Letter 9089: I need you to go to Maria, the wife of the cleric Pardus, and explain to her the situation regarding the inheritance...

The bearers of this letter, Stopaulus and Marcellus, freedmen of the late Domitiolus the excubitor, have complained to us, asserting that two ounces of their estate, which their master had bequeathed to his freedmen by the page of his will, have not yet been fulfilled by his heir and daughter Maria, wife of the cleric Pardus. They report that the same heir threatens them regarding their legal status, so as to be able to defer the legacy itself. And since they ask that what was bequeathed be fulfilled by your efforts, we therefore direct you by this authority to admonish the aforesaid Maria to fulfill the will of her father and master without delay, and let it be your concern that they should not be subjected to any unreasonable losses. But if she attempts to defend herself from this payment by any excuse, it is fitting that you examine the case carefully with the most holy Gospels before you, and define what the order of justice and law requires, and commit what is defined to effect, so that this complaint may not come back to us again. Moreover, since we have learned that the aforesaid testator bequeathed two ounces of his estate to the church of Saint George, where he wished to be buried, let it be your care to claim those same two ounces, if they have not yet been fulfilled, for the aforesaid place by all means, so that the intent of the pious will may be carried through to effect in all respects even against the unwilling heir; nor should you allow what has been reported to be deferred any longer in this matter. For it is sacrilege and against the laws if anyone attempts by the efforts of a wicked will to retain for his own gain what was bequeathed to venerable places.