TITUL. I. Concerning Churches and Chapples, with the Ornaments and Furniture thereunto belonging.

I. IS your Parish-Church or Chappel kept in good and sufficient repair? Are the Roofs thereof well covered with Lead, Tile, or Slate; the Windows well Glazed, the Floors well Paved, the Seats well Fast­ned, and conveniently Placed; and all things so decently ordered, as becometh the house of God?

II. HATH the Stéeple or Towre of your Church or Chappel, or any part thereof, béen pulled down, or any of the Lead, or Bells formerly belonging thereunto, béen imbezelled, sold or made away? In whose hands or custo­dy doth the same, or any part thereof remain? Declare what you know, or have heard therein?

[Page 2] III. IS there a Font of Stone, with a good Cover thereunto, standing in a convenient place towards the low­er part of your Church, for the Administration of Baptism? And is there in your Chancel, a decent Communion Ta­ble, for the Administration of the Lords Supper; with a Carpet of Silk, Stuff, or fine Woollen Cloth; and an­other Covering of white and pure Linnen, to spread thereupon? And have you a fair Communion-Cup, or Cha­lice, with a Cover of silver, and one or more Flagons of silver, or pewter, thereunto belonging?

IV. HAVE you in your said Church or Chappel, a con­venient Seat, or Pew, for your Minister to read Divine Service in? A Pulyit, with a comely Cloth or Cushion for the same? A Bible, of the last Translation, in a large Volumn, and the Book of Common-Prayer; both well and substantially bound? Have you likewise the Book of Homilies set forth by Authority? A Book of Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical? And a printed Table of the Degrées wherein Marriage is prohibited?

V. HAVE you acomely large Surplice for the Mini­ster to wear at all times of his Publick Ministration in the Church; provided, and to be dilly washed at the charge of the Parish?

VI. HAVE you a Register-Book of Parchment, wherein to Register the Names and Surnames of all such persons as are Married, Christned, or Buried within your Parish? together with the Names and Surnames of both the Parents of the Children so Christned, expressing the Day, Month, and Year of all such Christnings, Marriages, and Burials? And is the Transcript thereof Yearly, with­in one Month next after the 25. of March, brought into the Bishops Registry?

VII. HAVE you likewise another Book of Paper, wherein to Record the Names and Licenses of all such Strangers as are admitted at any time to Preach in your Church or Chappel? As also a Third Book, wherein to write down the Church-wardens Accounts: together with a strong Chest, with Locks and Keyes, wherein to kéep the aforesaid Books, and all other the aforementioned [Page 3] Furniture in safe Custody? And lastly, Have you a Bier, with a black Hears-Cloth, for the Burial of the Dead?

TIT. II. Concerning the Church-yard, the Houses, Gleabs, and Tithes, belonging to the Church.

I. IS your Church-yard sufficiently fenced with Walls, Rails, or Pales; and decently kept from the an­noyance of Swine, Horses, and other Cattel? Hath any person encroached upon the same? or made any door into it, out of his own Ground or Habitation, without allow­ance from the Ordinary? Have any Trées there growing béen cut down? how long since? by whom? and to whose use and benefit?

II. IS the House of your Parson, Vicar, or Curate, (with all the Out-houses thereunto belonging) kept in good and sufficient repair? Or, have any of the said Houses, or Out-houses, béen defaced, or pulled down, without License from the Ordinary? And by whom? Hath any Person encroached upon any Garden, Yard, or Close, belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage-house? Or cut up any Trées growing thereon? Or changed, or removed the Ancient Marks and Bounds of the same?

III. HAVE you a true and perfect Terrier of all the Glebe-lands, Gardens, Orchards, Tenements, or Cotta­ges, belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage? As also a Note of such Pensions, Rate-tithes, and Portions of Tithes, or other yearly Profits (either within, or with­out your Parish) as belong thereunto: Have any of the same béen with-held from your Minister; and by whom, as you know, or have heard?

