Testamentum

The Testament of Saint Bertichramnus, Bishop of Le Mans. (Mabillon, Analecta, vol. I, p. 255.) Here follows a copy of the testament of the aforementioned lord Bertichramnus, which he made equally for the mother church of Le Mans and for the monastery of Saint Peter, as is contained herein. And we insert it into these pontifical acts so that if, by any chance—which God forbid—it should be lost through negligence, it may be found here, whereby it may be known how it was done. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit, on the sixth day before the Kalends of April, in the year of the reign of the most glorious lord King Clothar, I, Bertrannus, though unworthy, a sinner, bishop of the holy Church of Le Mans, sound in mind and body by the grace of God, and with sound counsel, fearing the accidents of human frailty, have drawn up my testament and have asked and dictated it to be written by my son, the notary Ebbo. And if this testament of mine should, by any chance, be unable to stand by civil law or by praetorian law, or by the intervention of some new law, I wish it to stand and have effect as if by intestacy, in place of codicils.

Therefore, when I, the above-written sinner Bertichramnus, shall have departed from human affairs, or completed the due time of nature, then you, the sacrosanct Church of Le Mans, together with the holy and venerable basilica of the lords Peter and Paul, the apostles, which I built before the city by my own work for the defense of the city and the well-being of the people, shall be my heirs; and I establish and command that you be my heirs, and that all others be disinherited. Moreover, I entrust to my heirs that whatever I have given, bequeathed, or ordered to be given by this testament of mine, it be given, done, and rendered. But if I have ordered any to be free, let them all be free.

And because the renowned and most high lord Clotharius, the king, to whom God may grant eternal blessedness for a thousand years, gave me his decree, confirmed by the authority of his hand, that from my own property—whether what I hold from the succession of my parents, or what I have obtained by his gift, or have acquired or, with God’s help, may be able to acquire, or in whatever things and properties I may be able to increase my holdings—he grants me free choice to bequeath, both for the remedy of my soul and to my relatives or my faithful; therefore, I wish and command that you, the sacrosanct Church of Le Mans, my heir, hold the estate of my right, whose name is Bonalfa, situated in the territory of Étampes or in the AEqualina forest, and which the most high lord Clotharius, the king, together with the most high lady Fredegund, the queen, once his mother, granted to me by their gift, after the lord Vaedola restored it to them by their justice, to me, their humble servant, for the preservation of my fidelity, which I have always seemed to hold and keep inviolable toward that prince himself; that estate, with its houses, slaves, vineyards, forests, fields, and everything by right and its appurtenances, both movable and immovable, after my death you may possess in perpetuity; except for those whom I may wish to free from it.

Similarly, the field acquired for cultivation at that time, I wish and decree that you, my lady heir the Church, shall have; from which field, the late lady Ingoberga, once queen, of blessed memory, at my insistence and at the demand of my service to Saint Mary, bequeathed one half; the other half I purchased for a given price from her brother Magnulfus, of blessed memory, so that that field might come in its entirety into the right of the holy Church; and concerning the villa of Celonica, situated in the territory of Tricurium, which the late Bobelenus, of blessed memory, had assigned half to the Church, and for that half I endured many vexations, but I acted through my efforts so that it would not be removed from the right of the holy Church; and also later, the other half, which he had assigned to his wife or his heirs for possession, I purchased in its entirety for a given price, and it came into my dominion; I wish that that villa, with all security, you, my sacrosanct heir the Church, together with the shrine of Vicinonia, whatever I have acquired, or through my work have established for the slaves, along with what, with God’s favor, I may yet be able to improve in those fields, with all their entirety, and the slaves dwelling therein, I wish to be donated to you, the sacrosanct Church. Likewise also the villa of Brea, which Daulfus conferred upon me through a title of donation, and which I later acquired for myself, or whatever I have subjoined, just as that villa with all its entirety, as it is possessed by me at the present time, shall endure in the dominion of the holy Church of Le Mans, my heir.

But also very many things, which I am unable to recall, I have acquired for you, holy Church, through my efforts. And although it is known to all, with Christ’s favor, how I labored and with what faithfulness in the holy Church, or in the monasteries, or in all matters; nevertheless, you, lord bishop, whom God will have wished to be after me in these things, can recognize how much God has deigned to bestow in that same place through my efforts and labor during my time. If you resolve to inquire with complete faith, you will recognize that I have labored not a little for your Church. Hence it ought not to seem unfitting to you if I leave something from the property of Saint Mary to any of our brothers—that is, to presbyters and deacons, or to lectors, or to my relatives, or to friends or servants, both of the holy Church and of my own—to anyone to whom I leave something in usufruct, because I do not remove the ownership from the holy Church, and I establish her as heir to my little substance.

And because the lord Domnolus of blessed memory, once bishop, assigned some small parcels of the Church’s lands to his own basilica, where he is seen to rest, yet it was burdensome to us that we should again, under a similar condition, have to remove or diminish anything from the Church’s lands in order to bestow it upon the basilica of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, which I built in honor of their name; but rather, after deliberating with the counsel of our venerable brothers the presbyters, deacons, and all the clergy, that we should assign one small parcel from the Church’s estate to that same holy basilica, not so much out of necessity, but for the sake of the first fruits and the reverence of the lords apostles themselves, and because the holy mother Church, which cherishes and enriches all basilicas belonging to her, it was agreed with the lord bishops on that day when the heavenly blessing and the relics of the holy apostles Peter and Paul were placed in that basilica, and it was twice consecrated by divine grace through holy priests in honor of the holy apostles, or for the consecration of that place; the villa Umbriaco, which Basilius and Baudegundus, of blessed memory, had once granted by a deed of donation to the holy Church to be possessed after their death; whence we also afterwards labored continuously that it should not be taken away from the Church; afterwards, all the above-mentioned things which through me, humble as I am, have accrued or come to the holy Church, both the aforesaid Umbriaco and the suburban basilica of the lord Peter and

of the apostles Peter and Paul, which is known to have been built by my own labor, shall, with Christ’s favor, remain in perpetuity to that same holy Church. It has pleased me to assign that the estate of Nimione, situated in the territory of Paris, together with the vineyards which are known to belong to Frontanitus for the use of the winepresses and vinedressers—which the lord King Clotharius gave to me, and which I, while still a layman, often held both from the fisc and by purchase—I wish to be given in full to the holy Church of Paris, under whose grace I was nurtured. But to the basilica of the holy and most blessed apostles Peter and Paul, which I have established as heir together with the holy Church of Le Mans, according to my devotion—since I desire, when God so wills, to place my little body there—I wish it to belong to that same holy basilica in honor of the holy apostles.

so that for my misdeed, which I have continually been seen to commit in this world, the apostles themselves may deign to free me from infernal punishment by their intercessions, and if not in glory (which I do not deserve), I may at least merit to obtain forgiveness through their patronage or intercessions. I therefore give to that same holy basilica the estates situated both in the territory of Le Mans and in those of Étampes or Bordeaux, or wherever, both those which I have already given to that same basilica on its feast day by a deed of donation, and also those which I shall give through the page of this testament, which the glorious lord Clothar conferred upon me by his munificence, or for the preservation of my faith, by his decrees reinforced by his own hand, granted me full license to confer those same estates, which I merited by his gift, to the aforesaid place for the remedy of my soul and the stability of his reign. These are the estates: the estate of Thedon, the demesne called Telate, and other estates of Buresac, and the holdings in the Wastinense, which we received from the illustrious man Varnacharius, the mayor of the palace, in exchange for the estate of Columbaria.

