Herleik confirms the sale of Drang to Alv Knutsson
DN 1/914 · 25 April 1476 · Ringsaker
What the letter says
The priest Aslak Rolvsson at Steinberg and three members of the lawcourt in Hedmarken bear witness at the vicarage at Ringsaker on 25 April 1476. They saw Sir Herleik Kolbjørnsson accept and confirm the purchase his father Kolbjørn Herleiksson had made with Sir Alv Knutsson concerning the farm Drang in Agder. For this Alv Knutsson gave Herleik 4 lodd of silver in the form of spoons.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, we, Aslak Rolvsson, priest at Steinberg, and Torstein Olavsson, Håkon Olavsson and Peder [Evin]sson, members of the lawcourt in Hedmarken, make known with this our open letter: We were at the vicarage at Ringsaker on St Mark's Day (25 April) in the year of our Lord 1476. There we saw and heard that Sir Herleik Kolbjørnsson, with yes, handshake and good will, accepted and confirmed the purchase that his father Kolbjørn Herleiksson had made with the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, concerning a farm called Drang which lies in Agder, as the deed of purchase shows. For this Sir Alv Knutsson gave the said Herleik 4 lodd of silver (lodd: a unit of weight for silver, about 15 grams) in the form of spoons. For greater truth about this we hang our seals under this letter, which was written in the year and on the day named above.
Original text (excerpt)
Alle men som thette breff seer eller høre kongøre vi Aslak Rolsson presther a Stenbergh Torstin Olafson Hoken Olafson Pedher [Euins]son laugrettes men a Hedmarken med thesse vare opne brefue ath vi varum i preste gardin a Ringessakre sancte Marcus dagh anno domini m c d lxx vi. sogum och hørdum ath her Herligh Kolbyrnsson med ja och handherbande och godh villie samtøkthe och tiil stod thet køp som hans fadher Kolbyrn Herligsson hafdhe gword med velbyrdugh man her Alff Knutsson riddher om en gard
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor owned the Giske estate from 1466 and also bought property in Agder from the same family, such as Akerøy in 1467. A confirmation was necessary because the heirs of a seller could have the right to claim the land back; by accepting the sale and receiving a small payment the son gave up this right. A lodd was a unit of weight for silver of about 15 grams, so 4 lodd was about 60 grams of silver. That the payment was made in silver spoons shows that silverware was used as a means of payment. A member of the lawcourt (lagrettemann) was a sworn farmer who judged and bore witness at the thing. The letter is a witness letter, and it was written so that Alv could prove his ownership if it were called into question.
People: Alv Knutsson