ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY Within the Diocese of CHICHESTER, In the First Episcopal Visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, PETER, by Divine Permission, Lord Bishop of Chichester. In the Second Year of his Consecration. LONDON, Printed by A. Maxwell, 1670. The Tenor of the Oath to be administered to the Churchwardens and Sidemen. YOU shall Swear diligently to Inquire, and true Presentment make, of every person now or lately of your Parish, which hath made any default or offence enquirable by the King's Laws Ecclesiastical, and become known unto you: For your direction wherein, you shall duly consider all and every of these Articles given you in charge; and neither present, nor spare to present any for favour or malice, hope of reward, or fear of displeasure: So help you God. Concerning Religion, and the Government of the Church established in this Realm. IMprimis. Is there any in your Parish, who are guilty of Atheistical or blasphemous Speeches against the Majesty of Almighty God, or Scoffers of Religion, Artic. 1.2, 3, etc. ●n the Soul's future Immortal state? Is there any guilty of Speeches of Infidelity against the faith of our Lord jesus Christ? Any who in their communication, or otherwise, defend the Sociman, or Arrian Heresy, denying the Eternal Godhead of the Lord jesus, or Pelagian, denying the necessity of Grace, and of Baptism for the washing away of Original Sin? II. Is there any one that doth affirm or teach (and who is he) that the Holy Scripture doth not contain all things necessary to Salvation? or, Artic. 8. that what is contained in the three Créeds ought not throughly to be received and believed, or that the Church hath not Authority in Controversies of faith? III. Can. 3. Is there any in your Parish that doth affirm and teach that the Church of England by law established, is not a true and Apostolical Church▪ and a true member of the Catholic Church, having in her ●ll things necessary to Salvation? Or is there any that d●th affirm and teach that the xxxix Articles agreed upon by the Arch▪ Bishops and Bishops of both Provinces, Can. 5. and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London, A D. 1562, are in any part erroneous, or superstitious, or such as may not with a good conscience be subscribed unto? IV. Is there any in your P●rish that doth affirm and teach, Can. 4. that the form of God's W●rship in the Church of England established by law, and contained in the book of Common-Prayer, and Administration of Sacraments▪ is a corrupt Popish, or any way superstitious or unlawful Worship of God, or containeth any thing in it that is repugnant to Scripture; or to the Doctrine and Worship in the Catholic or Primitive Church? V. Is there any that doth affirm or teach (and who is he) that Baptism of Infants according to the Church of England is unlawful or unnecessary, or better to be delayed, or not appointed for the Remission of Sins, Galat. 3. Rubric after Baptism or that it may be repeated, or that Infants duly baptised according to the church's Order, and dying before they commit actual st●●●re not saved, everlastingly through God's grace given th●m in Baptis●? VI Is there any who doth affirm or teach that the K●ng's, Majesty hath not the same Prerogative in Cause's E●●●●si●st●cal, Can. 1 & 2. which we see hath been given always to ●ll god●y Princes by God himself both among the jews, and in the Christian Church? Art. 37. Or that doth any way deny or impugn the King's Majesty's Royal Authority or Supremacy in C●use● Ecclesiastical in this Realm? Or who denies that within his majesty's Realms of England, Scotland, and 〈◊〉, and all other his Dominions and Countries▪ our Lord the King is the highest Power under God, to whom the chief Government of all Estates whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in ●ll Causes doth appertain without any subjection due from Him or his Subjects to any foreign jurisdiction? VII. Is there any who doth affirm and teach (and who is he) that the Government of the Church of 〈◊〉 under his Majesty by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch-deacons, or other chief Ministers bearing office in the same, Can. 7. or that the forms or manner of Ordaining and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests and Deacons established by law contains any thing that is Antichristian, Can. 8. or repugnant to the ●ord of God, or to the practice of the Catholic Church? Or th●t pers●●s so ordained Bishops Priests or Deacons h●●e not sufficient external calling, or that they ought not to be 〈◊〉 truly Bishops, Priests, or Deacons till they h●ve some other external calling unto those divine Offices? or 〈◊〉 teaches that those three Holy Orders above●●●● have not b●en ever in Christ's Church even from the Apostles time? VIII. Is there any in your P●●i●h (●nd who is h●) that by separation of himself from the Church, or by joining himself to Convonticles breaks the Communion of the Church of England, or accounts of others as profane, Can. 9 and none of the godly, for their orderly conforming themselves to the Church of England as established by law? Or that any combining themselves in Assemblies or Congreg●tions of the King's born Subjects within this Land, other than such as by the laws of this Land are held and allowed may truly take unto themselves the name of another purer Church, or of the Church of England? IX. Is there any who doth affirm and teach (and who is he) that the Rites and Ceremonies, Can. 6. and the Rules of the Church of England by law established, are Antichristian, superstitious, or