or Teachers of Holy Things. For the Laws being Holy, it follows that the Minifters and Setters forth of them must be Givers of Holy Things; and fo by Interpretation doth Sacerdos fignify; and doubtless, he which duly confiders those Rules of Theology, which lie fcattered throughout the whole Body of the Law, muft needs conclude our Laws to be Commentaries upon the Old and New Teftament; and do fo much bear the Image Legis Divina, that they may well be attributed to the Moft High.

The Rules of Grammar, Philofophy Natural, Political, Oeconomick and Moral; as alfo the Grounds of Logic, and of other Arts and Sciences, fo much abound in our Books, that the very Reading of the Law will make a Man Master of thofe Sciences.

And fince Rhetorick is Ars ornate dicendi, and confifteth of those two Parts Elocution and Pronunciation, How can we read in our Law Books thofe learned Arguments, elegant Speeches and Judgments, pronounced with fuch Eloquence and Elegance of Words and Matter, and not conclude, That Rhetorick is the Glory and Grace of a Lawyer? Though fome (not gifted that Way) would perfwade us that the Law hath little Relation to it.

If any Man be delighted in history, let him read the Books of Law, which are nothing else but Annals and Chronicles of Things done and acted from Year to Year, in which every Cafe prefents you with a petit Hiftory; and if Variety of Matter doth most delight the Reader, doubtless, the reading of thofe Cafes, (which differ, like Men's Faces) tho' like the Stars in Number, is the moft pleafant Reading in the World.

I thought to have expatiated myself in this Eulogical Commendation of the Study of the Law; but when I confider the Glory of the Thing itfelf, I think it but in, vain to light the Sun with Candles; and as no Arguments will perfwade one to love against Nature; fo he, whom the Excellency of the Law itfelf cannot invite to ftudy it, will never be forced to it with the Fift of Logic, or other perfwafion: Wherefore 'tis now Time to expose myself to the Cenfure of the Reader, who always judges according to his Capacity or Affection; for which Caufe, if I were to chufe my Readers, I could with with Caius Lucilius, Quod ea quæ fcribo, neque ab indoctiffimis, neque a doctiffimis legi, quod alteri nihil intelligerent, alteri plus fortaffe, quam ipfe de fe: That this Trea

tife might not be read of the most learned, nor of those who are not learned at all, because these understand nothing, and the others more perhaps than myself.

However, I put this Request to all, Ut Bracton, Lib. fi quid fuperfluum, vel perperam pofitum in1· f. 1. hoc opere intervenerit, illud corrigant & emendent, vel conniventibus oculis pertranfeant: Cum omnia habere in memoria, & in nullo peccare, divinum fit potius quam humanum: That if any Thing be superfluous, and placed amifs in this Work, that they will either correct and amend it, or without Carping connive at it; fince to remember to do all Things right, and nothing amifs, is rather the Part of God than Man: Wherefore, let him which never offended, caft the first Stone.

1

A Summary of the Contents of each
Chapter in this BOOK.

CHA P. I

THE Derivation of the Word, (Jury) The

Definition, Antiquity, and Excellency of Ju-

ries, by Way of Preface.

CHA P. II.

Page I

Of an Iffue, and the divers Sorts of Trials there-

of; and when a Trial fhall be by a Jury and

when not: when by the Spiritual Law, when

by Certificate, when by Battle, when by an Al-

manack, &c. What Ifue fhall be first tried Per

Pais, what by the Court; and what by Exami-

nation of the Attorney, Sheriff, &c.

CHA P. III.

5

Of a Venire facias; to whom it shall be directed;

when to the Sheriff, when to the Coroners,

when to Ellifors, and when to Bailiffs; when

well awarded, &c.

45

What Faults in the Venire facias fhall vitiate the

Trial, what not; when a Venire facias de

Novo fhall be awarded; when feveral Ven.

fac.