_St._ CLEMENT’S _Church yard_, in the Strand.
CLEMENT’S, or _St._ CLEMENT’S INN, on the north side of Wych street, is thus called from its being near St. Clement’s church. It is one of the inns of chancery, and has three courts one within another, which consists of old buildings, except a row in the garden, which is well built.
CLEMENT’S _lane_, 1. Clare market.☐ 2. Clement’s Inn.☐
_St._ CLEMENT’S WELL, a celebrated fountain, which was many years ago one of the three principal springs at which the city youths, on festival days, used to entertain themselves with a variety of diversions. But it is now covered up, and a pump placed over it, at the east side of St. Clements Inn, and lower end of St. Clement’s lane. _Maitland._
CLERGYMEN’S _Widows_, and _Children_. See an account of the corporation formed for their relief under the article CORPORATION.
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.