frivolous; Or any way unlawful or burdensome, or such as may not be subscribed unto, and practised with a good conscience, Can. 10. or that the Church hath no power to decree any such Rites and Ceremonies? Concerning the Clergy▪ their Duty and Office. I. IS the Parson, Act. of Unifor. Car. II. 14. Uicar (or also Curate) in holy Orders by Episcopal Ordination, a Priest ordained according to the laws of the Church of England▪ hath he been legally instituted and inducted into his Benefice, or is he known or suspected to have obtained his Parsonage or Uicaridge by any Symoniacal Contract? II. Did he within two Months after his Induction publicly in your Church or Chapel upon som● Sunday or Holiday in the time of D●vine Service openly read the xxxix. Ibid. Articles established by Authority in this Church, A.D. 1562; and then profess and publish his assent, and subscribe his name thereto in the presence of the Church Wardens? Do you not know, or have you not ●ear● that ●n his reading, or pretending to read those xxxix Articles, he p●ssed over some one or more of them, or some part of one or more, and what part of the Articles was it that he left unread▪ Di● your P●rson▪ Uicar or Curate upon some Lordsday before ●he Feast of St. bartholomew, A.D. 1662., or some Lordsday within two Months after Sis Induction, solemnly read in your Church or Chappel both Morning and Evening Prayer, as it is appointed in the book Common-Prayer by law established? And did he after such reading, publicly before the Congregation declare his unfeigned assent and consent to the use of all things in the said book contained, as is prescribed in the Act of Parliament lately made for the Uniformity of public Prayers? And did he within three Months after the said Feast of St. Bartholomew 1662., or within three Months after his Induction into your Church or Chappel, publicly upon some Lordsday in your Parish-Church read a Certificate under the hand and seal of the Archbishop, Bishop or Ordinary of the Diocese, That he the said Parson, Uicar or Curate, did before his admission to be incumbent, subscribe a declaration of the unlawfulness to take up arms against the King, of his conforming to the Liturgy of this Church, and of his disavowing the unlawful Oath commonly called, The Solemn League and Covenant, according as is prescribed in the aforesaid Act for Uniformity? Act of Parliament. Can. 47.48. III. Or after his lawful Entrance is your Pa●son or vicar resident upon his benefice: or if his residence be legally dispensed with, is his place supplied by a Curate allowed by the Bishops, and a licenced Preacher, and constantly resident amongst you? and what yearly Stipend doth your Minister allew him? And if your P●rson or vicar be both resident himself and keep a Curate, doth he notwithstanding himself, at least once a Month, openly read Common-Prayer in your Church or Chapel, and (if there be occ●sion) administer each Sacrament in such order, manner and form as is prescribed in the Liturgy and Canons of this Church? IV. Having both lawful Entrance and Residence among you; is he (your Parson, Uicar, or also Curate) of blameless Conversation, the Husband of one Wife, sober, grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, ruling his Children, 1 Tim. 3. and his own house well, sound in faith, in chari●y, in patience? Or on the contrary, is he a frequenter of Taverns or Alehouses, Can. 75, a common Gamester a profane or obscene jester, a swearer, railer, scoffer, or quarrel? Doth he set Neighbours at v●riance one with another? Doth he familiarly converse with persons Excommunicate, ungodly or vicious? Doth he resort to suspected and infamous houses? Or is he himself vehemently suspected of Incontinency, with any person within or without your Parish? Or doth your Curate or Minister lodge or board at any Tavern, Inn, Alehouse, or house of any ill report? V. Doth your Minister or Curate plainly, audibly, distinctly, and reverently read the Divine Service of Morning and Evening-Prayer, without any diminution, addition, Act of Unitor. Rubric. or alteration, upon all Sundays and holidays, not omitting also other days appointed by the book of Common-Prayer as fit and usual times, Can. 14. Can. 15. as Wednesdays and Fridays (with the Litanies added) and the Eves of every Sunday and Holiday, with Ember and Rogation days? And moreover, when he is at home, and not otherwise reasonably hindered himself, Rubric after Preface. or not able to get two or three gathered together, doth he every day say Divine Service Morning and Ebening in the Parish-Church, where he ministers, and cause a Bell to be tolled thereunto, that the People may come to hear God's Word, and to pray with him? VI Doth your Minister reverently and publicly, Rubric at the Font only, administer the Holy Sacrament of Baptism? Or doth he refuse or delay to christian any child that is brought to him to Church on any Sunday or Holiday, Can. 68 Rubr. of Baptism knowledge thereof being given to him over Night, or in the Morning before Morning-Prayer, or neglect to persuade all those who have the use of Reason, and are still unbaptised (having been seduced by An●b●p●ists) to come to Holy Baptism, and doth he take care for their Baptism as in the Common-Prayer-book is prescribed? Can. 29.30. Or doth he refuse or neglect at any time to sign the child baptised with the sign of the Cross; Rubric. or doth he admit such to be Godfathers or Godmothers who are either the Parents or who have not themselves received the Holy Communion? VII. Doth your Minister duly and reverently administer