Halsnøy Abbey gives Alv Knutsson the property at Borgund
DN 4/962 · 6 Oktbr. 1466 · Bergen
What the letter says
In Bergen on 6 October 1466, Abbot Håkon of Halsnøy Abbey transfers to Sir Alv Knutsson and his wife Lady Magnhild the property at Borgund in Fjelberg parish. An earlier abbot, Olav, had bought the property from Amund Floge, but the Council of the Realm had ruled that Alv could redeem it because it was Magnhild's odal. The abbey has received a piece of cloth from Deventer, and Magnhild's share in Midhus on Halsnøy is to fall to the abbey in return for its holding masses for the souls of her parents.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We, Håkon, by the providence of God Abbot of Halsnøy, acknowledge with this our open letter: We have transferred to the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson, knight, and his wife Lady Magnhild the property which Abbot Olav bought from Amund Floge, and which lies at Borgund in Fjelberg parish and ship district. The whole Council of the Realm awarded him the right to redeem this property, because it is his wife's odal. We acknowledge that we have received one piece of Deventer cloth (cloth from the trading town of Deventer in the Netherlands). The share which the said Lady Magnhild owned in Midhus on Halsnøy shall fall to the abbey without claim, and the abbey shall hold masses for the souls of Lady Magnhild's father and mother. With this we and our brethren declare Sir Alv free and released from us and our successors. For further certainty and security we ask the worthy lord and spiritual father Bishop Gunnar of Hamar and Bishop Alv of Stavanger to set their secret and seal together with mine under this letter. Written in Bergen on the Monday after the day of the archangel Michael (29 September) in the year of our Lord 1466. Endorsement: On the back: Letter of judgement for Sir Alv Knutsson on Borgund in Fjelberg parish, and a farm for holding masses for the souls of his parents.
Original text (excerpt)
Wi Hakon med guz forsyn aboth i Holsne kennes med thettæ warth opith bref at vi haua v(p)latit velbyrdogum manne her Alf Knutson riddare ok hans hustru fru Magnilde thet goz som abot Olaf køpte af Amundh floga som ligger paa Borgundh i Fylbergsokn ok skipreda huilket goz som menige rikenradh honom til lausnar dømde for thy thet ær hans hustrus odal. ok kennes vi haua vpborith #j stykke Deeuentyrs lakan ok then parth som fornemde fru Magnilde atte j Midhus paa Hosnøn skal kløstreth fylga akereløs
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor inherited the Giske estate after Junker Hans Sigurdsson, who died in 1466, the same year as this letter. The Borgund in the letter lies in Fjelberg in Sunnhordland and must not be confused with Borgund near Ålesund. Odal was the right a family had to land it had owned for several generations, and the odal right gave relatives the right to redeem land that had been sold out of the family. Masses for souls were masses held to help the souls of the dead, and it was common to give land to monasteries to obtain them. The cloth from Deventer in the Netherlands shows that expensive imported goods could be used as part of a payment. Halsnøy Abbey was an Augustinian house in Sunnhordland.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter