Bjarne Erlingsson's testament: Giske to his granddaughter Kristin
DN 15/1 · 25 January 1308(9?) · Bergen
What the letter says
Bjarne Erlingsson of Bjarkøy makes his testament in Bergen on 25 January 1308 or 1309 and chooses a grave in Christ Church in Nidaros. He gives large amounts of land and silver to churches, monasteries and hospitals from Tønsberg to Bjarkøy, among them 12 månedsmatsbol in Skodje to Giske church, for his own soul and for his wife Margrete and his son Andreas. Queen Eufemia receives his gilded sceptre, his sister-in-law Gyrid receives the gold belt King Edward of England had given him, and his granddaughter Kristin receives all of Giske with Rund and the Gauksøy islands. The Bishop of Bergen and the abbot of St Michael's monastery are to execute the testament.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
The testament of Sir Bjarne Erlingsson of Bjarkøy. In the name of the Lord, amen. I, Bjarne Erlingsson of Bjarkøy, sound in mind and body, make this testament to the praise and honour of God himself, in reverence and dignity for our Lady Saint Mary, the holy King Olaf and all God's holy men, and in aid of me, a sinful man, [and for the forgiveness of sins]. First I give my soul into the gracious hand of my creator and redeemer Jesus Christ. For my body I choose a burial place in Christ Church in Nidaros, by the outermost altar in the south western corner of the new building. To it I give 60 månedsmatsbol (land rent equal to one month's food) in these lands in Sunnmøre: in Ourdall 20, in Sofforszbö (today Sæbø) 10, in Sidwich (today Sövj) 10, in Heitzen 9 and in Schlyngsted 12. From this a prebend (fixed support for a priest) shall be maintained at this altar. To another prebend at the same Christ Church I give, as a gift for the souls of myself, my dear wife Margrete and my son Andreas, these lands in Trøndelag: Wagnebergh, which owes 10 pund of grain (pund is a grain measure); Seckwegen 10 øre of silver (øre is an eighth of a mark); in Lid 2 spann of butter (spann is a butter measure), 1 vett of malt (a grain measure) and 1 mark of silver; in Raffnaas 6 øre of silver; in Eszpemor 1 spann of butter and 1 øre of silver; in Seelbodehen 1 spann of butter; in Etkerlide 8 pund of grain; in Seckweghen 2 spann of butter and 6 øre of silver; in Alindhal 4 spann of butter and 1 ø
Original text (excerpt)
Her Biörnn Erlingszens aff Biercharhöe testamente: In nomine domini amen. Jeg Biørnn Erlingszenn i Biercheröe, helbrede till min forstand och legeme, giör dette mitt thestamenthe, gud selff till loff och heder, wor frue s: Maria, hin hellge Oluff konningh och alle gudtz hellige mend till reuerendtz och werdighed och mig syndige menisch till hielp [och syndernis forladellsze. Först att iegh giffuer minn sell i min schaberis och gienlöszerisz Jeszu Christi naadige hand, och mitt legemme keiszer oc
Background
Bjarne Erlingsson was one of the most powerful men in Norway around 1300, with seats at Giske and Bjarkøy, a place in the regency government for King Eirik Magnusson and several missions as envoy to Scotland and England. When he wrote this, his wife and son were dead, and the testament is therefore also a letter of gifts for the soul: land was given to the church in return for priests holding masses for the soul and anniversaries (annual memorial masses) for the dead. The gifts are measured mostly in månedsmatsbol, that is, land that yielded an annual rent (land rent) equal to one month's food, and in butter, grain and refined silver, and the list gives a rare picture of how scattered the estate was, from Lofoten and Trøndelag to Sunnmøre, Sogn and the Uplands. Kristin received Giske, but Giske later passed to his nephew Erling Vidkunsson, who appears as a witness here, so she probably died young. Lady Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter, who receives land, is probably Bjarne's sister, and Gyrid Andresdatter is the wife of his brother Vidkunn and Erling's mother. The testament is preserved only in later Danish copies, and the editor warns that the copyist has made changes, so the place names are uncertain.
People: Bjarne Erlingsson, Margrete Nikolasdatter, Andres Bjarnesson, Gyrid Andresdatter, Kristin