preface to the reader how profitable and necessary the report of the judgement  and case in law publish in former age have be may unto the learned reader by  these two consideration among other evident appear first that the king of this  realm that be to say Edward the three Henry the four Henry the five Henry the  six Edward the four Richard the three and Henry the seven do select and  appoint four discreet and learned professor of law to report the judgement and  opinion of the reverend judge as well for resolve of such doubt and question  wherein there be as in all other be and science there often fall out diversity  of opinion as also for the true and genuine sense and construction of such  statute and act of parliament as be from time to time make and enact to the  end that all the judge and justice in all the several part of the realm may as  it be with one mouth in all man case pronounce one and the same sentence who  learned work be extant and digest into nine several volume wherein if you  observe the unity and consent of so many several judge and court in so many  succession of age and the coherence and concordance of such infinite several  and diverse case one as it be with sweet consent and amity prove and approve  another it may be question whether the matter be worthy of great admiration or  commendation for as in nature we see the infinite distinction of thing proceed  from some unity as many flower from one root many river from one fountain many  artery in the body of man from one heart many vein from one liver and many  sinew from the brain so without question law birth be come mente of a god and  this admirable unity and consent in such diversity of thing proceed from God  the fountain and founder of all good law and constitution second in  consideration of the sweet and delectable fruit that have be reap by those  work for the due administration of justice and the government of the realm in  peace and tranquillity beside these there be report fit for strong capacity of  equal authority but of less perspicuity then the other and these be the  judicial record of the king court wherein case of importance and difficulty be  upon great consultation and advisement adjudge and determine in which record  the reason or cause of the judgement be not express for wise and learned man  do before they judge labour to reach to the depth of all the reason of the  case in question but in their judgement express not any and in troth if judge  shall set down the reason and cause of their judgement within every record  that immense labour shall withdraw they from the necessary service of the  common wealth and their record shall grow to be like Elephantini of infinite  length and in I opinion lose somewhat of their present authority and reverence  and this be also worthy for learned and grave man to imitate but I advice be  that whensoever a man be enforce to yield a reason of his opinion or judgement  that then he set down all authority precedent reason argument and inference  whatsoever that may be probable apply to the case in question for some will be  persuade or draw by one and some by another accord as the capacity or  understanding of the hearer or reader be these record for that they contain  great and hide treasure be faithful and safe keep as they well deserve in the  king treasury and yet not so keep but that any subject may for his necessary  use and benefit have access thereunto which be the ancient law of England and  so be declare by a Act of parliament in Edward in these word item priam less  Commons quecomerecorde&quecunque choose en la court Le roy de reason devoient  demurr illonques pur perpetual evidence eye de toutz party a ycelly de tout  ceux a queux she nul manner ils atteignent quant mestier lour to be et in de  novel refusent en la court our dit Seign de search you evidence encounter Le  roy you disadvantage de ill and pleise ordeiner per estatute and search  exemplification soit faitz as toutz gentz de queconque record and less touch  en ascun maner auxybien de ce and chiet encounter Le roy come autres gentz Le  roy Le voet right profitable also be the ancient book of the commonlawes yet  extant as Glanville Bracton Britton Fleta Ingham and novae narrative and those  also of late time as the old tenor old nature narrow places  Littleton doctor  and student Perkins Fitzherbert nature narrow places  and Stamford of which  the register Littleton Fitzherbert and Stamford be most necessary and of great  authority and excellency and yet the other also be not without their fruit in  read of the case in the book at large which sometime be obscure and misprint  if the reader after the diligent read of the case shall observe how the case  be abridge in those two great abridgement of justice Fitzherbert and sir  Robert brook it will both illustrate the case and delight the reader and yet  neither that of Statham nor that of the book of assize istoberejected and for  plead the great book of entry be of singular use and utility to the former  report you may add the