ARTICLES to be enquired of Within the diocese of Chester, in the ordinary Visitation of the reverend Father in God, George, Lord Bishop of Chester, anno Domini 1605. and in the year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, james, by the grace of God, of great britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, &c.  
Viz. Of great britain, france and Ireland, the third, and of Scotland the eight and thirtieth.  
Imprinted at London by Simon Stafford, dwelling in Hosier lane, near Smithfield. 1605.   

The tenor of the oath, ministered to all and every the Church-wardens and sworn men.  
you, and every of you shall swear by almighty God, that all affection set aside, you shall, vpon due consideration of these Articles given you in charge, present all and every such person, of, or within your parish, as haue committed any offence, or made any default mentioned in the same Articles, or which are vehemently suspected or otherwise defamed of any such offence, fault, or default, and make a true answer to all and every the subsequent Articles, wherein you and every of you shall deal uprightly, as before God: so help you God, and his faithful promises contained in this his holy book.   

Articles to be enquired of in the Dioces of Chester, in the ordinary Visitation holden Anno Domini, 1605.  

TITVL. I. Articles concerning Religion, Prayer and Sacraments.  
FIrst, whether there be any abiding in, 
Heretical opinions.  or resorting to your parish, that be known to haue defended or maintained, since the twentieth day of March, 1602. any heretical opinions, contrary to the holy scriptures of God, & first four general councils, wherein the same was declared Heresy, by the express words of the said canonical scriptures, and what bee those opinions, and who be the authors, publishers, or maintainers thereof?  
2 Item, whether there be any person or persons, 
Absence from Church.  that wilfully and obstinately refuse to repair to his parish church, chapel, or oratory vpon sabbath dayes and holy dayes, and there to abide orderly and soberly to hear divine service & Sermon, or haue not been present at the same, or negligent in coming to the same, since the time before expressed? declare their names and degrees, and their dwelling places; and for how long time they haue so absented themselves from church, or been negligent therein.  
3 Item, 
Derogation of Prayer & Sacraments.  whether doth any person within your parish deprave the form of Common prayer and administration of the Sacraments, rites and ceremonies set forth and prescribed in the book of Common prayer of this realm, by the Kings majesty authorised and confirmed, or preach, declare, or speak any thing in the derogation of the said prayer and sacraments, or any part thereof?  
4 Item, 
Not communicating three times in a year.  do any persons of convenient yeres refuse or forbear to communicate thrice every year at the least, & at Easter especially, or defer the baptizing of their children any longer time, then until the next sabbath or holiday, after the birth of the said child, unless he or they do first acquaint the Minister of the place what cause there may be so to do?  
5 Item, 
Outward behaviour at prayers & sacraments  what reverence do the people within your parish outwardly use by the gesture of their bodies, when they be present at common prayers, and the administration of the sacrament of the Lords Supper, and whether they do all reverently kneel? and declare the names of such as behave themselves irreverently, and do not kneel thereat.  

Children dying, not baptized.  6 Item, whether hath any children dyed within your parish vnbaptized, and by whose default was not that Sacrament administered unto them: or did your Minister refuse or neglect to bury the dead vpon lawful warning?   

TITVL. II. Articles concerning Ministers, and Preachers of Gods word.  

observation of the form of Commō prayer and sacraments  7 FIrst, whether doth the Minister red the Common prayer according to the form, & after such sort, as is set forth in the book of Common prayer, confirmed by his majesties authority, and administer the Sacraments with due observation of all rites, and ceremonies prescribed in the said book to be used at and in the administration thereof, without adding, altering, or omitting any part or parcel of the said prayer, or innouating any other matter in the administration of the Sacraments? and whether he doth in the execution of his ministry, publicly use such ornaments, as he by lawful authority is appoynted in that behalf? and if your person, Vicar or Curate be a Graduate, whether he doth wear a Hood, according to his degree vpon his surplice, in the time of divine service and administration of the Sacraments.  

