Sigurd Jonsson confirms gifts to an old servant
DN 3/674 · 24 August 1424 · Bergen
What the letter says
In Bergen on 24 August 1424, Sigurd Jonsson and Jønes Hjerne confirm all the gifts their kinswoman, Lady Margareta Eilivsdatter, has given her old servant Skog Torbjørnsson, both landed property and movable goods. Skog and his heirs are to own and enjoy the gifts freely without claims from Sigurd, Jønes or their heirs, as Margareta's own letter shows.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all who see or hear this letter, we, Sigurd Jonsson and Jønes Hjerne, send loving greetings in our Lord. We make known with this letter that after careful consideration we have consented to and confirmed all the gifts which the honest and well-born Lady Margareta Eilivsdatter, our beloved frenke (kinswoman), has given Skog Torbjørnsson, her old servant, both in landed property and in movable goods, and likewise the quittance and everything else she has done for his good out of her particular goodwill. It is our full will that he and his heirs shall freely own and enjoy this against us and our heirs and descendants in every way, as her letter about this, which was made earlier, shows. In witness of this we hang our seals on this letter, which was made in Bergen in the year of our Lord 1424, on the day of the apostle Bartholomew (24 August).
Original text (excerpt)
Allæ the thettæ bref se eller høyræ helsæ wi Sigiurdh Jonsson ok Jønes Hierne kerlighæ mædh warom herra kungøræ wi mædh thesso breffue at allæ thæ giofuer som erligh quinnæ ok welboren frw Margareta Eilifsdotter war elskæligh frenkæ gifuit hafuer Skoghe Torbiornssyni sinom gamblom thienare badhe j jordægodze ok j boskapsthingom ok swo [then] quittenciam ok alt annet huot hon honom til godho giort hafuer af sinom synderligom godwiliæ, thet hafuom wi mædh beraddo modhe samthykt ok stadfest, ok ær
Background
Sigurd Jonsson (died 1453) was the son of Jon Marteinsson and Agnes Sigurdsdatter and later became drottsete (steward of the realm) and regent. In 1424 he was in the middle of the inheritance dispute over Giske. Margareta Eilivsdatter is called frenke, a word for a kinswoman, but how she was related to Sigurd and Jønes Hjerne does not appear from the letter. The reason for the letter is the law of inheritance: gifts of land could later be reclaimed by the giver's heirs, and so the nearest heirs were asked to consent in advance. Sigurd and Jønes were probably Margareta's heirs, and with this letter of confirmation they gave up the right to complain. Løsøre means everything that could be moved, such as livestock, tools and clothes. The letter also shows how a servant could be rewarded for long and faithful service.
People: Sigurd Jonsson