ARTICLES TO BE ENQUIRED OF BY The Churchwardens and Sidemen (with the assistance of their Ministers) of every Parish within the ARCH-DEACONRY of NORWICH, IN THE VISITATION Of the Right Worshipful Doctor WILLIAM GERY,  of NORWICH. In the Year of our Lord God, 1664  
Sir Justinian Lewyn Knt, Official.  
LONDON, Printed by J. Grismond, 1663.   

ARTICLES OF Visitation and Enquiry, etc.  

TIT. I. Concerning Churches or Chapels, with the Ornaments and furniture thereunto belonging.  
I. IS your Parish-Church or Chapel in good and sufficient repair, both for the Roof, Windows, Floor and Seats?  
II. Hath any part of your Church, Chapel 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?  
III. Is there a decent Font 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 Linen to be spread thereon at the time of the Administration of the Lords Supper; and have you a seemly Chalice or Communion-Cup, with a Cover, and one or more Flagons?  
iv Have you a convenient Seat or Pew wherein to read Divince Service; a Pulpit, with a decent Cloth or Cushions; 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 within which Marriages are Prohibited; and a Book of Canens and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, and a decent Surplice and Good for your Minister to Officiate in? And are the Ten Commandments set up at the East end of your Church or Chappel, and are the King's Arms set up in some fitting place of your Church or Chancel?  
V 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?  
VI Have you a Book of Paper, to record the Names and Licences 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  furniture?   

TIT. II. Concerning the Churchyard, the Houses, Glebes, and Tithes belonging to the Church.  
I. IS your Churchyard sufficiently fenced and decently kept? Hath any person encroached upon the same, or made a y Door into it, and how long since?  
II. 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?  
III. Have you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe-lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements, or Cottages, belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage? As also a Note of such Pensions, Rate-Tythes, and Portions of Tithes, or other yearly profits (either within or without your Parish) as belong thereto? Have any of the same been withheld from your Minister, and by whom, as you know or have heard?   

TIT. III. Concerning Ministers.  
I. IS your Minister legally Instituted and inducted into his Benefice, and did he within two Months after his induction, publicly in the Church upon some Sunday or Holy day, 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?  
II. Is he resident among you? How many weeks hath he been absent from you without urgent necessity?  
III. Hath your Minister a Curate; Is he in Holy Orders, and conformable to the Laws of the Church; Is he allowed by the Ordinary?  
iv 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?  
V Doth your Minister at the reading divine service, wear a Surplice and Hood?  
VI Doth he observe the Holy days and Fasting-days, the Ember weeks, and the yearly Perambulation in Rogation week, as is appointed by the Rubric?  
VII. 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?  
VIII. Doth your Minister instruct the Youth in your Parish in the Church Catechism, and prepare and present them to be confirmed by the Bishop?  
IX. 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 Godfather or Godmother to their own Children?  
X. Hath your Minister Married any persons without publishing the Banes on three Sundays or Holidays, or Licence fi●st obtained?  
XI. Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any public or private Fasts, Prophecying, 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?  
XII. 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 unbeséeming a Minister?   

TIT. IU. Concerning the Parishioners.  
I. IS there any in your Parish that make profession of any other Religion; then what is established in the Church of England, and that refuse to come unto the public assemblies, Prayers, or service of the Church? If there be any, what are their Names?  
II. Is there any person in your Parish, that lieth under a Common fame, or suspicion of Adultery, Fornication, or incest; or is there any of your Parish that are guilty of anti-nuptial Fornication; that have had carnal knowledge of Husband or Wife respectively before lawful Marriage? 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?  
III. 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, Inkéepers, or other Victuallers and sellers of Beer or Ale, suffer any persons to tipple or game in their houses upon those days, during the time of Divine service, particularly on the 30th of January the 29th of May and the 5th of November?  
iv Doth every person in your Parish duly resort to your Church or Chapel, upon Sundays and Holy days, 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?  
V Is there any in your Parish that refuse to send their Infant-childrens 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?  
VI 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?  
VII. Are there any in your Parish that be Denounced and declared Excommunicate, for any crime committed, How long have they been so excommunicated?  
VIII. Are there any living in your Parish who have been unlawfully married, scilicet, Without publication of Banes, or Licence first obtained, or within the degrees prohibited?  
IX. Are there any Married Women within your Parish who after their delivery from the peril of Childbirth, efuse 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?  
X. 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 Chapel, or any thing thereunto belonging?  
XI. 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 not proved; or any goods administered without a due grant from the Ordinary? Did any dying within your Parish or elsewhere, leave any Legacy to your Church or Chappel, or to the use of the Poor, or to any other p ous, and charitable purposes, what were those Legacies, and how have they been bestowed?  
XII. Is there any strife and contention among any of your Parish for their pews or seats in your Church? Have any new Pewes been erected in your Chancel, or in the body of your Church or Chappel, without leave from the Ordinary?   

TIT. V. Concerning Parish Clerks, and Sextons.  
I. HAve you belonging to your Church or Chapel a Parish Clerk aged 21 years at the least? Is he of honest life and conversation, and 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 unto him, or who withholdeth the same from him?  
II. 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 departing 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?   

TIT. VI Concerning Schoolmasters, Schools, Physicians, Surgeons, and Midwives.  
I. DOth any man keep a public or private School in your Parish, who is not allowed thereunto by the 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 Chapel, and see that they behave themselves quietly and reverently during the time of Divine Service and Sermon?  
II. Doth any in your Parish practice Physic or Chirurgery? or any Woman take upon her to exercise the Office of Midwife, without Licence from the Ordinary?   

TIT. VII. Concerning Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
I. 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?  
II. Have the former and last Churchwardens given up their Accounts to the Parish, & delivered up to the succeeding Churchwardens, the moneys remaining in their hands, together with all other things belonging to your Church or Chapel?  
III. You are further to understand, That according to your Office, you are to provide against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chapel, a sufficient quantity of fine White Bread, and of good Wine, according to the number of Communicants.   
THE END.