ARTICLES TO BE Ministered, Enquired of, and Answered, Concerning MATTERS Ecclesiastical: In the first EPISCOPAL VISITATION Of the Right Reverend Father in God GILBERT By God's Divine Providence Lord Bishop of BRISTOL: In the second ye●● of his Consecration.   blazon of the Lord Bishop of Bristol surmounted by bishop's miter 
London, Printed for H. Brome. M.DC.LXII.   

The Tenor of the Oath to be Ministered to the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
Your Oath is, 
 THat you the Churchwardens for your parts, and you the Sidemen for your parts, shall well and faithfully execute and perform your several Places and Offices respectively, for this your Parish, for this year following; in all things according to the use and custom there, and the Law in that behalf: And also duly and truly to present all such Crimes and Offences (punishable by the Laws Ecclesiastical of this Land) which upon view and consideration of these Articles given you in Charge, by fame, report, or otherwise (by your diligent inquiry) shall come to your knowledge or notice: All Favour and Affection, Hatred and Malice, or sinister respect set apart: So help you God in Jesus Christ.   

ARTICLES TO BE Ministered, Enquired of, and Answered: IN THE DIOCESE of BRISTOL.  

Concerning the King's Majesty's Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical.  
1. HAVE you any in your Parish, that oppugn or gainsay any part of his Majesty's Supremacy in the said Causes Ecclesiastical?  
2. HAVE you any that affirm, That the Civil Magistrate ought not to prescribe any thing to Ecclesiastical persons, in or about the public Worship of God, but that their duty only is, to protect and defend the said persons?   

Of the Church of England.  
1. HAVE you any in your Parish that affirm, That the Church of England, as now by Law Established, is not a True and Apostolical Church, reproaching the same as Antichristian?  
2. HAVE you any that affirm. That the Book of Common-Prayer, now established by Law, containeth any thing in it, that is Superstition, and contrary to the Word of God; and therefore that godly men ought not to approve and subscribe to the same?  
3. HAVE you any that separate themselves from the Church of England, and the public Worship thereof; and combine themselves in a new Brotherhood, making Rules and Orders amongst themselves, to be Ruled and Governed by, in Church-matters? or, that come not to Church till Divine Service be ended, and the Sermon to begin?   

Of Divine Service.  
1. ARE the lords-days, and other Holidays kept in your Parish, according to the Orders of the Church of England, prescribed in that behalf, by frequenting the public Worship, and using all charitable and sober Conversation?  
2. DO your Churchwardens diligently observe, what Irregular persons, or Non-conformists absent themselves from their own Parish Church? And do they repair to the justices of the Peace for their warrants, to levy twelve pence upon the Goods of such persons according as by Law is required of them?  
3. IS the Common-Prayer Reverently used in your Church or Chappel, upon such days as are appointed? And is the Litany used upon Wenesdayes and fridays weekly by your Minister, without adding or diminishing in the matter and form thereof? And do the Parishioners resort thereunto?  
4. HAVE you any in your Parish that cover their heads in Church or Chappel, in time of Divine Service, except he hath some known Infirmity, and then to wear a Cap only? Or do your Churchwardens suffer any Idle persons to loiter, either in the Churchyard, or Church-porch, in the time of Divine Service, or Sermon?   

Of the Sacraments.  
1. IS the Sacrament of the Lords Supper duly administered in your Parish, at the least thrice a year, Easter being one? And doth the Minister give warning thereof at Morning Prayers the Sunday before such time? And doth the Churchwardens provide a sufficient quantity of Bread and Wine for the same?  
2. HAVE you in your Church or Chappel, a convenient Table covered in time of Divine Service, with a Carpet; and in the time of Administration, with a fine Linen Cloth? Is the Wine brought to the Communion-table in a clean Stoop or Pot?  
3. DOTH your Minister admit any to the Sacrament of the Supper, that are Excommunicate persons? or any that are known to live in any grievous crime? or live in open contention with their Neighbours? Or any Churchwardens or Sidemen that have heretofore neglected, or refused to present such public Offences, as they know to be committed in their Parishes, and so incur the horrible crime of Perjury?  
4. IS the Sacrament of Baptism duly Administered in your Church or Chappel, according to the form thereof prescribed by the Church of England? Is there a Font of Stone placed towards the lower end of the Church for that purpose? And are there such Godfathers and Godmothers used therein, as are of Age? or have received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper?  
5. HAVE you any in your Parish, that refuse to bring their Children to be Baptised by the Minister, according to the Book of Common-Prayer? who are they? and, how long have they done so?   

