and olde with lowlynesse of cursye and vncoueryng of heades of the men kynde as thereunto doth necessarely belong and heretofore hath ben accustomed Item that all ministers and readers of publique prayers Chapiters and Homylies shal be charged to reade leysurely playnly distinctly and also such as are but meane readers shall peruse ouer before once or twyse the Chapiters and Homylies to thintent they may reade to the better vnderstandyng of the people and the more encoragement to godlynesse An admonition to simple men deceaued by malicious THe Quenes maiestie being informed that in certein places of this Realm sundry of her natiue subiectes being called to Ecclesiasticall ministerye in the Churche be by sinister perswasion and peruerse construction induced to fynde some scruple in the fourme of an othe whiche by an Act of the last Parliament is prescribed to be required of diuers persons for the recognitiō of theyr allegiaunce to her Maiestie which certeinly neither was euer meant ne by any equitie of wordes or good sence can be therof gathered Would that all her louyng subiectes shoulde vnderstande that nothyng was is or shal be meant or intended by the same oth to haue any other duetie allegiaunce or bonde required by the same othe then was acknowleged to be due to the most noble kynges of famous memory kyng Henry theyght her Maiesties father or king Edward the .vi. her Maiesties brother And further her Maiestie forbyddeth all maner her subiectes to geue eare or credite to such peruerse and malicious persons which most sinisterly and maliciously labour to notifie to her louyng subiectes how by the wordes of the said othe it may be collected that the kynges or quenes of this Realme possessours of the crowne maye chalenge aucthoritie and power of ministery of diuine offices in the Church wherein her sayde subiectes be much abused by such euyll disposed persons For certeinly her Maiestie neyther doth ne euer wyll chalenge any other aucthoritie than that was chalenged and lately vsed by the sayde noble kynges of famous memory king Henry the .viii. and king Edward the .vi. which is and was of auncient tyme due to the Imperial crowne of this Realme That is vnder god to haue the soueraintie and rule ouer all maner persons borne within these her Realmes dominions and countreys of what estate eyther Ecclesiasticall or temporall soeuer they be so as no other forraigne power shall or ought to haue any superioritie ouer them And yf any person that hath cōceaued any other sence of the forme of the said othe shall accept the same othe with this interpretation sence or meaning her Maiestie is well pleased to accept euery such in that behalfe as her good and obedient subiectes and shal acquite them of al maner penalties conteyned in the said act against such as shall peremptoryly or obstinatly refuse to take the same oth For the tables in the Church WHereas her Maiestie vnderstandeth that in manye and sundrye partes of the Realme the Alters of the Churches be remoued and tables placed for ministration of the holy Sacrament accordyng to the fourme of the law therfore prouided and in some other places the Alters be not yet remoued vpon opinion conceaued of some other order therin to be takē by her Maiesties visitours In thorder wherof sauing for an vniformitie ther semeth no matter of great moment so that the Sacrament be duely and reuerently ministred Yet for obseruation of one vniformitie through the whole Realme and for the better imitacion of the lawe in that behalfe it is ordered that no alter be taken downe but by ouersyght of the Curate of the Churche and the Churchwardens or one of them at the leaste wherein no riotous or disordred maner to be vsed and that the holy table in euery Church be decently made and sette in the place where the Alter stoode and there commonly couered as thereto belongeth and as shal be appoynted by the visitours and so to stand sauyng when the Communion of the Sacrament is to be distributed at which tyme the same shal be so placed in good sort within the Chauncell as whereby the minister may be more conueniently hearde of the communicantes in his prayer and ministration and the communicantes also more conuenientlye and in more nomber communicate with the sayde minister and after the Communion done from tyme to tyme the same holy table to be placed where it stode before Item where also it was in the tyme of kyng Edwarde the .vi. vsed to haue the sacramentall breade of common fine breade It is ordered for the more reuerence to be geuen to these holy misteries being the Sacramentes of the body and bloud of our sauior Iesus Christ that the fame sacramentall bread be made and fourmed plain without any figure therupon of the same finenesse and fashion rounde though somwhat bigger in compasse and thickenesse as the vsuall breade and wafer heretofore named syngyng cakes whiche serued for the vse of the priuate masse The fourme of byddyng the prayers to be vsed generally in this vniforme sort YE shall pray for Christes holy Catholyke Churche that is for the whole congregation of Christen people dispersed throughout the whole world and specially for the Church of Englande