IV. HAVE any of the Ancient Glebe-lands belong­ing to your Parsonage or Nicarage, béen taken away or exchanged for other, without the frée consent of the In­cumbenf, [Page 4] and Licence from the Ordinary? Have any Inclosures béen made in your Parish, to the detriment of the Church, by the decay of Tillage, and converting Ara­ble Land into Pasture? by whom hath the same béen made? and how many years since? and how much is your Parso­nage or Vicarage damnified thereby in the yearly value thereof, as you know, believe, or have heard?

TIT. III. Concerning MINISTERS.

I. IS your Minister a Priest or Deacon, Episcopally Or­dained, according to the Lawes of the Church of England?

II. IS he defamed or suspected to have obtained either his Benefice or Orders, by any Simonaical Compact.

III. HATH he béen legally Instituted and Inducted into his Benefice? And did he within two Months after his Induction, publickly in the Church, upon some Sunday or Holy-day, in the time of Divine Service, read the 39. Articies of the Church of England; established by Authori­ty, and there publickly Declare his Assent thereunto?

IV. HATH he any other Ecclesiastical Benefice, Prebend, or Dignity? Is he constantly resident upon his Benefice amongst you? How many wéeks in any one Year hath he béen absent from it, without urgent Necessity?

V. HATH your Minister a Curate to assist him? Is the said Curate in holy Orders, an able and discréet Per­son, and conformable to the Lawes and Orders of the Church of England? Is he allowed by the Bishop to serve in your Church or Chappel? And doth he serve in any other Church beside? And what yearly Stipend doth your Minister allow him?

VI. DOTH your Parson, Vicar or Curate, in reading the daily Morning and Evening Service, Administration of the holy Sacraments, Celebration of Marriage, [Page 5] Churching of Women after Child-birth, Visitation of the Sick, Burial of the Dead, and pronouncing Gods Commination against impenitent Sinners, use the Form and Words prescribed in the Book of Common-Praper, without any Addition, Omission, or Alteration of the same? And doth he use all such Rites and Ceremonies in all parts of Divine Service, as are appointed in the said Book?

VI. DOTH your Minister, at the Reading or Cele­brating any Divine Office in your Church or Chappel, wear the Surplice, together with such other Scholastical Habit as is sutable to his Degrée?

VIII. DOTH he observe the Holy-dayes and Fasting­dayes, as also the Ember-wéeks, and the yearly Peram­bulation in Rogation-wéek, as in the Common-Prayer-Book, or by the Ecclesiastical Canons is appointed; giving notice to the Parishioners of every of the same in the Church, in the time of Divine Service upon the Sun­day next before?

IX. HATH your Minister béen Licensed to Preach by the Bishop, or either of the two Vniversities? If so; Doth he then constantly (unless in case of sickness, ne­cessary absence, or other reasonable impediment) himself Preach in your Church or Chappel, one Sermon every Sunday? Or if he be not a Licensed Preacher, or being so Licensed, be hindred by sickness, or otherwise, as afore­said; Doth he procure a Sermon to be so preached by some other Minister, a Licensed Preacher? or one of the Ho­milies, set forth by Authority, to be there read by a Priest or Deacon lawfully Ordained?

X. DOTH your Minister diligently instruct the Youth of your Parish, in the Church-Catechism? And doth he prepare and present them, being so instructed, to be Con­firmed by the Bishop? And doth he endeavour to reclaim all Popish Recusants, and other Sectaries (if any such be inhabiting within your Parish) to the true Religion esta­blished in the Church of England, and to their bounden Du­ty, in obeying the Lawes, and submitting to the Govern­ment thereof?

[Page 6] XI. DOTH he neglect to visit the Sick, or delay the Baptism of any Infant that is in danger of death? Is there any Chillde past Infancy, or other person of more Years, through your Ministers default, yet remaining un­baptized in your Parish? Doth he Baptize any without Godfathers and Godmothers, or admit either of the Parents to be Godfather or Godmother to their own Children?

