1 WHether be there in your parish any re­ceiuers of Iesuits, Seminaries, or Masse Priests, or any other persons reconci­led to the Church of Rome: and what be the names of all Recusants, or halfe Recusants, that come not to Church to diuine seruice; or if they doe, yet doe not receiue the holy communion, as by Law they ought?

2 Whether be there any in your Parish, which doe affirme that the forme of Gods worship in the Church of England esta­blished by Law, & contained in the booke of Common prayer, is corrupt, superstitious, or vnlawfull, or containeth any thing in it, that is repugnant to the holy Scriptures?

3 Whether your Church be well and sufficiently repaired, the windowes well glazed, the floares decently paued, seates fit and conuenient, the steeple and bells kept in repaire, and all things in your Church and Chappel in comely sort without dust or any thing that is noysome or vnseemely?

4 Whether haue you in your Church or Chappel, the Booke of common prayer by the Kings Maiestie confirmed, a Bible of the largest volume, two Psalters, the Booke of Homilies allow­ed by authoritie, a fine large surplice with sleeues, a coffer with three locks and three keyes, for the safe keeping of the Register booke, and the like chest (with an hole in the vpper part there­of) [Page]for the almes of the poore?

5 Whether haue you a decent pewe for the Minister to read seruice in, and a comely Pulpit, both of them conueniently pla­ced; A faire communion table couered with silke, or other like stuffe in time of diuine seruice, and a faire linen cloth ouer it at the administration of the Communion: A faire Communion cuppe of siluer with a couer, and a faire standing pot or stoope of pewter or purer mettall for the wine to be set vpon the said table; A font of stone, and that onely to be vsed for baptisme; And a comely hearse?

6 Whether haue you a register booke in parchment, of them that be Christened, married, and buried? And whether euery Sabbath day next after such Christening, marriage, or buriall, the Minister (in the presence of the churchwardens) doe there­in write the names of the parties, and also the day and yeare; of such christening, marriage, and buriall had the weeke before? And whether doe the Minister and Churchwardens subscribe their names to the ende of euery page being full?

7 Whether is the said register book laid vp againe, and kept in a sure chest, vnder three locks and three keies? And who doe keepe the said keies?

8 Whether be the walles of your Church whited, and faire written with chosen sentences of holy Scripture?

9 Whether haue you the book of Canons lastly published by his Highnes authoritie? And doth your Minister vse to read the same openly in your Church, so often as is required by the Ca­nons?

10 Whether be your parishioners conueniently placed in your Church? And whether doe any contend touching their places? And doe any seruants or youth preuent the housholders of their seates?

11 Whether is your Churchyard well and sufficiently repai­red, fenced, and maintained with walls, rayles, hedges, or pales, as hath been in each place accustomed?

12 Whether haue any brawled, quarrelled, stricken, or laid violent hands (one vpon another) in Church or churchyard?

13 Whether haue any built or encroached vpon any part of [Page]the churchyard, without sufficient authority frō the Ordinary?

14 Whether haue any annoyed your churchyard, or the fence thereof by putting in of cattell, by hanging of cloathes, or by laying there any dust, dung, rubbish, filth, or otherwise?

15 Whether your Chancell (as well for glasing, pauing, and seates, as also for all other reparations) & likewise the building belonging to your parsonage, and vicaridge, Almesse-house, and church-house, be in good and sufficient repaire: Or ruina­ted, wasted, and gone?

16 Whether doe any refuse or delay to pay their church du­ties, or leuies rated towards the repaire, or ornaments, or other charges of the Church?

17 Whether haue you in your Church, Chappel, or church­yard, any plaies, gaming at bowles, Tennis, or football, or any other playing; Either any feasts, church-ales, temporall courts, Leetes, Musters, or any other prophane vsage there? And by whom?

18 Whether your Parson, Vicar, or Curate doe liue any way scandalously, and vnbeseeming the holinesse and grauity of his calling? And whether his apparell be graue and comely, be­seeming his function and calling?

19 Whether doth your Minister say or sing diuine seruice (according to the prescript forme established by his Maiesties authoritie) distinctly and reuerently, (and that in due time) vp­on Sundayes and holy dayes, and their Eues, and in such place of the Church, as is fittest for the people to heare? And whether doth he obserue all the orders, rites, and ceremonies prescribed in the booke of Common prayer, as well in reading of holy Scriptures, as in administration of the Sacraments, without ad­ding or diminishing?

20 Whether is your Parson or Vicar resident vpon his bene­fice? if not, whether haue you a sufficient Curate? and whether is he lawfully admitted to holy orders, and licensed by the Or­dinary vnder his hand and seale, to serue the cure in that place? and haue yee seene such license?

