ARTICLES TO BE ENQVIRED OF IN THE ORDINARY Visitation of the Right WORSHIPFUL, JAMES MARSH, Dr. of Divinity, Archdeacon of Chichester.  
Holden Anno Dom. 1640  
LONDON, Printed by B. A. for RICHARD MEIGHEN. 1640   

The form of the Oath to be ministered to the Churchwardens and Sidemen.  
YOu shall swear, that you and every of you, shall duly consider and diligently inquire of all and every of these Articles given you in charge, and that without affection, malice, favour, fear of displeasure, or hope of ●aine or reward, you shall present all and every such person ●hat now is, or of late was abiding or inhabiting within your Parish, who hath committed, or is suspected to have committed any offence, or made any default mentioned in these ●r any of these Articles, wherein you shall deal uprightly, ●ully, plainly and truly, neither presenting, nor sparing to resent any contrary to truth, having GOD before our eyes, with an earnest zeal to maintain truth, and to suppress ●●nne and error: So God you help, and the holy Contents ●f this Book.   


Articles concerning Consecrated places, Churches, Churchyards, Chapels of Ease.  
1 WHat Church have you for Divine Servine Service? what Chapels of ease belonging to them? is any part of such Church or Chapel demolished or put to any profane use?  
2 In what repair is your Church and Chapels, and every part of them? are the walls and roof firm, the windows fairly glazed and unbroken? the floors decently paved?  
3 What kind of covering hath the Church or Chapel, is it of lead or tiles? or how else defended from the weather? Hath lead been taken from any part of it, and slats, Tiles, or something else used in the place of it: if so, by whom?  
4 Is your Steeple furnished with Bells, or have any of them been taken down, or sold away?  
5 Is your Church swept and cleansed, at least once a week? the walls whited▪ the windows and roof kept clean from Cobwebs, the doors kept locked, the Portall not made a Lodging for Beggars?  
6 What Galleries or Scaffolds have you in your Church or to what use? whether there be not conveniency of room for the Parishioners to be present at Sermons, or divine Service without them?  
7 In what manner are your Pewes built? are they decent and uniform? are not some so much higher than others, as may hinder their neighbours in hearing divine Service without them?  
8 Is your Chancel severed with a Partition from the body of the Church, is it decently kept, not encumbered with pews or any other lumber?  
9 What quantity of ground have you consecrated for a place of Burial? how is it fenced or mounded? hath there been encrochment made upon any part of it?  
10 Is the Church yard kept clean from feeding and dunging of cattles? especially from swine rooting up the graves of dead bodies? or what other nuisances are there from any houses that abutt upon it?  
11 Have there been kept in the Church or Chapel, or Churchyard, any Plays, Feasts, Suppers, Church ales, temporal Court, or Léet Lay, juries, Musters meeting, for rates, taxations, levies, especially at the Communion Table by the Parishioners?   

