ARTICLES ECCLESIASTICAL TO BE INQVIRED OF BY THE CHURCHWARDENS AND THE SWORNE-MEN WITHIN THE Diocese of Hereforde in the visitation of the reverend father in God, Harbart Bishop of the said Diocese: this present year M. D.LXXXXII. and in the XXXIIII. year of the reign of our most gracious sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, etc.  
And so hereafter till the next visitation, & from time to time to be presented.  
Imprinted at Oxford, by joseph Barnes Printer to the University.   

ARTICLES TO BE INQVIRED OF, IN the Diocese of Hereforde.  
FIrst ye shall inquire & truly present upon your oaths taken whether you do know of any, which hath thrust himself into any function Ecclesiastical without ordinary calling, as, to say public service in church, or chapel, not being lawfully ordered Deacon at the least?  
2 Whether your Parson or Vicar be known, suspected or reported to have bought his benefice, or come to it by any simonical compass made either by himself, or others, directly, or indirectly: or do let out his living, or any part thereof to any, in consideration that he hath obtained the same:  
3 Whether your Parson, or Vicar, Curate, or minister, or any other Priest or laiman or woman do wilfully maintain or defend any heresies, false opinions, or popish errors, contrary to the laws of almighty God, and true doctrine, by public authority now set forth in this realm, and what be their names?  
4 Whether your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, do not say common prayer in your Church, or Chapel, distinctly, and reverently, and in such order as is set forth by the Laws of this Realm without any kind of alteration, and at du●●●●d convenient hours? And whether your Minister do not so turn himself & stand in such place of your Church, or Chancel, as the people may best hear the sue? And whether the holy sacraments be not likewise ministered, reverently in such manner, as by the Laws of this Realm is appointed, and whether upon wednesdays and Fridays not being holy days the Litany and other prayers appointed for the day be not said accordingly?  
5 Whether your Minister or any other not being licensed take upon him to expound scripture, & thereby omit upon any sunday the reading of a part of an Homily, at the least, or upon any other occasion do omit the same?  
6 Whether your Minister do not read the commination against sinners, with certain prayers appointed, at the least thrice a year besides the lent time: and whether he doth not read the Queen's majesties injunctions quarterly in the church?  
7 Whether he have preached or caused to be preached his monthly or quarterly sermons at the least, and who they be that preached them, and whether he have suffered any not licensed to preach, or forbidden any that was licensed, and whether he, or any other, have preached, declared, or spoken any thing in derogation of the book of common prayer, which is set forth by the laws of this realm, dispraising the same, or any thing therein contained.  
8 Whether any open notorious fornicator, adulterer, or evil liver, by whom the congregation is offended, have without due penance first done, been by your Minister admitted to the holy communion, or any malicious person, that is notoriously known to be out of charity, or that hath done any open wrong to his neighbour by word, or deed, without due reconciliation first made to the party, that is wronged: or any that at the time stood excommunicate, or a stranger of another parish?  
9 Whether, your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, have admitted to the holy communion any of his parish being above twenty years of age, either mankind or womankind, that cannot say by heart the ten commandments, the articles of the faith, and the Lords prayer in english, and what be the names of those, that cannot say the same, or being above fourteen years and under twenty that could not say the catechism allowed and set forth in the book of common prayer. And whether your minister at times convenient before he administer unto them, and namely before Easter yearly do use to examine his parishioners, whether they can say by hare the same, which is required in this behalf. And whether he marry any persons that were single before, that cannot say the aforesaid catechism?  
10 Whether your Minister on every sunday and holiday in the after noon before evening prayer do call for, hear, & instruct, all the youth within your parish of convenient, age of both sexes in the catechism, or at the least so many of them by course, as time will serve, and as he may well hear and instruct for half an hour at the least, before evening prayer in the ten commandements the Articles of the belief, and the lords prayer, and diligently examine and teach them the catechism, as it is now allowed and set forth? And whether for that purpose he doth take the names of them all, and by ●ourse call certain of them by name every sunday and holiday to come to the teaching of the same, and present to the ordinary such quarterly as refuse to come to be catechized, and whether he do diligently visit the sick and comfort them with exhortation to contribute by will for the relief of the poor, as their ability shall serve?  
11 Whether he be diligent in study of the holy scriptures for further increase in knowledge and for that purpose (if he be under the degree of a Master of art) hath of his own at the least, the new testament in latin, and English, and whether he doth daily confer certain chapters thereof together, and observe such orders, as for his increase in knowledge, are set down by his ordinary, using at vacant times such good & seemly exercises as may keep him from sluggishness and idleness?  