the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord so often, at least, and at such times, Rubr. Can. 21. as every Parishioner may Communicate at the least three times in every year in public, whereof the Feast of Easter to be one? And doth he reverently and carefully in all things observe all the Church's Order in the Celebration? D●th he give warning publicly in the Church at Morning-Prayer the Sunday before Can. 22. for the better preparation of his Parishioners? And do such as purpose to Communicate, signify their Names at least some time the day before? and when he seeth the People negligent to come to the Communion, Rubric doth he use the Churches second Exhortation? and when there is no Communion, doth your Minister every Sunday and Holiday through●ut the year re●d the Communion Service, so much of it as is appointed to be read by the Book of 〈◊〉- Prayer▪ and a● the place app●●n●e●▪ thereby▪ professing his and the Church's re●diness to the ●ore frequent Celebration of th● Holy Eucharist, if Communicants 〈◊〉 of wanting? V●II Doth your Minister wittingly admit to the receiving the Holy Communion, Rubr. any one such who is known to live in open and notorious sin without repentance? or that h●s wronged his Neighbour by word or deed, Can. 26. so as th●t the Congregation is thereby offended, or such betwixt whom he perceives malice or hatred to reign, and will not be reduced by him to a reconcilement, or to any who refuse to be present at the other public Prayers of the Church or to any th●t be common or notorious depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer, or of any thing contained in the xxxix Articles; or in the Book of Ordaining Bishops, Priests, and Deacons or to any that has spoken against his Majesty's Supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical, except such persons do acknowledge to the Minister, before you the Churchwardens that he is sorry for the same, and promise under his hand (if he can write) or otherwise by word of mouth, that he will do so no more? Or lastly, to any that refuse to receive the said Holy Communion kneeling, and of all such persons by him put from the communion, doth he give an account to his Ordinary according to Law? Can. 27. IX. Doth he at the Celebration of the Holy Communion in the due places appointed by the Liturgy, take the Paten into his hands, and break the bread, and lay his hand upon all the bread, and take the cup into his hand, and lay his hand upon every Uessel in which there is any Wine to be consecrated? Rubr. and when that which is consecrated is spent, doth he communicate any persons without consecrating more according to the form prescribed, and doth he severally deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant; Rubr. and at his delivering the same, doth he rehearse, Can. 21. the whole form prescribed in the Communion-book, saying, The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. And The Blood o● ou● Lord Jesus Christ which watchet, &c Or doth he use only some part thereof as he listeth himself? and when all h●ve communicated doth he cover wh●t remains of the Consecrated Elements wi●h a fair Linnen-cloth? and what remains is it reverently eaten and drunken by some of the Communicants within your Church? X I●●ny person si●k or in health (especially before the Receiving th● Holy Communion finding his conscience troubled with any weighty m●tters, ●. Exhort. to Con. m. doth for the quieting of his conscience, and for fu●●her comfort and counsel, unburden his conscience to his Priest or Minister; doth then the said Priest or Minister upon special confession of his sins made (to make which ●l●o h● is by the Minister to be moved) upon his repentance administer unto him absolution, together with Ghostly counsel and advice? and have you ever heard that the said Priest or Minister ha●h revealed or made known at any time to any person whatsoever directly or indirectly any crime or offence confessed to him in secret by any such Penitents whatsosoever (except they be such crimes as by the Laws of this Realm for the public concern, Can. 113 1. Exhort. for the Comm. in the Rubr. of the Visitation of the sick. & Can. the Life of the said Priest may and aught to be called in question for concealing of them?) II. Is you● Minister ● li●ensed Preacher, by the Bishop, or either of the two Universities? and if so, doth he then constantly, ● unless in case of sickness▪ necessary absence, or other reasonabl● impediment himself preach in your Church or Chappel, or in some other near adjoining, one Sermon every Lordsday? or in such cases of impediment, doth he procure some lawful Minister and licenced Preacher, to read Prayers and to preach one Sermon and to perform other Ministerial Duties each such Day besides the F●●st● of Christ's Nativity, Passion, Can. 45.46.49.47. and Ascension at the least▪ or if no Sermon be, take care that one of the Homilies set forth by Authority, be there read by a Priest or Deacon lawfully ordained on every Sunday, and Holiday in the Year? hath he in his own Sermons at any time or in other Discourse (as you know or have heard of) preached or maintained any unsound Heretical, Seditious, or Schismatical Doctrine so far as you can judge? or spoken aught privately in contempt of Religion, or that Religion or any part of it, which he by his office in this Church professeth? XII. Doth he or any other admitted to preach in your Church, omit before his Sermon or Homily briefly to move and exhort the people in the form laid down in the 55 th' Canon, or to the same effect, (declaring for whom, and for what mercies they are to