1. INprimis, whether have you in your severall Churches and Chappels, the whole Bible of the largest volume, and the book of common Prayer, both fairly and substantially bound, the book of Homilies, a Font of stone set up in the ancient usuall place, a convenient and decent Communion-table, with a carpet of silk, or some other decent stuffe, conti­nually laid upon the same at time of Divine service, and a fair linen cloth thereon at the time of the receiving of the holy Communion? And whether is the same Table placed in such convenient sort within the Chancell or Church, as that the Minister may be best heard in his prayer and administration, and that the greatest number may communicate? Doth your said Communion ta [...]le stand in the ancient place where it ought to do, or where it hath done for the greatest part of these sixty years last past, or hath it been removed to the East end, and placed Altar-wise, and by whom, and whose authority hath it been so placed? And whether 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 Scriptu [...]e written on the walls likewise for that purpose?

2. Item, whether have you afternoon Sermons in your seve­rall Parish [...]s turned into Catechizing, and an exposition of the same Catechisme and the heads thereof, and according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer, and other­wise, and whether doth every Vicar, Parson, and Curate read Divine service according to the Liturgie printed by Authority?

[Page] 3 Item, whether have you in your said Church or Chappel, a convenient seat for your Minister to read 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 surplice, a fair Communion-cup, with a cover of silver, a flagon of silver, tin, 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 alms for the poor, with three 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, according to the former custome and practise?

4 Is your Church or Chappell 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 beseemeth Christians? And is the whole consecrated ground kept free from swine and all other nastinesse, as becometh the place so dedicated for praying, preaching, and the service of God?

VVHether doth your Parson, Vicar, or Curate distinctly and reverently say Divine Service upon Sundayes and Holidayes, and other dayes appointed to be observed by the book of Common Prayer, as Wednesdayes, and Fridayes, and the Eves of every Sunday and Holiday, at fit and usuall times? And doth he duly observe the Orders, Rites, and Ce­remonies prescribed in the said Book of Common Prayer, as well in reading publike Prayers and the Letany, as also in ad­ministring the Sacraments, solemnization of Matrimonie, vi­siting the Sick, burying the Dead, churching of Women, and all other Rites and Offices of the Church, in such manner and form as in the said Book of Common Prayer he is en­joyned, without any omission or addition?

[Page] 2 Doth your Minister bid Holydayes 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? and whether doth he ad­minister the holy Communion reverently as becometh so high a mysterie, and so often, and at such times, as that every Pari­shioner may receive the same at the least thrice in every yeer, whereof once at Easter, as by the Book of Common Prayer is appointed? And doth your Minister use the words of Institu­tion according to the Book? And doth he deliver the Bread and Wine to every Communicant severally, and kneeling? Whether hath he admitted to the holy Communion any de­clared notorious offender, or put any from the Communion, who are not publikely known to be infamous for some no­torious crime? Doth he use the signe of the Crosse in Bap­tisme?

3 Whether hath your Minister married any without a Ring, or without Banes published three severall Sundayes or Holy­dayes, in time of Divine Service, in the severall Churches or Chappels of their severall abode, according to the Book of Common Prayer?

4 Doth he refuse to bury any which ought to be inter­red in Christian buriall, or defer the same longer then he should? or bury any in Christian buriall, which by the Constitutions of the Church of England, or Laws of the Land, ought not to be so interred?

5 Do you know of any Parson, Vicar, or Curata, that hath introduced any offensive Rites or Ceremonies into the Church, not established by the Laws of the Land; as namely, that make three Courtesies towards the Communion-Table, that call the said Table an Altar, that enjoyn the people at their coming into the Church to bow towards the East, or towards the Communion-Table, that call upon them to stand up at the Te Deum, Benedictus, Magnificat, the Gloria Patri, or at other times then at the Creed and the Gospel, that refuse to give the Communion to any that will not come up and receive it at the Rails, that never pray before their Sermons, but bid the [Page] people pray, or use any other new and voluntary Rite or Ceremonie not warranted by Law? You are to present then by vertue of your offices and places.

6 Is your Minister a Preacher allowed? If yea, then by whom? If not, whether doth he procure[?] some who are law­fully licenced, to preach monethly among you at least? and what doth he allow unto him?

7 Doth your Minister (being licensed) preach usually, ei­ther in his own Cure, or in some other Church or Chappell neer adjoyning where no Preacher is? and how often hath he been negligent in that behalf?

