Concerning the Church.

1 IMprimis Whether have you in your severall Churches and Chappells, a faire great Bible of the last Transla­tion, the Bookes of Common Prayer and Homilies, the Booke of Constitutions or Cannons Ecclesiasti­call, and a parchment Register booke, provided for Christnings, Marriages and Burialls, duely and exactly kept accor­ding to the constitutions in that case provided; and a transcript thereof brought in yearely within one moneth after Easter, in the Lord Bi­shops principall Register his Office?

2. Item have you a cenvenient seate for the Minister to reade Ser­vice in, together with a comely Pulpit, set up in a convenient place, with a decent Cloth or Cushion for the same; a comely large surplesse; A Font of stone in the ancient usuall place; a convenient and decent Communion Table, with a carpet of silke, or some other decent stuff [...] layed upon the same in time of Divine Service, and a faire linnen cloth thereon at the Communion time; a faire Communion Cup with a cover both of silver, with all other things and Ornaments necessary for the celebration of Divine Service, and administration of the Sa­craments; and a strong chest for kéeping of the Ornaments of the Church & Register book, with another chest for the almes of the poore, both having thrée lockes and keyes? Have you the ten Commande­ments set upon the East end of your Church or Chappell, where the people may best sée and read them, and other sentences of holy Scrip­tures written on the wals for the same purpose; A Table of the degrées, wherein by law men are prohibited to marry, set up and fastned in some convenient place?

3. Whether is your Church or Chappell with the Chancles thereof, and your Parsonage or Vicarage house, and all other housing thereto belonging, in good reparations, and decently and comely kept, as [Page] well within as without, the seates well maintained, your Church-yards well fenced and kept entire from encroachment and without a­buse? If not, then through whose default?

4 Are any of your Bells or other Church-goods wanting, any glasse windowes defaced, or ancient Monuments of your Church spoyled, and by whose fault?

5. Have the Church-wardens there suffered any playes, feasts, banquets, Church-ales, drinkings, or any other profane usages to be kept in your Church, Chappell, or Church-yard, or bells to be rung either unseasonably or superstitiously, contrary to the 88 Cannon?

6. Is there a true Terriar of all the glebe-land, houses, Tene­ments, Orchards, Gardens, and portions of Tythes (whether within your Parish or without) belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage, delivered into the Office of the Register of this Diocesse?

Concerning the Clergie.

FIrst, Whether doth your Minister distinctly and reverently reade Divine Service upon Sundayes, Holydayes and their Eeves, up­on Wednesdaies, also and Fridaies according to the booke of Common Prayer at fit and usuall times? And doth he duly observe all the or­ders, rites and ceremonies prescribed in the said Booke of Common Prayer, as well in reading publicke Prayers, and the Letany, as also in administring the Sacraments, solemnizing of Matrimony, visiting the sicke, burying the dead, Churching of women, and all other like Rites and Offices of the Church, in such manner and forme as by the booke of Common Prayer is enjoyned without any omission or additi­on thereunto?

2 Doth your Minister administer the holy Communion so often and at such times, as that every Parishioner may receive the same at the least thrice in every yéere, whereof once at Easter? And doth he re­ceive the same himselfe on every day that he administreth so others? And doth he deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant seve­rally and knéeling, and use the words of institution according to the Booke, at every time that the Bread and Wine is renewed, Can. 21? And is warning given by him before hand for the Communion, Can. 22: as likewise for Holydayes and Fasting dayes, Can. 64?

3. Whether hath your Minister admitted to the holy Communion any strangers of another Parish, any scismatickes, any which be open­ly knowne to live in sinne without repentance, or have maliciously and openly contended with their neighbours before reconcilement, or lastly [Page] any Church-wardens that in their presentments have notoriously and wilfully forsworne themselves? Or hath your Minister rejected from the Communion any without such just cases?

4. Hath your Minister Curate, or Lecturer publickely or privately affirmed or maintained any thing repugnant, contrary or derogatory to the 39 Articles, Canons of the Church, Bookes of Common Pray­er, Homilies or consecrating of Bishops and Priests, or the forme of Government by Bishops and others in this Church of England?

5. Hath your Parish beene any time destitute of a Curate? and by whose default? And is your Parson or Vicar continually resident with you upon his Benefice? or if he be lawfully absent or reside upon ano­ther Benefice, doth he supply his absence by a Curate that is a licensed Preacher for that cure; or if the smalnesse of the Living will not beare a Preaching Curate, doth he Preach himselfe usually at both his Be­nefices, Can. 47?

