Testimony about Sigurd Havtoresson and the property at Hustad
DN 2/572 · 14 Oktbr. 1402 · Bergen
What the letter says
In Bergen on 14 October 1402 Gunnar Rolfsson bears witness to a conversation he heard between the now deceased Sir Sigurd Havtoresson and Håkon Jonsson about the property that Lady Ingebjørg at Hustad had owned. Sigurd said that he had bought it, while Håkon said he would swear that Sigurd had paid as much with Håkon's wife's money as with his own. Sigurd only replied that they would have to divide as best they could, and changed the subject every time Håkon brought it up. Gunnar says he is willing to swear to this.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
This I, Gunnar Rolfsson, acknowledge with this my open letter: I was present and listened when the upright men and wellborn lords Sir Sigurd Havtoresson and Håkon Jonsson, God have mercy on their souls, talked together about the property that Lady Ingebjørg at Hustad owned. Sir Sigurd said that he owned it and had bought it. Håkon answered: «I will swear that you paid as much of my wife's money for it as of your own.» Then Sir Sigurd said: «I cannot quarrel with you, Håkon kinsman, other than that we now divide as best we can.» And every time Håkon said that he had paid as much of his wife's money for the property as of his own, Sir Sigurd would not take it up, and always found something else to talk about. This I will swear to if it becomes necessary. In truth of this I set my seal to this letter, which was made in Bergen on the day of the blessed Pope Calixtus (14 October) in the year of the Lord 1402. Endorsement: On the back in a later hand: The property that Lady Ingebjørg at Hustad owned.
Original text (excerpt)
Þæs kiænnist ek Gunnar Rolfsson mæder þæsso mino opno brefue at þær war ek hia høyrde ek wppa ær erlige mæn ok wælbornne herra Siugurdh Hafþornsson ok Hakon Joansson gudh þeira siæll hafue talados widher swa sæm wm þæt godzit sæm frw Jngeborgh af Hustadom atte ok sagde herra Siugurder sik þæt eyga ok køpt hafua ok swarade Hakon wilin j þæt swæria at j gafuin þær ey swa wæll minna husfru pæninga fore sæm idra ok þa sagde herra Siugurder ække kan ek dela mæder tik Hakon frændhe min wtan skipto(m)
Background
Sigurd Havtoresson of Sudreim was married to Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter, who had received Giske from her father Erling Vidkunsson in 1354, and died around 1392. Håkon Jonsson was the son of Sigurd's brother Jon Havtoresson, which is why Sigurd calls him «kinsman», and both were descendants of King Håkon V. The letter is a letter of testimony, a written statement of what the witness had seen or heard, made to be used in a lawsuit. It was probably written because the heirs of the two men were now in dispute over who the property at Hustad in Romsdal belonged to, and Gunnar's words were meant to show that Sigurd himself had not denied Håkon's claim. Lady Ingebjørg at Hustad is according to the editor Ingebjørg Petersdatter and is a different person from Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter. The editor refers to a related letter in the same case.
People: Sigurd Havtoresson