I ask and command the abbots who, at each time, as divine power or the grace of the lord apostles may bid them to endure there, that throughout their lives this be most especially observed by them: that from the estates named above, whatever may come from them each year either in tribute or in support, half of this, when my commemoration occurs, be distributed to the poor either in clothing or in gold; the other half be used to provide light in the holy basilica sufficiently at all times, so that never for even one hour of the night should that holy basilica be without lamps—a fitting sign—so that in honor of the aforementioned apostles, light may shine unceasingly at all times, both at the basilica of the holy apostles and at the holy cross which I later built, and at the basilica of Lord Martin at the Synodochium, which is in Pontileuga, except for the fruits or other conditions which are expected from the said lands for the uses of the holy basilica and its monastery, or for the sustenance of the canons or the poor who are seen to sit at that holy mother church, so that food and clothing be sufficiently provided each year, and that they may continually entreat the Lord for the expiation of my sins, and that the celestial Prince may grant long life to the same [kingdom?] and that he may deserve to receive a hundredfold in eternal reward.

To the Church, my heir, the estate of Dolus, which I built by my own labor and which came to me from all sides by my own effort, after the day of my death, whatever I have worked there, with houses, slaves, vineyards, fields, meadows, cultivated and uncultivated lands, and with all its right or its boundary, which I have justly acquired there, I delegate you, holy Church, to hold in entirety. To the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the estates which I purchased with money given as payment, that is, Gaviacus, Colonica, Landolenas, and Ferrenis, acquired from all sides by my own labor, and whatever at Cellis or in Samarciagus near the city of Cenomannum, whatever at Portithorengus, which I received for protection, was there, and this which Ceta and Mancia or Guntha were seen to have possessed there by right, and came into my power, both lands, vineyards, and tenants and slaves, their entire portion. Similarly also the estates which I purchased in honor of the basilica of the lord Peter and Paul with the money which the glorious lord King Clotharius gave us, or which we acquired from all sides for our faith. These are the estates themselves: Campocunanae, Ludina, and Comariagus, or Cambariacus, as the deeds of sale show, to that same basilica, just as we have already delivered them there, together with the farmstead named Piciniacus, which Gondobaldus, once a deacon, held, and likewise Iliacus, which we received from the illustrious man Babiso, I wish to be possessed in the name of God.

I also establish and decree that whatever has been given to me in small items or in any manner whatsoever, or is known to be written in my charters, all this entirely and completely, you, holy Church and venerable basilica of the Lords Peter and Paul, which perhaps has come to me in forgetfulness in this leaf of my testament, shall divide and possess with equal measure. As for the estate of Morenaco, which I acquired by my own work and with great labor, and which later, in my absence, was wrongfully seized by Modeghiselus by force for the preservation of my faith, and when God restored justice to the Lord King Clotharius, it came again under the dominion of the holy Church and myself; I decree that you, holy Church, shall have this estate with all its right and boundary. And you, holy basilica of Saint Peter and Paul, shall be able to perpetually rule the portion which I seem to possess there, with the farmstead which Leodaldus conferred upon me by a title of donation, with what I later acquired there from all sides, in that same land of Mechense and Voligione, with all integrity, the portions thereof or their boundaries, and the slaves, movables, and immovables.

Although it is known to no one, how I, after the passing of King Guntram, to whom I gave an indissoluble oath to my lord King Clothar, because the city of Le Mans, by lawful order, after the passing of the lord Guntram, ought to have come by inheritance from his father of blessed memory, the late King Chilperic; but, with greed at work, both the city itself was taken from him, and he suffered great loss from the rest of his kingdom. But since my oath bound me completely, that I should in no way abandon him, it was easy for me to leave both the holy Church and my property, rather than be found perjured (which God forbid). But while I stood with him unanimously out of love for that prince, whether for his earlier spoliation or the later one, which he unjustly endured, it was necessary for that prince himself to add something to us, by which we and our poor might sustain the substance of life, for which may the heavenly King be our rewarder. For we, the poor, have neither gold nor silver with which to repay you, most glorious lord Clothar, for good things; nevertheless, from that which your glory conferred upon us, we presume in this testament of ours to make mention of your highness.

We offer therefore to your kingdom from your gifts, whereby you, through a decree strengthened by the vigor of your hand, granted us the license to do what we wished, that is, the estates of Neolona and Walionno, with every boundary and appurtenance pertaining to them, or whatever was later improved by us, let your highness receive this into its own dominion. Similarly, we give to you, most glorious lady Queen Berchirudis, the estate named Penpinas, which is called Cella, which our glorious lord, your husband, conferred upon us by his gift, so that you may receive that estate, with its houses, slaves, and its boundary, after my death or your governance, without any impediment. To my dearest nephew Sigechelm, and to my great-nephew Toringus, if they survive me, let them divide the estate of Seuvacum and Villare Ripariola equally. In like manner, the estate of Briomilia, which was justly owed to us by inheritance from our parents, and was taken from us for a long time during the interregna, and afterwards, when God gave the kingdom entire to lord Clothar, his piety restored that estate to us and confirmed it by his decree: I wish that estate to be given to my dearest great-nephew, the son of Sigechelm, Leutrannus, and to Sichrannus.

