ARTICLES TO BE INQVIRED OF VVITHIN THE DIOCES OF NORWICH In the first Visitation of the R. Reverend Father in God MATTHEVV LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH Printed at London by Richard Badger 1636. The Tenour of the OATH to be Ministred to the Church-wardens and any other of every Parish that shall be sworne to make Presentments YOu shall sweare that you and every one of you shall and will duly consider and diligently enquire of every one of these Articles here given you in charge and of all the branches therof and make true answere to all particulars therein demanded and that all affection or favour or hatred or hope of reward and gaine or feare of displeasure or malice of any person and all other pretences set aside you shall and will present every such person of your Parish or within it as hath committed any offense or fâ—ult or made any default mentioned in any of these Articles or which is vehemently suspected or otherwise defamed of any such offense fault or default wherein you shall deale uprightly and fully according to the truth neither presenting nor sparing to present any contrary to the truth Having in this action God before your eyes with an earnest zeale to maintaine truth and vertue and to suppresse vice and to discharge your owne consciences So helpe you God and the Holy Contents of this Booke God save the KING Articles to be enquired of in the Dioces of Norwich at the Visitation holden in the yeere of our Lord 1636. Chap. 1. Concerning Religion and Doctrine ARE there any abiding in your Parish or resorting to it who haue wilfully maintained any heresies errours or false opinions contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture Or that do impugne any of the 39. Articles of Religion agréed vpon in Anno. 1562. and stablished in the Church of England And is the declaration which the Kings Maiesty prefixed before those 39. Articles concerning the setling of the questions late in difference duly obserued by all within your Parish according to his Maiesties commandement 2 Be there any in your Parish that haue denied or perswaded any other to deny withstand or impugne the Kings Maiesties authority and supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall within this Realme 3 Is there in your Parish any that hath béene or is vehemently suspected to haue béene present at any vnlawfull assemblies conuenticles or méetings vnder colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion Or do any affirme and maintaine such meetings to be lawfull 4 Be there any abiding in or resorting to your Parish that are commonly reputed to be ill affected in matter of the religion professed in our Church or taken to be Recusant Papists or factious separatists refusing to repaire vnto the Church to heare diuine Seruice and to receiue the holy Communion Or that haue or do publish sell or disperse any superstitious seditious or schismaticall Bookes Libels or Writings touching the Religion State or Ecclesiasticall gouernment of this Kingdome of England Present their names qualities and conditions if you know or haue heard of any Chap. 2. Concerning publike Prayer and administration of the holy Sacraments c. 1 HAue any in your Parish spoken or declared any thing in derogation or deprauation of the forme of Gods worship establâ—shed in the Church of England and the administration of the Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies set forth and prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer Or do any preach speak or declare that the Book of Common Prayer containeth any thing that is repugnant to the holy Scripture or not méet to be vsed Or do vse any scornefull words against those godly Sermons called The Homilies of the Church 2 Hath any in your Parish caused procured or maintained any Minister to say any common or publike prayer or to administer the Sacrament of Baptisme or of the Lords Supper otherwise or in any other manner than is mentioned in the said Book of Common Praier Or hath any interrupted hindered let or disturbed the Minister in reading of diuine Seruice or administring the Sacraments in such manner as is mentioned in the said Book Or hath any interrupted him in his preaching or reading the Homilies 3 Is the Sacrament of Baptisme rightly and duly administred according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer with due obseruation of all Rites and Ceremonies prescribed to be vsed in the same without adding or altering of any part of any prayers or interrogatories Is the signe of the Crosse euery time vsed and the Surplice neuer but worne in the administring of it 4 Hath the administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme beene at any time deferred longer than till the next Sunday or Holiday immediately following the birth of the childe 5 Hath the Sacrament of Baptisme béene refused to be administred to any children borne in or out of wedlock their birth being made knowne to the Minister of the Parish and they offered vnto him to be baptized Or haue any such children died vnbaptized 6 Haue the Parents of the childe baptized beene at any time admitted to be Godfathers or Godmothers to the same Or haue any been admitted to be Godfathers or Godmothers to any child before they haue receiued the holy Communion Or haue any Godfathers or Godmothers vsed any other answers or speech in Baptisme then is by the Book of