Articles to be inquired of, by the Church-wardens and Sworne-men in the said visitation of the Lord Archbishop of Yorke. Anno Dom. 1623.
For the Clergie.
INprimis, Whether your Parson, Vicar, Curate, or Minister be a Preacher of Gods Word, and a maintainer and furtherer of Religion now established by publike authority within this Realme of England, or no?
Item 2 Whether hee doe in his Sermons, Lectures, & other exercises, moue the people to ioyne with him in Prayer for the Kings Maiestie, the Noble Prince Charles, Fredericke the Prince Elector Palatine, the Lady Elizabeth his wife, and their Royall issue; with addition of such stile and title as of right doth appertaine to his Maiestie, and whether any, since the 25. of September 1605. haue refused, or willingly omitted, or neglected so to doe?
Item 3 Whether he be a Preacher lawfully admitted, and by what authority? And whether your Minister or Churchwardens haue, since the time aforesaid, suffered any man to preach in your Church, but such as haue first shewed their licenses to preach, either from the Lord Archbishop of Yorke, or Bishop of the Diocesse, where hee dwelleth, or one of the Vniuersities, vnder their Seale?
Jtem 4 Whether he be painfull & diligent in preaching, as also in Catechizing the youth of your Parish, vpon Sundayes [Page 2] & Holydaies, according to his Maiesties late directions in that behalfe signified and registred in the Consistory office at Yorke? And how many Sermons hath your Parson, Vicar, or Minister preached in his owne Church within this yeere last past? And if he be not a Preacher, how many Sermons by his procurement or otherwise haue there been preached this last yeere, and by whom? And whether were they that preached the same, licenced or no, and by whome?
Jtem 5 Whether any lectures bee read, or Exercises vsed within your Parish, either publikely in the Church, or priuatly in any house by any not licensed as aforesaid: or being licenced, doe refuse to conforme themselues to the Lawes, Ordinances, and Rites Ecclesiasticall of the Church of England? And whether any such so reading or exercising, doe teach or professe any doctrine of Innouation, inclyning to Papistry, Brownism, or any other Heresie or Schismaticall error, whereby themselues or others may be drawne from their true obedience in causes Ecclesiasticall?
Item 6 Whether your Minister not being a Preacher, doe euery Sunday, when there is no Sermon, reade some part of the Homilies set forth and appointed by publike authority?
Item 7 Whether your Common Prayer and Sacraments be by your Minister in your Church or Chappell, distinctly and reuerently administred and read, as is prescribed in or by the booke of Common Prayer, without any innouation or omission, and at due and conuenient houres? And whether doth your Minister so celebrating the same, vsually weare the Surplesse whilest hee is saying the publike Prayers, and ministring the Sacraments? And if he be a graduate, whether doth he also vpon his Surplesse weare such a Hood, as is agreeable to his degree, and such decent apparell, as by the late Constitutions are appointed?
Item 8 Whether doth your Minister in the administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme, vse the signe of the Crosse, according to the Booke of Common Prayer? And whether hath hee deferred or refused to baptize any Infant being in [Page 3] danger of death, hauing notice of the weaknesse thereof? And whether in his default hath any dyed without Baptisme?
Item 9 Whether hath your Parson, Vicar or Curate admitted any to the holy Communion, or to be God-father or God-mother at Baptisme, being a person excōmunicate, any known or notorious offenders, any not instructed in the principles of Religion, or any to the Cōmunion which then were not of your Parish? And whether hath he so often and at such times administred the same, as euery Parishioner may receiue the same at the least euery yeere thrice, wherof once at Easter, as by the Booke of Common Prayer is appointed?
Jtem 10 Whether hath he admitted any excōmunicate person to be God-father or God-mother, or any which hath not receiued the holy Communion?
Item 11 Whether hath he churched any woman after the birth of her child begotten in Incest, Adultery, Fornication, or married any woman so begotten with child, without publike confession of their faults at their churching or marriages in the presence of the Congregation, vpon some Sabbath or Festiuall day at morning Prayer time, leauing their further punishment to the Ordinary, or other competent Iudge?