pray, Can. 55. and to give God thanks) to join with him finally in Prayer for all those mercies in that most Holy and Comprehensible Prayer of our Lord? XIII. Doth your Minister diligently catechise the Youth of your P●rish every Sunday and Holiday by way of Question and Answer, Rubric. according to the Church's public Catechism, or also further instruct them in the sense thereof, as he shall think fit, and this after the second lesson openly in the Church? Doth he by this and all other good means and admonitions, prepare and procure them (as occasion is offered devoutly to come and seek to be confirmed by the Bishop; and himself either bring or send in writiting under his hand the names of● all such persons in his Parish, as he shall find by his Examination fit to be presented to the Bishop, humbly to seek and ask that benefit of Confirmation? XIV. Doth your Minister endeavour privately to reclaim & reduce all Popish Recusants, & all Sectaries in your Parish to the Communion in the public and established Worship of God in this Church? Can. 66. Is he also ready to visit the sick? And doth he call upon them to receive the holy Sacrament in their sickness? Can, 67. Rubric. And doth he administer it to them? And is he also ready to baptise Infants in danger of death▪ Is any Infant or more aged person in the Parish yet unbaptised by his default? Have those Children that have been baptised in private houses by your Minister or other lawful Minister, afterwards been brought into the Church and the Order of the Church concerning them, there duly observed? XV. Hath your Minister, or any other, baptised Children, churched any Women, Rubric. or ministered the holy Communion in any private house, (where they have any Church or Chapel in the Parish) otherwise then by Law is allowed in cases of necessity? XVI. Doth your Minister on the three R●gation days before the Feast of the holy Ascension, go in perambulation of the Circuit of the Parish? And when he so goeth, do●● he admonish the people to give thanks to God, in the beholding of his benefits, for the increase and abundance of his 〈◊〉 upon the face of the Earth? And when there appears any ●ear of scarcity, to pray to God for his mercy and favo●● unto the L●nd, going into the Church with them, and reading the Litany and one part of one of the Homiles, set forth and appointed for that purpose of the Rogations? XVII. Doth he bid or observe the holidays▪ Can. 22. and Fasting-days, and days of Abstinence, and other solemn days for which particular Services are appointed, as they occur or return from time to time, Can 64. Rubric. giving notice to the Parishioners of every of the same in the Church, in the time of Divine Service, the Sunday next before? XVIII. Doth your Minister always at the reading or celebrating any divine office, constantly wear the Surplice and other Scholastical Habit, according to his degree if he be a Graduate, and without a Ho●d (only instead thereof a Tipet of black Stuff, not Silk being permitted him) if he be no Graduate? And doth he wear his Hair of a moderate and comely length? Is his usual Apparel decent in fashion and in colour, such as in enjoined him by the Canons of the Church? XIX. Doth he in the presence ●f the Churchwardens, write and record in your Register Book, the Names and Surnames of all persons baptised, married, and buried in your Parish from time to time, yearly transmitting a Copy of those Christen, Marrying, and Burying, subscribed with his own the Churchwardens or Overseers names into the Bishops and Registry? XX. Doth your Minister permit any strange Ministers to preach in your Church who is not sufficiently licenced and Authorised thereto? XXI. Doth your Parson, U●●ar, or Curate celebrate Matrimony betwixt any persons without the Banes of Matrimony first published on three several Sundays or holidays in the Parish Church or Chappel where the said Parties dwell, Can. 62. or at the time by Law prohibited, without special Faculty or Licence in either case, granted by lawful Authority? Or doth h● celebrate the same in any other place than in the Church? or in the Church at any other time, then between the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon? Or betwixt such persons as are prohibited by the Laws of God. expressed in the Table of Marriage; or under the Age of One and twenty years▪ without the consent of their Parents or of th●ir Guardians and Governors (if their Parents be de●d) signified unto him? XXII. Or have any any such Licenses as above mentioned, that you know of, Can. 103 & Constit●t. 1597. Tit. d. Moderandis indulgentiis. been granted by any under the jurisdiction of this Diocese, for the Celebration of Matrimony, until it do appear to the person himself, who is judge in these cases, by the Oaths of two sufficient witnesses, one of them known to the judge, or to some person, whom the judge dares trust in this particular, That the express consent of the Parents or Parent (if one be dead) or Guardian or Guardians of the Parties, is thereunto had and obtained, and until one of the Parties to be married have pesonally sworn, that he believeth there is no let or impediment of Precontract, Kindred or Alliance, nor any other lawful cause, nor any suit commenced in any Ecclesiastical Court to bar or hinder the proceeding of the said Matrimony? XXIII. Hath your Minister admitted any Women begotten withChi●d in Adultery or Fornication, to be churched without licence from the Ordinary? XXIV. Doth your Minister serve more than one Church or Chapel in distinct Parishes on one day? Can. 48. Can. 15.71. if so, how f●r