ARTICLES OF VISITATION & ENQVIRY Concerning Matters ECCLESIASTICAL, Exhibited to the Ministers, Churchwardens, and Sidemen, Of every Parish within the Diocese of LINCOLN, At the Primary Visitation of the Right Reverend Father in GOD, THOMAS, Lord Bishop of that Diocese.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1679.   

The Tenor of the Oath to be Administered to the Churchwardens and Sides-men of every Parish.  
YOU shall swear in Truth, Judgement, and Righteousness, faithfully to execute the Office of a Churchwarden within your Parish; and according to the best of your S●●ll and Knowledge, Present such Things and Persons, as by these Articles, and the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm, you know to be Presentable. So help you GOD.   
ARTICLES OF VISITATION & ENQUIRY Within the DIOCESE of LINCOLN.  

TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chapels, with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging.  
IS your Church or Chappel kept in good and sufficient repair, and all things so decently ordered and kept clean, as becometh the House of God?  
II. Is there in the Church (or Chapel) a Font of Stone standing in the usual, ancient place, with a Cover to it, for the Administration of Baptism? Is there also a convenient Communion-Table, covered with a fair Carpet of Silk, or other decent Stuff, in time of Divine Service; and with a fair Linen Cloth at the time of Administering the Sacrament? What Cup, Chalice, Paten, or Flagons, have you belonging to that Service?  
III. Have you in your Church (or Chapel) a convenient Seat for your Minister to read Divine Service in, and a Pulpit with a decent Cloth or Cussion for the same? Have any Pews or Seats been erected by any private person of his own authority without leave from the Ordinary?  
iv Have you a large Folio Bible of the last Translation, with two Books of Common Prayer well bound, one for the Minister, the other for the Clerk? Have you the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority, the Book of Canons, and the Table of Degrees allowed and prohibited in Marriage?  
V Have you a Register Book of Parchment for all who are Christened, Married, and Buried in the Parish, in which are set down the Names of the Parties, with the Day, Month and Year of each Christening, Marriage, and Burial? Is the Transcript thereof every year, within one month after the 25 of March, carried into the Bishop's Registry?  
VI Have you a Paper Book in which the Names of Strangers who Preach or Officiate in the Church (or Chapel) are set down? And another Book for the Churchwardens Accounts?  
VII. Have you a fair Surplice for the Minister to wear at all times of his public Ministration provided at the charge of the Parish?  
VIII. Have you a Chest for Alms, with three Locks and Keys, and another Chest to keep the Books and Ornaments of the Church? Have you a Bier with a black Hearse-cloth for the Burial of the dead?  
IX. Is the Churchyard sufficiently fenced with Walls, Pales, or Rails, and decently kept from all annoyance or Encroachments? Are the Trees therein preserved?  
X. Is the Mansion House of your Minister, with all other Houses thereto belonging kept in good repair? Have any of them been pulled down or defaced? Hath any encroached upon the Land thereto belonging, or felled the Trees thereon growing?  
XI. Have you a perfect Terrier of all Glebe-lands, Gardens, Orchards, and Tenements belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage; also a particular Lift of such Pensions, Tithes, or other yearly profits (either within or without the Parish), as belong thereunto? Are any of them withheld from your Minister, as you know, or have heard, and by whom?  
XII. Have any of the ancient Glebe-lands belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage been taken away, or alienated by Sale or Exchange, without Licence from the Ordinary, and free consent of the Incumbent?   

