ADVICE TO STUDENTS AT LAW IN THE YEAR 1668. Compiled from Rollers Abridgment By E. Allen* Frost. TOUCHING the Method of the study of the Common-Law, I must in gen eral say thus much to the Student thereof; It is necessary for him to observe a Method in his Reading and Study; for, let him as sure himself, though his Memory be never so good, he shall never be able to carry on a distinct serviceable Memory of all, or the greatest part he reads, to the end of seven years, nor a much shorter time, without helps of Use or Method, yea, what he hath read seven Yeares since will, without the help of Method, or reiterated Use, be as new to him as if he had scarce ever read it : A Method therefore is necessary, but various according to every Man's particular Fancy. I shall therefore propound that which by some Experience hath been found to be very usefull in this kinde, which is this; First, it is convenient for a Student to spend about two or three yeares in the diligent reading of "Littleton," " Perkins," " Doctor and Stu dent," Fitzherbert's " Natura Brevium," and especially my Lord Coke's Commentaries and possibly his Reports; this will fit him for Exercise, and enable him to improve himself by Conversation and Discourse with others, and enable him profitably to attend the Courts of Westminster. After two or three Yeares so spent, let him get him a large Common-Place-Book, divide it into Alpha betical-Titles, which he may easily gather up, by observing the Titles of Brook's Abridg ment and some Tables of Law-Bookes. Afterwards it might be fit to begin to read the Year-Books : and because many of the Elder- Year-Books are filled with Law not so much now in Use, he may single out for his ordinary constant Reading such as are most Usefull : as the last part of Edw. 3, the Book of Assises, the second Part of Hen. 6, Ed. 4,
Hen. 7, and so come down in order and suc cession of time to the latter Law, viz. Plowden, Dyer, Coke's Reports the second Time, and those other Reports lately printed : as he reads, it is fit to compare Case with Case, and to compare the Pleadings of the Cases with the Books of Entryes, especially Rastals, which is the best, especially in relation to the Year Books; what he reads in the Course of his Reading let him enter the Abstract or Substance thereof, especially of Cases or Points resolved, into his CommonPlace-Book, under their proper Titles : and if one Case falls aptly under several Titles, and it can be conveniently Broken, let him enter each part under its proper Title; if it cannot be well broken, let him enter the Ab stract of the entire Case under the Title most proper for it, and make References from the other Titles unto it. It is true, a Student will waste much Paper this Way, and possibly in two or three Yeares will see many Errors and Impertinencies in what he hath formerly done, and much irre gularity and disorder in the disposing of his Matter under improper Heads: But he will have these' infallible Advantages attending this Course. I. In process of Time he will be more perfect and dexterous in this Business. II. Those first imperfect and disordered Essayes will, by frequent Returns upon them, be intelligible, at least, to himself, and refresh his Memory. III. He will by this Means keep together under apt Titles whatsoever he hath read. IV. By often returning upon every Title as Occassion of Search, or new Insertions require, he will strangely revive and imprint in his Memory what he hath formerly read. V. He will be able at one View to see the Substance of Whatsoever he hath read
