ARTICLES TO BE ENQVIRED OF In the General Visitation of the ARCHDEACON of the Diocese of GLOUCESTER.  
Holden in the year of our Lord, 1635.  
POST TENEBRAS LUX  
Printed at London, 1635.   

Directions to be followed by the Churchwardens and Sidemen for the orderly and legal making of their presentments.  
LEt the Churchwardens and Sidemen upon the receipt of the Book of Articles, address themselves to the Minister of their Parish, or in his absence, to some other Clerk that can read and write (in case they themselves be ignorant) and let the Clerk write in a fair sheet of paper the head of the Presentment thus, The Presentment of the Churchwardens and Sidemen of _____ exhibited in the Visitation of the Arch Deacon of Gloucester held at _____ the _____ day of _____ Anno Dom. 1635. Then taking the book of Articles, and distinctly reading the same from Article to Article (as by the tenor of their oath they are bound to do) at the end of every Article let the Clerk inquire what they can say to that Article. If they have aught to say, then let him write thus, To the first Article concerning the Church we present that, etc. And so proceeding in the several inquiries set down in the Book, let them not fail impartially with due respect unto their oath, to answer to every Article negatively or affirmatively as truth shall lead them, and to present the several Offences and Offenders within their Parish therein enquired after, seriously considering how dreadful and damnable a sin it is to profane Gods most holy Name by perjury and forswearing themselves; especially in such a case, where they make themselves accessary and liable to those sins and the punishments of the same, which by their connivance and concealing they suffer to pass unpunished in others.   

The Tenor of the Oath to be ministered to the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
YOu shall Swear, that upon due consideration of the Articles delivered you in charge, all affection of hatred, favour, hope and fear being laid 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 or meant in those or any of those Articles, or which is vehemently suspected or defamed for any such offence or default, wherein you shall deal faithfully and fully; so help you God according to the Contents of this Book.   

ARTICLES  

Concerning the Church.  
1 IMprimis Whether have you in your several Churches and Chappells, a fair great Bible of the last Translation, the Books of Common Prayer and Homilies, the Book of Constitutions or Cannons Ecclesiastical, and a parchment Register book, provided for Christen, Marriages and Burials, duly and exactly kept according to the constitutions in that case provided; and a transcript thereof brought in yearly within one month after Easter, in the Lord Bishops principal Register his Office?  
2. Item have you a cenvenient seat for the 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 Font of stone in the ancient usual place; a convenient and decent Communion Table, with a carpet of silk, or some other decent stuff● laid upon the same in time of Divine Service, and a fair linen cloth thereon at the Communion time; a fair Communion Cup with a cover both of silver, with all other things and Ornaments necessary for the celebration of Divine Service, and administration of the Sacraments; and a strong chest for keeping of the Ornaments of the Church & Register book, with another chest for the alms of the poor, both having three locks and keys? Have you the ten Commandments set upon the East end of your Church or Chapel, where the people may best see and read them, and other sentences of holy Scriptures written on the walls for the same purpose; A Table of the degrees, wherein by law men are prohibited to marry, set up and fastened in some convenient place?  
3. Whether is your Church or Chapel with the Chancles thereof, and your Parsonage or Vicarage house, and all other housing thereto belonging, in good reparations, and decently and comely kept, as well within as without, the seats well maintained, your Churchyards well fenced and kept entire from encroachment and without abuse? If not, then through whose default?  
4 Are any of your Bells or other church-good wanting, any glass windows defaced, or ancient Monuments of your Church spoilt, and by whose fault?  
5. Have the Churchwardens there suffered any plays, feasts, banquets, Church-ales, drink, or any other profane usages to be kept in your Church, chapel, or Churchyard, or bells to be rung either unseasonably or superstitiously, contrary to the 88 Cannon?  
6. Is there a true Terriar of all the glebe-land, houses, Tenements, Orchards, Gardens, and portions of Tithes (whether within your Parish or without) belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage, delivered into the Office of the Register of this Diocese?   

