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

IS your Church or Chappel with the Chancel and Stéeple thereof in good and sufficient repair both within and without?

2. Are all things therein cleanly kept, frée from anything that may be noisom or unséemly?

3. Hath any part thereof béen demolished or pulled down? Have any of the Bells, Lead, Timber, or utensils, heretofore belonging to the same, béen imbezelled, or converted to private uses during, or since the late War?

4. Have you in your Church or Chappel, a large Bible of the last Translation, the Book of Common Prayer lately established, the Book of Homilies allowed by Authority, the Table of Degrées wherein Marriages are prohibited, as also a Register Book in Parch­ment, for Christenings, Marriages, and Burials; and is the same kept in all points as is required? Have you a Paper-Book to record the Names, Sirnames and Licenses of such strangers as are ad­mitted to Preach in your Church or Chappel, and do such strangers subscribe their Names thereunto?

5. Have you a Font of stone standing in the usual place for Publick Baptism, and doth your Minister therein only Baptize Publickly?

6. Have you a decent Communion Table with a Carpet, and ano­ther covering of white linnen to be spread thereon, at the time of Ad­ministration of the Lords Supper? What Cup, Chalice, Patten or Flagons have you belonging to that Service?

7. Have you a convenient Seat or Pew for your Minister to read Service in, a comely Pulpit set in a convenient place to Preach the Word in, with a decent Cloth or Cushion for the same? Have you also [Page] a large Surplice for the use of your Minister in his publick Admini­strations.

8. Have you a Book for the Church-wardens accounts, a Box for the alms for the Poor, a strong Chest with Locks and Keys where­in may be safely kept the Plate, Vessels, Carpets, Vestments, and Books belonging to the Church, and have you a Bier with a Herse­cloth for decent Burial of the dead?

9. Is there any strife or contention among any of your Parish about the Pews or Seats in your Church or Chappel? Have any new Pews or Monuments béen erected there without License, or any old Monuments or Ornaments of your Church or Chappel béen de­faced contrary to Law, and by whom?

10. Is your Church-Yard well and sufficiently fenced, and decent­ly kept without abuse or nusances? Have any encroached upon the ground thereof; or cut down any trées growing therein, unless for necessary reparation of the Church or Chappel?

11. Have you in your Parish a House for your Minister to dwell in? Is the same, with the out-houses thereunto belonging, in good and sufficient repair? Have any of them béen defaced or pulled down without license?

12. Have you a true perfect Terriar of all the Glebe-lands and Tenements belonging to your Parsonage or Vicarage, taken by the view of your Minister, and other honest men of your Parish? As also a note of such Pensions, rate-tithes, and portions of tithes both with­in and without your Parish, as belong thereunto? And is a Copy thereof delivered in the Bishops Registry?

13. Is there any Alms-house, Hospital, or Frèe-School (being not of the Kings foundation) in your Parish, and are they and their en­dowments preserved and employed to the right use?

14. Have any dying in your Parish given any legacy to the Church, or Poor, which hath béen misemployed and disposed of to other uses?

15. Are there any Wills or Testaments of persons dead in your Parish that are yet unproved, or any goods Administred without a due grant from the Ordinary?

TIT. II. Concerning Ministers.

1. HAve you a setled Minister in your Parish? If not, how long have you béen destitute? What is the living yearly worth, [Page] and who is the Patron thereof? By whom are the fruits received and how are they disposed of? If you have a Minister lately setled, out of what Diocess, and from what place came he?

2. Is your Minister (so far as you know or believe) in holy Or­ders according to the Laws of the Church of England?

3. Doth he diligently attend upon his Ministry, in reading the Lessons and Prayers, Preaching the Word, Administring the Sa­craments, Catechissing the Youth, visiting the sick, and in all other the offices of his Ministerial Function, in such manner and form as is directed by the Book of Common Prayer lately established, and the Act of Vniformity therewith published? And doth he in the read­ing or celebrating every office in your Church or Chappel wear the Surplice?

4. Doth he give notice of the Holidayes, and of the Ember weeks, that the people may be minded to pray for such as are to be solemnly called to the work of the Ministry? As also of the yearly Perambula­tion in Rogation wéek for preserving the bounds of the Parish, and for desiring Gods blessing upon the fruits of the Earth? Doth he also observe the fifth of November, the thirtieth of January, and the twenty ninth of May, according to the Statutes and Orders set forth in that behalf?

5. Is his Doctrine (so far as you can judge) agréeable to the Word of God, and the 39. Articles agréed upon, and published Anno Dom. 1562.

6. Hath he at any time, that you know of, publickly or otherwise spoken against the Order and Government of the Church of England as is now by Law established?

7. Doth he administer the Sacraments in private houses other­wise than is by Law allowed?

8. Doth he every year publish in your Church or Chappel, the Statute against profane swearing, and cursing, according as it is thereby enacted? 21 Jac. cap. 20.

9. Doth he permit any strange Minister to preach in your Church or Chappel, who is not sufficiently authorized thereunto?

10. Doth he serve more than one Church or Chappel in distinct Parishes upon one day? If so, how far distant are those Churches or Chappels which he so serveth, and what wages and salary hath he for his pains?

