Settlement over Gjørvel's inheritance from her son Niels
NRR 1, s. 139 f. · ca. 12. oktober 1551 · København
What the letter says
At Copenhagen Castle in the autumn of 1551 Sir Lauge Brahe, on behalf of his wife Gjørvel, and Gregers Ulfstand of Estrup with his co-heirs, the heirs of Sir Truid Ulfstand, receive a letter about the inheritance that was to fall to Gjørvel after her son Niels Ulfstand. A panel of councillors of the realm and knights, appointed by the king and the council, had authority from both parties to divide the inheritance. Truid's heirs produced a letter signed in their father's own hand in which he admitted that it had been against the law to give Gjørvel the estate in Halland as a morning gift, and that he had therefore given all inheritance and property to the children of his first wife Ide Brock. The extract ends here.
The letter in modern English
[End of the preceding letter, the settlement between Lauge Brahe and Lauge Ulfstand:] ... and when that is settled between them, they shall also be friends in all other respects from this day. But any claims they may have against each other concerning inheritance, division or otherwise, they shall pursue by law and justice. Nor shall they be released from their pledge to Erik Banner. If either party dares to act against this with feud or assault, he shall be punished as one who does not keep noble faith, honour and promises. Copenhagen Castle, Monday after St Dionysius' Day (12 October) 1551. [Note in the edition:] Compare the judgment of the king and the Council of the Realm, Copenhagen, Thursday before Michaelmas 1551, by which Sir Lauge Brahe is acquitted of Niels Ulfstand's death. Letter to Sir Lauge Brahe on behalf of his wife and to Gregers Ulfstand of Estrup and his co-heirs, the heirs of Sir Truid Ulfstand. They have been before the king concerning the inheritance and division that should have fallen to Sir Lauge Brahe's wife Lady Gjørvel [Fadersdatter Sparre] after her son Niels Ulfstand. Gregers Ulfstand and the co-heirs reported that their kinsmen and common friends, namely Erik Banner, Marshal of the Realm of Denmark, Sir Anders Bilde, knight, Knud Gyldenstierne, Sir Otto Krumpen, Sir Mogens Gyldenstierne, Sir Peder Skram, knights, Antonius Bryske, Tage Thott, Kla
Original text
... skulle de gjøre gjældende ved Lov og Ret, heller ikke skulle de være fri for sin Haandtastning til Erik Banner. Fordrister nogen af Parterne sig til at handle herimod med Feide eller Overfald, da skal han straffes som den, der ikke holder adelig Tro, Ære og Love. Kjøbenhavns Slot Mandag efter St. Dionysii Dag (12 Oct.) 1551. T. III. 423. Afskr. 86 til 88. [Note:] Jfr. hermed Kongens og Rigsraadets Dom, Kbhvn. Thorsdag før Michaelis 1551, hvorved Hr. Lage Brade frikjendes for Nils Ulfstands
Background
Gjørvel and Truid Ulfstand had a son, Niels, who died in 1548. By law his mother then inherited part of what her son had held, and this set her against Truid's sons from his first marriage. On the same day Lauge Brahe and Lauge Ulfstand were reconciled «i Anledning af Niels Ulfstands Død» (on account of Niels Ulfstand's death), and a note in the edition refers to the judgment in which the king and the Council of the Realm acquitted Brahe of Niels Ulfstand's death. The Ulfstand sons had thus accused Brahe of the killing. A morning gift was a gift from the husband to the bride on the morning after the wedding, and it was her own property. The note on Gjørvel records that the settlement is also printed in Kancelliets Brevbøger 1551 to 55, p. 81 f.
People: Gjørvel Fadersdatter (Sparre)