The king orders justice for the Uppsala archbishop's fishery in Jämtland
DN 4/168 · 17 July 1326 · Baahus
What the letter says
King Magnus writes from Båhus on 17 July 1326 to the sysselmann Halstein Tolleivsson and the lawman Arne in Jämtland. Archbishop Olav of Uppsala has complained to the drottsete Erling Vidkunsson and the Norwegian councillors in Lödöse that people in Jämtland are wronging his fishery in Rofund. The king orders that the case be thoroughly examined and that the archbishop receive his right according to the law. Erling Vidkunsson sets his seal to the letter together with the king's.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Magnus, by God's mercy King of Norway, Sweden and Götaland, sends Sir Halstein Tolleivsson, sysselmann, and Arne, his lawman in Jämtland, or Gudmund på Roeim, Sir Halstein's steward, God's greeting and his own. Our worthy lord and dearest friend Olav, Archbishop of Uppsala, complained to Sir Erling Vidkunsson, our drottsete (the highest governor of the realm), and to those of our good men from Norway who last came to us in Lödöse, that various men in Jämtland are doing wrong against his fishery in Rofund, contrary to law and right. Therefore it is our complete command and true will that you examine this case as thoroughly as possible, while the archbishop's steward and those who have the case to answer for are present. You shall obtain for the lord archbishop or his steward his right according to the law against those whom you find to have made unlawful encroachments on the said fishery, as you will answer for it before God and us. You shall not let this meet any hindrance. As true testimony Sir Erling Vidkunsson, our drottsete, set his seal together with ours to this letter, which was made at Båhus on the Thursday before St Margaret's Day (17 July) in the seventh year of our reign (1326). Ivar Audunsson wrote it. Endorsement: On the back in a hand from around 1450 (in Latin): Letter of judgement concerning the fishery in Ragunda in Jämtland.
Original text (excerpt)
Magnus med gudes miskun Noregs Swya ok Gota konongr sændir herra Halstæini Þollæifs syni syslumanne ok Arna loghmanne sinum j Jæmtalande eda Gudmundi a Roæimi vmbodes manne herra Halstæins q. g. ok sina. Vyrdulegr herra ok vin var hin kærazste Olafuer erchibiskup j Vpsalum tede herra ErllingiVidkunnar syni drotzseta varom ok þæim varom godom monnum af Norege sæm nestom varo komner till vaar till Liodusa, at ymisir men j Jæmtalande vnada fiski hans j Rofwnd mote loghum ok rettyndum. Þui er þat fu
Background
Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarkøy and Giske was drottsete, that is, regent, in Norway from 1323 to 1332, while King Magnus Eriksson was still a child. Magnus was only ten years old in 1326 and king of both Norway and Sweden, so in practice it was the drottsete and the Council of the Realm who governed in his name. Jämtland belonged politically to Norway, but its church lay under the archiepiscopal see of Uppsala, and that easily created conflicts between Swedish churchmen and Norwegian farmers. A sysselmann was the king's local official responsible for taxes, order and legal proceedings in a district. Rofund is Ragunda, and the fishery there was probably salmon fishing in the Indalsälven river. The letter shows Erling at work as regent, and his seal beneath the king's shows who held power.
People: Erling Vidkunsson