TIT. II. Concerning Ministers.  
I. IS your Minister Episcopally ordained Deacon or Priest, according to the Laws of the Realm of England? Is he defamed or suspected to have obtained his Orders or Benefice by any Simoniacal compact? Hath he been legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice? and did he within two Months after his Induction, publicly read in the Church, in the time of Divine Service, the 39 Articles of Religion, established in the Church of England? And did he then and there declare his assent thereunto?  
II. Hath your Minister been Licenced to Preach by the Archbishop, Bishop of this Diocese, or either of the two Universities? Doth he diligently read Divine Service, and Preach every Lord's Day in the Church, unless hindered by Sickness, or reasonable absence? And in such cases, doth he procure some lawful Minister to read Prayers, to Preach, and perform other Ministerial Duties?  
III. Hath your Minister (or any other who Preached in your Church) published in his Sermons any Doctrine which is new, strange, and disagreeing from the Word of God, and the Articles of the Christian Faith, or any thing against the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church of England, as they are now established?  
iv Doth your Minister in the Morning and Evening Service, in the Administration of the Sacraments, and in performing other Religious Offices appointed by the Church of England, use the respective Forms in the Book of Common Prayer, which are enjoined in this Church? And doth he make use of the Surplice when he reads Divine Service, or Administers the Sacraments?  
V Doth your Minister diligently Catechise the Youth of his Parish every Sunday and Holiday before Evening Service? Doth he prepare and procure them (as occasion is offered) to come and be confirmed by the Bishop? And doth he endeavour to reclaim all Popish Recusants, and all Sectaries in your Parish, to the true Religion?  
VI Is your Minister a Man of sober, unblamable, and exemplary life? Is he grave, modest and regular in his outward demeanour and Apparel, according to the Constitutions of the Church? Or is his carriage, conversation, or company, in any kind whatsoever, disorderly, or scandalous, and unbeseeming his Calling and Charge?  
VII. Is your Minister ready to visit the Sick, and to Baptise Infants in danger of death, being so desired? Is any Infant, or more aged Person in the Parish yet unbaptised by his default? Have those Children which have been Baptised in private Houses by the Minister of the Parish, afterward been brought into the Church? and did the Minister there certify the Congregation, That the true Form of Baptism was by him privately before used? Or if any Children in the Parish have been Baptised privately by any other lawful Minister, have those Children been brought to your Church? And hath the Minister of the Parish there examined, whether such Children were lawfully Baptised, or not? Doth your Minister refuse to give the Sacrament to any in the Parish, and for what cause? Or doth he give it to such as are scandalous, or notorious sinners, or to any Excommunicate persons? Doth he duly Administer the Blessed Sacrament three times every year at the least, whereof Easter to be one?  
VIII. Doth your Minister Marry any Persons in Private Houses, or such as are under age, not having the content of their Parents and Guardians? Doth he Mary any without Banes first published three Sundays or Holydays in the Church? or at prohibited times or hours, without Licence so to do? Or with the Licence of any other than the Archbishop, Bishop of this Diocese, or his Chancellor?  
IX. Doth your Minister duly bid and observe holidays, and Fasting-days, as is appointed? And doth he then use the Forms of Prayer prescribed by the Church? Hath he taken upon him to appoint any private Fasts, or Religious Exercises, without Lawful Authority? Doth he, or any other (Minister or Lay person) in your Parish, hold any Conventicles, or Religious meetings for people of several Families to resort unto, contrary to the Laws in that case provided?  
X. Is your Minister constantly resident among you, and how many weeks in the year hath he been absent from his Benefice? Hath he a Curate to assist him in his absence or presence? Is that Curate in Holy Orders, and hath he a Licence from the Bishop, to serve the said Cure? Doth he carry himself in all things as an able and discreet Minister, and conformable to the Church of England? Doth he serve any more Cures beside that of your Parish, and at what distance? And doth any Layman, not being in Holy Orders, presume to read Public Prayers in the Church?  
XI. Is there in your Parish any Lecturer? Is he in Orders, and duly Licenced? Doth he read Divine Service before his Lecture? And is he conformable to the Discipline of the Church of England?  
XII. Doth your Minister every six months publicly denounce all such as persevere in the Sentence of Excommunication, not seeking to be Absolved? Have any Excommunicate Persons been received into the Church, without a Certificate from the Ordinary of their Absolution? Or any so dying, buried with Christian Burial?   

TIT. III. Concerning Parishioners.  
I. ARE there any in your Parish who are reputed Heretics or Schismatics, refusing Communion with the Church of England? Any Impugners of the Religion established, of his Majesty's Supremacy, or of any of the Laws, Rites, and Ceremonies Ecclesiastical? Have any spoken or declared any thing in derogation, or to the depraving of the Form of God's Worship in the Church of England, and Administration of the Sacraments, prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer, as it is now Established by Law? Are there any convicted Papists, known Anabaptists, or Quakers, in the Parish?  
II. Are there any in your Parish who lie under a common fame, or vehement suspicion of Adultery, Fornication, or Incest? Are there any common Drankards, Swearers, or Blasphemers of Gods Holy Name and Word? Are there any Excommunicate persons, or any who countenance, or keep company with them? What punishment for any such offences have been commuted and exchanged into a Pecuniary Mulct or Sum of Money by any Ecclesiastical Judge, exercising Jurisdiction within this Diocese, by virtue of any Grant or Commission? What was the Sum of Money by them, or any of them so received and taken, and to what uses was the same bestowed?  
III. Do any of your Parish profane the Lords Day by neglecting of public holy Duties, or by doing the works of their ordinary Calling, or using unlawful, Recreations, or permitting their Children and Servants so to do? Do they duly observe other Holidays, Festivals and Fasts appointed by Authority?  
iv Do all those who inhabit in your Parish, duly resort to your Church (or Chapel) and continue there during Divine Service, Sermon, and other Holy Duties, with that reverence, order and decency, as befits devout Christians? Or have any occasioned riot, clamour, or fight in the Church at any time? Is there any Recusant, Papists, or Sectaries in your Parish? Do they, or any of them keep any, Schoolmaster in their House, which cometh not to Church to hear Divine Service, and receive the Holy Communion?  
V Are there any in your Parish who refuse to have their Infant-childrens Baptised by your Minister? or do they keep them unbaptised longer than the Church allows? and what Infants, or more aged persons, are there in your Parish unbaptised?  
VI Do all your Householders duly send their Children, Apprentions, and Servants to be Catechised? And do they take care (when occasion is offered) they should be Confirmed by the Bishop?  
VII. Is there any person in your Parish so confirmed and instructed, and, being sixteen years of age, who refuseth to receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper, at least three times every year, whereof Easter to be one? And do all receive this Sacred Mystery with that outward gesture of humility and reverence as becomes them, meekly kneeling upon their knees, according to the order and custom of the Church?  
VIII. Are there any in your Parish who are known or suspected to be unlawfully Married, contrary to the Laws of God and this Church? Are there any, who being lawfully Married, (and never Divorced) do yet live asunder? Or any, who being lawfully Divorced, do live together again? Or being separated for Adultery, have afterwards enter married with any other during the life of their first Consort?  
IX. Are there any married Women in your Parish, who after their safe delivery from Childbirth, refuse to make their humble and public Thanksgivings to God, according to the appointment of the Church.  
X. Are there any of your Church, who refuse to pay their Easter Offerings, and other Duties to your Minister? Or to pay the Rates assessed on them, for the repair and provisions of the Church?  
XI. Do you know, or have you heard of any Patron or other person in your Parish, who having the Gift of an Ecclesiastical Benefice, hath made gain, thereby upon any Bargain, either for Money, Pension, Lease, Reserve of Tithes, or Gle●e, or other Simoniacal Compact whatsoever?  
XII. Do any among you refuse to bury their Dead, according to the Rites of the Church of England? Are there any Wills of deceased persons unproved, or Goods not administered? Do you know of any Legacies given to your Church, on the Cathedral Curch of St. Paul in London, or to the Poor, or to other charitable uses, not yet received by you, or detained from you, or not applied to the charitable uses appointed?   