Concerning the Clergy.  
FIrst, Whether doth your Minister distinctly and reverently read Divine Service upon Sundays, Holidays and their Eves, upon Wednesdays, also and Fridays according to the book of Common Prayer at fit and usual times? And doth he duly observe all the orders, rites and ceremonies prescribed in the said Book of Common Prayer, as well in reading public Prayers, and the Litany, as also in administering the Sacraments, solemnising of Matrimony, visiting the sick, burying the dead, Churching of women, and all other like Rites and Offices of the Church, in such manner and form as by the book of Common Prayer is enjoined without any omission or addition thereunto?  
2 Doth your Minister administer the holy Communion so often and at such times, as that every Parishioner may receive the same at the least thrice in every year, whereof once at Easter? And doth he receive the same himself on every day that he administereth so others? And doth he deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant severally and kneeling, and use the words of institution according to the Book, at every time that the Bread and Wine is renewed, Can. 21? And is warning given by him before hand for the Communion, Can. 22: as likewise for Holidays and Fasting days, Can. 64?  
3. Whether hath your Minister admitted to the holy Communion any strangers of another Parish, any schismatics, any which be openly known to live in sin without repentance, or have maliciously and openly contended with their neighbours before reconcilement, or lastly any Churchwardens that in their presentments have notoriously and wilfully forsworn themselves? Or hath your Minister rejected from the Communion any without such just cases?  
4. Hath your Minister Curate, or Lecturer publicly or privately affirmed or maintained any thing repugnant, contrary or derogatory to the 39 Articles, Canons of the Church, Books of Common Prayer, Homilies or consecrating of Bishops and Priests, or the form of Government by Bishops and others in this Church of England?  
5. Hath your Parish been any time destitute of a Curate? and by whose default? And is your Parson or Vicar continually resident with you upon his Benefice? or if he be lawfully absent or reside upon another Benefice, doth he supply his absence by a Curate that is a licenced Preacher for that cure; or if the smallness of the Living will not bear a Preaching Curate, doth he Preach himself usually at both his Benefices, Can. 47?  
6. Whether is your Minister a Preacher allowed? if so, doth he Preach every Sunday (having no lawful impediment) either in his own cure with you, or some other near adjoining where no Preacher is? If he be not an allowed Preacher, doth he procure Sermons to be preached amongst you monthly at least by Preachers lawfully licenced, if his Living will bear it: and on every Sunday when there is no Sermon Preached, doth he read some one of the Homilies prescribed by authority?  
7 Doth your Minister or Curate serve more Cures than one? If so, what are they, and how fare distant? And whether being no Preacher allowed he take upon him to expound the Scriptures openly?  
8. Hath any person been admitted to Preach within your Church or Chapel, but such as you have well known to be sufficiently licenced? whom have you so admitted, and how often have any such been admitted to preach, and by whose procurement? And have you caused every strange Preacher, licenced or not licenced, to subscribe his name, together with the day when he Preached, Can. 50 and 52? And if he were licenced, then by whom he was so licenced? And whether have they or any other preached in your Church, not being soberly and decently apparelled, Can. 74. as in a cloak and not in a gown?  
9 Doth you Minister and Lecturer use to pray before his Sermons for the King's Majesty, the Queen, Prince Charles and all the Royal Progeny, giving unto the King such Style and Titles as by law are due unto his Highness, exhorting his Parishioners to yield him obedience accordingly? And also in these said Sermons do they pray for all Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ecclesiastical persons, Can. 55?  
10. Doth your Lecturer or Lecturers, read Divine Service according to the Common Prayer Book in his Surplice and Hood before the Lecture? And doth every Beneficed man, though chief attending to Preach, and having a Curate under him for other duties, yet in his own person read divine Service two several Sundays both morning and evening every year: And do both Lecturer and Preacher themselves administer the Sacraments also twice every year, observing all the ceremonies in the book of Common Prayer established, Can. 56?  