12 Whether any Minister have married any in times forbidden by the Ecclesiastical Laws, or without banes thrice asked, otherwise than by licence of the ordinary, or hath used the form of thanksgiving, for woman after childbirth, being unlawfully begotten with child otherwise then in a form of a penitent person viz. in a white sheet or other habit prescribed by the ordinary, or upon any other day than a Sunday, or holiday: or before sufficient caution taken, that she should not departed the Parish, till she should perform such penance, as should be enjoined by the ordinary.  
13 Whether your Minister use any other Rite, or Ceremony in the Church, than is prescribed by the book of common prayer, & whether he or any other, keep, or use any secret Conventicles, Preach, lectures, or Reading contrary to the Law, and what be their names?  
14 Whether your Parson, or Vicar, doth not in his own person at the least, sometimes in the year, both say public prayers himself, and also administer the holy communion, according to the book of common Prayer?  
15 Whether for the retaining of the perambulation of the circuit of your parish the Parson, Vicar or Curate, churchwardens & certain of the substantial men of the parish in the days of Rogation, commonly called the gang days, walk the accustomes bounds of your Parish, and whether in the same perambulation and going about, the Minister do use any other rite, or ceremony, then to say or sing in English the one hundred and three and one hundred and four Psalms, and such sentences of the scriptures, as are appointed by the Queen's majesties Injunctions with the Litany, and suffrages following the same, and reading of one homily already devised and set forth for that purpose, with out wearing any surplice carrying of banners, or handbels, or staying at Crosses, or any such like popish ceremonies?  
16 Whether any do serve as a Minister, or Deacon not licensed under the Ordinaries seal, or serve two cures, and whether any Minister coming out of another Diocese, hath not the Ordinaries letters testimonial concerning aswell the cause of his departure as his behaviour, and what stipend your Curate hath by year?  
17 Whether is your Minister a peace maker and exhorter of his parishioners to obedience toward their Prince, and all other that be in authority, and to charity, and mutual love among themselves, and such a one as is no sour of discord amongst neighbours?  
18 Whether your Parson or Vicar, suffer his buildings or Chaunsell to fall to ruin or decay, and whether he or any other have taken away, or discovered any Church. Chappel, or Chancel, or any part of them: any church-porch, vestry, spittle, alms-house, or such like, or hath pulled down the bells, or hath made any spoil or waste upon his benefice, either in his timber, or woods, or by felling trees in the churchyard?  
19 Whether the Minister and churchwardens (according to her majesties Injunctions) do keep well the Register book, and therein register all weddings, bury, and christenings, and once every year exhibit a copy thereof by Indenture to the office of the Ordinaries Register and if it have not been done, which of them it was long of?  
20. Whether your minister hath executed and published all such processes and other things as hath from time to time since the last visitation been sent unto him from the ordinary. And whether he hath made any certificates of penance orderly and penetently done, which hath indeed been scoffingly, or impenitently performed or done at other times, or in other sort than was prescribed by the Ordinary, or else not done at all?  
21 Whether your Parson, or Vicar hath at any time since the thirteenth year of the Queen's majesties rain, made any manner of lease, or grant, of his Parsonage, or Vicarage, or any part thereof (he being absent, and 〈◊〉 resident upon the same) to any other, then to his curate, that did or doth serve his cure, in his absence?  
22 Whether hath your Parson or Vicar more benefices than one, how many, and in what countries be they, and what be the names of them, and whether is he absent from among you above eighty days in any one year in all, not being lawfully qualified & dispensed withal, & being so licensed, whether is the Cure served by an honest learned Curate, whether doth he not at the least for one month in the year, keep hospitality at his living, & also give, if his benefice be above twenty pounds a year, the fortieth part thereof to the Poor?  
23 Whether any Minister do forsake his function and give himself to any other trade of life, then is fire, or may be incident with that calling?  
24 Whether doth your Minister keep any suspected woman in his house (or being not married) any woman not of near kindred unto him, or doth he live in any tavern, or alehouse, or commonly resort thither, or is he a hawker, or hunter, or a gamester, at any game or other then at shooting, or otherwise suspected of any notorious crime, or any evil example of life?  
25 Whether doth your Minister keep, or suffer to be kept any Alehouse Tavern, or Victualling house in his parsonage or vicarage house?  