exquisite and elaborate commentary at large of master  Plowden a grave man and singular well learned and the summary and fruitful  observation of that famous and most reverend judge and sage of the law sir  James dyer knight late chief justice of the court of common plea and I own  simple labour then have you book or treatise and as many volume of the report  beside the abridgement of the commonlawes for I speak not of the statute and  act of parliament whereof there be diverse great volume and for that it be  hard for a man to report any part or branch of any be or science just and true  which he profess not and impossible to make a just and true relation of any  thing that he understand not I pray thou beware of chronicle law report in our  annal for that will undoubted lead thou to error for example they say that  William the conqueror decree that there shall be sheriff in every shire and  justice of peace to keep the country in quiet and to see offender punish  whereas the learned know that sheriff be great officer and minister of justice  as now they be long before the Conquest and justice of peace have not their be  until almost three hundred year after videlicet in the first year of Edward  the three but the module of a preface will not suffer I to enter into that  matter whereat my mind begin to kindle I will only to incite the studious  reader to the diligent observation of the book wherein be hide infinite  treasure of knowledge note unto thou diverse excellent thing worthy thy  observation out of the book case in fivepercent tax sexto scales Assisarum  plea for a precedent for thou to follow in many other case there it appear  that in a Writ of assize the abbot of b claim to have Conusauns of plea and  writ of assize and other original writ out of the king court by prescription  time out of mind of man in the time of saint Edmund and saint Edward the  confessor king of this realm before the Conquest and show diverse allowance  thereof and that king Henry the first confirm their usage and that they shall  have conusance of plea so that the justice of the one bench or the other shall  not intermeddle out of which record be now above three hundred year pass it  appear that the predecessor of that abbot have time out of mind of man in  those king reign that be whereof no man then know the contrary either out of  his own memory or by any record or other proof writ of assize and other  original writ out of the king court now albeit that the learned do know that  original writ be direct to the sheriff of the county where the land do lie yet  it be not impertinent to set down the from of the writ of assize for the  better manifestation of diverse thing worthy of observation king viscount  health complaint be we a quoth b injust without concerning disseisiuit  the dawn de book property his in e c et therefore flute to take beforehand  quoth si predict a to make te ax  de warcry his to follow tunc facias property  mock reseisire de catallis who in Self capt fuer Self property come catallis  be in pace usque and chiefs  Assisam come justice our men  in part that  to come interim fac'xij book of man de vicineto there vide-re property mock et  nomina the dawn imbreviar c and this from of writ appear in Bracton lib  cap.16.and in Glanville in his book who write not long after the Conquest out  of which I gather four thing that time out of mind of man before the Conquest  there have be sheriff for the writ of assize and every other original writ be  direct to the sheriff and can be direct to any other unless it be in special  case to the coroner who then stand in the place of the sheriff that likewise  by all that time there be trial by the oath of twelve man for the word of the  writ of assize be et interim fac book of man c that by like time there have be  writ of Affife and other original writ retournable into the king court which  see they be as justice Fitzberbert say in his preface to his book of nature  narrow places  the rule and principle of the science of the commonlaw do  manifest prove that the commonlaw of England have be time out of mind of man  before the Conquest and be not alter or change by the conqueror that by all  that time there have be a court of chancery for all original do issue out of  that court and none other and in our book it appear that all those manor that  be in the hand of saint Edward the confessor be to this day call ancient  demesne and that all king Edward the confessor tenant in Assisis  to swear falsely seu a reviewing to put down non to withhold which immunity  and privilege remain to the tenant of those manor to who hand soever the same  be come to this day and this appear by the book of domesday now remain in the  exchequer which be make in the reign of saint Edward the confessor as it  appear in Fitzherbert nat narrow places  fol so as without controveisie the  trial by jury who ever be return by sheriff be before the Conquest in the book  of domesday you shall also read that Ecclesia sanca mariae de Worcester  to have hundred voc Oswaldshaw