Articles to be inquired of, by the Churchwardens and Sworn men, within the Archdeaonnrie of Worcester, in the Visitation of the R. Worshipful, M. john johnson Doctor of Divinity, Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Worcester aforesaid, in this present year of our Lord God. 1609.  
At London printed by Ralph Blower, ANNO DOMINI. 1609.   

❧ Mattters enquirable, concerning the Clergy,  
1 whether any do serve as Minister, or Curate, in your Church or Chappel, not being lawfully Ordered according to the Laws of this Realm of England: And Whether your Minister hath obtained his Benefice, by any simonical Compact, either directly, or indirectly.  
2 Whether your Parson or Vicar be not resident upon his Benefice( and being allowed to preach) and doth he not preach in his own person, one Sermon every Sunday: And if he be not him-sealfe a Preacher allowed: Doth he not procure one Sermon every month at the least, to be preached in your Church, and those also, by Preachers lawfully licensed. And if your Parson or Vicar reside not continually with you, is the cure supplied by a sufficient Curate that is learned and a licenced Preacher? And how many Sermons have you had in your Church or Chapel within these twelve months last passed, and by whom preached?  
3 Whether your Minister be negligent in the study of holy Scriptures, or works of his calling, or useth he to play at any unlawful games? I● he an Alehouse hunter, or a sour of discord, and not a peacemaker, or is he Noted. Famed or Suspected, of any notorious Crime? Doth he not use the Surplice in time of divine prayers, and in administering of the holy Sacraments, and also, such comely attire, as well in the Church, as else where, agreeable to his Calling, as is prescribed by the Canons of the Convocation lately set forth by the Kings Authority: Or hath he admitted any unlawfully begotten with Child to her public Thanksgiving in the Church after her Delivery: otherwise, then in a white sheets, in form of a penitent person: Or hath he received to the holy Communion, any excommunicate person, or Schismatic, or any known to be notorious Offenders, without apparent signs of Repentance: Or hath he rejected or put back any from the Communion, without good & just cause therein.  
4 Whether doth not your minister every Sunday, when there is no Sermon, read some part of an Homily? Doth he not in the church before Evening prayer, teach▪ instruct & exammin the Youth of Convenient age, in the catechism & principles of Religion. And whether upon Wednsdayes & Fridays, the Letante, and other prayers be not read in the Church as to enjoined. And doth not your minister use the days of per-ambulation accustomed, and in such manner also, as is allowable▪ and no otherwise.  
5 Whether doth your minister serve two cures, or doth any serve as Curate in your parish, or preach, or any teach school publicly, or in any private house not licenced under that Ordinaries Seal.  
6 Whether hath your minister made any waist or spoil of his benefice, or suffereth be his Chancel, or houses, or any part thereof, ● be unrepaired, or to fall into ruin or decay.  
7 Whether hath your Minister neglected the public reading ●● the late Canons and Constitutions in the Church, as is required ●● the Intimating of holidays and fasting days appointed to be kept or the setting down in the Church Registrie, and publishing openli in the Church upon the Saboth days: the names of all such as we●● baptized Married and Buried the whole week before. And hath & not one Key of the Coffer where the Register book concerning to premises is kept.  
8 Whether your Minister, hath admitted any of another parish ● receive the hofte Communion in disparish Church, or hath administered the holy Communion to any which do 〈◊〉 kneel at the re●y●ing 〈◊〉▪ 〈…〉 excommunicate persons publicly in the Church, till he receive a warrant to the Contrary, or a Certificate of their Absolutions from the office where they were excommunicate. Hath he married any within the Degrees of Consanguinity, or affinity forbidden, or in time prohibited or without banes of Matrimony thrice solemnly, asked in the Church three several sundays or holidays unless it be by licence of the ordinary under seal: or at any other time of the days then betwixt the hours of eight and Twelve of the Clock in the forenoon, or that your minister admitted any to be God fathers or God mothers to any Child in your parish before he or she such god father or godmother hath been partaker of the holy Communion.  

● Matters enquirable concerning the laity.  
9 whether have you not in your Chucrh or Chapel, The book of common prayer lately set forth by the King's Authority, the great English Bible, of the translations Authorised, the two volumes, and all other books commanded, a table of the Ten Commandments, and a Table of the degrees forbidding marriage, a conveneint Pulpit, a Comelis Communion table on a frame, A recent Linen Cloth to cover the said Table, with some other Covering or Carpet of silk or such like, A Communion Cup and Cover of silver. A fair standing pot of Pewter or purer me●●●l for the Communion wine, A decent Surplice with sleeves, A Font of stone for baptizing of Children A Chest for the alms Box and another for the Register book with three locks and Keys a péecs, And to there a transcript yearly given up to the ordinary of all christenings weddings and burials as the Laws require.  
10 Whether is your Church and Chancel in the roof walls, windows seats and pavement, and in every other part thereof well and sufficiently repaired. And the Churchyard well and sufficiently with good ra●les and sufficient p●les, or stone wall, fenced and kept sweet and clean, if not, in whose default, and are your bells and bell-ropes & all other apurtenantes thereto belonging in good order or not.  
