ARTICLES TO BE CONSIDERED OF BY THE Churchwardens and others within the Archdeaconry of Derby. In the Visitation archidiaconal of Derbyshire, Anno S 'tis. 1641  Let all things be done Decently and in Order.  printer's device of Thomas Cotes and Richard Cotes POST TENEBRAS LUX 
Printed at London by Tho. and Rich. Cotes. 1641   


Articles concerning the Clergy.  

1. ARe there in this Archdearenry any wand'ring ministers, or pretenders to holy orders, that resorts to your Church and there by begging disgrace that holy calling?   

2 Are there any that keep, or frequent drinking houses, and use unlawful games.   

3 Any that having taken holy orders forsake their vocation, and live secularly?   

4 Doth any man in lower orders presume to do the duties of an higher office, and having no orders to do any public duty?   

5 Do the Priests and Deacons carry themselves discretly, gravely, exemplarily? do they make their families patterns to the people of God? doth the Deacon assist the Priest in divine Service, the administration of the Lords Supper, and distribution thereof? read the holy Scriptures and Homilies to the Congregation, instruct the youth in the Catechism, baptise and preach (only if so fare allowed by the Bishop) discover the impotent and needy (where such provision is made) to the Curate that they may be Christianly relieved?   

6 Doth your minister show diligence in prayer, and that open, not being hindered by the study of Divinity? Is he studious in Gods holy word, & all other conducing studies? Is he a lycensed preacher? & then doth he (not lawfully hindered) preach every Sunday in his own, or some neighbouring Church? not being licenced, doth he procure monthly Sermons, and at other times read Homilies? doth your minister in his Sermons confute all erroneous and strange doctrines? exhort the whole and the sick occasionally? and advance love, peace and quietness in his own charge and elsewhere? doth he read the book of Canons as is required? hath he opposed any other preacher in his Sermons, or been opposed by any? declare it and the manner how? doth he keep proportionable Hospitality for the poor?   


Prayer before the Sermon.  Doth your minister pray before every Sermon for the Kings most excellent Majesty, with a full declaration of the Royal stile? 
Defence of the abolishment of Popish usurpations.  doth he four times at least yearly defend the just abolition of all foreign power within these realms? dehorting from any obedience to such power? doth he maintain that the King's power within the realms of England, Scotland and Ireland, is the highest under God, to whom all men, Inhabitants as well as natives do owe loyalty of obedience afore and above all other powers in earth by God's law? doth he exhort to obedience unto his Sacred Majesty, and all subordinate Magistrates? doth he also pray for the Queen's Majesty, Prince Charles his Grace, and all the royal progeny?   


Impugners of supremacy of government, etc.  8 Doth he or any in your parish impugn the regal supremacy in causes Ecclesiastical? or the Ecclesiastical government established by Archbishops, Bishops and the rest, as Antichristian and repugnant to God's word? or the books of ordination and consecration? or affirm that the Church of England is no true Apostolical Church? That our Common prayer book is of corrupt superstitious unlawful contents and repugnant to the h●ly Scriptures? that the rites and Ceremonies established by law are wicked, superstitious, Antichristian; Not to be approved, subscribed, or used with a good conscience? Doth be pray for the Archbishops and Bishops before his Sermon? doth he read all the offices and forms in the book of Common prayer set forth, as occasion shall require, distinctly and reverently, without addition or contraction, of his own private fantasy? and in the ornaments commanded?   


Bidding of Holidays, etc.  9 Doth he notice all Holidays, and Fastingdayes? and duly commend to the parish the pious remembrance of the poor?   


