ARTICLES TO BE ENQUIRED OF BY THE Minister, Churchwardens, and Sidemen of every Parish within the Arch-Deaconry of 〈…〉, IN THE Ordinary Visitation Of the Right Worshipful Doctor R●p●●●● T●●●●k●●●●●●, of LINCOLN. In the Year of Our Lord God, 166●▪ LONDON, Printed by Tho. Newcomb, 166●▪ The Tenor of the Oath to be Administered to the Churchwardens and Sidemen. YOu shall well, and faithfully execute and perform your several Offices in your Parish, and duly present such crimes, and offences, as are punishable by the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Land, coming to your knowledge by fame, report, or otherwise 〈◊〉 help you God in Jesus Christ. ARTICLES OF VISITATION and ENQUIRY within the Arch-Deaconry of LINCOLN. TIT. I. Concerning Churches, Chapels, with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging. 1. IS your Parish Church of Chapel, in good and sufficient repair, both for the Roof, windows, Floor and Seats? 2. Hath any part of your Church, Chappel, or Steeple been demolished or pulled down? what part, and how long since? or any of the Lead, Timber or Bells thereunto formerly belonging, any way embezzled or sold, and by whom? 3. Is there a decent Fout of Stone, with a Cover? and doth the same stand at or near the nether end of your Church, in such manner as anciently and usually Fonts have stood for the baptising of Children? Is there a decent Communion-table in your Chancel, with a decent Carpet, and another covering of white-linnen, to be spread thereon at the time of the Administration of the Lords Supper? and have you a fair Chalice, or Communion Cup, with a Cover, and one or more Flagons? 4. Have you a convenient Seat or Pew wherein to read Divine Service, a Pulpit, with a decent Cloth or Cushion, a large Bible of the last Translation, and a Book of Common-Prayer lately published, Anno 1662. the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority, and a printed Table of the degrees wherein Marriages are prohibited, and a Book of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, and a decent Surplice and Hood: And are the Ten Commandments, set upon the East-end of your Church or Chappel? 5. Have you a Register-book in Parchment, of Christen, Burials and Marriages? and is the same kept in all points according to the ancient use? 6. Have you a book of Paper, to record the names and licenses of such strangers as are admitted to Preach in your Church or Chappel? and do such strangers subscribe their names? As also a third Book for the Churchwardens accounts? As also a Chest with locks and keys, wherein to keep the said Books, and the aforementioned Furniture. 7. Is the Table of the degrees of Marriage before mentioned, hung up in your Church, in some convenient public place, where it may be seen in legible Characters, by any who desire to read it? 8. Is the Creed, the Lords Prayer, the ten Commandments, and such sentences of Scripture, as the Minister thinketh fit, painted up within the walls of the Church, Chappel and Chancel? Are the King's Arms fairly painted and set up on the partition betwixt the Church and the Chancel? 9 Are there any Funeral Monuments erected in your Church, Chappel or Chancel, or otherwise, which stop up the windows? or though they do not stop up the windows? whether or no were they erected since the year of our Lord, 1640. without due licence from the Ordinary in the behalf? present the names of the erectors of them. TIT. II. Concerning the Churchyard, the Houses, Glebes and Tithes belonging to the Church. 1. IS your Churchyard sufficiently fenced, and decently kept? Hath any person encroached upon the same, or made any door into it? and how long since? 2. Is the House of your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, and the Outhouses in good repair? Have any of them been defaced or pulled down without licence? Have there been any encroachments made upon the same, or any of the ancient marks or bounds removed or changed? and by whom? 3. Have you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Gleve-lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements or Cottages belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage? As also a note of such Pentions, Rate-tythes, and Portions of Tithes, or other yearly profits (either within or without your Parish) as belong thereunto? Have any of the same been withheld from your Minister? and by whom, as you know, or have heard? 4. Is there such a Terrier as in the Article immediately aforegoing is mentioned, given into the Registers Office for this Arch-deaconry? TIT. III. Concerning Ministers. 