8 Is your Minister continually resident upon his Benefice? or how long time hath he been absent? and in case he be li­cenced to be absent, whether doth he cause his Cure to be suf­ficiently supplied with a preaching Minister? 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 smal­nesse of the living cannot finde a preaching Minister, doth he preach at both his Benefices usually? And if he be most-while absent, what order doth he take for hospitality or relief of the poor? declare it particularly. And whether doth he give the fourtieth part of the profits of his Benefice to the poor, during his absence? or what provision doth he make otherwise for them?

9 Doth your Minister or Curate serve any more Cures then one? If yea, then what other Cure doth he serve, and how far are they distant?

10 Doth your Minister or Curate every Sunday and Holi­day, 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 Catechisme set forth in the book of Common prayer? And doth he expound and shew forth the meaning and sense of the said Catechisme? And if he do not, where is the fault, either in the parents and masters of the children, or in the Curate negle­cting [Page] his dutie? And is he carefull to tender all such youth of his Parish as have been well instructed in their Catechisme, to be Confirmed by the Bishop in his Visitation, or at any other convenient time, as is appointed by the book aforesaid? And you are to warn the Ministers to prepare them against this pre­sent Visitation.

11 Doth your Minister endeavour and labour diligently to reclaim the Popish Recusants in his parish from their errours(if there be any such abiding in your parish?) Or whether is your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, over-conversant with, or a favourer of Recusants, whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Re­ligion?

12 Hath your Minister taken upon him to appoint any pub­like or private fasts, prophesies, or exercises, not approved by Law, or publike Authority? or hath he used to meet in any private house or place with any person or persons, there to consult how to impeach or deprave the book of Common prayer, or the doctrine or discipline of the Church of Eng­land? If yea, then you shall present them all.

13 Is your Minister noted or defamed to have obtained his Benefice or his Orders by simony, or any other way defamed to be a simoniacall person, or any way noted to be a schismatick, or schismatically affected, or reputed to be an incontinent per­son? Or doth he table or lodge any such in his house? Or is he a frequenter of taverns, innes or ale-houses, or any place suspect­ed for ill rule? Or is he a common drunkard, a common game­ster or player at dice, a swearer, or one that applieth not himself to his study, or is otherwise offensive and scandalous to his function and ministery? especially is he one that useth uncharita­bly[?] to curse, scandal and revile his own parishioners, in his heats and choler? If yea, then present it.

14 Do you know any Minister that doth perform, or any other person that doth hear Divine service otherwise per­formed then as it is now appointed by the Acts of Parliament of this Realm? And do you know of any that hath or doth di­sturb that wholsom Order so appointed by the Law to be obser­ved in Divine service? If you do, you must present their names.

[Page] 15 Do you know of any persons that deny Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, consecrated according to the Or­der prescribed by the Statute, to be rightly, orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered? If you do, you are to present their names.

16 When any person hath been dangerously sick in your Pa­rish, hath your Minister neglected to visit him? and when any have been parting out of this life, hath he omitted to do his last dutie in that behalf, being sent for and desired?

17 Doth your Minister, Curate, or Lecturer, in his or their sermons deliver such doctrine as tends to obedience, and the edi­fying of their auditorie in faith, religion, and good life, without intermedling with particular matters of State, not fit to be han­dled in the Pulpit, but to be discussed by the wisdome of His Majestie and his Councel? And if you finde any faultie herein, you shall present them. Or doth he spend most of the hour in points of controversie, and new start-up questions of Armini­anisme, debarred by the Kings authority from the Pulpit?

18 Whether doth your Minister misbehave himself in preaching or praying, so that the congregation are offended thereat? And whether doth he teach publickly opposite do­ctrine against the Articles and Homilies prescribed by Law in the Church of England? Doth he preach and maintain, or pal­liate with distinctions and limitations, any points of Poperie? Declare the points as neer as you can. Or doth he make any personall invectives in the Pulpit, to the offence of particular men, and the scandall of the Parish?

19 Whether hath the form of Commination against impeni­tent sinners, been read in your Church to the people, according to the book of Common Prayer?

1 Doth any in your Parish openly or privately take upon him to teach School without licence of the Ordinary? And is he conformable to the religion now established? And doth he bring his scholars to the Church to hear Divine service [Page] and sermons? And doth he instruct his scholars in the grounds of the religion now established in this Church of England? and is he carefull and diligent to benefit his scholars in learning?