Similarly, the estate of Castalione, situated in the Santonic territory, which belonged to my parents and to the illustrious man Sigelenus, and which the glorious lord King Clotharius himself granted to us by his decree—since for a long time it had been taken away both from me and from my aforementioned relative Sigelenus—if Sigelenus survives me, he is to reclaim it under his own authority; but if not, I wish it to be given to his sons, that is, Sichelecus and Berchelaicus. The estates of Crisciago and Botilo, which are justly owed to us from the inheritance of our parent, and which I would have had to share with my siblings had death not overtaken them—I now order that my nephew Sigechelmus, together with my nephew Thoringus, divide these small estates with the utmost fairness. The estate of Bualone, situated in the Stampense region near AEqualina, which I gave by a deed of gift to my dearest great-grandson Leuthramnus on his wedding day, as that deed itself contains, I wish to be given to them also by this testament of mine. The small place called Fontanido, which the glorious lord King Clotharius granted to me as his gift, where the late layman Eusebius planted vineyards, and where we later also placed serfs—this small place, with all the integrity that appears to pertain to it, is to be recalled entirely and completely to the dominion of the holy basilica of Lords Peter and Paul, and my great-grandson Leuthramnus and his wife are to be able to possess half of the vineyards in perpetuity.

of the basilica of my lord and special patron, Bishop Germanus, who nurtured me most tenderly and, though unworthy, led me by his holy prayer to the honor of the priesthood, if it survives, so that in the basilica of Lord Vincent, where his holy little body rests, I give there in honor of his burial the estate of Bobane, which is in the territory of Stampense on the river Calla, which the most glorious lord King Clotharius conferred upon me by his gift; so that if his body is always in the new basilica which the renowned King Chilpericus once built, if it happens that it is transferred there, that same estate, wherever his body may always be, shall always serve there, and the holy pontiff himself may deign to pray for my misdeeds. I ask the illustrious abbot of that place that my name be recited in the book of life. My little estate which is in the territory of Cramtenum at Summa Vedantia, as it is possessed by me at the present time, and which by succession from my lord and father was lawfully rendered to the basilica of Lords Peter and Paul, I wish to be donated after my death for the sake of my soul. To my dearest great-nephew Thoringus I give the small estate whose name is Villa Nova, which I bought for a given price from the son of Papolenus, deceased, that he may hold and possess it in perpetuity. The estate of Idguinus I wish to be donated to my dearest nephew Segechelm for as long as he lives.

After the death of that man, his sons, who are known to have been born from Bertichildis, daughter of Leutramnus, without the fellowship of their brothers, if he should have other sons, I order that they themselves possess it. The vineyards or meadows which are at Riulio, and which adjoin the vineyards of holy Church or within the boundary of Calimarcense, which I purchased with money paid, I wish to be donated to holy Church. And likewise the farmstead Satovera, which Vulfarius once held, and afterwards Aiga gave it to us with the same sales documents which she had received from that Vulfarius, and that little place with the vineyards and with all its right, you, holy Church, my heir, shall receive; and the little place which is called Condomas, which I received for my property, and afterwards granted to the most faithful Cotta by a title of donation, I wish that that same little place, the aforementioned Cotta or her sons, may be able to possess in perpetuity in its entirety. But the house within the walls of the city of Paris, which was once built and possessed by Eusebius, and is known to have been granted to me by the most exalted lord King Clotharius, I decree to be possessed equally between holy Church of Cenomanum and the holy basilica, my heirs; likewise so that from the shops which are known to be within the house, the rent which is expected from them each year shall be brought as light to the sacrosanct Church of Cenomanum and the aforementioned basilica of the house of Peter and Paul; and the building sites which are outside the city, they shall likewise possess in common.

We establish that this be observed: whatever on the day of my death is in the above-named house at Paris, whether in one thing or in any things whatsoever which are known to be our own property, my heirs, the holy Church of Le Mans and the basilica of the Lord Peter and Paul, shall divide equally between themselves. It had almost been placed in oblivion by me; but by divine inspiring grace I remembered. The small vineyards near the sands, according as I recovered or united the greatest part of them from the waste, from that sand as far as the road which the enclosure itself surrounds, which that holy basilica of the Lord Peter and Paul is seen to possess at the present time. And likewise the small vineyards, the vineyard-plot or the land, which is on the right-hand side of the road which goes to Pontlieue, which I bought from my venerable brother Eoladus the abbot, which is known to be in the town of that same basilica; with the thicket which I redeemed from my brother Leusius the abbot for forty shillings given, and the small fields which we exchanged with that same abbot, which are towards the bed of the Sarthe, with the meadow which is at the confluence, all and entire with the serfs whom I placed there, or whom I may yet, with Christ’s favor, be able to place there, and which is now possessed in the name of God by that same holy basilica, shall be ruled in perpetuity.

Similarly, I order that half of the Vatilonno farm, which I purchased from Bero in the name of that same holy basilica, and the other half, which the illustrious matron Egydia conferred upon that same holy place by a deed of donation, remain entirely, as it is now possessed by that basilica under Christ as its bishop, and shall persist there in perpetuity. And because it is unknown to no one how Berthechisilus, in an unlawful manner and contrary to the decrees of the canons, assailed his see, and caused very grave loss to the property of Saint Mary and to my own property; for which he also did not restore as he ought, except in a small measure through my own property, which he had wrongfully disposed of, he sold us small estates with a deed of sale, that is, with houses, with Bariacum and Vivale, his entire portion. And afterwards, when the glorious lord Clotharius suffered from ambushes in his kingdom, and I again on his account was held in captivity, and in that same time the unspeakable Berthegisilus again approached as a ravager of the Church, and found the very deed he had previously made in the Church archive, he ordered it to be burned with fire; thus may that fearful and terrible judge pass judgment on him concerning his own property. And after our lord, by the will of God, together with his most excellent cousin King Teudobertus, entered into a bond of charity, and willingly received a portion of his kingdom, we, with that estate opposing, recalled it to our dominion.

As for Campariacum and Estivale, with their houses, slaves, vineyards, woods, meadows, waters, watercourses, and their rights, and all their property, I bequeath them to the holy basilica of Lords Peter and Paul. I have indeed completed the house which I built within the walls, on the right side from my little postern, by my own labor, where a small oratory in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel has been constructed; I wished that this house and the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul should belong together. While I was detained with Lord King Clothar for the sake of our faith and my love for him, a bakery of the Church was built before that same house; therefore, in these places, for the support of the Church and the almshouse which I established there, I humbly beseech my lord bishop, who will be my successor, that at all times that almshouse, just as up to now in those times it has earned its support, and always henceforth, with the holy Church ministering, it be maintained, and that the house itself be for the reception of bishops or of religious persons who serve that oratory: because miracles have been shown there, and it ought to be honored and venerated in all things.

We beseech our lord and pontiff, our successor, and conjure you by the Triune God, that the tithes of grain, wine, cheese, lard—all tithes—from the estates which I have bequeathed to the holy Church through this document of testament, or which were acquired in my time, or which came into the donation of the holy Church, be gathered each year in the house of Saint Michael the Archangel itself, just as was done in our time, and be ministered to the poor and to pilgrims for their sustenance: because the holy Church will suffer no loss thereby; and that what we, however unworthy, who seemed to occupy some place of priesthood, strove to minister to the poor with God’s consent, may be preserved by you without ceasing. As for the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, may it be able to possess perpetually, without any hindrance, that court with the houses which Romolos, once a priest of Le Mans of blessed memory, held in the city, and that house which in our times he built upon the walls—to which we also extended our hand—and which we later purchased from his niece; those houses themselves, just as from the present time they are possessed in the name of God by that same holy basilica, together with whatever has been worked upon there, or was subject to it before or in our times, entirely and completely.

