Editing Inner Temple (section)

===Early years===
[[File:Jean Froissart, Chroniques, 154v, 12148 btv1b8438605hf336, crop.jpg|thumb|An image from the [[Peasants' Revolt]] of 1381, during which the Inner Temple was largely destroyed]]
There are few records of the Inner Temple from the 14th and 15th centuries—indeed, from all the societies, although Lincoln's Inn's records stretch back to 1422. The Temple was sacked by [[Wat Tyler]] and his rebels during the [[Peasants' Revolt]] in 1381, with buildings pulled down and records destroyed.<ref>Bellot, p. 118</ref> [[John Stow]] wrote that, after breaking into [[Fleet Prison]], the rebels:

<blockquote>went to the Temple to destroy it, and plucked down the houses, tooke off the tyles of the other buildings left; went to the churche, tooke out all the bookes and remembrances that were m the hatches of the prentices of the law, carried them into the high street, and there burnt them. This house they spoyled for wrathe they bare to the prior of St. John's, unto whom it belonged, and, after a number of them had sacked this Temple, what with labour and what with wine being overcome, they lay down under the walls and housing,, and were slain like swyne, one of them killing another for old grudge and hatred, and others also made quick dispatch of them. A number of them that burnt the Temple went from thence to the Savoy, destroying in their way all the houses that belonged to the Hospital of St. John.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.217</ref></blockquote>
[[John Baker (legal historian)|John Baker]] thinks that the inhabitants took the opportunity to rebuild much of the Temple, and that this was when the Temple's Hall was built, since it contained 14th century roofing that would not have been available to the Knights Templar.<ref name=hist1/> The Inns of Court were similarly attacked in [[Jack Cade]]'s rebellion, although there are no specific records showing damage to the Inner Temple.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.218</ref>

The Hospitallers' properties were confiscated and given to [[Henry VIII]] by a statute of 1539/40. The Benchers of the Inn then attorned to the crown and were tenants until 1608. Following a Scotsman's request to purchase the land, the Inner and Middle Temples appealed to [[James VI and I|James I]], who granted the land to a group of noted lawyers and [[Bencher]]s, including Henry Montague and Sir [[Julius Caesar (judge)|Julius Caesar]], and to "their heirs and assignees for ever" on the condition that the Inner and Middle Temples each paid him £10 a year.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.219</ref>