ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY CONCERNING MATTERS ECCLESIASTICAL EXHIBITED To the Ministers, Churchwardens and Sidemen of every Parish within the Diocese of ELY BY THE Right Reverend FATHER in GOD FRANCIS By Divine Permission LORD BISHOP of ELY.  
In the Second Year of His Translation for His First Episcopal Visitation.  
CAMBRIDGE, Printed by J. Hayes. M.DC.LXXXVI.   

The Charge of the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
HAving received a Copy of this Book, you are required to repair to your Minister, to hear all these Articles deliberately read over to you; duly and diligently to consider of them; and by his Advice (and if need be with his Concurrence) to Present all and every such Person or Persons of your Parish, as have committed any Offence, or made any Default, mentioned in these Articles or any of them; or which are vehemently suspected for the same: wherein You are to deal uprightly and impartially, all Affection and Favour, all Hatred and Malice, all hope of Reward or Advantage, and fear of Displeasure set aside; signing such your Presentments with your Hands.   

The Form of their Oath.  
YOU shall Swear truly and faithfully, according to the best of your Skill and Knowledge, to Present such Things and Persons (enquired of in these Articles) as to your knowledge are Presentable by the Laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm. So help you God, and the Holy Contents of this Book.   

ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry, etc.  

TIT. I. Concerning Churches, with the Ornaments, Furniture, Possessions, and Revenues thereunto belonging.  
I. IS your Parish Church, and Chancel decently kept for God's honour? Are the Roofs, Walls, Windows and Pavements well repaired? are the Ten Commandments, Lords Prayer, and the Creed drawn out in fair Letters in convenient places? and are the King's Arms set up.  
II. Have you a Font of stone decently covered for Baptism? a comely Communion Table at the East end of the Chancel? a comely Carpet of silk or fine stuff, with a fair Linen Cloth to spread upon it, a fine Napkin, a Silver Cup for the Wine, a Patin for the Bread, and one or more Flagons of Pewter, or richer Metal for the Administration of the Lords most Holy Supper?  
III. Are your Reading Desk, and Pulpit conveniently set up, and placed for the use of Public Prayer and Sermons? Have you two Common Prayer Books in Folio last set forth by Authority, your Bible in Folio of King James' Translation, and a decent Surplice for your Minister to wear in the time of all public Ministrations?  
iv Have you a Parchment Register for Christen, Marriages and Burials? and another of Paper for the Names and Licences of such Strangers as at any time preach in your Church or Chappel? and a Book wherein are entered the Churchwardens Accounts every Year? Have you a Chest with 3 Locks for the said Books, and the Keys kept by the Minister and Churchwardens, and other Church Furniture, and a Box for the Poors Alms?  
V Have you a Table of the Prohibited Degrees of Marriage hanging up in your Church, and a Bier with a decent Hearse-cloth for the Burial of the Dead?  
VI Is your Churchyard well Kept and Fenced to keep out beasts? Are any Doors made into it, any Trees cut down, or encroachments made upon it?  
VII. Have you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe Lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements or Cottages belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage? and is a Copy of the same delivered into the Bishop's Registry?  
VIII. Is the House and Outhouses of your Minister in good and sufficient Repair? Doth he preserve the Gardens, Orchards and Glebe belonging to him without Embezelling, Changing, or any way Damnifying them?  
IX. But especially whereas in Our late Parochial Visitation, We took particular notice of several Defects, Neglects and Disorders relating to the Premises, and soon after issued out an Injunction for the speedy Repairing, Redressing, and right Ordering of the same; You are hereby required to produce at our Visitation the said Injunction, and there to certify the Particular Amendments that have been made in obedience to the said Injunction, or the Names of such Persons through whose default it hath not yet been fully and duly observed.   

