . I hope they are now convinced , that the Persecution which they complained lately so much of , was carried on by other Men , and for other Designs than they would then seem to believe . But that Persecution was then a Popular Argument for them ; for , the complaining side hath always the most Pity . But now that is taken off , you may deal with them on more equal Terms . Now there is nothing to affright them , and we think we have Reason enough on our side to persuade them . The Case of Separation stands just as it did in Point of Conscience , which is not now one jot more reasonable or just than it was before . Some think Severity makes Men consider ; but I am afraid it heats them too much , and makes them too violent and refractory . You have more reason to fear now , what the Interest of a Party will do , than any Strength of Argument . How very few among them understand any reason at all for their Separation ! But Education , Prejudice , Authority of their Teachers sway them ; remove these and you convince them . And in order thereto , acquaint your selves with them , endeavour to oblige them , let them see you have no other Design upon them , but to do them good ; if any thing will gain upon them , this will. But if after all , they grow more headstrong and insolent by the Indulgence which the Law gives them ; then observe , whether they observe those Conditions on which the Law gives it to them . For these are known Rules in Law , that he forfeits his Privilege who goes beyond the Bounds of it ; that no Privileges are to be extended beyond the Bounds which the Laws give them ; for they ought to be observed as they are given . I leave it to be considered , whether all such who do not observe the Conditions of the Indulgence , be not as liable to the Law as if they had none . But there is a very profane abuse of this Liberty among some , as though it were an Indulgence not to serve God at all . Such as these , as they were never intended by the Law , so they ought to enjoy no Benefit by it . For this were to Countenance Profaneness and Irreligion ; which I am afraid will grow too much upon us , unless some effectual Care be taken to suppress it . VII . There is another Duty incumbent upon you , which I must particularly recommend to your Care , and that is , of Visiting the Sick. I do not mean barely to perform the Office prescribed , which is of very good use , and ought not to be neglected ; but a particular Application of your selves to the State and Condition of the Persons you visit . It is no hard matter to run over some Prayers , and so take leave ; but this doth not come up to the Design of our Church in that Office : For , after the general Exhortation and Profession of the Christian Faith , our Church requires , that the sick Person be moved to make special Confession of his Sins , if he feel his Conscience troubled with any weighty matter ; and then if the sick Person humbly and heartily desires it , he is to be absolved after this manner , Our Lord Jesus Christ , who hath left Power in his Church to absolve all Sinners who truly repent and believe in him , &c. Where the Power of Absolution is grounded upon the Supposition of true Faith and Repentance ; and therefore , when it is said afterwards , And by his Authority committed to me , I absolve thee from the same , &c. it must proceed on the same supposition . For the Church cannot absolve when God doth not . So that all the real Comfort of the Absolution depends upon the Satisfaction of the Person 's Mind , as to the Sincerity of his Repentance and Faith in Christ. Now here lies the great Difficulty of this Office ; how to give your selves and the wounded Conscience Satisfaction , as to the Sincerity of those Acts ; I do not mean as to the Sincerity of his present Thoughts , but as to the Acceptableness of his Faith and Repentance with God in order to Remission of Sins . But what if you find the Persons so ignorant , as not to understand what Faith and Repentance mean ? What if they have led such careless and secure Lives in this World , as hardly ever to have had one serious Thought of another ? Is nothing to be done but to come and pray by them , and so dismiss them into their Eternal State ? Is this all the good you can , or are bound to do them ? I confess , it is a very uncomfortable thing to tell Men how they are to begin to live , when they are liker to dye than to live ( and the People generally have a strange superstitious Fear of sending for the Minister , while there is any hope of Recovery ) . But at last you are sent for ; and what a melancholy Work are you then to go about ? You are , it may be , to make a Man sensible of his Sins , who never before considered what they were , or against whom they were committed , or what eternal Misery he deserves by committing them . But I will suppose the best I can in this Case , viz. That by your warm and serious Discourse , you throughly awaken the Conscience of a long and habitual Sinner ; what are you then to do ? Will you presently apply all the Promises of Grace and Salvation to one whose Conscience is awakened only with the Fears of Death , and the Terrors of a Day of Judgment ? This , I confess , is a hard Case ; on the one side , we must not discourage good Beginnings in any ; we must not cast an awakened Sinner into Despair ; we must not limit the infinite Mercy of God : But on the other side , we must have a great care of encouraging presumptuous Sinners to put off their Repentance to the last , because then upon Confession of their Sins , they can so easily obtain the Churches Absolution , which goes no farther , than truly Repenting and Believing . But here is the Difficulty , how we can satisfie our selves that these do truly Repent and Believe ; who are out of a Capacity of giving Proof of their Sincerity by Amendment of Life ? I do not question the Sincerity of their present purposes ; but how often do we find those to come to nothing , when they recover and fall into the former Temptations ? How then shall they know their own Sincerity till it be tryed ? How can it be tryed , when they are going out of the State of Tryal ? The most we can do , is to encourage them to do the best they can in their present Condition , and to shew as many of the Fruits of true Repentance as their Circumstances will allow ; and with the greatest humility of Mind , and most earnest Supplications to implore the infinite Mercy of God to their Souls . But besides these , there are many Cases of sick Persons , which require very particular Advice and Spiritual Direction , which you ought to be able to give them , and it cannot be done without some good Measure of Skill and Experience in Casuistical Divinity . As , How to satisfie a doubting Conscience , as to its own Sincerity , when so many Infirmities are mixed with our best Actions ? How a Sinner who hath relapsed after Repentance can be satisfied of the Truth of his Repentance , when he doth not know , but he may farther relapse upon fresh Temptations ? How , he shall know what Failings are consistent with the State of Grace , and the Hopes of Heaven , and what not ? What Measure of Conviction and Power of Resistance is necessary to make Sins to be Wilful and Presumptuous ? What the just Measures of Restitution are in order to true Repentance , in all such Injuries which are capable of it ? I might name many others , but these I only mention to shew how necessary it is for you to apply your selves to Moral and Casuistical Divinity , and not to content your selves barely with the knowledg of what is called Positive and Controversial . I am afraid there are too many who think they need to look after no more than what qualifies them for the Pulpit ; ( and I wish all did take sufficient Care of that ) but if we would do our Duty as we ought , we must inquire into , and be able to Resolve Cases of Conscience . For the Priests Lips should keep this kind of Knowledge ; and the People should seek the Law at his mouth ; for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts , Mal. 2. 7. If this held in the Levitical Priesthood , much more certainly under the Gospel , where the Rates and Measures of our Duties are not to be determined by Levitical Precepts , but by the general Reason and Nature of Moral Actions . VIII . Among the Duties of Publick Worship , I must put you in mind of a Frequent Celebration of the Lords Supper . There is generally too great a Neglect of this , which is the most proper part of Evangelical Worship . The Duties of Prayers and Praises , are excellent and becoming Duties , as we are Creatures with respect to our Maker and Preserver . The Duty of hearing the Word of God read and explained , is consequent upon our owning it to be the Rule of our Faith and Manners ; and all who desire to understand and practise their Duty , can never despise or neglect it . But that solemn Act of Worship wherein we do most shew our selves Christians , is the celebrating the Holy Eucharist . For , therein we own and declare the infinite Love of God in sending his Son into the world to die for Sinners , in order to their Salvation ; and that this is not only a true Saying , but worthy of all men to be credited . Therein , we lift up our Hearts , and give Thanks to our Lord God ; we joyn with Angels and Archangels in lauding and magnifying his Glorious Name . Therein , we not only commemorate the Death and Sufferings of our Lord , but are made Partakers of his Body and Blood , after a Real , but Sacramental Manner . Therein we offer up our selves to God , to be a Reasonable , Holy and Lively Sacrifice unto him . Therein we Adore and Glorifie the ever Blessed Trinity ; and humbly implore the Grace and Assistance of our ever Blessed Mediator . And what now is there in all this , which is not very agreeable to the Faith , Hope , and Charity of Christians ? Nay , what Duty is there , which so much expresses all these together , as this doth ? Nor , whereby we may more reasonably expect greater Supplies of Divine Grace to be bestowed upon us ? What then makes so many to be so backward in this Duty , which profess a Zeal and Forwardness in many others ? If we had that Warmth and Fervor of Devotion , that Love to Christ , and to each other , which the Primitive Christians had , we should make it as constant a part of our Publick Worship , as they did ; but this is not to be expected . Neither did it always continue in the Primitive Church , when Liberty , and Ease , and Worldly Temptations made Persons grow more remiss and careless in the solemn Duties of their Religion . S. Chrysostom takes notice in his time of the different Behaviour of Persons , with respect to the holy Eucharist . There were some who pretended to greater Holiness and Austerity of Life than others , who withdrew from the common Conversation of Mankind , and so by degrees from joining in the Acts of Publick Worship with them . Which did unspeakable Mischief to Christianity ; for then the Perfection of the Christian Life , was not supposed to consist in the active part of it , but in Retirement and Contemplation . As tho our highest imitation of Christ lay in following him into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil ; and not in walking as he walked , who frequented the Synagogues , and went about doing good . But this way of Retirement happening to be admired by some great Men , the Publick Worship came to be in less esteem ; and others upon Reasons of a different Nature withdrew themselves from such Acts of Devotion as required a stricter Attendance , and a more prepared Temper of Mind . And there were some who did abstain , because they were not so well satisfied with themselves as to their own Preparations ; and such as these S. Chrysostom seems to favor , rather than such who came often without due care , as to the whole Course of their Lives ; only out of custom , or out of regard to the Orders of the Church . From hence many thought it better to forbear , as long as they did it not out of Contempt . And so by degrees the People were content to look on it as a Sacrifice for them to be performed by others , rather than as an Office , wherein they were to bear a part themselves ; at least , they thought once or thrice a year sufficient for them . And to this , as appears by our old Provincial Constitutions , they were forced by severe Canons . When the Reformation began , this Disuse of this holy Sacrament , was looked on , by the chief Reformers , as a great Abuse and Corruption crept into the Church , which ought by all means to be Reformed ; and the frequent Celebration of it set up in the Reformed Churches . But unreasonable Scruples in some , and Misapprehensions in others , and a general Coldness and Indifference , as to matters of Religion , have hitherto hindered the Reviving this Primitive Part of Devotion among us . I do not go about to determine the Frequency in your Parishes , which the Scripture doth not as to the Christian Church , but supposes it to be often done ; but I may require you to take Care , that Christ's Institution be observed among you ; and that with your utmost Care , both as to the Decency and Purity of it . The last thing I recommend to you all , is , To have a great Care of your Conversations . I do not speak it out of a distrust of you ; I hope you do it already : and your Case will be so much worse , if you do it not , because you very well know how much you ought to do it . For the Honor of God and Religion , and the Success of your Ministry , as well as your own Salvation , depend very much upon it . Lead your Flock by your Example , as well as by your Doctrine , and then you may much better hope that they will follow you ; for the People are naturally Spies upon their Ministers , and if they observe them to mind nothing but the World all the Week , they will not believe them in earnest , when on the Lord's Days they persuade them against it . And it takes off the Weight of all Reproof of other Mens Faults , if those they reprove have reason to believe them guilty of the same . I do not think it enough for a Preacher of Righteousness merely to avoid open and scandalous Sins , but he ought to be a great Example to others in the most excellent Virtues which adorn our Profession , not only in Temperance and Chastity , in Justice and ordinary Charity , but in a readiness to do good to all , in forgiving Injuries , in loving Enemies , in evenness of Temper , in Humility and Meekness , and Patience , and Submission to God's Will , and in frequent Retirements from the World , not merely for Study , but for Devotion . If by these and such things you shine as Lights among your People , they will be more ready to follow your Conduct ; and in probability you will not only stop their Mouths , but gain their Hearts . For among all the Ways of advancing the Credit and Interest of the Church of England , one of the most successful will be the diligent Labors , and the exemplary Lives of the Clergy in it . But if Men will not regard their own , or the Churches Interest in this matter ; if they will break their Rules in such a manner , as to dishonor God , and the Church , and themselves by it ; - then you are to consider the next thing I was to speak to , which is , II. What Authority is given to us for the punishing Offenders in our Diocesses by the Ecclesiastical Law of this Realm . For this we are to consider , that our Authority herein is not derived from any modern Canons or Constitutions of this Church ( altho due Regard ought to be shewed to them ) but from the ancient Common Law Ecclesiastical in this Realm , which still continues in force . For as there is a Common Law with respect to Civil Rights , which depends not on the Feudal Constitutions , altho in many things it be the same with them ; but upon ancient Practice , and general Consent of the People from Age to Age. So , I say , there is a Common Law Ecclesiastical , which altho in many things it may be the same with the Canon Law , which is read in the Books ; yet it hath not its force from any Papal or Legatine Constitutions , but from the Acceptance and Practice of it in our Church . I could easily shew ( if the time would permit ) that Papal and Legatine Constitutions were not received here , altho directed hither ; that some Provincial Constitutions never obtained the Force of Ecclesiastical Laws ; but my business is to shew what did obtain and continue still to have the force of such Ecclesiastical Laws among us . By the Statute of 25. H. 8. c. 19. it is declared , That such Canons , Constitutions , Ordinances and Synodals Provincial being already made , which be not contrariant nor repugnant to the Laws , Statutes and Customs of this Realm , nor to the Damage or Hurt of the King's Prerogative Royal , shall now still be used and executed as they were afore the making of this Act , &c. It 's true , a Review was appointed , but such Difficulties were found in it , as to the shaking the Foundations of the Ecclesiastical Law here , that nothing was ever legally established in it ; and therefore this Law is still in force . In the Statute 25. H. 8. c. 21. it is said , That this Realm Recognising no Superior under God but the King , hath been , and is free from Subjection to any Mans Laws , but only to such as have been Devised , Made , and Observed within this Realm , for the Wealth of the same : or to such other , as by the sufferance of the King and his Progenitors , the People of this Realm have taken at their free Liberty , by their own consent , to be used amongst them , and have bound themselves by long use and custom to observance of the same , not as to the observance of the Laws of any Foreign Prince , Potentate , or Prelate , but as to the Customs and ancient Laws of this Realm , originally estabished , as Laws of the same , by the said Sufferance , Consent , Custom , and none otherwise . All that I have now to do , is to shew what Authority the Bishops had over the Clergy by the Ancient Ecclesiastical Law of this Realm ; and what Censures they were lyable to for some particular Offences . I. By the Ecclesiastical Law the Bishop is Judg of the Fitness of any Clerk presented to a Benefice . This is confessed by the ord Coke in these Words . And the Examination of the Ability , and