TIT. I. Concerning Churches, with the Ornaments, Furniture, Possessions, and Revenues thereunto belonging.

I. IS your Parish Church, and Chancel decently kept for God's honour? Are the Roofs, Walls, Windows and Pavements well repaired? are the Ten Commandments, Lords Pray­er, and the Creed drawn out in fair Letters in convenient places? and are the King's Arms set up.

II. Have you a Font of stone decently covered for Baptism? a comely Communion Table at the East end of the Chancell? a come­ly Carpet of silk or fine stuff, with a fair Linnen Cloth to spread upon it, a fine Napkin, a Silver Cup for the Wine, a Patin for the Bread, and one or more Flagons of Pewter, or richer Mettal for the Administration of the Lords most Holy Supper?

III. Are your Reading Desk, and Pulpit conveniently set up, and placed for the use of Publick Prayer and Sermons? Have you two Common Prayer Books in Folio last set forth by Authority, your Bible in Folio of King James's Translation, and a decent Surplice for your Minister to wear in the time of all publick Ministrations?

IV. Have you a Parchment Register for Christnings, Marriages and Burials? and another of Paper for the Names and Licences of such Strangers as at any time preach in your Church or Chap­pel? and a Book wherein are entred the Churchwardens Accounts every Year? Have you a Chest with 3 Locks for the said Books, and the Keys kept by the Minister and Churchwardens, and other Church Furniture, and a Box for the Poors Alms?

V. Have you a Table of the Prohibited Degrees of Marriage [Page 2]hanging up in your Church, and a Bier with a decent Herse-cloth for the Burial of the Dead?

VI. Is your Church-Yard well Kept and Fenced to keep out beasts? Are any Doors made into it, any Trees cut down, or en­croachments made upon it?

VII. Have you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe Lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements or Cottages belonging to your Parsonage or Vicaridge? and is a Copy of the same delivered into the Bishops Registry?

VIII. Is the House and Out-houses of your Minister in good and sufficient Repair? Doth he preserve the Gardens, Orchards and Glebe belonging to him without Embezelling, Changing, or any way Damnifying them?

IX. But especially whereas in Our late Parochial Visitation, We took particular notice of several Defects, Neglects and Disorders relating to the Premises, and soon after issued out an Injunction for the speedy Repairing, Redressing, and right Ordering of the same; You are hereby required to produce at our Visitation the said In­junction, and there to certifie the Particular Amendments that have been made in obedience to the said Injunction, or the Names of such Persons through whose default it hath not yet been fully and duly observed.

TIT. II. Concerning the Clergy.

I. IS your Minister (so far as you know, or believe) in Holy Orders, according to the Rule and Form of the Church of England? Hath he been legally Admitted to the Cure of Souls in your Parish? or is He known, or suspected to have obtained his Orders or Benefice by any Simoniacal, or Undue practice?

II. Did He within two months after his Induction upon some Sunday, or Holyday publickly and openly read the 39 Articles, as also the Morning and Evening Prayer according to the Act of Uniformity Car. 2.14. and did He within the time there limited make the Declaration required by the said Act, and read the Ordi­nary's Certificate of his Subscription to the same?

III. Is your Minister constantly resident upon his Benefice, and [Page 3]doth he live in his Parsonage, or Vicaridge House, or (his Resi­dence being legally dispensed with) doth he provide a sufficient Curate, licensed by the Bishop, and doth he allow him a competent Stipend?

IV. Doth your Minister or his Curate in Reading the Morning and Evening Prayer and the Litany, on all Sundays and Holydays, and all other Days appointed by the Church, in Administring the Holy Sacraments, Solemnization of Matrimony, Burying of the Dead, Churching of Women, and all other Offices of the Church duly observe such Order, Manner and Form, as is prescribed in the Liturgy and Canons of the Church without omission, alterati­on, or addition of any thing? And doth He in performing all and every of these wear the Surplice constantly with a Hood, or Tippet befitting his Degree?

V. Doth He administer publick Baptism at the Font, without a Bason? doth He sign the Infant baptized with the sign of the Cross? doth he Baptize any at Home but in case of real necessity, and that without Godfathers and Godmothers, requiring moreover that the Child if it live be afterwards brought to the Church, to have the said Baptism there solemnly certified in such manner and form as the Church appoints in the Office of Private Baptism? doth He baptize publickly without Godfathers and Godmothers, or doth he admit Parents for such to their own children? And are there in your Parish any Persons of riper years yet unbaptiz'd through his default?

