ARTICLES TO BE ministered, ENQVIRED OF, AND answered in the Visitation of the Right worshipful Richard Fitzharbert, Master of Arts, and Archdeacon of Dorset. 1624.  
❧ imprinted at London. 1624.   

The tenor of the Oath to be ministered to the Church-wardens and Sworne-men.  
you shall swear, that all affection, favour, hatred, hope of reward and gain, or fear of displeasure, or malice set aside, you shall vpon due consideration of the Articles given you in charge, present all and every such person of, or within your Parish, as hath committed any offence mentioned in these, or any of these Articles, or which are vehemently suspected, or defamed of any such offence: wherein you shall discharge your consciences uprightly, and according to truth, neither of malice presenting any contrary to truth, nor of corrupt affection sparing to present any, and so conceal the truth: having in this action God before your eyes, with an earnest zeal to maintain truth and suppress 'vice. So help you God, and by the Contents of this book.  
God save the King.   

Articles to be ministered, enquired of, and answered in the Visitation of the right worshipful RICHARD FITZHARBERT, Master of Arts, and archdeacon of Dorset. 1624.  
book of Canons. INprimis, Whether haue you in your several Churches and chapels, the book of Constitutions or Canons ecclesiastical, ready to be red by your Minister, according to his majesties pleasure, published by his Highnesse authority, under the great seal of England: and whether hath your Minister red the same or any part thereof vpon sundays and holidays in the afternoon before divine service accordingly, yea or not?  
Articles of Religion. 2 Item, whether is there any in your Parish, that doth impugn any of the Articles of Religion, agreed vpon in Anno 1562. and established in the Church of England?  
3 Item, whether doth your Minister use to pray for the Kings majesty, King james, Prince Charles, Fredericke the Prince Elector Palatine, with the Lady Elizabeth his wife, and all their royal Progeny, with addition of such style and titles, as are due and appertaining to his majesty, and exhort the people to obedience to his Highnesse? And whether doth he pray for the Lords of his majesties most Honourable counsel, and for all other Magistrates being in authority under him?  
4 Item, whether doth he pray for the Ministers of Gods holy Word and Sacraments, as well Arch-Bishops and Bishops, as other Pastors and Curates?  
impugn the Rites or Ceremonies. 5 Item whether is there any in your parish, that impugneth or speaketh against the Rites and Ceremonies established in the Church of England, or the lawful use of them? you shall present their names.  
impugn the Church government. 6 Item, are there any in your parish that do impugn the government of the church of England, under the Kings most excellent majesty by Arch-bishops, Bishops, deans, Archdeacons, and the rest that bear office in the same; affirming that the same is Antichristian or repugnant to the word of God?  
profaning the Sabbath. 7 Item, whether any persons haue lurked and tippled in taverns or Ale-houses on sundays or other holidays, or used his or their manual craft or trade vpon the said daies, or otherwise profaned them, or any of them, in any sort, and especially in the time of divine service?  
Prescript form of divine service. 8 Item, whether is the prescript form of divine service used by your Minister vpon sundays and holidays, according to the book of common prayer: and whether doth your Minister duly observe all the orders, rites, and ceremonies prescribed in the said book of common prayer, as well in reading public prayers, the litany, as also in administering the Sacraments in such manner and form as in the book of common prayer is enjoined?  
Brawling in Church or Church-yard. 9 Item, whether hath any person in your parish quarreled or strike, or used any violence unto, or with your Minister, or any other in your Church or church-yard, or used himself disorderly in the Church, by filthy and profane talk, or any other rude and immodest behaviour?  
reverence in time of divine service. 10 Item, whether is that due reverence and humble submission used within your church or chapel in the time of divine service, as by the 18. Constitution is prescribed: whether each one in the church or chapel do apply and order himself there in time of divine service as by the latter part of the same Constitution is most commmendably enjoined?  
Bread and Wine at the Communion. 11 Item, whether the Church-wardens do provide against every Communion, with the advice of the Minister, a sufficient quantity of fine white bread, and of good and wholesome wine for the number of the communicants that shall receive, and that to be brought in a clean and sweet standing pot of pewter or of other pure metal?  
ministering & receiving of the Communion. 12 Item, whether doth your Minister administer the holy Communion so often, and at such time, as that every parishioner may receive the same at least thrice in every year, whereof once at Easter, as by the book of Common Prayer is appointed: and whether doth your Minister receive the same himself on every day, before that he administereth it to others, and use the words of the institution according to the book at every time that the bread or wine is renewed, in such manner and form, as by the proviso of the 21. Canon is directed, or wherein he is faulty: and whether is warning given by him before hand for the communion, as the 22. Canon requireth?  
