Volume II 1603-1660 - The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

cxvi INTRODUCTION.
and Mr. Wadham Windham in 1655 for their conduct in Cony's
case can hardly be regarded as any slight upon the lawyers. It
arose from the necessities of state, and was brought about by the
intemperate language of Serjeant Twisden, who having just received
the degree of serjeant at law from the protector, denounced his
power to issue decrees, to grant patents, to collect excise, and otherwise
to exercise the functions of head of the commonwealth.' They
were all sent to the Tower, whence they petitioned the protector,
and were shortly afterwards released.'
The first step taken towards law reform, after the constitution of
the courts of law, was an attempt by the judges to restore the inns of
court to their former condition and to revive the readings which had
for some time been discontinued. With this end in view Lord Chief
Justice Rolle and Chief Baron Wilde, in agreement with the other
p• 289 judges, convened the benchers of the four inns in the summer of 1649
and ordered them strictly, under severe penalties, to resume their
readings not later than the Lent of 165o. In February, 1649-50, the
benchers in agreement with the judges ordered the renewing of vacap.
291 tion commons which had been discontinued since August, 1642, and of
vacation readings, as in the old times. The difficulty of obtaining
readers, however, seems to have been insurmountable, and at the
same time the want of money to carry on the affairs of the society
was sorely felt. An order of November, 1652, dealing with these
two difficulties, provided that every present and future bencher who
P. 304 had not read should pay to the society the sum of ,4'5o, to be repaid
to him after his reading, or in default to be forfeit to the inn, and he to
be quit of his reading. On the 26th June, 1657, it was ordered by
the protector's second parliament, " that it be recommended to his
Highness, and the council to take some effectual course, upon advice
with the judges, for reforming the government of the inns of court ;
and likewise for placing of godly and able ministers there, and providing
a sufficient maintenance for their encouragement, and also for
reviving the readings in the several inns of court and the keeping up
of exercise by the students there." Nothing, however, came of the
order.3
1 " State Papers, Commonwealth," ath May, 1655, vol. xcvii., No. 48.
Ibid., "Faithful Scout," 22nd May, 1655.
3 Burton, " Diary," vol. ii., p. 313.