Baptism.  10 Is your minister (being required) diligent to baptise sick Infants in case of necessity as the book directeth? doth he admonish not to deferce baptism beyond the next Sunday or Holiday after hirth, saving upon great and reasonable cause showed and approved by him? is baptism ministered in private houses without great necessity? doth any except a lawful minister baptise? are Infants so baptised brought to the Church, and all things examined and done in that behalf required, that the congregation may be certified of the lawful baptism? Is public baptism ministered in a full Congregation after the last lesson at Morning or Evening Prayer, as the Curate shall appoint? doth the Minister begin with that question whether the Child be baptised, or no? doth he after baptism receive the Child and sign it? are the Godfathers and Godmothers Communicants? doth he command that the Child be brought to Confirmation by them, when it hath learned, as is expressed in the Rubric? and do the Godfathers and Godmothers look to their charge?   


Catechising.  11 Doth your Minister or some other by his appointment diligently upon Sundays and Holidays half an hour before Evening Prayer openly in the Church, instruct and examine so many Children of your Parish sent unto him as the time will suffer and he shall think fit, in some part of the Catechism? and further observe his Majesty's late directions in that behalf? and when the Bishop giveth notice of Confirmation, doth he bring or send in writing, the names of all fit to be Confirmed? and doth he admit any to the holy Communion, before they have well learned the Catechism, and be confirmed?   


Communion.  12 Doth he celebrate the Sacrament of the blessed body and blood of Christ so frequently in the year, that every Housholder may Communicate thrice in the year at least? whereof the feast of Easter to be one?   

13 If any Parishioner be a notorious evil liver, or injurious to his neighbour by word or deed, hath your Curate having knowledge thereof called such a one and advertized him not to presume to come to the Lords Table before, 1. Declaration of his true repentance, 2. Satisfaction given to the Congregation by his amendment, 3. And recompense to the wronged, or at least a purpose and profession so to do? and where in his observation, malice and hatred hath reigned, hath he laboured mutual reconciliation betwixt the parties, and admitted the penitent party only to the Sacrament? and doth the Curate and Churchwardens provide the best elements at the charge of the Parish for that holy use? and doth the Curate take the Remainder to his own use? and punctually govern his actions in this holy Sacrament by the rubrickes of the Communion?   


Marriages.  14. Are all banes of matrimony asked three several times on Sundays and Holidays, in time of divine Service, and in presence of the people? and that in both Parishes if the parties so inhabit? and no marriage celebrated in that Case without certificate of the one Minister to the other? Is it begun in the body of the Church, and continued with all the solemnities in the Rubric of that Office? is it done within the limited hours of 8. and 12. Do the new married then receive the Holy Communion?   


Churching.  15 Doth your Minister refuse to Church any women that have been safe delivered out of the perils in Childbirth, and doth he observe the form in the Book?   


Commination.  16 Doth he in the beginning of Lent, publish the Commination, and according to the rubrickes in due place, time and manner?   


Visitation of the sick.  17 Doth he, especially upon notice, diligently resort to the sick, and do his Spiritual Office according to the directions in that form given? doth he exhort his charge in time of health to frequent participation of the Lords Supper, and principally in plague time? and doth he Minister the Sacrament to such as desire it in their sickness, and that according as he is directed? and have any, desirous of the Sacrament, died without it by his neglect? and doth he monish men and women to settle their estates in time of health, and to liberality to the poor?   


Burial.  18 Doth he bury the Dead according to that form, meeting the Corpse and friends at the Church stile & c?   


Lecturers.  19 Is your Lecturer, being settled, a Licenced Preacher, well Salaried, and that duly paid, doth he read Divine Service with all due observation, and Administer both Sacraments twice in the year at least, In his own person? and especially doth he so read on the Lecture day?  
But if your Lecture be bestowed by the grave Divines of the neighbourhood, do you provide fitting entertainment for them when they come to Preach, respectively, that they be not either charged for their Love, or preiudized in their health.   

20 Are the Chaplains of your Chapels, Vicars or stipendaries of appropriate Churches well endowed, or stipended? the buildings sustained? hospitality kept for relief of the poor? or who is faulty? and hath your Curate competent allowance?   

