The bailiff of Giske fief receives a life tenancy of Nedre Germenes
NRR 4, s. 242 f. · 5. februar 1608 · København
What the letter says
In Copenhagen on 5 February 1608 Anders Ivarsson, bailiff of Giske fief, receives the king's letter of life tenancy for the farm of Nedre Germenes in Vestnes parish in Romsdal fief. He has leased the farm from Sigvard Beck of Førsløv, the king's treasurer and commander of Giske fief. The life tenancy covers him and his wife as long as she remains a widow, should she outlive him. They are to pay the feudal lord of Giske fief the yearly leidang (naval levy) and land rent according to the rent roll, and the leasehold fee and other dues according to the law of Norway.
The letter in modern English
Anders Ivarsson, bailiff of Giske fief, received His Royal Majesty's letter of life tenancy for a farm called Nedre Germenes [in Vestnes parish in Romsdal fief. He has leased it from Sigvard Beck of Førsløv, His Royal Majesty's treasurer and commander of Giske fief, for himself and his wife, should she outlive him, and as long as she remains in her widowhood, against paying the feudal lord of Giske fief the yearly leidang and land rent according to the rent roll, and the leasehold fee and other dues according to the law of Norway]. Copenhagen, 5 February 1608.
Original text
Anders Ivarssøn, Foged over Giske Len, fik Kgl. Maj.s Livsbrev paa en Gaard, kaldes Nedre Germenes, [i Vestnes Sogn i Romsdals Len, hvilken han har fæstet af Sigvard Beck til Førslev, Kgl. Maj.s Rentemester og Befalingsmand over Giske Len, for sig og sin Hustru, om hun ham overlever, og saalænge hun sidder udi hendes Enkesæde, mod at svare Lensmanden over Giske Len den aarlige Leding og Landskyld efter Jordebogen samt Bygsel og anden Rettighed efter Norges Lov]. Kjøbenhavn 5 Februar 1608. R. III
Background
After 1582 the Giske estate became a fief of its own under the Crown, and the feudal lord was often a senior official in Copenhagen who never came there. Sigvard Beck was the king's treasurer, in effect minister of finance, and the day-to-day running lay with the bailiff. Germenes was one of the farms in Romsdal that belonged to the Giske estate, and it appears in the deed of 1582 and in the list of 1586. A life tenancy gave security: the farm could not be let to others while the man and his widow lived. That the widow was also protected was usual in such letters.