TIT. II. Concerning the Clergy.  
I. IS your Minister (so far as you know, or believe) in Holy Orders, according to the Rule and Form of the Church of England? Hath he been legally Admitted to the Cure of Souls in your Parish? or is He known, or suspected to have obtained his Orders or Benefice by any Simoniacal, or Undue practice?  
II. Did He within two months after his Induction upon some Sunday, or Holiday publicly and openly read the 39 Articles, as also the Morning and Evening Prayer according to the Act of Uniformity Car. 2.14. and did He within the time there limited make the Declaration required by the said Act, and read the Ordinaries Certificate of his Subscription to the same?  
III. Is your Minister constantly resident upon his Benefice, and doth he live in his Parsonage, or Vicarage House, or (his Residence being legally dispensed with) doth he provide a sufficient Curate, licenced by the Bishop, and doth he allow him a competent Stipend?  
iv Doth your Minister or his Curate in Reading the Morning and Evening Prayer and the Litany, on all Sundays and Holydays, and all other Days appointed by the Church, in Administering the Holy Sacraments, Solemnisation of Matrimony, Burying of the Dead, Churching of Women, and all other Offices of the Church duly observe such Order, Manner and Form, as is prescribed in the Liturgy and Canons of the Church without omission, alteration, or addition of any thing? And doth He in performing all and every of these wear the Surplice constantly with a Hood, or Tippet befitting his Degree?  
V Doth He administer public Baptism at the Font, without a Basin? doth He sign the Infant baptised with the sign of the Cross? doth he Baptise any at Home but in case of real necessity, and that without Godfathers and Godmothers, requiring moreover that the Child if it live be afterwards brought to the Church, to have the said Baptism there solemnly certified in such manner and form as the Church appoints in the Office of Private Baptism? doth He baptise publicly without Godfathers and Godmothers, or doth he admit Parents for such to their own children? And are there in your Parish any Persons of riper years yet unbaptised through his default?  
VI Doth He administer the Lords Supper so often, and at such convenient times that the Parishioners may communicate Thrice at least every Year (whereof Easter to be one) doth He exhort them diligently to the frequent Receiving of the same, doth He warn the Negligent, doth He admit any scandalous and profane Persons, or give it to any that refuse to receive it Kneeling?  
VII. Doth He marry any persons under age without consent of Parents, or any others without Banns or Licence, or in any other place then the Church, or at any other time then between the hours of Eight and Twelve in the Forenoon?  
VIII. Doth He (upon notice given) visit the Sick? doth he instruct, comfort, confer and pray with them? doth He upon their confession, repentance and faith (being thereunto desired) absolve them, doth He keep secret such their confession? doth He (when desired) give them the Holy Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood, and if they have ability, move and stir them up to pious and charitable deeds?  
IX. Doth He refuse Christian Burial to any except persons Unbaptised, or Excommunicate, or that have laid Violent hands upon themselves?  
X. Hath He admitted any women begotten with child in adultery or fornication, to be Churched without Licence from the Ordinary?  
XI. Doth He every Sunday preach himself, or procure some Licenced Preacher so to do, or read one of the Homilies set forth by Authority?  
XII. Doth He constantly at the beginning of Sermon move and exhort the People to join with him in Prayer, in such manner and form as is appointed by the Church in the 55th Canon, and no otherwise?  
XIII. Doth He in his Sermons four times every year teach and maintain the King's Lawful Authority over the State both Ecclesiastical and Civil, against the Pretences and Usurpations of all Foreign Power? Has He been known or observed to teach Sedition, or Faction directly against His Majesty, His Laws and Government, or indirectly to cast out Seditious Glances against the Civil State, or Government Ecclesiastical?  
XIV. Does He preach and maintain (as far as you know or hear) any new and strange Doctrine contrary to God's Word, and the 39 Articles of this Church? Doth He teach any thing to be religiously observed and believed, that is not agreeable to the Scriptures, and what the Catholic Fathers of the Ancient Church have gathered thence?  
XV. Doth He diligently instruct and examine the Younger Sort in the Church Catechism? and doth He take care to bring, or send them so instructed to the Bishop for Confirmation?  
XVI. Doth he declare to the People every Sunday the Days of Fasting and Abstinence, the Holy Days and other Solemn Days that have particular Services, which (if any such there be) are in the Week ensuing to be religiously kept and observed?  
XVII. Doth He upon some Sundays or Holydays read publicly in the Church, the Book of Canons once every Year, and the 39 Articles twice, to the end that the People being well acquainted with the Doctrine and Discipline of our Holy Mother the Church of England, may continue steadfast and obedient in the Communion of the same?  
XVIII. Is He (together with the Churchwardens) careful in Registering (as the Law requires) the Names and Surnames of all such in your Parish as have been Baptised, Married, and Buried, and the same transcribed to return every year into the Bishop's Registry?  
XIX. Is your Minister one that is studious of the holy Scriptures? Does He keep to His calling, abstaining from all Trades, Occupations, and Labours not befitting His Function, from all apparel, that is excessive or any way unseemly, or unsuitable to His Calling either at home or abroad, does He refrain from the acquaintance, and company of persons, that are Excommunicate, or any way Scandalous? Is He of a  and Sober, a Peaceable, and Exemplary Conversation? Or is He noted, or suspected for Incontinency, Gaming, Swearing, Drinking, for frequenting Inns or Taverns, or any House of ill Report, or Notoriously guilty of any other thing contrary to Godliness, or particularly misbecoming His holy Calling?  
XX. Doth He in His Sermons deliver such Doctrine as tends to Obedience, and the Edisying of the Auditory in Faith and Religion, without intermeddling with matters of State, not fit to be handled in the Pulpit?  
XXI. Doth He Labour diligently to Reduce Popish Recusants (if there be any in your Parish) from their Errors? And doth He every year present the Names of such, as are not Reducible, to His Ordinary, if they be above Thirteen years of age.   

