Brevia Testata

Brevia testata, written memoranda, introduced to perpetuate the tenor of a conveyance and investiture, when grants by parol only became the foundation of frequent dispute and uncertainty. To this end they registered in the deed the persons who attended as witnesses, which was formerly done without their signing their names (that not being always in their power), but they only heard the deed read; and then the clerk or scribe added their names in a sort of memorandum; thus, 'his testibus, Johanne Moore, Jacobo Smith, et aliis ad hanc rem convocatis.' Our modern deeds are in reality nothing more than an improvement or amplification of these brevia testata, 2 Bl. Com. 307.