26 Whether doth your Minister use any excessive, or unseemly kind of apparel not commendable in that calling?  
27 Whether the Patron have freely bestowed the benefice without any Simony, directly, or indirectly, between him and the incumbent, or any other?  
28 Whether your Scholmaster teaching within your parish openly, or within any noble or gentleman's house, or in any other place there be licenced there 〈◊〉 by the ordinary? Whether, doth he teach such books, as be commanded to be taught, and that diligently? And whether is he reputed of sincere Religion, and honest conversation, and frequenteth divine service or no?  
29 Whether have you in your Parish Church, or Chapel the book of common Prayer, with the new Calendar, two Psalters, the great English Bible, the two Volumes of Homilies, the Paraphrase of Erasmus in English, the Table of the Ten commandments, whole, and untorne, the Table of degrees of Consanguinity, and Affinity, a convenient Pulpit, a decent Communion Table on a frame, a Linen Cloth to cover the same, with some other covering of silk or such like, a Communion Cup, & a cover of Silver, a decent Surples with sleeves, a sure Coffer with two locks for the Register book, a strong Chest for the Alms Box, with three locks thereunto, & all other things necessary to the Premises?  
30 Whether doth your Parson, Vicar, Curate, or Minister wear any Cope in your Parish Church or Chapel, or minister the holy Communion in any Chalice heretofore used at Mass, or in any profane Cup or Glass, or in any other kind of liquor, than wine?  
31 Whether are all Altars taken down, to the very foundation, and the place whited, and paved underneath, and the Roode-lofte down to the Cros beam, all superstitious books used either in the Church, or otherwise defaced, together withal monuments of Superstition and Idolatry, as Vestments, etc. And if not, in whose custody are they, or any of them?  
32 Whether any Churchwardens since the last visitation have suffered any unmarried woman begotten with child to departed their Parish before such penance done as was enjoined.  
33 Whether is your Church, or chapel, and chancel sufficiently repaired, and churchyard decently and sufficiently fenced and kept clean: if not, in whose default?  
34 Whether have your churchwardens from time to time truly levied xii. pence for every day, of those who absent themselves from church, and whether hath the same been bestowed upon the poor as it ought, or no: And whether the churchwardens themselves have absented themselves, or been negligent in their duty, or in frequenting divine service, and whether doth you Minister admonish the churchwardens, openly in the church after the second lesson at morning & evening prayer to look to their charge in this behalf?  
35 Whether have any of your churchwardens or sworn-men, since the last visitation, or at that time, concealed any disorder or crime done in your parish, or not presented the same to be reformed?  
36 Whether any of your churchwardens without just cause have or do delay, to give account every year of the church goods and rents, and whether they or any of them detain any of the churchgoods or common stock in their own hands? And whether is the stock of the poor man's bo●e faithfully, & indifferently distributed to the poor without any partial affection?  
37 Whether any churchwardens, have continued in that office, at any time, above one year without a new election?  
38 Whether the clerk be appointed, according to the custom of your Parish, whether is be obedient to the minister in such things, as belong to his office and useth diligence in keeping all such things, as belong to his charge, decent and clean; whether is he able to read distinctly, and to answer as appertaineth to him in the church, and whether is he suffered to read any thing in the church, save the first lesson and the epistle?  
39 Whether when any man or woman is passing out of this life, the bell be touled to move the people to pray for the sick person, and whether there be any ringing for any that died out of the Parish, and whether for any dying within the parish there be any more ringing than one short peal before, & another after the burial: and whether on Alsouls even or day, or any Saints even, or on any abrogate holidays, ther● 〈◊〉 any other ringing then is usual on common working days, or other th●n ringing to common, prayer, or sermons, and that but moderate: & whether there be any ringing at all in time of common prayer, reading of homilies, or of preaching?  
40 Whether the minister and churchwardens have suffered any lords of misrule, dancers, players, or any other disguised persons to dance, or play any unseemly parts in the church or churchyard, chapel or chappel-yarde, if they 〈◊〉 what be the names of such lords of misrule, dancers players etc. And whether are there any plays or any drink kept in any of the said places, who maintain and accompany such?  
41 Whether any excommunicate person 〈◊〉 intrude himself to divine service or the Sacrament, & who are encoragers and keepers of company with such as remain excommunicate?  
42 Whether any holy days, or fishdays abrogated by authority, are either by your minister bidden, or by any other observed superstitiously, or any festival days used a new by any without lawful authority?  
