The deed to the Ørland farms for fru Inger
DN 9/725 · 5 Novbr. 1532 · Throndhjem
What the letter says
Archbishop Olav announces in Trondheim on 5 November 1532 that with the advice and consent of the chapter he has transferred from the cathedral to fru Inger Ottesdatter and her heirs property on Ørland to which she believes she has odal letters and a claim. It concerns 2 spann in Opphaug, 1½ spann in Rødestad, Hov with 1½ spann, 4 spann in Vik, a pund's rent in Berg and in Nes in Bjugn, 1 spann in Eid and Grande with 6 spann, with forest, pasture, fields, meadows, water and hunting and fishing places, but without the falcon site at Grande. The archbishop, his successors and the chapter promise to warrant the property against all claims. All ill will between them is to be forgotten, and any new dispute is to go to the Council of the Realm of Norway or common friends.
The letter in modern English
We Olav, by the grace of God Archbishop in Trondheim and legate of the papal see, make known to all that, so that God's wrath, hatred and ill will might be averted and laid down, and good will and friendship might increase, we have now with the advice and consent of our honourable and beloved chapter granted, surrendered and conveyed, and with this our open letter grant, surrender and convey, from St Olav's cathedral, ourselves and our successors as archbishops in Trondheim, to the honourable and well-born lady fru Inger Ottesdatter, widow of Nils Henriksson, God gladden his soul, and her heirs, to own for ever these following farms and property lying on Ørland, to which fru Inger says she has odal letters and a notable claim. It is 2 spann [spann, a land-rent unit] of rent in Opphaug and 1½ spann in Rødestad. Item Hov, which yields 1½ spann. Item in Vik 4 spann. Item a pund's rent in Berg. Item a pund's rent in Nes, which lies in Bjugn. Item a spann's rent in Eid. Item Grande, which yields 6 spann, except the falkeleie [falcon-catching site], which shall remain under St Olav's cathedral, ourselves and our successors as archbishops in Trondheim hereafter unhindered, as it has been until now.
Original text
Wij Oluff mett gudz naade erchebiisp i Trondem och paffuelig sædis legatt gøre witterligt for alle ath paa thet att gudz fortørnilsze haedt oc vuillgie motte affwendis oc nedderleggis och vilgie oc venskaff motthe forøkis tha haffue wii nw mett wort erlig och elskelige cappittels raad och samtycke vntt vplathet och affhenntt och medt thette wort obne breff vnnæ vplathe och affhende vnden sancte Oluffz domkirke oss och waare effterkomende erchebiisper i Trondem och vnder erlig oc velbørdiig
Background
This is the final version of the deed that is also found in a letter dated 22 October, where the seals are missing. The new letter has both seals and adds the warranty and the promise that disputes are to go to the Council of the Realm. According to DN one of the drafts is written in Vincens Lunge's hand, which shows how closely the son-in-law followed the negotiations. To warrant (hjemle) means to guarantee that the buyer keeps the land if anyone else lays claim to it. The formula about forest, pasture and water «til fjells og fjære» means everything that belonged to the farm, from the mountain to the shoreline. The farms on Ørland strengthened fru Inger's estate around Austrått at the same time as she held Giske, before she gave up Giske the following year.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)