Concerning the Church, the Ornaments thereof, and the Churches Possessions.
IMprimis, Whether have you in your several Churches, and Chappels, the whole Bible of the largest volume, and newest Translation, and the Book of Common-Prayer, lately set forth by Act of Parliament, both fairly and substantially bound. A font of stone, set up in the antient usual place: A convenient and decent Communion Table, with a Carpet of silk, or some other decent stuff, continually laid upon the same at time of Divine Service, and a fair linnen cloth thereon, at the time of receiving of the holy Communion. And whether is the same Table placed in such convenient sort within the Chancel or Church, as that the Minister may be best heard in his Prayer and Administration: and that the greatest number may communicate? And whether it is so used out of time of Divine Service, as is not agréeable to the holy use of it, as by sitting on it, throwing hats on it, writing on it, or is it abused to other prophaner uses: and are the ten Commandments set upon the East-end of your Church or Chappel, where the people may best see and read them, and other sentences of holy Scripture, written on the walls likewise for that purpose?
2. Whether you have in your said Church or Chappel, a convenient seat for your Minister to read Service in, together with a compleat Pulpit set up in a convenient place, with a decent cloth or cushion for the same, a comely large Surplice, a fair Communion-cup, with a Flagon of Silver, Tinn or Pewter, to put the Wine in, whereby it may be set upon the Communion Table, at the time of the blessing thereof, with all other things and ornaments necessary for the celebration of Divine Service, and administration of the Sacraments? And whether have you a strong Chest for Almes for the poor, with thrée Locks and Keyes, and another Chest for keeping the Books and Ornaments of the Church, and the Register Book? And whether have you a Register Book in Parchment, for Christnings, Weddings, and Burials, and whether the same be kept in all points according to the Canons in that behalf provided? And is the Mothers Christian name therein Registred as well as the Fathers, and a transcript thereof brought in yearly, within one month after the 25. of March unto the Lord Arch-bishop, or Bishop of the Diocess his principal Register? And whether have you in your Church or Chappel, a Table set, of the degrées wherein by Law men are prohibited to marry?
3. Whether are your Church and Chappels, with the Chancells thereof, [Page] and your Parsonage or Vicarage-house, your Almes-house and Church-house in good reparations: and are they imployed to godly, and their right holy uses: Is you Church, Chancel, and Chappel decently and comely kept, as well within as without, and the seats well maintained, according to the 85. Canon in that behalf provided? Or have any Patrons or others decayed the Parsonage houses, or kéep a stipendary Priest or Curate, in place where an Incumbent should be possessed? Whether is your Church-yard well fenced with walls, railes, or pales, and by whom? and if not, in whose default the same is, and what the defect or fault is? And whether any persons incroached upon the Ground of the Church-yard, or whether any person or persons, have used any thing or place consecrated to holy use, prophanely or wickedly?
4. Is your Church or Chappel decently paved, and is your Church-yard well and orderly kept without abuse? Are the bones of the dead decently interred, or laid up in some fit place as beséemeth Christians? And is the whole consecrated ground kept from Swine, and all other nastiness, as becometh the place so dedicated?
5. Whether have you the Terrier of all the Gleab-land, Medowes, Gardens, Orchards, Houses, Stocks, Implements, Tenements and portions of Tythes (whether within your Parish, or without) belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage, taken by the view of honest men in your said Parish? And whether the said Terrier be laid up in the Bishops Registry, and in whose hands any of them are now? And if you have no Terrier already made in Parchment, you the Church-wardens and Side-men, together with your Parson or Vicar, or in his absence with your Minister, are to make diligent inquiry and presentment of the several particulars following, and make, subscribe and sign the said Terrier as aforesaid.
1. How many several parcels of Gleab-land do you know, or have you credibly heard to belong unto your Rectory, Church, Parsonage, Vicarage, &c. and by what names are they, (or any of them) commonly called and known; And what yearly Rent have you known, or heard to have been paid unto the Parson, Vicar, or to his or their assigns, for every, or any of the said parcels?
2. In whose occupation are the said parcells at this present? How much doth each parcel contain by measure of the 16. foot pole? How is each parcel Butted on every part? And who is to repair the Fences on each side thereof?
Concerning the Clergy.