Sufficiency of the Person presented , belongs to the Bishop , who is the Ecclesiastical Judg , and in the Examination he is a Judg , and not a Minister , and may and ought to refuse the Person presented , if he be not Persona idonea . But this is plain to have been the Ancient Ecclesiastical Law of this Realm by the Articul . Cleri . in Edw. 2. time , De Idoneitate Personae praesentatae ad Beneficium Ecclesiasticum pertinet Examinatio ad Judicem Ecclesiasticum , & ita est hactenus usitatum & fiat in futurum . By the Provincial Constitutions at Oxford in the time of Hen. 3. the Bishop is required to admit the Clerk who is presented , without Opposition , within two Months , dum tamen idoneus sit ; if he thinks him fit . So much time is allowed , propter Examinationem , saith Lyndwood ; even when there is no dispute about Right of Patronage . The main thing he is to be examined upon is his Ability to discharge his Pastoral Duty , as Coke calls it ; or as Lyndwood saith , whether he be commendandus Scientia & Moribus . As to the former , the Bishop may judg himself ; but as to the latter , he must take the Testimonials of others ; and I heartily wish the Clergy would be more careful in giving them , by looking on it as a Matter of Conscience , and not merely of Civility ; for otherwise it will be impossible to avoid the pestering the Church with scandalous and ignorant Wretches . If the Bishop refuses to admit within the time ( which by the modern Canons is limited to twenty eight days after the Presentation delivered ) he is liable to a Duplex Querela in the Ecclesiastical Courts , and a Quare impedit at Common Law ; and then he must certifie the Reasons of his Refusal . In Specot's Case it is said , that in 15 Hen. 7. 7 , 8. All the Judges agreed , that the Bishop is Judg in the Examination , and therefore the Law giveth Faith and Credit to his Judgment . But because great Inconveniencies might otherwise happen , the general Allegation is not sufficient , but he must certifie specially and directly ; and the general Rule is , and it was so resolved by the Judges , That all such as are sufficient Causes of Deprivation of an Incumbent , are sufficient Causes to refuse a Presentee . But by the Canon Law * more are allowed . In the Constitutions of Othobon , the Bishop is required particularly to enquire into the Life and Conversation of him that is presented ; and afterwards , that if a Bishop admits another who is guilty of the same Fault for which he rejected the former , his Institution is declared null and void . By the Canon Law , if a Bishop maliciously refuses to admit a fit Person , he is bound to provide another Benefice for him ; but our Ecclesiastical Law , much better puts him upon the Proof of the Cause of his Refusal . But if the Bishop doth not examin him , the Canonists say it is a Proof sufficient that he did it malitiosè . If a Bishop once rejects a Man for Insufficiency , he cannot afterwards accept or admit of him ; as was adjudged in the Bishop of Hereford's Case . If a Man brings a Presentation to a Benefice , the Bishop is not barely to examin him as to Life and Abilities , but he must be satisfied that he is in Orders . How can he be satisfied , unless the other produce them ? How can he produce them , when it may be they are lost ? What is to be done in this Case ? The Canon is express , That no Bishop shall Institute any to a Benefice , who hath been Ordained by any other Bishop ( for if he Ordained him himself , he cannot after reject him , because the Law supposes him to have examined and approved him ) except he first shew unto him his Letters of Orders , and bring him a sufficient Testimony of his former good Life and Behaviour , if the Bishop shall require it , and lastly shall appear upon due Examination to be worthy of the Ministry . But yet in Palmes and the Bishop of Peterborough's Case , it was adjudged that no Lapse did accrue by the Clerk's not shewing his Orders , for the Bishop upon his not coming to him again , Collated after six Months . But the Court agreed , that the Clerk ought to make Proof of his Orders ; but they differed about the manner of their Proof . Anderson said , the Bishop might give him his Oath . But if a Proof were necessary , and the Clerk did not come to make Proof , it seems to me to be a very hard Judgment . II. The Bishop by the Ecclesiastical Law , is to visit his Diocess , and to take an account of the Clergy how they behaye themselves in the Duties of their Places . By the eldest Canons I can find , the Bishops Visitation is supposed as a thing implyed in his Office ; whereby he is obliged to look after the good Estate of his whole Diocess , and especially of the Clergy in it . In the time of Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , in the beginning of King Johns time care is taken in the Canons then made , That Bishops should not be burdensom to the Clergy in the Number of the Attendants in their Visitations ; which then were Parochial , and the Number allowed of 20 or 30 Horse , was too heavy for the Clergy to bear . And therefore by degrees it was thought fit to turn that Charge into a Certainty , which was the Original of Procurations . By the Fourth Council of Toledo , the Bishop was to Visit his whole Diocess , Parochially , every Year . The Gloss saith , if there were occasion for it ; and that the Bishop may visit as often as he sees Cause ; but if he be hindred , the Canon saith , he may send others ( which is the original of the Arch-Deacons Visitation ) to see not only the Condition of the Churches , but the Lives of the Ministers . The Council of Braca in the latter end of the Sixth Century , makes this the first Canon , That all Bishops should Visit their Diocesses by Parishes , and there should first examin the Clergy , and then the People ; and in another Canon he was required to receive only his Cathedraticum , i. e. a certain Sum in lieu of Entertainment ; which came to be setled by Prescription . The Council of Cavailon in France , A. D. 831. fixed no Sum , but desired the Bishops to be no Burdens to the Clergy in their