TIT. IU. Concerning the Officers belonging to the Church.  
I. ARe the Churchwardens of your Parish yearly chosen according to Law? And are there Sidemen appointed to assist them, for the due ordering of the Church?  
II. Have the former and last Church Wardens given up their Accounts to those that succeed them, together with all Moneys, and other things belonging to your Church or Chappel?  
III. Have you a Parish Clark, aged twenty years at least▪ who is of sober Life and good report? Is he chosen by your Minister, and approved by the Parish? And is he able for Reading, Writing, and Singing, as a Clerk? And his Wages duly paid him?  
iv Doth he or your Sexton take care of your Church, to keep it locked and clean, to open the doors, and ring the Bells in due time, to call the Living to the Worship of God; also to admonish them by Tolling of a Passing-Bell for any that are dying, thereby to meditate of their own death, and to commend the others weak condition to the mercy of God?   

TIT. V. Concerning Almshouses, Schools, and Schoolmasters, Physicians, Chirurgeons, and Midwives.  
I IS there any Hospital, Alms-house, or Free-School, Founded in your Parish? Are they so governed and ordered in the use and revenue as the Founders appointed, according to the Ordinances and Statutes which have been made concerning the same?  
II. Doth any man keep a public or private School in your Parish? Is he or they licenced and allowed thereunto by the Bishop or his Chancellor? Doth he instruct his Scholars in the Catechism and Religion of the Church of England? Is there any Woman that taketh upon her to instruct and educate any young Maidens? Doth she resort duly, and bring with her to Divine Service, upon the Lord's Day and Holidays, all such young Maidens as are committed to her care?  
III. Do any in your Parish practice Physic, Chirurgery, or Midwifery, without Licence from the Ordinary?   

TIT. VI Touching Ecclesiastical Officers.  
I. ARE there any Ecclesiastical Officers that exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within this Diocese, that take, and receive any extraordinary Fees for any Cause? Have abuses or offences been presented by Churchwardens and Quest-men? And are such offences, being presented, suppressed or left unpunished?  
II. Have any Apparitors taken any reward for the concoaling of any offence, or the avoiding of the punishment of the Offenders? And do they summon any without a Citation first had?  
IF you know of any other Default or Crime of Ecclesiastical Cognizance, you are to present the same.   

Advertisements.  
I. EVery Parson and Vicar, and (in their lawful absence) the Curate of any Parish, may join in Presentments with the Churchwardens and Sidemen; and if they will not Present, than the Ministers themselves (being the Persons that have the chief care of suppressing Sin and Impiety in their Parishes) may Present such Crimes as are against the Ecclesiastical Laws, and want due Reformation. Can. 113.  
II. THe Ministers are to take notice, that the Bishop at his Visitation, will be ready to Confirm the Youth who shall be fitted and brought before him; and therefore they are desired, by diligent Catechising in the Grounds of Religion, to prepare those under their charge, and bring them at the time appointed, to the Bishop: For as (de Jure) he cannot, so (de Facto) he will not Confirm any, save such who have been duly Catechised, and (by their Pastor's Testimony) have attained such a measure of Knowledge of the Principles of Christian Religion, as may render them capable of Confirmation.  
T. LINCOLN.