of the will of Gonçalo de Sá, written by Lourenço Pires on 30 June 1469,38 and approved by Lourenço Eanes on 12 February 1471 in a publica forma deed. The authentic copy of 6 March 148339 was the responsibility of Lourenço Eanes, since he was the notary who kept the will in his register. The same notary, Lourenço Eanes, on 17 February 1475 travelled together with André Gonçalves and Tristão Rodrigues, notaries of the city of Porto, to the door of the Cathedral to revise the publica forma document of the will of João Baldaia, servant of Álvaro Rodrigues and chamberlain of the Archbishop of Braga, which was in the possession of Gonçalo Vasques, Abbot of Fandinhães.40 The few indications given here allow us to see something of the journey of the document itself, passing through the registration and archiving of the notary who was in charge of the deed or even of another party, likely the executor of the testator in question. We can see, without a doubt, the importance of the notary in writing, witnessing, and archiving of these instruments. But what about the notaries as themselves testators? There are references to a clause of the testament of Afonso Domingues, notary public, from an authentic copy dated 4 April 1367 in which he grants land to the cathedral chapter of Porto. We also know the publica forma of two clauses of the inventory of Lourenço Pires, requested by the guardian of the monastery of São Francisco from João Vaz Neto, acitizen and judge of the city, in 1484, in which the said notary had bequeathed one hundredreais for Masses to be sung for his soul. The register tells us that Lourenço Pires died between 1480 and 1481,41 and left a widow named Filipa Anes and at least one son, Miguel, who died before the authentic copy was made. 38 Moreno 1986, pp. 101–107. 39 ADP, Cartório de São Francisco, Capelas, Tomo I fl. 17v–18v. 40 ADP, São Domingos, Pergaminhos originais dos títulos do convento, Tomo 2º, perg. 17 b) nº2. 41 ADP, Cartório de São Francisco, Capelas, Tomo I fl. 19. Notaries and their last wishes ricardo seabra 527
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