6. Whether is your Minister a Preacher allowed? if so, doth hée Preach every Sunday (having no lawfull impediment) either in his owne cure with you, or some other néere adjoyning where no Preacher is? If he be not an allowed Preacher, doth he procure Sermons to be preached amongst you monethly at least by Preachers lawfully licen­sed, if his Living will beare it: and on every Sunday when there is no Sermon Preached, doth he read some one of the Homilies prescri­bed by authority?

7 Doth your Minister or Curate serve more Cures than one? If so, what are they, and how farre distant? And whether being no Prea­cher allowed he take upon him to expound the Scriptures openly?

8. Hath any person béene admitted to Preach within your Church or Chappell, but such as you have well knowne to be sufficiently licen­sed? whom have you so admitted, and how often have any such béene admitted to preach, and by whose procurement? And have you caused every strange Preacher, licensed or not licensed, to subscribe his name, together with the day when he Preached, Can. 50 and 52? And if he were licensed, then by whom he was so licensed? And whe­ther have they or any other preached in your Church, not being sober­ly and decently apparelled, Can. 74. as in a cloake and not in a gowne?

9. Doth you Minister and Lecturer use to pray before his Ser­mons for the Kings Majestie, the Quéene, Prince Charles and all the Royall Progeny, giving unto the King such Style and Titles as by law are due unto his Highnesse, exhorting his Parishioners to yéeld him obedience accordingly? And also in these sayd Sermons doe they pray [Page] for all Arch-bishops, Bishops, and other Ecclesiasticall persons, Can. 55?

10. Doth your Lecturer or Lecturers, reade Divine Service accor­ding to the Common Prayer Booke in his Surplice and Hood before the Lecture? And doth every Beneficed man, though chiefly attending to Preach, and having a Curate under him for other duties, yet in his owne person reade divine Service two severall Sundaies both mor­ning and evening every yeere: And doe both Lecturer and Preacher themselves administer the Sacraments also twice every yeere, obser­ving all the ceremonies in the booke of Common Prayer established, Can. 56?

11. Whether doth your Minister at the reading of publicke Pray­ers and administration of the Sacraments weare the Surplice, and a Hood thereon agreeable to his degree in the Vniversity, if he be a gra­duate? Can. 58.

12. Doth you Minister every Sunday and Holyday, before eve­ning Prayer, for halfe an houre or more, examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of the Parish, in the ten Commandements, the Articles of the Beleefe, the Lords Prayer, and the Sacraments according to the Catechisme set forth in the booke of Common Prayer onely, whereby the children of the Parish may be prepared for Confir­mation? Can. 59. And are the afternoones Sermons turned into Catechizing by question and answere?

13 Whether hath your Minister without licence from the Arch-bi­shop, the Bishop of the Diocesse or his Chancellor, solemnized marri­age betwixt any parties in a time prohibited, or the banes not being three severall Sundaies or Holy dayes first published in time of Di­vine service, in the severall Churches or Chappels of their severall abode, Can. 62? or hath he married any not betwixt the houres of eight and twelve in the forenoone, or without a ring, or the parties being of another Diocesse, or when the parties are under the age of one and twenty yeeres before such time as the Parents or Guardians have m [...]de knowne unto him their consent thereunto Can. 100?

14. Whether doth your Minister in the Rogation dayes use the per­ambulation of the circuit of the Parish, according to the ancient and laudable custome of the Church: and in the same perambulation blesse the fru [...]tes of the earth, and move the people to give thankes to God for his benefits using such Psalmes, Prayers and Homilies, as are to that end set forth?

15. Whether doth any man being not in orders take upon him to [Page] exercise any part of the Ministeriall duty in the Church? and what is his name?

16. Doth your Minister, every sixe moneths denounce in his Pa­rish-Church, all such of his Parish, as doe stand contumacious under the sentence of excommunication, not séeking to be absolved? Or hath he admitted any person excommunicate into the Church, without a certificate of his absolution from the Ordinary, or other competent Iudge under his Seale? or hath he stayed the publication of any ex­communications, or suspensions?

17. Doth your Minister, being a Preacher, labour diligently from time to time, to conferre with, and thereby to reclaime, the Popish Recusants in his Parish, from their errors, if any such be there. Can. 66? And doth he carefully visite the sicke, according to Can. 67?

18. Whether is your Parson, Vicar, Lecturer, or Curate, too much frequent, or over conversant with, or a Favourer of Recusants, where­by he may be suspected not to be sincere in Religion?

19. Hath your Minister, or any other, taking upon him the place of a Minister, Preached, Baptized Children, Solemnized Marriage, Churched any woman, or Ministred the holy Communion, in any pri­vate house or houses, otherwise then by Law is allowed? If yea, then where, whom, and how often?

20. Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any publicke or private fasts, prophesies, or exercises, not approved by law, or publicke Authority? Or hath he attempted under any pretence either of possessi­on, or obsession, by fasting and prayer, to cast out devils, Can. 72? Or hath he used to meete with any other person or persons in any private house or any other place, there to consult how to impeach or [...]eprave the Booke of Common Praier, or the Doctrine, or Discipline of the Church of England, Can. 73? If yea, then ye shall present him, and all that ioyne with him, in any of the premisses.

21. Whether hath your Minister refused, or delayed to Christen any Child that is brought to the Church to him upon Sundaies or Ho­lidayes, or to bury the dead, such as ought to be interred in Christian buriall, having convenient warning before? Especially whether hee hath neglected to baptize any Infant in da [...]ger, having béene duly in­formed of his weakenesse, so that the child hath dyed by his default, without Baptisme? Or hath he neglected to use the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme; or baptized any in a Bason, or other vessell, and not in the ordinary Font; or admitted any Father, to be God-father to his owne child, or such to be God-fathers, or God-mothers, as have not re­ceived [Page] the holy Communion? Or hath he baptized any children that were not borne in the Parish, or buryed any in Christian buriall, that dyed excommunicate, or wilfully destroyed himselfe?

22. Hath your Minister, admitted any woman to be Churched, that was begotten with childe in adultery, or fornication, without licence of his Ordinary?

23. Whether doth your Minister use such decency, and comlinesse in his apparell, as by the 74 Can. is enioyned him, as well at home as abroad? And is he of sober behaviour, and one that doth not use such bodily labour as is not séemely for his Function and calling?

24. Is your Minister noted, or defamed to have obtained his Be­nefice, or his Orders by Simonye, or otherwise to be Simoniacall, or scismaticall, or reputed to be an incontinent person, or doth he kéepe a­ny man or woman in his house, that are suspected to be either of evill Religion, or bad life? Or is he a common drunkard, or a common haun­ter of Tavernes, Alehouses, or other suspected places; a common game­ster, or player at dice, or other unlawfull game, a common swearer, or one that neglecteth his study, or is any other way notorious, whereby he is offensive and scandalous to his Function or Ministry?

25. Doe you know in your Parish, any that having heretofore taken upon him the Order of Priesthood, or Deacon, hath since relinquished the same, living as a Lay man, and neglecting his Vocation?

26. Whether hath your Minister, Curate, and Lecturer, duly ob­served the Kings Maiesties Instructions, and his Declaration for set­ling of Questions in difference, set before the Articles of Religion Printed 1629? And hath your Minister read the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall, once every yeare upon some Sundayes or Ho­lidaies in the afternoone before divine Service?

Concerning Schoolemasters.

1 HOw many Schoolemasters, or Teachers, of Youth have you in your Parish, either publicke or private, and what be their se­verall names? Whether be they of good and sincere Religion, life and conversation, and diligent in teaching and bringing up of Youth; Have they béene licensed for Schoolemasters, by the Ordinary?

2. Whether your Schoolemasters doe come themselves, and bring their Scholers to the Church, to heare divine Service and Sermons, and such as are of age to receive the Communion? Doe they instruct their Scholers in the grounds of the Religion now established in this Church of England, and no other; or doe they teach them any other [Page] Catechisme than is authorized by publicke authority, or not examine them therein once every wéeke at the least? And what Catechisme is it they doe so teach?

3. Whether your Schoolemaster or Schoolemasters doe teach his or their Scholers any other Grammer than that which is called the Kings Grammer, set forth by the authority of King Henry the eighth, teaching the Prescript forme thereof, whereby the Scholers may per­fectly understand their Grammar rules and constructions?

Parish Clarkes and Sextons.

1 VVHether have you a fit Parish Clarke, aged twenty yeares at least, of honest conversation, able to reade and write? And whether he and the Sexton be payd their wages without fraud, accor­ding to the ancient custome of your Parish? if not, then by whom is it so defrauded and denied? by whom are they chosen? Is the Clarke approved by the Ordinary, diligent in his Office, and serviceable to the Minister? And doth he meddle with nothing above his place, as Rea­ding of Prayers, Churching of women, burying the dead, or such like?

2 Doth your Clarke or Sexton kéepe the Church cleane, the doores lock't at fit times? Is any thing lost or spoyled 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 unseasonable ringing or any profane exercise in your Church or Chan­cell? or doth he (when any is passing out of this life) neglect to toll a hell having notice thereof?

Concerning the Parishoners.