VI. Doth He administer the Lords Supper so often, and at such convenient times that the Parishioners may communicate Thrice at least every Year (whereof Easter to be one) doth He exhort them diligently to the frequent Receiving of the same, doth He warn the Negligent, doth He admit any scandalous and profane Persons, or give it to any that refuse to receive it Kneeling?

VII. Doth He marry any persons under age without consent of Parents, or any others without Banns or Licence, or in any other place then the Church, or at any other time then between the hours of Eight and Twelve in the Forenoon?

VIII. Doth He (upon notice given) visit the Sick? doth he in­struct, comfort, conferr and pray with them? doth He upon their confession, repentance and faith (being thereunto desired) absolve them, doth He keep secret such their confession? doth He (when desir'd) give them the Holy Sacrament of Christs Body and Blood, [Page 4]and if they have ability, move and stirr them up to pious and cha­ritable deeds?

IX. Doth He refuse Christian Burial to any except persons Un­baptized, or Excommunicate, or that have laid Violent hands upon themselves?

X. Hath He admitted any women begotten with child in adultery or fornication, to be Churched without Licence from the Ordinary?

XI. Doth He every Sunday preach himself, or procure some Li­cens'd Preacher so to doe, or read one of the Homilies set forth by Authority?

XII. Doth He constantly at the beginning of Sermon move and exhort the People to joyn with him in Prayer, in such manner and form as is appointed by the Church in the 55^th Canon, and no o­therwise?

XIII. Doth He in his Sermons four times every year teach and maintain the Kings Lawfull Authority over the State both Ecclesia­sticall and Civil, against the Pretences and Usurpations of all Foreign Power? Has He been known or observ'd to teach Sedition, or Fa­ction directly against His Majesty, His Laws and Government, or indirectly to cast out Seditious Glances against the Civil State, or Government Ecclesiastical?

XIV. Does He preach and maintain (as far as you know or hear) any new and strange Doctrine contrary to Gods Word, and the 39 Articles of this Church? Doth He teach any thing to be religiously observ'd and believ'd, that is not agreeable to the Scrip­tures, and what the Catholick Fathers of the Ancient Church have gathered thence?

XV. Doth He diligently instruct and examine the Younger Sort in the Church Catechism? and doth He take care to bring, or send them so instructed to the Bishop for Confirmation?

XVI. Doth he declare to the People every Sunday the Days of Fa­sting and Abstinence, the Holy Days and other Solemn Days that have particular Services, which (if any such there be) are in the Week ensuing to be religiously kept and observed?

XVII. Doth He upon some Sundays or Holydays read publickly in the Church, the Book of Canons once every Year, and the 39 Arti­cles twice, to the end that the People being well acquainted with the Doctrine and Discipline of our Holy Mother the Church of England, may continue stedfast and obedient in the Communion of the same?

[Page 5]XVIII. Is He (together with the Churchwardens) carefull in Registring (as the Law requires) the Names and Sirnames of all such in your Parish as have been Baptized, Married, and Buried, and the same transcribed to return every year into the Bishop's Registry?

XIX. Is your Minister one that is studious of the holy Scriptures? Does He keep to His calling, abstaining from all Trades, Occupations, and Labours not befitting His Function, from all apparell, that is ex­cessive or any way unseemly, or unsuitable to His Calling either at home or abroad, does He refrain from the acquaintance, and com­pany of persons, that are Excommunicate, or any way Scandalous? Is He of a Chast and Sober, a Peaceable, and Exemplary Conver­sation? Or is He noted, or suspected for Incontinency, Gaming, Swearing, Drinking, for frequenting Inns or Taverns, or any House of ill Report, or Notoriously guilty of any other thing contrary to Godliness, or particularly misbecoming His holy Calling?

XX. Doth He in His Sermons deliver such Doctrine as tends to Obedience, and the Edisying of the Auditory in Faith and Religion, without intermeddling with matters of State, not fit to be handled in the Pulpit?

XXI. Doth He Labour diligently to Reduce Popish Recusants (if there be any in your Parish) from their Errors? And doth He every year present the Names of such, as are not Reducible, to His Ordinary, if they be above Thirteen years of age.

TIT. III. Concerning the Parishioners.

I. ARE there any in your Parish that are blasphemers of the Majesty of God, or scoffers at the Christian Religion, or that derogate from the Authority, or the Sufficiency of the Scriptures, or deny any of the Articles of the Christian Faith?

II. Are there any that deny the Church of England to be a true, and Apostolique Church, and to have in Her all things necessary to Salvation? Or that affirm the XXXIX Articles to be Erroneous in any part, or such as cannot with a good conscience be subscribed to?

