Articles to be inquired of in the diocesse of S. Asaph. In the fift visitation of the reverend father in God, Iohn, Lord Bishop of S. Asaph. 1642:

ARTICLES To be enquired of in the Diocess OF Saint ASAPH.

ARTICLES concerning publique PRAYER, and administration of the SACRAMENTS.

• FIRST,* 1.1 Whether hath any of your Pa∣rish spoken or declared any thing in the derogation or depraving of the forme of Gods worship in the Church of England, and Administration of the Sacraments, Rites and Ceremonies set forth and prescribed in the Booke of Common Prayer?
• 2. Item, Whether hath any interrupted, hindred,* 1.2 let, or disturbed the Minister to reade divine Ser∣vice, and to administer the Sacraments in such man∣ner and form as is mentioned in the said book: or in∣terrupted him in his preaching?
• ...

• ...3.* 1.3 Item, Whether is the Sacrament of Baptisme refused to be administred to any children borne in or out of Wedlock, their birth being made knowne to the Minister of the Parish, and offered unto him to be baptized?
• ...4.* 1.4 Item, Whether have there béene any children baptized in private houses by any Lay-person, or Midwife, or Popish Priest, or by any other Mini∣ster, but upon urgent occasion, when the child was in danger of death?
• ...5.* 1.5 Item, Whether have the children which have béene borne to any popish Recusants, or begotten by them in your Parish, béene publikely baptized in your parish Church by your Parson, Vicar or Cu∣rate, or by whom were they baptized, or where, to your knowledge?
• ...6.* 1.6 Item, Whether hath the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper béen duly and reverently administred every moneth, or thrice every yeare at least, whereof once at Easter, within your Parish Church, to every parishoner being of sixtéene yéeres of age or upwards?

Articles concerning the Church, the ornaments thereof and the Churches possessions.

• FIrst, Have you the Bible in the largest volume, the Common prayer booke and the Bookes of Homi∣lies in the Welsh tongue? Have you a Register book in Parchment, and a Table of the degrees prohibited in marriage?
• 2. Item, Whether have you a Communion cup of silver, with a covering for it, a faire standing pot of silver or pewter for the wine, a faire covering of silke or other decent stuffe for the Communion Table, a faire linnen cloth to be laid over it, at the administra∣tion of the Communion?
• ...

• 3. Item,* 1.7 Whether have you in your said Church or Chappell, a convenient seat for your Minister to read divine service in, together with a comely Pulpit, set up in a convenient place, with a decent cloth or cushi∣on for the same, with all other ornaments necessary for the celebration of divine service, & administration of the Sacraments and whether have you a chest for almes, with three locks and keyes, & another chest for kéeping the Books and ornaments of the Church, and the Register book? Whether have you a register book in parchment, for Christnings, Weddings, and Bu∣rials: and is the same kept in all points according to the Canons? And is the mothers christian name therein registred as well as the Fathers?
• 4. Item, Whether is your Church or Chappell,* 1.8with the Chancel thereof, and your Parsonage or Vicarage houses, your Parish Alms house & Church in good re∣parations, & are they imployed to godly & their right holy uses: if any be ruinated & wasted, in whom is the default? Is your Church, Chancel, & Chappel decent∣ly and comely kept as well within as without; & be the seáts well maintained, the stéeple and bels preserved, the windows well glazed, the floore kept paved, plaine and even, and all things in orderly and decent sort?
• 5. Item,* 1.9 Whether be your Church-yards well fenced and kept without abuse: if not, whose default is it? hath any person encroached upon the ground of the Church yard: have any used a place consecrated to holy use,* 1.10pro∣phanely or wickedly: have any quarrelled or stricken another in Church or church-yard? or abused and pro∣phaned them with any unlawfull games, as bowles, Tennis, foot-ball, hand-ball, dancing and such like?
• 6. Item, Whether is your Church full,* 1.11 or vacant of an Incumbent: if vacant, who receiveth the fruits thereof, and who serveth the Cure, and by what autho∣rity: and whether is it a Parsonage, Vicarage, or Do∣native, or Appropriation?
• ...

