Articles to be enquired of in the ordinary Visitation of the right reverend Father in GOD, William lord Bishop of Couentrie and Lichfielde, diligently to be considered of as well by Ministers, as Churchwardens and Swornemen, and advisedly to be answered particularly to every point, by either of them severally in writing, at the Visitation to be holden by the said reverend Father, or his Officers.  
Imprinted at London for William broom.   

Articles to be enquired of in THE ORDINARY VISITATION OF THE RIGHT REVEREND Father in God, William Lord Bishop of Couentrie and Lichfield, holden Anno 1584, diligently to be considered of, as well by the Ministers, as Church-wardens and sworn men, and advisedly to be answered particularly to euepoinct, by either of them severally in writing, at the Visitation holden by the said reverend Father or his Officers.  
INprimis, whether the Church of your Parish be now vacant and destitute of an incombent: how long it hath so remained: whether any sequestration be granted of the Fruits, to whom, and by whom? If it haue an incumbent, what his name is, of what bringing up & degree in schools? What the valour of the living is in the queens books? who is the patron by right or aduouson? Whether he hath any mo benefice, or ecclesiastical promotions, how many, and where? If he lye not in his bnfice, to whom he letteth his tithes, for what yearly commodity, the ordinary charges deducted? Whether the Curate be orderly and lawfully admitted vpon due trial and examination of his sufficiency and honesty under the seal of Office?  
2 Whether Common prayer be distinctly and audibly red within the parish, and the Sacramentes reverently and orderly administered and whether for the better performance of thē you haue a book of Common prayer, two Psalters, the English Bible, the Homilies, the Paraphrases of Erasmus in English, the table of the ten Commandements, a comely Table standing upon a frame for the holy Communion decently covered, and a convenient Communion cup, with a cover of silver, and a séemelie and decent Pulpit.  
3 Whether your Altars, Roodeloftes, and other monuments of superstition bee clean defaced and taken away, and whether Massebookes, Portases, or any superstitious Legendaries, vestments, Crosses, Images, or any other relics or Monuments of idolatry, be either known or suspected to remain in any mans hands, and in whose, or what you know are become of those which you had?  
4 Whether your person, Vicar, or Curate, be a painful, zealous and diligent preacher: at the least whether he doth procure quarterly or ●●nethly Sermons according to the queens injunctions, especially upon such daies as the holy Communion shalbe ministered for the better enstruction & preparation towards the action: And whether he doth duly and orderly according to the said injunctions, Cathechise every sunday with exposition of the same, for the better instruction of the youth of the parish, and Christian information of other the hearers, and whether such as are to be Cathechised attend orderly at the time to be instructed, or who they be that make default or show themselves obstinate therein. And whether your Minister doth carefully repair to visit the sick of your parish for their spiritual comfort, and willingly attend his charge in those extremities. And further where he doth confer with his Parishioners, especially such as he knoweth not thoroughly grounded in the way and knowledge of their salvation, for their better instruction before they repair to the holy Communion. And if any refuse this necessary conference offered by the minister, not only to stay them from receiving, but also to present what bee their names with their causes pretended?  
5 Whether your Minister doth admit any to the Communion: or to be married, or to answer for Infantes in baptism, being not sufficiently Cathechised and able to yield an account of their christian faith, the whom conscience will not 'allure almost once to think sereously of the means of their salvation, yet other extraordinary occasions may drive for shane to some knowledge of christianity.  
6 Whether any Officer for favour, fear, or corruption, hath so qualified or dispensed with any public or notorious sin, that the offenders hath been restored to the Congregation and Sacraments, without christian public satisfaction, howe many haue been presented heretofore, and how their causes haue been ended, and for what cause the Minister without christian public satisfaction, hath admitted any to the christian participation of prayers and sacramentes. And whether any Officer, archdeacon or official haue dealt with any commutation of penance, and what bee their names, whose penances by them haue been commuted, for what sin, and how it hath been used or employed?  
7 Whether your Minister or any other of your parish be known or suspected as favourers of the Romish church, superiority, or religion. And whether any runagate Iesuites, or counterfeit Massing Priestes, going not according to the order of their professions, are known or suspected to frequent or haunt to any person or persons within your parish, sometime for a shift to lie or lurk with them: and whether they or any schoolmaster, or any other pretending the name of a seruant, are suspected to 'allure and persuade any within your parishes from the true sincerity of the gospel, now by public authority established to the using of matins, beads, and such other vain popish trish trash: or of any unlawful Popish books: And whether any be reputed or suspected to be reconciled to the Church of Rome within your Parish, & what be their names? And whether you know or haue heard of any sometime in orders, that now do live as lay men?  
