Arne Paulsson conveys Stavsberg to Knut Alvsson
DN 2/1012 · 12 Oktbr. 1500 · Grefsheim
What the letter says
At Grefsheim on 12 October 1500 Arne Paulsson conveys half of Stavsberg in Tretten in Gudbrandsdalen to Knut Alvsson, with the deserted farms Raneim and Krakebøl and half of a fishery in Fåberg. This is done with his mother's consent, because the land is her odal. In return Arne may use Knut's farm Torestad in Tretten for the rest of his life without paying land rent, but he must keep the farm in good repair.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all good men who see or hear this letter, I, Arne Paulsson, acknowledge with this my open letter: I have conveyed and handed over to the well-born man Sir Knut Alvsson, knight, half of Stavsberg, which lies in Tretten in the southern part of Gudbrandsdalen. This is done with my mother's yes and consent, and I am authorised on her behalf, because it is her rightful odal. Sir Knut Alvsson shall also freely have the deserted farms that belong to Stavsberg, that is, Raneim and Krakebøl, as the deed of purchase shows, and half of Thenelagh [uncertain interpretation], which lies in Fåberg parish. All this goes with all the shares and appurtenances (everything that belongs to it) that lie and have lain with Stavsberg from old and new, outside the fence and inside, free and warranted against every man, from me and my mother and our heirs to Sir Knut Alvsson and his heirs as their property for ever. It is done in this way: Sir Knut has granted me and enfeoffed me with his farm Torestad, which lies in Tretten, for my lifetime without land rent (yearly rent for the land). The farm I shall keep in repair without damage, and after my days Torestad shall go back to Sir Knut and his heirs without any resistance or objection. For further truth and proof of this I ask the honourable and well-born man Sir Karl Jensson, canon in Hamar and official (the bishop's judge) in the same place, and Torstein Olsson and Jon Gudbrandsson to hang their seals
Original text (excerpt)
Ffor alle danne men som thetta breff seer eller høre bekennis jek Arne Pauelsson med thetta mith opne breff ath jek haffuer steth och aff henth velbyrdigh man her Knuth Alsson riddher helthen i Stasbergh som liggher a Trøtenne i sydherluthen i Gudbranzdalen med min modhers ja och samtykth och jek folmæktugh oppo hennis vegne er thy thet er hennis rette odal, skal och her Knuth Alsson frelseligh følge saa mange ødegarde som tiil for (S)tasbergh liggher som er Rannim och Krakebøl som køpis breffue
Background
Knut Alvsson, son of Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor, was heir to Giske and one of the largest landowners in Norway around 1500. The letter is a deed of conveyance, a document that transfers ownership, combined with an agreement on lifelong use. Land rent was the yearly rent a tenant farmer paid to the landowner, so being spared it was a valuable return. Such exchanges were common: a farmer gave up odal land and gained security for the rest of his life, while the landowner gathered land that would come back to him. The fishery in Fåberg was probably a river fishery in the Lågen. The letter was written at Grefsheim in the same week as the purchase of Nyhus, a few months before Knut rose in rebellion against King Hans.
People: Knut Alvsson