The survey of London containing the original, increase, modern estate and government of that city, methodically set down : with a memorial of those famouser acts of charity, which for publick and pious vses have been bestowed by many worshipfull citizens and benefactors : as also all the ancient and modern monuments erected in the churches, not only of those two famous cities, London and Westminster, but (now newly added) four miles compass / begun first by the pains and industry of John Stow, in the year 1598 ; afterwards inlarged by the care and diligence of A.M. in the year 1618 ; and now compleatly finished by the study & labour of A.M., H.D. and others, this present year 1633 ; whereunto, besides many additions (as appears by the contents) are annexed divers alphabetical tables, especially two, the first, an index of things, the second, a concordance of names.

Houses of Students in the Common Law.

BVt beside all this, there is in and about this Citie, a whole Vniversitie, as it were, of Students, pra∣ctisers or pleaders, and Iudges of the Lawes of this Realme, not living of common stipends, as in other Vniversities it is for the most part done, but of their owne private maintenance, as being altogether fed, either by their places, or practice, or otherwise by their proper Revenues, or exhibition of pa∣rents and friends: for that the yonger sort are either Gentlemen or the sonnes of Gentlemen, or of other most wealthy persons. Of these Houses there bee at this day foureteene in all, whereof nine doe stand within the Liberties of this Citie, and five in the Suburbs there∣of:
VIZ.

Within the Liberties.

• ...
  For Iudges and Sergeants onely.
  • Sergeants Inne in Fleetstreet,
  • Sergeants Inne in Chancery Lane,
• ...
  In Fleetstreet, Houses of Court.
  • The Inner Temple,
  • The middle Temple,
• ...
  Houses of Chancerie.
  • Cliffords Inne in Fleetstreet,
  • Thavies Inne in Oldborne,
  • Furnevals Inne in Oldborne,
  • Barnards Inne in Oldborne,
  • Staple Inne in Oldborne,

Without the Liberties.

• ...
  Houses of Court.
  • Grayes Inne in Oldborne,
  • Lincolnes Inne in Chancerie∣lane, by the old Temple.
• ...
  Houses of Chancerie without Temple barre, in the liberty of Westminster.
  • Clements Inne,
  • New Inne,
  • Lions Iune,

There was sometime an Inne of Ser∣geants in Oldborne, as ye may reade of Scroopes Inne, over against Saint An∣drews Church.

There was also one other Inne of Chan∣cerie, called Chesters Inne, for the neere∣nesse to the Bishop of Chesters house, but more commonly termed Strand Inne, for that it stood in Strand street, and neere unto Strand bridge without Tem∣ple Barre, in the liberty of the Dutchie of Lancaster. This Inne of Chancery, with other houses adjoyning, were pulled down in the reigne of Edw. the 6. by Ed∣ward Duke of Sommerset, who in place thereof raised that large and beautifull house, called Sommerset House.

There was moreover, in the reigne of

King Henry the sixth, a tenth House of Chancery, mentioned by Iustice Forte∣scue, in his booke of the Lawes of Eng∣land: but where it stood, or when it was abandoned, I cannot find, and ther∣fore I will leave it, and returne to the rest.

The Houses of Court be replenished, partly with yong students, and partly with Graduates and practisers of the Law: but the Innes of Chancerie, being (as it were) provinces, severally subje∣cted to the Innes of Court, bee chiefly furnished with Officers, Atturneys, Sol∣liciters and Clerkes, that follow the Courts of the Kings Bench, or Com∣mon Pleas. And yet there want not some other, being young students, that come thither sometimes from one of the Vniversities, and sometimes imme∣diately from Grammer Schooles, and these having spent some time in study∣ing upon the grounds of the Law, and having performed the exercises of their owne houses, (called Boltas Mootes, and putting of cases) they proceed to be ad∣mitted, and become students in some of these foure houses or Innes of Court, where continuing by the space of seven yeeres, or thereabouts, they frequent Readings, Meetings, Boltings, and o∣ther learned exercises, whereby grow∣ing ripe in the knowledge of the Lawes, and approved withall, to bee of honest conversation, they are either by the ge∣nerall consent of the Benchers, or Rea∣ders, (being of the most ancient, grave, and judiciall men of every Inne of the Court, or by speciall priviledge of the present Reader there, selected and cal∣led to the degree of Vtter Barristers, and so enabled to be common Counsellors. and to practise the Law, both in their Chambers, and at the Barres.

Of these, after that they be called to a further step of preferment, called the Bench, there are two (every yeere) cho∣sen among the Benchers of every Inne of Court, to be Readers there, who doe make their Readings at two times of the yeere also: that is, one in Lent, and the other in the beginning of August.

And for the helpe of yong Students in every one of the Innes of Chancerie, they doe likewise choose out of every one Inne of Court a Reader, being no Bencher, but an Vtter Barrister there, in tenne or twelve yeeres continuance, and of good profit in studie. Now from these of the said degree of Counsel∣lours, or Vtter Barristers, having conti∣nued therein the space of foureteene or fifteene yeeres at the least, the chiefest and best learned are (by the Benchers) elected to increase the number, as I said, of the Bench amongst them; and so in their time doe become, first single, and then double Readers, to the students of those houses of Court.

After which last Reading, they bee named Apprentices at the Law, and in default of a sufficient number of Serje∣ants at Law, these are, at the pleasure of the Prince, to bee advanced to the places of Serjeants.

Out of which number of Serjeants also, the void places of Iudges are like∣wise ordinarily filled, albeit (now and then) some be advanced by the speciall favour of the Prince, to the estate, dig∣nity, and place both of Serjeant and Iudge, as it were in one instant. But from thence-forth, they hold not any roome in those Innes of Court, by being translated to one of the said two Innes, called Serjeants Innes, where none but the Serjeants and Iudges doe con∣verse.

Notes

• An Vni∣versity of Students in and a∣bout this Citie.
• Houses of Students of the Cō∣mon Law, & Iudges.
• Of every of these Innes, ye may reade more in their seve∣rall places where the stand
• A Serge∣ants Inne in Oldborne
• Chesters Inne, or Strand Inne, in place whereas standeth Sommerset House.
• Houses of Court, what they be.
• Some students cō∣ming from the Vni∣versities.
• The pre∣ferment of students according to their deserving.
• Readers in every Inne of Court.
• Apprenti∣ses at Law.
• Serjeants & Iudges.