I hold every man a debtor to his profession from the which as man of course do  seek to receive countenance profit so ought they of duty to endeavour  themselves by way of amends to be a help and ornament thereunto this be  perform in some degree by the honest and liberal practice of a profession when  man shall carry a respect not to descend into any course that be corrupt and  unworthy thereof and preserve themselves free from the abuse wherewith the  same profession be note to be infect but much more be this perform if a man be  able to visit and strengthen the root and foundation of the science it self  thereby not only grace it in reputation and dignity but also amplify it in  perfection and substance have therefore from the beginning comne to the study  of the law of this realm with a desire no less if I can attain unto it that  the same law shall be the better for my industry than that my self shall be  the better for the knowledge of they I do not find that by I own travel  without the help of authority I can in any kind confer so profitable a  addition unto that science as by collect the rule ground disperse throughout  the body of the same law for hereby no small light will be give in new case  wherein the authority do square and vary to confirm the law and to make it  receive one way and in case wherein the law be clear by authority yet  nevertheless to see more profound into the reason of such judgement and rule  case and thereby to make more use of they for the decision of other case more  doubtful so that the incertainty of law which be the principal and most just  challenge that be make to the law of our nation at this time will by this new  strength lie to the foundation be somewhat the more settle and correct neither  will the use hereof be only in decide of doubt and help soundness of judgement  but further in grace of argument in correct unprofitable subtlety and reduce  the same to a more find and substantial sense of law in reclaim vulgar error  and general the amendment in some measure of the very nature and complexion of  the whole law and there before the conclusion of reason of this kind be worthy  and apt call by a great civilian law law law of law for that many placita law  that be particular and positive learning of law do easy decline from a good  temper of justice if they be not rectify and govern by such rule now for the  manner of set down of they I have in all point to the best of my understanding  and before sight apply my self not to that which may seem most for the  ostentation of I own wit or knowledge but to that which may yield most use and  profit to the student and professor of our law and therefore whereas these  rule be some of they ordinary and vulgar that now serve but for ground and  plain song to the more shallow and impertinent sort of argument other of they  be gather and extract out of the harmony and congruity of case and be such as  the wise and deep sort of lawyer have in judgement and use though they be not  able many time to express and sir they down for the former sort which a man  that shall rather write to raise a high opinion of himself than to instruct  other will have omit as trite and within every man compass yet nevertheless I  have not affect to neglect they but have choose out of they such as I think  good I have reduce they to a true application mud ting and define their bind  that they may not be read upon at large but restrain to a point of difference  for as both in the law and other science the handle of question by commonplace  without aim or application be the weak so yet nevertheless many common  principle and generalty be not to be contemn if they be well derive and deduce  into particular and their limit and exclusion due assign for there be two  contrary fault and extremity in the debate and sift out of the law which may  be best note in two several manner of argument some argue upon general ground  and come not near the point in question other without lie any foundation of a  ground or difference do lose put case which though they go near the point yet  be put so scatter prove not but rather serve to make the law appear more  doubtful than to make it more plain second whereas some of these rule have a  concurrence with the civil Roman law and some other a diversity and many time  a opposition such ground which be common to our law and they I have not affect  to disguise into other word than the civilian use to the end they may seem  invent by I not borrow or translate from they no but I take hold of it as  matter of great authority and majesty to see and consider the concordance be  tween the law pen and as it be dict verbatim by the same reason on the other  side the diversity between the civil Roman rule of law and we happen either  when there be such a indifferency of reason so equal balance as the one law  embrace one course and the other the contrary and both just after either be  once positive and certain or where the law vary in regard of accommodate the  law to the different consideration of estate I have not omit to set down three  whereas I can have digest these rule into a certain method or order which I  know will have be more admire as that which will have make every particular  rule through coherence and relation unto other rule seem more cunning and deep  yet I have avoid so to do because this deliver of knowledge in distinct and  disjoin aphorism do leave the wit of man more free to turn and toss and make  use of that which be so deliver to more several purpose and application for we  see that all the ancient wisdom and science be wont to be deliver in that from  as may be see by the parable of Solomon and by the aphorism of Hippocrates and  the moral verse of Theognes and Phocilides but chief the precedent of the  civil law which have take the same course with their rule do confirm I in my  opinion fourthly whereas I know very well it will have be more plausible and  more currant if the rule with the exposition of they have be set do d'un  either in Latin or in English that the harshness of the language may not have  disgrace the matter and that civilian statesman scholar and other sensible man  may not have be bar from they yet I have forsake that grace and ornament of  they and only take this course the rule themselves I have put in Latin not  purify further than the property of the term of the law will permit which  language I choose as the brief to contrive the rule Compendious the apt for  memory and of the great authority and majesty to be avouch and allege in for  the exposition and distinction I have retain the peculiar language of our law  because it shall not be singular among the book of the same science and  because it be most familiar to the student and professor thereof and because  that it be most significant to express conceit of law and to conclude it be a  language wherein a man shall not be entice to hunt after word but matter and  for the exclude of any other than profess lawyer it be better manner to  exclude they by the strangeness of the language than by the obscurity of the  conceit which be as though it have be write in no private and retire language  yet by those that be not lawyer will for the most part not have be understand  or which be worse mistake five whereas it may have be more flourish and  ostentation of read to have vouch the authority and sometime to have enforce  or note upon they yet I have abstain from that also and the reason be because  I judge it a matter undue and preposterous to prove rule and maxim wherein I  have the example of mr Littleton and mr Fitzherbert who write be the  institution of the law of England whereof the one forbear to vouch any  authority altogether the other never recite a book but when he think the case  so weak of credit in it self as it needs a surety and these two I do far more  esteem than mr Perckings or mr Stamford that have do the contrary well will it  appear to those that be learned in the law that many of the case be judge case  either within the book or of fresh report and most of they fortify by judge  case and similitude of reason though in some few case I do intend express to  weigh down the authority by evidence of reason and therein rather to correct  the law than either to sooth a receive error or by unprofitable subtlety which  corrupt the sense of law to reconcile contrariety for these reason I resolve  not to derogate from the authority of the rule by vouch of any of the  authority of the case though in I own copy I have they quote for although the  meanness of I own person may now at first extenuate the authority of this  collection and that every man be adventurous to control yet sure accord to  Gamduells reason if it be of weight time will settle and authorize it if it be  light and weak time will reprove it so that to conclude you have here a work  without any glory of affect novelty or of method or of language or of  quotation and authority dedicate only to use and submit only to the censure of  the learned and chief of time last there be one point above all the rest I  account the most material for make these reason indeed profitable and instruct  which be that they be not set down alone like short dark oracle which every  man will be content still to allow to be true but in the mean time they give  little light or direction but I have attend they a matter not practice no not  in the civil law to any purpose and for want whereof indeed the rule be but as  proverb and many time plain fallacy with a clear and perspicuous exposition  break they into case and open they with distinction and sometime show the  reason above whereupon they depend and the affinity they have with other rule  and though I have thus with as good discretion and before sight as I can order  this work and as I may say without all colour or show husband it best to  profit yet nevertheless not whole trust to I own judgement have collect of  they I think good before I bring they all into from to publish some few that  by the taste of other man opinion in this first I may receive either  approbation in I own coarse or better advice for the alter of the other which  remain for it be great reason that that which be intend to the profit of other  shall be guide by the conceit of other