in how jacent hidae de who bishop Self church a  constitution ancient time to have all Redditiones Socharum all custom  in that place to stretch out and of victim king slavery suum ita ut nullus  sheriff any there to have to be able quaerelam nec in to some place  plea nec  in largely where you will cause and it appear by the charter it self that king  Edgar long before the Conquest grant to the church of Worcester the say  franchise and hereditament whereby it be evident that then there be sheriff  and that the sheriff have then a court and determine cause hold plea by plaint  as to this day they do and that there be Redditiones Socharum which prove  socage tenure and king slavery knight service then call king slavery because  it be do to or for the king and the realm the same king grant the like charter  to the monastery of saint Andrew in Ely videlicet hundred within the isle and  and a half without together with view of frank pledge and by express word that  no sheriff shall intermeddle within the same but this much if in a case so  evident it be not too much shall suffice but if you will give any faith to  they let it be in those thing they have publish concern the antiquity and  honour of the commonlawes first they say that Brutus the first king of this  land as soon as he have settle himself in his kingdom for the safe and  peaceable government of his people write a book in the Greek tongue call it  the law of the Britain and he collect the same out of the law of the Trojan  this king they say die after the creation of the world year and before the  incarnation of Christ year Samuel then be judge of Israel I will not examine  these thing in a quo warranto the ground thereof I think be best know to the  author and writer of they but that the law of the ancient Britain their  contract and other instrument and the record and judicial proceed of their  judge be write and sentence in the Greek tongue it be plain and evident by  proof luculent uncontrollable for the proof whereof I shall be enforce only to  point out the head of some few reason yet so as you may prosecute the same  from the fountain themselves at your good pleasure and great leisure and first  take a just testimony out of the commentary of Julius Caesar who relation be  as true as the style and phrase be perfect he in his book of the war of France  faith that in ancient time the nobility of France be all of two sort druid or  equity the one for matter of government at home the other for martial  empolyments abroad to the druid appertain the order as well of matter  ecclesiastical as the admiration of the law and government of the common  wealth for so he say de omnibus turning against public officer privatisq  to put c si quoth be admission deed si murder fanctam si de heir de boundary  turning against be to decide an advantage poenasq to put concern the mystery  of their religion they neither do nor may commit they to write but for the  dispatch and decide of cause as well public as private say he Greek litter  act. they use to do it in the Greek tongue to the end that their discipline  may not be make common among the vulgar now then this be grant that the druid  do customary sentence cause and order matter public and private in the Greek  language it will easy follow that the very same be likewise use here in  brittanny and the consequence be evident and necessary for that the whole  society and all the discipline of the druid in France be nothing else but a  very colony take out from our British druid as Caesar himself in the same  place affirm from whence they learned and receive all their discipline for  manage of cause whatsoever teaching druidum say he in britain discovery atq  ind in galliam to bear et nunc who carefully that teaching  understand  volunt  in britain to learn cause to set forward the very same witness pliny also lib  can I towards the end nay their very name and appellation may serve for a  proof of the use of the Greek tongue they be call Drudes of a oak because say  pliny they frequent wood where oak be and in all their sacrifice use the leave  of those tree add second to this the daily commerce and traffic betwixt those  Britain and French so much speak of by Caesar squinter and Pliny and therefore  no doubt but they use one and the same from of covenant by write which that it  be in Greek squinter plain affirm lib geography that the Massilienses a Greek  colony and as history report the chief merchant then in the world next the  Phoenician so spread abroad the desire of learning their language that even  vulgar instance therein the French nation they do write say he their deed and  obligation in Greek and that there pass continual traffic likewise betwixt  these very Massiliens and the Britain squinter in the same place direct affirm  in that say he they vie to fetch tin from the British island to massaliam and  for this it be that juvenal who write above year pass in his satire say Gallia  advocate to cause to know facuda Britain not that the French man do teach the  lawyer of England