Common Prayer appointed Or haue they giuen to the children baptized any name that is absurd or inconuenient for so holy an action 7 Haue any children been baptized in priuate houses or by any Lay-person or Midwife or popish Priest or by any other than your owne Minister And haue all children priuately baptized if they liued beene afterwards brought to your Church that the Congregation and the Minister of the Parish in case they were not baptized by him might be certified whether they or any of them were lawfully baptized or no 8 Haue the children that haue béene borne to any popish Recusant in your Parish beene publikely baptized in your Parish Church by your owne Parson Uicar or Curate Or by whom else were they baptized or where to your knowledge or as you haue heard 9 Hath the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper béene duely and reuerently administred in your Church or Chappell so often and at such conuenient times that at least thrice euery yeere whereof once at Easter euery parishioner within your Parish being of the age of 16. yeeres or vpwards might receiue the same 10 Hath the said blessed Sacrament been deliuered vnto any or receiued by any the Communicants within your Parish that did vnreuerently either sit stand or leane or that did not deuoutly and humbly kneele vpon their knees in plaine and open view without collusion or hypocrisie 11 Haue any of your Parish which are openly knowne to liue in notorious sin without repentance or any excommunicate persons or schismaticks common and notorious deprauers of the Religion and Gouernment of this Realme without vnfained sorrow shewed by them for
he said diuine Seruice whiles any excommunicate person hath beene present in the Church Or hath he admitted any person that hath beene excommunicate into the Church without a Certificate of his absolution from his Ordinary Or hath be staied or forborne to denounce any excommunication or suspension or absolution that hath beene sent him from his Ordinary 33 Hath your Minister béene at any priuate mé etings or conuenticles to consult there about the impeachment or deprauing of the Doctrine of the Church of England or of the Booke of Common Prayer or of any part of the gouernement and discipline of the Church or to practise any forme of their owne either for worship or discipline 34 Doth your Minister vpon Sundayes at Morning Prayer declare vnto the parishioners what Fasting-dayes and Holy-dayes are to be kept the wéeke following 35 Doth your Minister in the Rogation-dayes go the perambulation of the circuit of your Parish saying and vsing the Prayers Suffrages and Thanksgiuing vnto God appointed by Law according to his dutie thanking God for his blessings and praying for his grace and fauour 36 Doth your Parson or Uicar maintaine and kéepe in due reparation the Mansion-house and all other edifices belonging to his Parsonage or Uicarage without suffering them to grow into ruine or decay 37 Hath your Minister taken vpon him to appoint or to hold or continue any priuate or publike Fasts or meetings for preaching or lecturing on any working-day in his owne Parish or elsewhere or prophesies or exercises or any other such thing not approued by his Ordinary for the time being 38 Is your Minister studious in holy Scripture and abstaineth from mechanicall trades bodily labour soliciting of causes in Law common buying and selling of Horses or other Cattell and all other imployments not befitting his calling and holy Function Doth he vsually weare a Gowne with a standing collar and sléeues strait at the hands and a square Cap Doth he in iourneying vse a cloake with sléeues commonly called a Priests-clerke without guards buttons or cuts Doth he at any time in publike weare any coife or wrought night-cap but only a plaine cap of black silk satten or velâ—et Doth he at any time goe abroad in his doublet and hose without a coat or cassock or weare any light coloured stockings Or is he any way excessie in apparell either himselfe or his wife 39 Is your Minister suspected or knowne to haue obtained his Benefice by any Simonaiâ—â—ll compact directly or indirectly Or is he reputed to be an incontinent person a frequenter of Tauernes Innes or Ale-houses a common gamester or player at dice or cards a common swearer or drunkard or otherwise faulty in any oâ—her kinde that is scandalous to his function 40 Hath your Minister publikly in your Parish Church or Chappell once euery yeere read ouer the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall agreed vpon by the Clergie of both Prouinces Anâ—o Dom 1603. in such manner as the same is commanded to bée done 41 Is there any in your Parish or resorting thereunto who hauing taken holy Orders of Priest or Deacon doth voluntarily relinquish and forsakeâ—h hâ—s calling and liues in the course of his life as a Lay-man Or any that hauing beene silâ—nced or suspended by authority so remaineth without conforming himselfe in due obedience to the Church And how doth he imploy his time and where or whence hath he his maintenance as you know or haue heard 42 Are any admitted to preach in your Church who doe not before the Churchwardens subscribe their naâ—â—s in your book prouided for that purpose and the day when he or they preached and the name of the Bishop or Bishops of whom they had license to preach 43 Doth any Preacher particularly impugne and confute any doctrine