when he was sitting on the bench. He carried his adulation still higher than his insolence, when he called the duke of Buckingham "our Saviour" upon his return from Spain 5. It is remarkable that there were only fifteen volumes of reports extant when his three first volumes were published. There is as great a disproportion betwixt the latter and the twelve tables. Viner has abridged it into twenty-two folios ; and sir William Blackstone, like an expert chymist, has drawn off the spirit, and left the caput mortuum for the benefit of the lawyers. He died at his house at Stoke in Buckinghamshire the 3d of September 1634, in the eighty-third year of his age".

Sir Heneage Finch was another eminent man, educated at this seminary, who attained successively the dignities of recorder of London, solicitor-general and treasurer to Charles II. He was younger brother to Daniel earl of Nottingham. He was made solicitorgeneral the 13th of January 1678, but was removed

• When he presided at the trial of sir Walter Ralegh, he called him "traitor, monster, viper, and spider of hell;" and he told Mrs. Turner, who was concerned in the murder of sir Thomas Overbury, that "she was guilty of the seven deadly sins; she was a whore, a bawd, a sorcerer, a witch, a papist, a felon, and a murderer.” • Clarendon, vol. i. p. 6.

• Jn Barrington's " Observations on the Statutes," 3d edit. p. 112, note, is this passage concerning him: "The late publication of the journals of the house of commons shews that he did not prostitute his amazing knowledge of the municipal law to political purposes, as he generally argues in the same manner," and from the same authorities which he cites in his "Institutes."

7 Birch's Lives. There is a mistake concerning his age in the "Biographia."

from that office by James II. in April 1686, and "one Powys was appointed in his stead, who was ready and willing to do what the other refused." He was in this reign member of parliament for Guildford in Surry. On the 26th of October 1714, soon after the accession of George I. he was created earl of Ailesford. Ob. 22 July 1719.

To this catalogue, did our limits permit, might be added many other great names, particularly of later times but want of room forbids their insertion.

CHAP. III.

THE MIDDLE TEMPLE.

A Description of the Form and Manner, how and by what Orders and Customes the State of the Fellowship of the Middle Temple (one of the Houses of the Court) is maintained; and what Ways they have to attaine unto Learning (temp. Reg. Hen. VIII.)

FIRST there is no lands nor revenues belonging to the house, whereby any learner or student mought be holpen and encouraged to study, by means of some yearly stipend or salary; which is the occasion, that many a good witt, for lack of exhibition, is compelled to give over and forsake study, before he have any perfyt knowledge in the lawe, and to fall to practisyng, and become a typler in the law.

• Vitellius C. 9. in bibl. Cotton. f. 320. a.

The Auctoryte of the Hed Officer in ther House.

Item, that there is in the said house, yearly chosen by the elders of the house, one of the sagest of them to bere the office and name of tresorer; and his auctorite is to admit into the fellowship such as he thinketh mete: his auctorite is to assign to such as are of the fellowship there, their chambers and lodgings. His auctoryte is to gather of certen of the fellowship, a tribute yerely of iiis. iiiid. a peice, which among them hath the name of a pencion, and to receive of certain of the fellowship a rent of certaine chambers. His office is also to pay of the said of the said money, the rent due to the lord of St. John's for the house that they dwell in; and to pay also of the same money for reparations of their chambers and houses. His office is also to pay of the same money, the wages or salary of the servants of the house; as the stuard, their butlers, cokes, and other officers; and yerely to yield accompt of his receipt unto two auditors, which are apoynted unto them by the elders of the house.

The Diversity of Fellowships there, their Manner of Study, and Preferment therein.

Item, that there is in the same house of the fellowship there, two companyes; the one called the clerks commens, the other called the masters com

mens.

Item, the clerks commens are such young men as are admitted to the fellowship of the house, who, during two of the first years, or thereabout after their

2