and Irelande And herein I require you moste specially to pray for the Quenes most excellent Maiestie our soueraigne lady Elizabeth Quene of Englande Fraunce and Ireland defendour of the fayth and supreme gouernour of this Realme aswell in causes Ecclesiasticall as Temporall You shal also pray for the ministers of gods holy word and Sacramentes aswel Archbyshops and Byshops as other pastours and curates You shall also pray for the Quenes moste honorable counsayle and for all the nobilitie of this Realme that all and euery of these in their callyng may serue truely and paynfully to the glory of God and edifying of his people remembryng th accompt that they must make Also you shal pray for the whole commons of this Realme that they may lyue in true fayth and feare of God in humble obedience and brotherly charitie one to another Finally let vs prayse God for all those whiche are departed out of this life in the faith of christ and pray vnto God that we may haue grace so to direct our liues after their good example that after this lyfe we with them may be made partakers of the glorious resurrection in the lyfe euerlastyng ¶ And this done shewe the holy dayes and fastyng dayes ALl whiche and singuler Iniunctions the Quenes Maiestie ministreth vnto her clergie and to all other her louyng subiectes straightly charging and commaunding them to obserue and kepe the same vpon payne of depriuation sequestration of fruites and benefices suspention excommunication and suche other cohertion as to Ordinaries or other hauynge Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction whom her Maiestie hath apoynted or shall appoynt for the due executiō of the same shal be sene conuenient Chargyng and commaundyng them to see these Iniunctions obserued and kepte of all
maner of personnes without a iust and vrgent cause shall vse anye walkyng in the Churche ne shall depart out of the Church and all ryngynge and knollynge of belles shal be vtterly forborne for that tyme except one bell in conuenient tyme to be ronge or knolled before the Sermon But yet for the reteynyng of the perambulation of the Circuites of parishes thei shal once in the yere at the time acustomed with the curate and the substanciall men of the paryshe walke about theyr paryshes as they were accustomed and at theyr returne to the Church make theyr common prayers Prouyded that the curate in theyr saide common perambulations vsed heretofore in the daies of Rogations at certein cōuenient places shall admonyshe the people to geue thankes to God in the beholdyng of Gods benefites for the encrease and aboundaunce of hys fruites vpon the face of the earth with the sayinge the C iii. Psalme Benedic anima mea c. or such like at which tyme also the same minister shall inculke these or such Sentences Cursed be he whiche translateth the bondes and dolles of his neyghbour or such other order of prayers as shal be hereafter appointed Item all the Quenes faythfull and louynge subiectes shall from henceforth celebrate and kepe theyr holly day accordynge to Gods holy wyll and pleasure that is in hearyng the worde of god read and taught in priuate and publique prayers in knowledgyng theyr offences to God and amendement of the same in reconcylynge theyr selues charitably to theyr neyghboures where displeasure hath bene in oftentymes receauynge the Communion of the very body and bloud of Chryste in visitinge of the poore and sicke in vsinge all sobernesse and Godly conuersation yet notwithstandinge all personnes vycares and Curates shal teache and declare vnto theyr parishioners that they maye with a safe and quiet conscience after their common prayer in the tyme of haruest laboure vppon the holly and festiuall dayes and saue that thynge which God hath sent And yf for any Scrupulositie or grudge of conscience men shoulde supersticiously abstaine from workyng vpon those dayes that then they should greuously offende and displease God. Also forasmuche as varyaunce and contencion is a thinge that moste displeaseth God and is moste contrary to the blessed Communion of the body and bloud of our Sauiour Chryst Curates shall in no wise admitte to the receauinge therof any of their cure or flocke which be openly knowē to liue in sinne notorious without repentaunce or who hath maliouslye and openlye contended with his neyghboure vnlesse the same do fyrste charitably and openlye reconcyle him selfe agayne remittynge all rancoure and mallyce whatsoeuer controuersie hath bene betwene them and neuerthelesse theyr iuste tytles and ryghtes they may charitably prosecute before such as haue aucthoritie to heare the same Also that they shall instructe and teache in theyr cures that no man ought obstinately and maliciouslye breake and violate the lawedable Ceremonyes of the Church cōmaunded by publique aucthoritie to be obserued Also that they shall take awaye vtterlye extinct destroy all shrynes coueryng of shrynes al tables candelstickes tryndalles and rolles of waxe pictures paintinges and all other monumentes of fayned myracles pilgrimages ydolatry and supersticion so that there remayne no memory of the same in walles glasses wyndow or els where within theyr churches and