I give to the holy Church, my heir, the estate called Grandefontana, which I purchased for a price from my godfather Vaddolenus, son of Bavo, with all right and its boundary. To you, holy basilica of the Lord Peter and Paul, I give the estate Conadacus, which I purchased for a price from Belletrudis or Bettana, the matron, widow of the late Maurinus, together with the Colicas estates, which I later purchased for a price from Betholenus and Mantharigus, with the woods and all appurtenances belonging to them, with houses and slaves, as I have already delivered into your power, with movables and immovables I wish to be given in their entirety, together with that little field named Timiagus, which I and my son and relative Berulfus possess in usufruct, and after my death you shall recall to your authority.

To my dearest nephew Sigechelm, although I have already conferred upon him by a title of gift the estate Murocinctum in times past, which was lawfully owed to me from the succession of my lord and father, and afterwards, due to my sins, my brother Berthulf was killed in the expedition of Lord King Clothar, and his portion lawfully came to me, I have wished to include in this testament of mine that both what I gave to him earlier and what afterwards came to me from my brother, the whole and entire estate itself with its houses, slaves, vineyards, fields, meadows, woods, waters and watercourses, movable and immovable property, as he is already seen to possess it, may be perpetually ruled by him, my nephew, and by his offspring. But the third portion of that same estate Murocinctum, which my brother Ermenulf of blessed memory held, and which he himself gave to me, I wish to be given after my death to my dearest great-nephew, the son of that same Sigechelm, named Leodefred, except that those whom he has freed, or whom I have redeemed from captivity, shall remain free. The house which is within the walls of the city of Cenomannum, which my lord and brother Bishop Chaimoaldus built while he was seen to perform the office of archdeacon, together with the small house which the deacon Malaricus held, I wish that this be perpetually ruled by my dearest nephew Sigechelm, to whom I gave them, because the new house is known to have been purchased from those plots.

The estate of Patriliacum, which is beside Pontochiuggane, which I once purchased from Dolenus, and the sale in the name of Saints Peter and Paul, or their basilica, which we were already at that time seeing to build, and afterwards I conveyed to that same holy basilica, I wish that she possess it in perpetuity, with the dependent farmsteads belonging to it. The estate of Monciacum, with the farmstead which I purchased and annexed, whether established or from all sides in that same Condacense or Monciacense, I wish to be given in its entirety to you, my holy Church, my heir. The vineyards, however, which the lord Licinius, bishop of holy memory, gave to me out of affection, beside the Cariliacensian vineyards by his gift, and which we earlier purchased from Sargitus, once a merchant, with the divine portion of the land, and afterwards we planted vineyards there, and we joined them in one enclosure with the vineyards of the holy church, we wish that this holy church of Le Mans possess them for the sake of our soul's reward. Although previously that field had few small vineyards, and my lord predecessors the bishops wished to add nothing there, yet we, for the love of the holy Church and its increase, both from merchants and from others, have greatly expanded and paid the price, so that we desire them to accrue to the right and dominion of the holy Church.

And likewise the small vineyards which are in the Saboranense region, which I have joined together from all sides by my own effort, either by gift or by purchase, and if I am able to join any more, with their cultivators and households, to the house which is more firmly established there, I command that you, holy Church of the lords Peter and Paul, shall hold them. Concerning Ponteleugua, this is from the register and the hospice in honor of Saint Martin; this is the miracle of Saints Peter and Paul, which is at Pontemleugua. If we consider each matter individually, how great our sins are known to have been committed while we were detained in the world, there is not so much capacity for redeeming as there are sins committed. But almighty God, who wishes no one to perish, may He Himself, by the great grace of His piety, grant some kind of pardon for these small gifts which we seem to offer to our Redeemer with great tears or with the memory of the soul, for the poor.

Therefore, because it is my vow, my liberation, and my deliberate intention, that the basilica which I have established in honor of the most blessed and special patron of ours, Saint Martin the holy bishop, at Ponteleugua, where I have also placed his holy resting place with God’s favor, I assign and decree that the small estates bearing these names—Longiagas, Noginto, Novavilla, Antoniaco, and that portion of Monasteriolum which I purchased with payment from Leodelena, and Avanto, whatever I have acquired there either by purchase or as it came to me—together with their slaves, movable and immovable property, and all their rights, and whatever else I may yet be able to annex or acquire for those places, shall be held and decreed to be under the authority of the abbot or the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Although we may say with presumption that it is a place of hospitality, since we have contributed little there, yet God and that holy athlete of Christ are powerful enough to bestow much upon it, so that the poor may be clothed and fed with sustenance, and all our friends and pilgrims may be seen to have shelters for our memory. For the present, we order that sixteen souls devoted to God, that is, poor men, blind or infirm, be placed in that same place; and each day, with due consideration, sufficient sustenance shall be provided for them.

And, as we mentioned above, from the tribute of Taletum, and the suffragium of Crisciacum or Cambariacum, as we have already commanded above, both in garments and in bedding or in footwear, for these our brothers and the matricularii of Saint Peter who are known to be under his rule: you, abbot of the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, let it be your utmost care to fulfill this for them in all respects. But if you should appear negligent in any part of this (which God forbid), you shall answer before the tribunal of Christ with the apostles Saints Peter and Paul and Bishop Saint Martin as your accusers. And let none of our pontifical successors presume to take away what has been assigned to the aforesaid place or to the poor; but for that feast day, both the pontiff and the entire clergy shall receive a worthy meal, and if anyone should divert anything from the aforesaid little places, let him be judged as a murderer of the poor before the divine sight. You, venerable abbot, or your successors, shall have such care for the course of the holy church of Lord Martin as you have for that of Saints Peter and Paul; and let the light for the night be sufficiently provided from the tribute of those villas, and let what remains benefit the poor or the needy of that same basilica.

The estate of Blacciacum, situated in the territory of Bordeaux near the fortress of Blavia, which lies upon the bed of the Garonne, although it was possessed for a long time by my parents, and through the interregna or the youth of my mother was taken away from her lawful right, and by Aunulfus, son of Maurilio, who had seized it, through the pages of his testament, while unlawfully to the holy churches—that is, of Bordeaux and of Tours and of Equilinum—two parts of that estate were bequeathed, the third part was possessed by Arnulfus, brother of that same Aunulfus. Hence we had disputes between ourselves and them concerning the aforesaid estate; but he, recognizing that it was lawfully owed to us, in the presence of those same pontiffs who seemed to possess the two parts of it, forthwith restored to us the third part of everything from that estate, and delivered to us a document confirmed by his own hand and also signed by the aforesaid priests, to be possessed by us. But since divine love constrains us not to act against the holy Church, perhaps we may, with the grace of my lords and brothers, redeem that same thing.

