[16]
that was Chilions and Mahlons, of the hand of Naomi: Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the Wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my Wife, ye are witnesses this day. And all the People that were in the Gate, and the Elders said, we are witnesses. (O Tempora! O Mores!) Purchases and Marriages made without Lawyers or Priests: However, I have mentioned these Conveyances more particularly, because I fancy our Modern Conveyancers, with all their Trumpery of Stationers Ware, can't make better, either for Form or Substance; and these were made by Paroll, being before the Delivery of the Form of Letters to Man.
The first that I have observed in Writing, was the Purchase of Redemption made by Jeremy of Hananael, in these words, And I subscribed the Evidence, and sealed it, and weighed him the Money in the Ballances, so I took the Evidence of the Purchase, both that which was sealed according to the Law and Custom, and that which was open, and gave them to Baruch, in the sight of Hananael, and in the presence of the Witnesses, who subscribed the Book of the Purchase before all the Jews that sate in the Court of the Prison; and charged Baruch, saying, take the Evidence, as well that which is sealed, as that which is open, and put them