11. Whether doth your Minister at the reading of public Prayers and administration of the Sacraments wear the Surplice, and a Hood thereon agreeable to his degree in the University, if he be a graduate? Can. 58.  
12. Doth you Minister every Sunday and Holiday, before evening Prayer, for half an hour or more, examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of the Parish, in the ten Commandments, the Articles of the Belief, the Lords Prayer, and the Sacraments according to the Catechism set forth in the book of Common Prayer only, whereby the children of the Parish may be prepared for Confirmation? Can. 59 And are the afternoon's Sermons turned into Catechising by question and answer?  
13 Whether hath your Minister without licence from the Archbishop, the Bishop of the Diocese or his Chancellor, solemnised marriage betwixt any parties in a time prohibited, or the banes not being three several Sundays or Holy days first published in time of Divine service, in the several Churches or Chapels of their several abode, Can. 62? or hath he married any not betwixt the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon, or without a ring, or the parties being of another Diocese, or when the parties are under the age of one and twenty years before such time as the Parents or Guardians have m●de known unto him their consent thereunto Can. 100?  
14. Whether doth your Minister in the Rogation days use the perambulation of the circuit of the Parish, according to the ancient and laudable custom of the Church: and in the same perambulation bless the fruits of the earth, and move the people to give thankes to God for his benefits using such Psalms, Prayers and Homilies, as are to that end set forth?  
15. Whether doth any man being not in orders take upon him to exercise any part of the Ministerial duty in the Church? and what is his name?  
16. Doth your Minister, every six months denounce in his Parish-Church, all such of his Parish, as do stand contumacious under the sentence of excommunication, not seeking to be absolved? Or hath he admitted any person excommunicate into the Church, without a certificate of his absolution from the Ordinary, or other competent judge under his Seal? or hath he stayed the publication of any excommunications, or suspensions?  
17. Doth your Minister, being a Preacher, labour diligently from time to time, to confer with, and thereby to reclaim, the Popish Recusants in his Parish, from their errors, if any such be there. Can. 66? And doth he carefully visit the sick, according to Can. 67?  
18. Whether is your Parson, Vicar, Lecturer, or Curate, too much frequent, or over conversant with, or a Favourer of Recusants, whereby he may be suspected not to be sincere in Religion?  
19 Hath your Minister, or any other, taking upon him the place of a Minister, Preached, Baptised Children, Solemnised Marriage, Churched any woman, or Ministered the holy Communion, in any private house or houses, otherwise then by Law is allowed? If yea, then where, whom, and how often?  
20. Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any public or private fasts, prophecies, or exercises, not approved by law, or public Authority? Or hath he attempted under any pretence either of possession, or obsession, by fasting and prayer, to cast out devils, Can. 72? Or hath he used to meet with any other person or persons in any private house or any other place, there to consult how to impeach or deprave the Book of Common Prayer, or the Doctrine, or Discipline of the Church of England, Can. 73? If yea, than ye shall present him, and all that join with him, in any of the premises.  
21. Whether hath your Minister refused, or delayed to christian any Child that is brought to the Church to him upon Sundays or Holidays, or to bury the dead, such as ought to be interred in Christian burial, having convenient warning before? Especially whether he hath neglected to baptise any Infant in da●ger, having been duly informed of his weakness, so that the child hath died by his default, without Baptism? Or hath he neglected to use the sign of the Cross in Baptism; or baptised any in a Basin, or other vessel, and not in the ordinary Font; or admitted any Father, to be Godfather to his own child, or such to be Godfathers, or Godmothers, as have not received the holy Communion? Or hath he baptised any children that were not borne in the Parish, or buried any in Christian burial, that died excommunicate, or wilfully destroyed himself?  
22. Hath your Minister, admitted any woman to be Churched, that was begotten with child in adultery, or fornication, without licence of his Ordinary?  
