ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 411 



too much, or relying upon their own authority, they exceed 

 the bounds of a recorder. 



LXXVI. Let these judgments be digested in the order 

 of time, and not in method and titles ; for such writings are 

 a kind of histories or narratives of the laws ; and not only 

 the acts themselves, but also their times, afford light to a 

 prudent judge. 



Authentic writers 



LXXYII. Let a body of law be wholly compiled, 1, of 

 the laws that constitute the common law; 2, of the statutes; 

 and, 3, of the judgments on record: and besides these, let 

 nothing be deemed authentic, or else be sparingly received. 



LXXYIIT. Nothing conduces more to the certainty of 

 laws, whereof we now speak, than that the authentic writing 

 should be kept within moderate bounds ; and that vast mul 

 titude of authors and learned men in the law excluded, 

 which otherwise rend the mind of the laws, distract the 

 judge, make lawsuits endless: and the lawyer himself, find 

 ing it impossible to peruse and digest so many books, hence 

 takes up with compendiums. Perhaps some good glossary, 

 a few of the exactest writers, or rather a very few portions 

 of a few authors, might be usefully received for authentic. 

 But let the books be still reserved in libraries, for the judges 

 and counsel to inspect occasionally, without permitting them 

 to be cited in pleading at the bar, or suffering them to pass 

 into authority. 



Auxiliary writings 



LXXIX. But let not the knowledge and practice of the 

 law want its auxiliary books, which are of six kinds; viz., 

 1. Institutes; 2. Explanations of words; 3. The rules of 

 law; 4. The antiquities of law; 5. Summaries or abridg 

 ments; and 6. Forms of pleading. 



LXXX. Students are to be trained up to the knowledge 

 and higher parts of the law by institutes, which should be 

 written in a clear method. Let the whole of private right, 

 of the laws of Meum and Tuum, be gone over in these ele 

 ments, not omitting some things and dwelling too much 