Of Church Ornaments, Utensils, Possessions.  
1 Have you a strong Chest or box for alms for the poor, with three locks and keys, one for the Rector, or Vicar, the other for the Churchwardens?  
2 What Font have you for the Sacrament of Baptism, of what materials is it made, where placed, whether towards the entrance of the Church or no, is it fixed or movable, is it decently covered, cleanly kept, or is there any Basin, or vessel used instead of it?  
3 Have you a convenient pew for him that officiates to read divine service in a Bible of the largest Volume, a Common Prayer Book in folio, the Books of Homilies allowed by Authority? a fair Surplice or two to be used by the Minister and him that shall assist him in the administration of the Sacrament?  
4 Have you a Pulpit so conveniently placed, as the Auditory may best hear: is it decently made and accommodated with a fair cloth and Cushion?  
5 Have you a Register Book in Parchment for Christen, Weddings, Burials, is the same kept in all points according to the Canons, is a true transcript thereof brought in yearly to the Bishop's Registry within a Month after our Lady day in March?  
6 Is your Communion Table, or Altar, strong, fair, and decent: is it set according to the practice of the ancient Church, upon an ascent at the East end of the Chancel, with the ends of it North and South: is it compassed in with an handsome Rail to keep it from profanation, according to the Order made in the Metropolitical Visitation?  
7 What Cover have you for the holy Table? have you one of silk or some good stuff to cover it at all times, another of fair clean linen for the time of celebration of the Sacrament?  
8 Have you a fair Communion Cup and Flagon, with a dish for the Bread, of what met all are they, pewter, tin, or silver?  
9 Are the ten Commandments set upon the East end of your Church or Chapel, where the people may best see to read them, with other well chosen sentences of Scripture upon the walls?  
10 Have any ancient monuments in your Church been defaced, the Brass pull's off, the stones taken away, or the Inscriptions raised, as also what Historical representations in windows have been defaced or broken?  
12 Is there adwelling house and Glebe belonging to the Parsonage or Vicarage? Is the House kept in good repair, with all Barns, stables, outhouses belonging to it? Is there an exact Terrier made of all the Glebe Lands, Meadows, Gardens, Orchards, houses, stocks, Tenements, pensions or portion of Tithes belonging to it? Is this Terrier made in Parchment, and returned into the Bishop's Registry?  
13 What timber trees grow in the Churchyard, or upon the Glebe? Hath any boon felled, or by whom?   

Concerning the Clergy.  
1 IS your Minister a Parson, Vicar, or Curate: or have you besides him any Preacher or Lecturer? and how authorised?  
2 If Parson or Vicar, doth he reside upon his Benefice? If not, what relief doth he give to the poor: how long in the year is he absent: how dispensed withal: by whom is the place supplied?  
3 If he be a Curate, is he allowed by the Bishop under his hand and seal? hath he an honest and sufficient salary? or doth he serve more than one Church or Chapel in one day?  
4 Is your Minister of honest, sober, exemplary life: a maintainer and procurer of peace among those that are committed to his charge: or doth he give any just scandal or offence by haunting of Taverus, Inns, Ale houses, by using going any other irregular way which may be a stain to his profession, and is punishable by the censures of the Church?  
5 Doth your Minister or Curate use such decent and comely apparel, as becometh the gravity of his calling, and may distinguish him from the Laity: or doth he wear long hair, deep ruffs, falling bands down to his shoulders, or any other unseemly garments not proper to his Ministry?  
6 Doth your Minister use such servile bodily labour as is not fit for one set apart by Imposition of hands for Divine Employments? Is he a defamed Usurer or Broker, a Chopper of Churchliving, a frader in Fairs or Markets, doth he idly vague up and downs, a fault so often censured in ancient Counsels: or doth he any way else so entangle himself in secular affairs, as to neglect the duties of his calling?  
7 Is your Minister so zealous of the good of his Flock, as diligently to labour the reclaiming of Recusants of all sorts within their charge, whether they be such as with periil of their souls superstitiously adhere to the Church of Rome, or such in the other extreme, who having perversely relinquished our Communion, find nothing to adhere to but their own private fancies?  
8 Is Divine Service orderly performed in your Church by your Minister or Curate upon appointed times as the Book of Common Prayer prescribeth, without any kind of alteration, addition, or omission? particularly doth he read the Litany on Wednesdays and Fridays?  
9 Is he entirely conformable to all Orders, Rites, Ceremonies of the Church, or using them only for a show, doth he privately or publicly speak any thing in derogation of them?  
10 Doth he in celebration of divine Service use such vestments as are enjoined by authority, doth he constantly in performing that Duty wear a Surplice, and an Hood (if he be a Graduate) suitable to his degree?  
11 Doth he before his Sermon use such form of Prayers as is prescribed by the Ecclesiastical Canon, for the prevention of the indiscréet flying out of some in their extemporary Prayers?  
12 Doth he preach in such a solemn habit as becomes him, in a long Gown and Cassock, not in a riding or ambulatory Cloak?  
13 Doth he in his Sermons preach Christ, and him crucified, abstaining from those high points of speculation which have in several ages raised combustion in Christian Churches; and therefore to preserve peace among us, forbidden by his sacred Majesty in his late Declaration?  
14 Doth he sometimes take occasion in his Sermons to teach obedience to the King as supreme, to all Magistrates substituted under him, to all Laws of the State, all Canons and Constitutions of the Church, which being lawfully enjoined, we are to obey, not only for fear, but for conscience sake?  
15 Hath your Minister at any time revealed the Confession of any made to him in secret, contrary to the 113. Canon, and so hath brought a scandal upon that ancient Remedy of sin and sinners?  
16 Doth he at any time from the Pulpit point out particular men damning some and saving others; and in his invectives against vice doth he fall from the general, and particularly design such as he thinks delinquents?  
17 Doth your Preacher or Lecturer read divine Service before his Sermon or Lecture? doth he besides twice a year at least administer the Sacraments in his own person?  
18 Doth he in Rogation week yearly use the accustomed perambulation, informing his Parishioners not only of the cill use of that custom, but also of the religious, to pray to God for his blessing on the fruits of the earth, and to deprecate his anger?  
19 Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any public or private Fasts, Prophecies, or exercises not approved by Law or public Authority: or hath he been present at any Conventicle where either the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church hath been traduced?  
20 Doth he in the time of divine Service use due and lowly reverence at the mention of the blessed name of JESUS, instructing others to do the like, not as an adoration of the bare sound of the word, but as an humble acknowledgement that there is not either in heaven or earth any name by which we shall be saved, but that alone?  
21 Is your Minister a Preacher licenced by lawful Authorityor not: if he be, having no lawful impediment, doth he preach ordinarily in his Cure? If he be not, doth he procure Sermons once a month at least to be preached by such as are lawfully licenced?  
22 Doth your Minister upon every Sunday when there is no Sermon, read on Homily out of the Book appointed?  
23 Doth he once in the year upon some Sundays or Holidays read over the Book of Canons before Evening Prayer, that every one may the better know what the Church requires of them?   