21 Doth your Rector or Vicar reside with you, unless for some great cause dispensed with, hath he being dignifyed with plurality, a sufficient Curate Preacher in the Church, where his abode is not so constant? and is the Chancel in all parts, and all the Church houses and buildings in good repair:   

22 Doth your Parson and Vicar keep exact books of all his yearly receipts for the good of the Successor?   

23 Doth your Minister notice the perambulation of the bounds according to Law and Custom, and follow the royal directions given in that case?    

Of the Patron.  

1 HAth the Patron of your Church presented his Clerk without suspicion or fame of any Simoniacal contract, direct, or indirect?   

2 Is he zealous to his power to defend the Church and incumbent from the wrong and injury of ill affected persons?   

3 Doth he intimate any his Clerks in utility to his Church, (except in the case of sickness or extreme age) to the Bishop, that he in his wisdom may remedy the Church according to Law?   

4 Hath your Church-Patron living amongst you, all due respect from the Parson or Vicar? Is he in decay? hath he the honour of the chief seat in the Church, where he is Patron?    

Churchwardens and Sidemen.  

1 ARe you duly chosen, and in Easter Wéeke? and so of the other Officers? have all your Predecessors passed clear and just accounts of all Church goods and moneys in the end of their several years, and exhibited a bill in writing of all receipts and expenses, and transinitied, or undertaken so to do, all remaining sums of money into the hands of their successors in Office? are there any arrearages, and upon whom?   

2 Is the fabric of the body of your Church in good repair in walls, roof, pavement, windows, gates, belfry, bells frames, wheels, etc. and also decently, beautified, with all Canonicall-paintings, and choice sentences? have you a seemly Table for the Lords Supper, placed according to Law? hath any presumed of private pleasure to remove it, who? and whether? have you a fair carpet, one or two Cover of Damask or Diaper, if your Parish be able, or other fine linen? are they kept choicely, and clean? one fine surplice at least, made well, and kept clean for daily use, as need shall require?   

3 Are the great Bible, the Service Books fair and good? kept clasped, or stringed after divine Service, and well laid up? have you the books of Martyrs, Erasmus Paraphrase, and the works of Bishop Jewel, and are they chained in some convenient place? the Books of Homilies? the homily of rebellion? the Articles and Canons? and are they safely kept for the use of the Parish?   

4 Is your Chalice silver, and the cover thereof? not battered? kept clean for all Communions? Is your Font of Stone sound, beautiful? and well covered? have you a velvet cushion? sightly Pulpit, Pulpit cloth, reading Pew? are all the Seats in reasonable repair, and uniformity? have you a just inventory of all your Church's goods? and exhibit a Copy thereof, particularly describing what is fair, and good, old or in decay? what vessels have you to bring the Wine in, to the Lords board? are they kept clean scoured, and used only in God's Service? have you a Table for the discovery of lawful or unlawful marriages? is it hung up in a frame? have you a chest for the poor? with so many locks as is required? and all other chests, locks, and keys? if you have a vestry, is it kept in repair and decency?   

5 Have you several books well bound for the Recording of the Christian and surnames of all persons and their parents, baptised in your Parish, all married or buried with like relations? and the Licencers of all strange Preachers in your Church? all these with the day of the month in the line, a decent margin, and a subscription in the bottom by the Minister and Churchwardens to every leaf? are they fairly written, wéekly? and carefully examined after? Are any books of Christen, Weddings, Burial grown old? Then signify it, that they may be transcribed, and not so much evidence lost as is endangered.   

6 Are your Churchyards kept clean, and well fenced, or closed, and by them that are bound?   

7 Have you a Terrier of the Recovery, and Vicarage, Glebes, and Houses, and also of all lawful customs? and if you have not, make one and bring it in subscribed by the Minister, yourselves, and some of the chief Parishioners, and keep a Copy by yourselves.   