distant are those Churches or Chapels which he so serveth? XXV. Doth your Parson vicar or Curate (if commanded by the Ordinary) openly some Sunday denounce and declare for to Excommunicate all such as stand Excommunicate by the Law of the Church, Can. 65. that others may be admonished to refrain their Company? hath he s●id Divine Service whilst he knew such Excommunicate persons to have been in the Church? or admitted such to the Communion whilst they stood so excommunicate. XXVI. Doth your Parson, Uicar, Can. 68 or Curate (having convenient notice given) delay or refuse to bury any that are brought to the Church or Church-yard according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer except such as die unbaptised, Excommunicate 〈◊〉 Excommunicationepunc; and no man able to testify their Repentance, or have l●id violent hands upon themselves?) XXVII. Doth your Minister in the Parish Church or Chappel where he hath charge, read the Book of Canon's and Constitutions, agreed on at the Synod holden at London A.D. 1603, once every year upon some Sundays or holidays, in the afternoon before Divine Service, and doth he so divide the same, as the one half may be read one day, and the other half the other day? XXVIII. Is any Lecture preached in your Church? Can. 53, 54. is he or are they who preach it, Licenced so to do by the Bishop? Doth every such one, before his Lecture either read the whole public Service himself appointed for that day by the Church in his Surplice, or at least be present at the whole reading thereof? and is he in all respects conformable to the Laws and Orders of the Church of England? Or doth he any way endeavour to bring the Parson or vicar of the place into disrepute with his Parishioners? XXIX. Doth every one abide in his own calling whereunto he is called? Can. 76. viz. Doth any Layman that is not duly ordained openly read Common-Prayer, or execute any Ministerial duty in your Church? Or is there any Clergyman, viz. in Holy Orders who doth voluntarily relinquish those his Orders, and use himself as a Layman only without taking any care of the Church of God? Concerning the Parishioners. I HAve you any 〈◊〉 or person living in your Parish tha● to you● 〈◊〉 live not as becomes a Christian, according to his 〈◊〉 and vow made in his Baptism; viz. de 〈…〉 worldly 〈◊〉, Tit. 2. living soberly, justly and god 〈…〉 II. 〈…〉 in your Parish who wilfully absent themselves 〈…〉 Church or Chapel either at Morning or 〈…〉 up●n Sundays and other days appointed by 〈…〉? 1 〈◊〉 cap. 2. Or who come late to the Ch●rch or 〈…〉 b●fore Service be done, and the blessing 〈…〉 up●n ●ny holidays employ themselves in they 〈…〉 labour, or apply or permit their servants so to 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 of u●ge●t necessity, as may be in Harvest? have you any that upon such days keep open shops or sell wares especially in time of Divine Service? Or have you any Uintuers, Innkeepers, or other Uictuallers, or sel●ers of Bée● or Ale, that permit any on such days to tipple or game in their houses, or upon any pretence whatsoever, (except in some necessity as of sickness) to remain in their houses in the time of Divi●e Service, or Sermon, forenoon, or afternoon, upon those d●ys? or any th●t will come to hear S●●mons but will not come to Common-Prayer and Worship of G●● appointed in this Church? III A●● there any in your Parish of years of understanding that remain unbaptised, R●br. of Baptism or any that refuse to send their Infants to be baptised publicly in the Church (except in cases of necessity) or in such cases do they procure them to be baptised at home in due manner according to the order of the Church of England? . Or any persons that being unconfirmed are not brough●●o confirmation, or being of years, neglect themselves to seek it upon pretence of having received the Communion, or Orders, or upon any other pretence whats●ever? Or are there any that being Sixteen years of Age, do not receive the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist three times in the year, C●n. 112 (whereof E●ster to be one?) Or that doth forsake their own Parish-Church to receive elsewhere? Can. 51. Or are there any married Women, who after their delivery from the Pai● and Peril of Childbearing, refuse in convenient time to return a pubblick thanksgiving to God, according to the Order o● the Church? Or are there any that refuse to bury their d●●d according to the Rites of the Church? IV. Do any in your Parish entertain in their house any Sojou●n●●, common Guests, or other persons, who ●e●use to frequent Divine Service, or receive the Holy Communion as aforesaid, and what are the names, qualities, and conditions of such Sojourners? V. Do any refuse to be uncovered during the ●i●e of Divine Service, or devoutly to kneel w●en by the Common-Prayer-book they are comm●nded so to do? or to stand up, Can. 18. at the Glory be to the Father, etc. and at the C●●●ds and Holy Gospel, and to make answer at all the 〈…〉 appointed by the the said Book, and due reverence, when the N●me of ou● Lord Jesus is mentioned? And say the Creed and the Lord's 〈◊〉 in a loud voice with the Minister▪ 〈…〉 in the time of Divine Service behave themselves 〈…〉 walking, talking, C●n 111 whispering, laughing▪ or sleepi●●▪ VI. Do any persons 〈…〉 into your Church in time of Divine 〈…〉, or d●th any other person disturb your Minister doing 〈◊〉 part of his Ministerial Office? or 〈…〉 challenge one another▪ or fight in the Church or 〈…〉 Or are any Plays, Feasts Drink 〈…〉 in your Church or Church-yard? C●n. 59 VII Do an● 〈◊〉 ●n you● P●rish ●egles to ●●use 〈…〉 or other Persons living in their 〈…〉 yet learned the Church's Catechism, to 〈…〉 come to Church on Sundays & holidays 〈…〉 by their Minister and instru●te● therein? 