Ancient Legal Education in the Inns of Court. Temple in the 7 Car. I. for keeping good rule in Christmas time : — "That no play be continued within the house upon any Saturday night, or upon Christmas Eve at night, after twelve of the clock. . . . "That there be not any going abroad, out of the circuit of this house, or without any of the gates, by any lord or other gentleman, to break open any house or chamber, or to take anything, in the name of rent, or a distress. . . . "That, for preventing of quarrells within the house, and that general scandal and obloquie which the house hath heretofore incurred in time of Christmas, there shall no gentleman of this house side with any person whatsoever that shall offer to disturb the peace and quiet of the house; but shall indeavor to punish them, according to the old custome of the house; and that no strangers be suffered to come within the Hall, but such as shall appear and seem to be of good sort and fashion." The accounts of the observances at the special feasts are very curious, and are well worth reading as illustrations of the rigid and stately manners of ancient times, but they are of too great length to be quoted here. On the whole, the system anciently in use at the inns is entitled to more respect than it often receives. It was obviously suited for the special object for which it was designed, — the cultivation of a learned ac quaintance with the laws, and readiness and skill in applying them. There is something pleasing in the co-operation of the different grades of the societies in their common oc cupation. Benchers and readers, utter and inner barristers, and students appear to have
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been combined in the pursuit of legal knowl edge, not merely when points arose in actual business, but as a matter of study and learn ing; and while the distinctions of rank were maintained, the abilities of the subordinate classes had scope in more independent exer cises than those of mere pupils. The innerbarristers had to argue as well as to learn; the utter-barristers, to preside and teach as well as argue. The gregarious and social character of life in the inns was likely to give a zest to the pursuits of the young law yers, and to nourish a spirit of good fellow ship among them. It is also deserving of notice that there were considerable periods of probation before the students rose to the successive ranks of the profession. A quaint notice is given in one of the old books of the external difficulties amidst which the young Templars had formerly to attain to erudition, and we conclude by quot ing it. It is said of the Middle Temple : "There be none there that be compelled to lerne, and they that are learners, for the most part have their studies and places of learning so sett that they are much troubled with the noyse of walkying and communication of them that be no learners; and in the term time they are so unquieted by clyents and servants of clyents that resort to such as are attornies and practysers, that the students may as quietly study in the open streets as in their studies. . . .
"Item, they have no place to walk in and talk and confer their learnings, but in the church; which place, all the term times, hath in it no more quietness than the pervyse of Pawles, by occasion of the confluence and concourse of such as are suters in the law."
