or incest or be common baudes or receiuers of such euil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses Item whether any be brawlers sclaunderers chyders scoldes and sowers of discorde betwene one person and another Item whether you knowe any that doe vse charmes sorcery enchauntmentes inuocations circles witchcraftes southsayinge or any lyke craftes or imaginacions inuented by the deuill and specyally in the tyme of womens trauayle Item whether the Churches Pulpittes and other necessaries apperteyninge to the same be sufficiently repayred yf they be not in whose default the same is Item whether you knowe any that in contempt of theyr owne paryshe Churche do resort to any other Church Item whether anye Inholders or ale house kepers do vse commonly to sel meate and drinke in the time of common prayer preachinge readyng of the Homelies or Scripture Item whether you knowe any to be maryed within the degrees prohibited by the lawes of God or that be separated or dyuorsed withoute the degrees prohibited by the lawe of God and whether any such haue maryed agayne Item whether you knowe any to haue made priuie contractes of matrymonye not callynge two or mo wytnesses thereunto nor hauynge therto the consent of theyr parentes Item whether they haue maryed solempnely the banes not first lawefully asked Item whether you know any executours or administratours of dead mens goods which do not duely bestowe suche of the sayde goodes as were geuen and bequethed or appoynted to bee distributed amonge the poore people repayring of high wayes fyndyng of poore scolers or marying of poore maydens or suche other lyke charitable dedes Item whether you knowe any that kepe in theyr houses vndefaced any Images tables pictures paintynges or other monumentes of fayned and false miracles pilgrimages Idolatry or supersticion and do adore them and specially such as haue ben set vp in Churches chapelles or oratories Item what bokes of Goddes Scripture you haue deliuered to be burnt or otherwise destroied and to whom ye haue deliuered the same Item what brybes the accusers promoters persecutors ecclesiasticall iudges and other the commissioners appointed within the seueral diocesse of this Realme haue receiued by them selues or other of those persons whiche were in trouble apprehēded or imprisoned for Religion Item what goodes moueable landes fees offyces or promocions hath ben wrongfully taken away in the time of Quene Maries raigne from any person which fauoured the Religion nowe set forth Item howe many persons for religion haue dyed by fyre famine or otherwise or haue bene imprysoned for the same Item that you make a true presentment of the nomber of al the persons whiche died within your parishes sithen the feast of Saint Iohn the Baptist which was in the yeare of our lorde God a thousande fyue hundred fiftie and eight vnto the same feast last past Makynge therein a playne distynct declaracion howe many men women and men chyldren the same were And the names of the men Item whether ye knowe any man in youre paryshe secretely or in vnlawfull conuenticles say or heare masse or any other seruyce prohibited by the lawe Item whether you knowe anye person in youre paryshe to be a slaunderer of hys neyghbours or a fower of dyscorde betwene partye and partie man and wyfe parentes and theyr chyldren or that hath inuented bruted or sette foorth any rumours false and sedicious tales sclaunders or makers bryngers byers sellers kepers or conueyers of any vnlawfull bookes which might styrre or prouoke sedicion or maintaine supersticious seruice within this Realme or anye aydours counsaylours procurers or mayntayners therunto Item whether the Churche of your paryshe be nowe vacant or no who is the Patrone therof howe longe it hath ben vacant who doth receyue the tythes oblations and other commodities duringe the tyme of the vacation and by what aucthoritie and in what estate the sayde Church is at this time and howe longe the person or vycar hath had that benefice Item whether any mynstrelles or any other persons do vse to synge or say any songes or ditties that be vyle or vncleane and especiallye in derision of any godly order nowe set forth and establyshed Item whether the Letanye in Englyshe with the Epistle and Gospell which was by the Quenes hyghnesse Proclamation wylled to be readde to the people were putte in vse in youre Churches and yf not who were the letters therof Item whether the Curates and ministers do leasurely plainely and distinctly reade the publique prayers Chapters and Homelies as they ought to do ¶ GOD SAVE THE QVENE Imprinted at LonDON IN POVVLES CHVRCH yarde by Rycharde Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Quenes Maiestie Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis Vsurped and forrayne auctoritie Images A sermō euery moneth VVorkes of fayth vvorks of mans deuice Quarter sermon or Homyly The pater noster Crede and ten commaundementes The Bible and paraphrases Haunting of alehouses hy Ecclesiastical persons preachers not lycensed Letters of the vvord Favvtors of the vsurped povver A regester Distributiō of the xl part Exhibition for scollers The fyft part for reparaciō Reading of the Iniunctions payment of Tithes The nevv Testamēt