The Bishop of Hamar gives up Grefsheim
DN 1/1088 · 18 June 1537 · Hammer
What the letter says
Bishop Mogens of Hamar announces in Hamar on 18 June 1537 that out of goodwill and friendship he has handed over to Sir Truid Ulfstand of Torup a deed of gift which the maiden Karine Alvsdatter had given him for Grefsheim and the Grefsheim estate. The bishop, the cathedral and their successors are to have no right to the estate, and the deed of gift is declared dead and void. Bishop Hans Reff of Oslo and the squire Josef Falster seal with him.
The letter in modern English
We, Mogens, by the grace of God Bishop of Hamar, declare and make known with this our open letter that out of goodwill and friendship we have now granted and handed over to the honourable, well-born man and stern knight Sir Truid Ulfstand of Torup a letter which the honourable, well-born maiden, the maiden Karine Alvsdatter, God have mercy on her soul, had granted and given us, and which concerned Grefsheim and the Grefsheim estate. We declare that from this day we, our cathedral and our successors shall have no share or right in Grefsheim or the Grefsheim estate by reason of the deed of gift we had from the maiden Karine Alvsdatter for that estate. We declare the gift and the deed of gift wholly dead and void, so that it shall in no way bring harm to Sir Truid Ulfstand, his wife and their heirs. So that this shall be held as firmly and unbroken as is written, we hang our seal below this our open letter, and we kindly ask the worthy father in God Bishop Hans Reff of Oslo and Josef Falster, squire, to hang their seals and signets below this our open letter beside our seal. Written and given in Hamar on the Monday before St John's Day at midsummer [18 June] 1537. Contemporary note on the back: This is the letter by which the Bishop of Hamar handed over to Sir Truid Grefsheim and the Grefsheim estate, which the maiden Karine gave him.
Original text
Wii Mogens mett gudtz naade bischop tiill Hampmer kiennes oc giøre wittherligtt mett thette wortt obne breffu, att wii nu for willie oc wenskab skildtt haffue wntt oc opladet erlig welbirdigenn mandt oc strengæ ridder her Trudt Wlstandt tiil Torop ith breff igenn som erlig welbirdig jomffrv, jomffrv Karine Alsdatther gud hendes siell naade oss wntt oc giffuet haffde liudindes paa Grepsæ oc Grepse gotzs.
Background
Grefsheim in Nes in Hedmarken was the farm where Karine Alvsdatter lived until she died early in 1537. She had given Grefsheim to the bishop and cathedral of Hamar, but her heir was Gjørvel Fadersdatter, and her husband Truid Ulfstand claimed the estate. Bishop Mogens Lauritsson was the last Catholic bishop of Hamar. That same summer, after the Reformation of 1536 and 1537, he was taken prisoner by Truid Ulfstand and taken to Denmark. The renunciation was probably made under strong pressure, for the bishop's men had also taken chests and letters from Grefsheim after Karine's death (DN 2/1124). The letter shows how the Church's loss of power at the Reformation allowed the family to recover property that had been given to the Church.
People: Karine Alvsdatter