TIT. III. Concerning the Parishioners.  
I. ARE there any in your Parish that are blasphemers of the Majesty of God, or scoffers at the Christian Religion, or that derogate from the Authority, or the Sufficiency of the Scriptures, or deny any of the Articles of the Christian Faith?  
II. Are there any that deny the Church of England to be a true, and Apostolic Church, and to have in Her all things necessary to Salvation? Or that affirm the XXXIX Articles to be Erroneous in any part, or such as cannot with a good conscience be subscribed to?  
III. Do any in your Parish affirm, or teach that the form of God's worship contained in the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, is corrupt, superstitious, unlawful, or repugnant to Scripture? Or that the form of Consecrating, or Ordaining of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons is Antichristian, or repugnant to the Scripture, or to the practice of the Primitive Church?  
iv Do all your Parishioners (having no Lawful impediment) duly resort to the Divine Service and Sermons in your Church, on Sundays, or other days and times appointed by Law? Do they come in the beginning, and not departed before the Blessing? Do they demean themselves reverently there, uncovering their Heads, kneeling at the Prayers, standing up at the Hymns, at Glory be to the Father, etc. At the recital of the Creed, and reading of the Gospel, and at what other parts of the Service it is required?  
V Are there any in your Parish that resuse to send their Infant Children to be Baptised in the Church, unless in case of urgent danger? Or do they send them to be Baptised in other Parishes? Or are they Baptised after other form than is appointed? or are they kept unbaptised longer than is allowed? Or are there any of riper years, as yet unbaptised? Or any that have been Baptised privately and not afterwards brought to the Church with Godfathers and Godmothers according to the Rubric?  
VI Do any Parents or Masters of Families neglect or refuse to send their Children or Servants to Church, to be instructed in the Catechism? Or to have them, being so instructed, presented to the Bishop for Confirmation? Are there any so instructed and confirmed, and of due age, that come not to the Lord's Supper Three times in the year at the least, of which the Feast of Easter to be one? Or any that forsake their own Parish to receive it elsewhere?  
VII. Do any refuse to bury their Dead according to the Rites of the Church of England? Are there any Wills, or Testaments of Persons dead within your Parish, that be yet unproved? Or any Goods Administered without a due grant from the Ordinary?  
VIII. Are there any in your Parish that are unlawfully married within the Degrees prohibited? Or that being Lawfully married, and not Lawfully Divorced, do yet separate one from the other, or that being Lawfully Divorced have married any other?  
IX. Are there any married Women in your Parish, who after their delivery from the peril of Childbirth, refuse to make their public thanksgiving to God in the Church, in time of Divine Service, upon some Sunday or Holiday? Or do they come decently apparelled, and make their Offerings according to custom?  
X. Are any in your Parish known, or reputed to be common Swearers, Drunkards, Adulterers, Fornicatours, Incestuous persons, concealers, or harbourers of the same? Are any noted to be Railers, unclean, or filthy Talkers, sowers, or maintainers of Sedition, Faction, or Discord among their Neighbours? Do any use Enchantments, Sorceries, or Witchcrafts? Have any been detected of such Notorious crimes? Have they done Penance for the same, or Commuted for it? What sums of Money have been received upon such Commutations, and how have they been bestowed?  
XI. Do any stand Excommunicate for any such crimes? How long have they stood so, and do any converse with them familiarly before they are reconciled to the Church?  
XII. Have any in your Parish quarrelled, stricken, or done any violence to your Minister? Have they disturbed, or molested Him in His Ministerial Office? Have they Libelled, or spoke any slanderous words against Him to the scandal of his vocation, have they reproached, or menaced, or any way wronged and abused the Churchwardens for doing of their duty?  
XIII. Do any refuse to pay their Easter Offerings, or other deuce to your Minister, or to contribute to the Rates assessed for the repair of your Church, or Chapel, or any thing thereunto belonging?  
XIV. What Gifts, or Legacies have been given to Pious uses in your Parish, which in whole, or in part are either utterly defrauded, or not employed to the right use according to the Will of the donour?  
XV. Are your Seats, and Pews in the Church decently kept, and are the Parishioners placed in them without offence and contention?  
XVI. Doth every one abide in his own calling whereunto he is called? 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. any in holy Orders, who doth voluntarily throw off the habit, and desert the profession of a Clergyman, and use himself as a Layman only, without taking any care of the Church of God?   