deliuered by any oâ—her Preacher in the same Church or in any Church neere adioyning before he hath acquainted the Bishop of the Dioces therewith and receiued order from him what to do in that ease 44 Haue you any Lecturer in your Parish and on what day is your Lecture If any such be doth he twice at the least euery yéere reade diuine Seruice both morning and euening two seuerall Sundayes publikely in his Surplice and Hood And also twice in the yéere administer both Sacraments with such Rites and Ceremonies as are prescribed by the Booke of Common Prayer 45 Doth the Lecturer whosoeuer he be reade the diuine Seruice according to the Liturgie printed by authority in his Surplice and Hood before euery Lecture 46 Doth your Preacher or Lecturer behaue himselfe in his Lectures and Sermons as he ought to doe teaching obedience and edifying his auditory in matters of faith and good life without intermedling with matters of State or newes or other discourses not fit for the Pulpit and also without fauouring or abetting Schismaticks or Separatists that are at home or are gone abroad either by speciall prayer for them or by any other approbation of them 47 Haue you any Lecture of Combination set up in your Parish And if so is it read by a companie of graue and orthodox Diuines néere adioyning and in the same Dioces And doth euery one of them preach in a Gowne and not in a Cloake And when and by whom were they appointed And what be their names 48 Is any single Lecturer maintained by your Towne or otherwise suffered to preach he not first proâ—essing his willingnesse to take vpon him the cure of soules nor actually taking a Benefice or Cure so soone as it may be fairely procured for him What is his name and what license hath he And hath he a setled contribution affixed to the Lecturers place or is it arbitrary and for this Lecturer only What sum doth it amount to ordinarily By whom is it vsually paid or collected or of late yéeres hath béene 49 If any Psalmes be vsed to be sung in your Church before or after the morning and euening prayer or before or after the Sermons vpon which occasions only they are allowed to bee sung in Churches is it done according to that graue maner which first was in vse that such doe sing as can reade the Psalmes or haue learned them by heart and not after that vncough and vndecent custome of late taken vp to haue euery line first read and then sung by the people Chap. 5. Concerning Matrimony BE there any in your Parish that haue maried within the degrées of affinity or consanguinity by the Law of God forbidden as is expressed in a certaine Table published by authority in Anno 1563. And if any haue so maried what be their names and where were they maried and by whom 2 Hath any béene maried secretly in priuate houses or without their Parents or Gouernours consent signified being vnder the age of 21. yéeres 3 Haue any persons beene maried in your Parish the Banes hauing not been thrice published three seuerall Sundayes or Holydayes in time of diuine Seruice Who were the parties and who were present
their impiety and wickednesse been admitted to be partakers of the holy Communion 12 Hath any of your Parish beene debarred from the said holy Communion without iust cause or without intimation presently giuen to the Ordinary or Bishop of the Diocesse Chap. 3. Concerning the Church the furniture and possessions thereof HAue you in your Church or Chappell the whole Bible in the largest Uolume of the last translation the Book of Common Prayer the two bookes of Homilies and Bshop Iewels Apologie all well and fairely bound And haue you also in your Church the forme of the Diuine Seruice for the 5 th day of Nouember and for the 27 th day of March and the Book of Constitutions or Canons Ecclesiasticall 2 Haue you in your Church or Chappell a Font of stone set in the ancient vsuall place whole and cleane and fit to hold water A conueniet and decent Communion Table with a Carpet of silke or some other decent stuffe continually laid vpon the Table at the time of diuine Seruice and a faire linnen cloth thereon laid at the time of administring the Communion And is the same Table placed conueniently so as the Minister may best be heard in his administration and the greatest number may reuerently communicate To that end doth it ordinarily stand vp at the East end of the Chancell where the Altar in former times stood the ends thereof being placed North and South Is it at any time vsed vnreuerently by leaning or sitting on it throwing Hats or any thing else vpon it or writing on it or is it abused to any other prophane or common vse And are the ten Commandemens set vp in your Church or Chappell where the people may see and reade them and other chosen sentences also written vpon the walls of your said Church or Chappell in places conuenient for the same purpose 3 Haue you in your said Church or Chappell a conuenient seat for your Minister to reade diuine Seruice in Where doth it stand how farre from the Chancell and which way doth the standing thereof cause the Minister to turne his face when he knéeleth therein at prayer Haue you also a comely Pulpit set vp in a conuenient place with a decent Cloth or Cushion for the same a comely large Surplice a faire Communion Cup of siluer and a couer agréeable to the same a Flagon of Siluer or Pewter with all other things and Ornaments necessary for the celebration of diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments And haue you a Chest wherein to put the almes for the poore with thrée locks and keyes vnto it and another Chest for the kéeping of the Bookes and the Communion Uessels and Ornaments of the Church Or where are they kept 4 In the said Chest haue you a Register-booke in Parchment wherin to register the Christnings Weddings and Burials And is the same booke written and kept in all points according to the Canon And is the Christian name of the mother as well as of the father therein duly registred And is there a transcript thereof transmitted euery yéere into the Bishops principall Registry Haue you also a faire Paper-booke wherein euery Preacher which is a stranger is to subscribe his name the day he preached and by whose authority he is licensed And haue you also a Table set vp in your Church of the Degrées wherein by Law men are prohibited to marry 5 Is your Church or Chappell with the Chancell thereof and your Parsonage house or Uicarage-house and all other houses thereto belonging your parish Almes-house and Church-house in good reparations and are they imployed to godly and their right holy vses And if any of them be ruinated and wasted in whom is the default And is your Church Chancell and Chappell decently and comely kept as well within as without and are the seats in them well maintained the Stéeple and Bels preserued the windowes in no part stopt vp but well glazed the roofe and wals cleane the whole floore kept paued plaine and euen and all things there in orderly and decent sort without dust straw or litter or any thing that may be either noisome or vnséemely for the house of God 6 Is there any in your Parish that hath or doth refuse to contribute towards the reparation of your Church or towards the prouision of such things as belong thereunto 7 Is your Church-yard or Chappell-yard well fenced and kept without abuse and if not whose is the default Hath any person within your memory or that you haue credibly heard of incroached vpon the Church-yard by setting vp any kinde of building or fence vpon it or by opening any doore gate or stile into it Hath any vsed that place consecrated to an holy vse prophanely or wickedly Hath any quarrelled or stricken one another either in the Church or Church-yard Hath any person behaued himselfe rudely and disorderly in either or vsed any filthy or prophane talke or any other rude immodest behauiour in them Haue any Playes Feasts Banquets Suppers Church-ales Drinkings Temporall-Courts or Léets Lay-iuries Musters exercise of dancing Stoole-ball Foot-ball or the like or any other prophane vsage béene suffered to be kept in your Church Chappell or Church-yard Haue any annoied your Church-yard or the fences thereof by putting in of Cattell by hanging vp of cloathes or by laying any dust dung or any other filthinesse there When Graues are digged are the bones of the dead piously vsed and decently interred againe or laide vp in some fit place as beséemeth Christians And is the whole consecrate ground kept frée from swine and all other nastinesse 8 Are your Church-wardens carefull to take speciall order that no Dogs be at any time suffered to come into the Church to the disturbance of the diuine Seruice and the polluting of that holy place of the Christian Congregation And do any of the Inhabitants of what condition soeuer or of their company bring their Hawkes into the Church or vsually suffer their Dogs of any kinde to come with them thither to the prophanation of the house of God and his holy worship 9 What Legacies haue beene giuen to the vse and benefit of your Church and how haue they béen bestowed Who hath receiued and detained them without due imployment Doth any detaine or imbezell or hath sold and made away any of the Church-goods or vsed or imployed them otherwise then by law they ought to doe 10 Is your Church full or vacant of an incumbent And if vacant who receiueth the fruits thereof and who serueth the Cure and by what authority And is it a Parsonage Uicarage or Donatiue 11 Is there in your parish or any where about you that you know or haue heard of any Church Chappell or Oratory now demolished or likely to be ruined or that is conuerted to any priuate or secular vse 12 Hath any private man or men of his or their owne authority for ought you know erected any Pewes or builded any new Seats in your Church And
then comming from the Pulpit if the Sermon were made within the Church or Chappell doth he or whosoeuer then officiates at the same place where he left before the Sermon procéed to reade the remainder of the diuine Seruice and at the close of all to giue the Blessing 7 Doth euery Priest and Seacon in your Parish daily say the Morning and Euening prayer either priuately or openly vnlesse he be vpon lawfull cause hindered Doth your Curate say the same daily in your Church or Chappell with the tolling of a Bell before he begin Especially doth your Minister or Curate do it on euery Sunday and Holiday and their Eues and on the day of the conuersion of S. Paul S. Barnabies day and euery day of the holy wéeke next before Easter as also on all Wednesdayes and Fridayes at fit and vsuall times according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer in a reuerent manner euer and as audibly and distinctly as he vseth to preach Doth he also reade all those Psalmes and Lessons and no other with