8 Whether any of your parish do altogether absent themselves from divine service, or do seldom or negligently come to the church, or do not continue there without disturbance of the Minister and Congregation, not departing thence but upon some just and lawful cause: And whether any of your Parishioners do not receive the Communion at the least thrice in the year, according to her majesties laws. And whether any having diuers houses of remove, do shift from place to place, in colour to defeat the performance of the Christian ducties in those behalfs, what they be, and the names of every of the family that doth the like. And whether the particular twelve pence be levied according to the Statute?  
9 Whether any within your parish, haue any of their kindred or kinsfolk beyond the Seas, what be their names, and howe long they haue continued out of the realm, and what by hearsay, or in conscience you judge ther affection to be in religion: Or whether any are known or suspected to relieve any such?  
10 Whether your Minister keep any suspected woman in his house or be given to drunkenness, idleness, or be a haunter of. taverns, Alehouses, or other suspected place, or be Hunters, Hawkers, Dicers, Carders, Tablers, Swearers, or any ways give any evil example of life. or unseemly apparel, to the offence of others, and discredit of their, calling. And whether they be reported or suspected to haue come by their bnfice, or other ecclesiastical promotions Simonically, directly, or indirectly?  
11 Whether there belong any glebe lands to your Parsonage or Vicarage, and how many several parcels there be, and howe much they contain by estimation, whether any be alienated, exchanged, or encroached vpon to the decay of the living? And whether your Chansell and Parsonage houses be in good and sufficient reparations, and whether your Church be in every parte so maintained as were csnuenient. And whether your churchyards be thoroughly fenced about and cleanly kept, and who is the cause of any of these defaults. And whether any patrons haue decayed the Parsonage houses, and keep a Stipend 〈…〉 Priest in place, where an Incumbent should be possessed?  
12 Whether your Minister keep well their Registers of all Weddinges, Burialles, and Christninges within your Parish, according to the queens injunctions, and do present a copy of them once every year by Indenture, to the chancellor or his deputy, to remain of record in the principal Office.  
13 Whether any within your Parish administer the goods of those that bee dead without lawful authority: Or any are suspected to haue suppressed or altered the last will of the dead, or any Executors that haue not fulfilled the Testators will, especially in performing of Legacies given to other good uses, or maintenance of the poor.  
14 Whether you haue a schoolmaster in your parish, and whether your schoolmaster teaching publicly or privately bee of good and sincere religion & conversation, and whether they be examined and allowed by the Ordenarie or his Officer in that behalf. And whether any living given towards the erection or maintenance of any school, be withholden back or otherwise any ways employed.  
15 Whether any haue pulled down or discovered any church, chansell or chapel, porch, vestry, Steeple, Almehouse, Belles, or any parte of them, or felled Wood or Timber in the churchyard. And whether your hospitals, Spittelles, or almshouses be well and godly used and maintained according to the foundation and ancient ordinances of the same?  
16 Whether any entertainment bee given, or game used in any inns or Alehouses, or other victuallers in time of divine service or Sermons: Or whether any Butchers, victuallers, peddlers, or any other Artificers in time of common prayer or Sermon, open their shops or wears: And whether your Minister customably remembreth your Churchwardens and Swornemen, to attend their charge in such behalf.  
17 Whether your church goods, stocks, or rents be let to the best commodity, and for such uses as they were first ment, or now are to be employed and converted, no other ways. Or whether the same bee increased or decayed, by what means, who being churchwardens, whether any are behind with making their accounts, or be thought not to haue made a true, perfect, and sufficient account, what lands or stocks should be or yet remain?  
18 Whether any within your parish be suspected to use sorcery, Witchcraft, charms, unlawful Prayers, or invocations in Latin or English: namely, Midwiues in time of womens travail with child: and who resort to such for help or counsel?  
19 Whether the Minister or Churchwardens haue suffered any lords of Misrule, or summer Lords or Ladies, or any disguised persons, or Morisedancers, or others at Christmas, or any time in summer to come vnreuerently pyping, dancing, or playing in church or churchyard, with unseemly scoffs, jests, ribaldry, or at any other place & time, namely in time of divine service, or Sermons, and what they be that commit such disorders, or accompany, or maintain them?  
