THE LAWS OF ENGLAND. 347 



translation of the Bible, and such like works. Books 

 must follow sciences, and not sciences books. 



THIS work is to be done, to use some few words, 

 which is the language of action and effect, in this 

 manner. 



It consisteth of two parts ; the digest or recom 

 piling of the common laws, and that of the statutes. 



In the first of these, three things are to be done : 



1. The compiling of a book &quot; De antiquitatibus 

 juris.&quot; 



2. The reducing or perfecting of the course or 

 corps of the common laws. 



3. The composing of certain introductive and 

 auxiliary books touching the study of the laws. 



For the first of these, all ancient records in your 

 Tower, or elsewhere, containing acts of parliament, 

 letters patents, commissions, and judgments, and 

 the like, are to be searched, perused, and weighed : 

 and out of these are to be selected those that are of 

 most worth and weight, and in order of time, not of 

 titles, for the more conformity with the year-books, 

 to be set down and registred, rarely in &quot; haec verba ;&quot; 

 but summed with judgment, not omitting any ma 

 terial part ; these are to be used for reverend pre 

 cedents, but not for binding authorities. 



For the second, which is the main, there is to be 

 made a perfect course of the law &quot; in serie temporis,&quot; 

 or year-books, as we call them, from Edward the 

 first to this day : in the compiling of this course of 

 law, or year-books, the points following are to be 

 observed. 