XII. DOTH he in his Sermons Preach sound Do­ctrine, tending to the Edification of the People, in the Knowledge and Faith of Iesus Christ, and Obedience to Gods Holy Commandments? Or hath he at any time (as you know, or have heard) Preached any False, Hereti­cal, Seditious, or Schismatical Doctrine, thereby to seduce the People into Parties and Factions, to the disturbance of the Publick Peace and Vnity either of Church or State?

XIII. HATH he presumed to Marry any persons in private Houses? Or such, as being▪ under Age, have not the consent of their Parents, or without the Banes first published on three Sundayes or Holy-dayes in the Church? Or at any other houres than betwéen Eight and Twelve in the Morning; unless he had a License or Dispensation so to do?

XIV. DOTH any person Preach in your Parish as a Lecturer? Hath he allowance from the Bishop for so doing? Doth he before his Lecture, read Divine Service according to the Book of Common-Prayer? And is he in all respects conformable to the Lawes and Orders of the Church of England?

XV. HATH your Minister taken upon him to appoint any Publick or Private Fasts, Prophecyings or Exercises, not appointed by Authority? Or doth he, or any other, either Minister or Lay-person, hold any Conventicles or Méetings in private Houses within your Parish for people of several Families to resort unto, under the pretence of Preaching, Praying, Thanksgiving, or Humiliation, con­trary to the Lawes and Canons in that case provided?

[Page 7] XVI. IS your Parson, Vicar, Curate, or Lecturer, a man of a sober, unblameable, and exemplary life? Doth he fa­miliarly converse with ungodly, vitious, and excommuni­cate persons? Is he a Frequenter of Taverns, or Ale­houses? a common Gamester? a profane or obscene Iester? a Swearer, Railer, Scoffer, or Quarreller? Doth he set Neighbours at variance one with another? Or encourage them to Suits and Contention? Is he no­ted to be an intemperate Drinker? Or vehemently sus­pected of Incontinency with any Person, either within your Parish, or without? Doth he wear his hair of an im­moderate or uncomely length? Is his Apparrel grave and decent, both for Fashion and Colour, as the Canons of the Church require? Or is his Carriage and Conversation in any kind whatsoover, Disorderly or Scandalous, and un­beséeming a Minister of Iesus Christ?

TIT. IV. Concerning the Parishioners.

I. Is there in your Parish, any person, a known or re­puted Heretick or Schismatick? Any Papist, Fa­milist, Anabaptist, Quaker, or other Sectary, that refuse to come unto the Publick Assemblies, Prayers or Services of the Church, or that make Profession of any other Religi­on than what is established in the Church of England? And if there be any such, what are their Names?

II. IS there any person in your Parish, that lieth under a common Fame, or vehement suspition of Adultery, For­nication, or Incest? Are there any common Drunkards within your Parish, or common Swearers, or Blasphemers of Gods Name, or any that are Noted to be Railers, un­clean or filchy Talkers, or Sowers of Sedition, Faction, and Discord amongst their Neighbours?

III. DO any of your Parish upon the Sundayes or Ho­ly-dayes, follow their bodily and ordinary Labour? Or per­mit [Page 8] their Servants so to do? Are any Shops kept open, or Wares sold? Or do any Vintners, Inne-kéepers, or other Victuallers and Sellers of Béer or Ale, suffer any persons to Tiple or Game in their Houses upon those dayes?

IV. DOTH every Person inhabiting or sojourning within your Parish, duly resort unto your Church or Chappel, upon every Sunday and Holy-day appointed for Divine Service? Do they then and there abide quietly with Reverence, Order and Decency, during all the whole time of Common-Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God there used? And are there any among you that come only to the Preaching, and not to the Common-Prayers of the Church?

V. DOTH every Person reverently uncover his Head, and so continue all the time of Divine Service, and Sermon in the Church? Do they all reverently knéel at the Prayers, and stand up when the Créed and Gospel are read, making due Reverence when the Name of our Lord Iesus is mentioned?

