Gjørvel conveys the Giske estate to the king
NRR 2, s. 452 til 457 · 1. mars 1582 · København
What the letter says
In Copenhagen on 1 March 1582 Gjørvel Fadersdatter, widow of Sir Lauge Brahe, issues a deed to King Frederick II for all her inherited estate in Norway north of the mountains and all her estate in Shetland. In return the king has conveyed to her for ever the manor of Verpinge and Verpinge mill in Torna hundred in Scania, and granted her for life Börringe abbey, Froste hundred and three farms belonging to the chapter of Lund. The deed lists the farms with their land rent in Romsdal, Sunnmøre and Voss. Giske itself is entered at 10 våger of fish. Gjørvel declares that neither she nor her heirs have any right in the estate north of the mountains from this day, and promises to warrant it. Nils Kaas, Christoffer Valkendorf and Hans Speigel seal with her.
The letter in modern English
Deed which Lady Gjørvel Fadersdatter [Gyldensparre], widow of Sir Lauge Brahe, has most humbly given His Royal Majesty for all her inherited estate that she has in Norway north of the mountains, and for all her estate in Shetland. I, Gjørvel Fadersdatter, widow of the late Sir Lauge Brahe, declare and make known to all with this my open letter that the most mighty, high-born prince and lord, Lord Frederick the Second, King of Denmark etc., my most gracious lord and king, has always been a gracious lord and king to me and shown me particular favour and grace. His Royal Majesty has now graciously granted, conveyed and made over to me and my heirs as perpetual property His Majesty's and the Crown's manor of Verpinge and Verpinge mill in Scania, lying in Torna hundred, with all the land rent, revenue, property and appurtenances of the manor and mill. Furthermore, out of particular favour and grace and at my most humble request, he has granted, allowed and enfeoffed me with Börringe abbey and the abbey's lands, and with Froste hundred and three farms belonging to the chapter of Lund, two in Verpinge and the third in Önnerup, with all the revenue and appurtenances of the abbey, the hundred and the property, to have, enjoy, use and keep free and quit for my lifetime [...] [From the register of the estate, end of Romsdal:] [...] Bolsøy 4 pund of fish, Tholaas deserted farm 1 våg of f
Original text
Skjødebrev, som Fru Gyrvild Fadersdatter [Gyldensparre], Hr. Lauge Brahes Efterleverske, underdanigst haver givet K. Maj. paa alt hendes Arvegods, som hun haver udi Norge nordenfjelds, saa og paa alt hendes Gods paa Hetland. Jeg Gyrvild Fadersdatter, salig Hr. Lauge Brahes Efterleverske, kjendes og gjør vitterligt for alle med dette mit aabne Brev, at efterdi den stormægtigste høibaarne Fyrste og Herre, Hr. Fredrik den Anden, Danmarks etc. etc., min allernaadigste Herre og Konning, altid haver
Background
With this deed the Giske estate left the family after some 600 years and became Crown land. Gjørvel was then around 70. The exchange gave her a large manor and an abbey with its lands in Scania, close to where she lived. Land rent in Sunnmøre and Romsdal was mostly paid in fish, measured in våger (c. 18 kg) and pund, while the farms in Voss paid in butter, measured in løp and spann. Grain was measured in meler. The list shows how densely the estate lay around Giske, with farms such as Valderøy, Godøy, Alnes, Hareid and Haram. The note on Gjørvel records that four days later she was told to send all the title deeds to the estate to the king. The extract lacks parts of the list, marked [...].
People: Gjørvel Fadersdatter (Sparre)