21 Whether is your Minister diligent to execute his office, by reading of the holy Scriptures: and (if hee be an allowed [Page]Preacher, and hauing no lawfull impediment) doe preach once euery Sunday: and (beeing not allowed) doe procure sermons in his cure euery moneth? and when there be no sermons, whe­ther doth he read one of the Homilies appointed by authority?

22 What strangers haue preached in your Church this last halfe yeare: and by whom were they authorised as preachers? And whether haue they written their names in your booke for that purpose?

23 Whether was your accustomed perambulation obserued by your Minister, with the better sort of your parishoners in rogation weeke: If not, by whose fault was it neglected?

24 Whether your minister, before his sermon, lecture, or ho­milie, doe pray for his Maiestie, giuing him his lawfull title and iust stile; And commend his highnesse, her Maiestie, the young Prince, and the Kings royall issue, in his prayers to Almightie God; following that forme of prayer prescribed in the 55. Ca­non, and doe exhort the people to obedience to his Maiestie, and other Magistrats in authority vnder him?

25 Whether your Minister in time of diuine seruice or mini­string the Sacraments, doth weare a decent and comely surplice with sleeues, and vpon it (if hee be a graduat) an hood sutable to his degree in the Vniuersitie?

26 Whether doth he performe his duty, in visiting the sicke, and burying of the dead, if the sickenesse be not infectious; As also vsing no frustratorie delay to christen any child, according to the forme appointed by the booke of Common-pray­er?

27 Whether doth your Minister vpon euery Sunday, and ho­ly day, for halfe an houre before Euen-song, instruct and ex­amine the children, seruants, and youth of your parish in some part of the Catechisme? And whether doe Parents, Masters, and Dames send their youth thereunto? And whether doth the Minister euery Sunday giue open warning in the Church to that effect?

28 Whether doth hee commonly vpon Sundayes, and ho­ly dayes (after the reading of the second lesson at morning and euening prayer) admonish the Churchwardens, to note such [Page]as (without iust cause) doe absent themselues from diuine ser­uice?

29 Whether haue your people obserued the Sabbath day in all Christian and godly conuersation? Or be there any which haue prophaned the same, either by working or by vsing any vnlawfull games, or sports vpon that day.

30 Whether all and singular dwellers and soiourners within your parish, doe diligently resort to your parish Church, (with their seruants and children) to morning and euening prayer, vp­on euery Sunday and holy day? And there (with due attention) do orderly abide during the whole time of common prayer, ser­uice, and sermon, reuerently behauing themselues, as well in­wardly as also by outward gesture of their bodies, in keeping their heads vncouered, in kneeling, standing, and other decent behauiour?

31 Whether haue any rudely behaued themselues in the church, by walking, talking, laughing; sleeping, or keeping their hattes on their heads, in time of diuine seruice?

32 Whether any (without iust cause) haue departed out of the Church in time of diuine seruice, sermon, or celebration of baptisme?

33 Whether euerie one in your parish (being aboue sixteene yeares of age and of discretion) haue receiued the holy commu­nion at your parish-church, thrice as the least euery yeare (as they ought to doe) and specially at or about Easter yearely for once, and with such due and humble reuerence, as becommeth true Christians?

34 Whether doth your Minister giue publike warning o­penly in the Church at morning praier, the Sunday before euery communion, for better preparing of the communicants there­unto?

35 Whether doe the Churchwardens (with the aduise of the Minister) prouide a sufficient quantity of fine white bread, and also of wholesome wine for the number of the Communicants, and that to be brought in a faire pot or stoop of pewter or purer mettall?

36 Whether hath your Minister admitted to the holy Com­munion, [Page]any open notorious euill liuer, adulteres, fornicatour, common drunkard, periured or malicious person, before they be reconciled by the Ordinarie: Or any Churchwardens which (without regard of their oath) haue wilfully omitted to present notorious defects or offences: Or hath he put backe any pari­shioner from the communion of malice, or for any light or fri­uolous occasion? Whether they which intend to be partakers of the holy Communion, doe signifie their names to the Mini­ster (or to the parish clarke) according to the rule in that be­halfe in the booke of Common prayer?

37 Whether haue any deferred the baptizing of their child any longer then vntill the next Sabbath or holiday after the birth thereof?

38 Whether any child haue died vnbaptized within your pa­rish? and by whose default was that Sacrament not admini­stred?

39 Whether hath your Minister admitted any to be a god­father or godmother to any child at christening, before such person so vndertaking, haue receiued the holy communion? And whether he doth vse the crosse in baptisme?

40 Whether haue you any woman, which hath not decent­ly and orderly come to the Church with a vaile, or other graue attire thereby discerned from the rest of the company (to giue God thanks after childbirth) giuing the Minister notice there­of before?

42 Whether is your parish clarke sufficient for his place, and of honest conuersation? can he write, read, and sing? is he dili­gent in his office, dutifull to your Minister, and no drunkard?

43 Whether doth he meddle with any thing aboue his office, as churching of women, burying of the dead, reading of pray­ers, or such like?