WHether doth your Parson, Vicar, or Curate distinctly and reverently say Divine Service upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes, and other [Page] holy dayes appointed to be observed by the Book of Common-Prayer, as Wednesdayes and Fridayes, and the Eves of every Sunday and Holy-day, at fit and usual times? And doth he duly observe the Orders, Rites, and Ceremonies prescribed in the said New Book of Common-Prayer; as well in reading publick Prayers as the Letany, as also in administring the Sacraments, solemnization of Matrimony, visiting the sick, burying the dead, Churching of women, and all other the Rites and Offices of the Church, in such manner and form as in the said Book of Common-Prayer he is injoyned without any omission or addition? And doth he read the Book of the last Canons yearly, and wear a Surpllice according to the said Canons?
2. Doth your Minister bid Holy Dayes and Fasting dayes, as by the Book of Common-Prayer is appointed? And doth he give warning before-hand to the Parishioners, for the receiving of the holy Communion, as the two and twentieth Canon requireth, and whether he doth administer the holy Communion so often, and at such times, as that every Parishioner may receive the same, at the least thrice in every year: whereof once at Easter, as by the Book of Common-prayer is appointed? And doth your Minister receive the same himself, on every day that he administreth it to others? and use the words of institution according to the Book at every time that the Bread and Wine is renewed, accordingly as by the proviso of the 21 Canon is directed? And doth he deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant severally, and knéeling? Whether he hath admitted to the holy Communion any notorious Offender or Schismatick, contrary to the 26. and 27. constitutions, or put any from the Communion, who are not publikely infamous for any notorious crime? Doth he use the sign of the Cross in Baptism, or baptize in any bason, or other Vessel, and not in the usual Font? or admit any Father to be God-father to his own child, or such who have not received the holy Communion, or baptize any children that were not born in the parish, or wilfully refuse to baptize any Infant in his parish, being in danger, having been informed of the weakness of the said child: and whether the Child dyeth through his default without Baptism?
3. Whether hath your Minister married any without a Ring, or without Banes published thrée several Sundayes or Holy-dayes in time of Divine Service, in the several Churches or Chappels of their several abode according to the Book of Common-prayer, or in times prohibited, albeit the Banes were thrice published, without a License or Dispensation from the Arch-bishop, the Bishop of the Diocess, or his Chancellor, first obtained in that behalf? Or not betwixt the hours of eight and twelve in the forenoon, or have married any in any private house, or if the parties be under the age of 21. years, before their Parents or Governours have signified their consent unto them?
[Page]4. Doth he refuse to bury any, which ought to be interred in Christian burial, or defer the same longer then he should, or bury any in Christian buririal, which by the constitutions of the Church of England, or Laws of the Land, ought not to be so interred?
5. Is your Minister a Preacher allowed by licence from the Bishop?
6. Doth your Minister (being licensed) preach usually according to the Canons, either in his own Cure, or in some other Church or Chappel near adjoyning, where no other Preacher is, and how often he hath been negligent in that behalf, and doth Preach standing, and with his hat off? Or whether doth he or his Curate upon every Sunday, when there is no Sermon, read an Homily, or some part thereof, or Catechise the yongar sort, according as he ought to do? or in case he be not licensed to Preach, doth he take upon him to Preach or expound the Scriptures in his own Cure, or elsewhere? If so, then you are to present the same, the time and place, when and where he did it.
7. Doth your Minister use to pray for the Kings Majesty, King Charles, and for the Queens Majesty, and all the Royal Progeny, with addition of such Stile and Titles as are due to their Hignesses, and exhort the people to obedience to his Majesty, and all Magistrates in authority under him: And doth he also pray for all Arch-bishops, Bishops, and other Ecclesiastical persons?
8. Is your Minister constantly resident unto his Benefice, and how long time hath he béen absent, and in case he be licensed to be absent, whether doth he cause his Cure to be sufficiently supplyed according to the Canons? Or in case he hath another Benefice, whether doth he supply his absence by a Curate, sufficiently licensed to preach in that Cure where he himself is not resident? Or otherwise in case the smallness of the living cannot find a preaching Minister, doth he preach at both his Benefices usually?
