Bjarne Erlingsson demands that the judgement on Vavallastad be obeyed
DN 1/110 · 27 May 1307 · Bergen
What the letter says
Bjarne Erlingsson and Erling Amundsson had judged, in the council chamber of the royal residence in Bergen, a case between Erlend unge and the brothers Hallov and Aslak Bjørnsson, represented by Jon koll. Erlend was awarded full payment for the rent of five månedsmatsbol in Vavallastad and three mark of old coin in compensation for Hallov's insults. Because the judgement was not obeyed, on 27 May 1307 they order Jon koll on the king's behalf to settle according to the law.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all who see or hear this letter, Bjarne Erlingsson and Erling Amundsson send God's greeting and their own. Erlend unge and Jon koll appeared at a hearing before us in Bergen, in the council chamber of the royal residence. Erlend complained against the brothers Hallov and Aslak Bjørnssønner [Bianar syni] because he had not received the payment under his agreement for five månedsmatsbol (månedsmatsbol: land rent for one month's food) in Vavallastad [Vafwallastodom]. Jon koll answered on behalf of the brothers, since he said that he was their agent in this case. Because it seemed to us and to several capable men that Erlend had the better right in the case, he was awarded full payment for the rent of the five månedsmatsbol. We also awarded him three mark of old coin for the ill will and the words Hallov had shown him. Both were to be settled by the Tuesday after Easter week. Because this judgement has not been kept, we order you, Jon koll, on behalf of our worthy lord the king, to give him his right in this according to the law. As true testimony we set our seals to this letter, which was made on the Saturday after Ascension Day in the eighth year of the reign of our worthy lord Håkon, King of Norway (27 May 1307).
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þæim sæm þetta bref sia æda hœyra, sændir Biarne Erlings son. Erlingr Amunda son Q. G. oc sina, Erlenðr vngi oc Jon kollr komo a stæfnu firi okr j Biargwin j malstofoni j konongs garde, kærde Erlendr a þa brœdr Hallof ok Aslak Bianar syni at hann hafdi æi aura eftir skildaga sinum firi .v. manadar mata bol j Vafwallastodom. suaradæ Jon kollr þar til af vægna þæirra brœdra er vmbodz maðr þæirra sagdest vera til þæss mals, oc af þui at okr oc flæirum dugandis monnum læist Erlendr rett
Background
Bjarne Erlingsson of Giske and Bjarkøy was one of the most powerful men in the realm under King Håkon V and sat here as judge in the king's name in Bergen. The council chamber in the royal residence was the place where the king's men dealt with cases when the king himself was not present. Månedsmatsbol is a unit of land: land that in land rent yielded the value of one month's food, and five such units were a fairly large share of property. A fine for insulting words shows that honour and shame had legal value. The letter also shows that a judgement was not always obeyed of its own accord, and that the king's agents had to follow up with a new order.
People: Bjarne Erlingsson