Diligence in his function.  8 Item, whether is he diligent and careful faithfully to execute his pastoral office and function, by reading and expounding of the holy scriptures, if he be thereunto licenced, or else by reading of Homilies? and whether doth he catechize the youth of his parish every sabbath day and holy day, one half hour before evensong, in the catechism by his majesty confirmed?  

Strange preachers  9 Item, whether any strange Preachers, other then your own person, Vicar, Curate, or stipendacy, hath at any time since Michaelmas last preached in your church or chapel, and what be the names of such strange Preachers, and by whom were they allowed or licenced to preach? and whether the Church-wardens of your parish haue a book to note the names of such strange Preachers? and whether their names be entred in the same book according to the last Canons? or whether the Church-wardens do or did suffer any such stranger to preach, before he had shewed his Licence?  

Debarring from the Communion without cause.  10 Item, whether doth the Minister repel or debar any of his Parishioners from the holy Communion, vpon light and frivolous causes, not warrantable by Law, arising rather of malice conceived against the party, then otherwise?  
11 Item whether is the Minister resident vpon his bnfice? 
Non residence of the Minister. simony.  by whom is the cure served, the fruits received, and the people taught in his absence?  
12 Item, whether is your Minister suspected, reported, or known to haue obtained his bnfice or spiritual promotion by any symonicall compact, directly or indirectly?  
13 Item, whether any Minister not lawfully authorised, 
Curates and Preachers not licenced.  doth preach or expound the holy scriptures, or red divine service within your said parish, or any Curate serve without assignation or licence from the Ordinary under his hand and seal, and what bee their names, or his name that so doth?  
14 Item, 
Prayer for his majesty.  whether doth your Minister or Preacher in their Sermons, give unto his majesty his lawful Title, as in his just style, and commend his Highnesse, the queens majesty and their royal issue, and the rest of the Estates and commonalty of this Land in their prayers to God, so often as they red any public prayers, or preach any Sermon?  
15 Item, 
Notorious offenders Communicants.  whether doth your Minister admit any to the holy Communion, that are known to be notorious offenders, either by Adultery, Fornication, or any other kind of incontinency and lust, or that haue done open wrong to his neighbour, without due penance first done before the congregation, or reconciliation made to the parties wronged, or any strangers dwelling out of your parish or chappelry?  
16 Item, 
maintenance of false doctrine. monthly Sermons and homilies, and Sermons every Sunday in the year, or monthly Sermons.  whether doth your Minister advisedly maintain or affirm any doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to the articles of Christian faith and Religion, confirmed and published anno Domini, 1562.  
17 Item, whether haue you had any monthly sermons in your parish church or no, and whether are the Homilies red when there is no sermon, and whether your Minister bee a Preacher allowed, or no? and if a Preacher allowed, whether he doth preach every Sunday in the year once? and if no Preacher, whether he procureth monthly Sermons?  
18 Item, whether is there any in your parish, that impugn or speak against the government of the Church of England, the form of consecrating Arch-bishoppes, Bishops, and ordering of Ministers?  
19 Item, doth any of the Parsons, Vicars, Curates, stipendiary Preachers or Lecturers within your parish, preach or expound the word, or administer the holy & blessed sacraments in private houses, or appoint public or private fasts or prophesies, or do exercise without authority, or bee present at the same, or do hold any private conventicles or meetings.  

Ministers apparel & conversation.  20 Item, whether your person, Vicar, stipendiary Lecturer, or Curate do wear in their journeys cloaks with grieves, commonly called Priests cloaks, without guards, welts, long buttons or cuts, and do wear coats or cassocks; and whether the rest of their apparel be modest; and whether they be of sober conversation, & use honest studies and exercises, being no incontinent persons, nor given to drunkenness, idleness, hunters, haunters of taverns or Alehouses, or suspected places, common Dicers, tablers, carders, swearers, or otherwise give any way evil example of life?  

