Over several decades the late Master Igor Judge assembled a collection of 15th century documents, which he generously gave to the Inn between 2015 and 2019, following an earlier gift of a Templar Charter in 1989. A selection of these, chosen by Master Judge for an exhibition in Michaelmas 2019, have been displayed in the Middle Temple Library where they can be viewed during Library opening hours for the duration of January.

 

Many of the documents are directly associated with prominent historical figures who feature in Shakespeare’s underestimated 15th Century History Plays, which, as Stephen Greenblatt’s Tyrant: Shakespeare on Power has shown, still resonate today.

 

The documents in this collection provide much historical, legal and human interest to engage a modern audience.