22 - Bishop John Bridgeman's articles for Chester Cathedral, 1619.

Summary

Articles to be ministred to the deane subdeane prebendaries and the rest of the ministers and officers of the Cathedrall Church of Chester in the visitation of the reverend father in God John by Gods providence Bishoppe of Chester the xiiiith daie of June 1619.

1. Whether the deane cannons and prebendaries of this church and everie of them remained and tarried at and upon their dignities and prebends as the statuts of the said church and iniunctions of my predecessors doe require and how longe have they absented them selves from their said dignities and prebends contrarie to the said statuts and iniunctions since the third dale of Maye anno domini 1616. Whether they or anie of them have omitted to preach within the said church at times required by the said statuts and iniunctions or otherwise appointed by the kinges iniunctions since the same time or have omitted to keepe residence accordinge to the statuts and iniunctions afforsaid provided in that behalfe. Declare what you have crediblie heard, beleeve or doe knowe concerninge the premisses or any part thereof.

2. Whether the cannons prebendaries lecturer petticannons conducts or anie other minister officer or other member of the same church or anie other person resident within the precincts of the said church since the said third daie of May doe live or have sought to live incontinentlie or be or have bene of late vehementlie suspected or defamed therof or in seekinge after the same to the slaunder of their place office or callinge: doe haunt tavernes alehouses or anie place suspected or doe or latelie did use the companie of anie light women resortinge to their houses or chambers or other places or be suspected to suffer them or anie suspected companie to resort to their houses or chambers or whether anie of them be a drunkard, swearer, fighter, brawler, heretique, papist, or favourer of papistrie, dycer, carder, tabler or user of anie unlawfull games or otherwise doe geve anie offence by his or their life [or] conversation. Declare the manner wherein and how and what you knowe suspect beleeve or have crediblie heard in the premisses or any part therof and the parties offendinge.