Harvard College Library VERITAS Harvard seal FROM THE BEQUEST OF JOHN HARVEY TREAT OF LAURENCE, MASS. CLASS OF 1862 ARTICLES OF ENQUIRY Given by the Right Reverend Father (Fleetwodd in God famous Lord Bishop of Wort. and delivered to the Churchwardens, and Sidemen, to be considered and answered in his Visitation, holden in the Year of our Lord God, 16●● C R DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms London, Printed. see a different Copy of A … y used by him at his visitation in 1676. The Oath to be Ministered to the Churchwardens and Sidemen. YOU shall swear truly and faithfully to execute the Office of Churchwarden within your Parish for the Year ensuing according to the best of your Skill and Knowledge; and also present such things and persons as to your Knowledge are Presentable by the Laws Eccesiastical of this Realm. So help you God. ARTICLES OF ENQUIRY About the CHURCHES and CHAPELS: And all things thereto pertaining. IS your Parish Church or Chappel kept in good and sufficient Repair? Are the Roofs, Walls, Pavements, and Windows well Repaired? And is the Church decently kept, as befitteth the House of God? Is your Churchyard sufficiently fenced and maintained with Walls, Rails, or Pales, as hath been accustomed? Or by whose fault are they decayed? Hath any thing belonging to your Church been aliened, embezzled, or sold? 2. Is there a Font of Stone for the Administration of Baptism, in the usual place appointed for it? And doth your Minister publicly Baptise in the same Font only? Is there a convenient Table, for the use of the Lords Supper? Is there a Carpet of Silk, or decent Stuff to lay upon the Table in time of Divine Service; and a fair Linen Cloth to lay upon the same in the time of the Communion, according to the eighty second Canon: Have you a Communion Cup, with a Paten for the Bread: and is the Wine brought to the Communion Table in a clear standing Pot or Flagon of Pewter, or of purer Metal? 3. Have you a Reading Desk and Pulpit conveniently set up, and placed, for the use of public Prayer, and Sermons? 4. Is there in your Church or Chappel the Common Prayer Book, of the largest Volume, according to the Act of Uniformity, 1662. The Bible in Folio, of the last Translation; the Book of Homilies; [the Book of Canons, and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, made in the Synod, 1603.] And a Table of Degrees, wherein Marriage is prohibited, publicly set up in your Church? And is there a decent Surplice for the Minister to wear at all times of his public Ministration in the Church? 5. Have you a Register Book in Parchment, wherein to Register the Christen, Marriages, and Burials in your Parish? Is there a Book; wherein to write down the Churchwardens Accounts, and a strong Chest, with Locks and Keys, wherein to preserve your Church Furniture; and also for the Parishioners to put in their Alms for the relief of the Poor? 6. Is the House and Outhouses of your Minister in good and sufficient Repair? Doth he preserve the Gardens, Orchards, and Glebe belonging to him, without embezelling, changing, or any way damnifying the same? Inquiries about the Clergy. 1. IS your Parson or Vicar Ordained Priest, according to the Order of the Church of England? Or doth your Minister, or his Curate not being so Ordained Priest, consecrate the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper? 2. Is your Minister legally Instituted, and Inducted into his Benefice? Did he within two Months after his Induction, publicly in the Church upon some Sunday or Holiday, read the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England, and declare his assent thereunto? And also on some Lordsday read both Morning and Evening Prayer, and after his reading publicly declare his unfeigned Assent and Consent to the use of the things contained in the Book of Common-Prayer? And within three Months after his Induction, on some Lordsday in your Parish Church read a Certificate under the Hand and Seal of the Archbishop, or Bishop of the Diocese, of his Subscription to the Declaration required in the Act of Uniformity? 3. Doth your Minister read the full Service, according to the direction of the Common-Prayer Book on Sundays, and holidays, at Morning and Evening Prayer; and in ministering the Sacraments, solemnising Matrimony, burying the Dead, and Churching of Women, use all the Rites and the whole Forms of Prayers, according as they are prescribed in the Common Prayer Book without omission, alteration, or addition? Or doth he negligently, or in contempt of the Order of the Church, omit or add to the same? 4. Doth he usually read the Book of Cannos once every Year, and wear a Surplice in the time of his Ministration? 5. Doth he Preach a Sermon on every Sunday, or procure a Sermon then to be preached? Or else sometime read one of the Homilies which the Church hath appointed? And doth he diligently instruct the Youth of your Parish in the Church Catechism? And doth he endeavour to prepare them to be Confirmed by the Bishop? 