Sir
William Dugdale, in his
Origines Juridiciales, mentioned this as follows:"...in the
graund Vacation time, out of the Four Houses of Court, come two and two to every House of Chancery; and there according to their years and continuance of the House that they be of, which they call
auncienty, they doe argue and reason to some doubtfull matter, that is proposed, so that the most youngest doth begyn, and the next to him in continuance doth follow; and at last he that readeth to that House of Chancery doth declare his opinion in the matter that is called into question." Of the governance of the
Inner Temple, Dugdale remarks:"...it was ordered that if any then, or thenceforth of this Society, should be called to the Bench, at that time being, or that thereafter should be a Knight, that notwithstanding such his dignity of Knighthood, he should take place at the Bench Table according to his
auncienty in the House, and no otherwise." Further (concerning the
Middle Temple): "The Benchers of this Society are divided into two several ranks or Classes, viz. the upper Classis consisting of the
Auncienty, and the lower of the
Puisnes." Similarly, as a mark of elder status, the Black Books of
Lincoln's Inn refer to the "Double Readers or Auncient
Benchers" (as opposed to the Middle Benchers or the Puisne Benchers); "from hencefourth if any chamber within this House shall fall voide, the auncientest Bencher shall make choice of it"; and the governance of
Furnival's Inn and of
Thavie's Inn is described (for each) as being under "the Principal and Auncients." At
Gray's Inn, the progress towards admission to the "grand company of Ancients", their prerogatives and responsibilities, are described in the published editions of their archives. ==Officers of Arms==