Gimsøy convent gives Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter a discharge
DN 1/639 · 6 Decbr. 1413 · Gimsö
What the letter says
On 6 December 1413 Abbess Helga and the nuns of Gimsøy convent give Lady Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter a discharge for the task she has had of managing the convent's land in Nordlandene. She has presented a full account, and the convent declares her and her heirs free of all claims.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We, Helga, abbess at Gimsøy, and all the sisters of the convent at the same place, acknowledge with this our letter the following. We have given the upright Lady Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter a full and complete discharge, for us and our successors, for all the office she has hitherto held on our and the convent's behalf for our land in Nordlandene. She has also given us a full and complete account, so that we are satisfied. Therefore we give her and her heirs a full and complete discharge, for us and our successors. In truth of this we set our seal together with the seal of the convent to this letter, which was made at Gimsøy on the very day of the blessed bishop and confessor Nicholas (6 December) in the year 1413.
Original text (excerpt)
Mer Helga abbadiis j Gymsøy oc conuenta syster alla þess samasta[dar] kennomst med þesso waro brefue at meer hafuom gifuit erlege fru Jngeborgho Ellings dottor quitta oc allungis lidugha firi oss ok warom [ef]terkomandum firi alt þat vmbod er hon hafuer her til haft a wara wegna ok klausterens wm wara jardher j Nordlandum, hefur ok hon gort ooss fulla regningh ok alla efter þui sem oss atnøgher. þar firi gifuom wer henne ok hennars erfuingia quitta ok allungis lidugha firi oss ok warom efterkoma
Background
Gimsøy convent near Skien was a nunnery that owned land far away, including in northern Norway. It is uncertain whether Lady Ingebjørg is Ingeborg Erlingsdatter of Giske. She was an unmarried maiden as early as 1338 and would probably have been around 90 years old in 1413, so it may concern another woman of the same name. That the task concerned Nordlandene nevertheless fits well with the Bjarkøy family, which had a large estate in the north. The letter is a receipt, made so that the steward and the heirs could not later be required to pay more. It shows that women of high rank could also be responsible for large properties and accounts.
People: Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter