Last Will

Quote from Letter 5,25 to Castor, notary. February 595

It has come to our attention, therefore, that a certain Adeodatus, a citizen of Pisa, allotted Thomas as guardian for his son and his home-bred slave, his appointed heirs, with this condition added, that if his heirs should perhaps pass from this life while still wards, all of his wealth would have to be paid out to the poor, through the hands of the aforesaid guardian. 

Those who were appointed as his heirs soon died, but the above-mentioned guardian is said to have been prevented by certain people from being able to implement the dead man's last wish.

Wherefore if you find it to be true as we have been told, take care and show concern to protect and defend the aforesaid guardian reasonably, so that whatever was imposed o him we should be able to deliver effectively.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, translated by John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMPS, 2004), II, 340