11. Is your Minister a man of godly, sober, and peaceable con­versation? [Page] Or on the contrary, is he a frequenter of Taverns or Alehouses, or doth he board therein? Is he a common Gamester? A prophane Swearer, an obscene Iester, or an intemperate Drinker? Is he vehemently suspected of incontinency? Is he a fomenter of suits and contention among neighbours? Doth he give himself to any base or servile labour, or secular Trade, unbefitting the duty and dignity of his office? Is his apparel grave and decent both for fashion and colour, as the Canons of the Church require? Or is his carriage and conversation in any kind disorderly, scandalous or unbeséeming a Mi­nister of Iesus Christ?

TIT. III. Concerning Parishioners.

1. DO any of your Parish make profession of any other Religion, than what is professed and established in the Church of En­gland? Do any reproach the same Religion, or seduce others from it, or endeavour to alienate the hearts of the People from their Loyalty and obedience to the King? Or are there any Conventicles or Reli­gious Méetings for people of several Families held in your Parish contrary to the Laws in that case provided? And who are the persons that go to those Méetings?

2. Do any absent themselves from the publick assemblies & Servi­ces of the Church? or not come in due time as well to Service as Ser­mons; or not behave themselves when they are there with such Re­verence, order decency & attention, as is required; or depart thence, be­fore the Service and Sermon be ended and the blessing pronounced?

3. Do any refuse to send their Infant-children to be baptized in your Church or Chappel, unless in case of extream danger? or are any Children kept unbaptized longer than is allowed? or are there any more aged persons yet unbaptized? or are any Children not Com­municants admitted to be God-fathers or God-mothers in Baptism?

4. Do the House-holders of your Parish take care to send their Children & Servants to your Church or Chappel there to be instru­cted in the Church Catechism, that so they may be brought to under­stand and take upon them their Baptismal covenant, and be confirm­ed and admitted Communicants?

5. Do all Communicants of your Parish, upon timely notice given by the Minister thrice at the least every Year (once whereof at Easter) knéeling in that méek and reverend manner which is required, par­take [Page] of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper? and do such signifie their names and purpose to communicate, unto the Minister, at least the day before the Celebration thereof?

6. Are there any living in your Parish, who have béen Married contrary to the Laws of God? Or any who being lawfully divorced have Married again? Or any who being lawfully Married and not separated or divorced by due course of Law, do not cohabit together?

7. Have any béen clancularly Married in private houses, or in the Church without license, the Banes not being thrice published, or by License, or without, neither of the Persons so Married dwel­ling at that time in your Town?

8. Do any Married Women in your Parish, after their delivery from the danger of Child-birth, refuse in due time to make their pub­lick thanksgiving in your Church for so great a mercy? or to pay their accustomed duties as is required?

9. Are such as die in the Parish (who are not denied Christian Burial) decently buried according to the order of the Church?

10. Do any profane the Lords Day by working in their ordinary callings, by tipling, gaming, or any other unlawful exercises or pa­stimes?

11. Do any walk, talk, or stand idle in the Church-Yard or Church-porch during the time of Divine Service, or Sermons?

12. Is there any of your Parish who hath lately or heretofore paid any sum of money to any Ecclesiastical Officer for Commutation of Penance? What was that sum? To whom was it paid? And to what use hath it béen imployed?

13. Have any irreverently used your Minister, or spoken flander­ous or reproachful words against him to the scandal of his Vocation? Or interrupted him in his Administration?

14. Do any refuse to pay the Rates assessed upon them, for the re­pair of the Church or Chappel and the providing of Books, Vtensils, and other necessary Ornaments for the same?

15. Are there any in your Parish Blasphemers of Gods Holy Name? Any common Drunkards or Swearers? Any commonly known, or suspected to be guilty of Fornication, Adultery, Incest, or any other notorious Crime of Ecclesiastical Cognizance; Declare who they are, that they may be punished according to their deserts.

TIT. IV. Concerning Church-wardens.

ARe the Church-wardens of your Parish yearly and duly chosen? Have the former, and last Church-wardens given up their ac­counts to the Minister and Parishioners, and also delivered up to their Successours the moneys remaining in their hands, together with all things else, belonging to your Church or Chappel?

TIT. V. Concerning School-Masters.

DOth any man kéep a publick or private School in your Parish, who is not licensed by his Ordinary? Doth your School-master teach his Scholars the Catechism of Religion set forth by Authority? Doth he cause them upon the Lords day, and Holy-days 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? And doth every woman that kéepeth a School in your Parish do the like?

TIT. VI. Concerning Parish-Clerks.

HAve you a Parish-Clerk, chosen by your Minister of twenty years of age at least? Is he of ability to perform his duty, and doth he perform the same in all respects as is required of him? Are his accustomed wages duly paid unto him, or do any withhold the same from him?

IF you know any other default or crime of Ecclesiastical Cognizance not exprest in these Articles, you are likewise to present the same, and therein to take the assistance of your Minister; and you are to know 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 you are to be proceeded against in this Court as in cases of wilful Omission and Per­jury.

The Minister of every Parish may joyn in Presentment with the Church-wardens and Side-men: and if they will not present such enormities as require Reformation, the Mini­ster himself (being the Person that should have the chief care for the suppressing of Sin and Impiety in the Parish) may present the same.