The curate of East Hanningfield, Essex, is presented in 1587 for “that he hathe not geven warninge to the church-wardens to looke to there dutie in service tyme, for such as are absent from service."[100] The curate of Monkton, Kent, is brought before the court in 1569 for that he “doth not call upon fathers and mothers and masters of youths to bring them up in the fear of God."[101] When the archdeacon sent down an excommunication against any one of the parish, it was delivered to the minister to be solemnly proclaimed by him from the pulpit,[102] and thereafter he had to see that the excommunicate person remained away from service until absolution was granted[103] by the ordinary, which absolution was then publicly pronounced from the pulpit.[104] When penance had to be done in church by an offender, it was the duty of the parson to superintend the performance; to say, if necessary, before the congregation the formula of confession prescribed for the offence, in order that the guilty person might repeat it after him;[105] to exhort the persons present to refrain from similar transgressions; to read, on occasion, some homily bearing upon the subject;[106] and finally to make out a certificate (together with the wardens, if necessary) that the penance had been carried out as enjoined by the judge.

Besides the celebration of the rites pertaining to his priestly office, which need not detain us here, there were many other duties which the ecclesiastical courts enjoined on the parish incumbent.  Some of these have already been referred to.[107] Others will appear as we view the discipline of the courts Christian when exercised over the parishioners at large, to which subject we shall now address ourselves.

Foremost among the requirements exacted by the ordinaries from all alike was the duty of attending church.  Every one had to frequent service on Sundays and on feast-days, and to be present at evening as well as at morning prayer.[108] Nor might a man repair to a church in another parish because it was nearer than his own.[109] Should his own minister be unlicenced to preach—­and only about one incumbent out of four or five was licenced[110]—­he was not permitted, except under special authorization,[111] to hear a sermon in another church while service was going on in his own.[112] If, however, a man were able to pay the statutory[113] fine of 12d. for each absence on holy days he could, it would seem, in practice resort to his parish church only on occasions, say once a month, and yet not get himself written down as a recusant.[114]

Heads of families were made responsible for the attendance of their children and servants; innkeepers or victuallers for their guests.[115]

If it was not permissible to frequent service in another place of worship, neither was it optional with a parishioner to get married elsewhere than in his own church.[116] There, too, his marriage banns had to be published—­and it was a presentable offence to marry without banns;[117] there he had to have his children christened[118] and his wife churched;[119] there he was compelled to send sons, daughters or apprentices to be catechized,[120] and there himself learn the principles of religion (if he were ignorant of them), for without a knowledge of the Catechism and the Ten Commandments he could not receive communion.[121]