20 Whether any of your parish haue been married within the degrees of affinity, and consanguinity forbidden by the laws of God, & whether for the better knowledge and direction of those degrees, you haue the Table drawn out to that end, affixed publicly in your parish church: And whether any diuorsed or separated for marrying within those degrees, be notwithstanding conversant and keep company together: Whether any man be suspected to haue two wives, any woman two husbands, any married after a former precontract: any privy or secret contracts without consent of Parentes, Tutors, or governors: or any married without Banes thrice solemnly asked: or out of your Parish where one of them at the least doth inhabit. And whether any married live apart, and not continue together according to the laws of god and the realm. What licences so mary haue been granted since the death of the last Bishop, the Ministers shall exhibit to us or our Officers at the Visitation.  
21 Whether any of your Parish be known, defamed, or vehemently suspected of any notorious sin, fault, or crime, as of Vserie, swearing adultery, Fornication, Incest, Baudrie, drunkenness, ribaldry, slandering, Contention, sowing of discord between neighbours, privy receiving women unlawfully begotten with child, or suffering them to depart before public satisfaction made to the Congregatign? Or whether there be any fightersr quarrelers, Brawlers, or Chiders in the church or churchyard, any Scoffers, rhymers, or diriders of Ministers, or any that lay violent hands on them, or any of them, or otherwise abuse them?  
All and every of the particulars of the premises you are diligently to inquire of, and as well the ministers severally, as the Churchwardens and Sidemen, jointly to present the defaults of every of them in writing subscribed with their names. And generally whatsoever breaches and offences else they shall know or hear committed against any of the queens majesties injunctions, or any of the ecclesiastical laws of this realm.   

certain advertisements, FOR A CONTINVAL ORDER TO BE observed inviolably without any alteration touching the points following, within the diocese of Couentrie and Liehfield.  
INprimis, for that the want of a sufficient ministery is not onely the Nurse of Ignorance and Popery, but also the cause of all atheism, disobedience, and dissoluteness of life: And the corruption of Patrons, aboundeth to the great decay of the sufficient maintenance of Ministers, this settled order is set down to prevent either inconueniece whereof all patrons together with such as are to be presented to benefices, hereby without further intimation are to take knowledge within this Diocease of Couentrie and Lichfield, vz.  
That whosoever shall hereafter bee presented to any benefice, shall attend for his public examination the first day of every month only, openly in the consistory at Lichfield, between the houres of eight and aleuen( if it be not a sunday or Holiday) then the next day following, where the reverend Father in God the now Lord Bishop in person, or the chancellor at the least, or the Chauncelors deputy giuing attendance, and calling for their assistance four other Preachers at the least shall and will cause the gifts and learning of the party presented to bee thoroughly examined, and presently upon conference between them of his sufficiency, to set their judgements down solempnly in a book made and kept for that purpose, to notify their allowance, or dissallowance. And for the better and more assured performannce of this advertisement greatly heretofore neglected and abused, as well for want of appointing certain sufficient and sincere Examiners usually to attend this charge as otherwise, the said reverend Father in his now purposed Visitation will publish to the whole country the names of such Preachers, by whose credite and conscience he will chiefly commit this charge and trust, besides the pretence of such as being always near at hand may be used and required.  
And although the man for his learning shall be qualified, and bring besides Letters testimonial for his good behaviour according to order, yet for that such Testimonialls haue by often and too much experience been proved to proceed or hearsay, and importunity of entreaty, with out any through knowledge of the party so commended. Therefore the party so presented and allowed as before, shall with licence of the ordinary, repair eftsons to that Parish, and as well acquaint his parishioners with his person as his gifts, that month onely, reading the first Sunday he cometh thither, this public advertisement in time of divine service. And so the first day of the next month following, to repair to the said reverend Father, or by his direction to the Office for his Institution,( if none shall undertake to prove against him some notorious default that day of his apparance) and so without further delay to bee dispatched, giuing first his oath besides other matters, that neither by himself, nor any for him he hath used simony, in attaining to that living directly or indirectly, according to the Ecclesiastical laws in that behalf provided and established.  