8 Do you keep safely all such terriers, books, rentals, bonds, wills, leases, accounts or any other muniment or evidence belonging to your Parish? with the assistance of the Minister. So that nothing be defaced, injured or imberreled?   

9 Do you, and did your predecessors vigilantly cause all Parishioners to frequent the common Prayers, Sermons, and Sacraments, and all other duties of a christian man in public, in due time? with due continuance and reverence to the end? did they, and do you levy one shilling weekly for absence according to Law? and is it converted to the use of the poor?   

10 Have any out of corrupt affection smothered any public and scandalous crimes, what were they, and who have done so in their Office?   

11 Are your Overseers, Sides men, Clerk and others diligent in their Offices? and is the Clerk's wages rightly paid?    

Schoolmasters  

1 HAve you any free Schoolmasters and Ushers? any that teach otherwise openly, or privately? are they licenced, painful, profitable? as well in nurtering youth in good manners as learning, sound Protestants, good livers frequenters of the Church for Service and Sacraments? bring they their Scholiers with them (having borders) or leave they any behind at their houses, and that usually?   

2 Are there any that teach privately in Recusants houses, or Recusants children in their own? name them all.   

3 Is the Curate contented if any besides himself do teach School?   

4 Doth your Schoolmaster teach Master Lilies Grammar and other warranted Authors? And for grounds of Religion, the Greek and Latin Catechisms in that respect provided, according to the children's several capacities?   

5 Are any houses, Schoole-lands, or repts derayed, concealed, misemployed, or diverted to other uses, how, and by whom, Is the number of your Feoffées full? and do they diligently perform their trust? Is the schoolhouse in good repair within and without, or in what convenient place are your children taught?    

Parishioners.  

1 Do they live in the fear of God, exercising all piety, and charity? do they observe holidays and fasting-dais, without servile labours, buying, or selling in Church time, do they continue the perambulations in Ember week? do they without wand'ring abroad, keep to their own Church and chapel encouraging their Minister, and giving a good example, and do they abide there until the end?   

2 Are there any that disallow and separate from your Prayers and resort to sermons only, or comply in all things except the Sacrament, and what are their names? are Wednesdays and fridays, and holiday Eves observed for devotion?   

3 Do every Parishioner receive thrice yearly, and is Easter one time? and do all above 16. years old receive, and do all kneel, and use other Canonical reverences, especially in the holy Sacrament?   

4 Do Masters, Dames, Parents, cause their servants and children to submit obediently to catechising, till that be well learned which is appointed?   

5 Doth every Parishioner living, or being landed within the P●rish, pay his reasonable Lunes and taxes, to Church and Chapel? and the poor and who refuseth?   

6 Doth every Parishioner make a clear reckoning yearly at Easter, with the Parson, Vicar, or their Deputy, and also pay Clerks wages?   

7 Do Communicants signify their names to the Minister over night, or before or after morning Prayer.   

8 Are Parents careful to baptise their children on the next Sunday or Holiday after birth, and give the Minister canonical notice, that he may appoint accordingly? and are the Godfathers, Godmothers, people and children ready at the Font at the time appointed.   

9 Doth the Parish stay at the Church stile until the Minister can meet the Coarse?   

10 Do women resort to Church for thanksgiving after Childbirth? do they kneel near the holy table, and do they offer then the accustomed offerings, and on Communion days, Communicate?   

11 Do the Parishioners on the first day of Lent, come to the Commination?   

12 Are there any unlawful meetings for common actions of Religion as is pretended, in any place but the Church or Chapel?   

13 Are there any that have died intestate? doth any Executor neglect to prove the Will, pay legacies, etc. or any administrators faulty in their administrations?   

14 Are there any that disturb the Minister and godly people's attentions in time of God's service by quarrels for seats or such like? scorners, pratlers, murmurers, sleep in Church? loiterers in near high ways houses, especially Alehouses, Church yard, or Church porch? what their names that accustom so to do?   