Kneeling at the Communion. 13 Whether doth your Minister administer the said Communion to any that doth not humbly kneel at the receiving of the same? what are the names of them that refuse to kneel at the receiving thereof?  
Offenders not to be admitted. 14 Item, whether hath your Minister admitted any notorious offenders or schismatics to the Communion, contrary to the 26. and 27. Constitutions?  
No strangers to be admitted. 15 Item, whether the Minister together with the Church-wardens and Questmen, do take diligent heed and care, not only that all and every your own parishioners do receive thrice in every year as aforesaid, but also that no strangers of any other Parish do come often and commonly to your Church from their own parish Church: and you are now to present the names of all those, who being sixteen years of age or upwards, haue not in their own Parish received the Communion, at or since Easter last.  
sign of the cross. Refuse to Baptize. 16 Item, whether doth your Minister use to sign the children with the sign of the cross when they are baptized, according to the book of Common prayer: and whether he hath deferred, or wilfully refused to baptize any infant in his Parish being in danger, having been duly informed of the weakness thereof: and whether the child hath died in his default without baptism: or whether hath he at any time refused or neglected to bury the dead, or to minister the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to any being in extremity of sickness, having been required thereunto?  
residency. 17 Item, whether is your Minister continually resident with you vpon his bnfice, or for how long time hath he been absent: and where is he resident for the most part, and what other bnfice hath he?  
Preaching according to the Canons. 18 Item, whether doth your Minister preach usually, according to the constitutions, either in his own Cure with you, or else in some other Church or chapel near adjoining, where no Preacher is: or how oft hath he been negligent in that behalf?  
More Cures ●han one. 19 Item, whether doth your Minister or Curate serve any more Cures than one: if yea, then what other Cure doth he serve?  
licenced to preach. 20 Item, if your Minister be not licenced to preach, whother doth he take vpon him to expound the Scriptures, either in his own Cure or elsewhere?  
None to preach but licenced. 21 Item, whether hath any person been admitted to preach within your church or chapel, but such as you haue well known to be sufficiently licenced?  
Preaches to red service, &c. twice a year. 22 Item, whether doth your Lecturer and Preacher, your person or Vicar, red divine service, and administer the Sacraments in his own person twice every year; observing all the ceremonies in the book of Common prayer established?  
Not to refuse the Communion because the Minister is no Preacher. 23 Item, is there any in your Parish that refuse to haue their children baptized, or themselves to receive the Communion at the hands of your Minister, because he is no Preacher? you shall present their names. And if your Minister, sithence the publishing of the said book of Canons, hath received any such persons( being not of his own Cure) to the Communion, or baptized any of their children, you shall likewise present him.  
24 Item, whether are there any private meetings, assemblies, or conventicles, either by day or by night, used or had within the Parish by any Minister, or Ministers, or any Lay-persons tending to faction and schism? Declare the parties names, the places where, the times when, and how often haue you known any such meetings, assemblies, or conventicles.  
Surpli●e, Hood, &c 25 Item, whether doth your Minister wear the Surplice whilst he is saying the public prayers, and ministering the Sacraments: and if he be any Graduate, whether then doth he also we are vpon his Surplice, during the times aforesaid, such a hood as by the order of his university is agreeable to his degree?  
Catechize. 26 Item, whether doth your Minister on 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 Commandements, Articles of belief, and in the Lords Prayer, as also in the catechism, set forth in the book of common Prayer: and whether do all Fathers, Mothers, Masters, and Mistresses, cause their children, seruants and apprentices, to come thither to hear, and to be instructed and taught therein: and those that do not their duties herein, you shall present their names.  
unlawful solemnization of marriage. 27 Item, whether hath your Minister, without licence from the Archbishop, the Bishop of the diocese, or his Chancellor, solemnized marriage betwixt any parties, the banes not being three several sundays or holidays first published in time of divine service, in the several churches or chapels of their several abode, according to the book of Common Prayer, and that also betwixt the houres of eight and twelve in the forenoon: and furthermore, whether hath your Minister since the last Canons published, solemnized any marriage betwixt any persons, being under the age of one and twenty years, although the banes be thrice asked, before such time as the parents haue made known unto him their consent thereunto: and whether hath he married any of another diocese, who are they, and by what authority, and when?  
Bid holidays and fasting daies. 28 Item, whether your Minister doth every Sunday bid holidays, and fasting daies, as by the Books of Common prayer is appointed?  
Denounce excommunicate persons. 29 Item, whether doth your Minister every six moneths, denounce in his Parish all such of his Parish, as do persevere in the sentence of excommunication, not seeking to be absolved? and whether hath he admitted into the Church, any person excommunicate, without a certificate of his absolution from the Ordinary, or his Substitute?  
