Articles to be enquired of, in the diocesse of Norwich. In the ordinarie visitation of visitation of the reuerend father in God, Francis, Lord Bishop of Norvvich. Anno Domini 1629.

Articles concerning the Church,* 1.1 the Ornaments thereof, and the Churches possessions.

* 1.2 FIrst, Whether haue you in your Church or Chappell, the whole Bible of the largest volume, and of the last translation, the Booke of common Prayer, lately set foorth by his Maiesties authority, the two bookes of Homilies, and Bishop Iewels Apologie, all well and fairely bound: A Font of stone set vp in the ancient vsuall place: A conuenient and decent communion Table, with a carpet of silke, or some other decent stuffe, continually laid vpon the Table at time of di∣uine Seruice, and a faire linnen cloth at the time of administring the Communion.* 1.3 And whether is the same Table placed conueniently as it ought. And whether is it so vsed in or out of time of diuine Ser∣uice or Sermon, as is not agreeable to the holy vse of it; as by sitting on it, and by throwing hats on it, or writing on it; or is it abused to other prophaner vses. Are the ten Commandements set vpon the east end of your Church, with other sentences of Scripture about.

* 1.42 Item, Whether haue you in your said Church or Chappell, a couuenient seat for your Minister to read diuine Seruice in, together with a comely Pulpit set vp in a conuenient place, with a decent cloth or cushion for the same; a comely, large, and fine Surplice, a faire communion Cup, a Flagon of siluer, or pewter, with all other things and ornaments necessary for the celebration of diuine Seruice, and ad∣ministration of the Sacraments: and whether haue you a Chest for almes, with three lockes and keyes, and another Chest for keeping the Bookes and ornaments of the Church,* 1.5 and the Register Booke▪ Haue you a Register Booke in parchment for Christnings, Weddings, and Burials, and is the same kept in all points according to the Canons. And haue you a Table set in your Church of the degrees wherein by law men are prohibited to marry.

* 1.63 Item, Whether is your Church or Chappel, with the Chauncell thereof, and your Parsonage or Vicarage house, your Parish Almes∣house and Church-house in good reparations; and are they imployed to godly, and their right holy vses: if any bee ruinated and wasted, in whom is the default. Is your Church, Chancell, and Chappell de∣cently and comely kept, aswell within as without, and bee the Seates well maintained, the Steeple and Belles preserued, the Windowes well glazed, or any part of the Church, or Chaun∣cell windowes daubed or closed vp with Board, Lyme, or Stone, the floore kept paued, plaine, and euen, and all things in orderly

and decent sort, without dust,* 1.7 or any thing that may bee either noysome or vnseemely for the house of God, as is prescribed in an Homily to that effect, and the 85 Canon.

4 Item, How often haue you presented vnto the Commissaries, and Officers Court, the want of reparations of your Church, Chancell, Chappell, or your Vicarage and Parsonage houses. What dismission Fees haue you payed to the Register since the last Visitation, the faults being not amended.

* 1.85 Item, Whether bee your Churchyards well fenced, and kept without abuse; if not, whose default is it: hath any person encroached vpon the ground of the Churchyard. Haue any vsed a place consecrated to holy vse profanely or wickedly: haue any quarrelled, or stricken ano∣ther in Church or Churchyard: haue any anoyed your Churchyard, or the fence thereof, by putting in of cattell, by banging of cloathes, or by laying there any dust, dung, or other filthinesse.

* 1.96 Item, Whether is your Church full, or vacant of an Incumbent; if vacant, who receiueth the fruits thereof, and who serueth the Cure, and by what authoritie: And whether is it a Parsonage, Vicaridge, or Donatiue, or Appropriation.

* 1.107 Item, What legacies haue beene giuen to the vse and benefite of your Church, how they haue beene bestowed: who receiued them, and deteineth them without due imployment. Doeth any detaine or em∣bezel any of the Church goods, or any other gifts giuen to charitable vses.

* 1.118 Item, Whether is there any execting of pewes, or innouating of seats in your Church by any priuate man of his owne authoritie: and what seats haue beene so built, and by whose procurement, and by what authoritie.

* 1.129 Item, Whether hath any in your parish defaced, or caused to bee defaced any monuments or ornaments in your Church.

* 1.1310 Item, Whether hath any Popish Recusant being lawfully ex∣communicate, beene enterred or buried in your Church or Churchyard, before absolution of that censure and excommunication: if yea, then by whom, and when.

* 1.1411 Item, Whether bee not the profits, tithes, and other commo∣dities Ecclesiasticall, impiously and wickedly to the dishonour of Al∣mighty God, and preiudice of the sacred Ministery, conuerted to the vse and benefit of couetous Patrons, and by them receiued and detained, and how long haue they beene so vsed to your knowledge.

* 1.1512 Item, Whether you haue the Terrier of all the Gleab-lands, meadowes, gardens, orchards, houses, stockes, implements, tenements, and portions of Tythes (whether within your Parish or without) be∣longing vnto your parsonage or Vicaridge, taken by the view of honest men in your said Parish. And whether the said Terrier bee laid vp in the Bishops Registry, and in whose hands are any of them now. And if you haue no Terrier already made in parchment, you the Church∣wardens and Sidemen, together with your Parson or Vicar, or in his absence your Curate, are to make diligent enquirie, and present∣ment of the premises, and make, subscribe, and signe the said Terrier, as aforesaid.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Titul. 3.
• * 1.2

  Bookes and or∣naments in the Church.
• * 1.3

  Abusing of the Communion Table.
• * 1.4

  Things apper∣taining to Churches.
• * 1.5

  Register bookes.
• * 1.6

  Reparations of Churches, and parsonage hou∣ses.
• * 1.7

  Keeping cleane of Churches.
• * 1.8

  Fencing and keeping the Churchyard.
• * 1.9

  Churches va∣cant.
• * 1.10

  Concealing of Church goods.
• * 1.11

  Erecting vp seats and pues.
• * 1.12

  Defacing of seemely Orna∣ments.
• * 1.13

  Burying of Po∣pish Recus••nts.
• * 1.14

  Alienation of tithes and pro∣fits of the Church,
• * 1.15

  A Terrier of Glebelands, and other possessi∣ons of the Church.