Of the Sacrament of Baptism.  
DOth your Minister or Curate in their Sermons, or otherwise, or any other, teach or maintain that Baptism, in God's ordinary dispensation with man is not the door that lets us into the Church, nor any way necessary to salvation? doth he not admonish you that are his Parishioners not to defer it beyond the accustomed time, lest some sudden sickness should take away the infant without the seal of the new covenant?  
2 Doth your Minister baptise the child at the Font the place assigned for it, doth he do it in clean pure water? Doth he take it in his arms, sign it with the sign of the Cross ask such Questions, and using such Prayers as are enjoined?  
3 Doth he baptise any without any Godfathers or Godmothers to answer for them: Or doth he not give to them such directions as are prescribed in the Ritual for the education of the child in true Religion?  
4 In case of necessity where the child is in danger of death, doth the Minister being sent for, refuse or delay to come to give it private Baptism; or doth he privately baptise where there is no necessity?  
5 Have any children in your Parish died unbaptized, how long remained they so before they died, and by whose default was it that they were deprived of that holy Sacrament?   

Of Confirmation and Chatechisme preparatory to it.  
1 IS your Minister careful in examining and instructing the youth and ignorant persons of the Parish, by teaching them Principles and grounds of Christian Religion delivered in that short Catechism, approved by the Church, and insorted in the Common Prayer Book?  
2 Doth he, according to his Majesty's Instructions, convert the popular afternoon Sermons on the Sunday into catechising by Question and Answer?  
3 When children by the benefit of thus catechising are able to give an account of their faith, doth he admonish their Parents to bring them to the Bishop to receive by Prayer such confirmation as may strengthen them in Captismall Grace received?   