Parochial Visitations . Lyndwood saith the Ancient Procuration here was a Day and Nights Entertainment ; which after came to be a customary Payment : But however it was paid , it is an evident Proof of the Right of the Bishops Visitations by the ancient Ecclesiastical Law ; and by such a Custom as is allowable by the Rules of our Common Law. III. There are some Faults , which make the Clergy lyable to Deprivation by Virtue of the Ecclesiastical Law , which was here received . I shall name only some of them and conclude ; these being sufficient for my present purpose . I. Excessive Drinking . All drinking ( ad Potus aequales ) was absolutely forbidden to Clergymen , on pain of Suspension after Admonition ; not only by a Synodical , but by a Provincial Constitution under Edmund Arch-Bishop of Canterbury . The Canon Law saith in that Case , ab Officio vel Beneficio suspendatur : But our Constitution is more severe , à Beneficio & Officio . The Council of Oxford not only strictly forbids all Clergymen whatever tends to Gluttony and Drunkenness ; but it requires the Bishops to proceed strictly against those who are guilty , according to the Form of the General Council , i. e. the Lateran 4. viz. by Admonition first , and then Suspension . Lyndwood complains , that this was not so much looked after as it should be , because it brought no Profit ; I hope that Reason will not hold among those who pretend to Reformation ; which will be very defective if it extend not to our Lives as well as our Doctrines : For there can be no greater Reproach , than to see those loose and dissolute in their Conversations , who think it their Honour to be Ministers of a Reformed Church . It was a stinging Reflection upon our Church by the Arch-Bishop of Spalato , ( who was no very strict Man himself ) that he saw nothing Reformed among us but our Doctrines . I hope there was more of Satyr than of Truth in it ; for I do not question , but there were many then ( as there are now ) of Exemplary Lives and unblameable Conversations ; but if there be any others , it will be the more shame not to proceed against them ; since even before the Reformation , the Canons were so strict and severe in this matter . In the Council at Westminster in Henr. II. time , under Richard Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , all Clergymen are forbidden going into Taverns to eat or drink , unless upon Travelling ; and the Sanction of this Canon is , aut cesset , aut deponatur . The same was forbidden in the Council at York , in the time of Richard I. in the Council at London under Hubert , in the time of King John. And since the Reformation , the same Canon is renewed , That no Ecclesiastical Persons shall at any time other than for their honest Necessities , resort to any Taverns or Alehouses . And there have been Instances of the Severity of our Ecclesiastical Censures against Drunkenness in Clergy-men . In 8 Jac. Parker was deprived of his Benefice for Drunkenness , and moved for a Prohibition , but it was denyed him . In 9 Jac. another was deprived for the same Fault and the Judges at Common Law allowed the Sentence to be good . No doubt there are other Instances , but we had not known of these , if they had not been preserved in Books of Reports . II. Incontinency . Lyndwood saith , those who are proved to be guilty of it , are ipso Jure privati ; but he thinks a Declaratory Sentence of the Ecclesiastical Judges necessary for the Execution of it . Since the Reformation , we have Instances of Deprivation for Adultery in our Law Books . One 12 Eliz. another 16 Eliz. a third 27 Eliz. These are enough to shew that the Ecclesiastical Law is allowed by the Judges of Common Law , to continue in sufficient force for Deprivation in this Case . III. Simony . Which is the Name given by the Ecclesiastical Law , to all Contracts for Gain in the disposing or obtaining any Ecclesiastical Promotion or Ministry . It is true , these do not come up to the very Sin of Simon Magus , which related to the immediate Gifts of the Holy Ghost ; but because the whole Ministerial Office in all the Parts of it ( especially the Cure of Souls ) is of a Spiritual Nature ; and all Bargains are so repugnant to the Design of it , therefore the Ecclesiastical Law hath fixed that detestable Name upon it : For , all contractus non gratuiti in these things savour of turpe lucrum , and tend to bring in turpe Commercium into the Church ; which would really overturn the whole Design of that Ministry , which was designed for the Salvation of Souls . And therefore it was necessary , that when Persons had received ( by the Favor of Temporal Princes and other Benefactors , who were Founders of Churches ) such Endowments as might encourage them in their Function , that severe Laws should be made against any such sordid and mischievous Contracts . And such there were here in England long before the excellent Stat. of 31 Eliz. c. 6. although it seems the force of them was so much worn out , as to make that Statute necessary for avoiding of Simony ; which is there explained to be Corruption in bestowing or getting Possession of Promotions Ecclesiastical . In a Council at London under Lanfranc in the Conqueror's time , Simony was forbidden , under the Name of Buying and Selling of Orders . And it could be nothing else before the Churches Revenue was setled : But in the time of Henr. I. Ecclesiastical Benefices were forbidden to be bought or sold , and it was Deprivation then to any Clergy-Man to be convicted of it ; and a Lay-Man was to be out-law'd and excommunicated , and deprived of his Right of Patronage . And this was done by a Provincial Synod of that time . In the Reign of Henr. II. it was decreed , that if any Person received any Mony for a Presentation , he was to be for ever deprived of the Patronage of that Church ; and this was not merely a Provincial Constitution , but two Kings were present ( Hen. 2. and his Son ) , and added their Authority to it . This was not depriving a Man of his Freehold by a Canon , as a learned Gentleman calls it ; for here was the greatest Authority , Temporal