Karl Knutsson asks for runaways to be caught
DN 9/497 · 22 May 1519 · Elfsborg
What the letter says
Karl Knutsson writes from Elfsborg on 22 May 1519 to Lord Henrik Krummedige, commander at Varberg. Two labourers, little Olav from Copenhagen and Jørgen from Valby, have run away from the castle where they were cutting turf for the ramparts, and they have taken his lord's money with them. Karl asks Krummedige to send word and have them caught and sent back. He also reports that Krummedige's men will soon be home, that he himself is leaving for his lord the same day, and he recommends the bearer of the letter, Christiern Stub.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Friendly and loving greeting always beforehand with our Lord. Dear Lord Henrik, you shall know that today two fellows ran away from the castle here. My lord had himself sent them here to cut turf and help Jep the digger lay turf on the ramparts here at the castle, and they have taken my lord's money with them. Therefore I ask you, dear Lord Henrik, for my lord's sake, to send word out and have these fellows seized and sent back here to the castle, since you know that my lord sets great store by this work going forward. One of the fellows who ran away is called little Olav and his home is in Copenhagen. The other is called Jørgen and his home is in Valby near Copenhagen. Dear Lord Henrik, you shall know that your men are on their way and will come to you shortly. I myself intend to leave here today for my lord. Dear Lord Henrik, the bearer of this letter, Christiern Stub, whom I told you about last time, I have promised your friendship, and he relies on it. I hope of you that it will be kept for him. Dear Lord Henrik, I have no particular news to write to you, beyond what your men can tell. With this I commend you to God. Written at Elfsborg on the Sunday after St Eric the King's Day (18 May) in the year of the Lord 1519. Karl Knutsson. Endorsement: Address: To the honourable and well-born man and stern knight Lord Henrik Krummedige, commander at Varberg, this letter is sent with love.
Original text (excerpt)
Venlig oc kierlig helssen altiid tiill forne send met wor herre. Kiære her Henrich mwe i vide at nw i dag thaa løff her two karllæ aff slottet som myn herre haffde selff send hiid at skære tørffue oc hielpe Jep graffuere at legge tørffuæ valde her paa slottet oc haffue the boredt myn herris peninge op. Thij beder ieg eder kiære her Henrich atj gøret for myn herris skyld atj villæ haffuæ eder bwd wd oc lade griffue samme karllæ oc skickæ them hiid tiill slottet yghen effter thij atj vide myn herr
Background
Karl Knutsson was the son of Knut Alvsson of Tre Rosor, who was killed under safe conduct in 1502, and he was one of the heirs to the Giske estate. In 1519 he served the union king Christian II at Elfsborg (Älvsborg) on the Göta älv, a fortress that was important during the king's wars against Sweden from 1518 to 1520. «My lord» is probably the king himself, but the letter does not say so directly. Henrik Krummedige was a Danish-Norwegian nobleman and commander at Varberg in Halland. The letter is a private letter and shows how the son of a man declared an outlaw still found a place in the king's service. It also shows that fortification work was done with hired men from Denmark, and that running away from such work was taken seriously.
People: Karl Knutsson