6. Is your Minister constantly resident upon his Benefice? Or how long hath he been absent? And in case he be licenced to be absent, whether doth he cause his Cure to be supplied by a sufficient and licenced Preacher? And is your Curate conformable to the Ecclesiastical Laws? 7. Doth your Minister or Curate read the Service appointed for the Fifth of November, the Thirtieth of January, and the Twenty ninth of May? And doth he give notice upon the Sunday of the holidays, and Fasting-days, which will be the Week following, and observe the yearly perambulation in Rogation Week? 8. Doth your Minister or Curate, celebrate the Lords Supper in the Church so often, that every Parishioner may receive the same at least thrice in the year? Doth he give warning of it, and read the Exhortation the Sunday before, that thereby the Parishioners may be stirred up to the worthy Receiving thereof? Doth he deliver severally the Bread and Wine to every Communicant kneeling? Doth he admit them to the Communion, which be openly known to live in sin notorious, without repentance, or to have maliciously and openly contended with their Neighbours, before they be reconciled? And if he hath repelled any person from the Communion, doth he give account to the Ordinary within fourtéen days after? 9 Doth he Baptism such Infants of his Parish, according to the Order of the Common Prayer, as upon warning given before, are brought upon Sundays or holidays to the Church? And upon lawful summons doth he Baptise Infants at home, in case of danger and necessity? Or through his fault doth the Infant die unbaptised? 10. Doth he neglect to visit the Sick at their Houses when he is required? Doth he pray with them, and exhort them to Faith and Repentance; forgiveness of Injuries, and liberality to the Poor, and comfort them in their distress? And doth he give them that profess sorrow for their sins, the Holy Communion if they desire it? 11. Doth he marry any within the Degrees prohibited? Or without Licence, or Banes published three several Sundays, or holidays, in the Parishes where the Parties dwell? Doth he Marry in any other place than in the Church? Or not betwixt the lawful Hours of eight and twelve? And doth he, if the Banes have been thrice asked, Marry any under the age of twenty one years, without their Parents or Guardians consent? 12. Hath he taken upon him to appoint any public or private Fasts, Prophesying, or Exercises, not appointed by Authority, without Licence from the Bishop under his Hand and Seal first obtained: Or doth he, or any other person, hold any Conventicles, or Meetings in private Houses, or elsewhere within your Parish, for people of several Families to resort unto, under pretence of Preaching, or Praying? 13. Doth your Minister write and record in your Register Book, the Names of all persons Christened, Married, and Buried within your Parish; with the day and year of such Christening, maring, and Burial? And doth he with the Churchwardens, take care duly to send in a Transcript of the Register every year to be kept in the Bishop's Registry? 14. Is your Parson, Vicar, Curate, or Lecturer a man of a sober, unblameable, and exemplary life: and spares not to present him or them that are not every way examples of godliness? If you have a Curate, is he allowed by the Bishop under his Hand and Seal: If you have a Lecturer, is he licenced by the Bishop according to the Act of Uniformity? And doth he read the full Divine Service of Common-Prayer once a month at the least? And doth your Parson, Vicar, Curate, and Lecturer, (to your best understanding) preach sound Doctrine, tending to the Edification of the people, in knowledge and faith of jesus Christ, and obedience to God's Command? Or doth be Preach any heretical, seditious, or schismatical Doctrine, derogating from the Glory of God, and prejudicial to a pious life, or tending to the disturbance of the public peace and unity of Church or State? If there be any such, present them. Inquiries concerning the Parishioners. 1. IF there be any Persons that have offended by Fornication, Adultery, Incest, Drunkenness, or by common Swearing, Ribaldry, filthy Speaking, or any other uncleanness, and wickedness of life, Sorcerers, or resorters to Sorcerers, you shall present all and every such Offenders. 2. If there be any known to be hinderers of the Word of God to be read and sincerely Preached, or of the Exeution of the Ecclesiastical Canons in force, any Fautors of any Usurped and Foreign Power-taken away by the Laws of this Realm, any Defenders of Popish Doctrine, they are to be presented. 