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

lxx INTRODUCTION.
Littleton, by an unknown artist, probably Vandyck. As far back as
we can trace them these pictures have always held their places in the
Inner Temple hall as the effigies of Littleton and his great commentator.'
After what has been shown of Sir Edward's friendship
for the inn we can well believe that Mistress Sadler, in sending to
the benchers these books and pictures, felt that she was doing that
which would not have displeased the spirit of her father. His bones
lie in Tittleshall church, under a monument erected by his family in
deference to their father's wishes. His fame as a jurist and a teacher
of the law has survived his age, and bids fair to be co-existent with
our law itself. His name is emblazoned in imperishable letters
among those of the preservers of our liberties. His memory is kept
alive in our society by his portraits, his books, and the benefits he has
conferred upon us in common with other students of jurisprudence.
But no memorial of this intrepid judge, honest patriot, and devout
worshipper, is to be found in the Temple church.
The elevation of Sir Edward Coke opened the way for the
advancement of Bacon, although he did not, in fact, receive his patent
as solicitor general until the following year. In the meantime his
professional position became a matter of interest to all the inns of
court, and is the subject of a contemporaneous memorandum in our
records. In the year 1586, he had been placed on the bench at
Gray's Inn after an unusually short probation at the bar. Notice to
Vol. .,p.341 that effect was dulytransmitted to this societyand entered in our books.
In or about 1591 he was appointed, by word of mouth, counsel to
the queen, being the first barrister ever nominated to that rank.2 On
the accession of James I., his rank, in the same form as he held it from
p. 6 Oueen Elizabeth, was confirmed to him by patent. At King James's
coronation he followed in the procession from the Tower to Whitehall
immediately after the king's attorney and solicitor general.3 He
p. 32 received from King James a pension of ,4-6o per annum for his life, in
consideration of services rendered by his brother Anthony and himself
; and a salary of L4o per annum was attached to his office as
1 " Inner Temple Records : Charles II., 1662, Chief Butler's Accounts," fo. 74.
Some account of these pictures is given in a report to the Inner Temple, printed by
order of the society in 1894.
In 1525 Richard Hassell of this society is described as " Learned Counsel to
the Princess Mary."
Nichols' Progresses of King James," vol. i., p. 325.