Illustrative Documents: Laud's Visitation of Canterbury Cathedral, 1635

XIX. CERTAINE PROPOSICIONS AND QUERES WHERVNTO THE ANSWER OF THE DEANE AND PREBENDARIES OF CHRIST-CHURCH CANT: IS DESIRED BY THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD WILLIAM BY GOD'S PROVIDENCE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY HIS GRACE. (fn. 1)

1°. Whether the Boyes be suffered to play in the Cathedrall Churchyard, whereby y^e Church windowes are sometimes broken ?

2°. Whether a Prebendarie resideing within 3 or 4 miles of that Church may not be compelled to come to a Chapter there, being lawfully summoned ?

3°. Item to informe his Grace what Offices and Reversions within the Church have bin sold, and to take speciall care y^t none be sold hereafter.

4°. Whether it be a Custome for the singing-men to be absent every third week, and to provide carefully y^t noe such abuse be suffred hereafter.

5°. That they give a strict charge, that y^e Porters doe kepe y^e gates of the Churchyard, and to answer why they are not Barbers ? (fn. 2)

6°. They are to take speciall care to shut vp all y^e Posterns about y^e Church.

7°. The Deane and Prebendaries are to keepe residence vpon y^r Cures and asmuch as may be.

8°. They are to weare square Capps in the Church.

9°. They are to take care y^t their Steeple and their houses bee sufficiently repayred.

10°. They are to set downe w^t cowrses may be taken concerning sincks and stables in and about y^e Churchyard.

11°. They are to give an especiall charge to all that preach in y^r Church to giue thanks to Almighty God for y^e Saints departed in y^e Fayth of Christ, according to y^e Canon.

12°. They are to expresse their opinions concerning the buying in of some or one of y^e Houses in Lease, built within y^e Church yard, euery yeare.

13°. They are to answer whether any be priviledged by their Pattents to be absent, and who they are.

14.°. They are to give a reason why y^e M^r of the Choristers is mainteined out of the Boyes wages.

15°. Why the Com[m]on-Table is not kept in the Mynst^r.

16°. Whether all or any of the Quire-men have houses belonging to their places, and (if any) who they are.

17°. They are to deliuer their opinions whether West and Williams be fit to serue in y^e Quire by reason of y^e frequent absence of y^m both, and the Trade of West being a Butcher.

18°. They are to set downe the particuler wages of every particuler Quire-man, not omitting the allowance of y^e King's Schollers and of the Choristers.

Na. Brent.