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
Iniunctions Geuen by the Quenes Maiestie Anno Domini 1.5.5.9 The first yere of the raigne of our soueraigne Lady Quene Elizabeth Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis R.I. OMNIA DESVPER Iniunctions geuen by the Quenes Maiestie aswell to the Clergie as to the laitie of this Realme THe Queenes moste Royall Maiestie by thaduise of her most honorable counsayle intendyng thaduauncement of the true honour of almyghtye God the suppression of supersticion through all her hyghnesse Realme and dominions and to plant true religion to thertirpation of al hipocrisie enormities and abuses as to her duetie apperteineth doth minister vnto her louing subiectes these Godly iniunctions hereafter folowyng All which Iniunctions her highnesse wylleth and commaundeth her louyng subiectes obediently to receaue and truely to obserue and kepe euery man in theyr offices degrees and states as they wyll auoyde her hyghnesse displeasure and the paynes of the same hereafter expressed THe first is that all Deanes Archedeacons Persons Vicars and all other ecclesiasticall persons shal faith fully kepe obserue and as farre as in them may lye shal cause to be obserued and kept of other all and singuler lawes statutes made for the restoring to the crowne the auncient iurisdiction ouer the state ecclesiasticall and abolyshyng of all forrayne power repugnaunt to the same And furthermore all ecclesiasticall persons hauing cure of soule shal to thuttermost of theyr wytte knowledge and learnyng purely sincerely and without anye colour or dissimulation declare manifest open foure tymes euery yere at the least in their Sermons and other collations that al vsurped and forraine power hauyng no establyshement nor grounde by the lawe of God is for moste iuste causes taken awaye and abolyshed And that therefore no maner of obedience or subiection within her highnesse Realmes and dominions is due vnto any such forrayne power And that the Quenes power within her Realmes and dominions is the hyghest power vnder God to whom all men within the same Realmes and dominions by Gods lawes owe moste loyaltie and obedience afore and aboue al other powers and potentates in earth Besydes this to thintent that all superstition and hypocrysye crepte into dyuers mennes heartes may vanyshe away they shall not sette foorth or extoll the dignitie of any Images Reliques or miracles but declaryng the abuse of the same they shall teache that all goodnesse health and grace ought to be both asked and loked for onely of God as of the verye aucthour and geuer of the same and of none other Item that they the persons aboue rehearsed shall preach in theyr Churches and euery other cure they haue one Sermon euery moneth of the yere at the least wherein they shall purelye and sincerely declare the worde of God and in the same exhorte theyr hearers to the workes of fayth as mercye and charitie specially prescrybed and commaūded in scripture and that workes deuysed by mans phantasies besydes scripture As wandryng of Pylgrimages settynge vp of Candels praying vpon bedes or such like superstition haue not onely no promyse of rewarde in scripture for doing of them but contrarywyse greate threatnynges and maledictions of God for that they be thynges tendyng to Idolatry and superstition which of al other offences God almyghty doth most detest and abhorre for that the same diminishe moste his honour and glory Item that they the persons aboue rehearsed shall preach in theyr owne persons once in euery quarter of the yere at the least one Sermon beyng licenced specially therunto as is specified hereafter or els shall reade some Homelye prescribed to be vsed by the Quenes aucthoritie euery Sundaye at the least vnlesse some other preacher sufficiētly lycensed as hereafter chaūce to come to the paryshe for the same purpose of preachyng Item that euery holy day through the yere when they haue no Sermon they shal immediatly after the Gospell openly and playnely resyte to theyr paryshioners in the Pulpitte the Pater noster the Crede and the ten commaundementes in Englyshe to thintent the people may learne the same by heart exhortyng all parentes and householders to teach their children and seruauntes the same as they are bound by the lawe of God and conscience to do Also that they shall prouide within three monethes next after this visitacion at the charges of the paryshe one booke of the whole Byble of the largest volume in Englishe And within one xii monethes next after the saide visitacion the Paraphrases of Erasmus also in Englyshe vpon the Gospels and the same set vp in some conuenient place within the sayde Churche that they haue cure of where as theyr paryshioners may most commodiously resort vnto the same and reade the same out of the tyme of common seruice The charges of the Paraphrases shal be by the person or proprietarie and paryshioners borne by equall portions And they shall discorage no man frō the readyng of any part of the Byble eyther in Latin or in Englyshe but shal rather exhorte euery person to reade the same with great humilitie and reuerence as the very lyuely worde of God and the speciall foode of mans soule whiche all Chrystian persons are bounde to embrace beleue and followe yf they looke to be saued Whereby they maye the better knowe theyr dueties to God to theyr Soueraigne Lady the Quene and their neyghbour euer gentely and charitably exhortyng them in her Maiesties name strayghtly chargynge and commaundyng them that in the readynge therof no man to reason or contende but quietly to heare the reader Also the sayde Ecclesiasticall persons shall in no wyse at any vnlawefull tyme nor for any other cause then for theyr honeste necessities haunt or resort to any Tauernes or Alehouses And after theyr meates they shal not geue them selues to drynkyng or ryot spendyng their time idelly by daye or by nyght at dyse cardes or tables playing or any other vnlawfull game But at al tymes as they shall haue leysure they shall heare or reade somewhat of holy scripture or shall occupye them selues with some other honest studye or exercyse and that they alwayes do the thynges whiche apperteyne to honestie and endeuour to profyte the common wealth hauyng alwayes in mynde that they ought to excell all other in puritie of lyfe and shoulde be examples to the people to lyue well and Christianly Also that they shall admitte no manne to preache within any theyr cures but suche as shall appeare vnto them to be sufficientlye lycensed thereunto by the Quenes Maiestie or the Archebyshoppe of Caunterburye or the Archebishoppe of Yorke in eyther theyr prouinces or the Byshoppe of the Diocese or by the Quenes Maiesties visitours and such as shall be so lycensed they shall gladlye receaue to declare the worde of God at conuenient tymes without any resystaunce or contradiction And that no other be suffred to preache out of his owne cure or paryshe than such as shal be licensed as is aboue expressed Also yf
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
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