Jtem 12 Whether hath your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, since the 25. of Sept. 1605. celebrated Matrimony without licence granted by such as haue Episcopal authority, except the banes of Matrimony were formerly published three Sundaies or holydayes in the time of diuine seruice, in the Parish Church or Chappell where the said parties dwelt and at any other time then betweene the houres of eight and twelue of the clocke in the fore-noon, or in any other place, then in the Church or Chappell, where one of the parties dwelt? And whether without consent of Parents, or other Gouernours?
Item 13 Whether hath your Parson, Vicar or Curate, moe Benefices or Ecclesiasticall promotions then one, and what be their names, and where is he most resiant? And if hee haue more, how is hee qualified and dispensed withall to hold the same? And how doth he supply his absence, whether by a [Page 4] Curate or Minister licenced to preach, or not? And if he bee, then by whom is hee licenced? And what distribution doth he make thereby to the poore, where he is not resident?
Item 14 Whether doth your Minister or Curate serue any more Cures then one; and if so, then what other Cure doth he serue?
Item 15 Whether doth your Parson, Vicar or Curate, according to an act of Parliament in that behalfe made, call vpon and require the people of his Parish to solemnize and keepe holy the Fift day of Nouember, and that day to come to the Church to ioyne in Prayers and thanksgiuing for the happy deliuerance of his Maiesty, the Queene, Prince, and States of Parliament from the most traiterous and bloudy intended massare by Gunpowder? and whether doe the people of your parish accordingly repaire to the Church, or doe any refuse or neglect so to do? present their names & Sur-names.
Item 16 Whether doth he carefully visit the sicke of his Parish, by exhorting and ministring vnto them, as by the Booke of Common Prayer is appointed. And whether doth he attend the buriall of the dead, by meeting the Corpes at the Church-stile, and so accompany the same to the Church or Graue, saying or singing such places of Scripture as are appointed by the sayd Booke?
Jtem 17 Whether is your Minister suspected or defamed to haue obtained his Benefice by Symonie, or reputed to bee an incontinent person, or keepeth any woman in his house suspected of incontinency, or giuen to excessiue drinking; or a common gamester or player at Dice, or doth keepe or suffer to be kept any Ale-house in his parsonage, or Vicarage-house, or faulty in any other crime punishable by the Ecclesiasticall censures, whereby he is offensiue to his Ministerie and calling?
Item 18 Whether your Minister, Church-wardens and others, for the retaining of the circuit of your Parish by perambulations, as hath been prescribed, doe vse the same without superstition, or popish Ceremonie?
Item 19 Whether doth your Parson or Vicar maintaine and keepe in due reparations the mansion-houses and other Edifices belonging to their Ecclesiasticall liuings, without suffering them to fall into ruine and decay?
Jtem 20 Whether doth your Minister euery Sunday, according to the Booke of Common Prayer, make knowne to the people what Holydayes and fasting dayes are in the week following?
Item 21 Whether doth your Minister being a Preacher, offer quiet and temperate conference to Popish Recusants: and endeuour diligently to reclaime them from their errors? And whether they or any of them refuse such conference offered vnto them by your said Minister, or other Preacher, and what be their names and surnames?
Jtem 22 Whether any Bishop, Chancellor, Arch-deacon, Commissary, Officiall, or other Iudge or Officer Ecclesiasticall, for any composition, agreement or payment of any sum of money, haue suppressed and concealed the excommunication or other Ecclesiasticall censure, of or against any Popish recusant or other offender? And what summe of money or other consideration hath beene promised or receiued in that behalfe to your knowledge, or as you haue heard reported?
Jtem 23 Whether doth your Minister euery halfe yeere once denounce in your Parish, all such Parishioners as doe remaine excommunicate and seeke not to bee absolued? And how long hath any excommunicate person continued vnder the censure thereof, and admitted into the Church without a Certificate of his absolution from the Ordinary?
