CERTAIN ADVERTISEMENTS AND Articles, given by the Worshipful Master Robert johnson Archdeacon of Leicester.  
In the Visitation holden for the said Archdeaconry, at the feast of the Annunciation of our blessed Lady the Virgin MARIE in the year of our Lord God 1613. and of the Reign of our most gracious Lord King JAMES, by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. the eleventh, and of Scotland the forty five.  
LONDON Printed for Ambrose Garbrand. 1613.   

The use of the Ecclesiastical Visitations.  
Ordinary Visitations Ecclesiastical by what authority soever executed, were originally instituted and ordained for the honour of God, the good of his Church, and the preservation of the people of God in unity of true Religion, and in holiness of life and conversation, and that the Churches Parochial & other founded and erected for divine worship, might by Ecclesiastical Magistrates and Church-governors in their distinct callings be furnished with reverent and discreet Ministers, godly and learned Preachers, faithfully to teach and instruct the people in the truth of God's word, sincerely to administer the Sacraments, and to do and perform all other offices of the holy Church, by name Matrimony, visiting the sick, burial of the Dead, thanksgiving of Women after childbirth, and such like, according to the positive Laws and Ordinances of Christian Kings and Princes, Gods Vicegerents on the earth, without any Antichristian corruption, Schismatical innovation of addition of their own. And further that in due execution, or such Visitations, the enemies of God's truth, the Papal, Schismatical, anabaptistical, profane or other, might be reform or expulsed God's Church: All idle and dissolute Ministers (being insufficient and a scandal to their calling) removed and displaced, and men or better sort, sobriety and worthiness, placed in their stead: and that the people who are many times careless and negligent to be instructed, & oft seduced to follow innovation and strange worship, might be reduced from their errors and superstition, either by godly exhortation and persuasion, or otherwise by the censures of the Church. This divine and very necessary inquisition by the providence of God and in wisdom of former times gravely ordained being duly executed by the Magistrate, Minister, Churchwardens, & such other as are trusted in this business, would doubtless God assisting easily purge the Church of many inconveniences, and bring the people to better obedience, and more due acknowledgement of the benefits bestowed upon them, in placing over them so renowned, sacred and religious a Prince, and in giving unto them by his sole wisdom and authority under God, liberty to serve God, and to live at home in peace.   

¶ An Advertisement.  
Thanksgiving for benefits and graces received, and daily invocation of God's holy name for the continuance of his blessings towards us, and for the protection and defence of this Church, Prince, and People, from the rage, oppression, and violence of Satan and his members, as it is particularly commanded in many places in holy writ, so it is warranted unto us by all examples of the Prophets and patriarchs in all ages, & therefore since we have as good cause as ever nation had to prostrate ourselves before the Majesty of the Almighty for the infinite blessings brought upon us, in placing over us so religious, sacred and godly a Prince, as no Chronicle can ever mention, neither any Kingdom or people ever had: let us therefore seriously, yea let us sincerely even from the bottoms of our hearts acknowledge with all thanksgiving the good received, which we ought even of our own accord to do: yet much more when we are commanded by public authority. And therefore for as much as we are by certain statutes, proclamations, letters, and ordinances required, enjoined and commanded, to celebrate the day of his majesties Coronation, and of his wonderful deliverance from that bloody conspiracy of that family of the Gowries, as also from that most horrible, treacherous and unspeakable action of that Antichristian, hellish & most damnable plot and practise lately intended, not against the person of his Majesty only, but to the quite extirpation & subversion of his royal issue, Religion, and the whole state of this Kingdom: it behoveth every Minister & all Church-officers, be they Churchwardens or other, as they tender their duty to God, their allegiance to their Prince, & their obedience to the laws established, to provide that in their several Parishes and Cures, all solemnity be had of the day of his majesties Coronation, and all public prayer be used according to the prescript form set forth by authority as well the fift of August, as upon the fift of November, and that a particular note be given by the Minister and Churchwardens of all such as shall refuse to come to Church those days: and for their better admonition it is required that the Minister do make known unto the people upon the precedent Sunday the several days as they shall happen to fall.  

