Ogmund gives the island of Humla in return for board at Giske
DN 5/171 · 19 April 1344 · Giske
What the letter says
Eight men, among them Eirik, priest at Giske, announce that on 19 April 1344 they were in the painted loft at Giske and witnessed an agreement between Sir Erling Vidkunsson and Ogmund Eiriksson. Ogmund gives Erling the island of Humla, 15 månedsmatsbol, in St Peter's parish in Borgund. In return Ogmund is to receive the same board as Erling's sveiner (armed servants) for as long as he lives, his sister is to receive board like the workers on the farm, and his son is to be provided for until he is 16 years old. Ogmund moved in at Giske the same day.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all men who see or hear this letter, Jon Brynjulfsson, Gudbrand Berdorsson i Vik, Eirik, priest at Giske, Gjurd Håkonsson, Gunnar Halldorsson, Bjarne i Heid, Arne Helgesson and Torbjørn Eilivsson send God's greeting and their own. We make known that on the first Monday of the summer half of the year (19 April) in the 25th year of the reign of our worthy lord Magnus, by God's grace King of Norway, Sweden and Scania (1344), we were in the painted loft at Giske. We saw and heard the words, the bargain and the handshake between Sir Erling Vidkunsson on the one side and Ogmund Eiriksson on the other. The terms between them were these: Ogmund Eiriksson gave and handed over to Sir Erling Vidkunsson and his lawful descendants the island of Humla, 15 månedsmatsbol (land rent equal to one month's food), which lies in St Peter's parish in Borgund in Sunnmøre, with all shares and rights that belong and have belonged to it of old and anew, outside the fence and inside. In return Sir Erling shall give Ogmund the same board at Giske that his sveiner (armed servants) receive in food and malt drink, for as long as he lives. His sister shall receive the same board as the other workers on the farm, also for the rest of her days. Sir Erling shall also feed Ogmund's son until he is 16 years old, and after that only for as long as he likes his service. The said Ogmund entered Sir Erling's board the same day. Then Ogmund handed over for himself and his heirs the said la
Original text (excerpt)
Ollum monnum þeim sem þetta bref sea eðr hœyra senda Jon Bryniulfssun Gudbranðr Berdorssun j Vik Eirikær prester j Giðzska Giurðr Hakonarsun Gunnær Halldorssun Biarne j Hæidz Arne Hællghasun ok Þorbiorn Eilifssun q. g. ok sina. mer gerom yðr kunnikt at aa manadaghen fyrsta j sumri aa fimtu are ok tyttughta rikis vars vyrdulegs herra Magnusar meðr guðs naað Noregs Swia ok Skane kungs vaarom mer j steinda lofteno aa Gidzska. saghom ok hœyrdum ord þeira kaupp ok handartœke herra Erlings Vikunnær su
Background
Erling Vidkunsson had been drottsete, that is, regent, from 1323 to 1332 under King Magnus Eriksson, and in these years built up a huge landed estate with Giske as one of its seats. The letter is a so called provent or retirement agreement: a man without security for his old age gave up his land in return for being provided for for the rest of his life. For Erling it was a way of gathering land, and for Ogmund it was life insurance in a time without public care. Månedsmatsbol means land that yielded an annual rent equal to one month's food, so Humla was a medium sized property. The «painted loft» shows that Giske had a stately building with painted walls, a sign of wealth and status. The letter is a letter of testimony, made in two copies, so that the purchase could be proven later.
People: Erling Vidkunsson