Erling Vidkunsson buys Stovreim in Fjordane
DN 1/177 · 1 Oktbr. 1324 · Bergen
What the letter says
Arnfinn Eilivsson and Anund Imba announce in Bergen on 1 October 1324 that they have sold 21 månedsmatsbol in Stovreim in Fjordane to the drottsete Erling Vidkunsson. The price is thirty mark of refined silver and five mark by weight, which Erling is to pay to the barefoot friars in Bergen according to Lady Torbjørg's testament. If any of the land does not yield full rent, the sellers are to replace it with other land.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Arnfinn Eilivsson and Anund Imba send God's greeting and their own. We two make known to you that with a yes and a handshake we have sold to Sir Erling Vidkunsson, drottsete to our worthy lord Magnus, King of Norway, Sweden and the land of the Goths, twenty one månedsmatsbol (land with a land rent of one month's food) in Stovreim, which lies in Stovreim church parish in Fjordane, with all rights old and new. The price is thirty mark of refined silver (pure, purified silver) and five mark of refined silver by weight, which Sir Erling is to pay to the barefoot friars (the Franciscans) in Bergen according to Lady Torbjørg's testament. If this land in any part is not able to bear rent (not able to yield full rent), as much of our other land, which is unsold and free, shall be valued and handed over to Sir Erling, so that it makes up for what is lacking. Sir Erling and his heirs shall own all the said land for ever and freely dispose of it. As true testimony we two set our seals to this letter, which was made in Bergen on the Monday after Michaelmas (1 October) in the sixth year of the reign of our said lord King Magnus (1324). Endorsement: On the back in a later hand: Letter concerning Stovreim in Fjordane.
Original text (excerpt)
Allum monnum Þæim sæm þettæ bref sea eda hœyra Senda Arnfinnr Elifs son, ok Anunðr jmba Q. G. ok sina. Vit gerom yðr kunnict, at vit selldum med ia ok handsale herra Erllingi Vikunnar syni drozseta okkars vyrdulegs herra Magnusar Noregs Swyia ok Gota konongs, æit manadamatabol ok tuttugu j Stofræimi er liggr j Stofræimskirkiu sokn j Fiordum med allum lunnynðum fornnom ok nyium firir þriatigi marka brenðra ok fim merkr brendar vegnar, er herra Erllingr skal luka Berfœta brœdrom j Biargwin j testa
Background
Erling Vidkunsson (died 1355) was drottsete, that is, regent, for the young King Magnus Eriksson from 1323 to 1332, and he gathered a great deal of land in these years. The letter is a deed of purchase. A månedsmatsbol was a unit of land that yielded as much in annual rent as one month's food for an adult, and 21 such units make a large property. Refined silver (brent sølv) was purified silver that was weighed. The purchase sum went to the Franciscans in Bergen because Lady Torbjørg had bequeathed the value to the friary, probably for the salvation of her soul. This suggests that the sellers turned an inheritance into money in this way. The transaction shows how church gifts and the magnate's land purchases were connected, and how Erling built up the estate of which Giske later became a part.
People: Erling Vidkunsson