as well as Ecclesiastical added to it . But we are told , these Canons were of as little effect , as that of Othobon , which made all Simoniacal Contracts void ; but some of the most judicious Lawyers have held , that Simony being contractus ex turpi causâ , is void between Parties . All that I aim at is to shew , that by our old Ecclesiastical Law , Simoniaeus incurred a Deprivation and Disability before the Stat. 31. Eliz. and therein I have the Opinion of a very Learned Judge concurring with me . IV. Dilapidations . By which the Ecclesiastical Law understands any considerable Impairing the Edifices , Woods and Revenues belonging to Ecclesiastical Persons , by Virtue of their Places . For it is the greatest Interest and Concernment of the Church to have things preserved for the Good of Successors ; and it is a part of common Justice and Honesty so to do . And the Lord Coke positively affirms , that Dilapidation is a good Cause of Deprivation . And it was so Resolved by the Judges in the King's Bench , 12. Jac. Not by Virtue of any new Law or Statute , but by the old Ecclesiastical Law. For which Coke refers to the Year-Books , which not only shew what the Ecclesiastical Law then was , but that it was allowed by the Common Law of England ; and we are told , that is never given to change ; but it may be forced to it by a New Law , which cannot be pretended in this Case . And by the old Constitutions here received , the Bishops are required to put the Clergy in mind of keeping their Houses in sufficient Reparations , and if they do it not within two months , the Bishop is to take care , it be done out of the Profits of the Benefice . By the Injunctions of Ed. VI. and Queen Elizabeth , all Persons having Ecclesiastical Benefices are required to set apart the Fifth of their Revenue to Repair their Houses ; and afterwards to maintain them in good condition . V. Pluralities . By the Ecclesiastical Law , which was here received , the actual receiving Institution into a second Benefice made the first void ipso jure ; and if he sought to keep both above a Month , the second was void too . Lyndwood observes , that the Ecclesiastical Law had varied in this matter . And it proceeded by these steps , ( which are more than Lyndw. mentions . ) I. It was absolutely forbidden to have two Parishes , if there were more than ten Inhabitants in them , because no Man could do his Duty in both Places . And if any Bishop neglected the Execution of it , he was to be excommunicated for two Months , and to be restored only upon Promise to see this Canon executed . II. The Rule was allowed to hold , as to Cities , but an Exception was made as to small and remote Places , where there was a greater Scarcity of Persons to supply them . III. If a Man had two Benefices , it was left to his Choice , which he would have : but he could not hold both . This kind of Option was allowed by the Ecclesiastical Law then in force . IV. That if he takes a second Benefice ; that Institution is void , by the third Council of Lateran , under Alexander III. V. That by taking a second the first is void ; which is the famous Canon of the fourth Lateran Council . VI. That if he were not contented with the last , but endeavour to keep both , he should be deprived of both . And this was the Ecclesiastical Law as it was declared in our Provincial Constitutions . But the general Practice was to avoid the former , according to the Lateran Council . These were very severe Canons , but that one Clause of the Pope's dispensing Power made them to signifie little , unless it were to advance his Power and Revenue . For when the Dispensing Power came to be owned , the Law had very little force ; especially as to the Consciences of Men. For if it were a Law of God , how could any man dispense with it ? unless it were as apparent that he had given a Power in some Cases to Dispense , as that he had made the Law. Those Casuists are very hard put to it , who make Residence Jure Divino , and yet say the Pope may dispense with it ; which at last comes only to this , that the Pope can authoritatively declare the sufficiency of the Cause : so that the whole matter depends upon the Cause ; whether there can be any sufficient to excuse from Personal Residence . It is agreed on all hands , that the habitual Neglect of a Charge we have taken upon our selves , is an evil thing , and that it is so to heap up Preferments merely for Riches , or Luxury , or Ambition ; but the main Question in point of Conscience is , what is a sufficient Cause to justifie any Man's breaking so reasonable and just a Rule as that of Residence is . It cannot be denied , that the eldest Canons of the Church were so strict and severe , that they made it unlawful for any man to go from that Church in which he first received Orders ; as well as to take another Benefice in it : and so for any Bishop to be translated from that Place he was first Consecrated to ; as well as to hold another with it . But the Good of the Church being the main Foundation of all the Rules of it ; when that might be better promoted by a Translation ; it was by a tacit Consent looked on , as no unjust violation of its Rules . The Question then is , whether the Churches Benefit may not in some Cases make the Canons against Non-Residence as Dispensable , as those against Translations ? And the Resolution of it doth not depend upon the voiding the particular Obligation of the Incumbent to his Cure ; but upon some more general Reason with respect to the State of the Church . As being imployed in the Service of it , which requires a Persons having , ( not a bare Competency for Subsistence , but ) a sufficiency to provide Necessaries for such Service . For those seem to have very little Regard to the flourishing Condition of a Church , who would confine the Sufficiency of a Subsistence , merely to the Necessaries of Life . But it seems to be Reasonable , that Clergy-Men should have Incouragement sufficient , not only to keep them above Contempt , but in some respect agreeable to the more ample Provision of other Orders of Men. And by God's own