1. IS your Minister a Priest or Deacon, Episcopally ordained, according to the Laws of the Church of England? 2. Hath he been legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice? And did he within two months after his Induction, publicly in the Church, upon some Sunday or Holiday, in the time of Divine Service, read the 39 Articles of the Church of England, established by Authority, and there publicly declare his assent thereunto? 3. Is he resident among you? how many weeks hath he been absent from you without urgent necessity? 4. Hath your Minister a Curate? Is he in holy Orders, and conformable to the Laws of the Church? Is he allowed by the Ordinary? 5. Doth your Parson, Vicar, Curate, or Lecturer, if you have any, perform his Office in all things according to the Rubric of the book of Common-prayer lately established, and the Act of Uniformity published therewith? 6. Doth your Minister at the reading Divine Service, wear & Surplice and Hood? 7. Doth he observe the Holidays, and Fasting-days, the Ember-weeks, and the yearly Perambulation in Rogation-week, as is appointed by the Rubric? 8. Is your Minister licenced to Preach? If so, doth he constantly (not having a reasonable impediment) preach one Sermon in your Church or Chappel every Sunday? or if he be not licenced, or be hindered, doth he procure one to supply his Office, by preaching, or reading one of the Homilies? 9 Doth your Minister instruct the youth in your Parish in the Church Catechism, and prepare and present them to be confirmed by the Bishop? 10. Doth he neglect or delay to visit the Sick, or to baptise any Infant that is in danger of death? Doth he baptise any without Godfathers and Godmothers, or admit either of the Parents to be Godfathers and Godmothers, to their own Children? 11. Hath your Minister married any Persons without publishing the Banes on three Sundays or Holidays, or hath he married any in private houses, or not between the hours of Eight and Twelve in the morning, unless he had a licence or dispensation so to do? 12. Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any public or private Fasts, Prophesying, or Exercises not appointed by Authority? Or doth he or any other, either Minister or Lay person, hold any Conventicles or Meetings in private houses within your Parish, for people of several Families to resort unto, under the pretence of Preaching, Praying, Thanksgiving or Humiliation, contrary to the Laws and Canons in that case provided: 13. Is your Parson, Vicar, Curate or Lecturer a man of a sober life and conversation? or is his carriage in any kind disorderly or scandalous, and unbeseeming a Minister? 14. Doth your Minister every Sunday, Holiday, Thirtieth day of January, Twenty ninth day of May, and the fifth day of November, distinctly, gravely, and reverently, ●●ad the whole Divine Service appointed by the Book of Common-prayer. 15. Doth he after the Sermon, or Homily, read and perform the rest of the Divine Service appointed to be read and performed, according to the said Book? 16. Doth your Minister Catechise the younger sort of People, upon Sundays and Holidays, and after the Second Lesson at Evening Prayer, give notice before to the Masters of Families, to send in so many of their Children and Servants, as they shall think fit, to be so catechised? And doth he catechise by the Catechism set forth in the Book of Common-prayer? 17. Doth he baptise any Children without signing them with the sign of the Cross, according to the Book of Common-prayer? 18. Hath your Minister married any Persons in the times forbidden to marry, without due licence in that behalf from the Ordinary? The times forbidden, are from Advent-Sunday, till St Hillary-day, from Septuagesima-Sunday, till the eighth day after Easter-day; and from Rogation, till Trinity-Sunday. 19 Doth your Minister, year by year, solemnly keep the Thirtieth day of January, the Anniversary day of the murder of the late King, and Martyr of blessed memory, King Charles the First, being a day appointed for Humiliation and Fasting: the Twenty ninth of May, the Anniversary day of Thanksgiving, for the restauration of our gracious Sovereign King Charles the Second: and the Fifth Day of November, as a day of Thanksgiving for our deliverance from the Sun-power Treason? And doth he duly read and perform the Divine service appointed for those days? 20. Doth your Minister, on the Sunday before, did the Holidays, and Fasting-days, appointed to be solemnised, and kept the week following? 21. Doth your Minister Preach, Baptise, or Administer the Communion in any private House, except in case of necessity? 