2 Doth your schoolmaster teach and instruct his youth in the Catechisme or grounds of Religion? and doth he instruct them in any other Grammar, Accidence, or any other Cate­chisme then is allowed by publick Authority? and what Gram­mar, Accidence, or Catechisme is it that he so teacheth?

HAve you a fit Parish-Clerk, aged twenty yeers at the least, of honest conversation, able to read and write? Whether are his and the Sextons wages paid without fraud, according to the ancient custome of your Parish? if not, then by whom are they so defrauded or denied?

2 Doth your Clerk or Sexton keep the Church clean, the doors locked at fit times? Is any thing lost or spoiled in the Church through his default? Are the Communion-table, Font, Books, and other Ornaments of the Church kept fair and lean? Doth he suffer any unseasonable ringing, or any pro­ane exercise in your Church? or doth he (when any is weak [...]nd assured to him to be passing out of this life) neglect to toll bell, to give notice thereof to all devout Christians.

WHether do any of your Parishioners, being sixteen yeers of age or upwards, or others lodging or commonly resorting to any house within your Parish, wilfully [...]bsent themselves from your Parish-Church, upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes, at Morning and Evening prayers; 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 kneeling when the generall Confession of sins, the Letanie, the ten Commandments, and all Prayers and Collects are [Page] upon any Sunday or Holiday, by themselves, their servants or apprentises, or have otherwise profaned the said dayes, con­trary to the Orders of the Church of England? And whether be there any Inne-keepers, Alehouse-keepers, Victuallers or other persons, that permit any persons in their houses to eat, drink, or play during the time of Divine Service or Sermon, in the forenoon or afternoon upon those dayes?

14 Whether is the fifth day of November kept holy, and thanksgiving made to God for his Majesties and this States happy deliverance, according to the Ordinance in that behalf?

15 Whether do any of your Parish (otherwise then fa­thers and mothers in their own families) hold or frequent any conventicles or private congregations, or make or main­tain any Constitutions, agreed upon in any such Assemblies? Or be there any that do write, or publikely or privately speak a­gainst the Book of Common Prayer, or any thing therein con­tained, or against any of the Articles of Religion agreed upon Anno 1562. or against the Kings Supremacie in causes Eccle­siasticall, or against the oath of Supremacie, or of Allegeance, as pretending the same to be unlawfull 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 Majestie, by Bishops, affirming that the same is repug­nant to the word of God, and that the said Ecclesiasticall Offi­cers are not lawfully ordained? Or whether be there any Au­thours, Maintainers, or Favourers of Heresie or Schisme, or that be suspected to be Anabaptists, Libertines, Brownists, of the Family of Love, or of any other Heresie or Schisme: Pre­sent their names.

16 Whether do any withhold the stock of the church, or any goods or things given to good and charitable uses?

17 Whether your Hospitalls, Almes-houses, and other such houses and Corporations, founded to good and charitable uses, and the lands, possessions and goods of the same, order­ed and disposed of as they should be? And do the Masters, Go­vernours, Fellows, and others of the said houses and Corpo­rations, [Page] behave and demean themselves according to the god­ly ordinances and statutes of their severall foundations?

18 Whether have any Inne-Keepers, Ale-wives, Victual­lers, or Tiplers, received, harboured, or suffered any person to eat, drink, stay, or play in their houses in time of Common prayer or Sermon, on Sundayes or Holidayes? And what per­sons were so received, harboured, or suffered? And have they sold forth any drink or victualls at the like time? And have any of your parish loytered or been gaming abroad at the same time?

19 Whether have any laboured, wrought, or gone to cart on the Sunday or Holiday? And have any artificers, shoe-makers, chandlers, mercers, butchers, and the like, set open their shop-windows or doors, or used their trade or any manuall occupa­tion upon any of those dayes, or sold any wares or goods belonging to their trade, in the time of prayer, sermon, or homilie, upon any Sunday or Holiday? and who were the same that did so?

HOw many Physicians, Chirurgians, and Midwives have you in your parish? How long have they used their se­verall sciences or offices, and by what authoritie? and how have they demeaned themselves therein? and of what skill are they accounted to be in their profession?