and paraphrasis Comfortable sentences for the sicke procession to be left The Letany Let hearinge of diuine seruice perambulation of parishes Spending all the holy day Open cōtenders to be reconciled openlye Contemners of laudable ceremonies The abolishment of thinges supersticious The pulpit The chest for the poore The distribution of the almes Symony Homelies to be read Cōtempt of ministers Of apparell of ministers Heresies Charmes Absence from common prayer Inholders and ale-houses Images in houses Disturbers of sermons or seruice Rashe talkers of scripture Attendaunt to the seruice The gramer of king Henry theight Allovvaunce of scolemasters Duetie of scolemasters sentences of scripture for scollers vnlearned priestes The Cathechisme The boke of the afflictions for religiō Ouerseers for seruice on the holy dayes Inuētories of Church goodes Seruice on vvednesdayes and frydayes Continuaunce of synginge in the church Against slaūderus and infamus vvordes Againste heriticall and sedicious bokes Reuerēce at praiers Honor to the name of Iesus Curats to reade dystinctly The sacramentall bread Residenci False miracles Lordes prayer To bring vp youth Curates Readyng the scriptures Tauernes games prechers Superstition regester Obedien◠The sacrament Hospitalitie reparations prayer in Englyshe Beades Diffamed persons poore mens box Testamētes poore mens box Sycke Buryall symony Adultrers Church goodes Many benefices Communion Letters of the vvord or preachyng goers out of the Church Church money Kepers of the churche mony Contēpte of priests The kings Grāmer The tyme of seruice Talkers in the church Heresies Dronkardes Adulterers Bravvlers Sorcerers pulpittes Resorters to other Churches Inholders Diuorse priuie contractes Banes. Executors Images Bookes Bribes Losse of goodes Hovv many burnt Certificat of the dead Secrete masses False rumours Vnlavvfull bokes patron Tithes Vacacion Minstrels Letany in Englishe Distinct readinge
they do or shall know any man within theyr paryshe or els where that is a letter of the worde of God to be read in Englyshe or sincerelye preached or of th execution of these the Quenes Maiesties Iniunctions or a fawter of any vsurped and forrayne power nowe by the lawes of this Realme iustly reiected and taken away they shall detect and present the same to the Quenes Maiestie or to her counsayle or to the Ordinarye or to the Iustyce of peace nexte adioynyng Also that the Person Vycar or Curate and paryshyoners of euery paryshe within this Realme shal in theyr Churches and Chappels kepe one booke or Regester wherein they shall wryte the daye and yeare of euerye weddynge Chrystenynge and Buryall made within the Paryshe for theyr tyme and so euerye manne succeadynge theym lykewyse and also therein shall wryte euery personnes name that shal be so wedded chrystened and buryed And for the safe kepyng of the same booke the Paryshe shal be bounde to prouyde of theyr common charges one suer coffer with two lockes and keyes wherof the one to remayne with the Person Vicar or Curate and thother with the Wardens of euery paryshe Church or chappell wherin the sayde booke shal be layde vp whiche booke they shall euery Sunday take foorth and in the presens of the sayde Wardens or one of them wryte and recorde in the same al the weddynges chrystenynges and buryals made the whole weke before And that done to lay vp the boke in the sayde coffer as afore And for euery tyme that the same shal be omitted the partie that shal be in the fault therof shall forfeite to the sayd Church .iii. s .iii. d. to be employed the one halfe to the poore mens boxe of that Paryshe the other halfe towardes the repayre of the Churche Furthermore because the goodes of the Churche are called the goodes of the poore and at these dayes nothyng is lesse seene then the poore to be sustayned with the same All persons Vicars Pentionaries Prebendaries and other benefyced men within this Deanrye not beyng resydent vppon theyr benefyces whiche may dispende yearely twenty pounde or aboue eyther within this Deanry or els where shall distribute heareafter amonge theyr poore parishioners or other inhabitauntes there in the presence of the churchwardens or some other honest men of the paryshe the fortie part of the fruites and reuenues of theyr sayd benefice lest they be worthely noted of ingratitude whiche reseruynge so many partes to them selues can not vouchsafe to impart the fortie portion therof emonge the poore people of that parishe that is so fruitefull and profitable vnto them And to thintent that learned men may hereafter spring the more for th execution of the premisses euery person vycar clerke or benefyced man within this Deanry hauyng yerely to dispende in benefyces and other promocions of the Church an hundreth poundes shall geue iii.li.vi s .viii. d. in exhibicion to one scoler in any of the vniuersities and for as many C.li. more as he may dispende to so many scolers more shall giue like exhibicion in the vniuersitie of Oxford or Cambridge or some gramer schole which after they haue profyted in good learning may be parteners of their patrones cure and charge as well in preachinge as otherwise in execution of theyr offices or maye when neade shal be otherwise profite