distinguished from the lands of other men vpon whom they doe abutt 4 What Cart-way Horse-way Foot-way Gates or Stiles doe lead from your Parsonage or Vicarage-house vnto euery of the said parcels of Glebe land Declare your knowledge therein 5 Whether doe you know or haue you credibly heard that some stiles gates hedges ditch méere tree thorne or other doole formerly growing or being betweene the said parcels of Gleabe or some of them and the Lands of other men haue beene digged vp felled downe destroied put by or defaced And who had the said parcell so wronged in occupation when the said stile gate hedge ditch meere tree thorne or other ancient doole was so digged vp felled downe destroied put by or defaced Concerning the Clergy 1 WHether doth your Parson Vicar or Curate distinctly and reuerently say Diuine Seruice vpon Sundayes and Holydayes and other dayes appointed to bee obserued by the Booke of Common Prayer as Wednesdayes and Fridayes and the Eues of euery Sunday and Holyday at fit and vsuall times And doth hee duly obserue the Orders Rites and Ceremonies prescribed in the said booke of Common Prayer as well in reading publike prayers and the Letany as also in administring the Sacraments solemnization of Matrimony visiting the sick burying the dead Churâ—ing of Women and all other like Rites and Offices of the Church in such manner aâ— forme as in the said booke of Common Prayer he is inioyned without any omission addition And doth he reade the Booke of the last Canons yearely and weare a Surplâ— according to the said Canons 2 Whether haue you any Lecturer in your parish who hath preached in his Cloaâ— and not in his Gowne and whether haue you any Lecturer who will not professe hâ— willingnesse and readinesse to take vpon him a Liuing or Benefice with cure of soulâ— or who hath refused a Benefice when it hath béene offered vnto him 3 Doth your Minister bid Holy-dayes and Fasting-dayes as by the Booke of Coâ—mon Prayer is appointed And doth he giue warning beforehand to the parishionerâ— for the receiuing of the holy Communion as the two and twentieth Canon requiretâ— and whether he doth administer the holy Communion so often and at such times that euery parishioner may receiue the same at the least thrice in euery yéere where once at Easter as by the Booke of Common prayer is appointed And doth your Aâ—nister receiue the same himselfe on euery day that he administreth it to others aâ—â— vse the words of institution according to the Booke at euery time that the Bread aâ—â— Wine is renewed accordingly as by the prouiso of the 21. Canon is directed Aâ—â— doth he deliuer the Bread and Wine to euery Communicant seuerally and knéeling Whether he hath admitted to the holy Communion any notorious Offender or Schâ—maticke contrary to the 26. and 27. constitutions or receiued any to the Communioâ— being not of his owne Cure or put any from the Communion who are not publicâ—ly infamous for any notorious crime Doth he vse the signe of the Crosse in Baâ—tisme or baptise in any Bason or other Vessell and not in the vsuall Font or aâ—mit any Father to be Godfather to his owne childe or such who haue not receiued 〈◊〉 holy Communion or baptize any children that were not borne in the parish or willfuâ— refuse to baptize any infant in his parish being in danger hauing béene enformed 〈◊〉 she weaknesse of the said childe and whether the childe dieth through his default wiâ—â—out baptisme 4 Whether hath your Minister married any without a King or without Banes pâ—â—lished threée seuerall Sundayes or Holidayes in time of diuine Seruice in the seuerâ— Churches or Chappels of their seuerall abode according to the Book of Common praâ—er or in times prohibited albeit the Banes were thrice published without a License dispensation from the Archbishop the Bishop of the Diocesse or his Chancellor fiâ— obtained in that behalfe Or not betwixt the houres of eight and twelue in the for noone or haue married any in any priuate house or if the parties be vnder the age 21 yéeres before their parents and gouernours haue signified their consent vnto hiâ— 5 Doth he refuse to bury any which ought to be interred in Christian buriall or â—fer the same longer than he should or bury any in Christian buriall which by the conâ—tutions of the Church of England or Lawes of the Land ought not to be so interrâ— 6 Is your Minister a Preacher allowed if yea then by whom If not whether doâ— he procure some who are lawfully licensed to preach monthly amongst you at the leaâ—â— 7 Doth your Minister being licensed preach vsually