 During the reign of Elizabeth I , Gray 's Inn rose in prominence , and that period is considered the " golden age " of the Inn , with Elizabeth serving as the Patron Lady . This can be traced to the actions of Nicholas Bacon , William Cecil and Gilbert Gerard , all prominent members of the Inn and confidantes of Elizabeth . Cecil and Bacon in particular took pains to find the most promising young men and get them to join the Inn . In 1574 it was the largest of all the Inns of Court by number , with 120 barristers , and by 1619 it had a membership of more than 200 barristers . 