the common weale with theyr coūsayle and wisedome Also that all proprietaries persons vycars and clearkes hauing churches cappeles or mansions within this deanry shall bestowe yearely heareafter vppon the same mansions or chaunselles of theyr churches beynge in decay the fift part of that theyr benefices tyll they be fullye repayred and shal alwaies kepe and maintaine in good estate Also that the sayd persons vycars clearkes shall once euery quarter of the yeare reade these Iniunctions geuen vnto them openly and deliberatly before al theyr parishioners at one time or at two seuerall times in one day to th entent that both they may be the better admonyshed of theyr duetie and theyr sayde parishioners the more moued to folowe the same for theyr part Also forasmuche as by lawes established euery man is bounde to pay his tithes no man shal by colour of duetie omitted by theyr curates deteyne theyr tythes and so requite one wronge with another or be his owne iudge but shall truely pay the same as he hath ben accustomed to theyr persons vycars and curates without any restraynte or diminucion And suche lacke and default as they can iustely fynde in theyr personnes and curates to call for reformacion thereof at theyr ordinaries other superiours who vpon complaint and due profe therof shall reforme the same accordyngly Also that euery personne vycar curate and Stipendary priest beynge vnder the degree of a master of art shall prouyde and haue of hys owne within three monethes after thys visitacion the newe Testament both in Latin and in Englysh with Paraphrases vpon the same conferryng th one with thother And the Byshops other Ordinaries by them selues or theyr offycers in theyr Sinodes and visitations shal examine the sayde Ecclesiasticall personnes howe they haue profyted in the studye of holy scrypture Also that the vyce of damnable dispayre may be clearely taken away and that fyrme beliefe and stedfast hope may be surely conceaued of all theyr paryshioners beynge in a daunger they shall learne and haue alwayes in a redynesse such comfortable places and sentences of scripture as do sette foorth the mercy benefytes and goodnesse of almyghtie God towardes all penitent and beleauynge persons that they may at all tymes when necessitie shall require promptlye comfort theyr flocke with the lyuely woorde of God whiche is the onely staye of mans conscience Also to auoyde all contencion and stryfe which heretofore hath risen emong the Quenes Maiesties subiectes in sundrye places of her Realmes and dominions by reason of fond curtesy and chalengynge of places in procession and also that they maye the more quietly heare that whiche is sayd or songe to theyr edyfyinge they shall not from hencefoorth in anye paryshe Churche at any tyme vse any procession about the Churche or Churche yarde or other place but immediatly before the time of Communion of the Sacrament the Priestes with other of the Quyre shall kneele in the myddes of the Church and syng or say playnely and distinctly the Letany which is set forth in Englishe with al the Suffrages folowing to thintent the people may heare and answere and none other procession or Letany to be had or vsed but the sayd Letany in Englyshe addynge nothinge thereto but as it is nowe appoynted And in Cathedral or Collegiat Churches the same shal be done in suche places and in such sort as our commissioners in our visitacion shall appoynt And in the tyme of the Letany of the cōmon prayer of the Sermon and when the priest readeth the scripture to the parishioners no
prayer in the ten commaundementes the Articles of the beliefe and in the Lordes prayer and diligently examine theim teache the Cathechisme set forth in the booke of publique prayer Item that the Ordinaries do exhibite vnto our visitours theyr bookes or a true copy of the same conteynynge the causes why any person was imprysoned famyshed or put to death for religion Item that in euery paryshe three or foure discrete men which tender Gods glory and hys true Religion shal be appoynted by the Ordynaries diligently to see that all the paryshyoners duely resort to theyr Churche vppon all Sundayes and holy dayes and there to contynue the whole tyme of the Godly seruyce And all suche as shal be founde stacke or negligent in resortynge to the Churche hauynge no greate nor vrgent cause of absence they shall strayghtly call vppon them and after due monicion yf they amende not they shall denounce them to the Ordinary Item that the Churchwardens of euery paryshe shal delyuer vnto our visitours the inuentories of vestmentes copes and other ornamentes plate bokes and specially of Grayles Couchers Legendes Processionalles Hymnalles Manuelles Portuesses and such lyke apperteynyng to theyr Church Item that weekely vppon Wednesdayes and Frydayes not beynge holy dayes the curate at the accustomed houres of seruyce shall resort to Churche and cause warnyng to be geuen to the people by knollyng of the bell and saye the Letany and prayers Item because dyuers Collegiate and also some paryshe Churches heretofore there hath ben lyuynges appoynted for the mayntenaunce of menne and chyldren to vse syngynge in the Churche by meanes whereof the lawdable scyence of musicke hath ben had in