according to the Canoâ— either in his owne Cure or in some other Church or Chappell néere adioyning whâ— no other Preacher is and how often he hath beene negligent in that behalfe doth preach standing and with his hat off Or whether doth he or his Curate vpon eueâ—â— Sunday when there is no Sermon reade an Homily or some part thereof accordiâ—â— as he ought to doe or in case he be not licensed to preach doth he take vpon him Preach or expound the Scriptures in his owne Cure or elsewhere If so then you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 present the same the time and place when and where he did it â— Doth your Minister vse to pray for the Kings Maiesty King Charles and for the â—aéenes Maiesty Prince Charles and all the royall Progeny with addition of such â—le and Titles as are due to his Highnesse and exhort the people to obedience to his â—aiesty and all Magistrates in authority vnder him And doth he also pray for all â—â—ch-bishops Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons 9 Is your Minister continually resident vpon his Benefice and how long time hath bin absent and in case he be licensed to be absent whether doth he cause his Cure to 〈◊〉 sufficiently supplied according to the Canons Or in case he hath another Benefice â—â—ether doth he supply his absence by a Curate sufficiently licensed to preach in that â—ure where he himselfe is not resident Or otherwise in case the smalnesse of the liâ—ng cannot finde a preaching Minister doth he preach at both his Benefices vsually 10 Doth your Minister or Curate serue any more Cures than one If yea then what â—her Cure doth he serue and how far are they distant 11 Doth your Minister or Curate euery Sunday and Holyday before Euening â—â—ayer for halfe an houre or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons 〈◊〉 his Parish in the ten Commandements Articles of the Beliefe and in the Lords â—rayer and the Sacraments according as it is prescribed in the Catechisme set â—â—th in the booke of Common Prayer only And if he doe not where is the fault either 〈◊〉 the Parents and Masters of the children or in the Curate neglecting his duty And 〈◊〉 he carefull to tender all such youth of his parish as haue béene well instructed in their â—atechisme to be confirmed by the Bishop
during the time of Diuine Seruice vnlesse it be in case of necessity in which case they may weare a Night cap or Coife Or who do giue themselues to babling talking or walking and are not attentiue to heare the Word preached or read Whether any of your parish being of sixtéene yéeres of age or vpwards doe not receiue the holy Communion in your Church thrice euery yéere whereof once at Easter and whether they doe not deuoutly kneele at the receiuing thereof And whether any hauing diuerse houses of remoue doe shift from place to place of purpose to defeat the performance of their Christian duties in that behalfe 2 Whether any of your parishioners being admonished thereof do not send their children seruants and apprentices to the Minister to be catechized vpon such Sundayes and Holydayes as are appointed Or whether any of them doe refuse to come or if they come refuse to learne those instructions set forth in the Booke of Common Prayer 3 Whether any of your Parish doe entertaine within their house any soiourner common guests or other persons who refuse to frequent Diuine Seruice or receiue the holy Communion as aforesaid present their names their qualities or conditions 4 What Recusant Papists are there in your Parish or other Sectaries present their names qualities or conditions whether they kéep any Schoole-master in their house which commeth not to Church to heare diuine Seruice and receiue the Communion What is his name and how long hath he taught there or elsewhere 5 Whether any of the said popish Recusants or other Schismaticks doe labour to seduce and withdraw others from the Religion now established Or instruct their families or children in popish religion or refuse to entertaine any especially in place of greatest seruice or trust but such as concurre with them in their opinions 6 How long haue the said popish Recusants abstained from diuine Seruice or from the Communion as aforesaid 7 Is there any in your parish that retaine sell vtter or disperse any popish bookes or Writings or other Bookes Libraries or writings of any Sectaries touching the Religion State and Gouernement Ecclesiasticall of this Kingdome of England or kéep any Monuments of Superstition vncancelled or defaced 8 Whether haue you any in your Parish which heretofore being