ARTICLES TO BE INQVIRED OF WITHIN THE DIOCESE OF NORWICH, in the ordinary visitation of the reverend Father in God, SAMVEL, Lord Bishop of NORWICH.  
Anno Domini 1620. & Translationis suae, primo.  
ANCHORA FIDEI SICELEVABITUR FILIVS HOMINIS· Io 3  
Imprinted at London 1620.   

The form of the Oath to be ministered unto the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
YOu shall swear to make diligent inquiry and true presentment of all and every the offences mentioned in the subsequent Articles in this book, which be known to you either by notoriety of the fact, confession of any party, or by any public speech and common fame, or by other proof had & made, without affection of love or hatred to any person; So help you God, and the Contents of this Book.   

ARTICLES TO BE INQVIRED OF IN THE DIOCESE OF NORWICH. ANNO DOMINI. 1620.  

TIT. 1. Articles concerning religion, prayer, and Sacraments  
1. FIrst, whether be there any person or persons abiding in your parish or resorting thereunto, above the age of sixteen years, that wilfully, and obstinately, refuse to repair to their parish Church Chapel or oratory, upon sabbath days and Holidays▪ and be thereby taken to be Popish or sectary recusants.  
2. Item, whether be there any that be known to have defended or maintained any heretical opinions, contrary to the holy scriptures of God, and first four general counsels or any of them, and what be those opinions, and who be the authors thereof.  
3. Item, whether be there any in your parish, that hath been or is vehemently suspected, to have been present at any unlawful assemblies, or private conventicles, under colour or pretence of any exercise of religion: or doth affirm and maintain such meetings to be lawful.  
4. Item, whether doth any person within your Parish, deprave the form of common prayer, and administration of the Sacraments, rites and ceremonies, set forth and prescribed in the book of common prayer of this realm.  
5. Item whether is there any doctrine taught, published, or preached, by any person or persons directly or indirectly against the state eclesiastical, and lawful government of the Church of England, and the consecrating of Archbishops and Bishops, and the ordering of Deacons and Ministers, after such manner and form as is now used and prescribed by his Majesty's laws within this Realm of England.  
6. Item, whether be there any within your parish, that deny or persuade any to deny, withstand, and impugn the king's Majesty's authority and supremacy, in causes eclesiastical within this realm.  
7. Item, whether doth any person within your parish, above the age of 16. years, refuse or forbear thrice in every year, & at Easter especially, to communicate and receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords supper: And what reverence do the people within your Parish use by outward gestures of their bodies, when they be partakers of that blessed Sacrament: and whether do they reverently kneel upon their knees when the minister delivereth the same to them.  
8. Item, whether doth any person within your Parish defer the baptism of his child, longer than until the next Sabbath day or holiday, after the birth thereof.  
9 Item, whether hath any child died unbaptized within your Parish, and by whose default.  
10. Item, whether be the parents of any child to be Baptised, admitted to be godfathers or godmothers to the same.  
11. Item, whether have the children of popish recusants, or wilful sectaries borne within your Parish, been privately baptised by any lay man not in holy orders.  
12. Item, whether hath any person not lawfully confirmed according to the form of confirmation, prescribed in the book of common Prayer of this realm, been admitted to receive the holy communion.  
13 Item, whether hath any Popish recusant, after he or she hath been conformed, repaired to Church and received the blessed sacrament of the Lords supper, once a year at the least, in that parish Church where he or she do most usually abide.  
14. Item, whether do any within your parish upon Sabbath days and holy days, negligently and carelessly repair to your parish Church, so that half or the most part of divine service is ended before they come, and upon light occasion departed out of the Church before prayers be done.   

