I read a lot as a kid and had a father who actively encouraged curiosity and learning. We had a good dictionary and an encyclopedia (this was way before home computing and the Internet), but we also had conversations. I think I learned to work things out from context in the home (definitely not in school), and sort of settled into a middle ground of "work it out from context; if I can't and it seems important enough to interrupt what I'm doing, go look it up".

What's the question about Inns of Court? I've seen some of those sources and have danced and/or played music for some of the dances.