The canons of Bergen give Erling Vidkunsson a receipt for Stovreim
DN 1/181 · 18 July 1325 · Bergen
What the letter says
Jon Arnesson and Arne Kolbjørnsson, canons of Christ Church in Bergen, confirm on 18 July 1325 that they have received 25 mark of refined silver from the drottsete Erling Vidkunsson. The payment concerns the land of Stovreim, which Lady Torbjørg had bequeathed, as a letter from Anfinn Eilivsson and Anund Imbe testifies.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Jon Arnesson and Arne Kolbjørnsson, korsbrødre (canons) of Christ Church in Bergen, send God's greeting and their own. We two make known to you that we have received from Sir Erling Vidkunsson, the king's drottsete (the highest governor of the realm) in Norway, twenty five mark of refined silver (pure, purified silver) for the land of Stovreim, as the letter from Anfinn Eilivsson and Anund Imbe testifies concerning what is stated in the testament of Lady Torbjørg. As true testimony we set our seals to this letter, which was made in Bergen on the Thursday before St Margaret's Day (18 July) in the sixth year of the reign of our worthy lord Magnus, King of Norway, Sweden and Götaland (1325).
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þeim sem þetta bref sea ædr hœyra, senda Jon Arna son ok Arne Kolbiarnar son, korsbrœdr at Kristkirkiu j Biorgwin Q. g. ok sina, vit gerom yðr kunnict, at vit tokom af herra Erllingi Vidkunnar syni. drotzseta konongs j Norege, fim merkr brendar ok tuttugu, firir iordina Stofreim, æftir þui sem bref Anfinz Eilifs sonar ok Anundar imbu vattar, þat sem greinir vm testamentum fru Þorbiargar. Ok till sanz vitnisburdar, settom vit okor insigli, firir þetta bref, er gort var j Biorgwin, þo
Background
Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarkøy and Giske was drottsete, regent, from 1323 to 1332 under the young King Magnus Eriksson, and he bought land in many places. Canons, also called korsbrødre, were priests attached to the cathedral, and Christ Church in Bergen was the cathedral at this time. Lady Torbjørg had bequeathed Stovreim to the church, and the letter suggests that Erling redeemed the land by paying the canons in silver, so that he got the land and they got the money. The letter is a receipt for payment, and such receipts were kept as proof that the purchase had been settled. Refined silver was pure, purified silver, and 25 mark was a considerable sum. Who Lady Torbjørg was is not clear from the letter.
People: Erling Vidkunsson