PREFACE. TWELVE years have passed since difficulties, encountered in a course of reading, determined me to endeavour to supply a want of English literature by writing a book that should commemorate the usages and characteristics of the followers of Divinity, Law, and Physic in past times of English story,-a book that, without arrogating to itself the dignity of history, should be useful to historians, and, whilst affording diversion to all readers. of general literature, should be of special service to artists bent on illustrating the life of our ancestors with pen or pencil. For the accomplishment of this undertaking I had made considerable preparations, when I altered my plan on seeing that it would be impossible to deal effectively with the affairs of the three learned professions in a single work of dimensions that would raise no obstacles to its attainment of popularity. Adhering to my original purpose, whilst relinquishing my first design for its achievement, I decided to produce three distinct works :-each of which should be complete in itself and altogether independent of the other two, whilst the three should together form an historic survey of the social progress and development of the three faculties. To give effect to this project I began upon the profession with which my early training and personal associations rendered me most familiar, and in 1860 produced my memoir of medical men and their ways under a title that has been adapted by several writers to various well-known publications. After a lapse of seven years I published my history of legal usages,the second instalment of a task that is completed by the volumes which I now lay before the world. JOHN CORDY JEAFFRESON. 43 Springfield Road, S. John's Wood, N. W. |