Of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  
1 IS this blessed Sacrament administered in the Church every month upon the first Sunday, or at least thrice in the year, whereof Easter to be one?  
2 Is it administered in that reverend and decent manner as becomes so high a mystery: are the words of Consecration solemnly pronounced: the Elements reverently touched and handled?  
3 Doth your Minister deliver this Sacrament to any standing, or sitting, or in any other posture than upon the knee: doth he first receive it himself, and after deliver it to the Communicants, not in gross, but one by one, using all the words enjoined severally to each of them?  
4 Doth he admit to this blessed Sacrament any person excommunicated, or any public, notorious, scandalous offender, without satisfaction made unto the Church, or doth he admit any under age who are not yet able to render an account of their faith?  
5 Are the names of such as intent to receive given in to the Minister over night, that he may before hand know who, and how many they are, & that the bread and wine may be proportionably prepared?  
6 Is the Bread and Wine of the best sort, is a sufficient quantity of each provided: or if either fail, are the words of Consecration renewed over them before they de distributed?   

Of Marriage.  
1 ARe the Banes of Marriage asked three several times openly in the Church upon three several Sundays at such time when the Church is fullest? or if not, hath there been dispensation not only obtained, but presented to the Minister before Marriage?  
2 Is Marriage solemnised openly in the Church, not in private rooms, or chambers, at due times not prohibited, and due hours between eight and twelve in the fore noon?  
3 Doth your Minister use in Marriage the ordinary Rites of the Church with the usual prayers, and blessing: and doth he perform this solemnity with a Ring, and joining of hands?  
4 Have you a Table set up in your Church or Chancel of the forbidden degrees, that incestuous Marriages may not have the plea of ignorance?  
5 Be there any in your Parish who are married within the degrees of affinity, or consanguinity by Law prohibited?  
6 Are there any in your Parish being lawfully married who live apart one from another without due separation by law, or who being legally divorced keep company with any other at bed or at board?   

Of Visitation of the Sick.  
1 IS your Minister diligent in visiting the sick, especially such as being upon their death beds, stand most in need of the work of his Ministry? Doth he pray with them the prayers of the Church, adding such devotions of his own as the necessity of the party doth require?  
2 Doth he over-rigorously and unseasonably press to them at that time the heavy judgements of the Law, without intermingling such words of comfort as may set forth the mercy of God to a departing soul?  
3 Doth he exhort them at that time not to let any bainous sin lie heavy on their conscience, but to disburden themselves of it? Doth he upon confession made, and all the signs of true repentance shown, pronounce the words of absolution prescribed by the Church?  
4 Doth he excite the sick party to lay up treasure for himself in heaven, by doing here charitable works, and disposing some part of his goods to the honour of him who hath given him all?  
5 Doth he last of all seasonably administer to him the holy Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, while he is yet sensible of the comforts of it, and before the extremity of his disease hath rendered him less capable?  
6 In the mean time is there a passing bell tolled, that they who are within the hearing of it, may be moved in their private devotions to recommend the state of the departing soul into the hands of their Redeemer, a duty which all Christians are bound to, out of a fellow feeling of their common Mortality?   

Of Burials.  
1 HAth the Minister refused to bury any dying within the bosom of the Church, being required?  
2 Hath he buried any in consecrated ground who have been murderers of themselves, or cast out of the Church by excommunication?  
3 Doth he meet the corpse at the Church-stile, conduct it to the Church, go before it to the grave, and using such prayers as are prescribed, commit it to the ground as becometh the body of a Christian?  
4 Are so many buried in the Church or Chancel, as may occasion digging up of dead bodies not yet fully consumed, or as may breed annoyance to the living?  
5 Are the graves digged deep enough, and is the ground broken up covered again with stone or brick?   

Of Churching of women after Child bed.  
1 DOth your Minister observe the order of the Church in Churching of women? doth he do it in private houses when there is no urgent necessity, or publicly in the Church?  
2 Doth he go up into the Chancel, the woman also repairing thither, kneeling as near the Communion Table as may be, and if there be a Communion, doth she communicate in acknowledgement of the great blessing received by her safe delivery?  
3 Doth the woman who is to be churched use the ancient accustomed habit in such cases, with a white veil or kerchief upon her head?   