9. Doth your Minister or Curate every Sunday or Holy day, before Evening-Prayer, for half an hour or more examine and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his Parish in the ten Commandments, Articles of the Belief, and in the Lords Prayer, and the Sacraments, according as it is prescribed in the Catechism, set forth in the book of Common-Prayer only? And if he do not, where is the fault, either in the Parents and Masters of the children, or in the Curare neglecting his duty? And is he careful to tender all such youth of his Parish as have béen well instructed in their Catechism to be confirmed by the Bishop in his Visitation, or any other convenient time, as is appointed by the book aforesaid?
10. Doth your Minister in the Rogation dayes, go in perambulation of the circuit of the Parish, saying and using the prayers, suffrages and thanksgiving to God, appointed by Law, according to his duty, thanking God for [Page] his blessings, if there be plenty on the earth: Or otherwise to pray for his grace and favour, if there be a fear of scarcity?
11. Hath your Minister admitted any Woman gotten with child in adultery or fornication, to be Churched without license of the Ordinary?
12. Hath your Minister or any other Preacher, Baptized children, Churched any Woman, or Ministred the holy Communion in any private house, otherwise then by Law is allowed?
13. Doth your Minister carefully look to the relief of the poor, and from time to time call upon his Parishoners to give somewhat as they can spare to godly and charitable uses, especially when they make their Testaments?
14. Doth your Minister use such decency and comliness in his apparel, as by the 47 Canon is enjoyned? is he of sober behaviour, and one that doth not use such bodily labour, as it is not séemly for his function and calling?
15. When any person hath been dangerously sick in your Parish, hath he neglected to visit him, and when any have béen parting out of this life, hath he omitted to do his last dury in that behalf?
16. Doth your Minister, Curate, or Lecturer, in his or their Sermons deliver 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 wisdom of his Majesty and his Council? And if you find any fault herein, you shall present them.
School-Masters.
1. DOth any in your Parish openly or privately take upon him to teach School without a license of the Ordinary, and is he conformable to the Religion now established? And doth he bring his Schollars to the Church, to hear Divine Service and Sermons? And doth he instruct his Schollars in in the grounds of the Religion now established in this Church of England, and is he careful and diligent to benefit his Schollars in learning?
2. Doth your School-master teach and instruct his youth in any other Catechism than is allowed by publick Authority? And what Catechism is it that he so teacheth?
3. Is any Living or means given towards the erection or maintenance of any School with-holden back, or otherwise employed, and by whom?
4. Doth any kéep School in the Chancel or Church, by which means that holy place and the Communion-Table are many wayes profaned, and the windows broken?
Parish Clerks and Sextons.
1. HAve you a fit Parish Clerk, aged twenty years at least, of honest conversation, able to read and write? Whether are his and the Sextons wages paid without fraud, according to the custome of your Parish? if not, then by whom are they so defrauded and denyed? by whom are they [Page] chosen? and whether the said Clerk be approved 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 serviceable to the Minister, and doth he take upon him to meddle with any thing above his Office, as Churching of Women, burying the dead, or such like?
2. Doth your Clerk or Sexton kéep the Church clean, the doors locked at fit times? Is any thing lost or spoyled in the Church, through his default? Are the Communion-Table, Font, Books, and other Ornaments of the Church kept fair and clean? Doth he suffer any unseasonable Ringing, or any prophane exercise in your Church? Or doth he (when any is passing out of this life) neglect to toll a bell, having notice thereof?
Concerning the Parishioners.
1. VVHether any of your Parishioners, being sixtéen years of age or upwards, or others lodging or commonly resorting to any house within your Parish, do absent themselves from your Parish Church, upon Sundayes or Holydayes at Morning and Evening Prayer? Or who come late to Church, and depart from Church before Service be done upon the said dayes? Or who do not reverently behave themselves during the time of Divine Service, devoutly knéeling, when the general confession of sins, the Letany, the ten Commandements, and all Prayers and Coflects are read, and standing up when the Articles of the Belief are read; or who do cover their heads in the Church during the time of Divine Service, unless it be in case of necessity, in which case they may wear a Night-cap or Coife? Or who do give themselves to babling, talking, or walking, and are not attentive to hear the Word preached, or read? Whether any of your Parish, being of sixtéen years of age and upwards, do not receive the holy Communion in your Church thrice every year: whereof once at Easter, and whether you do not devoutly knéel at the receiving thereof? And whether any having divers houses of remove, do shift from place to place of purpose to defeat the performance of their Christian duties in that behalf?