Church recusants enemies to God's truth, to be presented.  1 Church-Recusants, as it is a name heretofore seldom or never heard of, so are they in the condition and practice of their life, known enemies of God's truth, such as hate to hear the word, or partake the Sacraments, and live in open contradiction and opposition against the laws of God, and against the laws of their Christian Prince and Commonwealth. These persons being justly reputed very dangerous subjects and offensive members in the Church, are by the Minister & Churchwardens with all care and diligence to be inquired after, and presented by their known names & surnames, with addition of their titles, and with declaration of what power and sufficiency they are, and what office they bear in the Church and Commonwealth, which presentment so made is to be subscribed and delivered under the hand of the Minister, Churchwardens and Sworn men.  

Admonishment to be given such as refuse the Sacrament, and after upon refusal to be presented.  2 Where sundry persons who have been heretofore Recusants, do now of their own accord frequent the Church, though not so usually as others, & yet refuse to hear the word preached, or to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the better thereby to confirm them, and to give testimony unto others by those their outward actions of that their inward zeal, devotion and conformity, it behoveth the Minister and Churchwardens in like sort, first by godly admonition to persuade the said persons if so they can, to receive, or otherwise to present all such as shall obstinately refuse, being of the age of sixteen years and above, lest their sufferance and permission of them become an offence unto the godly, and give others cause by their example to backslide.  

Wives, Children, and Families of reformed Recusants not communicating aught to be presented.  3 Though sundry Recusants have of late conformed themselves, and do now come to the Church to hear divine prayer, and to receive the Sacraments, as by the laws of God, and of this Realm they are commanded: yet the wives, children, and family of many of those reformed Recusants do notwithstanding still continue obstinate, and will not be drawn either by the example of the husband, parent, or master, nor by any other godly persuasion or conference to do and perform what to them & every of them in a Christian duty to God & the Prince belongeth. For reformation whereof the Minister, Churchwardens, and Sworne-men are to take a true note and particular of every such person in those families as shall refuse to come to Church, or to receive the Sacraments, being of lawful age and having no just impediment, shall accordingly present them.  
4 The infection of Recusancy being the very fruit and badge of Antichristian irreligon, hath been a surfeit so long and dangerous in this Kingdom, as by the daily increase of such as affect those dregs of Popery, the disease and contagion seemeth in itself incurable, and the rather for that the several houses of Recusants here infected for the better strengthening of that cause as is supposed, 
Marriages of Recusants and their children not publicly solemnized, to be presented.  do usually couple and join themselves in Matrimony together, and so are grown by that union and conjunction to a great strength and kindred; now for as much as these marriages are most times in private houses celebrated without any public licence or banes ask: and the Children likewise begotten betwixt such persons are seldom or not at all in public baptised: It is thought fit and very convenient, that the Minister and Churchwardens of every Parish do very carefully inform themselves of all such marriages so supposed to be had and of all such Children so baptised, that the several persons herein Culpable may be presented, and compelled to prove by lawful testimony their several marriages, that their Children are baptised according to the Ordinances of the Church now established, or otherwise to endure such punishment and penalty as by the laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm in such case is religiously provided: the law itself requiring a due and perfect register continually to be kept by the Minister and Churchwardens, of all marriages and Christen had within the Parish, and to be yearly sent into the Bishop's Register there to be recorded.  