Item 24 Whether hath your Minister publikely in your Parish Church or Chappell once euery yeere read ouer the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall, agreed vpon by the Clergie of both Prouinces, Anno Domini 1603. according to his Maiesties commandement?
For the Laity.
ITem 25 Whether you haue in your Parish Church or Chappell all things necessary and requisite for Common Prayer, and administration of the Sacraments: As the Booke of Common Prayer with the new Kalender: The English Bible of the new Translation in the largest volume: Two Psalters: Two bookes of Homilies: A decent Baptistery or Font: A Table of the 10. Commandements: A conuenient seat for the Minister to read seruice in: A comely and decent Pulpit with Cloth and Cushion for the same: A comely Communion Table, with a faire linnen cloth to lay vpon the same, and some couering of silke, or other decent stuffe for the cleane keeping thereof: A fayre and comely Communion cup of siluer, with a siluer couer, such as may serue for ministration of the holy Communion: A decent large Surplesse with sleeues: A Chest or box for the poore: And the sayd booke of Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall?
Item 26 Whether the body of your Church and Chappell, with the Chancell be well and sufficiently repaired, and kept without prophanation or abuse any way? And if decayed or prophaned, through whose default? And whether your bels and stals in the same be well maintained, your Churchyard wel walled or fenced, and decently kept? and if the same in any part be decayed, through whose default?
Jtem 27 Whether any Almes-house, Hospitall, Schoole or Spittell within your Parish be well and godly vsed, according to the foundation and true intent of the Founders thereof? And whether any pension or stipend due to any of them be detained, and by whome?
Item 28 Whether the Baptistery or Font bee remoued from the vsuall place; or whether any persons leauing the vse thereof, doe baptize children in basons or other vessels not vsed in the Church, or whether any children be baptized or christened in priuate houses, otherwise then in cases of necessity, [Page 7] and by a lawfull Minister: and if yea, then whose children were they, and by whom were they baptized? And whether such so baptized, were afterwards brought to the Church for further manifestation and approbation thereof, according to the Booke of Common Prayer?
Item 29 Whether are there any person or persons inhabiting or soiourning within your Parish or Chappelrie, that be notorious Recusants, or which negligently or seldome come to your Church or Chappell, vpon Sabbaths or Festiual daies, and who be they, and what be their names and surnames, and with whō haue they soiourned, & how long haue they so continued, & of what estate, age, condition or degree they are of, & whether there be any within your said parish or chappelry, aboue the age of 16. yeeres which doe not yeerely communicate thrise at the least, wherof once at Easter, & who be they?
Item 30 Whether are there any resiant within our parish, who haue beene conuicted of Recusancie, which haue conformed themselues, & not receiued the Sacrament of the Lords Supper within one whole yeere after the conformitie, and for how many yeeres haue they not receiued the same, and what be their names and surnames?
Jtem 31 Whether are there within your parish any Popish Recusants, of bold, insolent, & offensiue behauiour, which presume to seduce and withdraw others, either in or of their owne families or elsewhere, from the true Religion now established, or from due obedience to his Maiestie; or which make speciall choise of Recusants to be their seruants?
Jtem 32 Whether doe your Minister, Church-wardens, Quest-men and Assistants yeerely within fortie daies after Easter exhibite to the Bishop or his Chancellour, according to the 112. Canon, the names and surnames of all the Parishioners as well men as women, which being of the age of 16. yeeres, receiued not the Communion at Easter before.
Item 33 Whether the youth of your parish do diligently repaire to your Church or Chappell vpon Sabbaths, and Holydaies to be Catechized. And if not in whose default, Canō 59.
Item 34 Whether any doe go out of the Church or Chappell, or doe vse talking, walking, or sleeping, or any other vnseemely offence, or other vnreuerend behauiour in the time of publike Prayer, Preaching, celebration of the Sacrament, or catechizing? and who are they?