Forsaking the calling of the ministry. Recusants excommunicated.  21 Item, whether any person, Vicar or Curate, or any other person within your parish being heretofore admitted a Deacon, or minister, do forsake his calling, and afterwards do use himself as a lay man in his course of life.  
22 Item, whether your person, Vicar or Curate do every six moneths solemnly denounce all Recusants within your parish publicly at service time vpon the Sunday, to stand excommunicated, & doth he his diligence to confer with such Recusants, & doth he labour diligently from time to time to reform them from their errors?  

Pluralityes.  23 Item, whether hath your person or Vicar any more spiritual promotions then one? how many, and in what country be they, how far distant, and what be their names?  

Perambulation.  24 Item, whether your person, Vicar or Curate doth go the perambulation of the circuit of your parish, with the parish clerk, the Church-wardens, & certain of the substantial men of the parish, in the dayes of Rogation, according to the injunctions?   

TITVL. III. Articles concerning the Church.  

books in the Church  25 FIrst, whether you haue in your church, chapel or oratory, the book of common prayer by the Kings majesty confirmed, the Bible of the largest volume, the Homilies, first & second Tome, M. jewels Reply and Apology, the Constitutions & Canons ecclesiastical, set forth in the convocation, anno 1603. and other books by the laws and statutes of this realm required, a decent Communion Table with cloth and cover, a Communion Cup, a Font for baptism, a decent large surplice, and a coffer with locks and keys for the Register book? and whether be the ten commandments placed in the East end of your church, chapel, or oratory? 
decays of the church or churchyard. Godfathers and Godmothers used in baptism. Churches profaned. Register book.   
26 Item, whether is your parish church and church-yard in good and sufficient reparations, and well and orderly kept.  
27 Item, whether be Godfathers & Godmothers admitted & allowed in the administration of baptism in your parish church: and whether any be baptized without godfathers or godmothers?  
28 Item, whether is your church vncouered, profaned, & converted to any other use, then for the service of God, Common prayer, and exercise of Religion, and by whose fault is it so abused, and not conveniently decked, but defaced?  
29 Item, whether your church be a parsonage, vicaredge, impropriation or donative? whether served by the incumbent, or by a Curate, and of what degree or quality is he? if it be void, who doth gather the fruits thereof?  
30 Item, whether is the register of all weddings, christenings, and burials within your parish duly kept, according to the injunctions in that behalf?  
31 Item, 
A Terrier of glebe land.  whether your person or Vicar caused a Terrier to be made of the glebe lands, and other possessions & edifices belonging to his church, that the same may be delivered accordingly to the Ordinary?   

TITVL. IIII. Articles concerning Church-wardens and Side-men.  
32 FIrst, 
Care of Church-wardens.  whether be the Church-wardens & sworn men diligent and careful in the execution of their office, to see decency and comeliness observed in the church in time of common prayer, & administration of the Sacraments; & that every parishioner behave himself orderly & soberly then in the church, without disturbance of the Minister or Preacher, and do every year make their accounts to the Minister & parishioners, and what they haue particularly bestowed vpon the church?  
33 Item, whether haue they retained to their use, 
Godly Legacies.  any Legacies or bequests given to the church, or other godly uses without due employment thereof? and whether you haue any collectors for the poor of your parish?  
34 Item, 
The forfeiture of twelve pence.  whether haue the Churchwardens within your parish received & taken according to the statute, Eliz. 10. the penalty imposed vpon every person which absenteth himself from prayers vpon Sabbath dayes & holy dayes, and converted the same to the use of the poor? and whether do the side men their duties in assisting the Churchwardens in the church, and performing their office according to the Canons?  
35 Item, whether your parish clerk be xxi. yeres of age at the least & whether he can red the first Lesson, the Epistle & psalms, with answer to the Suffrages, and do his duty in the church, in keeping the ornaments of the same decent, clean and comely, and bee otherwise of s●… life, and modest conversation?   