11 Whether have not your Churchw, from time, to time, truly levied xii d for every sunday, of those which absent themselves from their parish Church to the use of the poor or detain they any of the common ●●ocke or ●a●e they not made and delivered up a just account to the parishioners of all their receipts and bursements, Whether is the poor-man's Box orderly kept, and such Sums of Money as are given distributed too the poor accordingly, or have your Churchwardens continued in that office above one year without a new election. And were your churchwardens elected in the Easter week as by the late canons Authorised by his Majesty, is required.  
12 Whether is there any in your parish that do refuse to come to their parish church or chapel to divine prayers and Sermons upon the Lords days commonly called Sundays or upon all other festival or holidays, appointed by his majesties authority, or any that do not orderly frequent the same, and do not resort to their said church, or chapel upon such days to divine prayers and Sermons: and there behave not themselves soblery and discreetly in hearing attentively the Scriptures read and in joining with the Minister and people, in prayers as becometh, or do not reverently remain with their heads uncovered at such times and places aforesaid. And whether the said parishioners especially one of every house at least do not frequent their said church or chapel to divine prayers upon wednesdays and Fridays.  
13 Whether any in your parish being of the Age of xuj years or above, have not received the holy communion in your parish church or chapel, and that humbly kneeling, three several times in this last year at the least, of which Easter to be one, or any that have not brought or seat their children Servants and youth to the church upon Sundays and holidays in the afternoon to be catechized according to the order lately appointed by the canons. And whether any do not humbly kneel at the general confessions and prayers and at their receiving the holy communion or any that use any talking walking or other unseemly behaviour in the church or churchyard in time of divine Service and Sacrament or do any way disturbs common prayers Preaching or other exercises of religion.  
14 Whether▪ any Dancers players of Interludes or such like, or any other do Dance play or use any unseemly parts or games, or sell any victuals or other Merchandise in the church or churchyard or do use to sit in the street, taverns, Alehowses or at home during service time and exercises of gods Worship▪ and is there any that suffer any such in their Houses at service time, and who be they: or be there any feasts drinckings, Church-ales, temporal Courts, lay juries musters, or other profane usage in the Church or churchyard or any superstitious ringing of bells: upon holidays or eves abrogated by authority.  
15 Whether any in your parish upon the Saboth days or holidays do use their Trade, or do any other work or labour as brewing baking, washing, or such like, or do open their shops for sale of wares upon those days.  
16 Whether is there any in your parish known or suspected to resort or to go to any Mass▪ or to any other such secret meetings any maintainers of superstition, or false Opinions, contrary to the book of common prayer or Articles of religion or any that speak against the Established government of the church in this Realm.  
17 Whether is there in your Parish, any Child or Children which have been baptized by any midwife, or other lay person, who they be that have see done, and what and who be the parents of such child or children and whether any child hath not been brought to the church to be baptized, or doth any person take upon him or her to be godfather or godmother to any child before he or she hath received the holy communion.  
18 Whether have you a Parish clerk in your church or chapel, was he chosen by the Minister, is he dutiful and diligent to the Minister, and learned, and sufficient to discharge his place. And doth he orderly Demean himself and discharge his said office accordingly as he ought, and is there any that withhold his accustomed duties from him.  
19 Whether are there any in your parish who are known suspected or famed, to be of evil life, to be incestuous persons Adulterers, fornicators, ●au●s, or barhorers of incontinent people in their houses, or who have conveyed them away before they have made satisfaction to the congregation offended. Any drunkards, Ribbons, Kailers, common slanderers makers of libels, scolds or sowers of discord, any swearors, Blasphemers of God's name, or profaners of his Saboth, or any that have fought, or stricken, or brawled in the Church, or churchyard.  
20 Whether is there any in your parish which hath, or hath had, at one time two wives, or any woman two Husbands any married with in the Degrees of Consanguinity or affinity forbidden. Any diverced keeping company still together. Any married which without order of law live a sunder and not together as man and wife, Any married which have made precontracts to others or any married without banes thrice solemnly asked in the Church three several sundays or holidays in the several places of their abode, otherwise then by licence of the ordinary, or any that marry forth of the parish Church where they dwell, or that marry without Consent of their parents or guardians or at any other time of the day then betwixt the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon.  
21. Whether is there any in your parish that have or do take any Usury or interest above Ten in the hundred for a year for Lending their Money Corn etc. or by any indirect means and Colourable practices in bargaining, do use that Detestable Crime, to the pinching and eating by of the Poor: by their Excessive gain.  
22 Whether is there any in your Parish that do presume to intermeddle or Deal with the goods of any Deceased before the will( if he made any) be Lawfuly proved, or before Adminstration( if he died intestate) be duly committed unto him under seal, or is there any hinderers of the Performans of such will or Administration. Any forgets or Changers of testaments or any Executors that have not fulfiled the Testators will, Especially in not paying Legacies given to the Church, to the poor, to amend High ways or to such like good and Godly uses.  
23 Whether have your Churchwardens and sidemen truly Noted and set down in writing in a paper book for that purpose, the names of all Preachers which come to them from any other place, and hath every such Preacher Subscribed his name thereto with the day when he preached, and the name of the Bushop of whom he had Licence to preach according to the 52 Canon.  
24 generally Whether do you know any other Ecclesiastical matter, worthy of presenting or no. And if you do, by the oaths you have Taken you shall truly present the same, aswell now as hereafter, when it shall come to your knowledge.  
FINIS.