TIT. 2. Articles Concerning the Ministers and Preachers of Gods holy word.  
1 FIrst, whether doth the minister of your parish Church, read the form of common prayer, in such sort as is set forth in the book of common prayer, confirmed by his Majesty's authority, and administer the Sacraments with due observation of all rites and ceremonies prescribed to be used in the administration thereof, without adding altering or omitting any part or parcel of the said prayers, or innovating any other matter in the administration of either of the Sacraments.  
2. Item, whether is the said form of common prayer duly and orderly red in your Church, chapel, or oratory, upon sabbath days, holy days, wednsdays, and fridays, and upon holy eves and Sabbath eves.  
3. Item, whether be the words of institution of the Sacrament of the Lords supper, used by the minister in delivery of the bread and wine to every communicant.  
4. Item, whether be the words in the administration of the sacrament of baptism, I sign thee with the sign of the Cross, only used, and no visible or formal cross made in the forehead of the child so baptised.  
5. Item, whether is the sacrament of baptism denied to any children borne out of wedlock, and by whom.  
6. Item, whether is the form of common prayer red upon the 24. of March, the fifth of november, and the fifth of August, yearly in your parish Church: and public thanksgiving used upon those days to almighty God, for his Majesty's gracious succession to the royal crown of this realm, the deliverance of his highness, and the whole state from the damnable gunpowder treason, and for his Majesty's preservation from the conspiracy of Gowry.  
7. Item, whether is the statute entitled An act for a public thanksgiving to almighty God, etc. every year distinctly red in your parish Church at morning prayer, upon the fifth day of November,  
8. Item, whether doth your Minister always and at every time, both morning and evening, reading divine service, and administering the sacraments, wear the surplice, and doth he never omit the wearing of the same, at such times or at any of them.  
9, Item, whether doth he catechise the youth of his parish upon sundays and holidays before evening prayer, for half an hour or more, in the catechism set forth in the book of common Prayer, and in none other: And whether do all the parishioners attend his catechising: And whether do any of them neglect or refuse to send their children to be catechised by him.  
10. Item, whether doth your minister once every year in your parish church read the book of canons published Anno Domini. 1603. and whether doth he visit the sick as by law is required.  
11 Item, whether doth he give thanks for women after their childbirth in such manner as is prescribed in the book of common prayer of this realm: And doth he admit any to the performance of that holy action, that do not come having a decent veil upon their heads Matron like as hath been accustomed heretofore: And whether doth any woman refuse to give thanks in that manner after her childbirth.  
12. Item, whether is your minister resiant at and upon his benefice or spiritual promotion, and doth he preach every sabbath day or monthly in his said cure, or read an homily when there is no sermon there preached.  
13. Item whether is your Minister a graduate and hath taken any scholastical degree of bachelor or Master of arts, or bachelor or doctor in divinity, either in Cambridge or Oxeford, and is he a preacher lawfully licenced, and by whom?  
14 Item whether doth your Minister preach or teach any matter publicly in his pulpit within his parish Church, which is not agreeable to the doctrine of the old and new testament, and which the learned Fathers, and aunceient Bishops have not taken and gathered out of the holy scriptures, for an undoubted truth?  
15 Item▪ whether doth your minister side it in his preaching, by taking part with one of them that be at variance, and thereupon preach doctrine tending to the breach of christian love and unity, and stirring up of schism and faction amongst his auditors, offensively and scandalously, and colour his schismatical designments by a secret persuasive of his desire of peace and unity in the Church?  
16. Item, whether doth your Minister use always to pray for the King's Majesty, the Prince, Clergy, and Counsel, in the form of Prayer prescribed in the constitutions published in that behalf, in the yeace of our Lord 1603.  
17 Item, Whether doth your Minister hold any more Benefices with cure of souls than one, and by what dispensation doth he so retain them?  
18 Item, Whether is your Minister vehemently suspected by common voice, public fame, or credible report, to have obtained his spiritual promotion or benefice with cure of souls by any simoniacal compact, directly or indirectly, or for any lucre or gain to have resigned his said Benefice or spiritual promotion▪  
19 Item, Whether doth your Minister upon light cause not warrantable by law, and upon private displeasure by him conceived against any of his Parishioners, repel and debar any of them from the receiving of the holy Communion?  
20 Item, Whether hath any notorious or known fornicator, adulterer, scandalous person, or blasphemer of God's holy name, been admitted to receive the holy Communion without public repentance?  
21 Item, Whether doth your Minister read public prayers at meet and convenient hours, and bid holidays and fasting days?  
22 Item, Whether doth your Minister every six months denounce in his Parish Church all such as do persevere and continue in the sentence of excommunication, not seeking to be absolved: and whether hath he admitted into the Church any excommunicate person without certificate of his absolution from the Ordinary, or other competent judge, under their authentical seal?  
23 Item, Whether doth your Minister diligently labour and endeavour to reclaim the Popish Recusants in his Parish from their errors, if there be any such there-abiding?  
24 Item, Whether is your Minister familiar and conversant with Popish Recusants, or a favourer of them, and thereby taken not to be sound and sincere in Religion?  
25. Item, Whether doth your Minister publicly in the Church upon the Sabbath day next before his administration of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, give knowledge of it to all his Parishioners, that such as intent to communicate may prepare themselves for the receiving of that blessed Sacrament.  
26. Item, Whether is your Minister studious in the holy Scriptures, and abstaineth from mechanical trades, or labour, not befitting his function, and from gaming, swearing, and drunkenness, or such notorious crimes?  
27. Item, Is there any in your Parish who (having been admitted unto holy Orders, either Deacon or Priest) doth relinquish and forsake his calling, and liveth in the course of his life as a Say man?  
28. Item, whether hath any Say man (not in holy Orders) read public prayers in your Church, or churched any women, or buried any dead person within your parish?  
29. Item, whether hath your Minister buried any excommunicate person, not absolved from that censure?  
30. Item, Whether hath your Minister with any other persons within your Parish, used to meet in any private house, or other place, there to confer and consult together, how to impeach or deprave the book of Common Prayer, or the doctrine or discipline of the Church of England?  
31. Item, Whether hath any person being merely ignorant in the holy Scriptures, not able to render a reason of his faith in Latin, nor having a special gift of preaching, been from a manual trade or artificer, admitted to holy orders, and to administer the Sacraments, and preach the word of God?  
32 Item, Whether is there any opposition amongst the preachers used publicly in matters of faith and doctrine in their sermons preached: And what Ministers admitted to holy orders be within your Parish, and allowed Preachers, not having any pastoral charge or cure committed to them?  
33 Item, Whether doth your Minister or Curate in Rogation week, go in perambulation of the circuit of the Parish, using thanksgiving to God for his blessing according to law?   

