HOW absolutely necessary, and of what great use and benefit a COMMON-PLACE is in all Sciences whatsoever, there is none that does pretend to any Study or Letters, but suffici­ently knows: and how many have made it their particular Business to give us Tractates and Books of Directions onely for it, in every Science, is a clear Indication, That no great matters can be done without it. It is impossible to bear all one reads in the Head, without having one thing to justle out another; and we have not always the command of our Memory, when most we stand in need of its assistance; it is treacherous, and very apt to deceive: and I believe, that onely Consideration gave the first original to Books; a desire that our Ancient Fore-fathers had to instill into their Posterity the Wisdom of their long Experiences; after they them­selves were laid in the Dust, and were no further capable of being living Masters to them. Books introduced a Method, and that made plain and easie the darker Mysteries of Arts and Sciences: This, by succession of Time, found out new, more ready, and successful ways to bring up Youth; and whereas any now come to be ripe in Knowledge and Ʋnderstanding at an Age far more early than were seen in the times of our former Predecessors, we must attribute the happiness of it to their laborious, instructive Wri­tings, which have cut short those long and tedious Forms which they were forced to take, e're they could arrive to the Proficiencies which we so soon attain to.

Well, we walk by their Light; and therefore, I think, we ought to thank them for it: their Pains have been our Advantage, and we have reaped the Harvest of the Seed that they have sown. I shall onely now give you an account of the way and method I have thought fit to make use of, and endeavour to direct our Young Students of the Law (for to them onely do I present this, though possibly it may be of no mean Service to those of longer standing) the best I can in the right managery of it, and so leave off troubling you with any unnecessary Preambles.

I have laid out my utmost Efforts, in the first place, to fix my Genus right in all the Terms, and so to reduce all the Species under their pe­culiar Heads: And this, as I apprehend it, will be of double benefit to our Observers of this Method. First, I am sure 'tis the readiest way for them to run to their just and proper Titles, in all their Notes, and the Abridgments they shall make of Cases: for, I think there is scarce any [Page] Title whatsoever which I have omitted, either in its particular place, as it naturally falls under some Supream Head, or as it ought to occur in the Alphabetical Order: for I have taken a strict Examination of both, that so our Gentlemen may not fail in any of their Searches. And, se­condly, It will be considerably helpful to them in conducting them to the right Fountain of all those issuing Streams; and, which is more, bringing them up in a habit and acquaintance with them: a thing, though so little minded by most, yet which is absolutely necessary to make an Accomplish'd Lawyer, and, for ought as I know, the most easie way that yet has ever been found out.

If, in the making of his COMMON-PLACE Book, he is re­solved to take my Measures, and Figure his Pages as I have done here, there needs no further Directions; but if he would give more Leaves to any of the Titles than I have allowed, he may do his pleasure, and still preserve the same Number of Figures intire as they are here, by onely using one Number to all the Pages he is resolved to make use of for one and the same Title; a way that will be more ready for him to turn to upon all accounts, and which will also save him the labour of making any other Table than this may be to him, if be please.

I have no more now to say, but to wish it good success, and You profi­table Ease and Assistance by it. It courts not your Commendation, any further than it may do you real and lasting Service. The first Intention of it was, to lay before you a plain and direct way by which you might make your COMMON-PLACE; and now having performed that, there is onely a solid and well-weigh'd Judgment requisite, to make it of considerable Advantage to you.