III. Do any in your Parish affirm, or teach that the form of God's worship contained in the Book of Common Prayer and Ad­ministration of the Sacraments, is corrupt, superstitious, unlawfull, or [Page 6]repugnant to Scripture? Or that the form of Consecrating, or Or­daining of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons is Antichristian, or repugnant to the Scripture, or to the practise of the Primitive Church?

IV. Do all your Parishioners (having no Lawfull impediment) duly resort to the Divine Service and Sermons in your Church, on Sundays, or other days and times appointed by Law? Do they come in the beginning, and not depart before the Blessing? Do they de­mean themselves reverently there, uncovering their Heads, kneeling at the Prayers, standing up at the Hymns, at Glory be to the Father, &c. At the recitall of the Creed, and reading of the Gospel, and at what other parts of the Service it is requir'd?

V. Are there any in your Parish that resuse to send their Infant Children to be Baptized in the Church, unless in case of urgent dan­ger? Or do they send them to be Baptized in other Parishes? Or are they Baptized after other form then is appointed? or are they kept unbaptized longer then is allowed? Or are there any of riper years, as yet unbaptized? Or any that have been Baptized privately and not afterwards brought to the Church with Godfathers and God­mothers according to the Rubrick?

VI. Do any Parents or Masters of Families neglect or refuse to send their Children or Servants to Church, to be instructed in the Catechism? Or to have them, being so instructed, presented to the Bishop for Confirmation? Are there any so instructed and con­firmed, and of due age, that come not to the Lord's Supper Three times in the year at the least, of which the Feast of Easter to be one? Or any that forsake their own Parish to receive it elsewhere?

VII. Do any refuse to bury their Dead according to the Rites of the Church of England? Are there any Wills, or Testaments of Persons dead within your Parish, that be yet unproved? Or any Goods Ad­ministred without a due grant from the Ordinary?

VIII. Are there any in your Parish that are unlawfully married within the Degrees prohibited? Or that being Lawfully married, and not Lawfully Divorc't, do yet separate one from the other, or that being Lawfully Divorced have married any other?

IX. Are there any married Women in your Parish, who after their delivery from the perill of Childbirth, refuse to make their publick thanksgiving to God in the Church, in time of Divine Service, upon some Sunday or Holyday? Or do they come decently apparell'd, and make their Offerings according to custom?

[Page 7]X. Are any in your Parish known, or reputed to be common Swearers, Drunkards, Adulterers, Fornicatours, Incestuous persons, concealers, or harbourers of the same? Are any noted to be Railers, unclean, or filthy Talkers, sowers, or maintainers of Sedition, Faction, or Discord among their Neighbours? Do any use Inchantments, Sor­cerys, or Witchcrafts? Have any been detected of such Notorious crimes? Have they done Penance for the same, or Commuted for it? What summs of Money have been received upon such Commutations, and how have they been bestowed?

XI. Do any stand Excommunicate for any such crimes? How long have they stood so, and do any converse with them familiarly before they are reconciled to the Church?

XII. Have any in your Parish quarrell'd, stricken, or done any violence to your Minister? Have they disturb'd, or molested Him in His Ministeriall Office? Have they Libell'd, or spoke any slan­derous words against Him to the scandall of his vocation, have they reproach'd, or menac'd, or any way wrong'd and abus'd the Church­wardens for doing of their duty?

XIII. Do any refuse to pay their Easter Offerings, or other dues to your Minister, or to contribute to the Rates assess'd for the repair of your Church, or Chappell, or any thing thereunto be­longing?

XIV. What Gifts, or Legacies have been given to Pious uses in your Parish, which in whole, or in part are either utterly de­frauded, or not imployed to the right use according to the Will of the donour?

XV. Are your Seats, and Pews in the Church decently kept, and are the Parishioners placed in them without offence and con­tention?

XVI. Doth every one abide in his own calling whereunto he is call'd? viz. Doth any Lay-man that is not duely Ordained openly read Common-Prayer, or execute any Ministeriall Duty in your Church? Or is there any Clergyman, viz. any in holy Orders, who doth voluntarily throw off the habit, and desert the profession of a Clergyman, and use himself as a Lay-man only, without taking any care of the Church of God?

TIT. IV. Concerning the Parish-Clerks and Sextons.