the Collect Epistle and Gospell which are appointed for the day At the end of euery Psalme doe they stand and say Glory be to the Father c. and doth he leaue out the Contents of the Chapters After the Lessons doth he vse any other Psalme or Hymne but those which the Booke of Common Prayer hath appointed Doth he reade the Créed of S. Athanasius called the Quicunque vult on all those dayes for which it is appointed and the Commination on Ashwednesday and the Letany on euery Wednesday and Friday 8 Doth your Minister and Curate at all times as well in preaching or reading the Homilies as in reading the Prayers and the Letany in administring the holy Sacraments solemnization of Mariage burying of the dead churching of women and all other Offices of the Church duly obserue the Orders and Rites prescribed without omission alteration or addition of any thing And doth he in performing all and euery of these weare the Surplice duly and neuer omit the wearing of the same nor of his Hood if he be a Graduate 9 Doth your Parson or Uicar hauing a Curate vnder him notwithstanding read diuine Seruice himselfe vpon two seuerall Sundayes in the yéere publikely at the vsuall times both in the forenoone and afternoone in the Church which he possesseth and doth he also administer both Sacraments as often in euery yéere in such manner and with the obseruation of all such Rites and Ceremonies as are prescribed in the booke of Common Prayer in that behalfe 10 Doth your Minister Preacher and Lecturer euery yéere of purpose and expresly yet not by way of disputation but by plaine conclusion and determination teach and declare the lawfull authority which the King hath ouer the State both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill and the iust abolishing of all forraigne power or iurisdiction ouer the same 11 Doth your Minister publish in his Sermons any doctrine which is new and strange and disagréeing from the Word of God and from the Articles of Christian Faith and Religion agréed on and published Anno Domini 1562. And doth he teach any thing which he would haue the people religiously obserue and beleeue but that which is agréeable to the Scriptures and that which the Catholike Fathers and ancient Bishops haue gathered out of that Doctrine according to the Canon 12 Doth your Minister go to the administration of holy Baptisme euer immediately after the second Lesson Doth he alwayes at first aske whether for childe be baptized or no Afterward doth he euer vse and neuer omit both to take the childe in his hands and also to make the signe of the Crosse so as to touch the childs forehead in making the same Doth he at any time baptize but in the Font or with any Bason or Paile or other Uessell set into the Font Hath he euer deferred or willingly neglected or refused to baptize any infant within the Parish being in danger of death notice thereof hauing beene giuen to him And hath any childe died without baptisme by his default 13 Doth your Minister or Curate often admonish the people that they defer not the baptisme of their infants any longer after they are borne than is prescribed vnlesse vpon a great and reasonable cause declared to the Minister or Curate and approued by him nor that they procure them to be baptized at home without great necessity 14 Hath your Minister admitted any person to answer as Godfather or Godmother at the christning of a childe that hath not before receiued the holy Communion and is not able to recite the Lords Prayer the ten Commandements and the Articles of Beliefe and to answer to the same being required And doth he at the Font as soone as he hath baptized any child admonish them to bring the child to the Bishop to be confirmed as soone as he hath learned the Catechisme 15 Doth your Minister euery Sunday and holyday before euening prayer where no Sermon was wont to be halfe an houre or more catechize and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of your parish in the ten Commandements the Articles of Beliefe and the Lords Prayer And doth be vse for that purpose the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common Prayer and diligently heare instruct and teach them in the said Catechisme Or what other Catechisme doth he vse either in publike or priuate And bee the youth and ignorant persons of your parish sent in due time vnto your Church by them that ought to send them to be catechized and instructed by the Minister And if not you are to present the names of those that make default in sending them and of all those that vse not to come 16 Are your after-noone Sermons if there were wont to be any turned into catechizing by question and answer where and whensoeuer there is 〈◊〉 great cause apparent to the contrary And is this truly and sincerely performed without mockery or in shew only 17 Doth your Minister vse to administer the holy Communion at least thrice in the yéere whereof once at Easter to euery parishioner in your Parish that is sixtéene yeeres of age and vpwards and first to receiue the same himselfe knéeling on euery day that he administreth it to others and to administer it to none but to such as doe knéele at the receiuing thereof And doth he alwayes vse the words of Institution according to the Booke of Common Prayer without alteration at euery time that the Bread and Wine is renewed Doth hee also vse to deliuer the Bread and Wine to euery Communicant seuerally and with his owne hand repeating to euery one all the words appointed to be said at the distribution of the holy Body and Bloud of our Lord IESUS and vpon no pretence omitting any part of the words or saying them all but now and then to many at once And is there warning giuen by him to the parishioners publikely in the Church at morning
