A HISTORY OF NORFOLK he saw two years since go in a cloke with a Spanish cape, and a rapier by his side ; that one Mr. Smith, another prebendary, kept at Swyneshead in Lincolnshire, and was neither priest nor preacher; that none preached, but my lord bishop and the said respondent ; and that Sir John Toller, one of the canons, was a great brawler and kept another man's wife.^ This respondent presented that the prebendaries should be all priests and resident at home, and that some provision be made to save the woods from spoiling, which were now much spoiled ; but he stated that the church was in better reparation than it was these forty years. and godly uses, as to the releife of poverte, to poore schollers, orphanes, highwaies, mariage of poor maidens, and such like. Whether your Hospitals and Almeshouses be justly used, according to the foundacion Sc auncient ordinaunces of the same. Whether ther be any other pkced in them than poore, impotent, and needy persons, that hath not otherwise wherewith or whereby to live. Item, whether there be any which of late haue bequeathed in their test.iments, or other waies there be appointed by ordinaries, any sumes of mony, jewelles, Plate, Ornamets, or annuities for y' erectio of any obites, dirigcs, trentals, or any such like use, now by the lawes of this Realm not permitted ; and if there be, that you present the names of such executors, the quantity and quality of the guifte, that order may be taken therein accordingly. Item, whether there be any mony or stoke appertaininge to anye parishe Churche in any mannes handes that refuse or differeth to p.iy the same : or that useth fr.iude, deceit or delaye to make any accompt in the presence of the Honestye in the parishe, for the same. Whether your churchwardens and others, aforetyme, have geuen the yearely accompte, according unto the custom as it hath been aforetime used. Whether the store of the poore mennes boxe be openly & indifferently given where neede is, with out parcial affection. Vl'hether any stocke of cattell or graine appertaining to youre churches, be deciied : by whose negligence, and in whose handes. Item, whether your schoolcmaisters be of a sincere religion, and be diligent in teaching and bringing up of youth. Whether they teache any other grammar than such as is appointed by the Quenes Maiesties Injunctions, annexed to the same, or not. Item, whether there be any amonge you that use sorcerie or inchauntement, magike, incantations, or nigromancie, or that be suspected of the same. Item, whether there be any in these partes that have married within degrees of affinity or consanguinitie, bv the lawes of God forbidden, so set oute in a table for an Admonition. Any man that hath two wives, or anie woman that hath two husbandes. Anie that being deuorceJ or seper.ited aside hath m.iried againe. Any married that have made precontracts. Anye that have m.iried without banes thrise solcmncly asked. Anye couples maried that live not together, but slanderouslie live apart : any that haue maried oute of the parishe churche wher thei ought to have the same solemnised. Item, whether any your Ordinaries within this diocese, their Chauncellor, Officialls, Commissaries, Registrars, and all and singular others that haue or do exercise any visitation or jurisdiction ecclesiasticall within any part of this diocese, have uprightly, faithfully and unfaynedly to y' uttermoste of their powers observed in theyr owne persons and towards all other, put in due execution the Queues Maiesties ecclesiasticall lawes, Statutes, Injunctions, and al her highnes other Commandements published for uniformity of doctrine and due order of the publik ministration of God's holy word and sacr.iments, and have commended and favored all such as sought the same, and condignely punished all suche as soughte the contrarye. Item, whether any of them at anye time wittingly suffered faultes and transgressions to remaine unpunished, for mony, gayne, pleasure, friendshippe, or any other aflectionate respecte, or } ff any of them be or haue been burdensome to y' subiectes of their seuerall Jurisdictions, by exacting or taking excessive fees, procurations, any rewardes or commodities by the w.iy of promotion, gilt, contribution, helpe, loane, redemption of penance, omission of quarter sermons, obtaining of any benefice or office, or any other like wages or means. Generally, whether there be any euill liver.s or offenders of the l.awes of Almighty God ; anye suspected of any notorious sinne, fault or crime, to the oflence of Ciiri^tlan people committed: anie that stubbornlie refuse to conlorine themselves to unitie and good religion. Anie that bruiteth abroad rumors of the alteration of the same, or otherwise that disturbcth good orders, and the quietnesse of Christcs churche, and Christian trongregitlon. B. M. T. 1015 (i). These very se.irching articles of inquiry are prefaced by instructions to the Commissioners for the Diocese of Norwiche : First that you doe with all diligence tr.ivell to reduce the state of the clerg} e unto one uniforme order in their ministration and preaching. . . . Additional testimony as to the very early hours at which church services were held at this time is to be found in the Records of the Corporation of Yarmouth, llijf. ISS. Com. Rep. ix, 3061J, 10 Augt. 15 Eliz. : Ordered that Sir James, the Minister, shall keep his howers at the churche for morning prayer as followeth : from Hallowmas until Candlemas, to beginne his seruice at fyue of the clock, and so to contynewe winter and summer : And that if he doe neglecte his dewtye therein, he shall loose ibr euery defauhe xii d to be deducted from his wage. ' Strype, Life of Parker, i, 492 ; iii, 161. 266
