Legal Definitions - his testibus

Definition: His testibus (his tes-tə-buhs). [Law Latin] Hist. These being witnesses. The concluding clause of deeds and charters typically opened with these words, which stated the names of the witnesses to the instrument. This clause appeared in deeds and charters until the 16th century. Also spelled hijs testibus; hiis testibus.

Example 1: "This indenture witnesseth that John Smith hath sold to Jane Doe one cow for the sum of ten shillings, his testibus John Brown and William Green."

Example 2: "Know all men by these presents that I, Thomas Johnson, have granted, bargained, and sold to Robert Wilson one acre of land, his testibus John White and James Black."

These examples illustrate how "his testibus" was used in legal documents to indicate the witnesses to the transaction. The phrase would typically be followed by the names of the witnesses, as in "his testibus John Brown and William Green." This helped to establish the authenticity of the document and provide evidence in case of any disputes.