Excommunicated persons not to be present at public prayer in the Church. 30 Item, whether your person Vicar or Curate, hatly celebrated and said divine service and prayers in the Church, when any person that he knew to be excommunicated, or denounced for an excommunicate person, was present in the same Church?  
Staying the publishing of excommunication or suspensions. 31 Item, whether your person, Vicar, or Curate, of any your churches or chapels, having received any excommunication, suspension or aggravation from his Ordinary, or his Substitute against any of their Parishioners, haue presumed to make stay of, and not published such excommunication, suspension or aggravation, according to the tenor thereof, the next Sunday or Holiday after the receipt of the same in your church or chapel at the time of divine service? if any be faulty herein, present their names, and how oft default hath been made in that behalf?  
Visit the sick. 32 Item, whether is your Minister painful in visiting the sick, according to the book of common prayer?  
favourer of Recusants. 33 Item, whether is your person, Vicar, or Curate, suspected to frequent, or to be ouer-conuersant with, or a favourer of Recusants, whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Religion?  
Lay-persons executing the office of a Minister in the Church. 34 Item, hath any presumed to execute the office of a Minister or Deacon in any your churches, and to say and celebrate the divine service there, or to serve she Cure of your Parish, not being a Minister or Deacon: and whether any Deacon hath presumed to minister the Sacraments in any your Churches, not having first received the full Orders of Priesthood: if yea, present what his name is, where he dwelleth, and how often he hath offended herein?  
Register book. 35 Item, whether is there in your church or chapel one parchment Register book provided for christenings, Marriages and Burials: and whether is the same duly and exactly kept according to the Constitutions in that behalf provided?  
Decency in apparel. 36 Item, whether doth your Minister use such decency and comeliness in his apparel, as by the 74. Constitution is enjoined?  
Schoolmaster. 37 Item, doth any take vpon him to teach school in your parish, without special licence of his Ordinary: and whether doth your schoolmaster bring his schollers to the Church to hear divine service and Sermons: and whether doth he instruct them in the catechism?  
Common prayer book, &c. 38 Item, whether haue you provided the book of common prayer, and the Bible of the new Translation lately set forth by his majesties authority, and the book of Homilies: and whether haue you in your Church or chapel a Font of store set up in the ancient usual place, a convenient and decent Communion Table, with a carpet of silk, or some other decent stuff, and a faire linen cloth to lay thereon at the Communion time: and whether is the same Table then placed in such convenient sort within the chancel, or Church, as that the Minister may be best heard in his prayer and administration, and that the greater rumber may communicate: and whether are the Ten Commandements set vpon the East end of your Church or chapel, where the people may best see and red them, and other sentences of holy Scriptures written on the walls also for that purpose?  
Things necessary for divine service. 39 Item, whether haue you a convenient seat for your Minister to red 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 faire Communion cup of gold, silver, or other pure meltall, and cover agreeable for the same, with all other things and ornaments necessary for the celebration of divine service, and administration of the Sacraments?  
Reparation of the Church, Parsonage-house, &c. 40 Item, whether are your Church or chapels, with the Chancels thereof, and your Parsonage or Vicarage house, and all other housing thereto belonging, in good reparations, and decent and comely kept, as well within as without, the seats well maintained, a sure coffer with three locks and keys, for the safe keeping of your Register book, your Church-yards well fenced and kept without abuse? if not, then through whose default, and what defects are th●rein?  
Gifts given to the use of the Church. 41 Item, whether do you know, or haue heard of any legacy by any mans will, or any gift otherwise given to the poor, to the Church, or any other holy uses, and not performed or bestowed according to his will and gift, and in whose hands the same doth now remain?  
Recusants. 42 Item, how many inhabitants within your parish, men or women, above 16. years of age, be Popish Recusants, or do refuse to frequent divine service established by public authority of this realm, or to receive the holy Communion, what be their names, and of what degree, state or trade of life are they? you are to present them all of both sorts.  
How long they have been Recusants. 43 Item, how long the said Popish Recusants haue obstirately abstained either from divine service, or from the Communion, as is aforesaid: whether any long time, or only since his majesties reign?  
Whether the Minister seeks to reclaim the Recusants. 44 Item, whether is your Minister a Preacher sufficiently qualifted: and if he be, whether doth he from time to time offer quiet and temperate conference to reclaim the Popish Recusants from their errors: and whether they, or any of them do refuse such conference with your Minister, or any o●her Preacher, who shall present unto them his diligence in that behalf?  
Excommunicate person. 45 Item, what persons aforesaid within your Parish, either for the offence aforesaid, or for any other contumacy or crime, do remain excommunicate, what be their names, and for what cause, and how long haue they so stood excommunicate?  
Church-wardens & Sidemen. 46 Item, whether were you the Church wardens and Questmen chosen by the consent of the Minister and Parishioners: and whether haue the Church-wardens before you, given up a just account for their time, and delivered to you their successors whatsoever money, or other things of right belonging to the Church, that was in their hands; and whether do you, and every of you diligently see, that all the Parishioners do duly resort to their Church every Sunday and Holiday, and there continue the whole time of divine service, and nore to walk or stand idle, or talking in the Church or Church porch, or Church-yard, during that time: and whether do all the Parishioners and their families accordingly frequent their Parish Church, and there behave themselves soberly, attentively, and decently, all the time of divine service, yea, or no? if no, then you shall present their names.  
All resort to Church, and receive thrice a year. 47 Item, whether do all persons above the age of sixteen years, usually resort to hear divine service vpon sundays and holidays appointed: and whether hath each one of your Parishioners( being above the age of sixteen years aforesaid) received the Holy Communion thrice this last year, and chiefly once at Easter last, in your Parish Church kneeling? if no, then you shall present their names which haue not so done.  
Parish clerk 48 Item, whether haue you a fit Parish clerk, aged twenty years at least, of honest conversation, and sufficient for reading and writing: and whether he be paid his wages without fraud, according to the most ancient custom of your Parish: if not, then by whom is he so defrauded and denied? and whether he be chosen by the person, or Vicar, or by whom?  
Table for marriages. 49 Item, whether haue any in your Parish been married within the prohibited degrees, forbidden by the Law of God, and expressed in a certain Table, published by authority in the year 1583. if yea, then shall you present their names, and whether haue you the said Table publicly set up in your Church, and fastened to some convenient place there?  
Persons divorced. 50 Item, whether doth any heretofore divorced, keep company with any other at bed and at board, what be their names, when and where were they married?  
To give thanks after child-birth. 51 Item, doth your Minister use the form of thanksgiving to women after childbirth: and whether hath he admitted any thereunto that was begotten with child in adultery, or fornication, without licence of his Ordinary? And whether haue any married wives refused to come to Church according to the book of Common Prayer, to give God thankes after child birth, in such usual and decent manner, as anciently hath been accustomend? if any be faulty herein, you shall present their names.  
Incontinent persons, drunkards, swearers, &c. 52 Item, whether haue you any in your parish, to your knowledge, or by common famed and report, which haue committed adultery, fornication, or incest, which haue not been publicly punished to your knowledge: if yea, then with whom: or any man that hath attempted the chastity of any woman, or hath solicited any woman, to the intent to haue the carnal knowledge of her body, or any in your parish to be Bawds, or receivers of any such persons, or suspected of any the crimes aforesaid: are there any that are, or by common famed and report are reputed and taken to be such persons, or be common drunkards, blasphemers of Gods holy name, common & usual swearers, filthy speakers, usurers, simoniacal persons, fighters, brawlers, or quarrelers in Church, or Churchyard? you shall not fail to present their names.  
Harbouring incontinent persons. 53 Item, whether haue any in your parish received or harboured any woman begotten with child out of wedlock, and suffered them to depart again without punishment first inflicted on them by their Ordinary: you shall truly present as well the party harbouring, as harboured, and who is suspected to be the father of her child?  
Wills. 54 Item, whether are there in your parish any Wills not yet proved: you shall not fail to present the Executors, and all others faulty and culpable therein.  
Witches, and such like. 55 Item, whether you know in any your Parishes and Witches, soothsayers, conjurers, Charmers, Sorcerers, or any that be suspected for such persons: present their names, and what special hurt they haue committed.  
Hospitals, and almshouses. 56 Item, whether there be any Hospitals or almshouses in your parish, and whether the same be used, kept, & ordered according to the foundations, laws, and statutes thereof, and in whom the fault is that they are not so used and kept?  
57 Item, Perambulation. whether your person, Vicar, or Curate, doth usually every year in the Rogation week, go with the Parishioners in the perambulations about the parish, according to the custom and use of ancient time, and doth say the prayers and suffrages appointed for the same?  
Fift of August to be kept Holiday. 58 Item, whether is the fift day of August( being the day of the Kings majesties most happy deliverance from the traitorous and bloody attempt of the earl Gowry, and his brother, with their adherents) observed and kept festival within your parish, with prayer and thanksgiving, and with cessation from labour, as by public authority it is appointed: and whether haue you in your parish the book published by authority, which containeth the form of prayer with thanksgiving appointed for that day: Gun-powder Treason, novemb. 5. and whether is the fift day of november observed and kept festival, as by a special act of Parliament in that case provided, is appointed?  
Any thing else. 59 do you know of any other matter of ecclesiastical cognizance worthy the presentment in your iudgement, which you hold fit to be reformed? if you do, you shall likewise present the same by virtue of your oaths aforesaid.  
FINIS.