VVHether you, and the Churchwardens, Questmen, or Sidemen, from time to time, do and have done your diligence, in not suffering any idle person to abide either in the churchyard or churchporch in service or sermon-time, but causing them either to come into the church to hear diuine service, or to depart, and not disturb such as be hearers there. And whether they have, and you do diligently see the parishis­oners duly resort to the church every Sunday and Holiday, and [Page] there remain during Divine Service and Sermon. And whe­ther you, or your predecessours, Churchwardens there, suffer any playes, feasts, drinkings, or any other profane usages, to be kept in your Church, Chappell; or Churchyards; or have suffered to your and their uttermost power and endeavour, any person or persons to be tipling or drinking in any Inne or vi­ctualling-house in your parish, during the time of Divine Ser­vice or Sermon on Sundayes and Holidayes.

2 Whether doth any man trouble or molest you for doing your duties? or are any of the Ecclesiasticall Judges or their Surrogates over-easie to receive frivolous complaints against you for doing your duties, and to hold you in long and tedious suits concerning the same? If so, you must present, and by what Judge, Surrogate, Proctour, or Apparitour you have been troubled.

3 Whether is there any Legacie withholden, given to the Church or poor people, or to the mending of high wayes, or otherwise by the Testatours? In whose hands is it, by whom was it given, and by whom is it withholden?

VVHether do you know or have heard of any pay­ment, composition or agreement, to or with any Ec­clesiasticall Magistrate, Judge or Officer for winking at or fea­ring[?] to punish any person for any offence of Ecclesiasticall cog­nisance, or for suppressing or concealing of any excommunica­tion or any other Ecclesiasticall censure of or against any Recusant, or any other offender in the cases aforesaid? What sum of money or other consideration hath been received or promised, by or to any of them, in that respect, by whom, and with whom?

2 Hath any person within your parish paid or promised any summe of money or other reward, either of late or hereto­fore, for commutation of penance, for any crime of Ecclesia­sticall cognisance? If so, then with whom, when, and for what [Page] summe of money? and how hath the same been imployed? You are to present these particularly.

3 Are your Ecclesiasticall Judges and their Substitutes Batchelours of the Laws, or Masters of Arts at the least, learn­ed and practised in the civile and Ecclesiasticall Laws, men of good life and fame, zealously affected in religion, and just, up­right and diligent in executing their offices? Have they heard any matter of office privately in their chambers, without their sworn registers or their deputies presence?

4 Do you know or have you heard, that any Ecclesiasticall Judge, officer, or minister hath received or taken any extraor­dinarie fees, or other rewards or promises, by any wayes or means, directly or indirectly, of any person or persons whatso­ever, either for the granting of the administration of the goods and chattels of those that have died intestate, to one before another; or for allotting of larger portions of the goods and chattels of those that have died intestate, to one more then to another; or for allowing larger and unreasonable accounts, made by Executours or Administratours; or for giving them Quictus est, or discharges, without inventorie or account, to defraud Creditours, Legataries, or those who are to have por­tions? And what summes of money do you know, or have you heard, that any Ecclesiasticall Judge or Officer hath taken out of the estate of any, dying intestate, upon pretence to bestow the same in pious uses either of late or heretofore? and how have the same been bestowed?

5 Hath any Ecclesiasticall Magistrate, Judge, Officer, or any other exercising Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction within this Di­ocese, or any Advocate, Register, Proctour, Clerks, Appari­tours, or other ministers belonging to the same Ecclesiasticall Courts, exacted or taken by any wayes or means, directly or indirectly, extraordinary or greater fees then are due and accu­stomed? And whether is there a Table for the rates of all fees set up in their several Courts and Offices? And whether have they sent or suffered any Processe to go out of the Ecclesiasticall Courts, otherwise then by law they ought? Or have they taken upon them the offices of Informers or Promotours to the said [Page] Courts, or any other way abused themselves in their places? You are by your office to present the same.

6 Whether hath any Ecclesiasticall Judge or his Surrogates, without the allowance of the Bishop, lately taken upon them to set up any new consistories or courts, and to keep courts of concurrencie in Peculiars, and other and more places then here­tofore hath been accustomed; and to call the people to those concurrent courts unduly without presentments, or other just cause, but onely to trouble the countrey, and to get unjust fees to their own purses? And have they in those new concurrent courts cited the people into Peculiars, and out of the jurisdi­ction, and for matters whereof they were dismissed by their ordinary Judge before, so that they have been troubled in seve­rall places for one and the same thing contrary to the Law? And whether are the same late-erected consistories to the grie­vance of the people, and by whom have the said new courts been lately set up, and by what authority, and where, and in what places? Declare the same particularly.