the preface to the reader nothing be or can be so fix in mind or fasten in  memory but in short time be or may be loosen out of the one and by little and  little quite lose out of the other it be therefore necessary that memorable  thing shall be commit to write the witness of time the light and the life of  truth and not whole betake to slippery memory which seldom yield a certain  reckon and herein our present time be of all that ever be to futureposterity  the most ungrateful for they of former though not of such flourish time to the  great benefit of themselves of we and our posterity have faithful and careful  register in book aswell the say as the do which be in their time worthy of  note and observation for omit other and take one example for all how careful  have those of our profession in former time report to age succeed the opinion  censure and judgement of their reverend judge and sage of the commonlawes  which if they have silence and not set forth in write certain as their body in  the bowel of the earth be long ago consume so have their grave opinion censure  and judgement be with they long since waste and wear away with the worm of  oblivion but we as just to be blame as the thing it self to be bewail have  great cause be less careful have better opportunity be less occasion and be in  great necessity be of all other the most negligent who neither the excellency  and perfection of knowledge a thing most pleasant nor the practice thereof in  furtherance of justice a thing most profitable although one great learned and  grave man have make a entrance can among so many in this flourish spring time  of knowledge move any other to follow his example the neglect whereof be in I  opinion many way dangerous for I have often observe that for want of a true  and certain report the case that have be adjudge stand upon the rack of many  run report especial of such as understand not the state of the question have  be so diverse draw out as many time the true part of the case have be disorder  disjoin and most common the right reason rule of the judge utter mistake  hereout have spring many absurd strange opinion which be carry about in a  common charm father on grave reverend judge many time with the multitude  sometime with the learned receive such allowance as either beguile or bedasil  their conceit judgement therefore as I allow not of those that make memory  their storehouse for at their great needs they shall want of their store so I  like not of those that stuff their study with wander masterless report for  they shall find they too soon to lead they to error in troth read hear  conference meditation recordation be necessary I confess to the knowledge of  the commonlaw because it consist upon so many almost infinite particular but a  orderly observation in write be most requisite of they all for read without  hear be dark and irksome hear without read be slippery and uncertain neither  of they true yield seasonable fruit without conference nor both of they with  conference without meditation recordation nor all of they together without due  and orderly observation scribe prudence tempore vacancy thy and yet he that at  length by these mean shall attain to be learned when he shall leave they off  quite for his gain or his ease so one shall he I warrant he lose a great part  of his learning therefore as I allow not to the student any discontinuance at  all for he shall lose more in a month than he shall recover in many so do I  commend perseverance to all as to each of these mean a inseparable incident I  have since the xxii year of her majesty reign which be now sheet year complete  observe the true reason as near as I can of such matter in law wherein I be of  Council acquaint with the estate of the question as have be adjudge upon great  mature deliberation and as I never mean as many have find to keep they so  secret for I own private use as to deny the request of any friend to have  either view or copy of any of they so till of late I never can be persuade as  many can witness to make they so public as by any entreaty to commit they to  print but when I consider how by her majesty princely care and choice her seat  of justice have be ever for the due execution of her law furnish with judge of  such excellent knowledge and wisdom whereunto they have attain in this  fruitful spring time of her bless reign as I fear that succeed age shall not  afford successor equal unto they I have adventure to publish certain of their  resolution in such sort as my little leisure will permit for the help of their  memory who hear they and perfect know they for the instruction of other who  know they not but imperfect hear of they and last for the common good for that  be my chief purpose in quiet establish of the possession of many in these  general case wherein there have be such variety of opinion in these report I  have of purpose not observe one method to the end that in some other edition  if God so please I may follow the from that the learned shall allow of and  will sequester I opinion for it may be I shall prefer those report which be  less painful more Compendious and yet perhaps no less profitable I have add  the plead at large as well for the warrant and better understanding of the  case and matter in law as for the better instruction of the studious reader in  good plead which mast Littleton say be one of the most honourable laudable and  profitable thing in the law I wish the continuances have be omit and yet some  of they also be not without their fruit to the reader I advice be that in read  of these or any new report he neglect not in any case the read of the old book  of year report in former age for assure out of the old field must spring and  grow the new corn and so I conclude with the poet come tua non kid haec skin  yearly payment  lector to pick well Nola  our men  well ede tua bena vale