Of Schoolmasters.  
What School have you in your Parish: is it a free School endowed: what maintenance hath it: is any part of the maintenance kept bacl, or otherwise employed: if so, how, or by whom?  
2 Doth any openly or privately in your Parish, teach without Licence of the Ordinary: is he conformable to the Religion established in the Church of England: and doth he endeavour to render his Scholars so?  
3 Doth he to this end teach and instruct his youth in no other Catechism than such as is allowed by authority?  
4 Is there any who keep School in the Chancel or Church, by which means that holy place is many ways profaned?   

Of Physicians and Chirurgeons.  
What Physicians or Chirurgeons have you in your Parish: have they been trained up in the study of Physic or Chirurgery: at home or abroad, and by what licenced do they practise?   

Of Parish Clerks and Sextons.  
Have you a fit Parish Clarke aged twenty years at least, of honest conversation, able to read and write, diligent in his office, serviceable to his Minister: is he approved by the Ordinary: hath he taken his Oath as is required?  
2 What wages hath your Clerk and Sexton according to the ancient Custom of the Parish: are the wages duly paid, or by whom kept bacl?  
3 Doth your Clerk and Sexton do their duty in keeping the Church clean, the doors locked, or is any thing lost of spoiled in his Church through his default: doth he suffer any unseasonable ringing, or any profane exercise in your Church?  
4 Hath your Parish Clerk or Sexton taken upon him to meddle with any thing above his office, as Churching of women, burying of the dead, or such like?   

Of Churchwardens.  
ARe you the Churchwardens lawfully chosen according to the Canon: have you taken your Oath for performing the duties of your place?  
2 Have any who have borne the same office before you failed in exhibiting their presentments to the Ordinary at the times appointed: have they retained any of the Church goods without making a just account: or have they not faithfully distributed the Alms of the Church to the use of the poor?  
3 Is there decency and order kept in your Church in time of divine Service: do you take notice of such as absent themselves on Sundays, Holidays, times of Litany? Do you diligently inquire of such as remain in Taverns, Inns, Ale houses in the time of Prayers or Sermons: as also such as forbear coming to the holy Sacrament thrice in the year, being above sixteen years of age?  
4 Have you suffered any strange Preacher to preach in your Church, without seeing his licence, by which you might know how he is authorized: do you note the names of such strangers as do preach in a Book for that purpose, and by whom they are licenced?  
5 Is any Legacy withholden being given to the Church or the poor, for the mending of highways, or otherwise by the Testators?  
6 Doth any man trouble, threaten, or revile you for doing your duty? Hath any gone about to tempt you to leave unpresented any offences committed contrary to the Articles given you in charge, or to persuade you that you may dispense with your oaths by using equivocation, mental reservation, or double meaning in making your presentments?  
7 Do you know of any thing complained of that is not yet redressed?   

