A notary’s visit to a grantor’s home is nothing new. In fact, in specific cases reference is made to the physical presence of the public notaries at the testator’s house, depending on the health of the testator. Gonçalo Gonçalves, notary public in the city of Porto, visited the house of Alda Gonçalves, widow of Martim Gonçalves, a merchant from the same city, to make an authentic copy of her will, requested by her because she was lying ill in bed,34 on 25 January 1384. Gonçalo Vasques, notary public, went to a house in Cruz de São Domingos, in the city of Porto, for the document of Teresa Eanes’ will, because she had confessed that she felt ill.35 Not only does the notary write the wills, but he also testifies to the testator’s physical and mental condition, attesting to their mental and physical state. The notary is in attendance in the presence of the sick person, literally by their side, witnessing their final moments. Perhaps they might have even witnessed the last breath of some of these men and women? However, the notary’s role does not end with the writing of the public instrument. The assignment is also to keep, archive, record, and annotate all the documentation. Friar João de Landim, guardian of the monastery of São Francisco in the city of Porto, asked Gomes Eanes Aranha, a judge in the same city, about the content of two clauses in the will of Fernão Anes de Póvoas, citizen and resident of Porto, in which he donates rents of houses and establishes a legacy in his name, in a publica formadeed.36 The judge ordered Tristão Rodrigues, notary general in the region of Entre-Douro-e-Minho (which includes the city of Porto) to make the authentic copy, the reason being, as the notary states, “porque o testamento era em posse de mim (…) o qual per mandado do dito juiz busquey”.37 The same guardian of the monastery asked Álvaro Domingues, citizen and ordinary judge of the city of Porto, for an authentic copy 34 ADP, São Domingos, Pergaminhos originais dos títulos do convento, Tomo 2º, perg. 33 b). 35 ADP, São Domingos, Pergaminhos originais dos títulos do convento; caixa 776, perg. 35. 36 An authentic copy of a document, or extracts (clauses) of documents, in a certain form intended to inspire full credence. Cf. https://www.cei.lmu.de/VID/ nº54. 37 “...because the will was in my possession (...) which by order of the judge I sought”. ADP, Cartório de São Francisco, Capelas, Tomo I fl. 12v–13v. notarial last wills and testaments from medieval porto 526
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