• ...7.* 1.12 Item, What Legacies hath béen given to the use & benefit of your Church: how have they béen be∣stowed: who received them, and retaineth them with∣out due imployment? doth any detaine or imbezel a∣ny of the Church goods, or any other gifts given to charitable uses?
• ...8.* 1.13 Item, Whether be not the profits, tithes, and other commodities ecclesiasticall, impiously and wickedly, to the dishonour of Almight God, and pre∣judice of the sacred ministery, converted to the use and benefit of covetous Patrons, and by them recei∣ved and detained, and how long they have béene so used to your knowledge?
• 9. Item, Whether have there béene made any bar∣gaine and sale, exchange, or other alienation of the Glebe lands, or tithes of your Parsonage or Vicarage, being presentative; without the consent of the Ordi∣nary & Patron? and if yea, specifie the said lands and tithes so sold, exchanged, or alienated, where it lay and lieth, & how it was and is abutted, together with the value of the same, and who made the same sale, ex∣change, or alienation, and to whom was it made?
• ...10.* 1.14 Item, Whether have you the Terrier of all the Glebe Lands, Medowes, Gardens, Orchards, Houses, Stocks, Implements, Tenements, & portion of tithes, (whether within your Parish or without) belonging unto your Parsonage, or Vicarage, taken by the view of honest men in your said Parish? & whether the said Terrier be laid up in the Bishops Regestry, and in whose hands are any of them now? and if you have no Terrier already made in parchment, you the Church-wardens and Sidemen, together with your Parson or Vicar, or in his absence, you are to make diligent in∣quiry and presentment of the premises, and make, sub∣scribe, and signe the said terrier, as aforesaid.

Articles concerning Ministers and Preachers of Gods holy Word.

• FIrst, Whether doth your Minister distinctly,* 1.15 reve∣rently say Divine Service upon Sundaies & Ho∣lydayes, and other dayes appointed to be observed by the book of Common Prayer at fit and usuall times? And doth your Minister duly observe the orders, rites and ceremonies prescribed in the said book of common Prayer, as well in reading publique Prayers, and the Letany, as also in administring the Sacraments, so∣lemnization of Matrimony, visitation of the sicke, burying the dead, churching of women, and all other like rites and offices of the Church, in such manner and forme as in the said Book of Common Prayer is enjoyned?
• 2. Item, Doth your Minister endeavour and la∣bour diligently to reclaime the Popish Recusants in his parish from their errors, (if there be any such a∣biding in your parish) Or whether is your Parson, Vicar or Curate over-conversant with, or a favourer of Recusants, whereby he is suspected not to be sincere in Religion?
• 3. Item, Doth your Minister, Curate, or Lecturer in his or their Sermons deliver such doctrine as tends to obedience and the edifying of their Auditory in Faith, Religion, and good life, without intermedling with particular matters of State, not fit to be han∣dled in the Pulpit?
• 4. Item,* 1.16 Whether is your Minister a Preacher licenced or no? if no, whether doth he take upon him in his owne Cure or elsewhere, to expound any Scri∣pture or matter of doctrine? And if he be licensed, doth he preach usually in his owne Cure, or in some other neighbour Church where no Preacher is? Or whether doth he or his Curate upon every Sun∣day when there is no Sermon, reade a Homily, or

• some part thereof according as he ought to doe?
• ...5.* 1.17 Item, Whether doth your Minister publish in his Sermons any doctrine, which is new and strange, and disagreeing froin the word of God, and from the Ar∣ticles of Christian faith and Religion, agreed on and published, Anno Dom. 1562.
• 6. Item, Whether any victualling, tipling, or ale∣selling, have béen used in your Parson, Vicar or Cu∣rat his house, by themselves, or others dwelling there∣in, and by whom?
• ...7.* 1.18 Item, Whether are any strange Ministers ad∣mitted to preach in your Church, who doe not before the Church-wardens subscribe their names in your book for that purpose, the day when he preached, and the name of the Bishop of whom he had License to preach: and is any one admitted to preach before hée shewed his Licence?
• ...8.* 1.19 Item, Doth any Preacher in your Pulpit par∣ticularly impugne and confute any doctrine delive∣red by others his fellow Preachers, before he hath acquainted the Bishop of the Diocesse therewith, and received order from him what to doe in that case?
• ...9.* 1.20 Item, Doth your Minister use to pray for the kings Majesty, Clergy, Counsell, &c. giving them their full titles?
• ...10.* 1.21 Item, Whether is your Minister Resident upon his Benefice, or absent; if absent, by whom is the Cure served, the fruits received? Doth your Minister or Curate, serve any more cures than one? if yea, then what other cure doth he serve, and how farre are they distant?
• 11. Item, Whether doth he Catechize the youth of his Parish, upon sundaies and holy-dayes, before evening Prayer for halfe an hower or more, in the Catechisme set forth in the Book of Common prayer? and whether doe all the Parishioners diligently at∣tend