1 VVHether is there any within your Parish that hath or doth impugne or impeach any way the Kings Maiesties Supre­macy in causes Ecclesiasticall, or the oath of Supremacy or of Allegi­ance? or that denieth the Church of England by law established under the Kings most excellent Majesty to be a true & Apostolicall Church, teaching and maintaining the doctrine of the Apostles? or that impug­neth and speaketh against the Booke of Common Prayer, any of the Articles of Religion agreed upon in Anno 1562, or the Rites and cere­monies established in the Church of England or the lawfull use of them, or the government of the Church of England by Arch-bishops, Bishops, Archdeacons and the rest that beare office in the same, affirming the same to be Antichristian or repugnant to Gods Word; or lastly that [Page] doth impugne the forme of consecrating and ordaining of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, affirming that the same is repugnant to the Word of God, or that they who are so ordered, are not lawfully made?

2 Is there any in your parish that doth hold or frequent any Conven­ticles or private congregations, or make or maintaine any private or­ders or constitutions agreed upon in any such private assemblies, other than are in the Cannons set forth by publicke authority? Or have you any Schismatickes that separate themselves from the Church of England, or any that maintaine Scismatickes?

3. Whether any of your Parish have profaned the Lords day com­monly called Sunday, or other Holydayes by working or labouring in their manuall trades, by selling, or buying, or kéeping open their shops for sale of wares, by lurking and tippling in Tavernes or Alehouses, especially in the time of Divine Service? And whether any Inne-kéepers, Alehouse-kéepers, Victualers or others permit any person or persons in their houses, to eate, drinke or play, in the time of Common Prayer or Sermon, on Sundayes or Holydaies?

4 Whether any of your Parish disturbe, let or discourage others from lawfull sports and recreations upon the Lords day, so farre as they are allowed by the Kings declaration in that behalfe? Or doe any of your Parish abuse that liberty allowed them, by using unlawfull sports, as Beare-bayting, Bull-bayting, Interludes or Bowling upon the Lords day; or by using lawfull recreations before the end of all Di­vine Services for that day, or having absented themselves from the same?

5 Whether any of your Parish being sixtéene yéeres of age or up­wards, or others lodging or commonly resorting to any house within your Parish, have wilfully absented themselves from your Parish Church upon Sundayes or Holidayes at Morning or Evening prayers or came late to Church, or departed out of Church before the end of Service and Sermon without some great cause? Or have any beha­ved themselves irreverently during the time of divine Service, cove­ring their heads, or not knéeling when the generall confession, Let any and other Prayers are read, and standing up at the Beleefe, or not do­ing lowly reverence at the name of our Lord Iesus, or talking, wal­king sléeping or any other way busying themselves in the Church then in quiet attendance unto Gods Service? Or have any disturbed the Minister either praying or preaching by word or déede?

6 Whether any of your Parish being siixtéene yéeres old and up­wards [Page] have not received the holy Communion in your Church thrice this last yéere, whereof once at Easter, and that knéeling? And who are they?

7. Is there any in your Parish that refuse to have their children Baptized, or themselves to receive the Communion at the hands of your Minister, for some exceptions against him? And what excepti­ons doe they alledge? And doe any of or in your Parish refuse to have their children Baptized in your Parish Church, according to the forme prescribed in the booke of Common Prayer?

8 Whether any of your Parishioners being warned thereof, have not sent their children, servants, and apprentices to the Catechisme upon Sundayes and Holydayes before evening Prayer, to heare, and to be instructed therein? you shall present their names.

9. How many Inhabitants within your Parish men or women, above the age of 16 yéeres doe refuse to frequent Divine Service esta­blished by publicke authority of this Realme, or to receive the holy Communion? present their names, and of what degrée, state, or trade of life they are.

10 Doe any of the Inhabitants of your sayd Parish entertaine within their house any sojourners, lodgers, or any common resorters and guests, who refuse to frequent Divine Service, or receive the ho­ly Communion as aforesayd? What be their names? of what quality or condition are they?

11. Whether any of the said Popish Recusants, or other Sectaries, are of insolent behaviour, or doe boldly busy themselves, in seducing, and withdrawing of others?

12. How long the said Recusants, have abstained either from Di­vine Service, or from the Communion, as aforesaid: And if any of them have lately reformed themselves, what be their names?

13. What persons within your Parish, either for the offence afore­said, or for any other contumacy or crime, doe remaine excommuni­cated? What be their names, and for what cause, and how long have they stood excommunicated, and what person or persons doe wittingly, and usually kéepe them company?

14. Have any in your Parish married within the degrées forbidden by law? Where and by whom? Or doth any couple married lawful­ly, now live apart, without due separation by the Law: or any here­tofore divorced, kéepe company with any other at bed or board as man and wife?

