Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/861

 8o0

Bench as they sate at supper in the Hall on Monday following, wishinge them to cause 4 or 5 of those gentlemen who came up to the Bench in that disorderly manner to bee warned to appeare before his Lordship and some other of the Judges at Serjeant's Inn in Fleete Streete on Wednesday followinge in the afternoone." The result was that the ringleaders in this rebellion, including Mr. Heron. Mr. Сое and Mr. Garland, were committed to the prison of the King's Bench till they should find baile for their good be havior. THE STAR CHAMBER MESSENGER. This Mr. Edward Heron had only a short time before, August, 1629, figured in an other disorderly scene by laying violent hands with some others on a messenger of the Privy Council, who, according to the version of the Benchers, endeavored to make an arrest in the House and was there fore disgracefully handled. The Attorney General's account in writing to the King was rather different. It was this: The messenger, who had been sent to make the arrest, "not knowringe the gentelman, found him in Lincoln's Inn Walks, and ther the party was shewed unto him, but out of re spect to the place he then there forboare to attach him. Notwithstanding when the Messenger was quietly gone out of there gates into the street, about thirty gentelmen fett him into the House violently, pumpt him, shaved him and disgracefully used him, after they sawe his warrant and otherwise carried themselves rudely and un worthily. I propose, goes on the Attorney General, to proceed as roundly as I may against the offenders, to let them and others see theire error; but I thought it my duty to acquaint your Majesty with the truth thereof." Nothing more, however, is heard of the matter. The probability is that the messenger's story was wrong and that he

was attempting to execute the Star Cham ber process within the Inn. If so, it was a clear invasion of the privileges of which the members were justly jealous.

THE "REVELS." Chaucer in describing his "yonge Squier'' among the Canterbury pilgrims says:— "He candé songes make and well indite Just and eke dance and well portray and write." Dancing in those days was deemed one of the necessary accomplishments of a gen tleman, and it formed an important part of the Revels of the Inns, not only of Lin coln's Inn, but of the two Temples and Gray's Inn. Was it not Sir Christopher Hatton's graceful dancing at the Christmas revels of the Inner Temple which won, as everyone knows, the heart of the Virgin Queen and laid the foundation of that luckv gentleman's fortunes? The word "Revels" is apt, however, to mislead. It conveys the idea that the Inns of Court were much ad dicted to feasting and revelry, or as John Evelyn calls it, "dancing and fooling." In truth the Revels were but part of the system of education of the Inns of Court, designed to form the complete gentleman. "There is," says Fortescue, "both in the Inns oí Court and the Inns of Chancery, a sort of an Academy or Gymnasium fit for persons of their station, where they learn singing and all kinds of music, dancing, and such other accomplishments and Diversions (which are called Revels) as are suitable to their quality and such as are usuallv practised at Court." So the Inns danced, and masqued, and sang, and generally cul tivated the Muses, as well as the stern Goddess Themis. THE MASQUE OF 1613.—DANCING BY THE LAWYERS. Here is an account of the grand Masque given by the Middle Temple and Lincoln's