23. Whether doth your Minister use such decency, and comeliness in his apparel, as by the 74 Can. is enjoined him, as well at home as abroad? And is he of sober behaviour, and one that doth not use such bodily labour as is not seemly for his Function and calling?  
24. Is your Minister noted, or defamed to have obtained his Benefice, or his Orders by Simonye, or otherwise to be Simoniacal, or schismatical, or reputed to be an incontinent person, or doth he keep any man or woman in his house, that are suspected to be either of evil Religion, or bad life? Or is he a common drunkard, or a common haunter of Taverns, Alehouses, or other suspected places; a common gamester, or player at dice, or other unlawful game, a common swearer, or one that neglecteth his study, or is any other way notorious, whereby he is offensive and scandalous to his Function or Ministry?  
25. Do you know in your Parish, any that having heretofore taken upon him the Order of Priesthood, or Deacon, hath since relinquished the same, living as a Lay man, and neglecting his Vocation?  
26. Whether hath your Minister, Curate, and Lecturer, duly observed the King's Majesty's Instructions, and his Declaration for settling of Questions in difference, set before the Articles of Religion Printed 1629? And hath your Minister read the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical, once every year upon some Sundays or Holidays in the afternoon before divine Service?   

Concerning Schoolmasters.  
1 HOw many Schoolmasters, or Teachers, of Youth have you in your Parish, either public or private, and what be their several names? Whether be they of good and sincere Religion, life and conversation, and diligent in teaching and bringing up of Youth; Have they been licenced for Schoolmasters, by the Ordinary?  
2. Whether your Schoolmasters do come themselves, and bring their Scholars to the Church, to hear divine Service and Sermons, and such as are of age to receive the Communion? Do they instruct their Scholars in the grounds of the Religion now established in this Church of England, and no other; or do they teach them any other Catechism than is authorized by public authority, or not examine them therein once every week at the least? And what Catechism is it they do so teach?  
3. Whether your Schoolmaster or Schoolmasters do teach his or their Scholars any other Grammar than that which is called the King's Grammar, set forth by the authority of King Henry the eighth, teaching the Prescript form thereof, whereby the Scholars may perfectly understand their Grammar rules and constructions?   

Parish Clerks and Sextons.  
1 Whether have you a fit Parish Clarke, aged twenty years at least, of honest conversation, able to read and write? And whether he and the Sexton be paid their wages without fraud, according to the ancient custom of your Parish? if not, then by whom is it so defrauded and denied? by whom are they chosen? Is the Clerk approved by the Ordinary, diligent in his Office, and serviceable to the Minister? And doth he meddle with nothing above his place, as Reading of Prayers, Churching of women, burying the dead, or such like?  
2 Doth your Clerk or Sexton keep the Church clean, the doors locked at fit times? Is any thing lost or spoilt in the Church through his default? Are the Communion Table, Font, Books and other Ornaments of the Church kept fair and clean? Doth he suffer any unseasonable ringing or any profane exercise in your Church or Chancel? or doth he (when any is passing out of this life) neglect to toll a hell having notice thereof?   

Concerning the Parishioners.  
1 Whether is there any within your Parish that hath or doth impugn or impeach any way the King's Majesty's Supremacy in causes Ecclesiastical, or the oath of Supremacy or of Allegiance? or that denieth the Church of England by law established under the Kings most excellent Majesty to be a true & Apostolical Church, teaching and maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles? or that impugneth and speaketh against the Book of Common Prayer, any of the Articles of Religion agreed upon in Anno 1562, or the Rites and ceremonies established in the Church of England or the lawful use of them, or the government of the Church of England by Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacon's and the rest that bear office in the same, affirming the same to be Antichristian or repugnant to God's Word; or lastly that doth impugn the form of consecrating and ordaining of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, affirming that the same is repugnant to the Word of God, or that they who are so ordered, are not lawfully made?  
