Reilly's preface immediately establishes the book's dual audience: those new to English legal history and attorneys seeking historical context for familiar doctrines. The author explicitly frames the work as a primer, noting that it requires no prior knowledge of history or law. This orientation shapes the reader's expectations: the book will not assume expertise but will define specialized terms as they arise.

The preface also reveals a distinctive structural choice. Each chapter is divided into three sections: The Times, The Law, and Judicial Procedure. This tripartite organization recurs throughout the excerpts, providing a consistent framework for approaching each historical period. The reader can anticipate that each chapter will first establish social and economic context, then present the relevant legal codes or statutes, and finally describe how law was administered.

The Times as Contextual Anchor

The excerpts from the chapter on Henry VII's reign illustrate how The Times section grounds legal developments in daily life. Reilly describes the isolation of villages, the centrality of the church, and the economic pressures of enclosure. Specific details—such as the three sheep per person ratio, the age of university entry (13–16), and the tactics used to pressure copyholders to sell—give concreteness to the period. These details are not decorative; they directly inform the legal changes discussed later in the chapter. For instance, the description of enclosure practices sets up the legal conflicts over land rights that the Law section will address.

This contextual approach means that a first-time reader can understand why certain laws emerged without needing prior historical knowledge. The Times section functions as a bridge between abstract legal principles and the lived experience of historical subjects.

Primary Sources as Structural Backbone

Reilly emphasizes that the book includes complete law codes (King Alfred, King Aethelbert), paraphrased codes (King Canute), excerpts (Henry I), and full statutes such as Magna Carta. This commitment to primary sources is evident even in the preface's list of contents. The reader is not merely told about the laws; they are presented with the legal texts themselves.

The preface notes that the meaning of some terms in Aethelbert's code is unknown or inexact, an honest acknowledgment of the limits of historical knowledge. This candor sets a tone of scholarly caution. A first-time reader can trust that the author will not overstate certainty. The inclusion of original legal language—even with gaps—allows the reader to encounter the law directly, rather than through a secondary filter.

Judicial Procedure as Practical Application

While the excerpts do not include a full Judicial Procedure section, the preface's description of the chapter structure signals its importance. By separating procedure from substantive law, Reilly highlights how legal rules were enforced. This distinction is crucial for understanding the common law system, which the preface praises for not being handed down by an absolutist king.

The reader can infer that each chapter will move from abstract rules to their practical implementation. This progression mirrors the experience of a litigant or attorney: first knowing the law, then seeing how it operates in courts. For a first reading, this structure helps demystify legal history by showing law as a living process rather than a static set of texts.

The Shift from Medieval to Early Modern

The excerpts span from Aethelbert (c. 600) to George III (1776), but the sample from Henry VII's reign (1485–1509) illustrates a key transition. The description of the Inns of Court, the rise of attorneys, and the enclosure of land all point to the early modern period's legal complexities. The reader sees the emergence of a professional legal class and the transformation of land tenure.

Reilly's treatment of this period avoids the battles and royal intrigues typical of conventional history. Instead, the focus remains on legal and social structures. The mention of Henry VII's proclamations against enclosure shows the crown's attempt to regulate economic change through law. This example demonstrates how the book uses specific legal interventions to illuminate broader historical shifts.

For a first reading, approach each chapter by first absorbing The Times section as a mental setting, then reading the Law section with attention to the primary sources, and finally considering how Judicial Procedure enacted those laws. The preface's promise to define terms as they appear means that unfamiliar vocabulary will be explained in context. The book rewards patient, sequential reading; its structure is designed to build understanding cumulatively.