I. HAve you a Parish-Clerk duly chosen by the Minister, of the age of Twenty years at least, of a sober and honest be­haviour, and sufficiently qualified in Reading, Writing, and Singing, and making the severall Responses and Suffrages in the Liturgy? Doth he duly attend Him in all Divine Offices? Doth he (or the Sexton) open and lock the Church-doors at due times, keep the Church clean, and caresully look after all things committed to his charge? Doth he ring or toll the Bells at the accustomed hours, that the people may have sufficient warning to come to Church? Doth he upon notice given toll the passing Bell, that the Neighbours may thereby be put in mind to recommend the soul of the dying person to the grace and mercy and peace of God? Doth he diligently attend the duty of his place in every respect? Are his wages duly paid him, or who withholdeth the same from him?

II. Doth he meddle with any thing not appertaining to his Office, as Churching of Women, Burying of the Dead and such like?

TIT. V. Concerning Hospitalls, Schools, School-Masters, Physitians, Chirur­geons and Midwives.

I. IS there in your Parish any Hospitall, Alms-house, or Free-School? Is the Revenue thereof rightly employed, and do the Masters, and Governours, and Members of the same behave and de­mean themselves according to the Godly Ordinances, and Statutes of their severall Foundations?

II. Doth any man keep a Publick or Private School in your Parish, that is not Licens'd by the Ordinary so to doe? Is He a Man of a good Life? Doth He come to the Church Himself, and cause His Scholars so to doe, and there to behave themselves orderly, and reve­rently? Doth He diligently instruct them in the Church Catechism, and teach them good manners, modesty, sobriety and obedience, as well as other good Learning?

[Page 9]III. Have you any Physitian, Chirurgeon, or Midwife in your Parish that practise without License?

TIT. VI. Concerning Ecclesiasticall Officers.

I. HAve any Ecclesiasticall Judges, or Officers within this Diocess upon any payment, or composition that you know or have heard of, suppress'd, or let go unpunished any fault, or offence pre­sented to them by the Church-wardens, or any others?

II. Have any of them received, or exacted any extraordinary Fees, or other Rewards or promises, directly or indirectly for Granting Letters of Administration to one before another, or for allowing large and unreasonable Accounts of Executors, or Administrators, or for discharging them without Inventary or Account, to the de­frauding of Creditors, Legataries, or those who are to have Portions?

III. Is there a Table of Fees hung up every Court-day in some publick place of the Court, or Registry? are any larger Fees taken and exacted for Wills, Administrations, or any other things then are set down in the said Table?

IV. Doth any Judge, or Officer in the said Courts vexatiously Cite any person, protract any Causes, or any way pervert Justice for gain or reward?

V. Doth any Ecclesiasticall Judge speed any Act in any Cause privately of Himself, and not in presence of some publick Notary or Actuary?

VI. Is there any excessive number of Apparitors in this Diocess? Have any of them under pretence of Authority, Cited or summoned any person unlawfully, or have they taken any reward for the con­cealing of any offence, or fault, or avoiding of the punishment of the offenders? Do they take, or require any unaccustomed Fees? Have they threatned any to prosecute them, if they had no reward, and do they Summon any without a Citation first had?

VII. Hath any Ecclesiasticall Judge or Officer, Advocate, Register, Proctor, Clerk, or any other Minister to the said Courts belonging, any way in their respective Offices abused themselves, or oppressed and agriev'd His Majesties Subjects contrary to the Law and Canons in that behalf provided?

TIT. VII. Queries to be answered by the Ministers concerning the Church-Wardens and Side-Men?

I. ARE your Church-Wardens every year chosen in Easter-Week, and after the custom and manner of the Parish?

II. Have the last and former Church-Wardens given up their Ac­counts before the Minister, and Parishioners? Are their Accounts al­lowed, or have they falsify'd their trust? Wherein? And how much?

III. Do the Church-Wardens diligently observe who are absent from Church? Do they take all possible care that such Absenters of themselves do not profanely spend the Lord's day, and other holy Times in Taverns, Inns, Tipling and Victualing-houses, especially in the time of Divine Service? Do they in the Church during all the said time, see that the Parishioners present behave themselves peace­ably and reverently, and that all things be done decently, and according to order? That the Font, the Communion Table, the Reading Desk, and the Pulpit with all the Furniture and Utensils thereunto belonging, be kept in such good order and beauty as best becometh God's House and His Holy Ordinances therein Administred? That the severall Books, Registers and Chests required by Law, be at the charge of the Parish provided, and from time to time renewed, and supply'd as there is occasion?

IV. Have they (the Church-Wardens and Side-Men, now Sworn to give in a true answer unto all these Articles of Enquiry in all their several Titles) taken sufficient time to draw up their Presentments, and therein consulted with You their Minister for your faithfull Assistance?