For Ministers.  
1. DOTH your Minister, when he readeth Public Prayers, or Administer the Sacrament, wear a comely Surplice with sleeves? And if he be a Graduate, such Hood as by the Orders of the University is agreeable to his Degree?  
2. HATH your Minister more Benefices with cure then one? and if so, how far distant one from an other? upon which doth he reside? Hath he a sufficient Curate to teach and instruct the People? Doth he Catechise the youth and ignorant persons of the Parish, in the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lords Prayer? And do all Fathers, Mothers, Masters, and Mistresses send their Children and Servants to be instructed accordingly, when required thereunto?  
3. DOTH your Minister solemnly bid Ember-weeks, Holidays, and Fasting-days, as they are set down in the Calendar? Doth he also use to visit the Sick?  
4. DOTH any Person Preach in your Parish, as a Lecturer? Doth he before his Lecture read Divine Service? and is he Conformable to the Orders established in the Church of England?  
5. DOTH your Minister Preach or Administer the Sacraments in private Houses? Or appoint private or public Fasts without Authority?  
6. DOTH your Minister frequent Taverns, or Alehouses, or any suspected places? or is he of an honest and sober Conversation, such as becometh the Gospel of Christ?   

Of Schoolmasters.  
1. HAVE you any Schoolmaster in your Parish? Hath he a Licence from the Bishop to teach School? Doth he instruct his Scholars in the Catechism, and good Manners, as well as Learning?  
2. DOTH your Schoolmaster upon Sundays and festival-days, when there be Sermons preached, in your Church or Chappel, bring the Scholars to Church, and see them there orderly to behave themselves, and examine them, at times convenient, what they remember of the said Sermons?   

Of the Church and Church-yard.  
1. HAVE you in your Church or Chappel, a Bible of the largest Volume, and of the late Translation? The Book of Homilies, set forth by Authority? And have you the Book of Common-Prayer, approved and commanded by the late Act of Parliament?  
2. HAVE you in your Church or Chappel a convenient Seat, or Desk, for your Minister, to read Divine Service in? And a comely and decent Pulpit, with a Cloth or Cushion, for the Preaching of God's Word?  
3. IS your Church or Chappel sufficiently repaired, the windows glazed, and all things there in such orderly sort as becometh the house of God?  
4. IS your Churchyard well and sufficiently fenced by those who by Law ought to fence the same?  
5. HAVE you in your Church or Chappel a Chest for Alms, with a hole in the upper part thereof, with three Keys, one for the Minister, one for the Signior Churchwarden, and one for the Overseer for the Poor?  
6. HAVE you in your Church the Book of Divine Service, to be used upon the Fifth of November, the Thirtieth of January, and the Nine and Twentieth of May? And doth your Minister and the Parishioners duly observe those days yearly, as they are appointed? Have you also the Book of Canons and Constitutions?  
7. ARE the Seats in your Church kept in good repair? And are the Ten Commandments set up in some convenient place, in your Church, with the Creed and the Lords Prayer, and some choice sentences of Scripture?  
8. HAVE you a Terrier of the Glebe-lands and other Possessions belonging to your Church? Is your Minister's house kept in sufficient repair?   

Of Churchwardens.  
ARE your Churchwardens chosen by the Minister and Parishioners, the Minister choosing one? and do your Churchwardens at the end of the year, give up an account of such Moneys as they have received?   

Of Parish-Clerks.  
HAVE you a Parish-Clerk, chosen by the Minister, sufficient for his Reading, Writing, and a competent skill in Singing? And doth he receive his accustomed wages?   

Of Marriages.  
1. IS there any in your Parish that have Married within the Degrees prohibited by the Laws of God, expressed in a Table, and set forth by Authority, Anno 1563? And have you the Table set up in your Church?  
2. HATH your Minister Married any in your Parish under the age of 21 without the consent of their Parents? Or, hath he Married any persons in private houses?   

Of Physicians, Surgeons, and Midwives.  
DOTH any Man in your Parish take upon him to practise Physic, or Chirurgery? And doth any Woman take upon her to exercise the Office of a Midwife, without approbation and licence from the Ordinary?   

Of Burials.  
HAVE any been buried in your Parish-Church, or Churchyard, that have been known Recusants, or Excommunicated persons, or such as have been Felones dese? And doth your Minister bury the Dead, according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer?   

Of the Parishioners.  
1. DOTH any in your Parish use bodily labour in their Vocations upon Sundays and Holy days, or suffer their Servants so to do? Or, do any of your Parish go to Taverns, or Alehouses, to tipple or game on those days?  
2. ARE there any married Women, in your Parish, who after Childbirth, refuse publicly to give thanks to God for their safe delivery, as is prescribed by the Book of Common-Prayer?  
3. IS there any in your Parish that is known or vehemently suspected of Adultery, Fornication, Incest, or that are common Swearers, and Drunkards, or Sowers of Sedition? You are to present all such. Knowing that the discharge of your duty herein, is a means to reform such disorders in your Parish, and to prevent the Judgements of God from falling on the same.   
GILB. BRISTOL.