Several other minor articles of plate have been presented to the society, and there is annually a presentation from the treasurer.

STAPLE INN.

According to tradition, this inn was formerly called Staple Hall, being a place where wool-merchants resorted, and the tradition seems to be confirmed by the arms of the inn, which are Port de Vert un pacquet de doyne Arg. It was an Inn of Chancery in Henry V.'s reign, and probably at an earlier date. By indenture of bargain and sale, dated 10th of November, 20 Hen. VIII., the inheritance of Staple Inn passed from John Knighton, and Alice, his wife, daughter of John Chapwood to the benchers and ancients of Gray's Inn. On the 4th of June, 20 Jac., Sir Francis Bacon, Knt., then Lord Verulam, &c., enfeoffed, Sir Edward Moseley, Knt., Attorney-General of the Duchy of Lancaster, Sir Henry Yelverton, and other ancients of Gray's Inn, thereof by the name of "all that messuage or Inne of Chancery, called Staple Inne, and of one garden thereunto adjoining with all and singular their appurtenances, situated in the parish of St. Andrews, Holborn, in the suburbs of London, which messuage &c., the said Francis, Lord Verulam, lately had together with John Brograve, Esq., Attorney to Queen Elizabeth, of her Duchy of Lancaster; Richard Aunger; William Whyskins, and others then deceased of the grant and feoffment of Sir Gilbert Gerard, Knt., then Master of the Rolls; Ralph

Brereton, Esq., and William Porter, gentleman, as by their deed, dated on the 18th of May, 32 Eliz., more fully appeareth to have and to hold to the said Sir Edward Mosely, and others, their heirs and assigns to the only use and behoof of the same Edward, Henry, and their assigns for ever." In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there were 145 students in Staple Inn, in term; and 69 out of term-the largest number in any of the houses of Chancery. Reading and Mootings were also observed here with regularity. Sir Simonds d'Ewes mentions that on the 17th of February, 1624, in the morning he went to Staple Inn, and there argued a moot point or law case with others, and were engaged in that exercise, till near three o'clock in the afternoon. A fire broke out in No. 1, Staple Inn, on the 27th of November, 1756, which entirely consumed the chambers of Mr. Ward, Mr. Brooke, Mr. Sharpe, and Mr. Sackville; two females and two children perishing in the flames. The hall fortunately escaped from destruction.

BARNARD'S INN.

This is another Inn of Chancery belonging to Gray's Inn. "In the thirteenth year of the reign of King Henry VI., it was a messuage belonging to John Mackworth, then Dean of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln, and in that time in the holding of one, Lyonel Barnard, who next, before the conversion thereof into an Inn of Chancery, dwelt there; and it hath ever since retained the name of Barnard's

Inn, or Barnard's House.

Barnard's Inn beareth

party per Pale, indented Ermin. and Sab. a Chevron Gul. and Fretty.'

In the time of Queen Elizabeth there were 112 students in this Inn, in term, and 24 out of term; at present there are, including the principal ancient and companions, in all, 18 members. In the hall of the inn there is a fine full-length portrait of Lord Chief Justice Holt, (who served the office of principal of Barnard's Inn,) of Lord Burghley, Lord Bacon, and Sir William Daniel,† all of Gray's Inn, three judges whose names are not known, and portraits of Charles II. and Lord Keeper Coventry. Gray's Inn, Staple Inn, and Barnard's Inn, are connected for the purposes of taxation; the three places being comprehended in the district of Gray's Inn. The benchers of Gray's Inn are Commissioners of Taxes, and appoint the officers for this purpose.

* MS. Harl. in Lansd.

+ There are some Latin verses in praise of this judge, printed in Stow's 'Lond.'

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384

REGULATIONS OF INNS OF COURT.

CHAPTER XI.

REGULATIONS OF THE FOUR INNS OF COURT.

ADMISSION OF STUDENTS.

Sir

IN the Inner Temple there is a rule, that no person can be admitted a member of the society who is under fifteen years of age.* In the other inns there appears to be no rule on the subject. Simonds d'Ewes was admitted a member of the Middle Temple before he was nine years old, and Holt, afterwards Lord Chief Justice, was admitted a member of Gray's Inn before his twelfth year.

Before any person can be admitted a member of either of the four societies, he must sign a statement in writing, describing his age, residence, and condition in life, and comprising a certificate of his respectability and fitness to be admitted. It is expected that he shall be aptus, habilis, et idoneus moribus et scientia.

A Student, previously to his keeping any of the terms requisite for his call to the Bar, must deposit with the treasurer of the society 1007., to be returned, without interest, on his being called to the Bar, or, in case of death, to his personal representatives; but this rule does not apply to any person

who shall produce a certificate of his having kept two years terms in any of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, or (at the Middle Temple) of London or Durham, or of his being a Member of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland; and before he can enter into Commons, he must sign a bond with surety, conditioned to conditioned to pay the dues.

By a Regulation in the Inner Temple, dated 1st of February, 1780, a person in holy orders cannot be admitted a member of the Society.* In ancient times several distinguished ecclesiastics were, as we have seen, admitted as members of the Inns of Court, and in the three other Inns there appears still to be no rule against the admission of clergymen as members; although there is a rule in each of the four Societies, prohibiting a clergyman from being called to the Bar. By an Order of Pension, in Gray's Inn, dated the 8th day of July, 1794, it was ordered (after a conference with the other Inns of Court) that a person in deacon's orders ought not to be called to the Bar: it having previously (in the year 1799) been declared to be the opinion of the Society, that a person in priest's orders was not a proper person to be called to the Bar, regard being had to the 76th Canon, made in 1603.

If any objection appear against the admission of any person, it is laid before the Benchers, and they

* This regulation was made in consequence of the application of John Horne Tooke, who had been admitted at the Inner Temple in 1756, and who in 1760 had received priest's orders. cc 2