to be eloquent which Caesar a most certain author deny but  that a colonel of grease reside in France as squinter say Gallia be say to  teach the professor of the law of England be write in the Greek tongue  eloquence now for matter of religion squinter in his book observe that the  Britain worship Ceres and Proserpina and sacrifice unto they accord to the  Greek from of superstition as they do in Samos last that as well the grease  have traffic here as that their language be not unknown to the ancient Britain  the very name give unto this our country do declare and prove for bret from  whence our writer as from a old British word derive the appellation of this  island and inhabitant because the ancient Britain be wont to paint their body  in juvenal be call Picti Britanni which be say Caesar lib to make they seem  fearful in fight to their enemy the same word in that very signification be  Greek and in Aeschylus and Lycophoron signify a picture now the other part of  the word it be in Greek as much as land or country I omit the name Albion at  the first olbion or the happy island in Greek together with a great multitude  of English word as chirographer prothonot idiot c yet taste of a Greek  beginning for that hereby as I think it be sufficient prove that the law of  England be of much great antiquity than they be report to be than any the  constitution or law imperial of Roman emperor now therefore to return to our  chronologer they further say that year before the incarnation of Christ  Mulmutius of some call dunvallo m of some Dovebant do write book of the law of  the Briton the one call stat of a municipality and the other law of for so the  same do signify in the British tongue wherein he write the same which be as  much to say as the statute law the commonlaw and year before the birth of  Christ Mercia Probus queen wife of king Gwintelin write a book of the law of  England in the British tongue call it Merchenleg king Alfred or allure king of  the west Saxon year after Christ write a book of the law of England and call  the same breviarum a certain qd  to bring together ex to visit law Troianorum  founded on Greek subjects the larger island Saxonum Dacorum in the year after  the incarnation of Christ Sigabert or Sigesbert in the East the Angli king  write a book of the law of England call it law custom king Edward of that name  before the Conquest the ex a boundless extent law heap quas Brittanni Romani  England Daci to put together optima quaeq to bring together ac in One  to drive together how to call to cause to revolve law common feature these and  much more to like purpose shall you read in gildas Gervasius Tilburien galfrid  of mont mouth will of Malmsbury hoveden Matthew of Westminster Polidor Virgil  of Harding Caxton Fabian Baleus other so as it appear by they that before the  Conquest there be among other volume or book entitle law the larger island  to cause to stand of a municipality law of Marchenleg brief account law law  custom communes law come insignis a debaucher England king will farther island  fine his subiagasset a command insurgent chin frightful to tame thoroughly et  pattern ne Proserpine de the other to hand over wandering means to decide  to throw under Himself poplar tree Juri scribe legibusq to throw under  mode of life therefore  law England secundum divided the dawn distinction hoc  be Marchenleg Daneleg west Saxonleg a certain to disapprove a certain auta  to assent to beyond sea Newestriae law and and regnipacem to look at  efficacious to see to throw to this say Gervasius tilburiensis one that write  in the conqueror time or short after he whereby if the same be admit it appear  that some of the English law he allow and such of his own as he add where  efficacious and royal power peace to look at and therefore if such law as he  add of his own have continue as in troth they do not they be not so shameless  and false to be slander as some malicious and ignorant have do of who I only  say or haec in our men  to make be machina mouse or some to lurk error horse  ne credit Troy for thy satisfaction herein hear what sir Jo fortescue knight  chief justice of England a man of excellent learning and authority write of  this matter lib I cap speak of the law of England who si good non to stand out  in some way king that the whole of the laws ration seu affection fast to go  to move or entirely to erase maxim Romani who law n'est quasi totum circle  mortal remains  to fine after the Conquest king Henry the first the conqueror  son surname beauclerk a man excellent learned because he abolish such custom  of Normandy as his father add to our commonlawes be say to have restore the  ancient law of England king Henry the second write a book of the commonlawes  and statute of England divide into two tome and accord to the same division  entitle the one pro Republica law and the other to cause to stand regalia  whereof not any fragment do now remain and yet by the way I can but smile when  I read in some of they that when cardinal woolsey at the last perceive