TITVL. V. Articles concerning the Parsonage and Vicaredge houses.  
36 FIrst, whether 
Dilapidation of Parsonage houses.  be the houses & edifices belonging to any Parsonage or Rectory, well and sufficiently repaired, and whether any of them be ruinated, wasted, & dilapidated, and by whose default?  
37. Item, whether 
decays of Chauncels.  be any of the chauncels of the said churches ruinated, & by whose default haue they continued so decayed?   

TITVL. VI. Articles concerning Matrimony.  
38 FIrst, whether 
marriages within the Leuiticall degrees.  there be any that haue married within the degrees of affinity or consanguinity, by the laws of God forbidden?  
39 Item, 
Marriage in private houses.  whether hath any marriage been secretly celebrated and solemnized within any private house since the xx of March 1601. the banes being not three several sundays or holy dayes in the time of divine service, asked?  
40 Item, 
Married persons living apart without divorce.  whether there be any persons coupled together in lawful matrimony, that do keep apart, and live asunder without lawful divorce?  
41 Item, 
Marriage without Banes.  whether any persons haue without licence been married within your parish, without banes of matrimony first thrice published in the church; & who were present at such marriages, and what Minister married them?   

TITVL. VII. Articles concerning Legacies and bequests, given to godly uses.  
42 FIrst; 
Legacies given to godly uses.  whether be there any legacies given in the last will and testament of any person deceased, out of his movable goods, to the use of the poor, or to the reparation of the church, or to either of the universities, Cambridge & Oxford, schools of learning, colleges for increase of virtue & knowledge, or to any other charitable 〈◇〉 that be those bequests, and by whom were they given?  
●● I●●●, what 
Who decay 〈…〉  Legacies & bequests given to the use aforesaid, haue been paid by the Executor of 〈◇〉 Testator deceased, and in whose possession be they now remaining?   

TITVL. VIII. Articles concerning the parishioners, and o●●ers of the laity.  
44 FIrst, 
profaning the sabbath.  whether do any profane the sabbath day by unlawful games, by piping, dancing, Stage plays, meeting at Aleberryes, drinking and tippling in time of common prayer, 〈◇〉 by working vpon the sabbath dayes and holy dayes, since the xx. day of March, 1601. and what be their names that do so profane the same?  
45 Item, 
Adultery fornication and incest, &c.  whether be there any within your parish commonly known, reported or suspected to be blasphemers of Gods holy name, common drunkards, adulterers, fornicators, incestuous persons, & such as do prostitute to filthiness & lust their children and seruants for their own lucre & gain, to the great offence of God, and such as be christianly affencted? or any that haue committed adultery, incest, fornication or bawdry, or commonly reputed for persons of that quality, since the xx. day of March 1601. or be common scolds, brawlers, 
Concealing of adultery without penance performed. administering goods without authority Administration not granted, and walls not proved. Abuse of Ministers and Sacraments  or contentious and uncharitable persons amongst their neighbours?  
46 Item, whether there be any within your parish, that conceal the filthiness of adulterers or adulteresses, & convey them away before they do penance, or make satisfaction to the congregation for that their sin, or do, or haue harboured any such incesiuous persons, adulterers or fornicators?  
47 Item, whether there be any which administer the goods of any person deceased, without lawful authority, and before he hath proved the will & testament of the party deceased, or hath obtained commission from the Ordinary, to dispose of, and administer his said movable goods?  
48 Item, whether bee there any movable goods of any person deceased not lawfully administered, or any the last wils & testaments of any Testators deceased within your parish, not proved, according to the laws and statutes of this realm in that behalf?  
49 Item, whether be there any persons within your hearing, or to your knowledge, since the twentieth of March, 1601. which haue reviled the Sacraments, and the Ministers of Gods word, calling them by reproachful terms, dumb dogs, Baals priests, or used any such contomelious words against them, or spoken against their marriages?  