TIT. IU. Concerning the Parish-Clerks and Sextons.  
I. HAve you a Parish-Clerk duly chosen by the Minister, of the age of Twenty years at least, of a sober and honest behaviour, and sufficiently qualified in Reading, Writing, and Singing, and making the several Responses and Suffrages in the Liturgy? Doth he duly attend Him in all Divine Offices? Doth he (or the Sexton) open and lock the Church-doors at due times, keep the Church clean, and caresully look after all things committed to his charge? Doth he ring or toll the Bells at the accustomed hours, that the people may have sufficient warning to come to Church? Doth he upon notice given toll the passing Bell, that the Neighbours may thereby be put in mind to recommend the soul of the dying person to the grace and mercy and peace of God? Doth he diligently attend the duty of his place in every respect? Are his wages duly paid him, or who withholdeth the same from him?  
II. Doth he meddle with any thing not appertaining to his Office, as Churching of Women, Burying of the Dead and such like?   

TIT. V. Concerning Hospitals, Schools, Schoolmasters, Physicians, Surgeons and Midwives.  
I. IS there in your Parish any Hospital, Alms-house, or Free-School? Is the Revenue thereof rightly employed, and do the Masters, and Governors, and Members of the same behave and demean themselves according to the Godly Ordinances, and Statutes of their several Foundations?  
II. Doth any man keep a Public or Private School in your Parish, that is not Licenced by the Ordinary so to do? Is He a Man of a good Life? Doth He come to the Church Himself, and cause His Scholars so to do, and there to behave themselves orderly, and reverently? Doth He diligently instruct them in the Church Catechism, and teach them good manners, modesty, sobriety and obedience, as well as other good Learning?  
III. Have you any Physician, Chirurgeon, or Midwife in your Parish that practice without Licence?   

TIT. VI Concerning Ecclesiastical Officers.  
I. HAve any Ecclesiastical Judges, or Officers within this Diocese upon any payment, or composition that you know or have heard of, suppressed, or let go unpunished any fault, or offence presented to them by the Churchwardens, or any others?  
II. Have any of them received, or exacted any extraordinary Fees, or other Rewards or promises, directly or indirectly for Granting Letters of Administration to one before another, or for allowing large and unreasonable Accounts of Executors, or Administrators, or for discharging them without Inventary or Account, to the defrauding of Creditors, Legataries, or those who are to have Portions?  
III. Is there a Table of Fees hung up every Court-day in some public place of the Court, or Registry? are any larger Fees taken and exacted for Wills, Administrations, or any other things than are set down in the said Table?  
iv Doth any Judge, or Officer in the said Courts vexatiously Cite any person, protract any Causes, or any way pervert Justice for gain or reward?  
V Doth any Ecclesiastical Judge speed any Act in any Cause privately of Himself, and not in presence of some public Notary or Actuary?  
VI Is there any excessive number of Apparitors in this Diocese? Have any of them under pretence of Authority, Cited or summoned any person unlawfully, or have they taken any reward for the concealing of any offence, or fault, or avoiding of the punishment of the offenders? Do they take, or require any unaccustomed Fees? Have they threatened any to prosecute them, if they had no reward, and do they Summon any without a Citation first had?  
VII. Hath any Ecclesiastical Judge or Officer, Advocate, Register, Proctor, Clerk, or any other Minister to the said Courts belonging, any way in their respective Offices abused themselves, or oppressed and aggrieved His Majesty's Subjects contrary to the Law and Canons in that behalf provided?   

TIT. VII. Queries to be answered by the Ministers concerning the Churchwardens and Sidemen?  
I. ARE your Churchwardens every year chosen in Easter-Week, and after the custom and manner of the Parish?  
II. Have the last and former Churchwardens given up their Accounts before the Minister, and Parishioners? Are their Accounts allowed, or have they falsified their trust? Wherein? And how much?  
III. Do the Churchwardens diligently observe who are absent from Church? Do they take all possible care that such Absenters of themselves do not profanely spend the Lord's day, and other holy Times in Taverns, Inns, Tippling and Victualing-houses, especially in the time of Divine Service? Do they in the Church during all the said time, see that the Parishioners present behave themselves peaceably and reverently, and that all things be done decently, and according to order? That the Font, the Communion Table, the Reading Desk, and the Pulpit with all the Furniture and Utensils thereunto belonging, be kept in such good order and beauty as best becometh God's House and His Holy Ordinances therein Administered? That the several Books, Registers and Chests required by Law, be at the charge of the Parish provided, and from time to time renewed, and supplied as there is occasion?  
iv Have they (the Churchwardens and Sidemen, now Sworn to give in a true answer unto all these Articles of Enquiry in all their several Titles) taken sufficient time to draw up their Presentments, and therein consulted with You their Minister for your faithful Assistance?   
FINIS.