houses preseruyng neuerthelesse or repayryng both the walles and glasse wyndowes And they shall exhorte all theyr paryshioners to do the lyke with in theyr seuerall houses And that the churchwardens at the common charge of the parishioners in euery Church shal prouyde a comely and honest Pulpit to be set in a conueniēt place within the same to be there semely kept for the preachinge of Gods worde Also they shall prouyde and haue within thre monethes after this visitacion a stronge cheste with a hole in the vpper part thereof to be prouyded at the coste and charge of the paryshe hauynge three keyes whereof one shall remayne in the custody of the personne vycar or curate and the other two in the custody of the churchwardens or any other two honest menne to be appoynted by the paryshe from yeare to yeare whiche cheste you shall set and fasten in a moste conuenient place to thintent the parishyoners shoulde putte into it theyr oblacions and almes for theyr poore neyghbours And the personne vycar and curate shall diligently from tyme to time and specially when men make their Testamentes call vppon exhort and moue theyr neybours to conferre and geue as they maye well spare to the sayde cheste declarynge vnto them whereas heretofore they haue ben diligent to bestowe muche substaunce otherwyse than God commaunded vpon pardons pilgrimages trentalles deckynge of Images offerynge of Candelles geuynge to Fryers and vpon other lyke blynde deuocions they ought at thys tyme to be much more ready to helpe the poore and nedy knowing that to relieue the poore is a true worshipping of God required earnestly vpon payne of euerlaynge dampnation that also whatsoeuer is geuē for their comfort is geuen to Christ him selfe and so is accepted of him that he wyll mercifully reward the same with euerlastyng lyfe The whiche almes and deuotion of the people the kepers of the keyes shall at times conueniēt take out of the cheste and distribute the same in the presence of the whole parysh or syxe of them to be truely and faythfully delyuered to theyr most nedye neighbours and yf they be prouided for then to the reparacion of hygh wayes next adioynynge or to the poore people of suche parishes nere as shal be thought best to the said kepers of the keyes And also the money which ryseth of fraternities guildes and other stockes of the Church except by the Quenes Maiesties aucthoritie it be otherwyse appoynted shal be put into the sayde chest conuerted to the sayde vse and also the rentes of landes the profite of cattaile and money geuen or bequethed to obittes and diriges or to the finding of torches lightes tapers and lampes shal be conuerted to the said vse sauinge that it shal be lawfull for them to bestowe part of the said profites vpon the reparacion of the said Churche yf great nede require and where as the paryshe is very poore not able otherwise to repayre the same Also to auoyde the detestable synne of Simonye because buyinge and sellynge of benefyces is execrable before God therefore all suche persons as buye any benefices or come to them by fraude or deceite shal be depriued of suche benefices and be made vnable at any tyme after to receiue any other Spirituall promocion And such as do sell them or by any colour do bestowe them for theyr owne gayne and profite shal lose theyr right and tytle of patronage and presentment for that tyme and the gyft therof for that vacation shall appertayne to the Quenes Maiestie Also because through lacke of preachers in many places of the Quenes
persons beyng vnder theyr iurisdiction as they wyll aunswere to her Maiestie for the contrary And her hyghnes pleasure is that euery Iustice of peace beyng required shall assiste the Ordinaries and euery of them for the due execution of the sayde Iniunctions Imprinted at London in Powles Church yarde by Richard Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Quenes Maiestie Articles to be enquired in the visitacion in the first yere of the raigne of our most dread soueraigne Ladye Elizabeth by the grace of God of England Fraunce and Ireland Quene defender of the fayth c. Anno 1559. R.I. OMNIA DESVPER ARTICLES FYrst whether any person Vicar or Curate be residēt continually vpon his benefice doyng his duetie in preachynge readyng and duelye mynystrynge the holye Sacramentes Item whether in theyr Churches and chappels all ymages shrynes all tables Candelstickes trindelles or rolles of waxe pictures payntynges and all other monumentes of fayned and false miracles pilgrimages ydolatry and superstition be remoued abolyshed and destroyed Item whether they do not euery holy daye when they haue no Sermon immediatly after the gospell openly playnely and distinctly resite to theyr paryshioners in the pulpitte the Lordes prayer the beliefe and the ten cōmaundementes in Englyshe Item whether they do charge fathers and mothers maisters and gouernours of youth to bryng them vp in some vertuous studye and occupation Item whether suche beneficed men as be lawfully absent from theyr benefices do leaue their cures to a rude and vnlearned parson and not to an honest wel learned and expert Curate whiche can and wyll teache you holesome doctrine Item