• his catechizing: and who refuse to send their chil∣dren and servants to be catechized by him?
• 12. Item,* 1.22 Doth your Minister carefully looke to the reliefe of the poore, & from time to time call upon his parishioners to give somewhat according to their abi∣lity, to godly and charitable uses, especially when they make their Wills?
• 13. Item,* 1.23 Whether is your Minister suspected or knowne to have obtained his Benefice or spirituall promotion by any Symonicall compact, directly, or indirectly?
• 14. Item,* 1.24 Whether doth your Minister demise the profits of his Benefice to any Lay-man above thrée yéeres & is not resident there, & keepeth no hospitality vpon his Benefice, being of sufficient value?
• 15. Item,* 1.25 Whether hath he, being learned & suffici∣ent, conferred with the Popish Recusants of his parish, endeavouring to reclaime them from their errors, and presenting them being obstinate for their recusancy?
• 16. Item, hath your Minister or any other Preacher,* 1.26made any Sermon, administred the Sacraments, or churched women in any private houses, otherwise than is by law allowed?
• 17. Item,* 1.27 What Curates or Preachers doe read Prayers or administer the Sacrament in your Parish, without lawfull licence? or doth any Lay man, not having holy orders, presume to read publique Prayers in the Church?
• 18. Item,* 1.28 Whether is your minister studious in the holy Scripture, & abstaineth from mechanicall trads, or labour not befitting his function, & from apparell unseemely for his calling, and from gaming, swearing, and drunkennesse, or such notorious crimes: or is there any in your Parish, who have béene admitted into ho∣ly Ordérs either Deacon or Minister, doth relinquish or forsake his calling, and liveth in the course of his life as a Layman?

Articles concerning Marriage.

• FIrst,* 1.29 Whether be there any in yuur Parish that have married within the degrées of affinity or con∣sanguinity, by the Law of God forbidden? if any, what bée they?
• ...2.* 1.30 Item, Whether have any béen married secretly in private houses, or without their parents or governors consent signified, being under the age of 12. yéeres?
• ...3.* 1.31 Item, Whether do any persons lawfully married, live asunder unlawfully: and in whom is the default?
• ...4.* 1.32 Item, Whether any persons (banes being not thrice published in the Church) have béene married without licence; who were present at such marriages, and what Minister married them?
• ...5.* 1.33 Item, Whether any persons by licence or without have béen married in your Parish Church, neither of them at that time dwelling in your Towne?
• ...6.* 1.34 Item, What Popish Recusants or their children have béene married in your Parish, in what sort was that matrimony solemnized, when and by whom?

Articles concerning Church-wardens.

• FIrst,* 1.35 Whether be the Church-wardens chosen by the Minister and Parishoners, and whether hath any taken him to be Church-warden, being not so chosen: or hath any continued above one yéere in his office without a new choice?
• ...2.* 1.36 Item, Whether have any Church-wardens detai∣ned any of the Church goods, & not made a just accompt of what they have received and expended?
• ...3.* 1.37 Item, Have they béen, & are they diligent in their office, to sée decency kept in the Church, & order in the time of common prayer, and administration of the Sa∣craments, and that there be no disturbance: but sober∣nesse and quietnesse in the Church?

Articles concerning the Parishioners.