Appointment the Tribe of Levi did not fall short of any of the rest , if it did not very much exceed the Proportion of others . We do not pretend to the Privileges they had , only we observe from thence , that God himself did appoint a plentiful Subsistence for those who attended upon his Service . And I do not know , what there is Levitical , or Ceremonial , in that . I am sure , the Duties of the Clergy now require a greater Freedom of Mind from the anxious Cases of the World , than the Imployments of the Priests and Levites under the Law. But we need not go so far back ; if the Church injoyed all her Revenues as entirely , as when the severe Canons against Pluralities were made , there would not be such a Plea for them , as there is too much Cause for in some Places , from the want of a competent Subsistence . But since that time , the Abundance of Appropriations ( since turned into Lay-Fees ) hath extremely lessened the Churches Revenues , and have left us a great number of poor Vicarages , and Arbitrary Cures , which would hardly have afforded a Maintenance for the Nethinims under the Law , who were only to be Hewers of Wood , and Drawers of Water . But this doth not yet clear the Difficulty : for the Question is whether the Subsistence of the Clergy can lawfully be improved by a Plurality of Livings ? Truly , I think this ( if it be allowed in some Cases lawful ) to be the least desireable way of any ; but in some Circumstances it is much more excusable than in others . As when the Benefices are mean , when they lie near each other , when great Care is taken to put in sufficient Curates with good Allowance ; when Persons take all Opportunities to do their Duties themselves , and do not live at a distance from their Benefices in an idle and careless manner . But for Men to put in Curates merely to satisfie the Law , and to mind nothing of the Duties of their Places , is a horrible Scandal to Religion and our Church , and that , which if not amended , may justly bring down the Wrath of God upon us . For the loosest of all the Popish-Casuists , look upon this as a very great Sin , even those who attributed to the Pope the highest Dispensing Power in this Case . But when the greate Liberty of Dispensing had made the Ecclesiastical Laws in great measure useless , then it was thought fit by our Law-makers to Restrain and Limit it by a Statute made 21. H. 8. wherein it is Enacted , That if any Person or Persons having one Benefice with Cure of Souls , being of the yearly value of eight pounds , or above , accept or take any other with Cure of Soul , and be instituted , and inducted in possession of the same , that then , and immediately after such Possession had thereof , the first Benefice shall be adjudged to be void . And all Licenses and Dispensations to the contrary , are declared to be void and of none effect . This , one would have thought had been an effectual Remedy against all such Pluralities and Dispensations to obtain them ; and this , no doubt , was the Primary Design of the Law ; but then follow so many Proviso's of Qualified Men to get Dispensations , as take off a great deal of the Force and Effect of this Law. But then it ought well to be considered , whether such a License being against the chief Design of a Law , can satisfie any Man in point of Conscience , where there is not a just and sufficient Cause ? For , if the Popes Dispensation , with the supposed Plenitude of his Power , could not satisfie a Mans Conscience without an antecedent Cause , as the Casuists resolve , much less can such Proviso's do it . It is the general Opinion of Divines , and Lawyers , saith Lessius , that no Man is safe in Conscience by the Popes Dispensation for Pluralities , unless there be a just Cause for it . No Man can with a safe Conscience , take a Dispensation from the Pope for more Benefices than one , merely for his own Advantage , saith Panormitan ; and from him Sylvester and Summ. Angelica . A Dispensation , saith Card. Tolet , secures a Man as to the Law , ; but as to Conscience there must be a good Cause for it . And that is , when the Church hath more benefit by it , than it would have without it . But the Pope's Dispensing Power went much farther in Point of Conscience in their Opinion , than that which is setled among us by Act of Parliament . For it is expressed in the Stat. 21 Hen. 8. that the Dispensation is intended to keep Men from incurring the Danger , Penalty , and Forfeiture in this Statute comprised . So that the most qualified Person can only say , that the Law doth not deprive him ; but he can never plead that it can satisfie him in Point of Conscience , unless there be some Cause for it , which is of more moment to the Church , than a Man 's sole and constant Attendance on a particular Cure is . But this Stat. is more favourable to the Clergy , than the Canon Law was before , in two Particulars . 1. In declaring that no simple Benefices , or mere Dignities , as the Canonists call them , are comprehended under the Name of Benefices , having Cure of Souls , viz. No Deanery , Arch-deaconry , Chancellorship , Treasurership , Chantership , or Prebend in any Cathedral or Collegiate Church , nor Parsonage that hath a Vicar endowed , nor any Benefice perpetually appropriate . But all these before were within the reach of the Canon Law , and a Dispensation was necessary for them : Which shews , that this Law had a particular respect to the necessary Attendance on Parochial Cures , and looked on other Dignities and Preferments in the Church , as a sufficient Encouragement to extraordinary Merit . 