Knut Alvsson's wife confirms an old sale in Uppland
DN 16/331 · 21 February 1499 · Stockholm
What the letter says
Lady Mette Iversdatter, wife of Lord Knut Alvsson, confirms in the Greyfriars' convent in Stockholm on 21 February 1499 a sale her former husband, Lord Anders van Bergen, made in Kalmar 24 years earlier. He then sold a property in Danmarks kyrkby in Vaksala hundred in the diocese of Uppsala to his cousin Lord Herman Rodenkirke, canon in Uppsala, for 140 mark in Stockholm coin. Herman had lost the main deed, but proved the purchase with witnesses and letters, and when he also gave her 40 mark and a horse, she confirmed the sale on her own and her daughter Kristin's behalf. Knut Alvsson, Sten Turesson and Bengt Ryning seal the letter.
The letter in modern English
I, Mette Iversdatter, wife of the honourable and well-born man Lord Knut Alvsson, make known to all, both those to come and those now living, with this my open letter that my former husband Lord Anders van Bergen, God have mercy on his soul, had lawfully sold and fully conveyed in the town of Kalmar twenty-four years ago to the honourable man, his father's sister's son, Lord Herman Rodenkirke, canon in Uppsala, a property in Danmarks kyrkby, which yields four pund of grain in rent each year and lies in Vaksala hundred and the diocese of Uppsala, for one hundred and forty mark in Stockholm coin. And he has since held the property in his possession freely and unhindered. And now, since my said lord Lord Knut came here, he and I spoke to the said Lord Herman about the said property. Then he proved his purchase with living witnesses and letters, although he admitted that the main deed had been lost to him.
Original text
Jach Metta Jwers dotter erligh oc welbørdig mans her Knut Alffsons hustrwe Gør witherligit allom swa wæl epterkommendes som tøm nw ære med thetta mit opna breff at min førmermer hosbonde her Anders van Bergen gud hans siæl nade hade laglige saalt oc alleledis oplatiid i Calmarna stadh før fyra oc tiwgw aar sidhen hederlig man sin faders syster son her Herman Rodenkirke Canic i Vpsala eth gotz i Danmarka kirkeby som aarlige renther fyre pund korn liggiendes i Vaxala herrede oc Vpsala biscopsdøme
Background
Knut Alvsson, son of Alv Knutsson and Magnhild Oddsdatter, was in Sweden in 1499, two years after King Hans had become king there. Mette Iversdatter (Dyre) was his second wife, and Görvel Eriksdotter was the first. Mette had been married to Anders van Bergen, and the daughter Kristin was probably from that marriage. Herman had lost the original deed of purchase, and without confirmation Mette and Kristin could have claimed the property as heirs. The money and the horse were the price for their giving up such a claim. The letter says 140 mark, while the DN summary has 150 mark. That Knut gave advice and set his seal shows that as husband he was guardian of his wife's property.
People: Knut Alvsson