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The Green Bag:

maining in which plays of Shakspeare were student w.ear a beard of above three weeks' performed during his lifetime, the other growing." being the Middle Temple Hall. One can picture the heart-burnings with In early days the life of a law student en which this order was received. How sadly tailed a much closer attendance at an Inn of must many a gallant whose beard had been Court than is necessary to-day. His Inn the delight of his " ladye " and the despair was to the "apprentice " a resident University, of his companions view once again his hair where his manners were to be formed, his less chin! Bacon was admitted as a student morals strengthened, and his youth preserved but one year after the issue of this fiat. Was

(to quote Fortescue) it any memory of his "from every conta own evil case that in gion of Vice." It is spired Cressida's la to be presumed that ment for Troilus, — he was also to be "Alas, poor chin! Many a taught a little law, wart is richer "? though the fact is not emphasized. We commend the idea The intending stu to the Baconian con dent had first to prove troversialist seeking a himself " a gentleman sign. Moreover, some of blood and of perfect mediaeval Esau might descent." He had then in three weeks raise to serve a novitiate of a really creditable cov two years in one of ering, while smoother Jacobs, even with the the Inns of Chancery, of which Gray's Inn most assiduous atten had two attached to tion, could only show "a little wool, as much itself, — Staple Inn as an unripe peach and Barnard's Inn. doth wear." Verily, Once admitted, stu dents were under the those were hard times absolute control of the and rigorous! For other rules governing body of THE HALL. there may have been Benchers. They or more reason. " No dered their incomings and their outgoings, forbade them to be out of laundresses or women called victualers under their houses after six o'clock at night, and forty years of age, shall after this time come issued many other orders which must have into the chambers of the gentlemen of this vexed grievously the hearts of the lighter House," said the Benchers in 1610, evidently spirits of the community. Dandyism would fearing the influence of more youthful Hebes seem to have been held in special abhorrence. on the hearts of their young charges. The In 1557 it was ordered that henceforth no climax seems to have been reached in 1667, student should " wear in his doublet or hose when we learn from Pepys that the worm any light colours except scarlets or crimsons." turned, and that the Barristers and Students Double cuffs, white jerkyns, velvet shoes, of Gray's Inn rose in rebellion against the and other vanities were laid under a like ban; Benchers. Why they did so, history telleth and the ukase ended with the command that not; but we love them the better for it, and "under penalty of forty shillings should any may trust that they gained their end.