Gjørvel asks for a final judgment in an incest case
KB 1588 til 92, s. 812 f. · May eller juni 1592 [dato ikke med i utdraget] ·
What the letter says
Gjørvel Fadersdatter, widow of Sir Lauge Brahe, has reported that two men, Jens Hansen and Svend Svendsen, wrote to her that they had found a couple living in incest. They testified to this at the district court, but when the evidence went entirely against them, the district bailiff sentenced them under the recess to be punished on their fingers for false testimony. The case then came before the provincial court, where the provincial judge gave judgment, but not a final one, and not on whether the two witnesses should be punished. She has asked that he be ordered to give a final judgment. The provincial judge Biørn Knudsen is ordered to summon the witnesses, examine the case closely, hear the witnesses on both sides and give final judgment without delay.
The letter in modern English
Missive to Biørn Knudsen. Lady Gjørvel Fadersdatter, widow of Sir Lauge Brahe, has reported that two men, Jens Hansen in Elkier [?] and Svend Svendsen in Surødt [?], have written to her that they had found a couple who have committed incest together. They testified to the same at the Fierre [?] district court and declared they would prove their statement further, but since this testimony went entirely against the men, the district bailiff in Fierre [?] district, under the recess, sentenced them to be punished on their fingers for their false testimony. Since the case has later been brought before the provincial court, they have reported what they testified earlier in the case, and he has also given judgment in it, but not a final one, nor on whether the two witnesses should be punished on the fingers or not, and she has therefore asked that he be ordered to give final judgment in the case. He is ordered to summon the witnesses before him, examine the case closely, diligently hear the witnesses on both sides and then without delay give final judgment in the case.
Original text
Miss. til Biørn Knudsen. Fru Giørel Fadersdatter, Hr. Lave Brahes Enke, har berettet, at to Karle, Jens Hansen i Elkier [?] og Svend Svendsen i Surødt [?], have skrevet til hende, at de havde fundet et Par Folk, der have bedrevet Blodskam sammen; det samme have de vidnet paa Fierre [?] Herredsting og erklæret yderligere at ville bevise deres Udsagn, men da dette Vidnesbyrd er gaaet Karlene fuldstændig imod, har Herredsfogden i Fierre [?] Herred i Henhold til Recessen dømt dem til at straffes paa
Background
Incest, sexual relations between close relatives, was a serious crime under the laws after the Reformation and could be punished by death. The recess was the king's code of law, and punishment «on the fingers» probably meant losing the fingers raised when taking the oath. That the two men wrote to Gjørvel shows that the farmers saw her as their lord and protector. The district is called «Fierre» in the scan, probably a misreading of a district name in Scania. The date is missing from the extract. The letter stands in 1592 between letters from May and 29 June.
People: Gjørvel Fadersdatter (Sparre)