Yet another månedsmatsbol on Gudøy for Erling
DN 1/338 · 28 Oktbr. 1353 · Giske
What the letter says
On Giske on 28 October 1353 Kolbein Toresson makes known that Erling Vidkunsson has shown him that the seven månedsmatsbol he had earlier given Erling in Gudøy did not have buildings as good as they should. He therefore gives Erling one more månedsmatsbol in the same land, and with that the two are fully settled concerning land, buildings and all property there. Svein Eiriksson and Eirik Olavsson set their seals to the letter together with Kolbein.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all who see or hear this letter, Kolbein Toresson sends God's greeting and his own. I make known to you that Sir Erling Vidkunsson showed me that the seven månedsmatsbol (land rent for seven months' food) I gave him in Gudøy were not as well furnished with buildings as they should be. Therefore I wish all men to know that for this I give Sir Erling one more månedsmatsbol in the same land. With that we two shall be fully settled concerning land and buildings and all other property belonging there. In truth of this Svein Eiriksson and Eirik Olavsson set their seals together with my seal to this letter, which was made on Giske on the Mass day of the two apostles Simon and Jude (28 October), in the thirty-fifth year of the reign of my worthy lord Sir Magnus, by the grace of God king of Norway, Sweden and Scania (1353).
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum þeim þetta bref sea edr heyra sender Kolbein Þoresson Q. G. ok sina ek gerir ydr kvnnikt at herra Erlinghr Vidkvnnar son teede mer at þat siav manada matabol er ek fek honom j Gvdey var eigi sva fieyrt at hvsvm sem vera skvllde þi vil ek at allir men vite at ek fiær fyr sogdum herra Erlinghe her firir eit manada matabol j fyr saghdri jordv. skolv mit þa alsattvm vm jord ok hvs ok allt annat fe sem þar heyrir til. ok til sanninda her vm settv med minv jnsigli Svein Eirighsson ok Eirikr Olaf
Background
Erling Vidkunsson (died 1355) of Giske and Bjarkøy had been drottsete (steward of the realm), that is, regent, and gathered a great deal of land in his last years. Gudøy lies in Sunnmøre, and the letter shows how he built up the estate around Giske. A månedsmatsbol was land that yielded an annual land rent equal to one month's food, and was the usual way of measuring land. The buildings were part of the deal, and when they were in poor condition the land was worth less, so Kolbein had to add more land to settle. The letter is a deed of conveyance, and it was written on Giske itself, a year before Erling gave Giske to his daughter Ingeborg. The same land purchase is mentioned in an older letter.
People: Erling Vidkunsson