2 Is there any in your parish that doth hold or frequent any Conventicles or private congregations, or make or maintain any private orders or constitutions agreed upon in any such private assemblies, other than are in the Cannons set forth by public authority? Or have you any schismatics that separate themselves from the Church of England, or any that maintain schismatics?  
3. Whether any of your Parish have profaned the Lords day commonly called Sunday, or other Holidays by working or labouring in their manual trades, by selling, or buying, or keeping open their shops for sale of wares, by lurking and tippling in Taverns or Alehouses, especially in the time of Divine Service? And whether any Inne-kéepers, Alehouse-kéepers, Victuallers or others permit any person or persons in their houses, to eat, drink or play, in the time of Common Prayer or Sermon, on Sundays or Holidays?  
4 Whether any of your Parish disturb, let or discourage others from lawful sports and recreations upon the Lord's day, so fare as they are allowed by the King's declaration in that behalf? Or do any of your Parish abuse that liberty allowed them, by using unlawful sports, as Bear-baiting, Bull-bayting, Interludes or Bowling upon the Lord's day; or by using lawful recreations before the end of all Divine Services for that day, or having absented themselves from the same?  
5 Whether any of your Parish being sixteen years of age or upwards, or others lodging or commonly resorting to any house within your Parish, have wilfully absented themselves from your Parish Church upon Sundays or Holidays at Morning or Evening prayers or came late to Church, or departed out of Church before the end of Service and Sermon without some great cause? Or have any behaved themselves irreverently during the time of divine Service, covering their heads, or not kneeling when the general confession, Let any and other Prayers are read, and standing up at the Belief, or not doing lowly reverence at the name of our Lord jesus, or talking, walking sleeping or any other way busying themselves in the Church then in quiet attendance unto God's Service? Or have any disturbed the Minister either praying or preaching by word or deed?  
6 Whether any of your Parish being siixtéene years old and upwards have not received the holy Communion in your Church thrice this last year, whereof once at Easter, and that kneeling? And who are they?  
7. Is there any in your Parish that refuse to have their children Baptised, or themselves to receive the Communion at the hands of your Minister, for some exceptions against him? And what exceptions do they allege? And do any of or in your Parish refuse to have their children Baptised in your Parish Church, according to the form prescribed in the book of Common Prayer?  
8 Whether any of your Parishioners being warned thereof, have not sent their children, servants, and apprentices to the Catechism upon Sundays and Holidays before evening Prayer, to hear, and to be instructed therein? you shall present their names.  
9 How many Inhabitants within your Parish men or women, above the age of 16 years do refuse to frequent Divine Service established by public authority of this Realm, or to receive the holy Communion? present their names, and of what degree, state, or trade of life they are.  
10 Do any of the Inhabitants of your said Parish entertain within their house any sojourners, lodgers, or any common resorters and guests, who refuse to frequent Divine Service, or receive the holy Communion as aforesaid? What be their names? of what quality or condition are they?  
11. Whether any of the said Popish Recusants, or other Sectaries, are of insolent behaviour, or do boldly busy themselves, in seducing, and withdrawing of others?  
12. How long the said Recusants, have abstained either from Divine Service, or from the Communion, as aforesaid: And if any of them have lately reform themselves, what be their names?  
13. What persons within your Parish, either for the offence aforesaid, or for any other contumacy or crime, do remain excommunicated? What be their names, and for what cause, and how long have they stood excommunicated, and what person or persons do wittingly, and usually keep them company?  
14. Have any in your Parish married within the degrees forbidden by law? Where and by whom? Or doth any couple married lawfully, now live apart, without due separation by the Law: or any heretofore divorced, keep company with any other at bed or board as man and wife?  
15. Whether have you any in your Parish, to your knowledge or by common fame and report, which have committed adultery, fornication, or incest, or any Bawds, harbourers or receivers of such persons? Or which are by common same, reputed for common drunkards, blasphemers of Gods holy name, common swearers, filthy speakers, railers, slanderers, sowers of discord among their neighbours, or speakers against Ministers, Marriages, Usurers, contrary to the Statute made in the two and twentieth year of our late Sovereign King james. Simoniacal persons, or perjured in any Court Ecclesiastical, or any that use Enchantments, Sorceries, Charms, or Witchcrafts (which are not made felony by the Statutes of this Realm) or any that seek to such for help? You shall not fail to present them all.  
