Sigurd Jonsson wins against Magnus Magnusson in Bergen
DN 1/705 · 23 June 1425 · Bergen
What the letter says
Provost Peter Boasson and twenty clergy, town councillors and lagrettemenn (lay judges) in Bergen make known on 23 June 1425 that Sigurd Jonsson appeared in the court room (stevnestua) at Breiallmenningen against Magnus Magnusson. Magnus did not come himself, and neither his wife Sigrid Erlendsdatter nor Guttorm Jonsson was accepted as his proxy. Sigurd was awarded 54 løper, and the lawman doubled the amount according to the law to 108 løper, which Magnus is to pay within a month after he has come home.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Sir Peter Boasson, provost at the Apostles' Church in Bergen, Sira Trond Ketilsson, Sira Olav Petersson, Sira Finn Sigmundsson and Sira Peter Sonarsson, korsbrødre (canons) at Christ Church in Bergen, Svale Jonsson, man of the realm, Einar Endridesson, lawman in Bergen, Olav Toresson, Jon Ivarsson, Aslak Ulvsson, Peter Ketilsson, Peter Jonsson, Endride Halvdansson, Jon Øyvindsson and Torlak Vigfusson, town councillors in the same place, Bård Sigurdsson, Olav Nikulasson, Askjell Aslaksson, Ogmund Erlingsson, Peter Trondsson and Halldor Jonsson, lagrettemenn, send God's greeting and their own. We make known that there came before us for three working days in the court room at Breiallmenningen in Bergen the honest and well-born man Sigurd Jonsson on the one side, and on the other the honest and well-born woman Mistress Sigrid Erlendsdatter and Guttorm Jonsson. Guttorm had a letter read which Magnus Magnusson had sent him. He was asked whether he would take on this commission or not, and he answered no, he would not have it. He said that he had not accepted any commission from Magnus in this case, either with yes or with handshake. The honourable lord and spiritual father Sir Eskil, by the grace of God Archbishop of Nidaros, and the town councillors in the same place had set a day for the said Sigurd Jonsson and for Magnus Magnusson from Trondheim to appear here before us, both with their proofs and evidence on both sides, as the letter of judgement s
Original text (excerpt)
Ollom monnom þeim sem þetta bref sæa eder heyra senda herra Pethr Boa son profast ath Postola kirkiu j Berguin sira Þrandr Ketilsson sira Olaf Pethrsson sira Finnr Sigmundzsson sira Pethr Sonarsson koorsbrødr ath Kristkirkiu j Berguin Suole Jonsson rikessins mann Einar Endridhasson logmann j Berguin Olaf Þoresson Jon Juarsson Aslac Vlfsson. Pethr Ketilsson Petr Jonsson Endridhe Halfdansson Jon Eyuindzson ok Þorlacr Vigfusson. raadmenn þess sama stad Bardr Siugurdzson Olaf Nicholasson Askell Asla
Background
The letter belongs to the inheritance dispute over Giske 1409 to 1426. Sigrid Erlendsdatter was the widow of Håkon Sigurdsson of Giske and Sudreim, and she and her new husband Magnus Magnusson claimed that Håkon had bequeathed Giske to her. Sigurd Jonsson, Håkon's sister's son, went to law, and here he wins because the opposing party fails to appear. Archbishop Eskil of Nidaros had set the day of the summons. A lagrettemann was one of the local men who judged together with the lawman. A løp (laup) was a measure for butter and grain, and the amount was probably reckoned as a fine or compensation. The letter shows that the Norwegian legal system worked even in a case between powerful nobles.
People: Sigurd Jonsson, Magnus Magnusson, Sigrid Erlendsdatter