Karine Alvsdatter sells the farm Hvelby in Land
DN 7/705 · 4 April 1533 · Grefsheim
What the letter says
Karine Alvsdatter of Grefsheim declares on 4 April 1533 that she has sold the farm Hvelby in Hov parish in Land to Alv Amundsson of Garde. The farm passes to him and his heirs in perpetual ownership, with everything belonging to it, and Karine guarantees the title. She has received full payment. Bishop Magnus of Hamar hangs his seal on the letter together with Karine's signet.
The letter in modern English
To all the good men who see or hear this letter. I, Karine Alvsdatter of Grefsheim, acknowledge with this my open letter that I have sold to the worthy man Alv Amundsson of Garde a farm of mine called Hvelby, which lies in Land in Hov parish, free and clear from me and my heirs and into the ownership of the said Alv and his heirs forever, with all its appurtenances, as the farm has belonged and pertained from old and new times, clear and guaranteed against every man. I also acknowledge in this same letter that I have received from the said Alv the first penny and the last that was agreed in our purchase, so that I am well content. For truth in this and further security I ask for the seal of the worthy father Lord Magnus, Bishop of Hamar, hanging below this letter together with my signet. Written at the said Grefsheim on St Ambrose's day [4 April] in the year of the Lord 1533. [Note:] The letter was produced in court at Hamar in 1643.
Original text
Alle the dande mendt som thette breff see eller høre kiennes iegh Karina Alszdotther paa Greffseim medt thette mitt opne breff att iegh haffuer saaltt beskjedelig mandt Alff Amundtzon i Gaarde en miin gaardt som heither Hwelby och ligger i Landt j Hosszsogen friitt och ffrelst fraa megh och myna arffuinge och vnder førde Alff och hans arffuinge tiil ewerdelige eige medt lwtom oc lundom som førne gaardt tiil ligger och leigatt haffuer fraa forne och nygie frelst och hemmaltt før huaryom manne.
Background
Karine Alvsdatter was the daughter of Alv Knutsson and Magnhild Oddsdatter and lived at Grefsheim in Nes in Hedmarken. She owned land in the Uplands besides her claim to the Giske estate. To guarantee the title (hjemle) means to promise that the buyer keeps the land if anyone else claims it. The sale took place in the same year that the Council of the Realm at Bud awarded her Giske, and it is conceivable that she needed money for the long dispute, but the letter does not say so. A note shows that the letter was produced in a lawsuit at Hamar in 1643, more than a hundred years later.
People: Karine Alvsdatter