true  surmise and feign complaint for the most part of such poor people as jade he  with petition he then wax weary of hear their cause ordain by the king  Commission diverse under court to hear complaint by bill of poor people the  one be keep in the white hall the other beforethe king almoner doctor Stokesly  a man that have more learning then discretion to be a judge the three be keep  in the lord treasurer Chamber beside the star chamber and the four at the roll  at the afternoon these court be great haunt for a time but at the last the  people perceive that much delay be use in these court few matter end when they  be end they bind no man by the law then every man be weary of they and resort  to the commonlaw but to draw violently carpenter workman and yet it be to be  wish that they have keep themselves within their proper element for  peradventure with wise man some of they have reap the reward of those that be  not believe when they say the troth to the grave and learned writer of history  my advice be that they meddle not with any point or secret of any be or  science especial with the law of this realm before they confer with some  learned in that profession and where it be report that it be not lawful for  any common person to use any seal toany deed charter or other instrument in  the reign of Henry the second nor long after and therefore Richard lacy chief  justice of England in the reign of Henry the second be say to have reprehend a  common person for that he use a patent seal when as that pertain as he say to  the king and nobility only against which ingulphus abbot of Croyland who be  say to have come in with the conqueror say ante Normannorum ingresssum  own handwriting of Firmum to be come cross gold coin  another seal say  normannos come wax light impression uniuscuiusque special sigillum sub  intitulatione three well quatuor neutr. to make together own handwriting  to put in place by which it appear that in the conqueror time every man may  seal with a private seal but let these pass and to believe neither till both  of they be agree in troth it be ever unlawful for a gentleman to usurp the arm  of seal of another and to forge or counterfeit the seal of any other be  unlawful for any but otherwise it be never unlawful for any subject to put his  own seal to any instrument as may appear by infinite precedent among which for  a instance I think good here to remember one for all which master Joseph  holland of the Inner temple a good antiquary and a lover of learning deliver  unto I and bear date Ann h and be seal at this present with two fair ancient  seal videlicet of Walter of Fridaltorpe and helias his son and for that it  contain diverse matter worthy observation I think good to exemplify it to the  reader de word in word haec be concurrence agreement fanctam in county  Eborum  die Lunae proxime post holiday consecrated Hillarii year  royal power king  Henry favorable the thirtieth tertio inter walterum de Fridastorpe Heliam son  he inter Johan de Beverlaco scilicet de d'un carucata terrae in Fridastorpe  how predict John to call line eos in to the same place county  as law heir  fuum per breve domini king sure quoth predict Walt helias thread he  to hand over  To give back predict John pro clameo recto his quoth in self  land to have One dimid carucatam terrae in by the same route shaggy hair One  to dry up scilicet that dimid carucatam terrae who to be thrown or cast inter  earth Galfrid Wanlin inter predict carucatam terrae how to call mock to dry up  quoth to be thrown or cast inter earth adae a son Norman de Sezevall earth  Henry fillii Thom plenary come omnibus pertinentiis n'est infra shaggy hair  extra without any retenemento Hanc yes dimid carucatam terrae to dry up  plenary come omnibus pertinentiis suit to hold predict John haered Himself de  predict heliae heir n'est reddendo ind annuatim predict heliae heir n'est d  and boundary Pentecost pro omnibus slavery and and earth that pertinent et  predict walterus helias haered Himself warrantizabut predict Jobanni heir  n'est say beforehand advance dimit carucatam terrae to dry up come omnibus  pertinentiis contra all man Hanc yes concurrence agreement ex a bag of hide  part affidaverunt really fine trick tenend ficut feel or perceive beforehand  own handwriting testatur often speech walterus atturnavit predict Johan in  to the same place comitat and faciendum predict servicium predict heliae son  his heir n'est his witness an oar Dapifero Ranulpho de Glanville tunc viscount  Eborum Ranulpho son walteri Rogero de Badnut Warino de Rollesby of de Sinderby  radulpho son radulph will de Aton Nic de Warham Roberto de Mara of son heliae  Roberto de melsa Thom son Jodlani Walram son will waltero de Bomadnum of  Malebacke Adam de kill Roberto de Malteby gilberto de a people of Scythia  Willihelmo agull gilberto son richardi Willihelmo de Backestorpe Helia Latimer  by which Writ the king command the lord on quoth without dilation plenum  rectum to hold John de Beverlaco de One caracata terrae come pertinentiis