5 Now for the avoiding of the future evil which may happen in such case, it is required that the Churchwardens and sworne-men of every Parish do inquire and inform themselves what Ministers other than ehe Parochial Minister doth usually celebrate divine service, 
Strange Ministers and Schoolmasters frequenting the houses of Recusants to be presented.  administer the Sacraments and perform other Church Offices, in those private Families, and whether the said person so executing such offices be a Minister licenced, and have subscribed to the Articles of Religion, and if not to present him; & further what schoolmasters the said families being noted for Recusancy have to teach their Children, and what licence the said schoolemansters have so to do, for that many transformed jesuits, and Seminaries, under the name and colour of schoolmasters, do usually frequent such places, and in the Cloak and covert thereof do exercise all their superstitious service and Idolatrous practices.  
6 For as much as some pretend & have informed (as it seemeth) the Kings most excellent Majesty and the Honourable Lords & other of his highness privy Council, 
All excommunicate Recusants upon Oath for conformity to be absolved.  that sundry Recusants being excommunicate persons would willingly come to the Church & receive the Sacrament in case they might obtain their absolution from the sentence of excommunication inflicted, it is thought fit & hereby required that the Ministers of every Parish, Chappel, or Hamlet, within this Diocese do forthwith, or so soon as with conveniency they may, give public notice in the Church or otherwise to the persons themselves or at their mansion houses, that if they will come to the Ordinary who did excommunicate them, or being not able to come will procure commission to be granted for their better ease to their particular Minister, and take oath for their after-conformitie, they shall be absolved without fee: so as they have committed no other offence which doth deserve some public reformation or satisfaction to the congregation.  
7 Lastly for as much as Schism and division in Religion and in the Ceremonies of the Church hath & doth much disturb the peaceable government of the same, 
One uniform order of Common prayer, etc. wherein default is to be presented.  and doth likewise give great occasion to the professed enemies of God's truth thereby to withdraw the people and such as are weak from the Religion, doctrine & discipline of the Church now established, for that we are not (as they pretend unto them) at unity within ourselves, it is very necessary and behoveful, that sithence it hath pleased the Kings most excellent Majesty by his late Canons exemplified under the broad seal of England, to decree and set down that one uniform order in the execution of divine service and in the administration of the Sacraments, of apparel, as of Church ornaments and Ceremonies, should be used by the Clergy of this Kingdom, as well in the public execution of those their particular offices as in other their outward conversation and behaviour, that the same be accordingly used and provided, or else that the Church wardens do present whether the fault be in the Minister who will not wear the same, or in the Parishioners who will not provide those ornaments necessary and commanded.   

Articles to be inquired of within the Archdeaconry of Leicester.  
INprimis; whether the Church of your Parish, 
Double benefices.  be now vacant and destitute of an Incumbent, how long it hath so remained, whether any sequestration be granted of the fruits, to whom, and by whom? If it have an Incumbent, what his name is, of what bringing up and degree in Schools? what the valour of the living is in the King's Books: who is the Patron by right or advowson: whether he hath any more benefices or Ecclesiastical promotions: how many, and where: If he lie not on his Benefice, to whom he letteth his tithes, for what yearly commodity the ordinary charges deducted: Whether the Curate be orderly and lawfully admitted upon due trial & examination of his sufficiency and honesty under the seal of office.  
2 Whether Common Prayer be distinctly and audibly read within the Parish Church, 
Church-books.  the Sacraments reverently and orderly administered, & whether for better performance of them, you have a book of Common prayer, two Psalters, the English Bible, the Homilies, the Paraphrases of Erasmus in English, the Table of the ten Commandments, a comely Table standing upon a frame for the holy Communion decently covered, and a convenient Communion cup, with a cover agreeable, and a seemly and decent Pulpit.  
3 Whether your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, 
Monthly Sermons.  be a painful zealous, and diligent Preacher: at the least whether he doth procure quarterly or Monthly Sermons, according as by duty he is bound, especially upon such days as the holy Communion shall be ministered, for the better instruction and preparation towards that occasion? and whether he doth duly and orderly Catechize every Sunday with exposition of the same, for the better instruction of the youth of the Parish, and Christian information of other the hearers, and whether such as are to be Chatechized, attend orderly at the time to be instructed, or who they be that make default, or show themselves obstinate therein. And whether your Minister do carefully repair to visit the sick of your Parish, for their spiritual comfort, and willingly attend his charge in those extremities. And further whether he doth confer with his Parishioners, especially such as he knoweth not thoroughly grounded in the way and knowledge of their salvation, for their better instruction, before they repair to the holy Communion. And if any refuse this necessary conference offered by the Minister, not only to stay them from receiving, but also present what be their names, with their causes pretended?  