〈…〉 any in your Parish, Master or Sequent, C●n. 10● 115 〈◊〉, 〈…〉 Man or Woman, that live in Adultery, 〈…〉 h●ving married within the degrees prohibited 〈…〉 in a T●able set ●orth by Authority) Or 〈◊〉 you 〈…〉 together in your Parish as man & wi●e, wh● 〈◊〉 in make known, when, where, or by whom they were Married? Or any that being lawfully Married do yet live asunder without separation in due form of Law? Or h●ve you any B●wd●, Entertainers or concealers of incontinent persons, or any common Drunkard's Extortioners, Swearers, Railers, R●vilers, common Slanderers of their Neighbours, filthy and lascivious talkers, or which h●ve solicited any person to unchastity? or any which have used any Charms, Enchantments▪ or consult●ti●ns of these called Wizards, or cunning men and Sorceries, such ●s a●e not made Felony by the Laws of this Realm? or w●ich h●ve committed perjury in any Ecclesiastical C●urt 〈…〉? Can. 114 IX. Are there any Recusants in your Parish or other Schismatically affected ●h● ke●p in their houses any that take upon them to be spiritual guides and just utters, or any Schoolmaster in their Family which come n●t to Church to hear Divine Service, and to receive the Holy Communion? or that labour to seduce and withdraw others within, or without the Family, from the Religion in th●s Church established▪ or any in your Parish that retain, sell, or disperse any Popish books or writings, or other books or writings of ●ny Sectaries touching the Religion, State, or Government Ecclesiastical of this Kingdom of England, or books of Heresy? X. Have you any in your Parish that are suspected to be Ana-Baptists, Familists, Libertines Brownists, Quakers, Independents, or Presbyterian opposers of the Episcopal Government. Can. 92. XI. Are there any in your Parish that do to your knowledge, or as you h●ve heard, withhold the stock of the Church, or any part thereof, or any goods or legacies, or other things given to pious and charitable uses, any pr●visio●e for free Schools, Almshouses or Hospitals (such as are not of his Majesty's Foundation or Patronage) employed otherwise than according to the intent of their several foundations? Are there any Testaments or Wills by any concealed or improved, or any Goods unadministred by lawful Authority? Can. 112 114 Rubric a●ter Comm. XII H●ve you any in your P●rish that refuse to pay their duty for ●●ster offerings to your Minister or 〈◊〉 reckon with him then, or tha● refuse to contribute and 〈◊〉 Rate c●ssed u●on them for the repair of your Church or Chapel▪ or for the providing of such Books, Furniture, or necessary Ornaments as are requisite for the performance of any of the Divine Offices there? XIII. Do you know of any person in your Parish having the Presentation or gift of any Ecclesiastical Benefice, who hath presented a Minister to it upon any Bargain, either for Money, or Pension, or Lease, or reserve of Tithes, or Glebe, or any part thereof, or upon any other Symon●acal contract whatsoever? Concerning Churchwardens, Sidemen, Parish-Clarks and Sextons. I. ARe the Churchwardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen, and sworn? C●n. 89. Have the last Churchwardens given up their Accounts before the Minister and Parishioners, delivering up also the money remaining in your hands, C●n. 90. and other things of right belonging to your Church or Chappel? and is the s●me delivered to you by bill indented? II. Doth any person or persons trouble or molest you the Churchwardens for presenting any offenders in any of the premises, C●n. 115 or for performing the duty that lies upon you in executing any part of your office, and who are they that do so molest and trouble you? III. Do you the Churchwardens against every Communion provide a sufficient quantity of fine white bread, Rubr. Can. 20. and good and wholesome Wine for the number of the Communicants? and do you bring ●he Wine so provided in a cle●● and sweet standing Flagon of Pewter, or other purer Metal. IV. Do you suffer the Table for the Holy Communion to be applied at any time, to any profane ●r common use, as of writing, setting dead Corpse upon it at Funerals, or others in the Church to sit upon it, or irreverently to make it a place to lay their arms or hats upon it? V. Do you the Churchwardens note them that come late to Church after Divine Service is begun, or depart before it be ended? Act. 1. ● Eliz. and do you take diligent notice of the absent and (by Warrant desired from some of the justices of peace) according as by law you are directed, do you lev●e by way of distress from every person of the Parish that doth not resort to your Parish-Church or Chapel on every Sunday and Holiday (having no lawful or reasonable excuse to be absent) the sum of 12 d. for every Sunday or Holiday in which he is so absent? and do you distribute the several sums so levied to the poor of your Parish according to the law in that case provided? and before you present any for such default, do you first seriously admonish them? VI Do you suffer none in time of Divine Service to stand idle, Can. 90. or talk together in the Church-porch, or to walk in the Church or Church-yard, nor children playing or crying in or about the Church? nor suffer any to bring Dogs, Hawks, or Hounds into the Church to the disturbance of the Congregation? VII. Are the Sidemen duly chosen? do they assist the Churchwardens in the executing their Office? and do they join with them in framing Presentments? VIII. Have