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CHAP. V.

LINCOLN'S INN.

THIS principal inn of court occupies a large plot of ground on the west side of Chancery Lane (formerly called Chancellors Lane), nearly in the centre of the metropolis. It was founded partly on the ruins of the monastery of the "black friars," who resided here previous to their removal to the quarter which now bears their name, and a mansion formerly belonging to Ralph Nevil, bishop of Chichester and chancellor of England in the reign of Henry III.

These black or preaching friars (thirteen in number) came into England with their prior Gilbert de Fraxineto in the year 1221; about which time great numbers of mendicants of the different orders were imported from the continent to reform the manners of the age. Peter de Rupibus, bishop of Winchester, introduced them to Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury, at his cathedral, who commanded the prior to preach, and so much approved of his sermon, that he became their warm patron.

On their arrival in London, the piece of ground on which the present inn stands, then described to be "without the wall of the city by Holbourn, near unto the old Temple," was given them, and there they founded a house and church, where they met with several benefactors, particularly the famous Hubert de Burgo, or Burgh, earl of Kent, and Margaret,

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sister to the king of Scots, widow to Geoffry earl marshal, who were both buried here, but afterwards removed to Ludgate. Hubert died, according to tradition, at his manor of Banstead in Surry, in 1242, having first bestowed on the friars his "place," or palace, at Westminster. This was afterwards sold by them to Walter Gray, archbishop of York, and left by him to his successors for ever as a town residence ; and hence denominated York Place. Cardinal Wolsey gave it to Henry VIII.; since which time it has been called Whitehall. Margaret died in 1244 °.

In 1276 Gregory Rokesley, a devout and munificent citizen, and then mayor of London, with the concurrence of the "barons of London "," granted and gave to Robert Kilwarby, archbishop of Canterbury, two lanes or ways next the streets of Baynard's Castle, together with the materials of a tower called Mountfitchet, then in decay, and standing near the Thames, in trust for the same friars; and by the voluntary aid of the king and others, they were enabled to erect a new convent, to which they soon afterwards removed. This ancient monastery fronted Holborn.

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• At this monastery of the black friars a general convocation of the order from all parts of Christendom, and even the Holy Land, assembled in 1250, to the number of 400, to treat of the affairs of their order, having their meat and drink found them of alms, because they had no possessions of their own. The first day the king came to their chapter, entered and dined with them; another day the queen sent them provisions; and they were afterwards feasted by the bishops of London, and the abbots of Westminster, St. Alban's, and Waltham.

7 Vide note 3, page 36.

The bishop's house was built in a garden in the lower part of the lane, once belonging to John Herlirum, as appears by the grant made to him of it by Henry, who excepted it out of the domus conversorum (now the Rolls).

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"The king granted to Ralph bishop of Chichester, chancellor, that place, with the garden, which John Herlirum forfeited in that street called New Street, over against the land of the said bishop in the same street; which place, with the garden and appurtenances, was the king's escheat, by the liberty of the city of London, as it was acknowledged before the king in his court of the tower of London, in the last pleas of the crown of that city 9."

Ch. J. Brooke, esq.

The site of this house and garden still retains the names of "Bishop's Court" and "Chichester Rents.” Of both this and the friary there are now no remains. Chichester house was standing as late as the reign of Elizabeth; at which time Spelman informs us, sir Richard Read master in chancery, and Mr. Atkinson a counsellor at law, men eminent in their time, resided. It had long before ceased to be the dwelling of the bishops of Chichester, who had for several years leased it to various persons.

Of the extent or magnificence of this dwelling we are at present unacquainted; but Matthew Paris, who speaks of its foundation, terms it" a noble palace." "Venerabilis pater (says he) episcopus Cicestrensis Redulphus de Nevilla, cancellarius Anglia, &c. The venerable father, Ralph Nevil, bishop of Chichester and chancellor of England, built his noble palace from the ground not far from the New Temple, and House of Converts; in which place he deceased in the month of February 1244."

At this house, in the same year, the above author tells us, Boniface, the wrathful archbishop of Canterbury, with his retinue, lodged in his famous visitation to the priory of St. Bartholomew the Great from both these circumstances we may conjecture it to have been a fine and large building.

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