XX. RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD CLERKS AND THEIR WAYS 255

XXI. CURIOUS STORIES 306

XXII. LONGEVITY AND HEREDITY--THE DEACON-CLERKS OF
BARNSTAPLE 318

XXIII. CONCLUSION 333

INDEX 335




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


THE PARISH CLERK. By Thomas Gainsborough, R.A. _Frontispiece_
_From the original in the National Gallery_

PAGE

THE VILLAGE CHOIR. By Thomas Webster 8
_From the original in the Victoria and Albert Museum_

THE MEDIÆVAL CLERK: THE CLERK IN PROCESSION 18
_From old engravings_

THE CLERK BEARING HOLY WATER AND ASPERGING THE COOK,