TIT. 3. Articles concerning Lectures.  
FIrst, Whether doth any person read any public Lecture, or expound the holy Scriptures in your Church, chapel, or Oratory, he being not in holy orders, and lawfully licenced for a public Preacher according to the laws of this Realm?  
2 Item, Whether doth every such Lecturer before his Sermon, or exposition of the Scriptures, read public Prayers in his surplice, according to the form prescribed in the book of common prayer of this realm, without omission of any part thereof.  
3 Item, whether doth your said lecturer before his sermons, use any other form of prayer for the whole state of this realm, then that which is prescribed in the constitutions eclesiastical, published and confirmed by his Majesty's authority, Anno Domini. 1603.  
4 Item, whether doth your said Lecturer maintain any doctrine directly contrary or repugnant to the articles of christian faith and religion, published and ratified, Anno Domini 1562.  
5 Item, whether is any lecturer admitted to preach in your Church, that is not conformable to the discipline and government eclesiastical within the church of England, but schismatically and fantastically affected to novelties and innovations.  
6 Item, whether doth your lecturer or sole preacher, twice at the least, every year in his own person, read both morning and evening prayer, two several sundays in the parish church where he preacheth, and at those times wear the surplice; and twice every year administer the Sacraments, without omission of any rites or ceremonies, that are prescribed in the book of common prayer of this realm to be used at the administration thereof?   

