Ep 243 - What Is A ’Notary Public’?

I went to a notary public yesterday to get the last of the forms signed for the US company that's distributing my special! Before I had to get this thing notarised I had no concept of what a notary public was, and now that I've dealt with two of them, I know even less. Who are these mysterious figures? Where do they come from? And why did the one I saw yesterday have four gold chests in his office like a pirate? All valid questions, any help welcome.