15. Whether have you any in your Parish, to your knowledge or by [Page] common fame and report, which have committed adultery, fornica­tion, or incest, or any Bawds, harbourers or receivers of such persons? Or which are by common same, reputed for common drunkards, blas­phemers of Gods holy name, common swearers, filthy speakers, ray­lers, slanderers, sowers of discord among their neighbours, or speakers against Ministers, Marriages, Vsurers, contrary to the Statute made in the two and twentieth yeare of our late Soveraine King Iames. Si­moniacall persons, or periured in any Court Ecclesiasticall, or any that use Inchantments, Sorceries, Charmes, or Witch-crafts (which are not made felony by the Statutes of this Realme) or any that seeke to such for helpe? You shall not faile to present them all.

16. Have any in your Parish, harboured any woman with childe unmarried, conveying, or suffering her againe to depart without due pennance? You shall truely present, as well the party harbouring, as harboured, and who is suspected to hau [...]e committed the incontinency with her: Or is any, heretofore suspected or detected of incontinency, and therefore departing out of your Parish, returned now againe? Or in what place else is he or shée now abiding to your knowledge, or at you have heard? You shall not faile to present the whole truth in that behalfe.

17. Be there any in your Parish, that retaine, or sell, utter, disperse, carry, or deliver to others, any English Bookes, or Writings, either of Papists, or Sectaries touching, and against the Religion, State, or Government Ecclesiasticall of this Realme, or kéepe any monuments of superstition uncancelled, or undefaced?

18. Whether any of your Parishoners, have usually gone to heare Prayers, or Sermons, in other Churches? Or have they communi­cated or baptized their children in any other Parish, or brought strange Ministers into their owne houses, to baptize their children privately, according to their owne fantasies?

19. Hath any of your Parish, behaved himselfe irreverently, in word or déed, towards your Minister or his Vocation, by quarrelling, stri­king, slanderous spéeches, or libels? Or hath any offered violence, or quarrelled with any other in the Church or Churchyard; or used him­selfe disorderly in the Church, by filthy or profane talke, or any other rude or immodest behaviour?

20. Whether hath your Minister, or any else of your Parish, with­out the privily and consent of the Ordinary, caused any to doe penance, or be punished, either openly or otherwise for any crime punishable, by Ecclesiasticall lawes only? And what be the names of the parties, that [Page] have punished, and have béene so punished; in what maner, and for what cause?

21. Be there any in your Parish, who will come to heare the Ser­mon, but not to the publicke Prayers, according to the Booke, making a scisme, or division as it were betwéene the use of publicke Prayer and Preaching?

22. Doe any Women of your Parish, after Child-birth, refuse to come to the Church, to give God thankes for their safe delivery, ac­cording to the Booke of Common Prayer? Or do any neglect to kéepe the fasting daies, appointed by the lawes:

23. Whether have you knowne or heard of any Fidlers, or Min­strels, or any which goe under the name of Musitians, within this Dio­cesse, that either at Weddings, Churchings, or any other Feasts, or meetings, have sung or use to sing any songs, ballads or rimes, tending to the disgrace of Religion, or the Ministers thereof; or tending to pro­fanenesse, or the corruption of good manners? You shall truely present the names of such if you know or can learne them; as also the names of the housholder, or housholders, where they have sung such songs, as also the particular names of them, before whom they have sung them?

24 Whether doe the Surveiers of your high wayes looke diligently to the mending of the Church-wayes; that the Parishioners may conveni­ently come to Church from all places of the Parish in Winter time?

Concerning the Churchwardens and Sidemen.

1 VVHether doe yée the Churchwardens and Sidemen from time to time take care that no idle persons or loyterers a­bide either in the Churchyard or Church porch in Service or Sermon time but cause them either to come into the Church to heare Divine Service, or to depart and not disturbe such as be hearers there? And doe ye take care that the Parishioners duely resort to the Church every Sunday and Holyday, and there so remaine during Divine Service and Sermon? And that none be tippling or drinking in any Ale-house, Inne, Taverne, or Victualling house of your Parish during the times aforesayd, as farre as you are able to hinder it?

2 Doe ye assist your Minister diligently in bringing the youth of your Parish to Catechizing; in the Perambulation the Rogation dayes, and such other things as send to the furtherance and advance­ment of Gods Service: especially in taking diligent héede and care that [Page] [...], or somtyme [...]?

5. Doth any man trouble or molest you for doing your duties?

6. If you know of any other matter of Ecclesiasticall cognizance, worthy presentment in your iudgement above not expressed, you shall likewise present the same by vertue of your oath.