Concerning the Parishioners.  
Do your Parishioners frequent the Church in all times of divine Service? do they behave themselves reverently in that holy place, do they keep their Hats off: do they devoutely kneel, when the Confession, the ten Commandments, and all Prayers and Collects are read? do they stand up at the reading of the Créeds and the holy Gospel? and do they use due, and lowly reverence, when they hear the blessed name of JESUS?  
2 Do all the Parishioners above sixteen years of age receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper in your Church thrice every year, whereof once at Easter, and do they all (none expected) devoutly kneel at the receiving thereof?  
3 Do any of the Parishioners, being admonished thereof, neglect, or refuse to send their Children, Servants, Apprentices to the Minister to be catechised on Sundays and Holidays at such times as are appointed? Do any so sent refuss to come, or being come, refuse to be catechised?  
4 Do any of your Parish entertain within their house any sojourner, common guest, or other persons who refuse to frequent divine Service, or receive the holy Communion as aforesaid: present their names, their quality, or condition?  
5 What Popish Recusants are there in your Parish, or other Sectaries? how long have they abstained from the divine Service or Communion? present their names and their quality, and whether they be excommunicate, or not?  
6 Whether any of the said Recusants do labour to seduce, or withdraw others from the Religion professed in the Church of England: do they instruct their families or children in their own errors: or have any of them at any time being called to it, refused to take the Oath of Allegiance?  
7 Are there any in your Parish who hold or frequent private conventicles? or who publicly or privately speak against the Book of Common Prayer, against the Rites and Ceremonies, against the Articles published and maintained by the Church of England: against the Church government under his Majesty by the Hierarchy of Bishops? Are there any Authors, maintainers, or favourers of heresy or schism, or that be suspected probably to be Anabaptists, Libertines, Brownists, of the Family of Love, or of any other heresy or schism: present their names?  
8 Are there any in your Parish who retain, sell utter or disperse any Popish books or writings, or other books, writings, defamatory Libels of any Sectaries touching the Religion, State and Government either Ecclesiastical or Civil of this Kingdom of England?  
9 Do any of your Parishioners usually go to any other Churches to hear divine Service or Sermons, or to receive the holy Communion: do any of them procure their children to be baptised in another Parish: or do any stranger's resort to your Church in divine Service, to hear Sermons, or to receive the holy Communion?  
10 Are there any in your Parish who will come to Church to hear the Sermon, but will not hear the public Service appointed in the Book of Common Prayer, making a schism or division between the use of public Prayer and Preaching?  
11 What persons within your Parish for any offence, contumacy, or crime of Ecclesiastical cognisance to stand excommunicate? how long have they so stood: do they presume not withstanding that censure to be present with you in time of divine Service: and what persons do wittingly and usually keep them company?  
12 Hath any in your Parish exercised any trade, or labour, bought or sold, or kept open shops upon any Sunday or Holiday, by themselves or their servants, or have otherwise profaned the said day by gaming, drinking or dancing in time of divine Service: you are to present the names of such delinquents, with the names of the parties in whose house the offence hath been committed?  
13 Is the fift of November kept holy according to the ordinance in that behalf, that the memory may never die of the great mercy showed to this State and Church in that wonderful deliverance?  
14 Hath any of your Parish strucken or laid violent hands either upon your Minister or upon any other in your Church or Church-yard: Hath any quarrelled or given oppobrious speeches within those precincts: hath any slandered your Minister to the scandal of his vocation▪ or defamed any of his neighbours touching any crime of Ecclesiastical cognisance?  
15 Are there any who not being in Orders do exercise any Priestly or Ministerial Office in the Church, chapel, or Churchyard: or on the other side are there any who having taken upon them the order of Priesthood, or Deacon, have since relinquished the same, using any other kind of life?  
16 Have any of your Parish suppressed the lost will of the dead, or administered the goods of the dead without lawful authority? Are there any goods not administered, or any Wills unproved? Fail not to present the Executors, with all others faulty therein?  
17 Have any in your Parish harboured any woman unlawfully begotten with child, and suffered her to departed away before she hath been punished for her offence.  
18 Are there any in your Parish to your knowledge, or by common fame or report, which have committed incest, adultery, or fornication, or that have attempted or solicited the chastity of any woman, or which are reputed to be common Drunkards, Swearers, Blasphemers, Bawds: or are there any in your Parish vehemently suspected for any of these crimes?   

There must be a full and several answer made to every one of these Articles, else the presentment will be returned bacl again and the Churchwardens compelled to make a better.  

Memorandum, It is lawful for every Minister, be he Parson Vicar or Curate, to presentany enormity or common fame of any enormous crime that shall arise within his Parish: And whereas it seemeth by the Canon that the Church officers are not to present oftener than twice a year, It is to be understood as in that Canon Appeareth of presentments in general. But it is lawful and meet for every Minister, Churchwardens, and Sidemen to make notorious offenders known to their Ordinaries as often as occasion is offered, to the end that such offences may be punished and reform.    
FINIS.