22. Doth your Minister, thrice a year at least, whereof Easter to be one, administer the holy Communion? Doth he receive it himself kneeling, or administer it to any person who doth not kneel? 23. Doth your Minister, upon Wednesdays, and Fridays weekly go to Church, and there say the Litany? 24. The Minister is to assist the Churchwardens and Sidemen, in presenting, and to present them, in case they omit any thing in their presentments which they ought to present. 25. Doth your Minister administer the holy Communion to any Person, that Person not kneeling, when he or she re●e●eth it? 26. Doth your Minister (according to the Book of Common Prayer) when he intendeth to administer the holy Communion, give warning thereof the next Sunday, or Holiday fore going▪ publicly in your Parish Church or Chappel, in time of Ordine, Service? And doth he on such Sunday or Holiday so foregoing, read the Exhortation by the Book of Common Prayer, appointed in that case to be read? 27. Doth your Minister when any excommunicate Person (whom he doth know to be so, or hath been published so to be in your Church or Chappel) is within your Church or Chappel, or intrudes into the same, or who will not go our being required, Doth your Minister in such case perform the Divine Service, or Preach, whilst such excommunicate Person is so present? And doth he not (as he ought) desist, and forbear to perform such Divine Service, and Sermon, till such Excommunicate Person be gone out of your Church and Chappel? 28. Doth your Minister perambulate your Parish-Bounds in Rogation week, as is appointed? 29. Doth your Minister use and wear such decent Habit and Garments, as by the 74 Canon of the Canons of this Church, published in the Year 1604. are enjoined, that is, Priests Gowns, and in their journey's Priests Coats, and within doors Cassocks, never appearing in Hose and Doublet only? And doth he wear any Coif, or wrought nightcap, but only plain nightcaps of black silk, satin, or velvet? TIT. IU. Concerning the Parishioners. 1. IS there any in your Parish that make Profession of any other Religion, than what is established in the Church of England? And that refuse to come into the Public Assemblies, Prayers, or Service of the Church? If there be any, what are their Names? 2. Is there any person in your Parish, that lieth under a Common fame, or suspicion of Adultery, Fornication, or Incest? Are there any common Drunkards within your Parish, or common Swearers, or Blasphemers of God's Name, or any that are noted to be Railers, unclean or filthy talkers, or sowers of sedition, faction and discord amongst their neighbours? 3. Do any of your Parish upon Sundays or Holidays follow their bodily and ordinary labour, or permit their servants so to do? are any Shops kept open, or wares sold? or do any Vintners, Innkeepers, or other Victuallers and sellers of Beer or Ale, suffer any persons to tipple or game in their houses upon those days? 4. Doth every person in your Parish duly resort to your Church or Chapel upon Sundays and Holidays, and there decently and orderly, as well during Divine Service, as Preaching the Word of God, demean themselves reverently, uncovering their heads, kneeling at prayers, standing up when the Creed and Gospel are read? 5. Is there any in your Parish that refuse 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 is there any Infants, or more aged Persons as yet unbaptised? 6. Is there any person in your Parish of 16 years of age, who doth not receive the Sacrament three times in the year, of which Easter is always to be one? Doth any refuse to receive it kneeling, or resort to other Parishes? or do any Strangers come to your Parish Church to receive it? 7. Are there any in your Parish that be denounced and declared excommunicate for any crime committed? how long have they been so excommunicated? and do any of your Parish keep society with them before they be reconcised to the Church, and absolved? 8. Are there any living in your Parish, who have been unlawfully married, contrary to the Laws of God? or any that being lawfully divorced, have married again; or any that being lawfully married, and not separated or divorced by course of Law, do not cohabit together? 9 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? And when they come so to do, do they come decently apparelled, and make their offerings according to custom? 10. Are there any that refuse to pay their duty for Easter offerings, or refuse to contribute to the Rates made for the repair of your Church or Chappel, or any thing thereunto belonging? 