TIT. 4. Articles concerning Matrimony.  
FIrst, whether hath any matrimony been contracted, and solemnised within your parish, betwixt any persons being in consanguinity or affinity within the levitical degrees, and by the word of God prohibited.  
2 Item, whether hath any matrimony been solemnised, or rather profaned, secretly in any private house within your parish?  
3 Item, whether hath the uncle married his niece, by consanguinity, or affinity; or hath any person successively married two sisters: and who be they that have contracted such incestuous marriages.  
4. Item, whether hath any person two wives now living, or any woman two husbands: and who are so voiced, noted, and reported to be offenders in this behalf.  
5. Item, whether be there any persons coupled together, in matrimony, that live a part without lawful divorce?  
6. Item, whether hath any person lawfully divorced, been coupled in matrimony with any other man or woman, during the life of the other person so divorced?  
7. Item, whether have any matrimonies been solemnised betwixt any persons being under the age of xxi. years without their parents or governors consent first had and obtained?  
8 Item, whether hath any person by licence or without, been married in your Church, neither of them at that time dwelling in your parish?  
9 Item, whether have any Popish recusants or their children been married within your parish; and in what sort were those matrimonies solemnised, when, and by whom?   

TIT. 5. Articles concerning the parishioners and others of the Laiety.  
FIrst, whether be there any person or persons within your parish, who in your hearing or to your knowledge, have at any time depraved by word or deed, the form of common prayer, & administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper?  
2 Item, whether have any dwelling within your parish reviled and abused the Ministers of God's holy word by contumelious words, and disgraced their lawful marriages.  
3 Item, whether have any person or persons disorderly behaved themselves, in the Church or Church-yard, by brawling, quarrelling or fight?  
4 Item, whether be there any abiding within your parish, or resorting thereunto as an usual parishioner thereof, that refuse to receive the Sacrament of the Lords supper administered by an unpreaching minister, and who be they that so do?  
5 Item, whether do any in your parish profane the sabbath day by unlawful games, drinking or tippling in the time of common prayer or sermon, or by doing the ordinary works of their vocations and trades?  
6 Item, whether is there any within your parish, that denieth the church of England by law established under the kings most excellent Majesty to be a true and apostolical church.  
7 Item, whether do any of the inhabitants within your parish, entertain in their houses any sojourners or common guests (other then his or her father or mother wanting other habitation or sufficient maintenance, or the ward of any such person, or any person that shall be committed by authority to the custody of any of them) that be Popish recusants, and refuse to frequent divine service, or receive the holy communion & what be their names?  
8 Item, how long have the said Popish recusants obstinately abstained, either from hearing divine service red, or receiving the blessed sacrament of the Lords supper, administered in the parish Church?  
9 Item, whether is there due reverence and humble submission used within your church or chapel, in the time of divine service as by the xviii. constitution eclesiastical of this realm Anno Domini, 1603. is prescribed; whether each one in the church or chapel do apply and order himself there in time of divine service, as by the latter part of the same constitution is most commendably enjoined; namely that no man do cover his head in the time of divine service, except he have some infirmity, that all do kneel upon their knees, when the confession and other prayers are read; stand up at the reading of the belief, and bow their bodies reverently when jesus shall be named?  
10 Item, whether be there any within your parish that come upon sabbath days and holy days, and at other times of prayer, to the sermon only, and not to hear divine service; And be there any that do not reverently stand up, when Gloria Patri etc. is read, and at the reading of the Gospel?  
11 Item, whether be there any within your parish, that by walking or talking, disquiet your minister in reading of prayers, or in his sermon?  
12 Item, Whether be there any in your parish, that do only come once a month to their parish church, to hear divine prayers red, & never receive the sacrament of the Lords supper?  
13 Item, Whether doth any within your parish, in contempt of his own minister, repair to any other Church in time of common prayer to hear the same red, and to receive the sacrament; and what be there names that be so affected, and the names of the ministers of other churches, that admit those that be not their own parishioners to prayers and sacraments by him or them read and administered?  
14. Item, is there any in your parish that be commonly known or reputed to be blasphemers of Gods holy name, drunkards, adulterers, fornicators, incestuous persons, or concealers or harbourers of fornicators or adulterers: Have any been detected for any such notorious crimes, or of the common & public fame of them, and never performed any penance, nor given satisfaction to the congregation for the said offences?  
15 Item, what persons testate have died within your Parish since the first of February 1619. and whether be their last wills and Testaments proved, and who be executors of the same?  
16 Item, what persons have died intestate since the time before expressed, and who do administer the goods of the persons so deceased?  
17 Item, whether have any person or persons being duly rated in equal proportion, for the repairing of your parish Church, or for provision of bread and wine, for the administration of the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper, or for any other necessary ornaments & utensils belonging to your Church, that have or do refuse to pay that rate, or to give satisfaction to the Churchwardens in that behalf, and who be they that have offended herein?   

