Lawman Sigurd Havtoresson rules on Huseby
DN 4/341 · 7 Novbr. 1348 · Oslo
What the letter says
Sigurd Havtoresson, lawman in Oslo, gives judgement on 7 November 1348 in the councillors' house in Bjarnegarden in Oslo. Ogmund Ørnulvsson claimed, on his own and his siblings' behalf, six and a half øresbol of land in northern Huseby at Sanum in Follo from Håkon Andorsson. Håkon had no defence, and Sigurd awarded the land to Ogmund and his siblings, with compensation for the yield they had lost.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Sigurd Havtoresson, lawman in Oslo, sends God's greeting and his own. I make known to you that on the Friday before Martinmas (11 November) in the thirtieth year of the reign of my worthy lord Magnus, by the grace of God king over Norway, Sweden and Scania [1348], there came before me in court in the councillors' house in Bjarnegarden in Oslo, on the one side Ogmund Ørnulvsson, on his own behalf and as representative of his siblings, and on the other side Håkon Andorsson. It was their appointed court day. Ogmund then brought a claim against Håkon for six and a half øresbol (land with a land rent worth one øre) of land in Huseby, in the northern farm, which lies at Sanum. He referred to the letter from the good men who bear witness that the land had been awarded to him and his siblings, and which is attached to this letter of mine. Håkon had no counter-arguments and offered no defence. It was my judgement and lawful ruling that I awarded the said land and share to Ogmund and his siblings, with compensation for the yield [uncertain reading: «lannam»] for as many years as he has lost it. In truth I set my seal to this letter, which was made on the day and year said before.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þeim sem þetta bref sea eder hœyra sender Sigurder Hafthoresson loghmader j Oslo q. g. ok sina ek gerer yder kunnikt at a freadaghen nesta firir Marteins mœsso a x are ok xx rikis mins virduleghs herra Maghnusar med gudes nadh Noreghs Suia ok Skana kononghs komo a stefnu firir mik j rads manna husi j Bierna garde j Oslo af einni halfuu Oghmunder Ornulfsson a sina veghna ok j vmbode syskina sinna. en annare Hakon Andorsson. var þa þeira stefnudagher. kierde þa fyrnemder Oghmunder a H
Background
Sigurd Havtoresson of Sudreim (died c. 1392), grandson through his mother of King Håkon V, later married Ingeborg Erlingsdatter and thereby acquired Giske. In 1348 he was lawman in Oslo, a judge who decided cases according to the national law of 1274. The letter is a judgement. An øresbol is land that yielded an annual land rent worth one øre, a way of measuring the size of land by what it gave in rent. Bjarnegarden in Oslo was a town property with a councillors' house and must not be confused with Bjarnegarden in Bergen. The judgement was given the year before the Black Death reached Norway in 1349.
People: Sigurd Havtoresson