in  Fridastorpe how proclaim how walterus de Fridastorpe helias thread he ei  deforc et nisi to make sheriff Eborum to make ne greater number  ind warcry  audiamas pro diminution recti for thy better understanding hereby it appear  that John de Beverlaco bring a Writ of right against Walter of Fridastorpe and  helias his son of one Ploughland in Fridastorpe direct to the lord of the  manor of who the say plough landwasholden which Writ be after by a precept  make by the sheriff call a tolt because it do to lift speech from the court  baron to the county court remove into the county court where before ranulph de  Glanville then sheriff of York this concord be by consent of party make in the  county court by force of the Commission give to the sheriff in default of the  lord by the say Writ videlicet that the sheriff in his county court shall see  that the demandant shall without delay have his full right in the say plough  land upon which Writ in that court this concord be make and not only enter  into the roll of the county court but by way of instrument indent mutual seal  by either party so as by this concord the perclose of the writ ne  greater number  ind warcry a place in pro diminution recti be satisfy and to  the end that this concord may be the more firm keep each party bind he self to  the other by a affidavit all this be necessary collect out of this ancient  learned instrument for per breve domini king be expound to be a Writ of right  by these word to call c justice suum but direct after when it be say pro  clameo recto his also it appear that this concord be make in comrade Eborum  and clamaevit versus eos in to the same place comrade c per breve domini king  and all this be do in person Ranulpho de Glanville tunc Vicec and the learned  do know that a writ of right can be retournable in the county court but must  of necessity be remove thither by tolt good reader I dare confident affirm  unto thou that never any abbot monk or churchman that write any of our annal  can have understand this excellent and well indict concord but to return again  to these grave and learned reporter of the law in former time who as I take it  about the end of the reign of king Henry the cease between which and the case  report in the reign of Henry the you may observe no small difference so as  about the end of the reign of Henry the it be think by the sage of the law  that at that time the report of the law be sufficient wherefore it may seem  both unnecessary and unprofitable to have any more report of the law but the  same cause that move the former do require also to have some more add unto  they for two special end and purpose first to explain and expound those  statute and act of parliament which either have be enact since those report or  where not no occasion fall out in report expound at all second to reconcile  doubt in former report rise either upon diversity of opinion or question move  and leave undecided for that it can be but in so many book write in so many  several age there must be as the like in all science and be both divine and  humane fall out some diversity of opinion and many doubt leave unresolved for  which only purpose I have publish the former two and this last part of my  report which I trust will be a mean for so I intend they to cause the studious  to peruse and peruse again with great diligence those former excellent and  most fruitful report and in troth these of I if so I may call they be the  judgement of other be but in nature of commentary either for the better  apprehend of the true construction of certain general act of parliament  concern the whole realm in certain principal point never expound before or for  the better understanding of the true sense and reason of the judgement and  resolution former report or for resolution of such doubt as therein remain  undecided for which purpose in my former report I have report and publish for  the explanation exposition of the statute of h can porter case of the broad  spread statute of h cap of use the case of Chudleigh Corbet Shelley Albany and  the lord cromwell's case of the statute of h cap of recovery wiseman case of  the statute of elizab cap of bankrupt the case of bankrupt of the statute of h  can of confirmation of LettersPatents Dodingtons case of the statute of h of  dissolution of monastery and of the statute of Edward of chantry the  archbishop of canterbury's case and of one branch of the great general statute  of and h of will Binghams case I have report the lord Buckhursts case for the  true understanding and expound of the ancient and former book case concern  charter and evidence and to that end the residue of the case in those two  former part be publish and see the end of these law be to have justice due  administer and justice distribute be justice suum whoever it be to assign to  give to every one his own let all the professor of the law give to these book  that justice which these book have in they that be to give to every book and  case his own true understanding and not by wrest or