Compensation to Erling Vidkunsson paid in Vågan
DN 1/163 · 8 May 1321 · Vaagen
What the letter says
Ogmund, priest at Trondenes, and Ivar, lawman in Hålogaland, testify that they were present in Oddshus in Vågan on 8 May 1321. There Helge Hvasse, with a handshake, paid Erling Vidkunsson a spannsleie of land in Sandtorg. The land was sakøre, a fine Helge owed Erling, and it passed over free and without pledge.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Ogmund, priest at Trondenes, and Ivar, lawman in Hålogaland, send God's greeting and their own. Let it be known to you that we two were present in Oddshus in Vågan on the Friday after the spring Feast of the Cross (3 May) in the year of the Lord 1321, when Helge Hvasse with a handshake paid Sir Erling Vidkunsson a spannsleie (land with an annual land rent of one spann) in Sandtorg. It was as sakøre (a fine) that Helge owed him, free and without pledge to any man. As true testimony we set our seals to this.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þæim sem þetta bref sea eða hœyra, sænda Ogmundr prestr a Þrondarnese ok Jwar loghmaðr a Haloghalande, Q. G. ok sina, yðr se kunnikt. at vit varom þar i hia i Oddzhusum i Vaghom a friadaghen nesta æptir kross messo vm varet anno domini millesimo, trescentesimo, vicesimo primo. er Hælgi huasse lauk herra Ellingi Viðkunnar syni með handa tœke spannzlæighu iarðar i Sandtorghe j sakarœyri þan sem Hælgi var honom skylldugr, frialsa ok væðeslausa firir huærium manne. Ok til sanz vitnisbur
Background
Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarkøy and Giske was the most powerful man in Hålogaland, and two years later, in 1323, he became drottsete, that is, regent of the realm. Vågan in Lofoten was the great fishing station and market place where the stockfish was gathered before being shipped south to Bergen, and the winters there brought together people from the whole region. It was therefore a natural place to settle matters. Sakøre was a fine to be paid to the person entitled to it, often the one who had been wronged or who had the right to the fines in the area. What Helge had done, the letter does not say. A spannsleie was land with an annual land rent of one spann, a measure for butter or grain that was common in northern Norway. The letter is a letter of testimony, and the fact that a priest and the lawman were witnesses shows how important it was to have the payment confirmed by recognised men.
People: Erling Vidkunsson