Gjørvel tells the tenants to answer to the king
NRR 2, s. 457 f. · 1. mars 1582 · København
What the letter says
On the same day as the deed, 1 March 1582 in Copenhagen, Gjørvel Fadersdatter writes a covering letter to all her tenants and servants who live on or use any of her inherited estate north of the mountains in Norway and in Shetland. She asks them from now on to answer to King Frederick II, his successors and the Crown, and to no one else, with yearly land rent, hospitality dues, fines, carting duty, labour and all other revenue and dues they have given to her and her forefathers from of old.
The letter in modern English
Covering letter which Lady Gjørvel Fadersdatter, widow of Sir Lauge Brahe, has most humbly given His Royal Majesty to all her tenants and servants who live north of the mountains in Norway and in Shetland, that they shall always from now on answer to His Royal Majesty and His Majesty's successors, kings of Denmark and Norway, and the Crown. I, Gjørvel Fadersdatter, widow of the late Sir Lauge Brahe, greet you all, my tenants and servants, whoever you are or may be, or wherever you build and live or have any of my inherited estate in keeping or use north of the mountains in the realm of Norway and in Shetland, eternally with God. I ask you all and bid each of you to see to it that from now on you always answer to the mighty, high-born prince and lord, Lord Frederick the Second, King of Denmark, Norway etc., my most gracious lord and king, and His Majesty's successors, kings of Denmark and Norway, and the Crown. You shall give and render to His Majesty, his successors and the Crown, and to no one else, your yearly land rent, hospitality dues, fines, carting duty, labour and all other revenue and dues that you are used to and obliged to give and render, and have from of old given and rendered to me and my forefathers. By this you may know how to conduct yourselves. Copenhagen, 1 March 1582.
Original text
Følgebrev, som Fru Gyrvild Fadersdatter, Hr. Lauge Brahes Efterleverske, underdanigst haver givet K. Maj. til alle hendes Bønder og Tjenere, som boendes ere nordenfjelds udi Norge, saa og paa Hetland, at de altid herefter skulle svare K. Maj. og Hs. Maj.s Efterkommere, Konninger udi Danmark og Norge, og Kronen. Jeg Gyrvild Fadersdatter, salig Hr. Lauge Brahes Efterleverske, hilser Eder alle mine Bønder og Tjenere, ihvosomhelst I ere eller være kunde, eller ihvor I bygge og bo og noget af mit Ar
Background
A covering letter (følgebrev) accompanied a change of ownership and told the tenant farmers whom they were now to pay. The list of dues shows what owning land in Norway meant in the sixteenth century: land rent was the yearly rent, gjesteri was the duty to house and feed the lord or his men, sakøre were fines for offences, and egt and labour were work duties. The phrase «mig og mine Forfædre» (me and my forefathers) shows that Gjørvel herself saw the estate as a family inheritance. For the farmers of Sunnmøre and Romsdal the change meant that their land rent now went to the king's feudal lord in Bergen.
People: Gjørvel Fadersdatter (Sparre)