Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

❧ Touching the lay people.

1 FIrst, whether any maner of person, of what estate, degree,* 1.1 or condition so euer he be, do hold, maintein, or affirme any heresies, errors, or erroneous opinions, cō∣trary to the lawes Ecclesiasticall, and the vnity of the Ca∣tholicke Church.

2 Item, whether any person doe holde, affirme, or saye that in the blessed Sacrament of the Aultar there is not cō∣teined the reall and substantiall presence of Christ: or that by any maner of meanes do contemne and despite the sayd blessed Sacrament, or do refuse to do reuerēce or worship thereunto.

3 Item, whether they doe contemne or despise by anye maner of meanes any other of the Sacramentes, Rites or Ceremonies of the Church, or do refuse or deny auricular confession.

4 Item, whether any do absent or refrayne, without vr∣gent and lawfull impedement, to come to the Church, and reuerently to heare the diuine seruice vpon Sondaies and holy dayes.

5 Item, whether being in the Church, they do not apply themselues to heare the diuine seruice, and to be contem∣platiue in holy prayer, and not to walke, iangle, or talk, in the time of the diuine seruice.

6 Item, whether any be fornicatours, adulterers, or doe commit incest, or be baudes, and receiuers of euill persons or be vehemently suspected of any of them.

7 Item, whether any do blaspheme and take the name of God in vayne, or be common swearers.

8 Item, whether any be periured, or haue cōmitted Si∣mony or vsury, or do still remayne in the same.

9 Item, whether the Churches & churchyardes be well and honestly repared and inclosed.

10 Item, whether the Churches be sufficiently garni∣shed and adorned with all ornaments and bookes necessa∣ry, and whether they haue a Roode in theyr church of a de∣cent stature, with Mary and Iohn, and an Image of the Patrone of the same church.

11 Item, whether any do withholde, or doth draw from the church any maner of mony or goodes, or that do with∣hold theyr due and accustomed tithes frō theyr Parsons & Uicars.

12 Item, whether any be common drunkardes, ribalds, or mē of euill liuing, or do exercise any lew pastimes, espe∣cially in the time of diuine seruice.

13 Item, if there be any that doe practise or exercise any artes of Magike, or Necromancy or do vse or practise any Incantations, Sorceries, or witchcraft, or be vehemently suspected therof.

14 Item, whether any be maried in the degrees of affi∣nity, or consanguinitye, prohibited by the Lawes of holye church or that do mary, the banes not asked, or do make a∣ny priuy contractes.

15 Item, whether in the time of Easter last, any were not confessed, or did not receiue the blessed sacrament of the aultar, or did reuerētly behaue themselues in the receiuing thereof.

16 Item, whether any do keepe any secret conuenticles, preachinges, lectures, or readinges, in matters of religion contrary to the lawes.

17 Item, whether any do now not duly keep the fasting and embring dayes.

18 Item, whether the aultars in the Churches be conse∣crated or no.

19 Item, whether the Sacrament be caryed deuoutly to them that fall sicke, with light and with a little Sacring Bell.

20 Item, whether the common scholes be well kept, and that the scholemaisters be diligent in teathing, and be also Catholicke, and men of good and vpright iudgemēt, & that they be examined and approued by the Ordinary.

21 Item, whether any do take vpon them to minister the goodes of those that be dead, without authority from the Ordinary.

22 Itē, whether the poore people in euery parish be cha∣ritably prouided for.

23 Item, whether there do burne a Lampe or a Candle before the sacramēt. And if ther do not, that then it be pro∣uided for, with expedition.

24 Item, whether infantes & children be brought to be confirmed in conuenient time.

25 Item, whether any do keepe or haue in theyr custody any erroneous or vnlawfull bookes.

26 Item, whether any do withhold any mony or goodes bequeathed to the amending of the high wayes, or any o∣ther charitable deede.

27 Item, whether any haue put away theyr wyues, or any wiues do withdraw thēselues from theyr husbandes, being not lawfully diuorced.

28 Item, whether any do violate or breake the sondaies and holy dayes, doing theyr daily labors & exercises vpon the same.

29 Item, whether the Tauernes or Alehouses, vpon the sondayes and holy dayes, in the time of Masse, matins and Euensong, do keepe open theyr doores, and do receiue people into theyr houses to drink and eat, and therby neg∣lect theyr dueties in comming to the church.

30 Item, whether any haue, or do depraue or contemne the authority or Iurisdiction of the Popes holynes, or the See of Rome.

31 Item, whether any Minstrels, or any other persons do vse to sing any songes against the holy sacramēts, or a∣ny

other the rites and ceremonies of the church.* 1.2

32 Itē, whether there be any hospitals within your pa∣rishes, & whether the foundations of them be duely & tru∣ly obserued and kept. And whether the charitable contri∣butions of the same be done accordingly.

33 Item, whether any goodes, plate, iewels, or possessi∣ons be taken away, or withholden from the sayd Hospi∣tals, and by whom.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Articles of Car∣dinall Poole to be inquired vpō touching the Laitye.
• * 1.2

  Anno. 1557. Ianuary.