11. Do any refuse to bury their Dead according to the Rites of the Church of England? and are there any Wills or Testaments of persons dead in your Parish, that be yet unproved? or any Goods administered without a due grant from the Ordinary? Did any dying in your Parish, or elsewhere, leave any Legacy to your Church or Chappel, or to the use of the Poor, or to any other pious and charitable purposes? What were those Legacies, and how have they been bestowed? 12. Is there any Strife and Contention among any of your Parish for their Pews or Seats in your Church? Have any new Pews been erected in your Chancel, or in the body of your Church or Chappel, without leave from the Ordinary? 13. Doth any person keep company with any Excommunicate person or persons, after he or they be published excommucate in their Parish Churches or Chapels? Doth any person buy, sell, traffic, borrow, lend, or any other ways converse with them, but in case of necessity. 14. Doth any person refuse, or neglect to keep solemn, as a fasting-day, and as a day of humiliation, the 30 day of January; the 29 day of May, and the fifth day of November, every Year, as days of Thanksgiving, according as is appointed? and doth every Parishioner go to Church on those days, to hear and perform the Service then appointed? 15. Do any of your Parish, who are married within the degrees of marriages prohibited, cohabite together? 16. Do any come late to Prayers in the Church? Do the Parishioners remain there with reverence, not departing till all the Service be done, and the last Blessing in the Common-prayer-Book be pronounced by the Minister? 17. Doth any person neglect, or refuse to do due and low reverence when the name of Jesus is mentioned, in the time of Divine-Service? 18. Doth every one present at Divine-Service in your Parish Church or Chappel, carry him or herself reverently, being every male uncovered in time of Divine-Service, and Sermon, and every person standing up at the reading of the Creed, and the Gloria Patri, according to the Book of Common-prayer, and kneeling, and answering, as is there appointed? TIT.U. Concerning Parish-Clarks and Sextons. 1. HAve you belonging to your Church or Chappel a Parish-Clark aged 21 years at the least: Is he of honest life and conversation, & sufficient or able to perform his duty in reading, writing, and singing? Is he chosen by your Minister, and doth he duly attend him in all Divine-Services at the Church? Are his wages duly paid to him? or who withholdeth the same from him? 2. Doth he diligently do his duty in keeping the Church clean and decent, in tolling and ringing the Bells before Divine-Service; and when any person is passing out of this life, doth he upon notice, toll a Bell, that the neighbours may thereby be warned to recommend the dying person to the grace and favour of God? 3. Doth your Parish-Clark, or Sexton, every Wednesday and Friday, in due time, toll a Bell, to call the People to Church, to come to Prayers with the Minister. TIT. VI Concerning School Masters, Schools, Physicians, Surgeons, and Midwives. 1. DOth any person keep a public or private School in your Parish, who is not allowed thereunto by his Ordinary? doth he teach his Scholars the Catechism of Religion set forth by Authority? doth he cause his Scholars upon Sundays and holidays orderly to repair to your Church or Chappel, and see that they behave themselves quietly and reverently, during the time of Divine-Service and Sermon? 2. Doth any in your Parish practise Physic or Chirurgery? or any woman take upon her to exercise the office of a Midwife, without Licence from the Ordinary? TIT. VII. Concerning Churchwardens and Sidemen. 1. ARe the Churchwardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen by the joint consent of your Minister and Parishioners, or one of them by your Minister, and the other by the Parishioners? 2. Have the former and last Churchwardens given vy their accounts to the Parish, and delivered up to the succeeding Churchwardens the moneys remaining in their hands, together with all other things belonging to your Church or Chappel? 3. You are further to understand, That according to your Office, you are to provide against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel, a sufficiently quantity of fine white-Bread, and good Wine, according to the number of Communicants. 4. Do the Churchwardens and Sidemen do their duty, in seeing decent order kept in time of Divine-Service and Sermon, and that none be then covered? Do they or some of them, take care that none be then drinking in Alehouses, or tippling-houses, on Sundays or Holidays, or stay in the Church-Porch, or without the Church, neglecting Common-Prayer? R●p●●●l T●●●●km●r●●●. FINIS.