mittance into Lincoln's Inn, stay two years in this inn of chancery, paying their pensions during those two years; and that they should be discharged of casting into commons, and of all vacations and charges of Christinas, during the time of their stay here for those first two years.

Amongst other rules and orders hung up in the buttery of Lincoln's Inn, were the following respecting the ancient mootings of this society, and those of Thaive's Inn:

"In the Reading,

"Mootes in Furnivall's Inne, every Munday, Tuesday, and Thursday; and in Thavye's Inne, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, during the reading; but no exercise after the reader's feast."

This inn of chancery is situated in Holborn between Brook Street and Leather Lane: it occupies a very considerable plot of ground, and is divided into two squares or courts. The first towards Holborn is of a good width, but shallow, and built round on the four sides. The second, or inner court extends the depth of great part of Brook Street, and has chambers on one side only: the buildings of both are in a sad state of decay, and appear to be very much neglected.

The date of this inn, that is to say, of the buildings, is not very ancient, though it has greater claims in point of age than most of the other inns of chancery: but whatever it may gain in this respect, it most certainly loses in neatness and convenience; for

it is, without exception, the most dirty and desolate in its appearance of the whole.

The street front is an uncommonly fine specimen of brick-work, being adorned with pilasters, mouldings, and various other ornaments, and extends a considerable length. It contains a range of very good chambers, and beneath a handsome arched gateway leading to the interior parts of the inn. It appears to have been erected about the time of Charles II.

The hall is seen on entering the gateway; but its aspect is by no means calculated to make a favourable impression on the spectator. It is a low plain brick building, with a small turret, and two large projecting bow windows at the west end, and is, like the rest of the inn, in a most neglected state. The north side of it, on passing through the passage or entrance to the inner court, with a small range of old chambers that adjoins, and whose fronts are plastered in the cottage style, have a singularly rustic appearance, and bear a much greater resemblance to a country village than a London inn of chancery.

The interior of this hall is the best; and, if not handsome, has at least some pretensions to antiquity; a circumstance which, combined with the probability of its being soon destroyed, has made it thought worth preserving by a plate. Its dimensions are 40 feet by 24. The roof is of timber, arched, and divided into pannels by ribs springing from the sides; but it is very plain and poor, compared with others of a similar kind. The floor at the upper end of the hall is raised a step for the principals, as at the Middle

Temple, &c. It has in like manner a fire-place in the midst, and the same disposition of tables and benches; but they have no appearance, nor the hall itself, of being often used.

In the windows of this room are a few armorial bearings it likewise contains portraits of lords Raymond and Pengelly.

Thomas Fiddell, of Furnival's Inn, gent. one of the attornies of the court of common pleas, was author of a book, entitled, "A perfect Guide for a studious young Lawyer, being Precedents for Conveyancing." The first edition, containing his portrait, was published in 4to. 1654.

This society were governed by a principal and twelve ancients; and the members of the house, according to the old constitutions, were to be in commons a fortnight in every term, or pay two shillings per week if absent.

Their arms are, argent a bend between six martlets, gules within a border of the second.

The whole of this inn, it is reported, is soon to be pulled down.

CHAP. VII.

GRAY'S INN.

GRAY'S INN, the fourth and last inn of court, stands on the north side of Holborn, nearly opposite the end of Chancery Lane, from which it extends, but enveloped by houses, to Gray's Inn Lane, a very considerable distance eastward.