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 2 265 34
