Herleik Gislesson promises Alv Knutsson first refusal on Lid
DN 9/340 · 4 April 1462 · Grefsheim
What the letter says
Three lagrettemenn (lay judges) in Nes in Hedmark make known on 4 April 1462 that they were at Grefsheim when Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter asked Herleik Gislesson whether he would sell the farm Lid in Berg parish. Herleik answered that he had not made up his mind. He nevertheless promised that if he ever sold Lid, he would sell to Alv and Magnhild and no one else.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To all who see or hear this letter, Kolbjørn Herleiksson, Kolbjørn Eriksson and Sakse Vigleiksson, lagrettemenn in Nes in Hedmark, send God's greeting and their own, and make known with this our letter that on the Sunday after St Mary's Mass in Lent (the Annunciation, 25 March) we were at Grefsheim in Nes. There we heard that the well-born man Sir Alv Knutsson and Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter asked Herleik Gislesson whether he would sell them Lid, which lies in Berg parish in Nes. Herleik Gislesson answered: «I have not yet made up my mind to sell Lid.» Then Sir Alv and Lady Magnhild answered: «If you will sell, then sell to us. We will give you so well for it that no one else shall give you more for Lid than we.» Then Herleik answered: «You have now paid me well what you owed me [uncertain reading]. And should it come about that I sell Lid, or ever let it go from me to anyone, then I shall sell it to you, Sir Alv and Lady Magnhild, and no others.» In witness of this we hang our seals under this letter, which was written at Grefsheim on St Ambrose's Day (4 April) in the year of our Lord 1462. Endorsement: On the back, in a hand from the 1500s: Letter on Lid, that it should be sold to Sir Alv Knutsson and no other.
Original text (excerpt)
Ollom monnum theim som thetta breff se eller høra sender Kolbiorn Herleikxson Kolbiorn Ericxson ok Saxe Wigleikxson logrettismen a Nessi aa Heidmark q. guds ok sina kunnught gørande med tesso okoro breffue at swnnedaghen nest epter Mario messo i Langhafasto warum mit i Grepsheime a forscriffno Nessi, hørdom mit aa at welboren man her Alff Knwtzson oc frw Magnild Odzdotter spurdho Herleik Gislasson om han wilde selia theim Lidh som ligger i Bergx sokn a Nesi, Swarade tha Herleik Gislasson for, ok
Background
Alv Knutsson of Tre Rosor, who later became owner of Giske, and Lady Magnhild Oddsdatter gathered land around the manor farm Grefsheim in Nes. This letter of witness shows a side of estate building that rarely comes to light: an oral promise of first refusal, secured by having lagrettemenn hear the conversation and put it in writing. Lagrettemenn were sworn farmers who sat in the local court and often witnessed agreements. The lines spoken in the letter are rendered almost word for word and give a vivid picture of how a nobleman and a farmer negotiated. The endorsement from the 1500s shows that the letter was still kept as evidence in the estate archive.
People: Alv Knutsson, Magnhild Oddsdatter