4 Whether your Minister doth admit any to the Communion or to be married, or to answer for Infants in Baptism, being not sufficiently Catechised and able to yield an account of their Christian faith, 
Infants to contracts.  that whom conscience will not allure almost once to think seriously of the means of their salvation, yet other extraordinary occasions may drive for shame to some knowledge of Christianity?  
5 Whether your Minister or any other of your Parish be known or suspected as favourers of the Romish Church, 
jesuits.  superiority, or Religion. And whether any runagate jesuits or counterfeit Massing Priests, going out according to the order of their professions, are known or suspected to frequent or haunt to any person or persons within your Parish, or sometime for a shift to lie or lurk with them: and whether they or any Schoolmaster, or any other pretending the name of a servant, are suspected to allure and persuade any within your Parish from the true sincerity of the Gospel, now by public authority established, to the using of Matins, Beads, and such other vain Popish trishtrash: or of any unlawful Popish books: And whether any be reputed or suspected to be reaccounted to the Church of Rome within your Parish, and what be their names? And whether you know or have heard of any sometime in orders, that now do live as lay men?  
6 Whether any of your Parish do altogether absent themselves from Divine Service, or do seldom or negligently come to the Church, or do not continue there without disturbance of the Minister and congregation, not departing thence but upon some just and lawful cause: And whether any of your Parishioners do not receive the Communion, at the least thrice in the year according to his majesties Laws established, and whether any having divers houses of remove, do shift from place to place, in colour to defeat the performance of their Christian duties in those behalfs, what they be, and the names of every of the family that doth the like. And whether the particular twelve pence be levied according to the statute?  
7 Whether any within your Parish have any of their kindred or kinsfolk beyond the Seas, what be their names, and how long they have continued out of the Realm, and what by hearsay, or in conscience you judge their affection to be in Religion: or whether any are known or suspected to relieve any such.  
8 Whether your Minister keep any suspected woman in his house, or be given to drunkenness, idleness, or be a hunter of Taverns, Alehouses, or other suspected places, or be Hunters, Hawkers, Dicers, Carders, Tablers, Swearers, or any ways give any evil example of life or unseemly apparel, to the offence of others, and discredit of their calling. And whether they be reported or suspected to have come by their benefice, or other Ecclesiastical promotions, Simonically, directly or indirectly.  
9 Whether there belong any glebe Lands to your Parsonage, or Vicarage, and how many several parcels there be, and how much they contain by estimation, whether any be alienated, exchanged or encroached upon, to the decay of the living? And whether your Chancel, and Parsonage houses, be in good and sufficient reparations, and whether your Church be in every part so maintained as were convenient. And whether your Church yards be thoroughly fenced about, and cleanly kept, and who is the cause of any of these defaults. And whether any Patrons have decayed the Parsonage-houses, and kept a stipendary Priest in place, where an Incumbent should be possessed?  
10 Whether your Minister keep well your Registers of all Weddings, Burials, and christenings within your Parish according to his majesties laws established, and do present a copy of them once every year by Indenture to the Chancellor or his Deputy, to remain of record in the principal Office.  
11 Whether any within your Parish administer the goods of those that be dead, without lawful authority: or any are suspected to have suppressed or altered the last will of the dead, or any Executors that have not fulfilled the testators will, especially in performing of the Legacies given to other good uses or maintenance of the poor.  
