Inns of Court and Chancery

Names

  • Inns of Court and Chancery

Descriptions

from A Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, by John Strype (1720)

Of the Houses for Students in the Law, called, The Inns of Court and Chancery.

There is in and about this City an whole University as it were of Students,Practisers, or Pleaders, and Judges of the Laws of this Realm: Not living of common Stipends, as in other Universities it is for the most part done, but of their own private Maintenance: As being altogether fed either by their Places or Practice; or otherwise by their proper Revenues, or Exhibition of Parents and Friends. For that the younger Sort are either Gentlemen, or the Sons of Gentlemen, or of other most wealthy Persons. Inns of Court and Chancery. Consisting of Gentlemen, or wealthy Persons.
Of these Houses, there be at this Day Fourteen in all; whereof Nine do stand within the Liberties of this City, and Five in the Suburbs thereof. Number of these Houses.
VIZ.
Within the Liberties
Serjeants Inn in Fleetstreet, Serjeants Inn in Chancery Lane, For Judges and Serjeants only.
The Inner Temple, The Middle Temple, In Fleetstreet, Houses of Court.
Cliffords Inn in Fleetstreet, Thavies Inn in Holborn, Furnivals Inn in Holborn, Barnards Inn in Holborn, Staple Inn in Holborn, Houses of Chancery.
Without the Liberties.
Grays Inn in Holborn, Lincolns Inn in Chancery Lane, by the Old Temple. Houses of Court.
Clements Inn, New Inn, Lions Inn, Houses of Chancery without Temple-Bar, in the Liberty of Westminster.

…

These Houses are called Inns; being the old English word for Houses of Noblemen, and which is of the same Signification with the French word Hostel at Paris. Why called Inns. R. B.
The Inns of Chancery were probably so called, because (for the most part) they consisted of such Clerks as did chiefly study the forming of Writs, which belonged to the Cursitors, that are Officers of Chancery: and are now taken up by Attorneys, Sollicitors, and such as belong to the Courts of Common-Pleas, and King's-Bench: But formerly were preparatory Houses for younger Students, as well as for the forming of Writs as aforesaid: And many were entred here, before they were admitted to the Inns of Court; as some are at this Day. Inns of Chancery, why so called.
The Inns of Court were so named, as some say, because the Students therein are to serve the Courts of Judicature; or else because these Houses anciently received the Sons of Noblemen, and the better Sort of Gentlemen: And this Fortescue affirms. Inns of Court, why so called.
These Societies are no Corporations, nor have any Judicial Power over their Members; but have certain Orders amongst themselves, which by Consent have the Force of Laws. For slight Offences they are only excommoned, that is, put out of Commons; which is, not to eat with the rest in their Halls: And for greater, they lose their Chambers, and are expelled the House. And being once expelled, they are not to be admitted by any of the other Three Societies. No Corporations; but have Orders among themselves.
The Members, when they meet at Chapel, or at their Hall, or go to any of the Courts of Judicature, wear a grave black Robe or Gown, and a Cap; but at other Times, the Habit of the Gentry. Their Habit.
These Societies have no Lands or Revenues, except their House; nor have they any thing to defray the Charges of the House, but what is paid at Admittances, and Quit Rents for their Chambers, with the Purchase Money for Chambers, when any fall to the House. No Revenues belonging.
The Gentlemen in these Societies may be divided into Four Ranks: 1. Benchers. 2. Utter Barristers. 3. Inner Barristers: And, 4. Students. Four Ranks.