2 Item, for that the laws of this realm do permit diuers persons sufficiently qualified and dispensed withall, to enjoy two benefice, and to demise the one to a sufficient Curate, it is likewise ordered that the first day of the next month after the Visitation ended, all the Curates, in, & throughout the diocese of Couentrie and Lichfield, shal attend at the consistory Court, where the foresaid reverend Father in person, or his chancellor at the least, or the Chancelors deputy assisted with four preachers, name & published in every session of this visitation, with other such near assistants, as shal be called and used as before, will be ready to sit for that purpose, and exhibiting their former licenses to the ordinary, if so be vpon this further trial and examination, they shall appear meet in all respects for that congregation, every circumstance well weighed & duly considered then to be continued in the former place and service, otherwise to haue warning to depart, and the Incumbent likewise to haue convenient notice to provide him of a more sufficient Minister within a reasonable time: And no Curate to be accepted or allowed in any parish without the licence of the ordinary under his seal. provided further, that the licenses granted to Curates shall not generally extend to any place vncertainely, but shall namely contain the particular Parish whereto he shall be commended, and that al licenses contrary to this order to be reformed. And further that no Curates, who are to supply the absence of an other qualified by lawe, bee used as instruments onely by colour to defeat the good meaning of the Statutes in that behalf provided, to the benefit of lay men, but themselves to enjoy the commodities allotted to their own better maintenaner, according to the true meaning of the Statute.  
3 Item, for that the perverse obstinate untowardness of diuers young Gentlemen in religion, doth argue a manifest & most intolerable corruption in their bringing up and in schoolmasters, that all schoolmasters, aswell in any noble or Gentlemens houses, as otherwise publicly or privately teaching within any town of this diocese, shall likewise bring in their Licences heretofore to them granted, the third day of the first month next after the Visitation before the said reverend Father, or his chancellor at the least, or the Chauncelors deputy, with the foresaid Preachers and assistants attending this service in the consistory at Lichfielde, to whom if they do not sufficiently allow their habilitie for learning, their soundness for Religion, their honesty for connersation by learning and testimony of such as are well known to the Bishop, then to bee displaced and inhibited to continue their teaching any longer within this Diocease Otherwise with very good favour and allowance to remain in their former estate, enjoined once a quarter at the least to examine his schollers in the catechism, and to see them frequent al exercises of Religion according to their discretion: And no schoolmaster to haue or enjoy any general Licence, throughout the whole Diocease vncertainely, but to teach in that particular place whereto he shall bee allowed, and the Licences contrary to this order to be reformed.  
4 Item, for that to help the lamentable inconveniences growing to the Church of God by the insufficient ministery, they are not onely to be sifted which are already made Ministers, but also a diligent care and foresight is to be used, that only sufficient men be admitted to that function hereafter. Therefore the foresaid reverend Father would haue al and every within this Diocease of Couentrie and Lichfield, which intend for themselves or their friends, to solicit for orders of the ministery to take knowledge hereby, that they & every of them must attend for public examination and trial, the first day of every quarter of the year, onely in the Comistorie of Lichfielde, where the said reverend, or his chancellor with the Archdeacons and other assistances and forenamed Preachers to be called, making due proof by public examination of all circumstances required by law, and immediately setting down their judgements accordingly, and if he or they vpon such trial shall be found worthy, then by the said reverend Father to receive orders, if the said reverend Father shall think it so meet and convenient, otherwise either to be clean rejected, or referred over to their further sufficiency: and no prinate orders otherwise either to be sued, looked for, or performed within this Diocease of Couentrie and Lichfield.  
5 Item, for that sundry and manifold inconveniences haue ensued the grant of Licenses to marry, these circumstances shal be observed, by the Officers who are to grant the same. First, that they do not rashly without advertisement from the Minister, or some such as they know to be of good credit and honesty grant the licence. Secondly, that they include in the bands taken consent of the Parents, Tutors, or Couernors. Thirdly, that the direction of the licence be made to one of the ministers, where the parties to be married shall dwell, who cannot be ignorant of the estate of the parties, and may stay the proceeding to marriage according to the licence, if he know or suspect any lawful impediment, advertising the chancellor with all convenient speed of the cause of his stay Other wese no licence to be granted, unless the matter be notoriously known to the Officer authorized to dispense in that behalf.  
6 Item, that none denounced or to be denounced and published excommunicate, shall hereafter be admitted to the Church, or receiving of the Sacramenis, without his absolution testified to the Minister & Church wardens, under the Ordinaries hand or seal: And that such as continue obstinately so denounced or excommunicate, be publicly notified to the whole Congregation from time to time to their amendment or further discredit.  