popish Recusants or Sectaries haue since reformed themselues and come to Church to heare diuine Seruice and receiue the Sacraments if yea then who are they And how long since hau◠they so reformed themselues And whether they still remaine and abide in that conformity 9 Is there any in your parish that refuse to haue their children baptized or themselues to receiue the Communion at the hands of your Minister taking exception against him and what causes or exceptions doe they alleage or haue any maried wiues refused to come to Church according to the Booke of Common Prayer to giue God thankes after their childe-birth for their safe deliuerance And whether doe any of or in your Parish refuse to haue their children baptized in your parish-Church according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer 10 Doe any of your Parish vsually goe to other Parish Churches to heare Diuine Seruice or Sermons Or doe they communicate or baptize their children in any other Parish 11 Whether there be any in your Parish who will come to heare the Sermon but will not come to publike prayers appointed by the Booke of Common Prayer making a schisme or diuision as it were betweene the vse of publike prayer and preaching 12 What persons within your parish for any offence contumacy or crime of Ecclesiasticall Conusance doe stand excommunicate present their names and for what cause they are excommunicated and how long haue they so stood and what person or persons do wittingly and vsually keepe them company 13 Whether any not being in Orders doe execute any Priestly or Ministeriall Office in your Church Chappell or Church-yard and what be their names 14 Whether any in your parish that hauing heretofore taken vpon him the order of Priest hood or Deacon hath since relinquished the same and liues as a Lay-man neglecting his vocation 15 Hath any person in your Parish quarrelled or stricken or vsed any violence to your Minister or haue stricken or quarrelled with any other person within your Church or Church-yard or demeaned himselfe disorderly in the Church by filthy or prophane talke or any other base or immodest behauiour Or hath disturbed the Minister in time of Diuine Seruice or Sermon or hath libelled or spoken slanderous words against your Minister to the scandall of his vocation or defamed any of his Neighbours touching any crime of Ecclesiasticall Conusance 16 Whether any of or in your Parish without consent of the Ordinary or other lawful authority haue caused any to do pennance or to be censured or punished for any matter of Ecclesiasticall Conusance by any Vestry-meetings or otherwise by their own authority Or haue taken any money or commutation for the same Present their names that haue done it And who haue beene so punished In what manner and vpon what cause 17 Whether any person in your Parish doe exercise any Trade or labour buy or sell or kéep open Shops or Ware-houses vpon any Sunday or Holiday by themselues their Seruants or Apprentices or haue otherwise prophaned the said dayes contrary to the orders of the Church of England And whether there be any Inne-kéepers Ale-house-kéepers Victuallers or other persons that permit any persons in their houses to eate drink or play during the time of Diuine Seruice or Sermon or reading the Homilies in the forenoone or afternoone vpon those dayes 18 Whether the fifth day of Nouember be kept holy and thanksgiuing made to God for his Maiesties and this States happy deliuerance according to the ordinance in that behalfe 19 Whether any of your Parish hold or frequent any conuenticles or priuate Congregations or make or maintaine any constitutions agreed vpon in any such assemblies Or any that doe write or publikely or priuately speake against the Booke of Common prayer or any thing therein contained or against any of the Articles of Religion agreed vpon in Anno 1562. or against the Kings Supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall or against the Oath of Supremacy or of Allegiance as pretending the same to be vnlawfull and not warrantable by the Word of God Or against any of the Rites or Ceremonies of the Church of England now established Or against the Gouernment of the Church of England vnder the Kings most excellent Maiesty by Archbishops Deanes Arch-Deacons and other Officers of the same affirming that the same is repugnant to the Word of God and that the said Ecclesiasticall Officers are not lawfully ordained Or whether there be any Authors Maintainers or fauourers of Heresie or Schisme or that be suspected to be Anabaptists Libertines Brownists of the Family of Loue or of any other heresie or schisme present their names 20 Whether any in your Parish haue maried within