TIT. 6. Articles concerning the Church and Church-yard.  
FIrst, Whether have you in your Church, Chapel or Oratory, the Book of Common Prayer by the King's Majesty confirmed, a Bible of the largest volume, and the last translation, jewels Apology of the last edition, with the rest of his Works adjoined, the Books of Homilies, Erasmus paraphrase, and the Book for special thanksgiving with the Statute in that behalf, for the gracious deliverance of the whole state of this Realm, from the Gunpowder treason; and have you the Book of Canons ecclesiastical, published Anno Dom. 1603. and all other books by Law or Custom usually to be had within your said Churches?  
2 Item, whether are the Ten Commandments religiously hung up in a fair Table within your Parish Church, and the Table of the degrees of Matrimony prohibited?  
3 Item, whether have you in your Parish Church one or two Surplices, and a Hood faced with Taffeta or Satin, if your Minister be a Graduate, a Master of Arts, a Bachelor or Doctor in Divinity?  
4 Item, whether have you a decent seat for your Minister to read public prayers in, a seat nigh unto him for his Clerk, and a seat for the women that come to give thankes after their Childbirth, a comely Pulpit, with a Cushion and a Cloth for it, a decent Communion Table, with a Carpet of broad cloth, and a fair linen cloth, a Communion cup of Silver, and a flagon of silver or Pewter, to be used at the Communion?  
5, Item, whether have you a Bear for the carriage of dead bodies to their burial, a convenient and decent Font with a cover standing in the accustomed place, & a Register book in parchment, wherein be duly entered the names of all such as be baptised, married, and buried?  
6 Item, whether have you one Chest, with three locks and keys, wherein the Register book, and other utensils belonging to your Church be duly kept: And whether have you one book in Parchment or Paper, wherein be entered the names of all strangers that come to preach within your Parish, and their licenses therein recorded?  
7 Item, whether is your Parish Church, Chapel or Oratory in good and sufficient reparations, not profaned, comely and decently kept and the seats therein well maintained?  
8 Item, whether be there any Pues lately built within your Parish Church, without the authority, consent and approbation of the Ordinary, and who have so built them?  
9 Item, whether have any Pues been taken up which were formerly set in any other Church, and be transferred to your Church, and there set up, and by whom, and by what authority?  
10 Item, whether is there any Church or Chapel (wherein there be a competent number of people, to the number of ten or above dwelling and abiding) profaned and converted to any irreligious use, by making of it a Barn, Stable, or Granary, & the Parishioners thereof not known to resort to any other Church, chapel, or Oratory, by lawful assignation of the Ordinary?  
11 Item, whether be there in your Steeple the usual and ancient number of Bells still remaining and hanging; & by whom have any Bells been taken out of your Steeple, and to what use have they been converted?  
12 Item, whether have there been kept in your Church any Plays, Feasts, Banquets, Church-ales, drink, or any other profane usages by laying of Drums or Guns in your Church or Steeple, and discharging them there, and by whose commandment and appointment?  
13. Item, whether is your Churchyard well and sufficiently repaired by a comely wall of Stone or Pale: and whether have you a grate at the entrance into the said Churchyard, to keep out Swine, and other noisome beasts?  
14 Item, whether be not the Graves and Monuments of the dead broken, and rooted up by Swine in your said Churchyard: and whether be not noisome drains and privies made and suffered within the said Church yard, and unusual doors and passages made into the same?   

TIT. 7. Articles concerning Parsonage and Vicaridge-houses.  
FIrst, Whether be the Houses, Edifices, and Buildings belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage well and sufficiently repaired; and whether be any of them ruinated, wasted, and dilapidated, and by whose default?  
2 Item, whether is the Chancel of your Parish Church ruinated, and by whose default is it so decayed?   

