15 - Archbishop William Laud's articles for Exeter cathedral, 1634

Summary

Articles for the cathedrall church of Exceter to be inquired of in the metropoliticall visitation of the most reverend father in God William by Gods providence Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitane in this present year of our Lord God one thousand, six hundred, thirty and four.

Whether every member of this church att his first admission doth sweare to observe such statutes as have been hitherto used as statutes, and not contrary to the lawes of the realme of England?

What other benefices ecclesiasticall the deane, archdeacons, prebendaries or other ecclesiasticall persons of this church have besides their roomes and places in this said church?

How the xlii, xliii, and xliiii chapters of the constitutions made in the convocation anno 1604 and confirmed by his majesty under the great seale of England for the residencyes of your deane and other prebendaryes as well upon their prebends as upon their other benefices are observed?

Whether the number of those that serve the quire and all other ministers of this church be kept full and the quire sufficiently furnished with a skilfull organist and able singers and dayly service there song according to the foundation of this church?

Whether your divine service be used and the sacraments administred in due tyme and according to the boak of common prayer and by singing and note according to the statutes of this church?

Whether all the members of your church especially the prebendaries and ecclesiasticall persons doe use seemely garments and attyres, as namely all graduates their surplice and hood for their degree of schoole and other inferiours their surplice and capp according to the cannons and constitutions sett forth by his majesty in the convocation in anno domini 1604?

Whether the prebendaries and preachers of your church doe preach yearly the full number of sermons appointed by the statutes and ordinances of the same church and the late constitutions ecclesiasticall, in their owne persons or by others and who doth most usually preach them, and how often have you sermons or lectures in the weeke in the cathedrall church and by whome and what be the statutes of this church in that behalfe? And if you have any certain lecturer what hath he for his paines?