43 Whether all superiors, as parents, masters, etc. do as much as in them lieth to bring to the church to be chatechised on holy days & Sundays in the afternoon before evening prayer, their children, servants, and apprentices both mankind and womankind being above seven years of age, and under twenty, which have not learned the catechism, or at the least, such and so many all them, as your Minister shall appoint to come thither for that purpose, and to cause them there diligently and obediently to hear and to be ordered by the minister until such time as they have learned the same catechism: and what their names be that neglect so to do: and who betwixt the said ages cannot say the catechism?  
44 Whether there be any that refuse to come to divine service in their parish church or chapel, or do not faithfully and diligently endeavour themselves, to resort thereunto with their children and servants: And whether being of convenient age any do not communicate orderly thrice 〈◊〉 at the least, and namely once about Custody or receiving ●●ue not signified the same to the minister in time convenient, that he might examine them how they were instructed for partaking of so high mysteries; and whether there be any strangers, that sojourn in your parish, especially about Easter, and do absent themselves from church, or any that be hinderers, or deriders of true religion, or of those which profess it?  
45 Whether any do pray in a tongue which they understand not, or upon beads, or do any way number their prayers superstitiously?  
46 Whether any be in your parish which at time of divine prayers, do use any jangling talking, walking, or other unseemly behaviour in church, or churchyard, or do any way disturb common prayer, or any part of the divine service, or do use any game, or pastime abroad at those times, or sit in the tavern, or Alehouse, or streets at such times, or which do work on Sundays any handicraft work, or which keep open any shops, for sale of wares till evening prayer be finished, or which depart before prayers be finished, or cometh say without cause sufficient, or which be brawlers, or fighters in the church or churchyard?  
47 Whether any in your parish be known, or suspected to use any witchcraft, or sorcery, charm, enchantment, or unlawful invocation, and namely, midwives at the labour of women, or any that resorteth unto such for help and counsel or finally blasphemers of the name of God, or swearers among you?  
48 Whether any be known or suspected to be adulterers, fornicators, incestuous persons, bands, or recettors of incontinent persons into their houses, or which convey or suffer them to go away before they do make satisfaction to the congregation offended, any drunkards, ribalds, malicious, contentious, and uncharitable person, common slanderers, railers, scoulders, or sowers of discord amongst you?  
49 Whether any child being borne since the eighteenth year of the Queen's majesties 〈…〉 hath not been brought to be baptised to your parish church, but hath been baptized at home, or had their baptism deferred without just cause, or remain yet unbaptised and whose children the same are, and whether any have been admitted to be godfather or godmother, which had not before that time, received the communion and by where they were admitted?  
50 Whether there be any man that hath or hath had at one time two wives, or a woman two husbands, any married within degrees of consanguinity, or affinity, by the laws of God forbidden, so set out for an admonition, in a table appointed to be affired in every parish church within this diocese? any divorced keeping company still together, any married without the degrees forbidden, which without law have forsaken their wives or husbands, or live not together, any married that have made precontracts to other, any that have made privy contracts or married without consent of their parents or governors, any married without banes thrice solemnly asked, or out of the parish church where the solemnisation ought to have been, without the Ordinaries licens under his seal?  
51 Whether there be any that directly, or indirectly, do take usury, or interest contrary to the laws of God, and the Realm, who they be, and what is the manner of their usury?  
52 Whether any set down in the last will and testament, of any, as executors, do presume, to execute, or deal with the deads' goods before the will be proved, or any presume to administer, before administration committed unto them, any hinderers of the performance of such will, any forgers, or changers of wills, or any executors which have not fulfilled their testators will, in not paying legacies, given to good and godly uses?  
53 Whether do you know, or have you heard of any man or woman that hath practised, or doth practise Physic or surgery within this diocese of Hereford, not being licenced so to do by the ordinary of the same, under his hand and seal, accordingly to the statute in that case provided, 〈…〉 it is his, or her name which doth or hath so done?  
54 Whether your churchwardens have sold any your church-good, if they have, what be they, and to whom, and whether to the better benefit of your church or no, and how hath the money thereof coming been employed?  
55 And generally whether you know any of the Queen's injunctions, broken, or any other Ecclesiastical matter worthy of redress or no, and if you do, by the oaths that you have taken you shall truly present it, aswell now as hereafter, from time to time when it shall come to your knowledge?  
〈…〉  
FINIS.   

Item that you present as near as you can, the month, and year, when the faults in the said Articles mentioned were committed?