whether they do discourage any person from readyng of any part of the Byble eyther in Latin or Englyshe and do not rather comforte and exhorte euery person to reade the same at conuenient tymes as the very lyuelye word of God and the special fode of mans soul Item whether parsons vicars curates and other ministers be common haunters and resorters to tauernes or alehouses geuyng them selues to drynking ryotyng and playing at vnlawfull games and do not occupie them selues in the readyng or hearyng of some part of holy Scripture or in some other godly exercyse Item whether they haue admitted any man to preache in theyr cures not beyng lawfully licensed therunto or haue ben licensed accordyngly Item whether they vse to declare to theyr paryshioners any thyng to the extollyng or settyng forth of vayne and superstitious religion pilgrimages reliques or images or lyghtyng of candelles kyssyng knelyng deckyng of the same images Item whether they haue one booke or Register kept wherein they wryte the daye of euery weddyng chrystenyng and burying Item whether they haue exhorted the people to obedience to the Quenes Maiestie ministers and to charitie and loue one to another Item whether they haue admonyshed theyr parishioners that thei ought not to presume to receiue the sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ before they can perfectly the lordes prayer tharticles of the fayth and the .x. commaundementes in Englyshe Item whether they be resident vpon theyr benefices kepe hospitalitie or no. And yf they be absent kepe no hospitalitie whether they do relieue theyr parishioners and what they geue them Item whether proprietaries parsons vycars and clarkes hauyng Churches chappels or mansions do kepe their chauncels rectories vycarages and all other houses apperteynyng to them in due reparations Item whether they do counsayle or moue their parishioners rather to praye in a tongue not knowen then in Englyshe or put theyr trust in any certeine numbre of prayers as in saying ouer a numbre of Beades or other lyke Item whether they haue receaued any persons to the communion beyng openly knowen to be out of charitie with theyr neighbours or dyffamed with anye notorious cryme and not refourmed Item whether they haue prouided and haue a stronge chest for the poore mens boxe and set and fastened the same in a place of the Churche most conuenient Item whether they haue diligently called vpon exhorted and moued theyr parishioners and especially when they make theyr testamentes to geue to the sayd poore mens boxe and to bestowe that vpon the poore whiche they were wont to bestowe vpon pilgrimages pardons trentalles vpon other lyke blynd deuocions Item whether they haue denyed to visite the sicke or burye the deade beynge brought to the Churche Item whether they haue bought theyr benefices or come to them by fraude guyle deceit or symonye Item whether they haue geuen open monition to their parishioners to detect and present to theyr Ordinary all adulterers and fornicatours and such men as haue two wiues liuing within theyr paryshes Item whether they haue monished their parishioners openly that they should not sel geue nor otherwyse alienate anye of theyr Churche goodes Item whether they or any of them do kepe mo benefices and other ecclesiasticall promotions then they ought to do not hauyng sufficient licences and dispensations thereunto and howe many they be and theyr names Item whether they minister the holy Communion any otherwyse then onely after suche fourme and maner as it is set forth by the common aucthoritie of the Quenes Maiestie and the parliament Item whether you know any person within your paryshe or els where that is a letter of the worde of God to be read in Englyshe or sincerely preached in place and times conuenient Item whether in the tyme of the Letanye or any other common prayer in the time of the Sermon or Homyly when the priest readeth the scriptures to the parishners any persō haue departed out of the Church without iuste and necessarye cause or disturbe the minister otherwyse Item whether the money commyng and rysyng of any cattel or other moueable stockes of the church and mony geuen and bequeathed to the fyndyng of torches lyghtes tapers or lampes not payde out of any landes haue not bene employed to the poore mens cheste Item who hath the sayd stockes and money in theyr handes and what be theyr names Item whether anye indiscrete persones do vncharitably contemne and abuse priestes and ministers of the Churche Item whether there be any other Grammer taught in any scoole within this diocesse then that which is set forth by the auctoritie of king Henry theyght Item whether the seruice of the Church be done at due and conuenient houres Item whether any haue vsed to common iangle and talke in the Churche in the time of the prayer readyng of the Homyly preachyng readyng or declaryng of the Scripture Item whether any haue wylfully mainteyned and defended any heresyes errors or false opinions contrary to the faith of Chryst and holy Scripture Item whether any be common dronkardes swearers or blasphemers of the name of GOD. Item whether any haue committed adulterye fornication