CLERK _of the Essoins_, _Juries_, _King’s Silver_, _Supersedeas_, _&c._ See an account of their several employments and offices, under the articles ESSOINS, JURIES, KING’S SILVER, &c. CLERKS. The Parish Clerks were incorporated by Henry III. in the year 1233, by the name of _The fraternity of St. Nicholas_, by which they were known till they were incorporated by charter in 1611. By a decree of the court of Star chamber, they obtained the privilege of keeping a printing press in their hall, for printing the bill of mortality, they being strictly enjoined by their charter to make a report of all the christenings and burials in their respective parishes by six o’clock, on Thursday in the afternoon; but this is by a by-law changed to two o’clock on the same day, that the King and the Lord Mayor may have the account the day before its publication. This list is however extremely defective; for as there are above an hundred meeting houses in the bills of mortality, the members of which never have their children christened in the parish churches, though the far greater number of their dead are interred in the parochial burying grounds, the burials in these lists are made greatly to exceed the christenings; and hence very grave remarks have been made on the unhealthfulness of the city, and the vices of its inhabitants. This company consists of a Master, two Wardens, seventeen Assistants, and the whole body of parish clerks within the bills of mortality; who have a commodious hall in Wood street. CLERKS, or CLERKEN WELL, a spring at the lower end of Clerkenwell green, in Rag street, opposite Mutton lane, was so called from the parish clerks of the city annually meeting there to exhibit dramatic representations of certain parts of scripture; for which they were so famous, that not only the Lord Mayor and citizens, but even the nobility were their spectators. From this well a neighbouring priory with the church and parish were denominated Clerkenwell. _Maitland._ CLERKENWELL _Church_. See St. JAMES’S Clerkenwell. CLERKENWELL _close_, a street on the north side of Clerkenwell green. CLERKENWELL _green_, on the south side of St. James’s church, Clerkenwell.