A Deed of Gift of Lands to the Church at Haxey. (Don. Jac. Torr Arm.) with all the Essentails of a Deed, in less than eight Lines, and those scarce half as many Inches in Length, and not two in Breadth; Hæc fuit candida illius ætatis fides, & simplicitas, quæ pauculis lineis omnia fidei firmamenta posuerunt. The Date of Deeds Antiquity often omited, faith Sir E. Coke, but they were commonly added in the Reigns of K. Edw. 2. and E. 3. and ever since (Inst. I. p. 6.) But in this Collection are several in the Reign of K. Edw. I. and some in Henry the 3d's, particularly one relating to Kirkstal-Abbey, An. 1239. In all these the Names of the Witnesses are entred in the Continent of the Deed, after the Words Hiis Testibus, writ with the same Hand that the Deed is: Of which here are several Instances in every Reign (except R. 3.) from Edw. I. to Hen. 8. inclusive. When a Deed required a Counter-part, it was engross'd twice in one Parchment, with a Space between, wherein the Word Chirograph, or part of the Alphabet, was writ in Capital Letters, and then either indented or cut directly through the midst of the Letters: Here are Instances of both. In some the Terms Forinseco servitio & fossato, (of which see Dr. Kennet's instructive Glossary) are expresly mentioned: Also the Word Gersuma, Earnest of a Bargain yet called in those Northern Parts Arls, from the Saxon Aꞃ æs, Brass or Copper, given in Hand to confirm the Contract.