Children let to bee baptized. Giuing of thanks after child-birth. loitering in the Churchyard. Brawling in the Churchyard. Not sending their children to bee catechised. Administration of sacraments in private houses. usury. Lay men executing the Ministers office. Excommunicate persons. Concealing of sin  50 〈…〉 dwelling within yo●● parish, kindred & let the ●aptizing of any child born in or out of wedlock? and what ●ldren born so, haue dyed vnbaptized to your knowledge?  
51 Item, whether 〈…〉 women as haue been delivered of child 〈…〉 the birth therof given thanks to God publicly in matronly maner in the church, after the recovery of their strength, & deliverance by Gods mercy from that great peril, and who haue refused or neglected so to do?  
52 Item, whether there be any within your parish, that in the time of divine service or sermon do use to loiter, walk or stand idle in the churchyard, or to talk or walk in the church, & what be their names?  
53 Item, whether hath any person since the xx. day of March, 1601. quarreled, chid, or brawled in any church or churchyard, or committed any disturbance thereby, giuing words, blows, or other offences punishable by the law?  
54 Item, whether do any forbear, or refuse to sand their children to be catechised by the minister vpon sabbath dayes and holy dayes, and what be their names?  
55 Item, whether any person hath procured either of the sacraments of baptism or the Lords supper to be administered in their private houses, and vpon what cause were they so administered?  
56 Item, whether be there any usurers that take any sum of money, though it be but two shillings in the pound, or lesser by the year for the loan thereof? declare their names, and maner of their said usury, and with whom.  
57 Item, whether doth any lay man red publicly in your parish church or chapel public prayer, and intrude himself into the ministers office?  
58 Item, whether there be any in your parish that bee excommunicate persons, publicly denounced, that notwithstanding intrude themselves into your parish church, or repair to any other church in time of common prayer, to the disturbance thereof, and the contempt of ecclesiastical jurisdiction?  
59 Item, whether since the xx. day of March 1601. hath any adultery, fornication, or incest, or any other offence committed within your parish, been concealed for favour, fear, or any other respect, by the Church-wardens & Side-men, or Quest-mē, or by any other person to the encouraging of the offender in his wickedness, offence of God, and slander of ecclesiastical jurisdiction?  
60 Item, 
Flesh.  do you know any within your parish that haue eaten flesh in the time of Lent, or other dayes prohibited, contrary to the laws in that case provided?  
61 Item, 
pews.  whether there hath been contention in your church for pews, and between whom, and in what maner and sort?  
62 Item, whether be there any in your parish, 
receiving the Communion out of their parish, & christening children. Seditious books & libels.  that do receive the holy Communion in any other church or chapel then their own, & whether any in your parish do christen their children out of their own parish Church, or any that do christen their children not known where, nor by whom? & declare the names of all such as do offend in the premises.  
63 Item, whether there be any person or persons, known or vehemently suspected to haue written, printed, or by any means published or dispersed, or otherwise haue, or to haue had to his, or to their use or keeping, any slanderous or schismatical books, or seditious libels, or other books that impeach the book of Common prayer, or the Religion or ecclesiastical government established, or the rites and ceremonies of the church, or any part thereof in this realm, or doth impeach the credit or state of any ecclesiastical person or governor, by word or deed?  
64 Item, whether any say, 
mass, Seminary priests & Iesuites, &c.  or haue heard mass within your parish, or hear the same, or any other service forbidden? whether do you know any popish priests, Seminaries, Iesuites, or runagate persons, that do minister the Sacraments otherwise then they are now used, or resort to any house in your parish to be relieved by any in your parish? declare their names, & to whose houses they resort, and by whom they are any way relieved, as you know, or haue heard publicly reported. 
Concealing of offences, & letting them go unpunished. Commutation of penance. Abuses in Apparators and summoners    

