Touching the Church.

WHether is your Church or Chappell, with the Chancell there­of, and euery part of either of them, well and sufficiently re­paired, glased, paued, or any thing noysome or vnséemely?

2 Whether is your Church-yard well fenced, as hath béene accustomed? if not, whose default is it?

3 Whether hath there béene any fighting, chiding, brawling, or quarel­ling in your Church or Church-yard: and by whom?

4 Whether is the mansion house of your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, with all the building thereunto belonging, and Church-house sufficiently repai­red, maintained, and to their right vses, imployed?

5 Whether haue you in your Church the Bible in the largest Volume, the booke of common prayer lately authorized by his maiestie, the bookes of Ho­milies allowed, the two Psalters, a conuenient Pulpit for the Preaching, a decent seat for the Minister to say Seruice in, conueniently placed, a strong chest with an hole in the lid, & three lockes and keyes, one for the Minister, the other for the Church-wardens, for the Almes of the poore, & the kéeping the Register Booke of the Christenings, Mariages and burials?

6 Whether haue you in your Church a Font of stone for Baptisme, set in the ancient vsuall place, a decent Table for the Communion conueniently placed, couered with silke or other decent stuffe in time of diuine Seruice, and with a faire Linnen cloth ouer that, at the administration of the Com­munion?

7 Whether haue you all such Bels, ornaments, and other vtensils as haue anciently belōged vnto your Church: a Communion cup of siluer with a couer; a faire standing pot or stoope of siluer or pewter for the Wine vpon the Communion Table, a comely surplesse with large sléeues, a Register [Page] booke of parchment for Christenings, Mariages, & Burials, a booke for the names of all strange Preachers, subscribed with their names, & the names of the Bishop or others by whom they had Licence?

8 Whether are wéekly the names and surnames of all persons maried, christened, and buried, and of their parents, with the day and yeare, en­tred into your said parchment booke, and euery leafe being full, subscribed by you the Ministers and Church-wardens?

9 Whether are all your seats in your Church in good repaire, cleanly kept, conueniently placed, & the parishioners in them, or else-where orderly set & is ther any contention or striuing for any seat or place amongst them?

10 Whether in any of your Churches the partition betwéene the Chan­cell and the body of the Church, be taken away? And how long since, and by whom? haue you a Terrier of all the gleab-land, and other appurti­nancies belonging to your Church?

Touching the Ministrie, seruice, and Sacraments.

WHether is the whole Common praier said or sung by your Mini­ster both morning and euening, distinctly and reuerently euery Sunday and holyday, and on their Eues, and at conuenient & vsuall times of those dayes and in most conuenient place of the Church, for the edifying of the people?

2 Whether doth your Minister obserue the orders, rytes, and ceremonies prescribed in the booke of Common prayer, in reading the holy Scriptures, prayers and administration of the Sacraments, without diminishing in re­gard of preaching, or any other respect, or adding any thing in the matter or forme thereof? doth he baptize in any basin or other vessel, and not in the or­dinary Font?

3 Whether doth your Minister on Wednesdayes and Frydayes, not be­ing holydayes at the accustomed houres of seruice, resort to the Church, and say the Letany prescribed, & doth your Clarke or Sexton giue warning before, by foulling of a bell on those dayes?

4 Whether doth your Minister, as oft, as he administreth the Commu­nion weare the Surplesse & first receiue it himselfe? Whether doth he vse any bread or wine newly brought, before the words of institution be rehear­sed, and the bread and wine present on the table? whether doth he deliuer the bread and wine to euery communicant seuerally?

5 Whether doth your Minister giue warning publikely in the Church at morning prayer, the Sunday before hée administreth the Communion for the better preparation of the Parishioners?

6 Whether hath your Minister admitted to the Communion any noto­rious [Page] sinner openly knowne or defamed, or any who hath openly and mali­ciously contended with his neighbor, before repentance and reconciliation made and done by appoyntment of the Ordinary?

7 Whether hath your Minister admitted to the Cōmunion any Church­warden or Sideman, who hath wittingly and willingly neglected (con­trary to his oth) to present any publike offence or scandall, being moued to present either by some of his neighbours, the Minister, or his Ordinary?

8 Whether hath your Minister administred the Communion to any but such as knéele, or doe any refuse to kneele? hath he administred to any who refuse to be present at publike Prayer? or is there any who hath depraued the Book of common Prayer, administration of the Sacraments, or the Rites and Ceremonies prescribed, or the Articles of Religion agréed vpon anno Dom. 1562. or the booke of ordering Priests and Bishops: or spoken against his Maiesties Supremacie: or haue any béene for these causes re­pelled, and what be their names?