VI. ARE there any in your Parish that refuse to send their Infant-children to be baptized publickly in the Church, unless in case of urgent Danger; in which case, the Child may be baptized at Home by a lawful Minister, after the Form and Rites appointed in the Liturgy? Or do they send them to be bap [...]ized in any other Parishes, or after other Form than is appointed? Or do they kéep them un­baptiz [...]d any longer time than the Church alloweth? And are there any Infants, or more aged persons in your Pa­rish, as yet unbaptized?

VII. DOTH every Housholder in your Parish cause their Children and Servants to learn their Catechism, and to give an Account thereof unto your Minister, as he shall require it of them openly in the Church upon Sun­dayes and Holy-dayes, as in the Book of Common-Prayer is appointed: that when they are well instructed in the same, they may be confirmed by the Bishop?

VIII. IS there any person in your Parish, who being Sixteen Years of Age, and well instructed in Religion, doth not receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, at [Page 9] least three times in the year, of which Easter is alwayes to be one? Doth any in your Parish refuse to receive the same kneeling: or from the hands of your own Minister, repairing for it to other Parishes and Ministers abroad? Or are there any strangers not of your Parish, that forsake their own Churches, and usually repair to yours for it?

IX. HAVE you any among you that be denounced and declared Excommunicate for any Crime committed? How long have they béen so Excommunicated? And do any of your Parish kéep Society with them before they be recon­ciled to the Church, and absolved?

X. ARE there any living in your Parish, who have béen unlawfully Married, contrary to the Lawes of God? Or any that being lawfully Divorced, have Married again? Or any that being lawfully Married, and not Separated or Divorced by course of Law, do not Cohabit together?

XI. ARE there any Married women in your Parish, who after their Delivery from the Peril of Child-birth, refuse to make their Publick Thanksgiving to God in the Church? And when they come so to do, Do they come de­cently Apparrelled, and make their Off [...]rings according to Custom?

XII. ARE there any belonging to your Parish, who refuse to pay their Duty for Easter-Offerings to your Mi­nister? Or any that refuse to contribute, and pay the Rate Assessed upon them, for the Repair of your Church or Chap­pel, and for the providing of such Books, Furniture and Ornaments, as be requisite for the performance of all Divine Offices there?

XIII. DO any refuse to bury their Dead according to the Rites of the Church of England? And are there any Wills or Testaments of persons dead in your Parish, that be yet unproved? Or any Goods Administred, without a due Grant from the Ordinary? Did any dying in your Parish, or elsewhere, leave any Legacy to your Church or Chappel, or to the use of the Poor, or to any other pious and charitable purposes? What were those Legacies, and how have they béen bestowed?

XIV. DO you know, or have you heard, of any Patron, [Page 10] or other person in your Parish, having the Presentation or Gift of any Ecclesiastical Benefice, who hath made gain thereof, by presenting a Clerk or Minister to it upon any Bargain, either for Money or Pension, or Lease, reserve of Tithes, or Glebe, or any part thereof, or upon other Simo­naical Compact whatsoever?

XV. IS there any Strife and Contention among any of your Parish, for their Pews or Seats in your Church? Have any new Pews béen erected in your Chancel, or in the Body of your Church or Chappel, without leave from the Ordinary?

TIT. V. Concerning Parish-Clerks and Sextons.

I. HAVE you belonging to your Church or Chappel­ry, a Parish-Clerk aged Twenty one Years at the least? Is he of honest Life and Conversation, and suf­ficient or able to perform his Duty in Reading, Writing, and Singing? Is he chosen by your Minister, and doth he duly attend him in all Divine Services at the Church? Are his Wages duly paid unto him? Or who with-hold­eth the same from him?

II. DOTH he or your Sexton (if there be any such appointed in your Parish) diligently look to the Doors of your Church, that they be locked and opened at due time? And doth he keep your Church or Chappel clean from Dust, Cobwebs, and other Annoyance? Doth he Toll or Ring the Bells at the due accustomed houres be­fore the beginning of Divine Service, Morning and Eve­ning, that the people may be warned to come unto the Church? And when any person is passing out of this Life, doth he upon notice given him thereof, Toll a Bell, as hath béen accustomed, that the Neighbours may thereby be warned to recommend the dying person to the Grace and Favour of God?

