Karl Knutsson witnesses payment for a horse
DN 9/484 · 19 August 1515 · Kjöbenhavn
What the letter says
Mogens Olsen acknowledges in Copenhagen on 19 August 1515 that he has received thirty mark in ready money by Danish reckoning from the knight Oluf Jepsen (Sparre). Oluf owed the money to the Swedish squire Sander Arendsen, Mogens' master, for a horse he had received in Sweden. Oluf and his heirs are thereby free of further claims. The squire Karl Knutsson has set his seal to the letter as witness.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
I, Mogens Olsen, acknowledge and make known by this my open letter that I have received from the honourable and well-born man and stern knight Lord Oluf Jepsen thirty mark in ready money by Danish count (Danish reckoning of coin). He owed this money to the well-born squire Sander Arendsen, my master, for a horse he got from him in Sweden. Therefore I declare Lord Oluf Jepsen and his heirs free and quit towards my master and his heirs of all further claims or charges concerning this money in any way. In witness I have kindly asked the honourable and well-born squire Karl Knutsson to press his signet beneath this letter, which is written in Copenhagen on the Sunday after the Day of Our Lady's Assumption (15 August) in the year 1515. Endorsement: On the back: «Mogens Olsen on 30 mark for one horse».
Original text (excerpt)
Jeg Mogens Olssen bekennes oc wittherlig gør met thette mit obne breff athaffue anammet och opborit aff erlig oc welburdug man oc streng ridder her Oluff Jeipsen trediwe marck rede penninge effter danst tall huilche penninge han war welburdug swend Sander Arendsen myn hosbonde schyldug for en hest han fiick aff hanum i Suerige, Thii lader ieg for her Oluff Jeipsen oc hans arffuinge frii oc quit fore for myn hosbonde oc hans arffuinghe om alt ydermere kraff eller tilltall paa for penninge i noger
Background
The editor of the Diplomatarium identifies the sealing witness as Karl Knutsson of Tre Rosor, and he is probably the son of Knut Alvsson, who was killed in 1502. Karl is the only member of the Giske family mentioned, and only as a witness; the matter itself is an ordinary receipt between other noblemen. A receipt established that a debt had been paid, so that no one could claim it again. That Karl was in Copenhagen and set his seal for Danish and Swedish noblemen suggests that he moved in the circles around the king's court after his father's fall. A squire, or svenn, was a nobleman who had not been dubbed a knight. Thirty mark for a horse shows that good horses were expensive.
People: Karl Knutsson