The Council of the Realm warns the people of Voss against Knut Alvsson's men
DN 21/688 · 14.september 1501 · Bergen
What the letter says
Bishop Hans of Bergen, Provost Christiern Pedersson of the Church of the Apostles and the knights Otte Matsson and Nils Henriksson, commander of Vardøhus, write from Bergen on 14 September 1501 to everyone living on Voss. They have heard that some of herr Knut Alvsson's servants are planning a rising against the Crown of Norway and the king. The councillors ask the people of Voss to keep away and to stop any such attempt, and to report at once if anyone dares to rise. They ask for an answer as soon as possible.
The letter in modern English
We, Hans, by the grace of God bishop of Bergen, Christiern Pedersson, provost of the Church of the Apostles, Otte Matsson, knight, and Nils Henriksson, knight and commander of Vardøhus, councillors of the realm of Norway, greet all the honourable men who live and dwell on Voss, lovingly with God and St Olaf the king. Know, dear friends, that it has come to our ears that some of herr Knut Alvsson's servants intend to make a conspiracy and a rising against the Crown of Norway, our gracious lord and all of us. We hope that you do not consent to it, because some of you know well what harm you and your parents and other inhabitants of the land have suffered from such things. Therefore we advise and ask you not to listen to or follow them or others like them in this, and to stop such things to the utmost of your power, as good, loyal men and subjects ought to do. If anyone dares to do it, let us know at once. Then we will loyally help to stop and avert it to the utmost of our power, and we hope that you will likewise do so together with us if need be. We ask for a good answer from you on this as soon as possible. Given in Bergen in the year of the Lord 1501 on the day of the Exaltation of the Cross [14 September], under our secret seals and seals.
Original text
Wy Hans met gwdz Nadh Biscop j Berghen Cristian Pedhersson Profasth ath apostele Kirke Otthe mathzsson Ridder Nielss Hendrickssen Ridder och høffwisman wppa wardhe Hwss Noriges rikis radh Helse alle the dandemen som byggæ och boo wppa Woss Kærlighe met gwdh och ste Olaff konnungh. Vithær Kere Venner ath oss er til Withendhe wardhet ath nagre aff Her Knwth alffsons tiænare wylie gøræ naghen samningh och Wpp Reysningh j moth noriges /th/rona war nadighe Herre och oss alle, Hwilkith oss hapass ath
Background
Knut Alvsson had strong ties to Voss. His mother, Magnhild Oddsdatter, came from Finne on Voss and brought the Finne estate into the family, which may explain why the councillors feared that people there would follow Knut's men. Otte Matsson (Rømer) was commander in Bergen and the father of fru Inger of Austrått, and Nils Henriksson was married to her. Father-in-law and son-in-law thus stand side by side against Knut. The word dannemenn means honourable farmers. The councillors remind the people of Voss of the harm they and their parents had suffered from such things before, probably a reference to earlier unrest, but the letter does not say which. The rising broke out in full the following winter.
People: Otte Matsson (Rømer), Knut Alvsson