TIT. VI. Concerning Hospitals, Schools, School-masters, Phy­sitians, Chyrurgyons, and Midwives.

I. IS there any Hospital, Almes-house, or Frée-School founded in your Parish? Who was the Founder, or is now the Patron thereof? And what is the Yearly Revenue, or Stipend, belonging to the Governors, or Ma­sters of the same? Is the same Ordered and Governed in every Respect as it ought to be? And are the Revenues thereof rightly employed, according to the intention of the Founder, and of such Grants and Ordinances as have béen made concerning the same?

II. DOTH any man kéep a publick or private School in your Parish, who is not allowed thereunto by the Bishop or his Chancellor? Doth your School-master teach his Scho­lars the Catechism of Religion set forth by Authority? Doth he cause them upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes, or­derly to repair to your Church or Chappel; and sée that they behave themselves there quietly and reverently, du­ring the time of Divine Service and Sermon?

III. DOTH any man in your Parish practice Physick, or Chyrurgery; or any Woman take upon her to exer­cise the Office of Midwife, without Approbation and Li­cense from the Ordinary?

TIT. VII. Concerning Church-wardens and Side-men.

I. ARE the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen by the joint consent of your Mi­nister and Parishioners; or one of them by your Minister, and the other by the Parishioners?

[Page 12] II. HAVE the former and last Church-wardens given up their due Accounts to the Parish, and delivered up to the succéeding Church-wardens the Moneys remaining in their hands, together with all other things belonging to your Church or Chappel?

III. DO you the Church-wardens and Side-men take diligent Care, and sée who of your Parishioners be absent from the Divine Service and Sermon in your Church or Chappel, upon Sundayes and Holy-dayes? And if you find any to have absented themselves without a sufficient Cause, do you by Warrant from some of the Iustices of Peace, levy of them by way of Distress upon their Goods, the Sum of Twelve Pence for every such day of their ab­sence, according to the Act of Parliament in that Case pro­vided: And do you distribute the several Sums so levied, a­mong the Poor of your Parish, according to the Law?

IV. DO you Note them that come late to Church after Divine Service is begun, or depart before it be ended? Do you suffer none to stand idle, or talk together in the Church-Porch, or to walk in the Church, or Church-Yard, during the time of Prayers, Preaching, or other Sacred Offices?

V. DO you suffer no Misbehaviour or Disorder to be done by Men, Women, or Servants, or Children in your Church or Chappel? Are you careful that none of them sit, lean, or lay their Hats upon the Communion Table? Do you permit no Minstrels, no Morris-Dancers, no Doggs, Hawks, or Hounds, to be brought, or come into your Church, to the disturbance of the Congregation?

VI. DO you against every Communion appointed in your Church or Chappel, provide a sufficient quantity of fine white Bread, and of good Wine, according to the Number of Communicants?

VII. DO you cause all Strangers that Preach in your Church or Chappel, to Subscribe their Names the same day in a Book provided for that purpose, together with the Name of the Bishop that Licensed them to Preach in this Diocess? And do you permit no other to Preach?

VIII. HAVE you (the Church-wardens and Side-men) now Sworn to give in a true Answer unto all these Articles [Page 13] of Inquiry in all their several Titles, taken sufficient time to draw up your Presentments, and therein consulted with your Minister for his faithful Assistance?

FOR know you assuredly, That as the true discharging of your Office, is the chief means whereby Publick Disor­ders, Sins and Offences in your Parish may be Reformed and Punished: So if you wilfully refuse to Present such Crimes and Faults as either you know to have been committed, or o­therwise have heard of by Publick Fame; That in such Cases, the Bishop and his Officers are to proceed against you in their Ecclesiastical Courts, as in Cases of wilful Omission and Perjury.