17 - Articles on foreigners and recusants in London archdeaconry, c.1615.

Summary

Articles to be inquired of, by the minister, churchwardens and sidemen of every parish, and precinct, within the archdeaconry of London, according to the speciali direction of certaine letters, heretofore sent to the lord bishop of London, from the right honourable the Lords of the privie councell.

1. Whether there be any in your parish, either parishioners, soiourners, or such as be late come out of other countries, into your parish, which doe refuse, or neglect, to come to divine service, to their parish church, or else-where: and what be their names, and sir-names, and how long they have refused so to do?

2. How many of their wives, and children, above the age of sixteene yeeres, servants, and other soiourners abiding in their houses, doe likewise refuse so to do? And what bee their names and sir-names, and how long they have refused so to doe?

3. Whether there be any in your parish, which bee suspected to have beene reconciled to the popish religion? Or to have beene absolved? Or any that procured, or counselled thereunto, and what be their names and sir-names?

4. Whether there bee any in your parish, which be suspected to bee massing priests, reconcilers, Jesuits, seminaries, or other persons which have received any orders or authority from the Romish Church, to use the like: and what be their names, and sir-names?

5. Whether there be any schoolemaisters, within your parish, which do not bring up their youth, in the religion now professed, or bee not themselves diligent, in repairing to divine sendee, or bringing their scholers to it?

Observations materiali in this inquirie.

In every parish, where any manner of person dwelleth, or soiourneth, which refuseth, or neglecteth, to goe to some church, to heare divine service; the minister and churchwardens of the parish, ar commanded, every moneth from henceforth, to go to every such person, with the sidemen, or else two or three honest witnesses, and before those sidemen, or witnesses, to require every such person, to repaire to the church, to heare divine service.