Inserted at the beginning is a printed 8vo pamphlet of 10pp., bearing the following title: 'Articles of visitation and enquiry concerning matters ecclesiastical, exhibited to the Ministers, Church-Wardens, and Sidemen of every Parish within the Diocess of Worcester, in the Episcopal Visitation of the Right Reverend Father in God, James [Fleetwood] by Divine Permission, Lord Bishop of Worcester, holden in the year 1679.—London, printed for John Jones, Bookseller in Worcester, 1679.'
The Court was held in the Parish Church of Tredington, or in the Chapel of St Edmund, Shipston-on-Stour, by the Rector of Tredington, who was Judge Ordinary, or by his Official, in the presence of a notary publick or two clergymen in his stead. It took cognizance of matters testamentary, the payment of tithes and Church-rates, cases of fornication and slander, and the usual questions pertaining to Diocesan Ecclesiastical Courts, and had power by custom to empannel a jury, but had no authority (as appears by a memorandum on f. 1) to grant marriage-licences. These are the original Records, which were written upon loose quires and have been subsequently formed into a volume. They are not continuous, and of this collection some of the leaves have been lost and others misplaced.
1. ff. 1–18. Acta Curiæ coram Roberto Hill, S. T. B., Rectore de Tredington, a 16 Julii, 1576, ad 27 Junii, 1589. Nash, in Hist. Worcest. II. 432, does not date Hill's incumbency of Tredington till 1581, and continues it till 1606, but makes no mention of this Peculiar Jurisdiction. Ff. 19–22 contain forms and notes.
2. ff. 25–69. Acta Curiæ coram Thomâ Horton, A.M., Rectore de Tredington, a 5 Maii, 1612, ad 26 Martii, 1620. According to Nash, Hist. Worcest., Horton was Rector from 1607 to 1620. F. 35, an insertion, is 'A Presentation from the Deane [Dr Lake] and Chapter of Worcester unto the Parson of Tredington for the admission of the Minister of Shipston,' dated 2 Nov. 1612. And f. 36 contains the 'Admission of the Chaplain of Shipston,' Richard Chamberlaine, by Tho. Horton, Rector of Tredington, 6 Nov. 1612. Ff. 41, 42 contain copies of the Inhibition from the Bishop of Worcester during his visitation, and on f. 50 is the Inhibition, through Dr Swaddon, Archdeacon of Worcester, from the Abp. of Canterbury, during his visitation of the see of Worcester. F. 51 contains a letter of professional advice from Edw. Archpole to 'good Mr Horton,' Rector of Tredington, relating to matters connected with the court of the latter, dated, Worcester, 8 Oct. 1608. On his monument in Worcester Cathedral his name is spelt Archbold, and he is there described as 'Juris utriusque Licenciatus, Præbend. Eccles. Lincoln., vir exquisite doctus, Juris Civilis oraculum.' See Dr Thomas's Survey, p. 88. Ff. 04, 05. The Decree of William Byrd, Kt., LL.D., Official of the Arches Court of Canterbury, in a case in which Tho. Eddon and Rob. Berry, Churchwardens of Tredington, presented John Smith and Humfrey Milles for working upon a holiday, and Mr Horton, Rector and Judge Ordinary of Tredington, for not punishing them. Dated, London, 8 Oct. 1619.
3. ff. 70–134. Acta Curiæ: coram Gulielmum Smith, S. T. P., Rectore de Tredington, a 1 Julii, 1630, ad 18 Septembris, 1638. Nash, Hist. Worcest, dates Smith's incumbency from 1630 to 1660, and between him and Horton places Richard Betts for 10 years, of whom there exist here no Acts of Court. F. 122 b contains a list of visitation fees. F. 135 is the original citation under the hand and official seal of Joseph Crowther, Judge Ordinary of the Peculiar of Tredington, through his Apparitor, for the appearance at the Court, for their souls' health, of 23 persons whose names are subscribed. Dated 28 April, 1671. The seal has been removed. F. 137. The Declaration in an action between Joseph Crowther, S. T. P., Rector of Tredington, plaintiff, and William Banbury, defendant, 'in debito £60 super statutum pro decimis,' being treble value of the tithes not set out for 4 years, viz. 13–16 Charles II.
4. ff. 138–278. Acta Curiæ coram Josepho Crowther, S.T.P., Rectore de Tredington, a 7 Junii, 1666, ad 15 Octobris, 1686. According to Nash, Hist. Worcest., Crowther was Rector from 1660 to 1689. F. 154. 'Memorandum. Mortui sunt et sepulti in Parochia de Tredington, cessante Jurisdictione Ordinarii, ab Anni 1667 initio, Martii 25, ad Martii 25,1668.' Then follow the names of 17 persons.