• FIrst,* 1.38 Whether doe any in your Parish prophane the Sunday by unlawfull games, drinking or tipling in the time of common Prayer or Sermon, & by working and doing the ordinary workes of their vocation and trades?
• 2. Item,* 1.39 Is there any in your Parish that do impugne or speake against the Rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, or the lawfull use of them, & go∣vernment of this Church under his Majestie by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and other Ecclesiasticall officers?
• 3. Item,* 1.40 Who in your Parish do come to the Sermon only, & not to divine Service, & who do not reverently behave themselves during the time of divine Service, devoutly knéeling when the general confession of sins, the Letany, the ten Commandements, and all Praiers and Collects are read, or who doe give themselves to babling, talking or walking, and are not attentive to heare the Word read and preached?
• 4. Item, Are there any of your Parish,* 1.41 having a Prea∣cher to their minister, that do absent themselves from his Sermons, and resort to other places to hear other Preachers: or doe any in your parish communicate, or baptize their children in any other Parish?
• 5. Item,* 1.42 Whether doe any in your Parish exercise any trade or labour, buy or sell, or keepe open shops, or set out any wares to be sold upon Sundaies and holy∣dayes, by themselves, their servants, or apprentices, or have otherwise prophaned the said daies?
• 6. Item, Whether is the 5. of November kept holy,* 1.43and thanksgiving made to God, according to the order set forth in that behalfe?
• 7. Item, Are there any in your Parish that be,* 1.44 or are commonly knowne or reputed to be blasphemers of Gods holy Name, drunkards, adulterers, fornicators,

• incestuous persons, concealors or harbourers of forni∣cators or adulterers: have any béene detected of such notorious crimes, & what penance have they done for the same?
• 8. Item, Whether there be any In-kéepers, victua∣lers, or Ale-house-kéepers within your parish that ad∣mit unto orsuffer in their houses any person at the time of commnn Prayer, or Sermon, upon any Sabbath day or holy day, & who they be that hant such Tauerns, Innes, or tipling houses at prayer time?
• 9. Item, Whether any markets or selling of any meat, or other wares be suffered or used in your Church yard, or néere the same upon the Sabbath day: and whether any butchers, packmen, pedlers, or any mer∣cers or other trades-men within your parish, open their shops, or make any common or open sale of their stuffe upon Sabbath dayes and holy dayes?
• 10. Item, What Recusant Papists are there in your Parish, and whether do they or any of them kéepe any Schoole-master in their house, which commeth not to Church to heare divine Service, and receive the holy Communion: what is his name, and how long hath he taught?
• 11. Item, Whether hath your Minister or any other of your Parishioners béen at any schismaticall conven∣ticles in any private house or houses within your Pa∣rish, and there have conferred about any private orders for prayers, preaching or expounding the Scriptures contrary to the book of common Prayers and the laws established in that behalfe? Or whether any lay men have then taken upon them to expound the Scriptures or preach? if so, you shall present them all.

Articles concerning Schoolemastees, Physitians, and Chirurgions, and Parish-clarkes.

• FIrst, is there any Schoole-master in your Parish, that teacheth publikly or privately, not licenced by

• the Ordinary? doth he teach any Papist or Sectaries children that come-not to Church? And doth he instruct all his Schollars to learne the short catechisme by Law established, contained in the book of common Prayer? Is he a Graduate and sufficient to teach?
• 2. Item,* 1.45 What Physitian or Chirurgion is in your parish unlicensed, and being not a Doctor of Phisick in either of the Vniversities, doth practice Phisick? And what ignorant persons have left their trade, and taken upon them to professe Phisick or Chirurgery, & who bée they that so abuse the people? and doe any in your pa∣rish take upon them to heale and cure men, or cattell, by charmes, spels, witchcraft, or any other unlawfull wayes or meanes?
• 3. Item, Have you a fit parish clarke,* 1.46 aged twenty yéeres at least, of honest life, able to read & write? are his and the Sextons wages paid without fraud: if not, then whose default is it? by whom is he chosen? Is he diligent in his office, & serviceable to the Minister? doth he meddle with any thing above his office? doth he keepe the Church cleane, the doores locked? Is a∣ny thing lost or spoiled by his default, and doth he ex∣ecute his office duely?

Articles concerning Ecclesiasticall offices.