2. Whether any of your Parishioners being admonished thereof, do not send their Children, Servants and Apprentices to the Minister, to be Catechized upon such Sundayes and Holydaies as are appointed? Or whether any of them do refuse to come; or if they come, refuse to learn those instructions set forth in the Book of Common-Prayer?
3. Whether any of your Parish do entertain within their house any sojourner, common guests, or other persons, who refuse to frequent Divine Service, or receive the holy Communion, as aforesaid? present their names, their qualities, or conditions.
4. What Recusant Papists are there in your Parish, or other Sectaries? [Page] present their names, qualities, or conditions. Whether they kéep any School-master in their house, which commeth not to Church to hear Divine-Service, and receive 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, do labour to seduce and with-draw other from the Religion now established? Or instruct their families or children in Popish Religion: or refuse to entertain any, especially in place of greatest service, or trust, but such as concur with them in their opinions?
6. How long have the said Popish Recusants abstained from Divine Service, or from the Communion, as aforesaid?
7. Whether have you any in your Parish, which heretofore being Popish Recusants or Sectaries, have since reformed themselves, and come to Church to hear Divine Service, and receive the Sacraments? If yea, then who are they? And how long since have they so reformed themselves? And whether they still remain and abide in that conformity?
8. 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, taking exception against him, and what causes or exceptions do they alledge? or have any married Wives refused to come to Church, according to the Book of Common-Prayer, to give God thanks after their child-birth, for their safe deliverance; And whether do any of, or in your Parish, refuse to have their children Baptized in your Parish Church, according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common-Prayer?
9. Do any of your Parish usually go to other Parish-Churches to hear Divine Service or Sermons? Or do they communicate, or Baptize their Children in any other Parish?
10. Whether there be any in your Parish who will come to hear the Sermon, but will not come to publick prayers appointed by the Book of Common-Prayer, making a Schism or division (as it were) betwéen the use of publick prayer and preaching?
11. Hath any person in your Parish quarrelled, or stricken, or used any violence to your Minister, or have stricken or quarrelled with any other person within your Church or Church-yard, or demeaned himself disorderly in the Church, by filthy or prophane talk, or any other base or immodest behaviour? Or hath disturbed the Minister in the time of Divine Service or Sermon, or hath libelled or spoken slanderous words against your Minister to the scandal of his vocation, or defamed any of his Neighbours, touching any crime of Ecclesiastical Cognisance?
12. Whether any person in your Parish, do exercise any Trade or labour, buy or sell, or kéep open Shops or Ware-houses upon any Sunday [Page] by themselves, their servants, or Apprentices, or have otherwise prophaned the said dayes, contrary to the Orders of the Church of England? And whether there be any Inn-kéepers, Ale-house-kéepers, Victuallers, or other persons, that permit any persons in their Houses, to eat, drink, or play, during the time of Divine Service or Sermon, or reading the Homilies in the forenoon or afternoon, upon those dayes?
13. Whether the fif [...]h day of November, be kept holy, and thanksgiving made to God, for his Majesties and this States happy deliverance, according to the Ordinance in that behalf? And the 30th. of January be kept as a day of humiliation for the murthering of King Charles the Martyr?
14. Whether any of your Parish hold or frequent any Conventicles or private Congregations, or make or maintain any constitutions, agréed upon in any such Assemblies? Or any that do write, or publickly or privately speak against the Book of Common-Prayer, or any thing therein contained, or against any of the Articles of Religion agréed upon, in Anno 1562. or against the Kings Supremacy in causes Ecclesiastical, or against the Oath of Supremacy, or of Allegiance, pretending the same to be unlawful 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 Government of the Church of England under the Kings most Excellent Majesty, by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch-Deacons, and other Officers of the same: affirming that the same is repugnant to the Word of God, and that the said Ecclesiastical Officers, are not lawfully ordained? Or whether there be any Authors, Maintainers, or Favourers of Heresie or Schism, or that be suspected to be Anabaptists, Libertines, Brownists, of the Family of Love, or any other Heresie or Schism? present their names.
15. Whether any in your Parish have married within the degrées by Law prohibited, and where, and by whom? And whether any couple in your Parish being lawfully married, live apart one from the other, without due separation by the Law, or any that have béen divorced, which kéep company with any other at Bed or at Boord?
16. Whether do any persons administer the goods of the dead without lawful authority, or suppress the last Will of the dead? Or are there in your Parish any Wills not yet proved, or goods of the dead (dying intestate) left unadministred, by authority in that behalf? You shall not fail to present the Executors and all other faulty therein.