9 Whether hath your Minister more Benefices then one? if he haue, how farre distant are they; how often is he absent in the yeare? when he is absent, hath he an allowed Preacher for his Curate?

10 Whether is your Minister and allowed Preacher? if he be, doth he euery Sunday in your Church, or some other néer adioyning where no Preacher is, preach one Sermon euery Sunday?

11 Whether doth your Minister being no Preacher allowed presume to expound the Scripture in his owne Cure, or elsewhere? doth he procure euery Moneth a Sermon to be preached in his Cure by preachers lawfully licensed, and on euery Sunday when there is no Sermon, doth he or his Curate read some one of the Homilies prescribed?

12 Whether is your Curate allowed by the Ordinary vnder his hand and seale, to serue in your Cure, and whether doth he serue two Churches or Chappels in one day?

13 Whether doth your Minister in saying the publike prayers & vsually administring the Sacraments, weare a decent Surplesse with sléeues? and being Graduate, doth hee weare therewith a hood by the order of the Uni­uersities, agréeable to his degree?

14 Whether hath your Minister or any other Preacher in your Church, preached any thing to confute or impugne any doctrine deliuered by any o­ther preacher, and hath hée and they vsed the prayer for Christs Catholike Church, as is prescribed by the Canon?

15 Whether hath or doth any preach in your Church which refuseth to conforme himselfe to the Lawes, Rites and Ordinances established, or [Page] which hath not first shewed a sufficient Licence?

16 Whether doth your Minister in his Sermons foure times in the yeare at the least, teach and declare the Kings Maiesties power within his Realmes to be the highest power vnder God, to whom, all within the same owe most loyalty & obedience, & that al foraine power is iustly taken away?

17 Whether doth your Minister euery Sunday and Holyday halfe an houre before Euening prayer or more, eramine and instruct the youth in the ten Commandements, the Beléefe, the Lords Prayer, and the Cate­chisme set forth in the booke of Common Prayer?

18 Whether hath your Minister married any which haue not béene thrée seuerall Sundayes or holydayes asked in your Church in the time of Di­uine seruice, without Licence? and hath hée without Licence, married any, or with any Licence but onely from the Lord Archbishop of Canter­bury, the Bishop of the Diocesse, or his Chancellour?

19 Whether hath your Minister either with Licence or without, mar­ried any at other times then betwéene the houres of Eight and Twelue in the forenoone, or in any priuate house, or before their Parents or Gouer­nours (the parties being vnder the age of 21. yeares) haue testified their consents?

20 Whether doth your Minister declare to the people euery Sunday at the time appointed, what holydayes and fasting dayes be the wéeke follow­ing? doth he being a Preacher conferre with all Recusants, and persons ex­communicate or suspended in his parish: being no Preacher, doth he procure a sufficient Preacher to reclaime them thereby?

21 Whether doth your Minister kéepe a note of all persons excommuni­cate, and once euery six months doth he denounce them which haue not ob­tained their absolution, on some Sunday in seruice time, that others may be admonished to refraine their company?

22 Whether deth your Minister hauing notice giuen him diligently vi­sit the sicke (the Disease not being infectious) doth he instruct and comfort them, doth he then mooue them to make their Testaments, and remember the poore, and other workes of charity?

23 Whether hath your Minister refused to baptize any childe brought to the Church vpon any Sunday or Holyday, or to bury any corps brought into the Church or Churchyard, or to Church any woman, hauing had con­uenient warning thereof?

24 Whether hath your Minister, being truly informed of the danger of death of any infant vnbaptized, and being desired to goe to the place where the child is, to baptize it, neglected to goe, by meanes whereof the child died vnbaptized?

[Page]25 Whether doth your Minister at any time preach or administer the Communion in any priuate house, or church any women except when any are so impotent that they cannot goe to Church, or are very dangerously sicke, where and how often hath he so done?

26 Whether hath your Minister held or appointed any publike Fast, or béene present at any? doth he or any other person in your Parish hold any Lecture or exercise, without the Licence of the Bishop, vnder his hand or seale, or attempt by fasting, or other wise to cast out any deuils?

27 Whether hath there been any secret conuenticles or méetings in your Parish, by any Priest, Minister, or others, tending to the deprauing of the forme of Prayer, Doctrine, or the gouernment of the Church?

28 Whether doth your Minister in his iourney, weare a cloake with sléeues, called a Priests cloake?

29 Whether doth your Minister resort to any Tauernes or Alehouses, or doth he boord or lodge in any such place? or doth vse any base or seruile labour, drinking, riot, dice, cards, tables, or any other vnlawfull games? Is he contentious, a hunter hawker, dancer, swearer, suspected of any incon­tinency, or hath giuen any euill example of life?