you a Parish Clark aged 20 years at the least, chosen by your Minister, of honest life and conversation, and sufficiently able to perform his duty in reading, Can. 91. writing, and singing? and doth he duly attend the Minister in all Divine Offices at the Church? doth be keep clean the Church, and carefully look to it, and to the Books? and is he paid the ancient and usual wages as hath been accustomed? IX. Doth your Clerk, or your Sexton (if there be any such in your Parish) diligently look to the doors of the Church that they be locked and opened at due times, and the Bells tolled and rung at the due and accustomed hours before the beginning of Morning and Evening Service, that the People may be warned and invited; to come to the Church? and when any person is passing out of this life, doth he upon notice given thereof, toll a Bell as hath been accustomed, that devout and charitable persons may thereby be warned to recommend the Soul of the dying person to the grace, Can. 67. mercy, and peace of God Almighty? X. Do they at the instance of any, make any grave in any part of the Church (except in such Isles where some person hath propriety) without the express consent of your Minister. Concerning Churches, and their Possessions, Ornaments, Utensils, and other Necessaries to the same belonging. I. IS your Church or Chappel kept in good repair? are the roofs, the walls, the floors, windows, seats and doors, Can. 15 well maintained? & is your Porch and Steeple in good repair, and Bells kept in good order by the care and oversight of the Churchwardens at the charge of all persons occupying any La●ds or Tenements within your Parish, as well out-dwellers as Inhabitants, rating all proportionably for the Lands and Tenements they occupy therein? And is your Church or Chappel-yard sufficiently fenced with walls, rails, or pales, as hath been accustomed, and that by the moneys cessed upon Lands and Tenements in your Parish as aforesaid, except you have a special custom otherwise directing you? II. Are there any Isles adjoining to your Church or Chancel which time out of mind have been repaired by the owners of any Message in your Parish? if so do the owners thereof repair the same? III. Is the Chancel of the Church sufficiently repaired and beautified by the Minister or other person to whom that doth belong? IV. Is there any in your Parish that hath converted to his own, or to any common secular use, any Timber, Wood, Stone, or other Materials belonging to any Church or Chappel, Parsonage or Uicaridge house, or outhouses thereof? V. Have you in your Church a decent Font of stone for the Administration of Holy Baptism, and the same set in the ancient and usual place appointed for it; and have you in the Chancel a decent Table for the Celebration of the Holy Communion, and for the Communion-service, and a Carpet of silk or other decent stuff, to lie continually upon th● Table, during the time of Divine Service, and a fair linen cloth to lay on the same, at the time of the Holy Communion? and have you i● fair Communion Cup of Silver, with a Cover, a Plate, and a Flagon of Pewter, or purer Metal, the one to place the Bread on, the other to bring the Wine into the Holy Table, and a fair linen cloth for covering the Consecrated Elements? Have you in your Church or Chappel a convenient reading Seat or Pew, erected for your Minister wherein to read the daily Morning and Evening Service, as also a decent Pulpit set in a convenient place for the preaching of God's Word. VI Have you belonging to the Church or Chappel a perfect Bible of the largest Uolumn, Can. of the last Translation allowed by Authority? Have you two Books of Common-Prayer set forth according to the last Act of Parliament for the Uniformity of public Prayers? And are both also of the largest Uolumn, fairly bound, one for the Minister, and another for the Clerk, to use at the celebration of all Divine Offices? the Book of Homilies, the Book of Canons and Constitutions made in the Synod held at London 1603, a Table of Degrees in marriage prohibited, set forth by Authority, A. D. 1563; a Parchment Register-book, to register the several Christen, Marriages, and Bury within the Parish? Have you a Book to set down the names of such Strangers as preach in your Church? and another Book wherein to write down and keep the Accounts of the Churchwardens, and an Inventory of all things provided and belonging to your Church? Have any other Books, as the Works of Bishop Jewel, Erasmus his Paraphrase upon the Gospel, or any other good Books been carried out of the Church, into any man's private House, Or been l●s●? Can, 82 VII. Are the ten Commandments and chosen Sentences of Scripture, or the Lord's Pr●yer and others set up in your Church or Chappel, as the Canon does require? Can. V●II. Have you a large and decent Surplice, one, or more, for the Minister to wear at all times of his public Ministration? And have you a Ho●d or Typet for your Minister to wear over his Surplice, if he be a Graduate? IX H●ve you in your Church or Chappel a strong Chest 〈◊〉 three Lo●k● and Keys for the Alms of the poor, and a hole therefore in the upper part thereof? and is one of those Keys in the custody of the Parson, Uicar, or Curate? And have you one other convenient Chest, for keeping the Books and Furniture belonging to the Church; and a Bier with a Hearse-cloth for the burial of the dead? X. Have any trees been cut down, growing in the Churchyard or fences thereof, and by whom, and for what use was it done? what private doors are made into the Churchyard, whereby Nuisances are