Antichristian Or hath spoken reproachfully or disgracefully of the Kings Maiesties Courts Ecclesiasticall or of the procéedings thereof 4 Haue you any in your Parish that doe come to the Sermon onely and not to Diuine Seruice or which vse to come late to Church and to depart from Church before the Blessing be giuen wherewith they are to be dismissed at the end of Seruice Or that do not reuerently behaue themselues entring into the Church and during the time of Diuine Seruice Doe all both men and women deuoutly knéele when the Generall confession of sinnes the Letanie the Ten Commandements and all Prayers and Collects are read as well at Baptismes Mariages and Burials as at other parts of the Diuine Seruice Doe all vse due and lowlie reuerence when the blessed Name of the Lord IESUS is mentioned and stand vp when the Articles of the Creed are read Doe any men couer their heads in the Church vnlesse it be for infirmity in which case they may only were a coife or night-cap or then and there giue themselues to babling talking or walking and are not attentiue to the Prayers and Hymns and to heare Gods word read and preached Doe all say Amen audibly and make such other answers both in the Letanie and all other parts of diuine Seruice as by the Rule of the Common Prayer booke are to be made by the people 5 Doth any within your Parish men or women being sixteene yeeres of age and vpwards or any other lodging or commonly resorting to any house in your Parish wilfully absent themselues from your Parish Church or Chappell vpon Sundayes and Holydayes and other dayes appointed at morning and euening prayers or refuse to receiue the Communion or perswade others from comming to Church or receiuing the holy Communion 6 Haue you any popish or puritanicall Recusants in your Parish that be of insolent behauiour not without publike offence or that do boldly busie themselues in seducing or withdrawing others either abroad or in their owne Families from the Religion established in y e Church of England And how long haue the said popish or puritanicall Recusants obstinately abstained either from diuine Seruice or from the Communion Whether of any long time or of late only 7 Are there any in your Parish who do absent themselues at any time from your own Church and doe resort to any other Parish or place to heare other preachers Or are there any in your Parish that doe communicate or that do baptise their children in any other Parish 8 Is there within your Parish in any house or familie any one that is called or reputed a Chaplaine or that is knowne or supposed to haue entred into holy Orders Or any that liueth there in imployment as a scholler Present their names if there be any such and how long they haue béene there 9 Is there any in your Parish who do refuse to haue their children baptized or themselues to receiue the Communion at the hand of your Minister because hee is no Preacher or doth not edifie in their phansie 10 Doth any maried woman within your Parish after childe-birth neglect to come to Church according to the Booke of Common Prayer to giue thankes to God for her safe deliuerance vailed in a decent manner as hath beene anciently accustomed And doth she then knéele in some conuenient place nigh to the Communion Table wâ—ile the Priest standing by her giueth thankes for her And if there be a Communion doth she then offer her accustomed offerings and receiue the holy Communion 11 Are there within your Parish or thereunto resorting any players on Stage or with Puppets or any Musitians Fidlers Rimers or Iesters which do vse any prophane or filthy passages in their songs speeches or gestures to the dishonour of God abuse of Scripture or the corrupting of good manners or which do publish any thing scandalous to the State or reproachfull to the Holy Clergy 12 Haue you any in your Parish that are commonly knowne or reputed to bee blasphemers of Gods holie Name common and vsuall swearers drunkards vsurers filthy speakers adulterers fornicators incestuous persons bawds concealers of fornicators or adulterers Haue any in your Parish beene detected of such notorious crimes and what penance haue they done for the same 13 What corporall punishment for any such offence hath beene commuted and changed into a pecuniary mulct or summe of money by any Ecclesiasticall Iudge exercising iurisdiction within this Dioces by vertue of any Graunt or Commission What was the sum of money by any of them so receiued and taken and to what vses was the same imployed And vpon such Commutations was the vnfained repentance of the delinquent published in the Church 14 Doe all Fathers Mothers Masters Mistrisses cause their children seruants and apprentises to come to the publike catechizing on Sundayes and Holydayes to be instructed and taught therein And those that do not their duties herein in not sending them to it or not comming or not learning and answering you shall present their names 15 Haue any in your Parish receiued or harboured any women gotten with-childe out of wedlock and suffered her to depart