30 Whether is there in your Parish any Minister or Deacon, who hath forsaken his calling, vsing himselfe in his course of life as a Gentleman or other Lay man? Or any that is not in holy Orders, read Common prayer or vse any ministeriall duty in your Church or Chappell?

Touching Schoolemasters.

VVHether haue you in your Parish any Schoole-master, who teach­eth either in publike Schoole, or priuate house, is he of sound reli­gion, or doth he giue any euil example of life? is he alowed by the Ordinary? or doth your Minister or Curate teach? and is he allowed in like manner?

2 Whether doth your Minister or Schoolemaster who teacheth, teach the Catechisme by authority set forth?

Touching the Parish Clarke, and Sexton.

WHether haue you a Parish Clarke sufficient for his place, of the age of 20 years at the least? is he of honest conuersation, can he reade, write, and sing? is he diligent in his office, and seruice­able to his Minister, and not giuen to ouermuch drinke, or any other vice? is he chosen by the Parson or Vicar, doth he take vpon him his Clarkeship before he hath taken the Oath of Supremacy before the Lord Bishop, or his Commissary?

2 Whether doth your Clarke meddle with any thing aboue his office, [Page] as churching of women, burying of the dead, reading of prayers, or the like?

3 Whether doth your Clarke or Sexton kéepe your Church cleane, the doores fast locked, is any thing by his default lost or spoiled in the Church? doth he suffer any vnseasonable ringing, or any prophane exercise in your Church?

4 Whether doth your Clarke or Sexton, when any is passing out of this life, neglect to toll a Bell, hauing notice thereof, or the party being dead, doth he suffer any more then one short peale, and before his huriall one, and after the same another?

5 Whether doth any in your Parish refuse to pay vnto the parish Clark or Sexton, such wages as are vnto them due, and haue beene accustomably payed?

Touching Parishioners.

VVHether hath any in your Parish spoken against or any way im­pugned the Kings Maiesties Supremacy in causes Ecclesiasti­call, the truth and doctrine of the Church of England, the forme of Gods worship contained in the Booke of Common prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments?

2 Whether hath any in your parish spoken against or impugned the rites & ceremonies established in the Church, the gouernment by Archbishops, Bishops, Deanes, Archdeacons, and others that beare office in the same?

3 Whether any haue in your parish spoken against or impugned the form of making & consecrating Bishops, Priests or Deacons, or haue any sepa­rated themselues from the society of the congregation, & combined in a new Frotherhood, or depraued the Synod lately held by the Kings authority?

4 Whether doth any in your Parish profane, violate, or misspend he Sunday or holyday, or any part of them, vsing any offensiue conuersation, or worldly labour in those dayes?

5 Whether haue any in your Parish in the time of Diuine Seruice, co­uered his head, albeit he hath no infirmity, in which case a cap or night­coyfe is allowed: or is there any who hath not reuerently knéeled when the generall confession, Let any, or other prayers are read, and which doe not stand vp at the saying of the Beleefe?

6 Whether hath any in your Parish disturbed the Seruice or Sermon by walking, talking, or any other way, or departed out of the Church du­ring the Seruice or Sermon, without some vrgent cause, or loytered about the Church or Church-porch?

7 Whether doe all Parishioners receiue the holy Communion thrice [Page] euery yeare at the least, whereof the feast of Easter to be one, & haue all be­ing of the age of xvii yeares duly receiued, or not?

8 Whether hath any Parent béene vrged to be present, or admitted to answer as Godfather for his owne child, or hath any Godfather or God­mother made any other answer or spéech then is prescribed by the Booke, or haue any béen admitted for such a baptisme, who haue not first receiued the Communion, doe anie kéepe their children longer then is conuenient?

9 Whether doe all Fathers, Mothers, Masters and Mistresses, come & cause their children, seruants and Aprentices to come duely to the Church, and according to the Ministers directions to be instructed or catechized?

10 Whether haue any persons maried together within the degrées of consanguinitie or affinitie prohibited, set forth in a Table, appointed to be placed in euerie Church?

11 Whether haue any persons once lawfully married, forsaken each o­ther, or doe liue asunder without the authoritie of the Ordinarie, or doe any being diuorced or separated, marry againe the former wife or husband yet liuing?

12 Whether haue any béene maried in the times wherein mariage is by law restrained, without lawfull Licence viz. frō the Saturday next before Aduent Sunday, until the fourteenth of Januarie: and from the Satur­day next before Septuagesima Sunday, vntill the Munday next after Low Sunday: and from the Sunday next before the Rogation wéeke, vntill Trinity Sunday?