15 Are there any that profane the Christian Sabbath or Lords day, and holy days appointed, by worldly affairs, or vicious actions? any that profane Churches or Church yards, with brawling, fight, secular pleas, and Courts, eating, drinking, plays, or other unfit actions or behaviour?   

16 Are there any Churches or Chapels where divine service hath been formerly used let fall? and by whose defavit or any Church lands, goods, plate, bells, clocks, stocks of money and implements, etc. sacrilegiously, or unjustly taken away, concealed and misemployed?   

17 Have any at any time laid violent hands upon your Minister, or defamed him, or used any irreverent language towards him?   

18 Are there any noted for perjury, blasphemy, vain and idle swearing; and who, and of what condition?   

19 Any, any ways inconformable; and refractory to his Majesty's Ecclesiastical Laws established by high Court of Parliament? especially Recusants, and Separatists, and who are they?   

20 Have any been married by other Minister or form then the Church of England doth allow? or so baptised? any children kept unbaptised by the space of a month, or longer? any children conveyed beyond the seas, for Popish breeding? any buried otherwise than the statute hath commanded, not being excommunicate with the great excommunication?   

21 Do recusants refuse to submit to godly conference, have they any busy seducers about them, as jesuites, Seminaries etc. declare the whole matter, and the names of all parties as also all misleaders of his Majesty's good subjects in any other by ways?   

22 Are there any that maintain any doctrines against the Catholic Faith, in obstinate and heretical manner? any fall'n away from the faith, to popish faction, or from all religion, any that use witchcrast? sorcery, charms, unlawful invocations in Latin, upon man or beast? or suspected so to do, cunning men or women, or resorters to them? or any other addicted to superstitious observations, & spreaders of the same?   

23 Have any in your Parish (not hitherto questioned) lived in any kind of incontinency, as incest, adultery, fornication? any bawds, aiders, instruments entertainers of unchaste persons? have any strangers delivered in your Parish been after Churched, and departed without penance, who are they? and who hath been affirmed or suspected to be the Father of the Child?   

24 Are there any supposed not to be truly married, that converse as man and wife? Any having or deeming to have two or more wives or husbands, doth any man or woman married live apart, without a lawful sentence of divorce? hath either party during the others life married again? have any persons married to one party been precontracted to another, and what clandestine marriages have been in your Church made with out consent of parents, guardians, publication of banes or licences, and no satisfaction rendered to the Church?   

25 Are there any in your Parish that sow discord and debate amongst neighbours, man and wife, etc. any ribalds, malicious persons, scolds, slanderers, defamers, depravers of the lyturgy, in word, writing, or otherwise?   

26 Have you any Almshouses and Hospitals! and whether of the Kings, or other pious benefactors foundation, are the buildings in good repair, the poor justly dealt with, the feoffées or Overseers careful, and entite in their number, and who is the visitor (as you have known and heard) thereof?    

Excommunicate Persons.  

1 What persons in your Parish, and for what causes, stand excommunicate? neither desiring, nor endeavouring absolution? and how long have they stood so? are such denounced in your Church every ●ixe months?   

2 Have any been admitted to the rights and privileges of the Church without repentance, and absolution?   

3 Hath the sentence of excommunication been delayed or neglected to be divulged, longer than the next Sunday or Holiday after the receipt?   

4 Are there any that favour and cherish such persons as (being so cut off) care not to be restored, nor to satisfy the Church?    

Apparitors.  

1 CAn your Apparitors read and write competently?   

2 Is there any excess in their number? and more than former times have known?   

3 Do they dispatch their mandates in their own persons faithfully, and not by others?   

4 Do they behave themselves as promotors or informers, vexing some wrongfully, excusing others for lucre sake? and know you any that have so prevented the repentance of delinquents, and the Church's satisfaction?   

5 Doth any of them exact more or greater fees than the table ratified doth allow?    
FINIS.