instrumental in defeating the Lancastrian attack on the city of London in 1467. The first organized body formed by mem bers of the Inns of Court appears to have been in 1584, for the purpose of assisting in the defense of the country from the Spanish Armada. The deed associating the mem bers of Lincoln's Inn is still in existence, having been preserved by Thomas Egerton, then solicitor-general, and afterwards chan cellor, who was the first to sign it. It is now amongst the Egerton papers in the pos session of Lord Ellesmere, and a copy of it was published by the Camden Society in 1840 (vol. 12, p. 108), and is as follows: — "Forasmuch as Almightie God hath ordayned Kynges, Quenes, and Princes to have domynion and rule over all theire subjectes, and to preserve them in the profession and observation of the true Christian religion accordinge to His holy word and commaundements .... Therefore wee, whose names are or shall be subscribed to this writ inge, beinge naturall borne subjectes of this realme of Englande, and having so gra cious a lady, our sovereigne Elizabeth, by the ordynance of God our moost rightfull quene, raignynge over us theise many yeres with greate felicitie to our inestimable cornforte . . . we doe also think it is our moost bounden duties, for the great benefites of peace, welth, and godly government, which we have more plentifully receaved theis many yeres under Her Majesty's Govern ment then our forefathers have done in any longer tyme of any other her progenitors, kinges of this realme, do declare and by this writinge make manifest our loyall and bounden duties to our said soveraigne lady for her safetie. And to that end wee and every of us, first calling to witnessne the holie name of Almightie God, doe voluntarilie and moost willingly bynde ourselves, every one of us, to the other jointlie and sev erally in the bonde of one fyrme and loyall societie, and do hereby vowe and promise before the Majestie of Almightie God, that
with our whole powers, bodies, lyves, landes, and goodes, and with our children and ser vants, wee and every of us will faithfully serve and humbly obey our said soveraigne lady Queen Elizabeth, against all estates, dignities, and earthly powers whatsoever, and will, as well with our joynte as particuler forces, during our lyves, withstande, offende, and pursue, as well by force of armes as by all other meanes of revenge, all manner of persons of what estate soever they shalbe and their abettors, that shall at tempte by any acte, counsell, or consent to anythinge that shall tende to the harme of Her Majestie's royal person ... In witnesse of all which promises to be inviolably kepte, we doe to this writinge putt to our handes and seales, and shalbe moost ready to ac cepte and admytt any others hereafter to this our society and association. — Tho. Egerton, Rauffe Rokeby, John Davy, George Kyngesmyll, Chr. Jenneye, Peter Warburton, C. Rytche, Avarez Copley, Joly Aston, Tho. Thornton, Ric. Kyngesmyll, Amos Dalton, Humphry Brydges, Robert Ryche, Robert Clerke, John Glanvyle, Thomas Palmer, Roger Pope, John Evelyn, etc. The original document bears ninety-five signatures, but the Camden Society, from want of space, have omitted to print more than the first twenty. Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh were both members of the Middle Temple. A copy of the order of the benchers, direct ing a banquet to be given to Sir Walter Raleigh, " member of this house," on his return from his voyage round the world, is framed under his portrait at the Middle Temple. Sir Philip Sydney was a member of Gray's Inn. One of the early acts of King Charles I, after his accession to the throne, was to address a circular letter to the benchers of the different inns, requesting them to call upon the students at their times of recrea tion, to exercise themselves in arms, and particularly in horsemanship, in which the
