1. Benefactors of This Parish
In the year 1712, on the 3rd
day of August, I, the Munificent Lord Michael Gach, while he
was languishing due to the infirmity of his body, mindful not only of the human condition
but also of this parish of Lascár-Neovillenz and of all its most needy, just as if it had been
erected by myself, since it hastened to my assistance, to all Lords who are Brothers in
Christ, forsooth unto my very self, and to my Successors, piously bequeathed a plain
endowed with noble status and free of all duties, hard by the cemetery where the sun sets
towards the south within sight of the village of [illegible], for perpetuity in memory of
this matter, under, notwithstanding, the following conditions:
First, that within such five years as they please they perform sacred acts: One in behalf
of the aforesaid Michael’s soul itself; a second in behalf of the soul of his consort
Elizabeth; a third in behalf of the soul of his brother Martin; a fourth in behalf of the soul
of his father; a fifth in behalf of the soul of his grandfather Nicholas. Or indeed they may
discharge all five sets in behalf of everyone, so that all these people may share in these
sacred rites.
Second, that, whether related to my father, my mother, or in any other fashion, no one
ever under any pretext be able to plough, cultivate, abalienate, or sell it. Nevertheless, the
country may be converted and ploughed, should there be hope of a greater harvest.
However, if so great a disaster should arise in time, so that, if the district perchance be
destroyed, it is certain that it is no longer ever possible to keep this parish safe, then
indeed it may be sold after an evaluation has been made and the money be distributed for
sacred rites for the refreshment of Michael himself’s soul but not without the knowledge
and consent of our Magnates.
[There follows an erasure of nearly three lines, not in the hand of the original scribe,
mostly illegible, which refers to one James as according with the departed’s wishes and
to one Matthew who was the “first overseer” of this parcel of land.]
![Benefactors of This Parish
In the year 1712, on the 3rd
day of August, I, the Munificent Lord Michael Gach, while he
was languishing due to the infirmity of his body, mindful not only of the human condition
but also of this parish of Lascár-Neovillenz and of all its most needy, just as if it had been
erected by myself, since it hastened to my assistance, to all Lords who are Brothers in
Christ, forsooth unto my very self, and to my Successors, piously bequeathed a plain
endowed with noble status and free of all duties, hard by the cemetery where the sun sets
towards the south within sight of the village of [illegible], for perpetuity in memory of
this matter, under, notwithstanding, the following conditions:
First, that within such five years as they please they perform sacred acts: One in behalf
of the aforesaid Michael’s soul itself; a second in behalf of the soul of his consort
Elizabeth; a third in behalf of the soul of his brother Martin; a fourth in behalf of the soul
of his father; a fifth in behalf of the soul of his grandfather Nicholas. Or indeed they may
discharge all five sets in behalf of everyone, so that all these people may share in these
sacred rites.
Second, that, whether related to my father, my mother, or in any other fashion, no one
ever under any pretext be able to plough, cultivate, abalienate, or sell it. Nevertheless, the
country may be converted and ploughed, should there be hope of a greater harvest.
However, if so great a disaster should arise in time, so that, if the district perchance be
destroyed, it is certain that it is no longer ever possible to keep this parish safe, then
indeed it may be sold after an evaluation has been made and the money be distributed for
sacred rites for the refreshment of Michael himself’s soul but not without the knowledge
and consent of our Magnates.
[There follows an erasure of nearly three lines, not in the hand of the original scribe,
mostly illegible, which refers to one James as according with the departed’s wishes and
to one Matthew who was the “first overseer” of this parcel of land.]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/a240f9dc-24bd-4dc6-a430-35a351c7e4f0-160608192443/85/Will-of-Michael-Gach-3-August-1712_trans-1-320.jpg)
