(Original Image)
Acted at the Inner Temple in 1561 and repeated before the Queen at Whitehall in the same year
The Inner Temple had the distinction of possessing a famous library as early as the fifteenth century, being the first of the Inns of Court which possessed a library worthy of the name.
The ancient Hall of the Inner Temple, where plays and masques were held on Festival and other occasions, was rebuilt early in the last century. The modern Hall has been erected in close imitation of the former one. Historically and architecturally the new Hall cannot compare with the exquisite building of the Middle Temple, and every Englishman should consider it his duty to pay at least one visit to this monument of ancient learning.
The first English Tragedy, properly so called, was acted in the ancient Hall of the Inner Temple on the occasion of the Christmas Revels in 1561. The same play was performed the next year before the Queen at Whitehall. The first edition of this work was a piratical one, published in 1565, a unique copy of which is in the Eton Library. The title page of this edition states that the first three acts were written by Thomas Norton, and the last two by Thomas Sackville. The play is styled the “Tragedie of Gorboduc.” The second edition is called “The Tragedie of Ferrex and Porrex,” published in 1570. The third edition was issued in 1590. Each act of this play is preceded by a dumb show similar to the one produced in the play scene of “Hamlet.” Another play acted by the members of the Inner Temple in 1567 is “Gismund of Salerne,” a tale adapted from one of Boccaccio’s novels. Two manuscripts of this play exist, as well as a printed version, dated 1591, called “Tancred and Gismonda,” a revised version of the earlier play. This tale had been translated by Painter and published in his Palace of Pleasure, Vol. I, 1566. The author translated the version from the original Italian, but it is quite possible they consulted Painter’s version.
GRAY’S INN
Gray’s Inn owes its name to one Reginald Le Gray, who was Chief Justice at Chester early in the fourteenth century. Towards the end of the same century we find a building mentioned as “Graysyn” which at this time was in the possession of the lawyers. The present Hall is founded on the same site as the one that previously existed, which was not entirely destroyed, but rebuilt about the middle of the sixteenth century. The existing Hall is of quite modest dimensions and, together with the old Chapel, forms quite a picturesque view. The surrounding buildings date from early Georgian times, and add quite a pleasing effect; a few modern buildings afford an opportunity of criticising and comparing several modes of architecture in one place. The beautiful gardens of Grays Inn add another exquisite touch to these old world surroundings.