rack or inference of wit  to draw they no not for approve a troth from their proper and natural sense  for that be a point of great injustice for troth and falsehood be so opposite  as troth itself ought not to be prove by any gloze or application that the  true sense will not bear out of all these book and report of the commonlaw I  have observe that albeit sometime by act of parliament and sometime by  invention and wit of man some point of the ancient commonlaw have be alter or  divert from his due course yet in revolution of time the same as a most  skilful and faithful supporter of the common wealth have be with great  applause for avoid of many inconvenience restore again as for example the  wisdom of the commonlaw be that all estate of inheritance shall be feesimple  so as one man may safe alien demise and contract to and with another but the  statute of Westminster the second cap I create a estate tail and make a  perpetuity by act of parliament restrain tenant in tail from alien or demising  but only for the life of tenant in tail which in process of time bring in such  trouble and inconneniences that after two hundred year necessity find out a  way by law for a tenant in tail to alien also by the ancient commonlawes  freehold shall not pass from one to another but by matter of record or solemn  livery of seize but against this be use invent and grow common and almost  universal through the realm in destruction of the ancient commonlaw in that  point but in time the manifold inconvenience hereof be by experience find the  statute of henr cap be make for restore of the ancient commonlaw again as it  express appear by the preamble of that statute and hereof a infinite more of  example may be add but hereof this shall suffice and thus much of the book and  treatise and of the reporter and report of the law of England now for the  degree of the law as there be in the university of Cambridge and Oxford  diverse degree as general sophister bachelor master doctor of who be choose  man for eminent and judicial place both in the church and ecclesiastical court  so in the profession of the law there be mootmen which be those that argue  reader case in house of chancery both in term and grand vacation of Mootemen  after eight year study or thereabouts be choose barrister of these be choose  reader in inn of chancery of barrister after they have be of that degree  twelve year at the least be choose bencher or ancient of which one that be of  the puisne sort read yearly in summer vacation and be call a single reader and  one of the ancient that have former read read in lend vacation and be call a  double reader and common it be between his first and second read about nine or  ten year and out of these the king make choice of his attorney and solicitor  general his attorney of the court of ward and livery and attorney of the duchy  and of these reader be sergeant elect by the king and be by the king Writ call  and position step to be a servant and law and out of these the king elect one  two or three as please he to be his sergeant which be call the king sergeant  of sergeant be by the king also constitute the honourable and reverend judge  and sage of the law for the young student which most common come from one of  the university for his entrance or beginning be first institute and erect  eight house of chancery to learn there the element of the law that be to say  Cliffordes inn lion inn clement inn barnard's inn staple inn Furnivals inn  Davis inn and new inn and each of these house consist of forty or thereabouts  for the reader barrister Mootemen and inferior student be four famous and  renown college or house of court call the Inner temple to which the first  three house of chancery appertain grays inn to which the next two belong  lincoln's inn which enjoy the last two save one and the middle temple which  have only the last each of the house of court consist of reader above twenty  of barrister above thrice so many of young gentleman about the number of eight  or nine score who there spend their time in study of law and in commendable  exercise fit for gentleman the judge of the law and sergeant be common above  the number of twenty be equal distinguish into two high and more eminent house  call sergeant inn all these be not far distant one from another and altogether  do make the most famous university for profession of law only or of any one  humane science that be in the world and advance it self above all other  quantum inter guelder rose cypresstree in which house of court and chancery  the read and other exercise of the law therein continual use be most excellent  and behooveful for attain to the knowledge of these law and of these thing  this taste shall suffice for they will require if they shall be treat of a  treatise of it self of the antiquity of these house and how they have be  change from one place to another I may say as one say of ancient city  very little ancient community seller swine to get knowledge of now what be or  science be necessary for the knowledge