Green’s Dictionary of Slang

minor clergy n.

[? the blackness of their clothes]

young chimney-sweeps.

[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Minor Clergy Chimney Sweepers.
[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn).
[UK]Lex. Balatronicum.
[UK]Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.