committed, and by whom were those doors made? Is any Encroachment made upon that ground? XI. Have you any Lands or Tenements given or belonging to the repairing of your Church? what is the quantity and value thereof, and in whose possession are they? XII. When any of those things mentioned in the 6, 7, 8 or 9 Articles above are wanting, are they provided by the Churchwardens, at the charge only of the Inhabitants of the Parish, according to each Inhabitants personal State, and not otherwise? And do you the Church Wardens when you make a Rate for the same, and also for the buying of Bread and Wine for Communions, and for the expenses of yourselves and Sidemen at Uisitations, and to pay for scouring your Plate, and washing the Surplice and Communion clothes, and if you have not a Custom to the contrary) to pay your Parish Clark his ancient Wages; When you m●ke, I say at any time such a Rate, or a Rate according to the first Article for the repair of your Church, do you give public notice in the Church to the Parishioners of the time and place of your making them, and also of the time and place when and where your Rate shall be offered to be confirmed by your Ordinary? that the Objections of any may be heard, before they be by the Ordinary ratified? X●II. Is the House of your Parson vicar, or Curate, with all the out● houses thereto belonging, kept in good and sufficient repair? or have any of the said houses or outhouses been pulled down without Licence from the Ordinary? and by whom? Hath any person 〈◊〉 upon any Orchad, Garden, Yard, or 〈◊〉 belonging to your Parsonage or Uicaridg●house, or fe●●d any tree thereon growing? X●V 〈…〉 of the ancient Globe Lands belonging to your Minister's, been taken aw●y, or exchanged for other Lands, without the free consent of the Patron Incumbent, and Licence from the Ordinary? And have you a perfect terrier of all Glebe-Lands, Maddows, Gardens, Orchads, Stocks, Implements, Tenements or Cottages belonging to your Parsonage, Can. 87. or Uicaridg? as also, a Note of such Pensions, Rate-tithes, and Portions of Tithes (or other yearly profits either within or without your Parish) as belong thereunto? and finding no such terier, do you the Churchwardens and Sidemen, together with your Minister and others of your Parish, make a terrier of the Premises in Parchment, subscribed and signed by you to be kept by your Minister, and a Copy thereof subscribed and sign'● sent into the Bishop's Registry? XV. Are the Bones of them th●t h●ve been buried in your Church or Church-yard kept decently, interred there, or laid up in some ●it place as beseemeth Christians? and is the whole consecrated ground kept free from Swine and other filth and annoyance, as becomes a place so dedicated? Concerning Schoolmasters, Physicians, Surgeons and Midwives. Can. 77.79. I. DO any in your Parish teach or instruct Youth in any public School, or private House, without Licence from his Ordinary? and doth he cause his Scholars on Sundays and holidays to resort to Church, to hear Divine Service, Sermons and Catechise? and does he see that they behave themselves there orderly and reverently? and doth he himself teach them the Catechism set forth by Authority? and is he deligent to bring them up in the fear of God, in good learning, and manners? II. Do any in your Parish practise Physic or Surgery without a Licence from the Bishop himself if at home, or in his absence by the Ordinary upon the place? Are your Midwives also licenced by the Ordinary? Touching Public Ecclesiastical Officers of the whole Diocese (within the Bishop's Visiration.) I. ARe there any Ecclesiastical Officers (within the Bishop's Visitation) any Advocate, Register, Proctor, Clerk, Apparitor, or other Minister belonging to the Ecclesiastical Court, that takes and exacts any extraordinary or greater fees than are due and accustomed? II. Hath any Apparitor taken Reward or Fee to excuse any appearance before the Ecclesiastical Court? or hath the Register-sped any Act, or dismissed any person detected without the knowledge and actual consent of the judge? Are any gifts or rewards taken by any for perverting justice. III. Hath ay person within your Parish paid or promised any sum of Money, or other reward for commutation of Penance for any crime of Ecclesiastical Cognisance? If so, how hath the same been disposed of, to pious and charitable uses (as far as you know?) FINIS. An Advertisement to the Churchwardens, and Sidemen, and Minister. IF you know of any other Default or Crime of Ecclesiastical Cognizance, you are to present the same. The Minister of every Parish, may join in Presentment with the Churchwardens and Sidemen, and if they be not faithful in their Care to admonish and present, than the Parsons or Vicars, or in their absence, the Curates (being the persons that should principally have care of suppressing of sin and impieties in their Parishes) may, and may find themselves in conscience obliged to present especially the greater Crimes, and whatsoever in their conscience they know needeth reformation in their Parish, Can 113 as they tender the good of the Souls of their Parish; Forsomuch as in both the Churchwardens, with the Sidemen and the Minister, the true discharge of the duty of presenting is one chief means appointed whereby public Disorders, Sins, and Offences against God, may be reform and punished; so that their wilful refusing to make true presentment, leaves the unreformed Vices of the Nation at the Doors of such Officers, and for which they are to answer to Almighty God, and the sworne-men also to the King in his Ecclesiastical Courts.