But because the lord Agericus, bishop of Tours, sold to us that portion which belonged to Saint Martin, and made the sale with his canons to us, and we gave sixty solidi according to his valuation from what was present, and we added our own settlement of that dispute, we wish that you, my holy heir, the Church of Le Mans, should possess it; and if we can still redeem any part of that property from the bishop's house of Bordeaux or of Equilem, you should recall it entirely and completely to your authority. As for the farmstead of Vincentiana, which my lady mother possessed, and which we now seem to possess in the name of God, which appears to be adjacent to that same field of Blavia, I wish it to be a gift to the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, with its slaves, vineyards, and lands. The estate of Floriacus, situated between two seas, which belonged to my parents, and which my mother later lost through widowhood, and which was wrongfully possessed by Childegernus, half of which estate I redeemed with its slaves, buildings, vineyards, woods, and all its boundary or appurtenances from Berthrannus or Betto, son of that same Childegernus, for a given price, I wish that this estate, which belonged to my parents, should be permanently under the dominion of the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

The house, indeed, within the walls of the city of Bordeaux, which I and my brother Ermenulfus recovered by our own labor—that house, with its cistern and appurtenances, we order to pass into the possession of our dearest nephew Sigechelm, so that he may have and possess it, and leave it to his descendants to possess. And we order this: that for all the time of their lives, whenever the envoys of the lords and of the venerable holy church of Le Mans or of the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul come there to trade for fish, they shall always have lodging in that house, and there they shall procure what is necessary for them. As for the place called Bresetum in the territory of Bordeaux, where we are seen to hold precariae, and which we once purchased with payment from the late Arennoaldus—that property, together with the precariae remaining there, and their families, or the tax, just as it is possessed in my present time, and after my death, you, holy and venerable basilica of the Lord Peter and Paul, shall recall to your dominion, so that from it the tax may be received each year.

It is known to all how I suffered spoliation of the property of holy Church or of my own possessions twice or thrice. God knows that I did not suffer this on account of my faults, but because I wished to keep faith inviolate, and the holy Church at that time suffered grave loss in its resources; and I, poor, escaped with my own very small property, greatly needy. Therefore I am ashamed to write that little remained to offer. I give that silver which afterwards God, or the lord king, or friends conferred upon us, as the brief written by my own hand declares, because I have arranged that you, sacrosanct Church, shall receive two parts of that silver which I am seen to have labored for; the other portion, which I have written down in that same brief, I order you, basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, whom I have instituted as my heir, just as you, holy Church, to have. I adjure by the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, both you, lord bishop, who will be my successor, and you, abbot, who will be at that time when God commands me to depart from this world, and your successors, that no one presume to take away or sell anything from these little gifts which I have given to holy Church or to the holy basilica for the commemoration of my name, but that they should perpetually endure for the ornament of holy Church or the basilica, and for their table, for all time.

As for the remaining silver, whatever is found in my little register after the day of my death—and this I have not bequeathed, saving the silver of holy Church—I order that whatever I seem to have in hand at present, or may yet be able to acquire, which has not been bequeathed, be divided equally between holy Church and the holy basilica of the lords Peter and Paul; and the abbot, if it should be necessary for my burial to be adorned with something, and if I have not done this beforehand, may deign to use that portion which he receives, from what he has obtained from the pontiff, to attend to the composition of my burial; and if Christ should permit us to endure in this light, that silver shall be put into the ministry of the basilica, to be used where necessary. In like manner I order that, concerning the damask vestments, you, dearest archdeacon, who shall be at that time, I order that you reverently offer two best pieces of my own damask vestments to the lord and true pontiff, my successor. To you, holy archdeacon, I command that you take one good horse and one pair of my own property.

All things, however, which from my property, or from military service, are found in my little register after my death, whether goods or garments which I have worked for or acquired, except what is proper to holy Church, I order that three portions be made from them: one, my lord and successor the bishop shall receive; another, the basilica of the Lord Peter and Paul; the third, I order to be distributed to the poor at present. Likewise I command you, archdeacon, and I call you to witness before God, that from those revenues which I leave in that year, when I have closed my final day, through your hand, a third part be distributed to the poor without fraud. Likewise I wish and command that all servants of holy Church who are known to be ministers, or my own, both clerics and laymen, who are seen to have lived with me, each receive a horse at present, whether freeborn, freedmen, or servants; the remaining horses, both warhorses and geldings or fillies, which are found and have had the brand of holy Church, the bishop or the Church shall receive entirely. Those, however, which have had my personal brand, or which my parents or friends gave to me, holy Church shall receive half from them; the other half the basilica or the abbot who is seen to be there shall collect.

I have wished that this be attached to the testament: that from the herds of horses, which my smallness has drawn together or increased from every side, except the ancient stock, from those herds two portions which appear to be my own property, and which have pastures on the land of holy Church, as we have said, be made: one portion holy Church shall receive, and the other the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul shall receive. That herd, which seems to pertain to the horse-portions upon the property of the holy basilica of the lord Bishop Victurius, I wish to be donated to that same holy basilica. The beasts of burden there which were the particular property of Gallimerus, I wish to be donated for my faithful woman Elopodia. The estate of Marciliacum, situated near the Diablintes district, which I bought at a given price from Medighiselus and Ebretrudis, or which I have joined together from every side, or which I may yet be able to join, with houses and slaves, and its appurtenances, meadows, pastures, waters, and watercourses, I give and transfer to my dearest great-grandson Leodochramnus in perpetual dominion. Similarly, the estate near the district of Pacilena, which the father Bladus Victribernus [or: Bladus the tribune?] of the Bessians sold to us for our solidi, that property with all its appurtenance, I order my dearest great-grandson Sigramnus to have. Similarly, the estate of Pauliacum, which I bought at a given price, that is three hundred gold solidi, from the venerable Abbot Bobenus of the basilica of the Lord Albinus, I order my dearest great-grandson Leodochramnus to have, so that he may possess it in perpetuity.

Likewise, if either the basilica of Lord Albinus or the abbot who will be his successor after Bobenus should attempt anything concerning them, he shall render double satisfaction to the aforementioned Leudochrannus, and even if he wishes to act against the definition of his predecessors regarding that villa, he shall not be able to claim it; and thus it shall be vindicated in perpetuity by my great-nephew. The villa which is known to be near the vicus of Berulfus, and in that villa Berulfus, who once lost whatever I acquired there, both from the son of Enulfus and from Remoaldus or his wife, I wish the whole and entire to be given, to be divided equally between my dearest great-nephews Leutfredus and Thoringus, if they survive me, so that after my death they may recall it entirely into their own power. To the basilica of the holy and most blessed Saint Germanus, bishop of Paris, who kindly nurtured me and through whose intercession I, though unworthy, attained the priestly burden, I have built in that basilica, in honor of him, an oratory in the city of Cenomanum, and I have built houses there, and I have instituted monks who, with Christ’s favor, shall provide office and service in perpetuity.

