CLE 
occasions, they were to be entertained by 
their brethren of the clergy, in all places, 
■out of tile public revenues of the church. 
When any bishop, or presbyter, came to a 
foreign church, they were to be compli- 
mented with the honorary privilege of per- 
forming divine offices, and consecrating the 
eucharist in the church. The great care 
the clergy had of the characters and reputa- 
tions of those of their order, appears from 
hence, that in all accusations, especially 
against bishops, they required the testi- 
mony of two or three witnesses of good cha- 
racter : nor was any heretic admitted as an 
evidence against a clergyman. With re- 
gard to tlie respect paid to the clergy by 
the civil government, it consisted chiefly in 
, exempting them from some kind of obliga- 
tions to- which others were liable, and grant- 
ing them certain privileges and immunities 
which others did not enjoy. 
By the ecclesiastical laws, no clergyman 
was allowed to relinquish his station with- 
out just grounds and leave ? but in some 
cases resignation was allowed of, as in old 
age, sickness, or other infirmities. 
The privileges of the English clergy, by 
the ancient statutes, are very considerable : 
their goods are to pay no toll in fairs or 
markets; they are exempt from all offices 
but their own ; from the king’s carriages, 
posts, &c. from appearing at sherilF’s tourns, 
or frank-pledges ; and are not to be fined 
or amerced accordmg to their spiritual, but 
their temporal means. A clergyman ac- 
knowledging a statute, his body is not to be 
imprisoned. If he be convicted of a crime, 
for which the benefit of clergy is allowed, 
he shall not be burnt in the hand ; and he 
shall have the benefit of the clergy in infi- 
nitum, which no layman can have more 
than once. 
The clergy, by common law, are not to 
be burdened in the general charges of the 
laity ; nor to be troubled nor incumbered, 
unless expressly named and charged by tlie 
statute ; for general words do not affect 
them : thus, if a hundred be sued for a rob- 
bery, the minister shall not contribute ; nei- 
ther shall they be assessed to the highway, 
to the watch, &c. 
The revenues of the clergy were an- 
ciently more considerable than at present. 
Ethelwolph, in 855, gave them a tythe of 
all goods, and a tenth of all the lands in 
England, free from all secular services, 
taxes, &c. Tire charter whereby this was 
granted them, was confirmed by several of 
his successors ; and William the Conqueror, 
finding the bishoprics so rich, created them 
CLE 
into baronies, each barony containing thirr 
teen knight’s fees at least; but since the 
reformation the bishoprics are much impo- 
verished. The revenues of the inferior 
clergy, in the general, are small, a third 
part of the best benefices being anciently, 
by the Pope’s grant, appropriated to mo- 
nasteries, upon the dissolution whereof they 
became lay-fees. Indeed an addition was 
made, 2 Annas, the whole revenues of first- 
fruits and tenths being then granted to raise 
a fund for the augmentation of the mainte- 
nance of the poor clergy ; pursuant to 
which, a corpoiation was formed, to whom 
the said revenues were conveyed in trust, 
&c. 
Cr.ERGY, 
bemfit of. See Benefit. 
CLERK, a word oiiginally used to de- 
note a learned man, or man of letters ; 
whence the tenn became appropriated to 
churchmen, who were from thence called 
clerks or clergymen ; the nobility and gen- 
try being usually bred up to the exercise of 
arms, and none left but the ecclesiastics to 
cultivate the sciences. 
Ci.ERK of the affidavits, the officer, in the 
court of Chancery, who files all affidavits 
made use of in court. 
Clerk of the assise, the person who 
writes all things judicially done by the jus- 
tices of assise, in their circuits. 
Clerk of the bails, an officer in the court 
of King’s Bend), whose business it is to file 
all bail-pieces taken in that court, where 
he always attends. 
Clerk of the check, an officer belonging 
to the King’s court, so called beeause he 
has the check and controlment of tlie yeo- 
men of the guard, and all other ordinary 
yeomen that belong to the King, Queen, or 
Prince. He likewise, by himself o|- deputy, 
sets the watch in the court. There is also 
an officer in the navy of the same name, be- 
longing to the King’s yards. 
Clerk of the crown, an officer in the 
King’s Bench, who frames, reads, and re- 
cords all indictments against offenders, there 
arraigned or indicted of any public crime, 
He is likewise termed clerk of the crown- 
office, in which capacity he exhibits infor- 
mations by order of the court for divei-s of- 
fences. 
Clerk of the crown, in chancery, an offi- 
cer whose business it is constantly to attend 
the Lord Chancellor, in person or by de- 
puty, to write and prepare for the great 
seal special matters of state by commission, 
both ordinary and extraordinary ; viz. com- 
missions of lieutenancy, of justices of assise, 
oyer and terminer, gaol-delivery, and of the 
