Otte Matsson judges the inheritance case over Sandven
DN 21/665 · [1494.] · Bergen
What the letter says
In Bergen in 1494, Bishop Hans, Provost Christiern Pedersson, the knight Otte Matsson, commander of the royal estate, Lawman Erlend Frakk and four councilmen judged an inheritance case. Magnus of Tolo and his associates stood against Peder Nilsson, who held authority from his mother Herborg and her sister Gyrid Bårdsdatter. The case concerned the inheritance after Elling Håkonsson of Sandven. The court ruled that Herborg and Gyrid and their heirs should have Sandven with all the property Elling had inherited from his parents, and that Magnus and his following should never raise the case again.
The letter in modern English
Hans, bishop of Bergen, Christiern Pedersson, provost of the Apostles' Church, Otte Matsson, knight and commander of the royal estate, Erland Frakk, lawman, and Nils Jepsson, Asmund Salmundsson, Anders Eriksson and Peder Jonsson, councilmen in Bergen, make known that in the year of the Lord 1494 there came before them the discreet man Magnus of Tolo and his associates, and the discreet young man Peder Nilsson with full authority from his mother Mistress Herborg and her sister Gyrid [the copy has Syrid] Bårdsdatter. The case concerned the inheritance after Elling Håkonsson, who lived [uncertain reading] at Sandven, and all the property belonging to it, etc. They both then laid their letters before us in court, etc. It was judged that Herborg and her sister Gyrid and their heirs should for such reasons have and own Sandven with all the property, movable and fixed, that Elling Håkonsson owned after his parents, etc. And Magnus and his associates should never again bring this case. Written in Bergen.
Original text
Hans biscupe i Bergen, Cristern pædersson prowest at apostola kyrkio Otthe Matsson Riddare oc høuetzman uppo Konungs gardum Erlandt frack (Kock) llogmann, Niels iæpsson, asmundh salmandsson, anders ericsson oc pæder Ionssøn Radmenne i Bergen, giøre bekiendt, at anno Dni. MCD nonagesimo quarto kom for dem beskedelich man Magnus a tholæ oc medfylgh(e)re oc beskedelige Swen peder Nillssøn i fulleo ombode moder syns Hostro Herborghe oc hennes Systher Syridh borde dotthr om then arff som epter
Background
Otte Matsson (Rømer) was in these years commander of the royal estate in Bergen and therefore sat in the town's highest court together with the bishop and the lawman. He appears as a judge, and the case does not concern the family's own property. The letter shows how inheritance cases were decided by both parties presenting their letters in court. The text survives only in an abridged 18th-century copy, and the copyist wrote Syrid where it should be Gyrid. The same letter is known in another form in DN 21/672.
People: Otte Matsson (Rømer)