13 Whether haue any in your Parish vnreuerently vsed your Minister, or haue any laid violent hands vpon him, or disgraced his office and calling by word or déed?

14 Whether haue you in your Parish any dweller or soiourner, who is a maintainer of popish Doctrine or suspected to kéepe schismaticall bookes, or to fauour any heresie or errour?

15 Whether haue you any common resorters vnto your Church, which are not of your parish, or doe any such, heare diuine seruice, and receiue the Communion amongst you: what be their names, and of what parish are they?

16 Whether haue any in time of diuine Seruice, vpon sundaies or holi­dayes, opened their shops, exercised their trade, vsed any gaming, béene in Taverne or Alehouse, or otherwise imployed?

17 Whether are there in your Parish by common fame and report, any Adulterers, Fornicators, Incestuous persons, Bawdes, receiuers, close fauourers, c [...]iueyers away, or which suffer to depart any incontinent per­sons [Page] vnpunished? and blasphemers, common swearers, drunkards, riba [...]s, vsurers, malicious slanderers, scolds, or sowers of discord, or any defamed of the said crimes?

18 Whether doe any in your Parish administer the goods of the dead without authority, or suppresse their will and testament?

19 Whether doe any refuse to pay to the reparations, ornaments, and other things required in your Church, as they are indifferently sessed, or any other dwelling out of your parish, which hold land in your parish?

20 Whether hath any person excommunicated, béene suffered to heare diuine Seruice or Sermon, to receiue the Sacraments, to be maried or churched: or haue any excommunicate been buried in Christian buriall? doe any frequent their company, who be they?

21 Whether hath any in your parish béen christned, churched, buryed, or receiued the Communion, or béen maried out of your Church without li­cence both parties dwelling in your parish?

22 Whether haue all women in your Parish deliuered of child, come at conuenient time after to Church to giue thankes, and haue they béen chur­ched according to the booke of common prayer?

23 Whether hath the perambulation of the circuit of the parish béene obserued once euery yéere: if not whose default is it?

24 Whether haue any in your parish giuen she church-wardens, or Side-men, or any of them; euill words, for doing their duty according to their oath and conscience?

Touching Church-wardens and Sworne-men.

VVHether doe any in your Parish take vpon them to be Church­warden or Sideman, which are not lawfully chosen by the Mi­nister and parishioners according to the canon, or doe any continue that of­fice longer then one yeere, except he be chosen againe, and are all such offi­cers chosen yeerly in Easter wéeke?

2 Whether doe your Church-wardens within one moneth at most, af­ter their yeare ended, before the Minister and parishioners, giue vp a iust account of all such money, and other things, as they haue receiued, and be­stowed? haue they deliuered all remaining in their hands belonging to the Church or parish, by bill indented, to the next Churchwarden?

3 Whether haue the Churchwardens, with the aduice of the Minister from time to time prouided a sufficient quantity of fine white bread, and [...] wine for the number of Communicants?

[Page]4 Whether doe the Church-wardens and Sworne-men before euery Uisitation and at other times, when there is iust occasion, méet and confer about their presentments and the answering of their Articles? and who hath (after notice giuen him of the time and place) carelesly absented him­selfe?

5 Whether the forfeiture of twelue pence for absence from Church, ap­pointed by statute for the vse of the poore, be taken & leauied by the church­wardens and imployed according to the said statute: and whether is the same forfeiture taken of all persons which stand wilfully suspended or ex­communicated?

6 Whether haue any Church-wardens lost, sold, or detained any goods, Ornaments, Bels, Rents, or implements of the Church?

7 Whether doe the Church-wardens and Side-men, suffer any to say diuine Seruice, or preach, being not lawfully allowed? & doe they, about the midst of Diuine Seruice, vsually walke out of the Church, and sée who are abroad in any Alehouse, or elsewhere absent, or euill imployed, and whe­ther haue they presented all such to the Ordinary?

8 Whether doe you know or haue heard a fame of any offence commit­ted, or duty omitted by any of your parish, before your time, and heretofore not presented to the Ordinary, or as yet not reformed, and whether haue you presented the same?

9 Whether hath any part of your Church béen lately altered, new built, or any addition made thereunto, the wals pulled downe, new doores made into the Church, or any sollaries built there by any, without allowance of the Ordinary?

10 Whether is any part of your Church imployed to any prophane vse, is your Church-porch, Church walls, and Church-yard, cleanly kept without any annoyance, in whose default is such annoyance?

11 Finally, doe you know of any matter or cause, which is a breach of the lawes Ecclesiasticall, here not expressed?