Truid Ulfstand reclaims the Naustdal estate
DN 4/1115 · 18 August 1539 · Bergen
What the letter says
Klaus Bilde, the king's envoy in Norway, Tord Rodt, commander at Bergenhus, and three lawmen testify that Truid Ulfstand of Giske appeared at the town hall in Bergen on 18 August 1539. He had a letter read out stating that Naustdal and the Naustdal estate had been given to the cathedral for a perpetual Mass, but the church and the altar had been pulled down and the Mass discontinued many years ago. Truid complained that much of his wife's property and odal land had been lost, and gave notice that he would pursue the case under Norwegian law.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We, Klaus Bilde, commander at Båhus, knight and member of the Council of the Realm of Denmark, authorised envoy in Norway of His Royal Majesty King Christian, son of King Frederick, Tord Rodt, commander at Bergenhus, and the lawmen Guttorm Nilsson in Bergen, Hans Bagge at Steig and Niels Clausson in Stavanger, acknowledge and make known by this our open letter the following: In the year after God's birth 1539, the Monday after Our Lady's Day when Mary was taken up into heaven (15 August), that is, 18 August, the honourable and well-born man and stern knight Lord Truid Ulfstand of Giske appeared before us at the town hall in Bergen. He had a letter publicly read out concerning Naustdal and the Naustdal estate, which had been given to the cathedral so that a perpetual Mass should be held. Now the church and the altar have been pulled down, and the Mass has been discontinued for many years. Lord Truid also complained and charged that much of his wife's property and odal land has been lost to him. Against this he lodged an objection and complained before us, and he said that in future he would plead his case on this under the law of Norway. That this took place and happened before us, we witness with our signets pressed at the foot of this letter, which is given and written in the year, on the day and at the place stated above. Endorsement: On the back: Letter that I lodged an objection and complained about Naustdal and other property that has been lost from my wife's estate.
Original text (excerpt)
Wii effter Claffuis Biilde høffuitzmandtt paa Bahuss ridder Danmarckis riigis raadt och koninglig maiestatzs koning Christian koning Fredericks søns fuldmectuge indskickede i Norie Tore Rodtt høffuitzmand paa Bergnhuss Gottorm Nielsen i Bergenn Hans Bagge paa Steg och Niels Clauitsenn i Staffuangher laugmendtt kiennes oc giøre witterligt mett thette wortt obnne breff att aar effter guds biirdt mdxxxix mandagenn effther wor frue dag assumpcionis paa rådtstuenn i Bergenn war skicke for oss erlig w
Background
Truid Ulfstand was a Danish nobleman who owned Giske through his wife Gjørvel Fadersdatter, who was an heir of Alv Knutsson. Medieval families often gave land to the church in return for Masses being said for their souls for ever. After the Reformation in 1537 such Masses were abolished, and the heirs then held that the basis of the gift was gone and that the land should return to the family as odal land. The cathedral in question is probably Christ Church in Bergen, which was pulled down in 1531. The letter is a letter of testimony: Truid had high officials confirm that he had lodged an objection, so that the claim would not lapse. It shows how the Reformation set off a struggle over church property, in which the nobility tried to recover land their forefathers had given away.
People: Gjørvel Fadersdatter (Sparre)