ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



articles of inquiry show that report had not exaggerated the condition of 

 affairs. George Gardiner, afterwards dean, one of the prebendaries, said 

 that two of the archdeacons. Dr. Carew and Mr. Wendon, who were also 

 prebendaries, were not resident, and that neither of them were ministers. 

 That all went in semely and priestly apparel, saving Mr. Wendon, whom 



Chappell be served with any readers. Or whether any Minister do remove from any other diocese to serve in 

 this, without letters testimonial! of thordinary from whence he came, to testify the cause of his departing thence, 

 and of his behaviour. Or any being once Preist or Minister, that doth not minister, or frequente and resorte 

 to the Common Prayer now used, and at tymes appoynted communicate. And whether anye suche doe goe 

 and boaste him selfe lyke a lay man. 



Item, whether your Parsons and Vicars be residente continually upon their benefices ; whether they give 

 themselves to deuoute prayer, discreate reading in private prayers, reading of the scriptures, and godly contem- 

 placion, and releaue the poorc charitably to their hability, according to the Quenes Injunctions. Whether 

 they pray for the prosperous estate of the Queens Majesty, as is prescribed by her Grace's Injunctions. 



Item, whether anye of your Ministers dothe or hathe admitted any notorious sinner or malicious person 

 out of Charitie, without juste penance done and reconciliation had, to receaue the holy Communion, or any 

 that hath not receaued the same accordinge as to a Christian appertayneth, and by the lawes it is appointed. 

 And whether you do heare or knowe any y' doth use to say or heare the priuat Masse, or doe use any other 

 seruice then is prescribed by the lawes of this Realme. 



Item, whether your ministers doe call upon fathers, mothers, and maisters of youthe to bringe them upp 

 in the feare of Almighty God, in obedience and in conuenient occupations. Whether they be peacemakers 

 and exhort the people to obedience to their Prince, and to all other that be in aucthoritie, to charity and 

 mutual loue among themselues. Whether they geue themselues to superstition and bee maintainers of y^ 

 unlearned people in ignorance. 



Item, whether your Persons, Vicars, and Curates be common gameners, hunters, haunters of taverns and 

 alehouses ; suspected of any notable crime ; fauters of forrein poures, letters of good religion, preachers of 

 corrupt doctrine ; stubborne or disobedient to lawes and orders : Whether they be geuen to filthy lucre. 

 Whether they be light either in example of life, or in unwont and unsemely apparell. 



Item, whether any of your benefices be vacant, howe longe they have been vacant ; who is Patrone. 

 Whether there be any lay or temporall men (not being within orders) or children, or any other (within age) 

 that hath or enioyeth ani benefice or spiritual promocion, any Patron that suffereth any benefice to be vacante, 

 and taketh the tithes and other fructes to himself. 



Item, whether youre Ministers keepe their Registers well, and do present the copy of them once euerye 

 yeare by Indenture to the Ordinary or his officers : and teache the ' Articles of the Fayth,' and the Tenne 

 Commaundements, and the Lordes prayer, as is prescribed them in the Catechisme. 



Item, whether your Parsons & Vicars have any other or mo benefices, wher & in what country they bee ; 

 whether they came to them by symony or other unlawful meanes. Whether they do let their benefice to 

 farme, or els kepe them in theyr owne handes. Whether they keepe hospitalitye or not. Whether in their 

 absence they leave their cures to honest, learned, or expert curates. Whether they make their ordinarye 

 sermons, according to the Queens Maiesties Iniunctions : whether they admit any to preache unlicensed, or 

 put by any that hath license. Whether they reade the Queens Maiesties Iniunctions as they ought to do, and 

 saye theire service sensibly and distinctly. 



Item, whether the laye people be diligent in comminge to the churche on the holy dales, and with all 

 humblenes, reverently and devoutly, doe geue themselves to the hearing of commune prayer in the time 

 thereof, and otherwise occupy themselves in private prayers, readlnge of scriptures, or other vertuous exercise. 

 Yf any be negligent or wilfull. Whether the forfeiture be leued on their goods to the use of the poor, accord- 

 ing to the lawes of this Realme in y' behalfe prouided. And what mony hath been gathred by the 

 churchwardens of the forfets. 



Item, whether there be in your quarters any that openly or priuily use or frequente any kind of divine 

 seruice or common prayer, other then is set forth by the lawes of this Realme ; any disturbers of common 

 prayers or letters of the worde of God to be reade, preached, or heard : any that by couerte or crafty meanes 

 depraue or contemne y' same : or that speake to y' derogation of y' Quenes Maiesties authority & Power, or 

 of y' lawes set out by publike aucthority. 



Item, whether there be amonge you any blasphemers of the name of Almighty God, adulterers, fornicators, 

 baudes, or receauers of such persons. Any suspected of inceste, or any other notorious fault, sin, or crime. 

 Any dronkardes, ribaldes, common slaunderers of their neighbours, raylers or scolders, sowers of discorde between 

 neighbours, by playes, rimes, famouse libels, or otherwise. 



Item, whether there be in your parishes any Innkeepers or Alewives, that admit any resort to their 

 houses in tyme of common prayer. Any that commonly absent themselves from theyre owne Churche 

 or otherwise idely or lewedly prophaneth the Sabbath daye. Anye that keepe any secret conuenticles, 

 preachings, lectures, or readings, contrary to y* lawes. Any suspected of heresy, or that maintain any 

 erroneous opinions cotrary to the lawes of Almighty God and good religion, by publique authoritie in this 

 realme set forthe. 



Item, whethere there be in these parties which minister the goodes of those which be deade, without 

 authoritie ; any executors y' have not fulfilled their testators' will, specially in paying of legacies geuen to good 

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