ARTICLES TO BE INQVIRED OF IN THE FIRST TRIENNIALL VISITATION OF THE MOST REVEREND FATHER VVILLIAM By GODS Providence Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and METROPOLITAN In and for the Dioces of Canterbury In the yeare of our LORD GOD 1637 And in the fourth yeere of his Graces Translation EX IGNE RESVRGIT VIRTVS Printed at London by Richard Badger The Tenour of the Oath to be Ministred to the Church-wardens and Side-men YOu shall sweare that you and every of you shall duly consider and diligently enquire of all and every of these Articles given you in charge and that all affection favour hatred hope of reward and gaine or feare of displeasure or malice set aside you shall present all and every such person that now is or of late was within your Parish as hath committed any offence or made any default mentioned in these or any of these Articles or which are vehemently suspected or defamed of any such offence or default wherein you shall deale uprightly and fully neither presenting nor sparing to present any contrary to truth having in this action God before your eyes with an earnest zeale to maintaine truth and to suppresse vice So helpe you God and the holy Contents of this Book Concerning the Church the Ornaments thereof and the Churches possessions IMprimis Whether haue you in your seuerall Churches and Chappels thâ— whole Bible of the largest volume and the Booke of Common Prayerâ— both fairly and substantially bound A Font of stone set vp in the ancâ—ent vsuall place A conuenient and decent Communion Table with a Carpet of silke or some other decent stuffe continually laid vpon the same at time of Diuine Seruice and a faire linnen cloth thereon at the time of the receiuing of the holy Communion And whether is the same Table placed in such conuenient sort within the Chancell or Church as that the Minister may be beâ—â— heard in his Prayer and Administration and that the greatest number may communicate And whether is it so vsed out of time of diuine seruice as is not agréeable to the holy vse of it as by sitting on it throwing hats on it writing on it or is it abused to other prophaner vses and are the ten Commandements set vpon the East end of your Church or Chappell where the people may best see and reade them and other sentences of holy Scripture written on the wals likewise for that purpose 2 Whether are the afternoone Sermons in your seuer all Parishes turned into Catechizing by question and answer according to the forme prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer And whether doth euery Lecturer reade diuine Seruice according to the Liturgie printed by authority in his Surplice and Hood before the Lecture And whether are his Maiesties Instructions in all things duly obserued 3 Whether haue you in your said Church or Chappel a conuenient seat for your Minister to reade Seruice in together with 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 with a couer of siluer a Flagon of siluer tinne or pewter to â—ut the Wine in whereby it may be set vpon the Communion Table at the time of the blessing thereof with all other things and ornaments necessary for the celebration of diuine Seruice and administration of the Sacraments And whether haue you a strong Chest for Almes for the poore with thrée locks and keyes and another Chest for kéeping the Bookes and Ornaments of the Church and the Register Book And whether haue you a Register Booke in Parchment for Christnings Weddings and Burials and whether the same be kept in all points according to the Canons in that behalfe prouided And is the Mothers Christian name therein Registred as well as the Fathers and a transcript thereof brought in yéerely within one Moneth after the 25 of March into the Lord Archbishop or Bishop of the Diocesse his principall Register And whether haue you in your said Church or Chappell a Table set of the degrees wherein by law men are prohibited to marry 4 Whether are your Church and Chappels with the Chancels thereof and your parsonage or vicarage house your parish Almes-house and Church-house in good reparations and are they imployed to godly and their right holy vses Is your Church Chancell and Chappell decently and comely kept as well within as without and the seats well maintained according to the 85. Canon in that behalfe prouided Or haue any patrons or others decayed the Parsonage-houses and kéep a stipendary Priest or Cuâ—â—te in place