Page:An Essay on a Registry for Titles of Lands - Asgill (1698).djvu/24

 in an Earthen Vessel, that they may continue many dayes.

By this it doth appear, that Registring of Deeds is as antient as the Deeds themselves: Here is the Original Sealed, and then Registred in a Book, to which the Witnesses subscribe their Names: Now Baruch had the Custody of the Registry, in the Nature of a Publick Notary, for that purpose, being elsewhere called Baruch the Scribe: But that the Original was delivered him, was an extraordinary thing, for that belongs to the Purchaser: But it being just before the carrying away Captive into Babylon, (of which Jeremiah had Notice) he delivered them both to Baruch, to hide them till the return of the Captivity.

That which I Cite these Precedents for, is the Notoriety of them, by calling all the People together to bear Witness, and an Inrollment beside to that which was in Writing.

And methinks all the Old Forms in the beginning of Deeds, shew the Intention of making them as publick as they could be; Know all Men by these Presents; and, To all People to whom these Presents shall come, &c.

And as the Law intends Notice of all things done by Deed, so it hath provided