2. That no notice is taken of Livings under the value of 8l . which I suppose is that of 20 E. 1. for that of H. 8. was not till five Years after . But after that Valuation , it was to be judged according to it , and not according to the real Value , as the Judges declared 12 Car. I. in the Case of Drake and Hill. Now here was a regard had to the Poorness of Benefices , so far , that the Statute doth not deprive the Incumbent upon taking a second Living , if it be under 8 l. The Question that arises from hence is , Whether such Persons are allowed to enjoy such Pluralities by Law ; or only left to the Ecclesiastical Law , as it was before ? It is certain , that such are not liable to the Penalty of this Law ; but before any Person might be deprived by the Ecclesiastical Law for taking a second Benefice without Dispensation , of what value soever ; now here comes a Statute which enacts , that all who take a second Benefice of 8l . without Qualification , shall lose his legal Title to the first ; but what if it be under ? Shall he lose it or not ? Not , by this Law. But suppose the Ecclesiastical Law before makes him liable to Deprivation ; doth the Statute alter the Law without any Words to that purpose ? The Bishop had a Power before to deprive , where is it taken away ? The Patron had a Right to present upon such Deprivation ; how comes he to lose it ? And I take it for granted , that no antecedent Rights are taken away by Implications ; but there must be express Clauses to that purpose . So that I conclude the ancient Ecclesiastical Law to be still in force , where it is not taken away by Statute . And thus my Brethren , I have laid before you the Authority and the Rules we are to act by ; I have endeavoured to recommend to you , the most useful Parts of your Duty ; and I hope you will not give me occasion to shew what Power we have by the Ecclesiastical Law of this Realm to proceed against Offenders . Nothing will be more uneasie to me , than to be forced to make use of any Severity against you . And my Hearts desire is , that we may all sincerely and faithfully discharge the Duties of our several Places , that the Blessing of God may be upon us all ; so that we may save our selves and those committed to our Charge . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A61530-e410 Regino l. 2. p. 205. Hispan . Concil . p. 29. Regino Collect. Canon . lib. 2. p. 204. Burchrd . l. 1. c. 91 , 92. Gratian. 35. q. 5. c. 7. Hieron Comment . ad Titam . Epist. ad Evagr. Advers Luciferian . Hier. in Psal. Ad Evagr. Ad Marcell . Cyprian . Ep. 3. 66. Aug. in Ps. 44. 44. Ambros. ad Eph. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Theod. ad 1 Tim. 1. 3 , Iren. l. 3. c. 3. 3 John 9 , 10. 1 Tim. 3. 2 , 3 , &c. 5. 22. 19. 20. 21. Titus 1. 5. De voto & voti Redempt . Lyndw. f. 103. Co●cil . Anglic. vol. 2. f. 182. Constit. Othor . f. 292. Concil . Angl. vol. 2. f. 227. Constit. Provinc . De Officio Archi-Presbyteri , f. 33. Concil . Anglic. vol. 1. p. 183. Lyndw. v. latratu f. 33. V. Pabulo V. Dei. † Prov. Constit. De Offic. Arch-Presbyt f. 282. Concil . Anglic. vol. 2. p. 332. Concil . Anglic. 2 Vol. p. 700. 707. Concil . Anglic. 2 Vol. p. 649. Constit. de Haeret . f. 156. Lyndw. f. 156. C. Dudam . Clem. de Sepulturis . Jo. de Athon . in Constitut. Othobon . f. 46. C. Dudam . de Sepulturis . Non potest esse Pastoris excusatio , si lupus oves comedit , & Pastor nescit . Extr. de Reg. Juris c. 10. Reginald . Pra●is , l. 30. tr . 3. c. 5. p. 52. Constit. Provinc . de Clericis non Resid . c. quum hostis . Joh. Athon . ad Constit. Othon . f. 14. Reginald . ib. n. 53. Can. Relatum . Ex. De Clericis non Resid . Lyndw. in c. quum host is . Resideant cum effectu . Joh. de Athon . in Constit. Othon . f. 14. Continui . Can. Echipandae . De Praebend . & Dign . De Praesumpt . f. 55. 2. De Clericis non Resident . cum hostis , &c. Lynd. f. 34. Joh. de Athon . in consist . Othon . f. 12. Otho de Instit. Vic. f. 14. Othobon f. 46. Joh. de Athon . in Constit. Othon . Can. Quia nonnulla de Clericis non Resid . Quadrilog . 1. 1. c. 5. Plato de Leg. l. 6. Arist. Polit. l. 1. c 2. Nicom . l. 2. c. 1 7. c 7. Sess. 24. de Reform . c. 4. Lyndw. Prov. Cost . f. 134 , 135. Concil . Anglic. 2. Vol. 324. 330. De Consecr . Dist. 4. c. 54 57 Lynd. f. 1. 11. Sciat . Si enim habeant expensas & Magistros , peccarent ni●● plus sciant quam Laici . Provinc . Constit . De Sacro Unct. f. 18. Concil . Anlg. 2. Vol. p. 353. Concil . Angl. 2. Vol. p. 140. 165. p. 353. p. 440. p. 143. Lyndw. f. 19. Orig. in Jer. Hom. 14. p. 141. ed. Haet . 11. Q 3. c. 63. Lyndw ad l. de ●oenis f. 161. Extr. de Priv. c. Porro in G●●●● . In Hebr. H●m . 17. in Ephes. Hom. 3. Concil . Anglic. Tom. 2. p. 144 , 166 , 299. Calvin . Inst. l. 4. c. 17. n. 44. Pet. Martyr . L. C. l. 4. c. 10. n. 48. In. 1. Cor. 11. p. 55. Bucer in Matth. 16. p. 186. Concil . Anglic. 2 Vol. p. 328. 2. Inst. 632. 2 Inst. 632. Provinc . Const. quum secund . f. 71. Can. 95 : 5. Rep. 57. * Multa impe . diunt promovendum quae non de●iciunt . Gloss. in c 15. de Vit. & Honest. Cleric . C. Christiano , f. 63. De Jure Pa●tron . c. Pastoralis Officii . Gloss. in Can. & malitiose . Moor 26. El. 3● 3 Cr. 27. Can. 39● 3 Cr. 341. 1 Leon. 230. Reginol 1. c. 5. 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 , Baluz . ad Reginon . p. 531. Concil . Angl. 2 Vol. 124. c. 10. q. 1. Episcopum Regino . l. 1. c. 7. Concil . Braca . 2. c. 1. 10 q. 1. Placait . Concil . Cabil . 2. c. 14. De Censibus , f. 121. De Officio Vicarii c. quoniam V. Procurari . Concil . Anglic. vol. 2. 140. 200. Extr. de Vita & Honestat . Cleric . c. 14. Prov. Const. f. 61. Epist. ad Jos. Hall. Concil . Anglic. 2. vol. 104. f. 122. 126. Can. 78. Brownlow's Rep. f. 37. Id. f. 70. Lyndw. f. 9. 6. C. 14. Hob. 293. Owen 87. 1. Cr. 41. 789. Officium Curae animarum ést praecipuum ac spiritualissimum Dei Donum . Cajetan in Act. 8. Concil . Anglic. 2 vol. p. 8. 10. p. 35. p. 105. Constit. Prov. 152. Parsons Counsellor , Sect. 5. Hob. 167. 1 Rolls . 237 Joh. de Athon . in Constit. Othob . f. 55. 2. 35. E. 1. 11 R. 72. 3. Inst. 204. Moor 917. Godbolt 279. Rolls 813. 29. E. 3. 16. 2 H. 4. 3. 11 H. 6. 20. 9 E. 4. 34. Constit. Othob . f. 55. 2. Othob . f. 55. 2. Provinc . Constit . f. 59. Lyndw. ib. V. sit content . 10. q. 3. c. Unio . Concil . Tolet. 16. c. 5. 21. q. 1. c. 1. Clericus . Ex. de Praebc . referente . Ex. de Cleric . Non-Resident . c. quia nonnulli . Ex. de Praebc , de . Multâ . Less . l. 2. c. 34. Dub. 27. Pan. c. dudum . 2. de Elect. Sylv. Benef. 4. Sum. Angel. Ben. 35. Tolet. Summa ●asim . 5. c. 82. Cr. Car. f. 456. C. 4. 75. Holland's Case .