where an incumbent should be possessed Whether is your Church-yard â—ell fenced with wals railes or pales and by whom and if not in whose default the â—â—me is and what the defect or fault is And whether any person haue incroached vpon â—he ground of the Church-yard or whether any person or persons haue vsed any thing â—r place consecrated to holy vse prophanely or wickedly 5 Is your Church or Chappell decently paued and is your Church-yard well and orâ—erly kept without abuse Are the bones of the dead decently interred or laid vp in â—â—me fit place as be séemeth Christians And is the whole consecrated ground kept frée â—rom Swine and all other nastinesse as becommeth the place so dedicated 6 Whether haue any ancient Monuments or Glasse-windowes béene defaced or any â—rasse Inscriptions Lead Stones or any thing else belonging to your Church or Chappell béene at any time purloined and by whom 7 Whether haue you the Terrier of all the Glebe lands Medowes Gardens Orâ—hards Houses Stocks Implements Tenements and portions of Tithes whether within your parish or without belonging vnto your Parsonage or Vicarage taken by â—he view of honest men in your said parish And whether the same Terrier be laid vp â—n the Bishops Registry and in whose hands any of them are now And if you haue no Terrier already made in Parchment you the Church-wardens and Sidemen together with your Parson or Vicar or in his absence with your Minister are to make diligent inquiry and presentment of the seuerall particulars following and make subscribe and signe the said Terrier as aforesaid 1 How many seuerall parcels of Glebe-land doe you know or haue you credibly heard to belong vnto your Rectory Church Parsonage Vicaridge c. and by what Names are they or any of them commonly called and knowne and what yéerely rent haue you knowne or heard to haue béene paid vnto the Parson Vicar or to his or their Assignes for euery or any of the said parcels 2 In whose occupation are the said parcels at this present How much doth each parcell containe by measure of the 16 foot Poale How is each parcell Butted on euery part And who is to repaire the fences on each side thereof 3 What hedge ditch méere trée thorne doole or distinction is there now at this present whereby the said parcels of Church-lands may be apparently knowne and
in his Visitation or any other conuenient â—ne as is appointed by the booke aforesaid 12 Doth your Minister in the Rogation dayes go in perambulation of the circuit of â—â—â—e parish saying and vsing the prayers Suffrages and Thanksgiuing to God apâ—â—inted by Law according to his duty thanking GOD for his blessings if there plenty on the earth Or otherwise to pray for his grace and fauour if there be a feare scarcity 13 Hath your Minister admitted any Woman begotten with childe in adultery or â—â—nication to be churched without license of the Ordinary 14 Hath your Minister or any other Preacher baptized children churched any woâ—â—n or ministred the holy Communion in any priuate house otherwise than by law is â—â—â—owed â—5 Doth your Minister endeauour and labour diligently to reclaime the popish Recuâ—nts in his parish from their errours if there be any such abiding in your parish Or â—â—ether is your Parson Vicar or Curate ouerconuersant with or a fauourer of Recuâ—nts whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Religion 16 Hath your Minister taken vpon him to appoint any publike or priuate Fasts â—ophesies or Exercises not approued by Law or publike authority or hath vsed to â—et in any priuate house or place with any person or persons there to consult how to â—peach or depraue the Booke of Common Prayer or the doctrine or discipline of the â—â—urch of England If yea then you shall present them all 17 Hath your Minister staied the publication of any excommunications or suspentiâ—s or doth he euery halfe yéere deuounce in his parish Church all such of his Parish 〈◊〉 are excommunicated and perseuere therein without séeking to be absolued or doth he â—â—ttingly and willingly kéepe company with such as are excommunicate And hath he â—mitted into your Church any person excommunicate without a certificate of his abâ—ution from the Ordinary or other competent Iudge 18 Doth your Minister carefully looke to the reliefe of the poore and from time to time call vpon his parishioners to giue somewhat as they can spare to godly and charitable vses especially when they make their Testaments 19 Whether your Minister or any hauing taken holy Orders being now silenced or suspended or any other person of your