43 Whether doth he keep the Church cleane, and the dores safe locked? is any thing lost by his default: and doth he suffer excessiue ringing?

44 Whether doe any refuse to pay and allow to the clarke and Sexten, accustomed wages and duties?

45 Whether be the Churdwardens chosen yearely in Easter [Page]weeke according to the Canon? And whether doe they (at the end of their yeere, or within a moneth after) giue a true account before the Minister and Parishioners, of such money and things as they haue receiued?

46 Whether do the Churchwardens or questmen euery Sun­day and holiday looke vnto the seats, and take note of all such as (without iust cause) be absent from diuine seruice?

47 Whether haue any Churchwarden lost, sold, or detained any ornaments, bells, or implements of the Church, or any le­gacies bequeathed thereunto?

48 Whether haue any married within the degrees of affinity or consanguinity, by the lawes of God forbidden?

49 Whether haue any persons been married either secretly in any priuate house, or openly in the Church, without sufficient licence, or bands thrice published in time of diuine seruice, three seuerall Sundayes or holy daies, before the Congregati­on? who were present at such marriage? and what Minister did marrie them?

50 Whether haue any persons been married within your pa­rish, within any of the times prohibited: and by whome were such persons married, and who was present at such marriages?

51 Whether be there any couples, which being lawfully mar­ried, doe liue asunder without lawfull diuorce: or any diuorced which (both beeing aliue) doe marrie againe?

52 Whether haue any contracted Matrimonie (vpon your knowledge, or by fame) and doe not proceede to the solemni­zation thereof?

53 Whether haue you in your parish, any that teach publik­ly or priuately? is he licenced by the Ordinarie of the place vn­der his hand and seale?

54 Whether doth he teach, or is suspected to teach any of his schollers in Poperie, superstition, disobedience, or contempt of the truth, and Christian religion now established within this Realme, or to contemne orders Ecclesiasticall?

55 Whether haue you any, which (to your knowledge, or by common fame) haue committed incest, adultery, or fornication; Either any malicious and vncharitable persons, bawds, commō [Page]drunkards, vsurers, brawlers, slaunderers, swearers, cursers, blas­phemers, commō scolds, ribbalds, periured persons, or such like?

56 Whether haue any conueied, receiued, or harboured any light or lewde woman, or any vnlawfully begotten with childe, or vehemently suspected thereof, and haue suffered them to de­part before they haue performed penance enioyned by the Or­dinarie?

57 Whether be there any in your parish which liue inconti­nently, or any woman vnlawfully begotten with child before their marriage? Or which be thereof vehemently suspected?

58 Whether haue any vnreuerently abused your Minister, or laid violent hands vpon him, or otherwise disgraced his office and calling by word or deede?

59 Whether haue any miscalled or railed vpon any of the Churchwardens, or Questmen, for doing of their duties accor­ding to their oathes?

60 Whether doe you know or heare of any, which (without authority) doe administer the goods of the dead, or conceale any testament, or neglect to pay legacies bequeathed to the Church, or poore, or to the repaire of high waies, or to other charitable vses?

61 Whether haue you any, which to your knowledge or (by common fame) vse witchcraft, sorcery, charmes, vnlawfull prai­er of inuocation in Latin or English? Or any that resort to such for counsell or helpe?

62 Whether haue any Innekeepers, alewiues, victualers, or tipplers receiued, harboured, or suffered any persons to eate, drinke, stay, or play in their houses, in time of common prayer, sermon, or homily on Sundayes or holy dayes? And what per­sons were so receiued, harboured, or suffered? And haue they set open their shop-windowes, or sold forth any drink or victu­als at the like time? And haue any of your parish loytered or been gaming abroad at the same time?

63 Whether haue any laboured, wrought, or gone to cart on the Sunday or holy day? And haue any artificers or others set o­pen their shoppe windowes, or vsed their trade or any manuell occupation vpon any of those dayes? And hath any mill bin set [Page]to grinde vpon the Sabbath day or any holy day?

64 What persons stand excommunicated, and how long haue they so stood?

65 Whether doe you know or heare by common fame, of a­ny other matter (to bee presented) belonging vnto the Eccle­siasticall Iurisdiction, although not in these Articles contay­ned?

Make your answer seuerally and distinctly to euery Article.

The Minister (who by the Canon hath authoritie to pre­sent) shall informe the Ordinarie vnder his hand, of such no­torious faults as the sworne-men leaue vnpresented: And al­so shall exhibite the names of those, which beeing of sufficient yeeres, can not say (or doe neglect to learne) the Lords pray­er, the Articles of beleefe, and the tenne Commandements in English.

And although it seeme by the Canon, that onely two bills shall be exacted in the yeere; yet it is lawfull for the Minister alone, or for the sworne Officers to present as often as occasion requireth.