OF A DIGEST OF LAWS. 361 



fittest to supply perpetuity of generations by perpe 

 tuity of noble acts ; but contrariwise, that they that 

 leave posterity are the more interested in the care of 

 future times; that as well their progeny, as their 

 people, may participate of their merit. 



Your majesty is a great master in justice and ju 

 dicature, and it were pity the fruit of that your vir 

 tue should not be transmitted to the ages to come. 

 Your majesty also reigneth in learned times, the 

 more, no doubt, in regard of your own perfection in 

 learning, and your patronage thereof. And it hath 

 been the mishap of works of this nature, that the 

 less learned time hath, sometimes, wrought upon the 

 more learned, which now will not be so. As for 

 myself, the law was my profession, to which I am a 

 debtor : some little helps T have of other arts, which 

 may give form to matter : and I have now, by God s 

 merciful chastisement, and by his special providence, 

 time and leisure to put my talent, or half talent, or 

 what it is, to such exchanges as may perhaps ex 

 ceed the interest of an active life. Therefore, as in 

 the beginning of my troubles I made offer to your 

 majesty to take pains in the story of England, and 

 in compiling a method and digest of your laws, so 

 have I performed the first, which rested but upon 

 myself, in some part : and I do in all humbleness re 

 new the offer of this latter, which will require help 

 and assistance, to your majesty, if it shall stand 

 with your good pleasure to employ my servict 

 therein. 