I give to that same basilica in honor of that pontiff these estates: to his men Charisagus with the vineyards which are in the vicus of Silviacus, and the little estate which is called Stirpiacus, with the small vineyards and little slaves who are known to be there, Landolenas, Graciacus and Manciacus, which I have purchased everywhere at a given price, and which have come into my power, both what I seem to possess at the present time and what I shall yet be able to improve, I wish to be donated to that same holy basilica in honor of the most blessed lord Germanus; and those vineyards which are at Ruilio, which the deacon Aunigiselus held, or which I have since purchased everywhere, with the meadow adjoining that same Ruivilio, I order to be possessed by that same holy basilica. But the estate of Comancium, which I purchased from my son and relative Ebroaldus, and where I afterwards built both houses and vineyards, together with what I found there, with every right and its appurtenances, I decree that you, the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, which I built in your honor, and which I have constituted as immediate heir in all things, are to have.

The estate called Fontanas, within the boundary of Alaunum, which the magnificent men Baudhegiselus and his wife Saucia granted to me, and made donations, and we provided them with much assistance in whatever we could, that same property after our death you shall recall to the dominion of the holy Church and the venerable basilica of the house of Peter and Paul, just as it was possessed by that same Baudeghiselo; likewise, so that their names be recited in the book of life in that same basilica. The estate of Redonatiacum, which always looked to Bonalfa, and we later there both lands and woods, which we purchased at a given price from Chargarius and Ragnaricus, or everywhere entirely and completely, just as that same estate of Redonatiacum always looked to Bonalfa, and ought to look there, so that the holy Church may prosper as my heir in perpetuity. Although whatever had been labored by us, both in fields and in movables and immovables, we wish now everything, just as our earlier testament had, to be delegated entirely and completely in one testament: but because afterwards, after God commanded that the glorious lord our King Clothair bring the whole kingdom of the Franks under his dominion, and afterwards his great piety looked upon us in some measure for our service, it is not fitting for us to pass over that itself.

Therefore, those estates which Avitus of blessed memory, son of Felix, once bishop, who had our parent and kinswoman joined to him in marriage, and all the property of Avitus, which his piety granted between me and the illustrious man Gundolandus, the Mayors of the Palace, and which I myself seem to hold at present, my entire portion, both that which is in the territory of Bourges and that in Albi, Cahors, and Agen, wholly and completely, whatever half of that land pertains to my share, for the sake of my sins or for the quantity of their remission, the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, which I have constituted as my heir, shall receive those estates in their entirety after my death; and the estate of Nogiogilus, which both I and the illustrious man Gundolandus granted in usufruct to my daughter and kinswoman Dundana, after her death you, the sacrosanct Church and basilica, jointly and equally, as befits the precaluria of the said matron, shall recall to your authority, to be divided equally.

The estate of Vocriomno, which the glorious lord King Clothar granted to me by his own gift in exchange for our properties which Egulfus and Arnoaldus wrongfully held and laid waste—although the pious king had already given more to us from that source—I, however, by his command, released this to the Church of Metz in honor of the lord Stephen, and I requested this estate from my lord and brother Bishop Arnulf, so that he received those estates which belonged to Egulfus and Arnoaldus; we were to hold the estate of Vocriomno in perpetuity, and we were to have free discretion to do with it as we wished. Therefore, this estate, both for the sake of the lord king's merit and for our own, because the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul has few vineyards, I desire that this estate, with all its right and appurtenances belonging to it, entirely and completely, be donated in perpetuity to you, the holy basilica of the lord Peter and Paul, where I wish my body to be buried. The estate of Nociogilos, which is in the territory of Poitiers on the bank of the Loire, which the late Bavo, son of Theudaldus, by his maternal right, conveyed to you by a deed of donation, I order that you, the most sacred basilica of the lord Peter and Paul, shall have it after my death.

Concerning Marogilum, the estates of Rufiniacum and Marigilum, which came to me from the legal action of Nunciana—through the resources of the holy Church, which he greatly devastated—and which the glorious lord King Clothar granted to me after the death of that same Nunciana, I order you, the most sacred Church, my heir, to have. The little place which is called Lucianus, whatever Hisigilus owes there; that little estate which is on the Ledo River, named Bauciallum, which I bought from Bestingeselus of Vindocinum and his wife and stepsons, I wish to be a donation to the basilica of Saint Victurus in the city of Cenomannum, with the slaves and everything that has been improved there. The estate named Tauriacum, that portion which Nunciana held there, and which we now hold by the decree of our lord, just as we hold Marogilum and Rufiniacum—and that same estate of Tauriacum, both that portion of Nunciana which was, and which has now come into our possession; as well as that portion which Audericus and his nephews, the son of his sister and his sister, sold to us, and which we have joined together—I order you, the most sacred Church, my heir, to have. The little place which is called Luciacus, whatever I have bought there from Berthigisillus, or his wife and their children, and which I seem to possess at present, with whatever I have added there, or may yet be able to add, I delegate to be possessed by the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, my heir.

The estates situated in the territory of Dunense, that is, the estate of Pannonio, which I purchased from Abbot John for a given price, that is, one hundred and forty solidi, and the estate of Marcirias, which I likewise appear to have purchased from Betho, son of the late Baddo; these little properties, my dearest nephew Sigechelm, you shall receive after my death; likewise so that after your death your sons shall divide them equally among themselves. Those little properties which Suadria, sister of Theoderus, the late bishop, gave to the holy Church by her testament, that is, Luciniacum and Mons, and which I afterwards recovered by my own effort. The estate which I purchased from Dudo, nephew of Romo on the Loire, that is, given one hundred solidi, that property, whatever I seem to have in it at present, with houses, vineyards, lands, slaves, and that entire portion, I order you, my sacred Church, my heir, to have. Likewise the estate of Brea, which Theudoaldus sold to me, and that you shall recall to your dominion, with vineyards, slaves, and all its right. But the estate of Kairacum, which I purchased from Comerius the Deacon for three hundred solidi given, and which is now known to be in my dominion in the name of God, I decree that you, the holy basilica of the Lords Peter and Paul, which I have named as heir along with the church, shall have, with houses, slaves, vineyards, meadows, woods, with all its right; and if I am able to improve anything further there, you shall recall the whole and entire to your power.

The estate of Sitriaco, which I purchased from Leugadia for a given price, together with another small place which is called Blaciacos, with the appurtenances belonging to it—houses, slaves, vineyards, lands, meadows, woods, and every right over them—I command that you, the most holy Church of Le Mans, be my heir. The estate of Cresciaco and Vallis, as was agreed between me and the lord Arnulf, bishop of the Church of Metz, by letters, in honor of the church of the lord Stephen, as I already decreed earlier by my letter, after my death I order that the same holy Church in honor of Saint Stephen recall it to its own jurisdiction, and that the bishop who is then in office have my name inscribed in the book of life there. The three parts of the colonica which we obtained from the account of Arngaldus, I order that the basilica of the lord Peter and of our special patron Medardus the bishop have it after my death. The estate of Montiniaco, which the late bishop Giboaldus held, and which later came into our jurisdiction, I now delegate and decree that the holy Church hold it with every right of its own. As for the estates situated in Burgundy, which our glorious lord King Clothar and the illustrious men Brado and Warnehar, mayors of the palace, gave to us, which formerly belonged to Leudegiselus, the third portion which is owed to me from those estates by lawful order together with those illustrious men, I do not wish you, the most holy Church of Le Mans and the basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, to have as my co-heirs equally with them.