7 Item that the ordinance of the book of Common prayer bee from henceforth observed in this, that the Bread delivered to the Communicants, be such as is usual to be eaten at the Table with other meals, yet of the purest and finest Wheat: and no other bread to be used by the Minister, nor to be provided for by the Churchwardens & parishioners then such finest common bread.  
8 Item, whereas private baptism in time of necessity seemeth tolerated by the book of Common prayer, and thereupon not onely diners old women and Midwiues haue hoth against Gods laws and the meaning of the said book, presumed to intrude themselves into that ministery & function, but also under colour of such private baptisms, many times wicked jesuits, mass Priests or Reconcilers haue been known to baptize Infants: It is therefore ordered to be received and observed, that if vpon any reasonable causes moving the Parents and Minister, they think not good to expect the next sabbath or holiday, for the more commendable performance of that Sacrament in the presence of the whole Congregation at Church: That then it be performed with a convenient multitude of such as shal be known sound and well effected to Religion, and either by the Minister of the Parish himself, or other known Minister with his privity or consent. And that henceforth no women presume to intrude themselves into Babtizing of Infants in any respect or condition.  
9 Item, for the better observing of all and singular these advertisements and due presentment of the several breaches and defaults of the same and the foresaid Articles, it is ordered that special choice and regard be made of such Churchwardens and Sidemen in every parish, Village and Humlet, which are known to favour and conform themselves to the laws and Religion now established, and be of honest and good account for their life and manners, and not towards such as bee professed & obstinate Recusantes, and that according to the wholesome advertisements and Canons in that behalf provided, no elections be made of the foresaid Officers in the Ministers absence or without his consent. And that every Minister shall haue a special care and regard of his duty in this behalf vpon his credite with his Ordinary, as whereupon dependeth the whole direction of reformation of things amiss.  
10 Item, whereas the foresaid Officers stand charged by virtue of their corporal oaths taken faithfully and carefully to discharge their dueties, and without favour; malice, or fear, truly to present all defaults & abuses as they fall out from time to time, as well for the avoiding of wilful perjury, as the preventing and cutting off of sin & offences before they grow to full & perfect ripeness, the Minister shall do well every sunday & holiday after evening prayer to call the churchwardens and Sidemen of every parish unto him in the church, and there to confer and aduise together upon perusal and consideration of these articles and advertisements, what hath fallen out within that their Parish contrary to any of them worthy reformation or presentment, or worthy private admonition for amendment: And so either according to their discretions to admonish the parties to prevent their own discredites, and any public offence like to grow: or else to present or notify all such evil misdemeanours to the chancellor, or such Commissaries, dean, Rurales, or other Officers, as he shall think best to appoint in every Deanrie from time to time.  
11 Item, that every Minister within this Diocease bring in and exhibit to the chancellor at the Visitation, his letters of orders, his letters dismisories if he came out of an other Diocease, his Institution, his Qualification, and dispensation to remain in record in the Office.  
12 Item, for that some offences and greuaunces haue already and may grow hereafter to the subject, by taking or exacting excessive fees contrary to law & the usual custom of this Diocease, to the misliking and discredit of ecclesiastical jurisdiction and the Officers thereof, & therefore the ordinary to prevent all inconveniences in that behalf, hath given order, that as well his chancellor and commissary from time to time, as his Register shall haue a Table in either of their Offices openly and publicly hanged up to be seen, red, & considered of by every one that shall be disposed or occasioned so to do: wherein shall be fairly written and contained the several rates of all and singular sees due and appertaining to either of their Offices, and every particularity by them or either of them to be dispatched: whereby the sueters can not or need not to be abused: yet for that some of simplicity may be oner-reached, and either for their daily labours whereby they live are not able, or for fear of charges with delay would bee loth to prosecute reformation to their restitution. It hath further pleased the lord Bishop to provide further in that behalf, that every Minister hearing any such grief of any his parishioners, may be bold by his Letters onely directed to the chancellor, to certify him of any such complaint, with all the truth and circumstance of their dealing, and that by the chancellor the fault be presently looked into and reformed, whether it concerneth himself or the Register, without any further charges or ado, as they will haue the good favour and liking of the bishop, and answer upon their peril to the contrary.  
FINIS.