3. Are there any Disturbers of Divine Service or Sermon, by walking, talking, or otherwise? Are there any that have stricken and quarrelled with any person in your Church or Churchyard? Do you Parishioners, in time of Divine Service and Sermon, behave themselves reverently, Men and Youth uncovering their Heads? do all kneel, stand up, make Answers in time of Divine Service, as is appointed in the Rubrics of the Common Prayer Book? Or are they public Depravers of the Common Prayer, and the Orders and Rites of the Church of England? 4. Do all your Parishioners resort diligently to Service and Sermons in the Church on Sundays? and other days appointed to be kept or holidays? Do any commonly come but to some part, or near, or at the latter end of Divine Service, or to the Sermon only? Do they continue tippling and drinking during the Service and Sermon, profanely neglecting, or despising the Duties of Religion? Or do any separate from the public Worship of God in their Parish Church, and frequent unlawful Conventicles? 5. Do any occupy themselves in their ordinary labour, or permit their Servants so to do? do they keep open their Shops, and sell Wares on Sundays, or otherwise profane the said days, contrary to the Orders of the Church of England? Or do any Victuallers, Innkeepers, Ale-house-keepers, or others permit any to lie tippling in their Houses on those days? 6. Are there any in your Parish being above sixteen years of Age, and well instructed in Religion, who do not receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper at least three times in the Year, of which Easter or thereabouts to be one? Or is there any who refuse it Kneeling, and from the Hand of their own Minister, repairing for it to other Parishes, and Ministers abroad? 7. Are there any in your Parish who keep their Children unbaptised? Are there any who cause them to be Baptised privately, by any whom your Minister doth not allow, or after any other Form and Manner than is prescribed by the L●turgy? Or any that procure themselves to be Married privately, or after any other manner than the Church prescribes? Or any who being admonished refuse to send their Children and Servants to be Catechised? or any who refuse to be Catechised? 8. Are there any Women in your Parish, who after their delivery from Childbirth, have refused to make public Thanksgiving to God, according as is prescribed in the Common Prayer Book? 9 Do your Parishioners bring their Dead to be buried according to the Order of the Church? Or have any been carried away to some other place to be buried, without the Ministers leave? 10. Are there any who refuse to pay their Easter Offerings, and Ecclesiastical Duties accustomed then to be paid? Or that refuse to pay the Rates assessed on them for the repair of Your Church or Chappel, or for the providing of Books, Utensils, or necessary Ornaments, or defraying such Charges as are by Law or Custom required? 11. Are there any in Your Parish Married within the Degrees prohibited by the Laws of God? Or any that being lawfully Married and not separated by course of Law, do not cohabit together? And do any withhold the Stock of the Church, or any Goods, or Things given to Charitable Uses? Inquiries concerning Church Officers, and other Persons. 1. DOth any keep a public or private School in Your Parish who is not licenced by the Bishop of the Diocese? And doth he breed his Scholars religiously, and teach them the Church Catechism? 2. Have You a Parish Clerk of twenty Years of Age at the least? Is he of honest life and conversation? Is he chosen by Your Minister: and sufficient for Reading and Singing? Is he allowed by the Ordinary? Are his and the Sexton's Wages paid without fraud, according to the Custom of your Parish? or who withholds them? 3. Have you any Physician, Chirurgeon, or Midwife that practice without Licence? 4. Are the Churchwardens of your Parish Yearly chosen, according to the Canon or Custom of the Parish? Have the late Churchwardens given up a just Account, delivering up to the Parishioners the Money remaining in their hands, and other things of right belonging to your Church or Chappel? Are the Alms of the Church faithfully distributed to the use of the Poor? If any be faulty, present them. 5. If any Stranger come to preach in Your Church on any occasion, you must demand to see his Licence to Preach, and if he have none, you must inhibit him from Preaching; and if he has a Licence, cause him to subscribe his Name in Your Book, with the Name of the Bishop who licenced him. 6. Is there provided against every Communion a sufficient quantity of fine white Bread, and wholesome Wine, according to the number of the Communicants, by the Advice of your Minister? And is the Wine brought to the Communion Table in a sweet standing Pot or Flagon? 7. Do you know, or have you heard that the Churchwardens, or Sidemen, which were your immediate Predecessors, have refused or neglected to do the duty of their Office during their time; and wherein are they faulty? 8. Do any persons trouble you for presenting any that offend in the Premises, and who they are? FINIS.