Item 35 Whether there bee any which priuately or publikely by speech, or otherwise depraue any part of the true Religion established within this Realme, or the Ministers or Professors thereof: or whether any Lectures, conuenticles, or priuate exercises be read or vsed within your Parish either in the Church, or in any house? And whether any such Reader doe teach any doctrine of Innouation, to with-draw the people from their due obedience to the ordinances of the Church set forth by publike authoritie, or to cause them to forbeare to participate in Prayers, or Sacraments with our Church?
Jtem 36 Whether haue you any Schoole-master, who teacheth either publikely or priuately within your said Parish or Chappelrie, not being lawfully licensed thereunto by writing vnder seale, and how long hath he there taught? And whether doth he teach the Booke intituled, God and the King, according to his Maiesties Proclamation?
Jtem 37 Whether any within your Parish or Chappelry doe suffer to eat, drinke, play, iangle, or talke in their house or yard? Or any Butcher or Trades-man their shop-windowes to be kept open to sell meate, drinke, or wares on Sundaies in time of morning and euening Prayers, Sermons, Lectures, or Catechizing: or any that labour or worke on the Sabbaths, or other commanded Festiuall daies, to the hinderance of Prayers, Sermons, or other godly exercises?
Item 38 Whether any within your Parish doe chide, brawle, quarrell, or fight within your Church or Church-yard, what are their names and surnames, and who bee the same? And whether any of them haue drawne any weapon there, with purpose to strike with the same?
Jtem 39 Whether are there within your said parish or [Page 9] chappelrie, any Rush-bearing, Bull-baitings, Beare-baitings, May-games, Morice-dances Ailes, or any such like prophane pastimes or assemblies on the Sabbath, to the hinderance of Prayers, Sermons, or other go [...]ly exercises?
Item 40 Whether there be any within your parish of turbulent conuersation behauing themselues rudely or disorderly in your Church or Chappell, or which by vntimely ringing of Bells, by walking, talking, or otherwise haue hindered the Minister or Preacher?
Item 41 Whether bee there any within your parish or chappelrie, that vse to ring the Bells superstitiously vpon any abrogated Holy-daies, or the Eauens thereof? And whether is the Passing Bell tolled when any Christian bodie is sicke and like to die, as it ought to be? And after the death of any, whether there be any superstitious ringing, superstitious burning of candles ouer the corse in the day time, after it bee light: Or praying for the dead at crosses, or places where crosses haue beene, in the way to the Church, or any other superstitious vse of crosses, with towels, palmes metwands, or other memories of Idolatries at burialls, or superstitiously doe goe on Pilgrimages, or any places dedicated to our Lady, or any Saints, or otherwise?
Item 42 Whether are you prouided of a Parchment Booke, in which haue beene and are written the names of all children, men, and women baptized, married, or buried within your parish contained in your former Register Booke, and since the beginning of the Reigne of the late Queene Elizabeth? And whether the day and yeere of euery christning, wedding, and buriall, which haue beene in your parish, hath beene duely written in the booke? And whether you haue a sure coffer, with three lockes and keyes for the safe custodie thereof? And whether are the names of all such so christned, married, or buried, transmitted yeerely within this Diocesse, to the Lord Arch-bishop or his Chancellor, to be preserued in the Registrie of the said Lord Arch-bishop, according to the seuentieth Canon and Constitution Ecclesiasticall?
Item 43 Whether is there placed by your Register, two tables, containing the seuerall rates and sums of all fees due to the Iudge and other Officers of your Court, one in the vsual place or Consistorie where the Court is kept, and the other in his Regestrie in such sort, as euery man may come to view the same without difficultie? And whether your Chancellour, Arch-deacon, or any other Officer or Minister, doe exact or extort any greater fees or sums of money, then in the said Tables are contained and if so, let the same be expressed?
Item 44 Whether are there, or haue beene since his Maiesties most happy reigne ouer this Kingdome, within your Parish or Chappelrie any incestuous persons, adulterers or fornicators? Or since the 25. of September 1605. any Vsurers, Drunkards, Swearers, or any other who are vehemently suspected or defamed of any such crime, and who be they?
