Ove Bjelke is to administer Giske fief until it is sold
NRR 9, s. 19 · 31. mai 1648 · København
What the letter says
On the same day, 31 May 1648 in Copenhagen, King Frederick III writes to Ove Bjelke. Giske fief with its lands and property is to be sold according to the land sale to pay part of the debts of the Crown of Norway. Until then Bjelke is to supervise the fief and its tenants and servants, collect the income, render proper accounts every year, and pay the income to the creditors whom Hannibal Sehested directs to him.
The letter in modern English
Ove Bjelke received a letter concerning Giske fief. Frederick III. Our special favour first. On the advice and consideration of the Council of the Realm of Denmark we have found it necessary and advisable, in order to discharge and pay part of the debts of the Crown of Norway, to sell and dispose of Giske fief in our realm of Norway with its lands and property according to the land sale. We therefore ask you to see to the supervision of Giske fief and its tenants and servants, to collect its income and render proper accounts of it and of the fixed and variable revenue every year, until it is sold and disposed of by us and the Crown, and to pay out this revenue and income to the creditors whom Hannibal Sehested etc. directs and assigns to you. Copenhagen, 31 May 1648. In the same way Sir Iver Krabbe at Båhus received a letter to administer the farms of Vrem and Åby in Båhus fief until they can be sold.
Original text
Ove Bjelke fik Brev, Giske Len anlangendes. F. III. V. s. G. t. Eftersom vi med os elskelige Danmarks Riges Raads Raad og Betænkende for nødigt og raadsomt have anseet og eragtet, til en Deel Norges Krones Gjæld at aflægge og betale, Giske Len udi vort Rige Norge med des tilliggendes Gods og Eiendom efter Landkjøbet at selge og afhænde, da bede vi eder og naadigst ville, at I retter eders Leilighed efter med for. Giske Len samt des tilliggendes Bønder og Tjenere Indseende at have, Indkomsten de
Background
Ove Bjelke of Austrått was feudal lord of Bergenhus and later chancellor of Norway. Austrått was Lady Inger's old manor, and the Bjelke family had inherited it through Inger Ottesdatter's descendants. That gives a thread back to the dispute over Giske in the sixteenth century, but the letter itself does not mention it. The arrangement was temporary: Giske was conveyed to Sehested in December 1648.