case Welford versus BEAZELY may see Gibson v holland lr I c p I ves S c ante  where a agreement have be reduce to a certainty and the substance of the  statute of fraud c comply with in the material part the form have never be  insist upon where there be a complete agreement in write and a person who be a  party and know the content subscribe it as a witness only she be bind by it  for it be a sign within the statute a question arise upon the statute of fraud  and perjury whether a person subscribe a deed as a witness only which she know  the content of can be say to have sign it within the meaning of that statute  Lord chancellor the meaning of the statute be to reduce contract to a  certainty in order to avoid perjury on the one hand and fraud on the other and  therefore both in this court and the court of commonlaw where a agreement have  be reduce to such a certainty and the substance of the statute have be comply  with in the material part the form have never be insist upon see Hawkins v  Holmes p W Stokes v more et ux in sergeant in hall march saint and cite in p W  the word party in the statute be not to be construe party as to a deed but  person in general or else what will become of those decree where sign of  letter by which the party never intend to bind himself have be hold to be a  sign within the statute there have be case where a letter write to a man own  agent and set forth the term of a agreement as conclude by he have be deem to  be a sign within the statute and agreeable to the provision of it see clerk v  wright atk atkins Lord chancellor deny the general doctrine as lie down in  Prec in Chan bawd versus amhurst though true as apply to that case by Lord  Cowper and say the difference betwixt the two case be that the write there  though all in the father hand be only a sketch of a agreement not settle or  confirm by the party but here the defendant sign d it a S a complete agreement  and as she know the content be to be bind by it the defendant previous to the  marriage of her daughter with Welford agree to give her a marriage portion of  pound by marriage article to which the defendant be not a party it be agree  that the pound shall be vest in trustee for certain purpose therein mention  the defendant be a witness to the article afterward the defendant take Welford  into partnership with her and the above pound be agree between Welford and  herself to be a part of his share of the capital and she give he credit for it  it be decree that the pound shall be pay to the trustee upon the trust declare  by the marriage article Reg lib b fol in the present case on a marriage treaty  the intend husband and the young lady father go to a counsellor chamber to  have in consideration of the portion the father propose to give a settlement  draw minute of agreement be take down in write by the counsel and give by he  to his clerk to be draw up in form the next day the father die and the day  follow the marriage be solemnized this agreement notwithstanding these  preparation be hold by Lord Cowper to be within the statute of fraud and  perjury bawd versus amhurst bring Ch Ch Rep atkins er p