knowledge or as you haue heard hold any conuenticles or doth preach in any place or vse any other forme of diuine Seruice than is appointed in the Booke of Common prayer If yea then you are to present their names and with whom 20 Whether is your Curate licensed to serue by the Bishop of this Dioces or by any other and by whom 21 Doth your Minister vse such decency and comelinesse in his apparell as by the 47. Canon is enioyned is he of sober behauiour and one that doth not vse such bodily labour as is not seemely for his function and calling 22 Is your Minister noted or defamed to haue obtained his Benefice or his orders by Symonie or any other way defamed to be a Symoniacall person or any way noted to be a Schismaticke or schismatically affected or reputed to be an incontinent person or doth table or lodge any such in his house or is he a frequenter of Tauernes Innes or Ale-houses or any place suspected for ill rule Or is he a common Drunkard a common Gamester or player at Dice a Swearer or one that applieth himselfe not at his study or is otherwise offensiue and scandalous to his function or Ministery 23 Doth your Preacher or Lecturer reade Diuine Seruice before his Sermon or Lecture and Minister the Sacraments twice a yéere at least in his owne person according to the Canons 24 When any person hath béene dangerously sick in your Parish hath he neglected to visit him and when any haue béene parting out of this life hath he omitted to do his last duty in that behalfe 25 Doth your Minister Curate or Lecturer in his or their Sermons deliuer such doctrine as tends to obedience and the edifying of their auditory in faith and religion without intermedling with matters of State not fit to be handled in the pulpit but to be discussed by the wisdome of his Maiesty and his Councell And if you find any faulty herein you shall present them Schoole-Masters 1 DOth any in your Parish openly or priuately take vpon him to teach Schoole without license of the Ordinary and is be conformeable to the Religion now established And doth he bring his Schollers to the Church to heare diuine Seruice and Sermons And doth he instruct his Schollers in the grounds of the Religion now established in this Church of England and is he carefull and diligent to benefit his schollers in learning 2 Doth your Schoole-master teach and instruct his youth in any other Catechisme than is allowed by publike authority And what Catechisme it is that he so teacheth 3 Is any Liuing or meanes giuen towards the erection or maintenance of any Schoole with-holden back or otherwise impolyed and by whom 4 Doth any kéepe schoole in the Chancell or Church by which meanes that holy place and the Communion Table are many wayes profaned and the windowes broken Parish Clarke and Sextons 1 HAue you a fit Parish Clarke aged twenty yéeres at least of honest conuersation able to reade and write Whether are his and the Sextons wages paid without fraud according to the ancient custome of your parish if not then by whom are they so defrauded or denied by whom are they chosen and whether the said Clarke be approued by the Ordinary And hath he taken an Oath as in such cases is fit and required and is he diligent in his Office and seruiceable to the Minister and doth he take vpon him to meddle with any thing aboue his Office as Churching of Women burying the dead or such like 2 Doth your Clarke or Sexton kéep the Church cleane the doores locked at fit times is any thing lost or spoiled in the Church through his default Are the Communion Table Font Bookes and other Ornaments of the Church kept faire and cleane Doth he suffer any vnseasonable ringing or any prophane exercise in your Church Or doth he when any is passing out of this life neglect to toll a bell hauing notice thereof Concerning the Parishioners 1 WHether any of your Parishioners being sixtéene yéeres of age or vpwards or others lodging or commonly resorting to any house within your Parish do wilfully absent themselues from your parish Church vpon Sundayes and Holydayes at Morning and Euening prayers Or who come late to Church and depart from Church before seruice be done vpon the said dayes Or who doe not reuerently behaue themselues during the time of Diuine Seruice deuoutly knéeling when the generall confession of sins the Letany the tenne Commandements and all Prayers and Collects are read and vsing all due and lowly reuerence when the blessed name of the Lord Iesus Christ is mentioned and standing vp when the Articles of the Beliefe are read or who doe couer their heads in the Church