SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
59 
century, supposed to be that of the IJishop of Carlisle. At the west end of the 
south aisle is a marble bust of “ the judicious Hooker,” Master of the Temple from 
• 585- 1595- 
Disposed in two groups on the floor of the Round Church lie the effigies of 
armed knights in Purbeck and Sussex marble. Up to 1840 these were in a very 
dilapidated condition, but under the able hands of Richardson they were most 
skilfully restored. A winding staircase, containing a small cell for unruly knights, 
leads to the Triforium, which, besides containing some interesting monuments 
with quaint coats and quarterings, forms the lumber room for what was once the 
most interesting series of monuments in England. Many of the monuments are 
in fragments, but among them may be seen some very beautiful carvings. The 
apparent vandalism makes one glad to get out into the open air to breathe freely. 
St. Mary’s belongs equally to both the Inner and Middle Temples, and on one 
side of the Church may be seen the Pegasus emblem of the Inner, and on the 
other the Lamb, ensign of the Middle Temple. 
The Hall of the Inner Temple was built in 1868, on the site of the old hall, 
which dated back to the reign of Edward HI. The walls and windows of this 
fine spacious building are decorated with the arms of Treasurers from 1450. 
Some of the nooks and corners of the Hall are very picturesque. Part of the old 
buttery, from whence was dispensed hospitality in olden days, still remains. 
In the Old Parliament Chambers are some interesting pictures and some fine 
carving by Grinling Gibbons. 
The Hall of the MiddleTemple was completed in 1571. It has a richly carved 
screen and the roof with its hammer-beams is unique, as the best Elizabethan roof 
in England. The windows are studded with shields, the oldest in the two bays 
which flank the dais. This dais is said to be the identical one upon which 
Shakespeare acted “Twelfth Night” before Elizabeth in 1601. The table, by 
which students stand when “ called to the Har ” rests upon the dais, and was 
made from an oak tree from the Royal Forest of Windsor. On the wall, between 
the two bay windows, is Vandyke’s Charles I. on horseback, and beneath is a 
marble bust of Edward VII. Referring to the ensigns of the two Temples, an 
old writer ironically remarks : — 
“ The Lamb sets forth their innocence. 
The Horse their expedition.” 
February 20. — The great debt that Londoners owe to the munificence and 
wisdom of busy merchants and traders of past centuries was fully brought home 
on Saturday, February 20, to a large party of Selbornians who, under the guidance 
of Mr. George Avenell, Chairman of Council, enjoyed an inspection of the two 
fine old halls of the Merchant Taylors and of the Skinners. Meeting at the Hall 
of the first named, the din of Threadneedle Street was lost in the lofty corridors, 
hall and rooms so courteously and fully discoursed upon by Mr. Edwin Nash, 
M.A. The first charter of the Merchant Taylors and Linen Armourers, as was 
their ancient designation, dates from 1336, and portions of the present Hall 
certainly go back to 1450. The present fabric was designed by Wren, who had 
the assistance of (irinling Gibbons in some of the exquisite woodwork and 
carving to be seen on the great screen and round the hall. Leaving the lofty 
hall with its stained glass windows and the corridor with its windows illustrating 
scenes in the Company’s history, the party came to the library. The old chained 
Bible was brought out for inspection, and the quiet and repose of the room was 
emphasised by the shelves of f)ooks, the absence of noise, and the cosy depths of 
the red morocco chairs. Leading from the library was the Court-room, hung 
round with pictures, its windows, like those of the library, looking out on to a 
stone-paved garden with flower-beds. A broad carved oak staircase with a large 
tapestry panel and equestrian portraits on the walls led to the ladies’ gallery and 
the drawing room. Here were more specimens of ancient tapestries and portraits 
of bygone worthies. 
The party then proceeded to inspect the kitchen with its fragments of old 
masonry and its huge cooking apparatus, and then to the crypt, where the 
groining and general character of the stonework indicated a date of the late 
fourteenth or early fifteenth century. A vote of thanks to Mr. Nash for his 
kindness was then unanimously accorded and the party left to make their way to 
