ARTICLES OF Visitation & Enquiry Exhibited to the MINISTERS, CHURCHWARDENS, and SIDEMEN Of every Parish in the primary Episcopal Visitation Of the Right Reverend Father in God JOHN By Divine Permission Lord Bishop of OXFORD.  〈…〉  

The tenor of the Oath to be administered to the Churchwardens, and Sidemen of every Parish.  
YOU Shall swear truly and faithfully to execute the Office of a Churchwarden within your Parish, and according ●o the best of your skill and knowledge present such Things and Persons, as you ●now to be presentable by the laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm. So help you God, ●nd the contents of this Book.   

ARTICLES OF INSTRUCTION FOR Visitation and Enquiry IN THE DIOCESE of OXFORD.  

TIT. I. Concerning Churches and Chapels, with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging.  
1. IS your Church or Chapel in good and sufficient repair, and so decently and cleanly kept as becomes the house of God?  
2. Is the furniture of your Church or Chapel, as Bells, Communion plate and clothes, Ministers surplice, Pulpit-cloth, Hearse-cloth, with other usual Ornaments duly provided, and decently kept?  
3. Have you a fair Bible, book of Common Prayer, books of Homilies, and Canons; a Register of Births, Burials and Marriages, and is the said Register duly kept, and the transcript returned every year into the Bishop's Registery? Have you also a Register of such Strangers as are admitted to Preach; and a book for the entry of the Churchwardens accounts? And are the said books carefully looked to, and constantly employed?   

TIT. II. Concerning the Churchyard, the Houses, Glebes, and Tithes belonging to the Church.  
1. IS your Churchyard sufficiently fenced and preserved from anoiance, encroachments, and waste?  
2. Is the dwellinghouse, and all the outhouses of your Parson, Vicar, or Curate kept in good repair: and are the Glebe-lands, Orchards, Gardens, and other easements belonging to them, preserved from being embezeled, or endamaged? And have you a perfect Terror of such Glebe-lands, Orchards, etc. and also of Pensions, Tithes, and compositions as belong unto them?   

TIT. III. Concerning Ministers.  
1. HAve you a Parson, Vicar, or Curate legally settled among you?  
2. Is he constantly resident? or how long, and on what occasion is he absent? has he a Curate? how is he licenced, and how maintained? During his absence, what care is taken for hospitality, and charity to the poor?  
3. Does your Parson, Vicar, or Curate constantly, reverently, and regularly Officiate on the Lords days, Holidays, and the Eves of them; as also read the Litany upon all wenesdays; and friday's weekly; and observe Rogation and Emberdaies according to the order of the Church; and so perform all offices, without addition or diminution?  
3. Does your Minister diligently instruct the youth of your Parish in the Church Catechism? and does he endeavour to reclaim all profane persons, Papists, and Sectaries; and press the great duties of piety, justice, temperance, charity, allegiance, and conformity? And is he diligent in visiting the sick, and satisfying the doubts of troubled consciences? Lastly, is he peaceable, sober, and exemplary in his conversation, and grave in his demeanour, company, hair, and apparel?   

TIT. IU. Concerning the Parishioners.  
1. ARE there in your Parish any persons known or reputed to be Jew's, Heretics, or Schismatics, whether Papists, or Fanatics? what are the numbers of each particular Sect of them? and are they studious to pervert the Orthodox; or insolent towards them for doing their duty?  
2. Are any of your Parish known or suspected to be guilty of Incest, Adultery, Fornication, or any other enormous crimes? Do any profane the Lords day, or the Name of God, or are irreverent in the Church, or neglect the respective duties incumbent on them in reference to the Sacraments of Baptism, and the Lords Supper, and other Rites; as of Catechising, Confirmation, Marriage, thanksgiving after Childbirth, burial of the dead, or the censures of the Church?  
3. Are the Wills and Testaments of the dead in your Parish, or the administration of their Goods duly taken out and executed? Have any Lands, Legacies, or charitable gifts bestowed on your Parish, or any other good uses; been embezled, or unduly disposed of?   

TIT. V. Concerning Parish Clerks, and Sextons.  
HAve you belonging to your Parish or Chapelry a sufficient Clerk or Sexton, and does he faithfully and diligently execute his office?   

TIT. VI Concerning Hospitals, Scholes, Schoolmasters, Physicians, Surgeons, and Midwives.  
1. IS there in your Parish any Hospital, Almshouse, or Free-schole? How are they endowed, ordered, and governed? Does any one keep School without licence from the Bishop: or if licenced, neglect to teach the Youth committed to him the Catechism of the Church, and Grammar set forth by authority; and to bring them to the Service of the Church?  
2. Does any in your Parish practice Physic, or Chirurgery, or do the Office of a Midwife, without approbation and licence from the Ordinary?   

TIT. VII. Concerning Ecclesiastical Officers.  
1. HAve any Officers that exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in this Diocese; taken, or exacted any excessive Fees for any Cause or Act; or any Bribe, or Reward for the concelement or impunity of delinquents: or sped any Act privately, and not in the presence of a public Notary?  
2. Is the number of the Apparitors in this Diocese excessive; have they summoned any person unlawfully; or taken reward for concelements; or threatened prosecutions where they had no reward, or otherwise misbehaved themselves in their Office?  

Advertisements.  
I THe Minister of every parish may join in presentment with the Churchwardens and Sidemen; and if they fail to present, the Ministers themselves (who have the highest obligation to endeavour the suppressing of impiety and disorder) may do it.  
II. The Minister, Churchwardens and Sidemen, at the delivery of their bill of presentment, are required to draw up in writing and attest under their hands, a particular account of the number of Recusants, whether Popish or other; and also the number of the Orthodox and conformable in their Parish, as follows.  

1. What number of Persons is there in common estimation in your Parish?  
2. What number of Popish Recusants, or persons thereof suspected, is there?  
3. What number of other Dissenters is there, who relinquish the Communion of the Church?   
III. The Ministers are to take notice, that the Bishop at his Visitation will be ready to confirm the Youth that shall be fitted and brought before him▪ and therefore are desired by diligent Catechising to prepare those under their charge, and to bring them, at the time appointed, unto the Bishop.    
〈…〉 FINIS▪