17. Whether any with-hold the Stock of the Church, or any goods or other things, given to good and charitable uses?
18. Whether your Hospitals and Alms-houses, and other such houses and Corporations, founded to good and charitable uses, and the Lands, Possessions and Goods of the same, be ordered and disposed of as they should be? [Page] And do the Masters, Governours, Fellows, and others of the said Houses and Corporations, behave and demean themselves according to the Ordinances and Statutes, of their several foundations?
19. Whether have you any in your Parish to your knowledge, or by common fame or report, which have committed Adultery, Fornication, or Incest, or any which hath impudently bragged or boasted, that he or they have lived incontinently with any person or persons whatsoever: or any have attempted the chastitie of any Woman, or solicited any Woman to have the carnal knowledge of her body; or which are commonly reputed to be common Drunkards, Blasphemers of Gods holy Name, common Swearers, common Slanderers of their Neighbors, and sowers of Discord, filthy and lascivious Talkers, Vsurpers, Symonical Persons, Bawds or Harborers of Women with child, which be unmarried, or conveying, or suffering them to go away before they have made satisfaction to the Church; or any that have heretofore béen presented, or suspected of any the aforesaid crimes, have for that cause departed the Parish, and are not returned again? or any which have used any Inchantments, Sorceries, Incantations, or Witchcrafts, which are not made Felony by the Statutes of this Realm, or any which have committed any perjury in any Ecclesiastical Court in an Ecclesiastical cause, or which have committed any forgery, punishable by the Ecclesiastical Laws, and the procurors and abettors of the said offences? you shall truly present the names of all, and singular the said offendors, and with whom they have committed the said offences, in case they have not béen publickly punished to your knowledge for the said crimes.
Physitians, Chirurgions, and Midwives.
HOw many Physitians, Chirurgions, or Midwives, have you in your Parish? How long have they used their several Sciences or Offices, and by what authority? And how have they demeaned themselves therein, and of what skill are they accounted to be in their profession? And whether have they license from the Ordinary or Chancellor for to practice?
Touching the Church-Wardens and Side-men.
1. VVHether you and the Church-wardens, Quest-men, or Side-men, from time to time, do, and have done their diligence, in not suffering any idle person to abide either in the Church-yard, or Church-porch, in Service, or Sermon-time, but causing them either to come into the Church to hear Divine Service, or to depart, and not disturb such as be hearers there? And whether they have, and you do diligently sée the Parishoners duly resort to the Church every Sunday and Holiday, and there to remain during Divine Service and Sermon? And whether you or your predecessors, Church-wardens [Page] there, suffer any playes, feasts, drinkings, or any other prophane usages, to be kept in your Church, Chappel, or Church-yards, or have suffered to your and their uttermost power and endeavour, any person or persons to lie tipling or drinking in any Inn or Victualling-house in your Parish, during the time of Divine Service or Sermon, on Sundayes and Holydaies?
2. Whether, and how often have you admitted any to preach within your Church or Chappel, which was not sufficiently licensed? And whether you together with your Minister, have not taken diligent héed and care, that every Parishioner being of sixtéen years of age or upwards, have received thrice every year as aforesaid: and also that no stranger have usually come to your Church, from their own Parish-Church?
3. Whether have there béen provided against every Communion, a sufficient quantity of fine white bread, and good and wholesome wine for the Communicants that shall receive? And whether that wine be brought in a clean and swéet standing pot of pewter, or of other purer mettal?
4. Whether were you chosen by the consent of the Minister and the Parishioners? And have the late Church-wardens given up a just account for their time, and delivered to their successors by Bill indented the money, and other things belonging to the Church which was in their hands? And are the Almes of the Church faithfully distributed to the use of the poor?
5. Whether do you sée the names of all Preachers which are strangers and preach in your Parish-Churches, to be noted in a book for that purpose, and whether every Preacher do subscribe his name, and of whom he had his License?
6. Whether any man do trouble or molest you for doing your duties?
7. Whether there be any Legacies withholden, given to the Church or poor people, or to the mending of High-waies, or otherwise by the Testators: In whose hands it is, by whom it was given, and by whom it is withholden?
8. Do you know any thing that hath béen complained of, that is not redressed?