TIT. 8. Articles concerning Legacies and Bequests given to godly uses.  
FIrst, Whether be there any Legacies given in the last Will and Testament of any person deceased, out of his movable goods, for the relief of the poor, or to the reparations of the Church, or to either of the Universities, Cambridge, or Oxford, or to any School of Learning or College, for the increase of virtue and knowledge, or to any other charitable use; what be those bequests, and by whom were they given.  
2 Item, what Legacies given to the uses aforesaid, have been detained by the executor of any person deceased; and who be they that do so detain them?   

TIT. 9 Articles concerning Churchwardens.  
FIrst, Whether be the Churchwardens of your Parish chosen by the Minister and Parishioners, according to the 89. Canon; and whether hath any taken upon him to been Churchwarden being not so chosen?  
2 Item, whether have the Churchwardens been diligent in the execution of their office, to see decency and comeliness kept in the Church, in the time of divine service, and at the administration of the Sacraments?  
3 Item, whether have any Churchwardens detained any of the Church goods in their hands, and not made a just account of what they have received and expended?  
4 Item, whether have the Churchwardens at every Communion provided sufficient Bread and Wine for the Communicants, and set the same upon the Communion Table, in the presence of the Minister, before he begin the administration of the said Sacrament?   

TIT. 10. Articles concerning Schoolmasters, Physicians and Chirurgeons.  
FIrst, Is there any Schoolmaster within your Parish that teacheth publicly or privately, not licenced by the Bishop of the Diocese, or his Chancellor, and that so teacheth and cometh not to Church to hear divine service, upon days appointed for reading of the same, and receive the Communion thrice in the year at the least: Or doth he teach any Papists or Sectaries children, that come not to Church in time of public prayer read?  
2 Item, whether doth he instruct his Scholars in the Catechism set forth in the Book of Common Prayer of this Realm, and in no other?  
3 Item, whether doth any practice Physic or Chirurgery, being not lawfully licenced thereunto, or created Doctor of Physic, in either of the Universities of this Realm?  
4 Item, what ignorant persons have left their manuel trades, and taken upon them to profess Physic or Chirurgery, and who be they that so abuse the people?   

TIT. 11. Articles concerning eclesiastical Officers.  
FIrst, What corporal punishment enjoined for any offence of eclesiastical cognizance hath been commuted by any ecclesiastical judge within this diocese into a pecuniary mulct, or sum of money and how was the same money employed?  
2 Item, Whether is there not a table of fees in every of the courts eclesiastical within this diocese hung up in some public place in the court & Registry, and no other fees taken & received by any ecclesiastical judge more or greater then in the said table are expressed.  
3 Item, Whether doth any ecclesiastical judge speed any judicial acts privately himself, and not in the presence of some public notary or actuary?  
4 Item, What presentments have been made for any offence cognizable & punishable in the ecclesiastical courts within this diocese, & have been suppressed by any judge or register, & by them withdrawn and not effectually proceeded in, according to the laws ecclesiastical of this realm?  
5 Item, whether do you know any person enjoined by judicial decree or sentence in court to do public penance for his sin, or excommunicate for not doing the same, that doth still by connivency or favour of the judge, or Register of that court, where the said penance was enjoined, still continue winked at & unreformed?  
6 Item, What numbers of apparitors be there to your knowledge within the Arch-deaconry wherein you live; and whether have any of them under colour & pretence of their office and authority committed unto them, cited or summoned any person unlawfully; and wrongfully troubled him, or for the concealing of any offence or sin, and for the avoiding of punishment in the offenders, have taken any reward or gift, or otherwise dealt corruptly, and who be they that have so offended?  
7 last whether have you without affection of love or hatred to any person, presented and detected all offenders mentioned in the precedent articles, known to be delinquents either in truth, or by their own confession, or by lawful proof, or by common fame, and report: And whether do you know any other matter of ecclesiastical cognizance, worthy the presenting in your judgement, which is not heretofore by you presented?   
FINIS.