The Epiſtle.
and encouraging ſuch as ſhall carry themſeves; juſte, fideliter, & fincere: Again, that there are many among you of great Learning and Judgment, by whom this my imperfect Work may, and I hope ſhall be more publiſhed and perfected. And ſeeing ſame others amongſt you whoſe Fortunes prove (as mine doth) to withdraw themſelves into their Countries, I would gladly encourage them to employ their better Talents to the common Good.
I acknowledge there are divers Books In this Kind more Learned and Methodical; but withal I obſerve the Buſineſs of the Juſtices of Peace to conſiſt partly in Things to be done by them out of their Seſſions,(and ſometimes privately, and upon a ſudden, without the Advice or Aſſociation of any other) and partly at their Seſſions of the Peace. Of Things of this laſt Kind I purpoſe not in this Treatſie to meddle, for that at ſuch publick Meetings and Aſſemblies they are far more able, to direct themſelves: But for the private and ſudden Help of ſuch Juſtices of Peace, who have not read over the former Writers, and if they have, yet the Multiplicity of Statutes (whereupon the Office and private Practice of Juſtices of Peace doth principally conflict) is ſuch, and at every Parliament ſo altered, by Expiration, Diſcontinuance, and otherwiſe, as that it is a Work very hard and laborious for Gentlemen not converſant In the Study of the Laws (although otherwiſe very induſtrious) to proceed as by the Commiſſion they ought and are preſcribed, ſe ſecundum Leges & Statuta Regni; upon theſe Conſiderations, and for their Eaſe principally, I have publiſhed this Work; knowing that there are divers, both Honourable and Worthy Perſons in the Country, ſome of whom for want of Knowledge of the many particular Statutes in Force, and Tedlouſneſs of the Study of them, do ſeek to be exempt out of the Commiſſiojn of the Peace; others being in, do forbear to meddle, or medllng do not that good Service therein which they are deſirous to do. I have herein endeavoured to ſet down Things ſo plainly and briefly as I could, with Reference to the Statutes abridged, whereby the Reader may the better reſolve and ſatisfy himſelf what he ought to do in every particular almoſt that ſhould come before him, or them, out of their General Seſſions of the Peace. And yet for that in Caſes of Ambiguity, Satius eſt fontes petere quam ſectari rivulos, I could with all Juſtices of the Peace to have ready by them the Statutes at large, as well, as the Abridgments, and to uſe this Book or the Abridgments of the Statutes, as Tables and brief Memorials, but to truſt and ground themſelves upon the Books at large.
I am now only to Intreat your Favours : And although I might reſt conſidenr by the honourable Patronage I have obtained of him, whoſe high Place and Preſidency for Matters of Juſtice and judicious Underſtanding drew me to covet the ſame, (and not a little induced thereto, in Regard of the near Alliance by Marriage into the honourable Houſe of the Spencers;) yet withal I could not, out of that Duty and Love which I owe to this Honourable Society, (my firſt Breeder in the Studies of the Law) and Hope of your tender Reſpect, to uphold the Credit of an affectionate Member of your Society, but be bold alſo to crave your farther Countenance In theſe my Labours; and that you would be pleaſed to accept this loving Remembrance as a thankful Gratuity to you, to whom I muſt ever acknowledge my ſelf deeply obliged, and ever to reſt at your Commands.