Jtem 45 Whether within your Parish or Chappelrie are there, or haue beene since his Maiesties so happie reigne, any persons hauing two wiues, or any women two husbands, or any married within the degrees forbidden, or without Banes three seuerall Sundayes or Holidaies first published, without lawfull licence thereunto by such as haue Episcopall authoritie, or any who haue had carnall knowledge together before their marriage, or that are vehemently suspected thereof, and who they be?
Jtē, 46 Whether any within your Parish or Chappelry, not being licenced or dispenced withall, as aforesaid, haue beene married within the time by law prohibited, that is to say, betweene Aduent Sunday, and the 13. day of Ianuary, being Hillarie day, or betweene Septuagesima Sunday, and the Sunday next after Easter, or betweene the Sunday next before the Ascension day, and Trinitie Sunday next ensuing? let their names be expressed, as well of the Minister so marrying any, as of the parties so married.
Jtem 47 Whether haue any beene priuately married together within your Parish, by any vnknowne Priest or Minister, or any who haue not procured their children to bee publikely [Page 11] baptized in your said Church or Chappel, according to Booke of Common Prayer, and who they be?
Jtem 48 Whether any within your Parish or Chappelry haue harboured any women begotten with child forth of lawfull Matrimony, & haue suffered them to depart away vnpunished? Or any who do harbor or relieue any obstinate Recusants or excommunicated persons, and what, and how many Recusants or persons excommunicate bee there within your said Parish or Chappelrie, and how long haue they so remained, and for what causes they were so excommunicate?
Item 49 Whether any of your Parish doe refuse to contribute towards the reparations of your Church or Chappel, or towards the prouision of any necessary ornaments therein, or that refuse to pay your Curate or Parish Clerke his wages, or other vsuall duties, and who they be?
Item 50 Whether the Church-wardens and Side-men be chosen according to the 89. and 90. Canons; and during their time, haue faithfully and dutifully discharged their office, and at or before their going out of the same, made a iust account of their receits and proceedings to the vse of the Church? And whether any part of your Church stocke, or any other thing giuen to any godly publike vse be deliuered to any, or otherwise imployed, then appertaineth?
Item 51 Whether your Parish Clerke be dutifull and diligent in attending the Minister, and of sufficiency to discharge his place or not?
Item 52 Whether any within your Parish or Chappelrie, doe occupy or intermeddle with the goods or cattels of any deceased person whatsoeuer, whose wil, if any such be not lawfully approued, or dying Intestate, the Administration thereof not lawfully granted, and who they be?
Jtem 53 Whether your Arch-deacon, his Officiall or Depie, or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction, within this Diocesse in places exempt or not exempt, other then the Chancellor of the said Diocesse, especially since the 25. of September 1605. haue taken vpon them to grant any [Page 12] licence for marriages within your parish? And how many licenses haue beene so granted, and what be the names of them that haue beene married by vertue of any such licence, and by what Minister haue the same beene celebrated?
Item 54 Whether the said Arch-deacon or others, as aforesaid, haue since the 25. day of September 1605. censured, or absolued any person or persons, which haue by law incurred the sentence of Excommunication ipso facto, either for solemnizing or being present at any marriages, the banes not asked, nor any lawfull licence obtained, or for fighting, quarrelling, or brawling, or drawing any weapon with purpose to strike in any Church or Church-yard?
Item 55 Whether the said Arch-deacon or others, as aforesaid, haue since the said 25. day of September 1605. granted any admissions for Curates, licences for Schoole-masters or Parish Clerkes, sequestrations of vacant Benefices, by their supposed authoritie, and how many, and to whom, and what be their names?
Jtem 56 Whether haue they, or any of them, commuted any corporall punishment for any sum of money, and what be their names whose punishment haue beene commuted, for what offence, by whom, and for what summe of money, and how hath the said money beene imployed?
57 And lastly, Whether is there within your said Parish or Chappelrie, any offendour or offendours in any other crime against the said Canons and Constitutions, and other Lawes Ecclesiasticall, not expresly contained in any of these Articles, whose reformation may bee had by Ecclesiasticall authoritie, and who, and what the same are?