TITVL. IX. Articles concerning ecclesiastical offices.  
65 FIrst, whether any offences being heretofore presented, are suppressed, unpunished, or the offenders dismissed without any due correction? & what are these offences, and by whose default are they unpunished, and what are the offenders names?  
66 Item, what penance or punishment enjoined by any ecclesiastical judge, hath been commuted or changed into a pecuniary mulct or sum of money, & who so commuted the same, and how hath the same been employed?  
67 Item, whether any Apparator, Messenger, or Summoner, under colour & pretence of their several authorities or conditions, haue 〈◇〉 or 〈◇〉 any person unlawfully, or for the concealing of his offence or sin, or for the avoiding of punishment in the offender, hath taken any reward or gift, or otherwise dealt corruptly, and who they be that haue so done?  

Corruption in ecclesiastical Iudges, and Registers  68 Item, whether any officers exercising ecclesiastical jurisdiction, their Registers or Deputies, haue received money for exhibiting bills, Verdicts, or Presentments, or other fees then such as haue been usual, & of custom, since the first year of queen Elizabeths reign? and what hath been so received, & by whom? and whether any presentments by them or any of them haue been suppressed, withdrawn, or not effectually proceeded in, whereby sin hath not been duly corrected as it ought to be, to the honour of God, and according to the laws ecclesiastical? and whether do you know any person ordered by law to do penance, or excommunicate for not doing the same, that doth still so continue vareformed and wynked at?  

Tables of Fees due to ecclesiastical offices.  69 Item, whether deans rural, Registers, & other persons exercising ecclesiastical jurisdiction, haue both within their offices where their Records are kept, and in places of Iudgement where Courts are holden, a Table of all fees due to them, set up, & remaining in an open place, where any man may see, and red the same?  

deans rural.  70 Item, whether hath your deans rural meddled with any adulterers, incestuous persons, clandestine marriages, or taken vpon them to prove the testaments of Knights, Esquires or Ministers, or of any other persons departed, the inventory of whose goods surmounted the sum of forty pounds? and whether hath any of the said deans winked at any offender, commuted his penance, or dispensed with him for doing the same? and what sums of money haue they taken of any offender, and what bee their names? And whether do you know any Executors or Administrators, that haue not inserted in their Inuentories, & valued such Leases for j. year or more, of which any decedent dyed possessed? and whether do you know, beleeue, or haue heard, that your dean rural winked at the same, and was therewith contented for his own private commodity?   

TITVL. X. Articles concerning schoolmasters, 
schoolmasters not licenced.  physicians, Surgeons and Curates.  
71 FIrst, whether is there any schoolmaster within your parish, that teacheth publicly or privately, not licenced by the Ordinary, the Bishop of this diocese, or his chancellor?  
72 Item, whether doth any practise physic or Surgery, 
physicians and Surgeons  contrary to the statutes of this realm, being not lawfully licenced, or created Doctor in that faculty, by grace, in either of the Vniuersityes of this realm?  
73 Item, whether doth any serve the cure of any parish church, 
Curates not licenced.  without lawful admission to holy orders, & licence of the Bishop, or his chancellor to red prayers, and administer the Sacraments in your said Church?  
74 Item, 
schoolmasters not repairing to Church.  whether doth the schoolmaster that teacheth within your parish, repair to the church in time of common prayer, receive the blessed sacrament, instruct & teach his schollers in the principles of true Religion: or teach any children, whose parents be a let & hindrance, that the said children come not to church, to hear common prayer?  
75 Item, whether doth any schoolmaster, 
schoolmasters.  under pretence of catechizing his schollers, keep any public Lectures in divinity, in their private schools? and who resort thereto?  
76 Item, whether do your schoolmasters teach, 
schoolmasters.  or are they suspected to teach any of their schollers in Popery, Superstition, disobedience, or contempt of the truth and christian Religion established within this realm, or to contemn the orders ecclesiastical, now established?   
FINIS.  
george. Cestrensis.