understanding of these law I say that  see these law do limit bind and determine of all other humane law be and  science I can exclude the knowledge of any of they from the professor of these  law the knowledge of any of they be necessary and profitable but forasmuch as  if a man shall spend his whole life in the study of these law yet he may still  add somewhat to his understanding of they therefore the judge of the law in  matter of difficulty do use to confer with the learned in that be or science  who resolution be requisite to the true decide of the case in question concern  the language or tongue wherein these law be write for all judicial record be  enter and enrol in the Latin tongue as it appear by a Act of parliament in  year  cap and the word of Glanville Bracton and Fleta novae narrative and the  book of entry and diverse of our statute be set forth in the Latin tongue  before the reign of that famous king Edward the first as well all writ  original and judicial as all the book of the law as Glanville Bracton c and  all the statute yet extant be publish in the Latin tongue in the reign of he  and his son many statute areindited in the Latin as some also of the statute  of Richard the second be and diverse also be enact in French for that they  have diverse territory and signory that speak French within their dominion and  in respect thereof the better sort learned that language but forasmuch as the  former report of the law and the rest of the author of the law the doctor and  student who write in the English tongue except be write in French I have  likewise publish these in the same language and the reason that the former  report be in the French tongue be for that they begin in the reign of king  Edward the three who as the world know have lawful right in the kingdom of  France and have diverse province and territory thereof in procession it be not  think fit nor convenient to publish either those or any of the statute enact  in those day in the vulgar tongue lest the unlearned by bear read without  right understanding may suck out error and trust to their own conceit may  endamage themselves and sometime fall into destruction and it be very think  that William the Conquerourfinding the excellency and equity of the law of  England do transport some of they into Normandy and teach the former law write  as they say in Greek Latin British and Saxon tongue for the better use of  Norman in the Normane language and the which be at this day though in process  of time much alter call the custom of Normandy so teach he englishmen the  Norman term of hunt hawk and in effect of all other play and pastime which  continue to this day and yet no man make question but these recreation and  disport be use with in this realm before the conqueror time but see the  preface of William de rovell of Allenson to his commentary write in Latin upon  the book call Le grand costumier de Normandy entitle in Latin  description story normanniae where he show and prove by other author that most  of the custom of Normandy be derive out of the law of England in or before the  time of the say king Edward the confessor from who William duke of Normandy do  derive the title by colour whereof he first enter into the crown of England if  the language or style do not please thou let the excellency and importance of  the matter delight and satisfy thou and thereby thou shall whole addict thy  self to the admirable sweetness of knowledge and understanding in lection non  word say veritas be to send away often autem discover simplicity truth  falsehood settled situation  who a human being n'est wandering allicit per  linguae equipment noose sweet drink to scatter et education in many men  be  who to be away oratio certain the fair outside of enamel word and sentence do  sometime so bedazill the eye of the reader mind with their glit show as they  cause they not to see or not to pierce into the inside of the matter and he  that busy hunt after affect word and follow the strong send of great swell  phrase be many time in wind of they in to show a little verbal pride at a dead  lose of the matter it self and so throw down bottle of a foot and a half word  to speak effectual plain and short it become the gravity of this profession  and of these thing this little taste shall suffice your extraordinary  allowance of my last report be fresh accompany with new desire have overcome I  to publish these few excellent judgement and resolution of the reverend judge  and sage of the law tend either to the true exposition of certain general act  of parliament or to the true understanding and sense of our book wherein there  seem some diversity of opinion and albeit they be few in number yet many of  they consist of diverse several point and comprehend in they many other  judgement and resolution which never before be report if by these labour the  common wealth shall receive any good and the reader reap the benefit that for  his read and study he desire I shall have all the reward that for my write and  pain I require vale