And the estates in Provence, which the pious king himself gave between me and the illustrious men Gondolaidus and Chugo, by the judgment of Aureliana, as much of them as we could legally claim, without sin on our part—that is, my portion of those estates—you, my heirs, together with those illustrious men, are to reclaim into your power. The estate, however, which pertains to the property of Nunciana, both in Pectavum and in Erbaticola, as well as those other estates which, with my compatriot Ghiso, in the Cadurcinum, Limodicinum, or wherever in Gutia the portion of Nunciana was lawfully due to us from there, I decree that you, my dearest compatriot Ghiso, out of affection and fellowship, together with your and our nephew Thoringus, are to have divided equally. The estates, moreover, which I purchased for a given price from Bishop Dracoaldus of Ausci, and which are known to be in that city itself where the aforementioned pontiff was killed, I decree that you, my dearest nephew Sigechelm, together with your sons, are to possess. My most faithful men Warneharius and Walco, son of the late Tedemondus, who are known to have served me faithfully from their youth and the holy Church with complete faith—which is unknown to no one—whatever I gave them in lands, slaves, or vineyards, or whatever they are seen to have acquired in my own time, I wish it all and entirely to be granted to them, and their sons and daughters, as long as they live, are to possess it, and I order and decree that no one is to take anything from them in this regard.

Whatever we once gave to our faithful Cherulfus or to his sons, we confirm in its entirety. To my most faithful friend Chadelenus, whatever I gave to him here and in the Genomanic territory, I wish that he and his sons may possess it in perpetuity, because it is known to all that he has served faithfully and continually in the ministries of the holy Church, and intends to do so during his lifetime; and it is just that whatever of the Church’s right, or whatever came to the Church through my labor, should always endure in him permanently. To my faithful Betolenus, son of the late Cundelenus, whatever was given to his father, or what was later granted to Betolenus himself by our generosity, I wish to be given in perpetuity to Betolenus himself and his wife, or to their children: provided, however, that his mother, as long as she lives, shall hold in usufruct whatever she has from it. After her death, the aforesaid Betolenus and his sons shall receive it in its entirety, and they shall always remain friends of the Church.

Therefore I ask and command that, however many my friends or faithful servants may be, my nurture and the good deed I have bestowed upon them shall always be remembered by them, so that after my death they may take care that when the day of my commemoration comes, they should always be present there; and they should offer solace to the Abbot of that place, and say: "Blessed is that man who leaves behind good friends." I command you, my dearest nephew Sigechelm, and I rule and adjure your sons by almighty God, that as long as you survive in this world, together with your wives or your children, if health permits, you shall visit my tomb twice or thrice every single year; and I adjure the Abbot of that place that he shall entirely refresh you and honor your sons, in such a way as he knows that I, the holy Church, was a comforter, so that it may delight you and your sons to frequently visit that holy place itself, or to commemorate my memory. I adjure and ask my lord Bishop Cabimoald [Below, Chaimald the Bishop].

of Poitiers], because he is known to be my kinsman, and since divine piety has led him to the priestly summit, may my nurture and the patronage of Saint Peter, by which he advanced to that burden under Christ the bishop, always be remembered by him; so that, when God commands me to depart from this light, they may deign to bury my poor body with their own hands, together with the rest of their lords and brothers, in a fitting burial, whereby they may gain the Lord’s reward and praise may spread among the people. I then command the archdeacon that, to those lords who deign to bury this sinner, they give two pairs of horses, and two colts gathered together, and that each of those lords receive a pair of small horses; and you, Lord Chaimaldus, together with the archdeacon, shall deign to do this, and we command that you receive in like manner as your brothers receive. And as long as God wills you to be a survivor in this world, I ask that you deign to come for my commemoration; and may the lord abbot and the congregation of Saints Peter and Paul pay you due honor.

I order these to be free men and women: Libigiselo with his wife and children, Chinemundus, Chrodosindus with his wife and children, Theodogundus and his son Lopus and his daughter, Emman with his wife and children, Ebrelenus with his wife and children, Gariulfus, Julianus, Picoaldus with his wife and children, the son and daughter of Maurellus. Likewise also my servants who are seen to serve there, both of Roman nationality and of barbarian. They are: Teodanus, Bajonus, Baudasindus, Maurus, Austreharius, Audisgisilus, Vetesigilus, Bercehanus, Quotanus, Alagisus, Leodegiselus, and the children of Theodonivia.

I order all of these to be fully free men and women, with all their property which they have, or will be able to acquire by their labor thereafter, and we may deserve to have the protection of the holy basilica of the Lords Peter and Paul the Apostles, where I wish my body to rest in the name of God; so that each one, at the time of my deposition, shall assemble and offer, or review, the oblation of my name alone before the holy altar, and each one shall observe the ministry which they are seen to have performed, in the name of God, on the aforesaid day; and they shall provide assistance to the abbot of that place, and afterwards, on the next day, the abbot shall give them a most worthy meal, and each one shall return to their homes—both those whose names are contained here, and those whom I have later purchased from the barbarian people, or whom I may yet be able to purchase, both boys and girls who are known to have been bought by me, and for whom I have made charters; and they shall continue in full freedom, and observe what is also observed by the majority of them, and all shall persevere under the protection and defense of Saint Peter; and Dasgastaldus, those among them who wish to remain with the abbot himself, or to serve the basilica, shall be enriched from the property of the holy basilica, so that it may please them more to pay honor to my tomb and to serve the holy basilica. And those who are known to remain in the territory of Cenomanicus are known to have the protection of the holy basilica of the Lords Apostles Peter and Paul.

If it should be necessary, and that abbot, to whom the holy basilica has been entrusted for ruling and governing, at all times concerning what has been conferred by me in that place, shall take care to celebrate my deposition and the light of my little tomb each year in such a manner as it delights to enrich other places of the saints in the greatest matters. But if that abbot should be negligent in this, let him know that before the tribunal of Christ with the lords Peter and Paul the apostles he will suffer vengeance for this, and receive perpetual damnation. Those whom I have released from the obligation of the Church for individual feasts in White, through letters, or will release, as their letters teach, let them be repaid under the protection and defense of the holy Church. And because the human condition renders many things uncertain; and I fear, lest (which God forbid) my devotion be broken in some part by iniquitous greed, which is the root of evils; I conjure you, lord priest, whom God will have wished to be after me, by that terrible judgment—that day, so that you may obtain the eternal reward of blessedness, and not acquire a part of damnation with Judas, that you fulfill the judgment of my will in all things; or while God wills you to be a survivor, you intend to guard everything. This liberty ought to consider, he who desires his will's judgment to remain firmly.