• FIrst,* 1.47 Whether be there any Ecclesiasticall Offi∣cers that exercise Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction with∣in this Diocesse, that take and receive, or exact any ex∣traordinary fées for any cause? whether have your Churchwardens and Questment concealed any abuses or offences punishable in the Ecclesiasticall Court: & whether such offences being presented, are suppressed and unpunished?
• 2. Item,* 1.48 Whether is there not a table of fées in the Court of the consistory, allowed and subscribed by the Iudge and Register of the Court of Consistory, Anno

• Dom. 1597. and the same every Court day hung up in some publike place of the Court and Registry?
• ...3.* 1.49 Item, Have any Apparators or Sumners, under pretence of authority, cited or summoned any person unlawfully, or hath taken any reward for the concea∣ling of any offence or sinne, or the avoiding of punish∣ment of the offenders: and who be they that have done so? Or doe they take any fees not accustomable? Have they threatned any to prosecute them if they have no reward? and do they summon any without a citation first had?

If you know any other default or crime, of Eccle∣siasticall cognisans, you are to present the same.

The Minister of every Parish may joyne in presentment with the Church-wardens and Side-men; and if they will not present, then the Ministers themselves (being the persons that should have the chiefe care for the suppressing of sin and impietie in their Parishes) may present the crimes aforesaid, and such things as shall be thought to require due Reformation.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Depraving of the Book of Common Prayer and ceremonies.
• * 1.2

  Disturbing the Minister in the time of prayer.
• * 1.3

  Children refu∣sed to be Bap∣tized, or dying without Bap∣tisme.
• * 1.4

  Private Baptis∣me.
• * 1.5

  Baptizing of Papists chil∣dren.
• * 1.6

  Receiving of the Lords Sup∣per thrice a yeere.
• * 1.7

  Things apper∣taining to Churches.
• * 1.8

  Reparation of Churches and Parsonage houses.
• * 1.9

  Fencing and keeing the Churchyard.
• * 1.10

  Profaning and annoying the Churchyard.
• * 1.11

  Churches vacant.
• * 1.12

  Concealing of Church goods.
• * 1.13

  Alienation of tithes and pro∣fits of the Church.
• * 1.14

  A Terrier of Glebe Lands and other pos∣sessions of the Church.
• * 1.15

  Observation of the form and time of Com∣mon Prayer & Sacraments.
• * 1.16

  Preachers without Li∣cence.
• * 1.17

  Preaching of false doctrine and new opi∣nions.
• * 1.18

  Names of strange Prea∣chers to be taken.
• * 1.19

  Opposition of Preachers in their Sermons.
• * 1.20

  Praying for His Majesty.
• * 1.21

  Non-residence of the Minister
• * 1.22

  Ministers to call for reliefe of the poore and almes∣deeds.
• * 1.23

  Symony.
• * 1.24

  Demising of Benefices.
• * 1.25

  Conferring with Recusants.
• * 1.26

  Preaching in private houses.
• * 1.27

  Curates not licenced, and Lay-men do∣ing the offices of a Minister.
• * 1.28

  Ministers for∣saking their calling.
• * 1.29

  Marriage with∣in Leviticall degree.
• * 1.30

  Private marri∣age, and with∣out consent of Parents.
• * 1.31

  Marryed per∣sons living apart.
• * 1.32

  Marriage with∣out banes or licence.
• * 1.33

  Persons marri∣ed out of their parishes.
• * 1.34

  Recusants marriage.
• * 1.35

  Election of Church-war∣dens.
• * 1.36

  Church-war∣dens due ac∣compt.
• * 1.37

  Church-war∣dens diligence in the Church.
• * 1.38

  Profaning the Lords day.
• * 1.39

  Impugning the Rites of the Church.
• * 1.40

  Reverent beha∣viour at divine service.
• * 1.41

  Leaving their own Churches to goe to o∣thers.
• * 1.42

  Opening of shops upon the Sunday.
• * 1.43

  Keeping holy the fift of No∣vember.
• * 1.44

  Adultery, For∣nication, In∣cest, &c.
• * 1.45

  Physicians not licensed.
• * 1.46

  Parish clark.
• * 1.47

  Exceslive fees.
• * 1.48

  Table of fees in Court.
• * 1.49

  Abuses in Ap∣paritors and Sumners.