Lady Magnhild exchanges a mill pond on Voss
DN 3/1000 · 7 Oktbr. 1496 · Finnen
What the letter says
Ivar Ormsson, canon in Bergen and parish rector on Voss, makes known at Finne on 7 October 1496 that he has made an exchange of land with Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter. He receives a mill pond above Bodebrua on Rogn's land, with free passage to and from it. In return Magnhild receives one månedsmatsbol in Vestrheim, which had belonged to the priest's farm. Whatever the mill pond is worth beyond the månedsmatsbol, Magnhild gives to the priest's farm for the souls of her parents.
The letter in modern English
I, Ivar Ormsson, canon in Bergen and parish rector on Voss, acknowledge with this my open letter that I have made an exchange of land with the well-born lady Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter concerning a mill pond that lies above Bodebrua on Rogn's land, with free passage to and from it. And I have given Lady Magnhild in return one månedsmatsbol in Vestrheim, which belonged to the priest's farm. And whatever the mill pond is better than that månedsmatsbol in Vestrheim, Lady Magnhild has granted to the priest's farm for the souls of her parents. For greater truth and proof I then hang my seal on this letter, which was written at Finne on St Birgitta's Day in the year of the Lord [14]96 [7 October]. [On the back, later: Letter about Vestrheim, that Lady Magnhild has made an exchange with Ivar Ormsson, canon in Bergen, of a mill pond and a månedsmatsbol.]
Original text
Thet kennis iek Jwer Ormsson kanik i Bergen och kirke herra a Woss med thetta mith opne breff thet jek haffuer giorth jorde bythe med velbyrdigh quinnæ ffrw Magnildhe Odzdotter eith quernedam som liggher offuen fore Bode broen a Rongz landh med frelss vegh tiil och fraa och haffuer jek foeth ffrw Magnild y gen eith mamatte boel y Vestrim som preste boel tiil hørde, och hvath som quernedammet er betther en thet mamatte boel i Vestrim thet haffuer ffrw Magnild vnth tiil preste bolet fore sine
Background
Finne on Voss was Magnhild Oddsdatter's seat, and she owned land and rights around the district. A mill pond was a dam that supplied water to a mill, where grain was ground into flour, and the right to falling water was valuable. The priest's farm (prestebol) was the land belonging to the priest's office, and the parish rector (kirkeherre) was the parish priest. The exchange gave the priest what he needed for a mill, while Magnhild received land. That she gave the surplus value to the priest's farm for her parents' souls shows how trade and piety went hand in hand.
People: Magnhild Oddsdatter