As a final illustration on this score may be adduced the report of the conscientious wardens of Kilham, Yorkshire, who certify to the judge of that peculiar, August, 1602, “that there churche walles ar in suche repaire as heretofore they have beyne.  But not in suche sufficient repaire as is required by the Article[50] for that effect ministred vnto us."[51]

But the upkeep of the church and its requisites[52] was only one of the churchwardens’ many tasks.  They had to look to it that the people attended church regularly; that the victuallers and ale-houses received no one while service was being held or a sermon was preached; that each person was seated in his or her proper place, that each conducted himself with decorum and remained throughout the service.  Accordingly the act-books tell their interesting story of ministers on beginning service sending wardens and sidemen abroad to command men to come to church.  The churchwardens and their allies have all sorts of experiences:  they break in upon “exercises” or conventicles;[53] they peep in at victuallers’ houses or at inns where irate hosts slam doors in their faces and give them bad words on being caught offending;[54] they come across merrymakers dancing the morris-dance on the village green during Sunday afternoon service,[55] or they surprise men at a quiet game of cards at a neighbor’s house during evening prayer.[56]

When admonished by the wardens to enter church, some merely gave contemptuous replies, such as “what prates thou?";[57] others, when the wardens approached, took to their heels and ran away.[58] Once inside the church the wardens’ task was by no means ended.  They had the care of placing each one in his or her seat according to degree;[59] according to sex;[60] and, in case of women, according as they were old or young, married or unmarried.[61] Finally, as has been said, the wardens were expected to keep watch lest some one slip out before the service was over or the sermon ended.[62]

But while they have one eye on the congregation lest they offend, wardens and sidemen must keep another on the minister while service proceeds or the sacraments are administered, in order that the rites be duly observed and the Rubric followed.  The curate of Theydon Gernon (Essex) is presented by wardens and sidemen “quia non fecit suam diligentiam in dicendo preces, viz. the communion and Litany";[63] while the rector of East Hanningfield in the same archdeaconry is not only complained of to the ordinary for not maintaining the book of articles, and not using the cross in baptism, but he is also indicted on the same occasion for not praying for the Queen “accordinge to hir injunctions, viz. he leaveth out of hir stile the kingdome of Fraunce."[64] The court’s order was that the rector should acknowledge his error on the following Sunday “coram gardianis.”  The wardens of Wilton, Yorkshire, report to the commissary of the Dean of York that their curate recites divine service “very orderlie,” but not at a fit time, for he holds service at eight in the morning and two in the afternoon.[65] Finally, the rector of Pitsea is complained against to the archdeacon of Essex for “that he is unsufficient to serve the cure ine that theie are not edified by him...."[66]