without punishment first inflicted on her by the Ordinary You shall truly present as well the party harbouring as harboured and who is suspected to be the father of the childe 16 Is any person or persons suspected or detected heretofore of incontinency and therfore departing out of your Parish for a season now returned againe Or in what place else is he or she now abiding to your knowledge or as you haue heard You shall not faile to present the whole truth in that behalfe 17 Doe all your Parishioners of what sort soeuer according as the Church expresly them commandeth draw néere and with all Christian humility and reuerence come to the Lords Table when they are to receiue the holy Communion And not after the most contemptuous and vnholy vsage of some if men did rightly consider sit still in their Seats or Pewes to haue the blessed Body and Bloud of our Sauiour go vp and downe to séek them all the Church ouer 18 Are there any lately deceased in your Parish whose last Wils and Testaments haue not yet béene proued or did they dye intestate And if so who hath taken vpon him the administration of their goods and whether by lawfull authority from the Ordinary or without What be the names of such deceased and of their executors and administrators 19 What persons be excommunicated in your Parish and for what cause to your knowledge and how long haue they stood excommunicate And doe any of them not being absolued presume to be present in the Church at diuine Seruice And doe any familiarly vse the company of such as do obstinately stand excommunicate knowing the same and what be their names 20 Doe you know of any that haue abused the Church-wardens or other sworne men of your Parish or giuen them euill words for executing their office or
to disharten and deter them from executing it as by oath and duty they are bound Chap. 8. Concerning Schoole-masters Physitians Chyrurgions Midwives and Parish-Clarkes HAue you any Schoole-master in your Parish that teacheth publikely or in priuate houses Is there any teaching of Schollars to reade or write in the Chancell or in any part of the Church Doth any Papist kéepe a Schoolemaster in his house who commeth not to Church to heare diuine Seruice and to receiue the holy Communion What is his name and how long hath he taught there or elsewhere Doth your Schoolemaster teach any Papists or Sectaries children that come not to Church Doth he bring his schollars to church and duely instruct them all to learne the Catechisme in the Booke of Common Prayer at the least once euery wéeke or what other Catechisme doth he teach Is he of honest and sincere life and religion and conuersation Is he a Graduate and sufficient to teach and diligent in teaching and bringing vp of youth 2 Is any thing with-holden and otherwise imployed that hath béene giuen to the vse of a Schoole in your Parish What is it By whom is it imbezelled 3 What Physitian or Chyrurgion haue you in your Parish who not being a Doctor of Physick or otherwise sufficiently licensed in either of the Uniuersities doth notwithstanding practise physick What other persons haue you among you either male or female who take vpon them to professe physick or chyrurgery And who be Midwiues in your parish 4 Haue you a fit Parish-Clark aged 20. yéeres at least of honest life able to reade and write Are his and the Sextons wages duly paid without fraud or diminution according to the ancient custome of your Parish By whom is he chosen Is he diligent in his office and seruiceable to the Minister Doth hee keepe the Church cleane and the doores locked Is there any thing lost or spoyled by his default 5 Doth your Clarke or Sexton take vpon him to haue or suffer any superstitious or any vnseasonable ringing of the bels at any time or any ringing without good cause such as the Minister and Church-wardens haue not allowed When notice is giuen of any Christian passing out of this life within the Parish doth he neglect to toll a passing bell or to ring after the departure Chap. 9. Concerning Ecclesiasticall Officers WHat peculiar or exempt iurisdictions know you of within y e compasse of this parish 2 Are there any Ecclesiasticall Officers exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction within this Diocesse or any Ministers or Clarkes vnder them who do take or exact any extraordinary fées for any cause that you know of 3 Haue any Church-wardens and Quest-men concealed and not presented any abuses or offences punishable in the Ecclesiasticall Court Or haue any such offences being by them presented to the Chancellor Archdeacon Commissary Officiall or any other vsing Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction within this Diocesse beene suppressed or left vnpunished for bribe reward pleasure friendship feare or any other partiall respect 4 Are any Assemblies called Uestry-méetings held in your Parish when and how often are they In what place and by whom Hath any thing that you haue heard of been proposed treated or concluded therein touching the diuine Seruice or the doctrine and discipline of the Church Or any thing medled with for the gouernment of the Church or Parish which belongs to the Ecclesiasticall cognition and Iurisdiction 5 Doth the Arch-deacon once in thrée yéeres visit and suruey your Church touching the repaires of the same and vpon any defect found hath he made certificate of it as far as you know or haue