16. Have any in your Parish, harboured any woman with child unmarried, conveying, or suffering her again to departed without due penance? You shall truly present, as well the party harbouring, as harboured, and who is suspected to hau●e committed the incontinency with her: Or is any, heretofore suspected or detected of incontinency, and therefore departing out of your Parish, returned now again? Or in what place else is he or she now abiding to your knowledge, or at you have heard? You shall not fail to present the whole truth in that behalf.  
17. Be there any in your Parish, that retain, or sell, utter, disperse, carry, or deliver to others, any English Books, or Writings, either of Papists, or Sectaries touching, and against the Religion, State, or Government Ecclesiastical of this Realm, or keep any monuments of superstition uncancelled, or undefaced?  
18. Whether any of your Parishioners, have usually gone to hear Prayers, or Sermons, in other Churches? Or have they communicated or baptised their children in any other Parish, or brought strange Ministers into their own houses, to baptise their children privately, according to their own fantasies?  
19 Hath any of your Parish, behaved himself irreverently, in word or deed, towards your Minister or his Vocation, by quarrelling, striking, slanderous speeches, or libels? Or hath any offered violence, or quarrelled with any other in the Church or Churchyard; or used himself disorderly in the Church, by filthy or profane talk, or any other rude or immodest behaviour?  
20. Whether hath your Minister, or any else of your Parish, without the privily and consent of the Ordinary, caused any to do penance, or be punished, either openly or otherwise for any crime punishable, by Ecclesiastical laws only? And what be the names of the parties, that have punished, and have been so punished; in what manner, and for what cause?  
21. Be there any in your Parish, who will come to hear the Sermon, but not to the public Prayers, according to the Book, making a schism, or division as it were between the use of public Prayer and Preaching?  
22. Do any Women of your Parish, after Childbirth, refuse to come to the Church, to give God thankes for their safe delivery, according to the Book of Common Prayer? Or do any neglect to keep the fasting days, appointed by the laws:  
23. Whether have you known or heard of any Fiddlers, or Minstrels, or any which go under the name of Musicians, within this Diocese, that either at Weddings, Church, or any other Feasts, or meetings, have sung or use to sing any songs, ballads or rhymes, tending to the disgrace of Religion, or the Ministers thereof; or tending to profaneness, or the corruption of good manners? You shall truly present the names of such if you know or can learn them; as also the names of the householder, or householders, where they have sung such songs, as also the particular names of them, before whom they have sung them?  
24 Whether do the Surveiers of your high ways look diligently to the mending of the churchways; that the Parishioners may conveniently come to Church from all places of the Parish in Winter time?   

Concerning the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
1 Whether do ye the Churchwardens and Sidemen from time to time take care that no idle persons or loiterers abide either in the Churchyard or Church porch in Service or Sermon time but cause them either to come into the Church to hear Divine Service, or to departed and not disturb such as be hearers there? And do ye take care that the Parishioners duly resort to the Church every Sunday and Holiday, and there so remain during Divine Service and Sermon? And that none be tippling or drinking in any Alehouse, Inn, Tavern, or Victualling house of your Parish during the times aforesaid, as fare as you are able to hinder it?  
2 Do ye assist your Minister diligently in bringing the youth of your Parish to Catechising; in the Perambulation the Rogation days, and such other things as send to the furtherance and advancement of God's Service: especially in taking diligent heed and care that 〈…〉, or sometime 〈◊〉?  
5. Doth any man trouble or molest you for doing your duties?  
6. If you know of any other matter of Ecclesiastical cognizance, worthy presentment in your judgement above not expressed, you shall likewise present the same by virtue of your oath.   
FINIS.