Sigurd Jonsson's bailiff takes evidence about the killing in Tinn
DN 21/446 · 13. juni 1448 · Skien
What the letter says
Lavrans Petersson, bailiff in Skien district for Sir Sigurd Jonsson, writes on 13 June 1448 to the chancellor Gunnar Holk about the witness statements he has taken in Skien following a letter from King Christopher. On the second day of Christmas 1447 Orm Bjørnsson demanded a quittance from Arne Bjørnsson for a pledged plot of land, at home in Arne's living room at Miland in Mæl parish in Tinn. Arne refused, Bjørn Somarlidsson cursed him, Orm was struck on the head with a horn, and Orm stabbed Arne in the belly. Orm declared the killing the same day, and the bailiff leaves the question of leave to remain to God and the chancellor.
The letter in modern English
To the most worthy lord and honourable Gunnar Holk, chancellor of the realm of Norway and provost of St Mary's church in Oslo, I, Lavrans Petersson, bailiff in Skidusysla [Skien district] on behalf of the honourable man Sir Sigurd Jonsson, knight, send loving greetings with God, and make known to your lordship's authority, which has been placed in your hands, that I was at a meeting at Rungsgarden [uncertain reading] in Skien on the Thursday before St Botolph's eve (13 June) in the year of our Lord 1448. At the command and by the letter of our gracious lord King Christopher I took proof [witness statements] about Orm Bjørnsson, who became Arne Bjørnsson's slayer by accident, and about Bjørn Somarlidsson, who had been charged over this killing, after the heirs of the dead man had been lawfully summoned. There was no other witness to what happened between them than what they themselves admitted and confessed: Orm, who did the killing, demanded a quittance [receipt] from the said Arne Bjørnsson on the second day of Christmas, at the said Arne's home, for the plot of land he had pledged to him, and said: «Then I will give you a quittance for the blow to the head that you struck me.» But the said Arne said no to the quittance. Then Bjørn Somarlidsson cursed the said Arne, and Helge, whom Arne named earlier [uncertain interpretation], struck the said Orm on the head with a horn.
Original text
Heydherlighom Herre ok ærer verdighom Guner Holk noreghs rikæ Canceler oc Profaster at marie kirkio i oslo, heilsar ek Lafrendz petarson foghute i skide syslo a ærligs Mandz vegne her sigurdh Jonsson Ryddere kiærlighe met Gudh, kunikhtgørande ydhro hærrædømis velde som ydre i hender fengit at ek var a stefnom i runsgarde i skidho thorsdaghen nest fore botulfs voku Anno domini MCDXLVIII ok æffter bodhe oc brefue vars nadeligs herre konnigh Christoffers took proff orms biørnsonar ær arne
Background
Sigurd Jonsson held Skien district as a fief (len), and Lavrans Petersson governed it for him as bailiff. The letter is the basis for the chancellor's judgement in Oslo on 26 June the same year, in which Orm was granted landsvist (DN 1/806). To declare the killing meant to announce it oneself the same day, and that set a killing apart from a murder, which was hidden and could not be atoned for with fines. The killing took place on the second day of Christmas, while the Christmas peace was in force, and that could make the case graver. The quarrel began with a quittance, a written receipt for a redeemed pledge of land, and shows that farmers in Tinn also used letters in dealings over land. The royal letter must have been written before King Christopher died in January 1448.
People: Sigurd Jonsson