Orders to the estate bailiff on Giske about money and herring
DN 14/37 · Febr.-March [c. 1410-20.] · Giske
What the letter says
On a Sunday in Lent, probably between 1410 and 1420, Magnus Magnusson, Sigrid Erlendsdatter's second husband, writes to the estate bailiff Ivar Jonsson. He complains that he has heard nothing from him since Christmas, and asks for money and gold, but forbids him to sell malt, flour, butter or other food. He sends three men, one of them with two nets in case the herring fishery comes good, and reminds him that the dues must be in before the spring work and the fines before the northern voyagers sail. Margit is to marry after Easter, and that requires food, ale and money.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Loving greeting first, eternally with our Lord. I wonder greatly that I have had no word from you since Erlend came home before Christmas. See to it now that you arrange things so that I do not suffer harm because of your youth, and you yourself little honour. Send me money and gold, as much as you can manage. But I do not want you to sell malt or flour or butter or other foodstuffs, for you know that I need the food later. I am sending you Tore Eriksson and Kyrning and Homlger [uncertain reading of the name]. They shall do what you ask of them, and you shall give them food and ale as needed, but not in abundance. Do not neglect the herring fishery, if God wills that the herring comes in. Tore has two nets with him. He has said that he will help you on my behalf, and for that he shall have thanks and reward from me. Do not neglect what I count on you to do. Tell Håkon that if he wants my ship, he must come to me or send his trusted messenger. Tell Jon Haldorsson to take care that my clothes are not spoiled in the fatbur [clothes store]. Do not forget that the gæninne [uncertain reading: probably a due] must be collected before the farmers begin to sow, and the sakøre [the fines] before the northern voyagers sail. Get me some good lads and working people, as I have often asked you before, without your doing it. Now do all this in every part, and you will have reward from me, and I trust you. Send me an answer back as quickly as you can, and at the latest by m[id-Lent?], for al
Original text (excerpt)
[Kær]lica helso fore scripna æverlica med warum herra, vndra mic storlighia thet iac fig eingte bictd aaf thig sidhan Ærlendir kom heem fore iul een se swa til at tu fli thet swa at iak hawir eig scadha for thin vngdom skyl oc thu litin froma, en sendt mik peninga ok gul thet mesta tu kant af stad komma, tho vil oc iac at thu scalt eig sielia malt ella møl ella smør oc eingin ætanda waru thy at vest at iak thorf matin vider oc sendir iac thic Thorer Ericsson oc Kyrning oc *Homlger, sculu the gør
Background
The letter is a rare business letter from everyday life on Giske and belongs to the time when Sigrid Erlendsdatter and Magnus Magnusson held the estate after Håkon Sigurdsson's death. They claimed that Håkon had bequeathed Giske to Sigrid, and the inheritance dispute with Sigurd Jonsson lasted until 1426. The letter is undated, and the editor estimates the time as 1410 to 1420. An estate bailiff (gardsfut) ran the farm and collected dues for the owner. The letter shows how the estate worked as a business: food was stored for festivities, money sent on, and the herring fishery was an extra source of income. The northern voyagers (nordfarerne) were probably those who sailed north or with fish to Bergen, and the fines had to be collected before they left. Who Margit was is not clear, but it suggests that she belonged to the household.
People: Magnus Magnusson, Sigrid Erlendsdatter