In medieval England, prior to the existence of formal legal descriptions and written deeds, land was conveyed from one person to another through an elaborate ceremony. A very important part of the ritual was when the buyer and seller would each provide at least one young boy who would be marched around the perimeter of the parcel while being flogged. The theory was that the lads would be so traumatized by the event that they would remember every detail of the transaction and the boundaries of the tract for the rest of their lives. They could thus testify as competent witnesses to the conveyance should any dispute arise years or even decades later.
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