heard 6 Are there placed by the Registrar two Tables containing the seuerall rates and summes of all fées due to the Iudge and other officers of your Courts one in the vsuall place or consistory where the Court is kept the other in the Registry in such sort as euery man may come to view the same without difficulty And doth the Chancellor Arch-deacon Commissary or Officiall or any other Minister of the Court exact or extort any other greater fées or sums of money than in the said Tables are contained 7 Doth any Arch-deacon Officiall or Surrogate vnder him make commutation of any penance or doth the Chancellor or any Commissary or any Surrogate vnder any commute or change any penance or corporall punishment for any money without the consent of the Bishop And what money haue they or any of them receiued for such commutation and of whom when and what was the offence for which any such sum of money was receiued or appointed to be paid 8 Doth the Chancellor Arch-deacon Commissary or Officiall or any other person vsing Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction speed any act in any cause priuately of themselues and not in the presence of some publike Notary or Actuary 9 Is the number of Apparitors increased in this Diocesse And wherein and in what manner is the Countrey ouer-burthened or grieued by them Hath any of them vnder pretence of authority cited or summoned any person vnlawfully or hath any of them taken any reward for the concealing of any offence or sin or that the offenders might escape punishment Who be they that haue so done Or doe any of them take any fées that are not vsuall Haue they threatned any to prosecute them if they had no reward giuen them Or do any of them cause any party to appeare in any Ecclesiasticall Court within this Diocesse without a citation first obtained from the Iudge of the Court 10 Hath any Ecclesiasticall Iudge or Officer whatsoeuer Aduocate Registrer Procter Clerke or other such Ministers any way abused themselues in their Offices contrary to the Lawes and Canons in that behalfe prouided 11 Were there any particular or speciall iniunctions giuen as you know or haue heard by the Uicar generall or any other Commissioner at the last Metropoliticall Uisitation of the most Reuerend the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury his Grace And how haue the same béene performed or obserued by the Minister or any other of the Parish whom they concerne 12 Lastly haue you and euery of you by your selues read or haue caused to be read to you all these Articles Haue you well examined and inquired into euery particular therein intended Haue you sincerely vprightly without any partiall affection or concealement presented and made knowne all and euery of the offenders in any of the particulars either as they are taken in truth to be or by common fame reported If you know any other matter of Ecclesiasticall cognisance worthy the presentment in your iudgement and fit to be reformed by Ecclesiasticall censure though it be not expressed in these Articles yet you shall likewise present the same by vertue of your oaths The Minister also of euery Parish may and ought to ioyne with the Church-wardens or other Sworne-men for the presenting of offences and if they be so irreligious as not to do it the Minister of himselfe may ought to present the offences or the Church-wardens and Quest-men for not presenting and is required in his Canonicall obedience so to doe There must be distinct answer made to euery Article and to euery branch thereof as far as they know or haue heard of any offence And if their Oath and all this aduertisement notwithstanding any Church-wardens or other Sworne-men shall follow the customary manner and be carelesse in inquiring and presenting as they ought then shall they not be able hereafter to say that they had not faire warning to the contrary giuen them in the spirit of meeknesse or to complaine that they are hardly dealt with if vpon information and proofe otherwise had they be called to answer their willfull periury in some other course of iustice for neglecting to inquire and present to all the particulars herein proposed And to the intent that all things aboue mentioned may by the helpe of God as well be kept as set in good order the Chancellor of the Diocesse and all the Commissaries are hereby required that so far as to them in their seuerall places it shall appertaine when the Synods and Generals are holden respectiuely they do faithfuly inquire after all these things in all places of their Iurisdictions exact a due obseruance of the same The Parson Uicar or Curate of this Parish is required to receiue this Booke and vpon the Sunday next after the receipt hereof immediatly after the Morning Seruice to publish the contents of the Process which is sent forth That all Preachers and Lecturers if there be any in the Parish together with the Church-wardens both of this present yeere and of the last yeere and two or three of the chiefest parishioners beside as also all Physitians Schoole-masters Chyrurgions Midwiues and Sequestrators may take notice of the day place specified in the said Processe for appearance at the Lord Bishops Uisitation and after publication so made this book of Articles is to be presently deliuered to some of the said Church-wardens for the vse of themselues and the rest that are to make Presentments Ma. Norvicen FINIS