an order of nuns so called from their founder St Clara or St Clare. (See St CLARE.) She was in the town of Assisi in Italy; and having renounced the world to dedicate herself to religion, gave birth to this order in the year 1212; which comprehends not only those nuns that follow the rule of St Francis, according to the strict letter, and without any mitigation, but those likewise who follow the same rule softened and mitigated by several popes. It is at present one of the most flourishing orders of nuns in Europe. After Ferdinand Cortez had conquered Mexico for the king of Spain, Isabella of Portugal, wife of the emperor Charles V., sent thither some nuns of the order of St Clara, who made several settlements there. Near their monasteries were founded communities of Indian young women, to be instructed by the clarisses in religion, and such works as were suitable to persons of their sex. These communities are so considerable that they usually consist of four or five hundred.

CLARKE, Dr SAMUEL, a preacher and writer of considerable note in the reign of Charles II., was, during the interregnum, and at the time of the ejection, minister of St Dunstan's Church in London. In November 1660, he, in the name of the Presbyterian ministers, presented an address of thanks to the king for his declaration of liberty of conscience. He was one of the commissioners of the Savoy, and behaved on that occasion with great prudence and moderation. He sometimes attended the church as a hearer and communicant, and was much esteemed by all that knew him, for his great probity and industry. The most valuable of his numerous works are said to be his Lives of the Puritan Divines and other persons of note, 22 of which are printed in his Martyrology; the rest are in his Lives of sundry eminent Persons in this latter Age, folio; and his Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, in folio and quarto. He died in 1680.