But we have other evidence besides that of Fortescue, showing that the inhabitants of the Inns of Court, and more especially of the Inns of Chancery, were numerous, and, I fear, somewhat disorderly. They were in fact formidable by their turbulence to their more peaceful neighbours, the citizens of London, with whom they waged what would now be. Called a war of town and gown. In the year 1454, a pitched battle was fought between the two communities in Fleet Street. Who chiefly distinguished themselves by their valour on this occasion does not appear; neither can we discover on which side victory was declared. But I am reluctantly constrained to state that the heads of three legal colleges, (the Principal of Clifford's Inn, the Principal of Furnival's Inn, and the Principal of Barnard's Inn, ) probably ringleaders, were tried, convicted, and sent prisoners to Hartford Castle.

After such a recital, we may perhaps feel some hesitation in pronouncing the time of Fortescue the golden age of these ancient judicial establishments.

Fortescue does not explain the mode of study pursued in the Inns of Court, or in the Inns of Chancery. That it was judicious we may infer from the great confluence of students. And certainly the teaching of elementary knowledge in the Inns of Chancery, and higher science in the Inns of Court, was a very rational distribution of legal education.

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