Knut Alvsson demands a sealed answer after the killing of his bailiff
DN 2/996 · 29 Novbr. 1497 · Akershus
What the letter says
On 29 November 1497 Knut Alvsson, commander at Akershus, writes to the farmers of Nes and Ullensaker treding in Romerike. They have sent an unsealed writing saying that Engelbrekt Gunnarsson has killed his bailiff, who was out collecting the king's visøre, and that all of them agreed to the killing. Knut will not believe that all are guilty and does not want more than the killer to be punished. On the advice of the bishop, the provost and the Council of the Realm he demands that they send the declaration under the seals of twelve men with four men of standing, who are to be allowed to travel there and back in safety.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
I, Knut Alvsson, knight and commander at Akershus on behalf of our gracious lord, make known to you who dwell and live in Nes treding and Ullensaker treding (thirds of Romerike): You shall know that I have received an unsealed writing from you saying that a man called Engelbrekt Gunnarsson has struck dead my bailiff, whom I had sent out to ride around and collect our gracious lord's visøre (the fixed yearly tax to the king). The writing says that this is supposed to have been the consent and deed of all of you. That I will not believe is true, that you should take so little care of yourselves, and we would be loath for more than the killer to come to misfortune over this. And the man you have sent here says on the contrary that it is not the deed of all of you. I have therefore taken counsel with these good lords, the bishop, the provost and several of my lord's council and good men. It astonishes us greatly that you send so loose, unsealed a writing, and with only one man, after such a day and so grave a matter. These good men have given me the advice that I should write to you that you are to send me your letter under the seals of twelve men, together with four men of standing, by the deadline that has been set [uncertain interpretation], if so many are guilty and were in agreement with the killer. These four men shall travel freely and safely from me and back to you. You shall also have a kongsdag (a deadline or lawful day of meeting with the king [uncertain i
Original text (excerpt)
Jek Knuth Alffson riddher oc høuesman paa Agersshus paa wor nadhighe herres wegne gør edher vidherligth som bygghe oc bo i Ness tredingh oc Vllenshoffs tredingh. maa i widhe ath jek fyk een scriffth vbeseglt aff edher saa een hedher Engelbrecth Gunnersson haffuer slaget myn foghet i hell som jek haffdhe skykket hanom tiil ath ridhe paa wor nadighe herres visøre: Oc uduiser samme scriffth at thet sculle wære alle edhers samtykke oc gernynghe: hwilket jek eke vil tro ath saa i sandhen ær at i scul
Background
Knut Alvsson of Tre Rosor, heir to Giske, governed Akershus and the Oslo area as commander for King Hans, that is, he held the castle and the fief on the king's behalf. Visøre was a fixed yearly tax to the king, and the bailiff was the commander's man who travelled around collecting it. That the farmers declared themselves all guilty was probably a form of joint protest against the tax demand, so that no single man stood alone. Knut answers cautiously and tries to separate the killer from the rest, and the demand for twelve seals was meant to make the farmers answerable for what they wrote. The letter shows the relationship between landowners, the king's men and the farmers in the years before Knut himself broke with King Hans and was killed in 1502.
People: Knut Alvsson