estimation and preserued in knowledge The Quenes Maiestie neyther meanynge in any wyse the decaye of any thynge that myght conueniently tende to the vse and continuaunce of the sayde science neyther to haue the same in any parte so abused in the Churche that thereby the common prayer shoulde be the worse vnderstande of the hearers Wylleth and commaundeth that fyrst no alteration be made of such assignementes of lyuynge as heretofore hath bene appoynted to the vse of syngynge or musycke in the Churche but that the same so remayne And that there bee a modeste and destyncte songe so vsed in all partes of the common prayers in the Churche that the same may be as playnely vnderstanded as yf it were read without synging And yet neuerthelesse for the comforting of such as delite in musicke it maye be permytted that in the beginninge or in th end of common prayers eyther at mornynge or euenynge there may be songe an hymne or suche lyke songe to the prayse of almyghty God in the beste sort of melodye and musicke that maye be conueniently deuysed hauynge respecte that the sentence of the hymne maye bee vnderstanded and perceyued Item because in al alteracions and specially in rytes and Ceremonies there happeneth dyscorde emonges the people and thervpon slaunderous wordes and raylynges wherby charitie the knot of all christian societie is loosed The Quenes Maiestie beyng moste desyrous of al other earthly thynges that her people shoulde lyue in charitie both towardes God and man and therein abounde in good woorkes wylleth and straightly commaundeth al maner her subiectes to forbeare al vayne and contencious disputacions in matters of Religion and not to vse in despite or rebuke of any person these conuitious wordes papist or papisticall hereticke scismaticke or sacramentary or any suche lyke wordes of reproche But yf any maner of person shall deserue the accusation of anye suche that fyrste he bee charitablye admonysshed thereof And yf that shall not amende hym then to denounce the offendours to the Ordinary or to some higher power hauing aucthoritie to correcte the same Item because there is a great abuse in the printers of bokes which for couetousnes chiefly regard not what thei print so they may haue gayne whereby arryseth great disorder by publication of vnfruitfull vayne and infamous bokes and papers The Quenes maiestie straitly chargeth and commaundeth that no maner of person shall print any maner of boke or paper of what sorte nature or in what language soeuer it be except the same be first licensed by her maiestie by expresse wordes in writing or by .vi. of her priuie counsel or be perused licensed by the archbyshops of Cantorbury and yorke the byshop of London the Chauncelours of both vniuersities the bishop beyng Ordinary the Archdeacon also of the place where anye suche shal be printed or by two of them wherof the ordinary of the place to be alwayes one And that the names of such as shal alowe the same to be added in th ende of euery such worke for a testimonye of the alowaunce thereof And because many pampheletes playes and balettes be often times printed wherin regard would be had that nothing therin should be eyther hereticall sedicious or vnsemely for Christian eares Her maiestie likewise commaundeth that no maner of person shall enterpryse to print any suche except the same be to him licensed by such her maiesties commissioners or .iii. of them as be appointed appoynted in the citie of London to heare and determine diuers causes ecclesiasticall tending to the execution of certayne statutes made the last parliament for vniformitie of order in religion And yf any shall sell or vtter any maner of bookes or papers beyng not licensed as is abouesaid that the same partie shal be punyshed by order of the sayde commissioners as to the qualitie of the fault shal be thought meete And touchyng all other bookes of matters of religion or policie or gouernaunce that hath bene prynted eyther on thisside the Seas or on thother side because the diuersitie of them is great and that there nedeth good consideration to be had of the particularities therof her Maiestie referreth the prohibition or permission thereof to thorder which her sayd commissioners within the citie of London shall take and notifie According to the which her Maiestie strayghtly commaundeth all maner her subiectes and specially the Wardens companye of Stacioners to be obedient Prouided that these orders do not extende to any prophane aucthours and workes in anye language that hath ben heretofore commonly receaued or allowed in anye the vniuersities or Scoles but the same may be prynted and vsed as by good order they were accustomed Item although almyghtie God is at all tymes to be honoured with all maner of reuerence that maye be deuysed yet of all other tymes in tyme of common prayer the same is most to be regarded Therfore it is to be necessarely receiued that in tyme of the Letany and of all other Collectes and common supplications to almyghty God all maner of people shall deuoutly and humbly knele vpon their knees and geue eare thereunto And that whensoeuer the name of Iesus shal be in any Lessō Sermon or otherwyse in the Church pronounced That due reuerence be made of all persons yong