Giske plundered twice, the priest asks for advice
DN 22/368 · 26. mars 1537 · Giske
What the letter says
The priest Nils Torkjellsson, estate steward of Giske, writes from Giske on 26 March 1537 to Eske Bille at Bergenhus. He has learned that the maiden Karine Alvsdatter is dead, and believes that the nearest heir is Lady Gjørvel, wife of Truid Ulfstand. The farm has been plundered twice the same winter: only some old vessels and 16 or 18 cows are left, a good 23 animals have been slaughtered, the houses have been broken into and the doors smashed, and the priest himself has been beaten and robbed of everything he owned. He asks whether he should put the farm in order again.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
My wholly humble greeting beforehand with God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Lord Eske Bille. Your Sternness [form of address for a knight] shall know that I have learned for certain that the well-born maiden, Maiden Karine Alvsdatter, has died in God's keeping. God have mercy on her soul for all time. I report her death to Your Sternness because I know of no heir to the good maiden who stands nearer than the well-born and stern knight's wife, Lady Gjørvel, Lord Truid Gregersen's [wife]. Since he is so near a kinsman of Your Sternness, I ask for good advice on the good lord's behalf as to what I should do. Giske has been robbed very badly. There is nothing left, not a penny, except some old vessels and 16 or 18 cows. They slaughtered a good 23 head of cattle, all the houses have been broken into and the doors smashed. And I, poor man, was seized and beaten, and everything I have earned in my long service was taken from me. Twice the farm has been robbed like this this winter. Dear Lord Eske Bille, please be so kind, for the good Lord Truid's sake, as to write to me whether I should put the farm in order again or not. Here it is wholly [lydett] and help her with [uncertain reading]. Without a letter from Your Sternness I do not know what to do. Herewith I commend Your Lordship to Almighty God for all time. Written at Giske the day after Palm Sunday (26 March) in the year of our salvation 1537. Nils Torkjellsson, unworthy priest. Endors
Original text (excerpt)
Mynn ganske idmøgeligh helszenn ffor sendt medt Gwdh wor herre Iesu Christo. Kieræ herre Eskee Bildhe wedhe maa Ederss strenghet att iegh haffwer fforspordt i sanhedt att welbyrdyg jomffrw jomffrv Karine Alffdotter er dødt i Gwdz wold hwiss seell Gwd benoddhe tiill ewigh tiidt. Och giiffwer iegh Ederss strenhet tiill kenne hennes døytt thee jegh engen wedtt dend godhe iomffrwss arffwinghe narmere enn welbyrdige och strenngh redderss ffrw ffrv Giørwell her Trwd Greszenn. Effter dy saa att hand er
Background
Karine Alvsdatter was the daughter of Alv Knutsson and the sister of Knut Alvsson, and she had been found the most rightful heir to Giske after the king's gift to Nils Lykke was called into question. With her death the claim passed on to Gjørvel Fadersdatter, who was married to the Danish councillor of the realm Truid Ulfstand, a kinsman of Eske Bille. The winter of 1536 to 1537 was a turbulent time in Norway: the Reformation was introduced from Denmark, and Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson was in open conflict with the king's men and fled the country in April 1537. The letter does not say who plundered Giske, but the unrest was probably connected with this conflict. An estate steward (ombudsmann) was an administrator who looked after the farm and collected the land rent for the owner. The letter is one of the few that give a concrete picture of the farm at Giske itself, with livestock and buildings, and it shows how vulnerable a chieftain's seat without an owner on the spot was.