templative. Him the rays of science served but to embellish, not enlighten; and philosophy herself was degraded by a conjunction with his mean soul. He did not survive above five years this disgrace. We are told that he often lamented that ambition and false glory had diverted him from spending his whole time in the manner worthy his extensive genius; but there is too much reason to believe, from his conduct, that these sentiments arose from the weight of his mortifications, and not from the conviction of his judgment. He retained, through the favour of James, and in consequence of many supplications, a nominal pension of 1800l. a year; but, through the deficiency of its payment, languished out the remainder of his life in indigent circumstances 3. It is needless for an historian to describe the strength or extent of his genius; his precious bequests to posterity paint them stronger than can any other pen."

David Jenkins, the patriotic and honest Welsh judge, in the reign of Charles I. was a member of

During the time he had the seals, he received a number of letters from Buckingham, in favour of different persons who had causes depending in chancery. There is great reason to believe that every one of these mandates was implicitly obeyed by the submissive chancellor. These letters are in a collection published by Dr. Birch.

He complains, in Dr. Birch's letters, that the pension of 1800l. a year, which he enjoyed during his prosperity, was stopped, and that there was 800l. in arrears due upon it. Among the many petitions he preferred to Buckingham for a subsistence, he descended to ask the proctorship of Eton school, and was denied. York house and his manor of Gorambury were sold to pay his debts; and, at last, he was induced to take up with a lodging in Gray's Inn, which he inhabited while he was a practical lawyer.

this society. He had imprisoned and condemned several persons bearing arms against the king, and courageously disowned the usurped jurisdiction of the commons, when brought to their bar. Expecting daily to be hanged, he came to a resolution to suffer with the Bible under one arm and Magna Charta under the other. His vindication of himself, and other occasional pieces of his writing, were printed in 12mo. 1648, with his head, by Marshal. Ob. 1663, æt. circ. 814."

CHAP. VIII.

INNS OF CHANCERY BELONGING TO GRAY'S INN.

STAPLE INN.

STAPLE INN is traditionally reported to have been called "Staple Hall," and to have been anciently a sort of exchange or meeting-place for the wool-merchants, or staplers.

In the reign of Henry V. however, and probably before, it had become an inn of chancery, the society still possessing a manuscript of the orders and constitutions made at that period. It was then held by lease (for the first grant of the inheritance of it to the ancients of Gray's Inn, from John Knighton and Alice his wife, daughter of John Chapwood, was by indenture of bargain and sale, dated 10 November, 20 Henry VIII.); after which there were other feoffments made. For, upon the 4th day of June, 20 Jac. I. sir Francis Bacon, knight, then lord Veru

• Granger's Biog. Hist. Eng.

lam, and viscount St. Alban, did enfeoff sir Edward Moseley, knight, attorney of the dutchy of Lancaster, sir Henry Yelverton, and others, the ancients of Gray's Inn, of this seminary, by the name of "All the messuage or inn of chancery commonly called Staple Inne, and one garden thereunto adjoyning, with all and singular their appurtenances, in times past belonging to John Knighton, gentleman, and Alice his wife, situate in the parish of St. Andrew's, Holberne, in the suburbs of London; which messuage, &c. the said Francis lord Verulam lately had, together with John Brograve, esq. attorney to queen Elizabeth, of the dutchy of Lancaster, Richard Munger, William Whyskins, and others, then deceased, of feoffment of sir Gilbert Gerard, knight, then master of the rolls, Ralph Brereton, esq. and William Porter, gentleman, as by their said deed, dated 18 Maii, 32 Elizabeth, more fully appeareth, to have and to hold to the said sir Edward Moseley, and others, their heirs and assigns, to the only use and behoof of the same Edward, Henry, and their heirs and assigns for ever."

This inn stands on the south side of Holborn, nearly opposite Gray's Inn Lane, and is one of the two inns of chancery belonging to Gray's Inn. It consists of two large courts surrounded with buildings. Great part of the second court was rebuilt in the early part of the last century, and contains a small garden, pleasantly laid out. The first court, adjoining Holborn, and particularly the street front, is of a much greater age. The latter extends a consider