I ask that when my testament has been opened before all my fellow bishops and provincials, then through the hand of the archdeacon one hundred solidi be transmitted by the lord bishop of the city of Tours to the tomb of the lord and special patron Saint Martin the bishop, where I laid down my hair, and where I paid my tribute each year. Likewise, to the basilica of Saint Albinus the bishop, through the hand of the bishop of Angers, fifty solidi be directed, which solidi I have entrusted separately in purses with sealed little documents to each place, as I have mentioned above, in the hand of a faithful steward, to be dispensed as the page of my testament declares. To you, however, archdeacon, I command and charge that to all the basilicas which are known to be around our city, that is: to the basilica of Saint Victurius, my special patron, you shall give 20 solidi; to the basilica of the lord Vincent, where Saint Domnolus the bishop rests, in honor of that martyr and the lord bishop, you shall give 20 solidi; to the basilica of Saint Mary and the Holy Cross, you shall give 10 solidi; to the basilica of Saint Julian the bishop, either a horse or in gold you shall give 5 solidi; likewise to the basilica of Saint Richomer, solidi; to the basilica of Saint Hilary, you shall give 5 solidi; to the oratories of the lord Martin, the lord Victorius, and Saint Peter within the walls, you shall give in gold or in horses 5 solidi; to the basilica of Saint Stephen the martyr, either in gold or in horses, you shall give 5 solidi.

Similarly, I wish and command that to all our clerics who are known to serve here in the church, concerning whatever matters, you give fifty solidi. I especially ask that in the above-mentioned places, where I have assigned something not as was fitting, but as far as my ability allowed, they order my name and those of their priests to be inscribed in the book of life, and to be recited on each feast day. Although I ought to have indicated above what should serve my ashes, yet because I have not fully investigated among my household whom I might entrust with this task, it is fitting for me that, from whatever estates of the holy basilica of the lords Peter and Paul which I have assigned to be possessed as my inheritances, I wish that the names of individual heads of household from each estate who are known to be more upright and who faithfully serve us or the holy basilica be written in one letter and confirmed by our hand, so that they may be fully released from service, and that they, together with the abbot, shall have full care for my burial, both for the lighting and for my ashes, until the last day of their lives; both they and the offspring who have been procreated from them must serve perpetually with complete diligence, and the status of their freedom shall perpetually endure under the protection of that same abbot.

But because we presume to impose or relax nothing concerning the household of the holy Church, neither for our ashes nor in the arrangement to be made, just as our lords and predecessors did; in like manner, I command that if anything concerning my servants, or those of my late brother Bertulf, has been least in my mind, and these are seen to remain in the territory of Cenomanum, they are all to be freed from service and are to deserve to have the defense or protection of the holy basilica of the lords Peter and Paul, just as my other free persons. Those whom I redeemed from captivity, and who were formerly freeborn, and now seem to serve for a price, both men and women from the estate of Boalcha, are all to be released from service. To the matriculants in the city cathedral or those who are in the minor basilicas, I order five solidi to be given through the hand of the archdeacon. Because I wish the judgment of my deliberation to be preserved inviolably through this testament, therefore I adjure you, lords and pontiffs, by the holy apostolate which you have received by divine tradition, that wherever it may be necessary, you always provide solace to my basilica or to the abbot of that place, and instruct my lord and successor with such counsel that he diminish nothing from what I have designated for the holy basilica in honor of the lords Peter and Paul, apostles, for the remedy of my soul, nor should he defraud anything on any occasion, because I acknowledge that I have generated no loss for my holy church.

Likewise, I adjure you all, by the victories of the most clement princes, who in this world hold the power of action with those lords and our princes, that if need be, you never deny the aid of your defense to this little page. I have now recalled a small matter which I had greatly consigned to oblivion. The house, however, which I built by my own labor at Diablintes, with the court and stable, and the garden and farmsteads—whatever I acquired from all sides, both from the priest Boso and from the heirs of Etolenus, Trilunus, at the place called Calviacum, or from anywhere in the town of Diablintes along the bank of the little river Aroena, including lands, slaves, woods, meadows, and all by their own right, together with Taxonaria, which I recovered against Leuttherus and his heirs—I wish you, my holy Church, my heir, to have wholly and entirely, except for the ancient properties of the holy Church of Diablintes. Likewise, I decree that those portions which Guntherus conveyed to me by donation in all his properties, and that same property joined to that house of Diablintes, you, my holy mother and heir Church, are to possess. Those little houses of blessed memory.

Domnigisilus the deacon had from our gift, and that same poor man built there, and we after his death granted to our dearest nephew Leudochramnus, with all the little houses, little cottages, little vineyards, little fields, and whatever that deacon was seen to have there, along with the little slaves who are seen to have a dwelling there; we wish that our nephew, as long as he, for love of us, frequently decides to come to the basilica of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, just as we have written in the testament, we wish that he always possess these with the grace of our pontifical successor, yet also so that after his death they revert to the right of the holy Church. And I myself declare at present, that if anyone should attempt to come against this will of mine, he shall be struck with perpetual excommunication, and God shall show such a judgment upon him that, struck with the leprosy of Naaman, the earth shall swallow him up like Dathan and Abiron; and thus divine vengeance shall appear upon him, so that in the present age he may know that he has acted wickedly, and in the future judgment he shall never obtain the pardon of remission. If there are any erasures, any scratchings-out, any letters added or removed, I have done them, or ordered them to be done, while I more often read over my will to myself; and I acknowledge or correct everything individually. As the law teaches, I have entrusted it to be fortified with the subscriptions and seals of seven honest men, and I have ordered them to be affixed for the firmness and stipulation of the whole matter.

Done at Le Mans in the city, on the day and year written above, I, Bertichramnus, in the name of Christ, though an unworthy bishop, have read over and subscribed my testament, which I dictated to my son Ebbo the notary for writing. I, Guntinus Honoratus, have subscribed, at the request of the lord Bertichramnus. I, Dado, have subscribed, at the request of the lord Bertichramnus. The mark of Gerinus, who subscribed at the request of the lord Bertichramnus. I, Ibbolenus, have subscribed, at the request of the lord Bertichramnus. I, Gaddo, have subscribed, at the request of the lord Bertichramnus. I, Hugo Honoratus, have subscribed. I, Ebbo the notary, by order of my lord Bertichramnus the bishop, and in his presence, have written, read over, and subscribed this testament, and have noted the day. Likewise I, Bertichramnus the bishop, ask my son the archdeacon that, when my testament has been opened, he, pursuing the matter, cause it to be bound to the municipal records according to law, so that it may always endure firmly.