12 Whether you have a Schoolmaster within your Parish, and whether your Schoolmaster teaching publicly or privately, be of good and sincere Religion and conversation, and whether they be examined and allowed by the Ordinary or his Officer, according to the late Canons in that behalf. And whether any living given towards the erection or maintenance of any School, be with holden back, or otherwise any ways employed.  
13 Whether any have pulled down or discovered any Church, Chancel, or Chapel, Porch, Vestry, Steeple, Bells, or any part of them, or felled Wood or Timber in the Churchyard. And whether your Hospitals, or Spittels, be well and godly used and maintained according to the foundation and ancient Ordinances of the same?  
14 Whether any entertainment be given, or gaming used in any Inns or Alehouses, or other Victuallers in time of Divine Service or Sermons. Or whether any Butchers, Victuallers, peddlers, or other Artificers in time of common Prayer or Sermon, open their shops or wares: and whether your Minister customably remembreth your Churchwardens and Swornemen, to attend their charge in such behalf?  
15 Whether your Church goods, Stocks, or Rents, be let to the best commodity, and for such uses as they were first meant, or now are to be employed, and converted, & no other ways. Or whether the same be increased or decayed, by what means, who being Churchwardens, whether any are behind with making their accounts, or be thought not to have made the true perfect and sufficient account, what Lands or Stocks should be, or yet remain?  
16 Whether any within your Parish, be suspected to use sorcery, witchcraft, charms, unlawful prayers, or innovations in Latin or English: namely, Midwives in the time of women's travail with child, and who resort to such for help or Counsel?  
17 Whether the Minister or Churchwardens have suffered any Lords of misrule, or Summer Lords, or Ladies or any disguised persons, as Morris dancers, to come unreverently piping, dancing or playing in the Church or Church-yard, with unseemly scoffs, jests, or ribaldry, in time of Divine service or Sermons, and what they be that commit such disorders, and the company that maintained them?  
18 Whether any of your Parish have been married within the degrees of affinity, and consanguinity, forbidden by the Laws of God: and whether for the better knowledge and direction of those degrees, you have the table of degrees publicly affixed in your Parish Church: and whether any divorced or separated for marrying within those degrees be notwithstanding conversant, and keep company together: whether any man be suspected to have two wives, or any woman two husbands, or any married without banes thrice solemnly asked, or out of the Parish, where one of them at least do inhabit: and whether any married, live a part, and not continue together, according to the Laws of God, and this Realm.  
19 Whether any of your Parish be known, defamed or vehemently suspected of any notorious sin, fault or crime, as of usury, swearing adultery, fornication, incest, bawdry, drunkenness, ribaldry, slander, contention, sowing of discord between neighbours, privy receiving women unlawfully begotten with child, or suffering them to departed before public satisfaction made to the congregation. Or whether there be any fighters, quarrelers, brawlers, or chiders in Church or Churchyard, any scoffers, rhymers, or derides of Ministers, or any that lay violent hand on them or any of them, or otherwise abuse them.  
20 All and every the particulars of the premises you are diligently to inquire of and as well the Ministers severally as the Churchwardens and Sidemen jointly to present the defaults of every of them in writing subscribed by their names: and generally whatsoever breaches and offences else they shall know or hear committed, against any of the King's majesties Injunctions, or any Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm?   

The Oath of the Churchwardens.  
YOU shall faithfully administer all such church-good as are or shall come to your hands to the use of your Church, and thereof make a true and faithful account at the end of your Office, delivering all that remaineth thereupon to your next successors. Also you shall diligently inquire of, and faithfully present all such persons, as you shall either upon your own knowledge, or by public fame understand to be guilty of any offence or fault mentioned in any of these Articles aforesaid, or any other fault which is to be punished by the laws Ecclesiastical of this Realm, wherein you shall not present any person for malice, hatred or evil will, nor spare any for favour, fear, or any corrupt affection, but you shall faithfully discharge your consciences, as men having the fear of God before your eyes, and seeking the reformation of his Church, So God help you in Christ our Saviour.