e city, and the meaning of the title has been much discussed.

[Illustration: LINCOLN'S INN GATE, CHANCERY LANE.

_From an old print published in 1800_.]

Richard Starkulf was a Norfolk man of Danish origin, and was admitted to
the freedom of the city of London in 1310. He is described as a mercer,
but no mercer could carry on his trade in those days without belonging
to a staple. After his death, as his son Thomas was still a minor, his
lands were placed in the custody of William de Hampton, of Shrewsbury,
controller of the customs in the King's staple there, and to Richard de
Elsyng, another mercer. But the tenement of _le Stapled halle_, which he
directed should be sold, came into the hands of William de Elsyng,[135]
also a wool-stapler, a brother of Richard, and the founder of St. Mary's
Hospital, commonly known as Elsyng Spital. Five years later, when
William de Elsyng made further gifts to the hospital, an inquisition was
held to know if the gift might be made without injury to anyone, and
thereat some interesting particulars respecting his Holborn property
were recorded. We are told that

"there remains to William a tenement in the parish of St.
Andrew of Holbourne which is worth yearly in all its issues
100s.; thence should be subtracted 3s. 4d. quit rent yearly to
the church of St. Paul, London, and 6s. 8d. for yearly repairs,
the clear value thus being L4 10s.; which tenement (with
others), remaining after the aforesaid assignment are held of
the king in free burgage as is the whole of the aforesaid city
and are sufficient for the maintenance of all dues and services
and William can be put on assizes, juries and recognisances as
before his assignment."[136]

The next person to hold Staple Inn was Thomas de Brenchesle.[137] No
record of his appointment to any duties at Holborn Bars has been
discovered, but on April 12th, 1343, he was ordered to "attach" Thomas
Tirwhitt, of Pokelynton,

"who has taken without the realm twelve sarples of wool
uncustomed and uncoketed (_i.e._, unsealed), as the king is
certainly informed, and bring him before the council with all
speed to answer for his contempt."[138]

And on April 1st, 1349, Thomas de Brynchesle was ordered,

"upon pain of forfeiture, to be at Westminster with all the
evidence in his possession for the time when he was appointed
with others to supervise the state of the