A curious document relating to the “Offesse of dekyn” in Trinity Church, Coventry, in 1462, has been printed more than once, and lately for the _Henry Bradshaw Society_, by Dr. Wickham Legg. Some of the duties there set forth for the “deacon” show that in this case he acted as parish clerk, and his duties are most minutely described. He was to open the door of the church at six o’clock, and have the chalice and missal ready for the priest who said “the Trinity Mass:” on all feasts he was to ring for Matins, and bring in the books for the south side of the choir: he was to ring for the High Mass, and then sing in the choir, and again at three o’clock for Evensong. He shall be rector in the choir on the south side: he is to see that there is a deacon to read the Gospel at every High Mass. Beside this he has the general care of the church: to see that the floor be swept when it needs it, and that the snow is taken off the roof and from out the gutters: that the font be ready for the blessing on Holy Saturday, and palms before Palm Sunday, and that palms be burned for ashes before Ash Wednesday. For the blessing of the font he is to provide three copies “for the priests to sing _Rex Sanctorum_.” Every Sunday “he shall bear holy water to every house in his ward, and he to have his due of every man, after his degree, quarterly.” In the same way he must see that the holy cake is ready every Sunday according to every man’s degree, “and he shall bear the holy bread to serve the people in the north syde of the church, and he to go to them on ‘twelfth day’ for his offering to the repair of his surplice. On Shere Thursday (the Thursday in Holy Week) and Holy Saturday he is to get ready a barrell for the blessed water, and on the former he is to have the ‘birch besom for the priest that washes the altar’ and the three discipling rods.” Moreover, at “every principal feast” he is to help the churchwardens “to array the High Altar with clothes necessary for it,” being ready for them “at the third peal of the first Evensong.” He is to help “the churchwardens to cover the altar and the rood in lent with lenten cloths, and to hang the veil in the choir.” He and “his fellow” is to look to the bells and provide ropes and grease, and they are to divide the ringing fees between them. He is “to cover the pulpit with a pall when any doctor preaches.” He is to go vested in his surplice to accompany the parson when he goes to take the Blessed Sacrament to the sick, and “to fetch any corpse to the church.”