Alv Knutsson buys land in Skyberg in Øyer
DN 1/904 · 12 Decbr. 1473 · Ile
What the letter says
Tore Erlingsson makes known that he has sold 16 øresbol in Skyberg in Musdal in Øyer in Gudbrandsdalen to Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild. Included in the sale is a mill site in Musse that Tore had recently bought. The letter was made on 12 December 1473, and Svein Lavransson and Jon Arnesson set their seals to it as witnesses.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Be it known to all good men who see or hear this letter: I, Tore Erlingsson, acknowledge that I have sold to Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, and Lady Magnhild 16 øresbol (land that yields one øre, an eighth of a mark, in yearly rent; 16 øresbol is 2 markebol) in Skyberg, which lies in Musdal in Øyer parish. The land is free and warranted (with lawful title) against any man, with shares and benefits from old and new, outside the fence and inside. Included in the sale is a mill site that I have recently bought, and which lies in Musse. It passes from me and my heirs to Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild and their heirs as their property for ever, at their full disposal and as odal. For greater truth and testimony of this these good men, Svein Lavransson and Jon Arnesson, set their seals together with mine on this letter, which was made on the Sunday after St Nicholas' Mass before Christmas (12 December) in the year of our Lord 1473.
Original text (excerpt)
Thet skal allom godhom mannom kunnigt vara som thetta bref see ædher høræ at iak Tore Ælingson widerkenes at ek haver sælt her Alff Knwtsson riddere ok ffru Magnildh xvi øres booll ierder i Skybergie som ligger i Musdal i Øyia sokn frelst ok heimalt firi huarium manne med lutum ok lunendum at forne ok nyia wttan gars ok innan, ok eitt quern hus støde som ek hawer ny køpt som ligger i Mwsse ffra mek ok minom ærvingom ok wnder her Alf Knutson ok fru Magnildh teires æruinge til æwerdelegha æighe ok
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor owned the Giske estate from the late 1460s, but he also had much land in eastern Norway, especially around Hedmarken and Gudbrandsdalen. Øresbol means land that yielded one øre, an eighth of a mark, in yearly rent (land rent), so 16 øresbol equals 2 markebol. A mill site (kvernhussted) was a place by a stream where a mill could be built to grind grain, and it had value for the whole community. The letter is an ordinary deed of purchase, made so that the buyer could prove that the land had been lawfully bought. The seller Tore Erlingsson has the same name as several in the Giske family, but he was probably a local farmer with no connection to the family.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter