In a description of the municipal nightwatch’s route through Nidaros it is described how the watchmen should pass along the common between the king’s manor and the house of the Friars Preachers.

Source: Town law of King Magnus Lagabøter for Nidaros (transcript of 1576). The Royal Library, Copenhagen.

Language: Norwegian.

(…) Her segir vm uarðhald þau sem ver eigum: Worder skall wppi medan Jula fridr er. Than skulu hallda ∙vi∙ menn skilrickir, thæir sem huarcki ero røvnndir att tioffnadi ne huinnsku. Tha skall gialckyri thill næffnna medt husbunnda radi. Enn thæir skulu haffua i læigu sine ∙v∙ merckir silffrs aff Bøar manna fe. Skall thæim lucka halfft firir Joll, en hallft tholffthta dag i Jolum. En tha er thæssir ∙vi∙ menn ganga thil warðar, tha skulu thæir hittaz vtt á Øyrum ock ganngi allir samtt vp vm Skaghan. Wicki tha thrir, vt vm Giæilar (…). Enn aðrir ∙iii∙ snui vpp æfftir langstreti oc offuan vm Klemetz kirkiu gardt, ock offuan vm Krock, oc sua vp æfftir Bryggium, ock vp milli Kross kirckiu oc Sopssens, oc vp æfftir lanngstreti, milli Allra Hæilagra kirckio oc Benedictus kirckiu, ock vp æfftir almeninginu[m] milli konongs gardtz, ock prædicara husa, oc vp firir væstann kono[n]gs gardt, thar thil ær thæir møta hinum. Sidann snuiztt vm ock ganngi thæir af nedra ær ader genngo hit øffrø, allt vt thil gardtz Sigurdar suardaga. (…) Sua skulu thæir ock jamnan ganga, oc vm snuaz, thar thil ær dager er, ock ring[i]r af smakirckium. Øpa skulu thæir við huarnn almenning ær ligger vm Bø varum. (…)

English translation:

(…) Here it is said which watch-teams we shall have: Guard shall be kept during Christmas peace. It shall be kept by six honest men, whom have neither been apprehended for theft nor pilfering. They shall be appointed by the prefect with counsel of the burghers. And for salary they shall have 5 marks silver of the town coffers. They shall be paid half before Christmas and half on the twelfth day of Christmas. And when these six men go on guard, then they shall meet out on Ørene and walk in a body up about Skagen. There shall three turn up around Geilene (…). And the other three turn up along Langstreti (:Long Street) and round the cemetery of St. Clement and down by Kroken, and so up along Bryggene (:the Wharf), and up between the Church of the Cross and Sopen, and up along Langstreti, between the Church of All Saints and the Church of St. Benedict, and up along the Alminding (:Common) between the king’s manor and the house of the preachers, and up west of the king’s manor until they meet the others. Then they shall turn, and those who just walked the upper route shall now walk the lower, all the way to Sigurd Svardag’s farm. (…) So they shall walk and turn around until the day is dawning and it rings from the small churches. They shall call at each common which lies in our town. (…)

Comments: The town law of King Magnus Lagabøter of Norway was implemented for Bergen in 1276. Afterwards, it was copied and adjusted to other Norwegian towns, among them Nidaros. The Nidaros version contains the presented nightwatch route, and from the information in this, the route description along with the remaining Nidaros version of the law has been dated to the years just around 1300 (Blom 1974, p. 122). ● Since the priory of the Friars Preachers has not otherwise been located with certainty, the reference in the watch-route offers an important clue to its location. To judge from this, the priory was situated in the southern part of town, to the immediate north of the town residence of the Norwegian king, separated from this by a common, and to the north-east of the cathedral. The suggested spot corresponds with archaeological findings of a medieval church and remnants of a possible cloister (Lunde 1977, pp. 216-218).

Published: Trondhjemske Samlinger vol. 9:2, p. 118.

Literature: Blom 1974.

1301 (21/5)

Cologne

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers adds the new province of Aragonia to the ‘Parisian group’ of provinces, including Dacia, for which elective general chapters are to be declared from the convent in Paris, whereas the new province of Bohemia is added to the ‘Bolognese group’.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis apud Coloniam celebrati anno Domini MCCCI. (…) Item hanc, in capitulo de electione magistri, ubi dicitur, Parisiensis conventus, provincialibus Hyspanie, Provincie, Anglie, Dacie, addatur: et Aragonie. Et hec habet tria capitula. Item hanc, in eodem capitulo, ubi dicitur Bononiensis vero, Ungarie, Romane provincie, regni Cicilie, Polonie, Grecie, Terre sancte, addatur: et Boemie. Et hec habet tria capitula.

Dansk oversættelse:

I Faderens og Sønnens og Helligåndens navn, amen. Akterne af generalkapitlet afholdt i Köln i det Herrens år 1301. (…) Ligeledes til kapitlet om valg af magistre, hvor det siges: “konventet i Paris [indkalder] provincialpriorerne af Hispania, Provincia, Anglia, Dacia,” tilføjes “og Aragonia”. Og dette har tre kapitler [vedtaget]. Ligeledes i samme kapitel, hvor det siges: “fra Bologna [indkaldes] Hungaria, provinsen Romana, Regni Sicilia, Polonia, Grecia, Terra sancta,” tilføjes “og Bohemia”. Og dette har tre kapitler [vedtaget].

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● The two groups had been formed by constitutional decision of the general chapter in 1242 8/6 and after this included in chapter 4 of the Constitutions.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, p. 301.

1298 (25/5) Metz

The above-mentioned addition has its first reading at the general chapter.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis apud Methim celebrati anno Domini MCC nonagesimo VIII. (…) Inchoamus. (…) Item hanc, in capitulo de electione magistri, ubi dicitur, quod Parisiensis: provincialibus Hyspanie, Theotonie, Anglie, Dacie, addatur Aragonie. Item hanc, in eodem capitulo, ubi dicitur, Bononiensis vero Ungarie, Romane provincie, regni Cicilie, Polonie, Grecie, Terre sancte, addatur et Boemie. (…)

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, pp. 287-288.

1300 (29/5) Marseille

The above-mentioned addition has its second reading at the general chapter.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis Massilie celebrati anno Domini MCCC. (…) Item hanc, in capitulo de electione magistri, ubi dicitur, Parisiensis, provincialibus Hyspanie, Provincie, Theotonie, Anglie, et Dacie, addatur Aragonie. Et hec habet ∙ii∙ capitula. Item hanc, in eodem capitulo, ubi dicitur, Bononiensis vero, Ungarie, Romane provincie, regni Cicilie, Polonie, Grecie, Terre sancte, addatur et Boemie. Et hec habet ∙ii∙ capitula.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, p. 295.

1302 (10/6)

Bologna

Province of Dacia

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers absolves Fr. Olavus as prior provincial of Dacia. Furthermore, the province of Dacia is grouped amongh those provinces, which are to pay 1 mark silver to the Order’s secretary at the Curia in Rome.

Sources: A. Acta capitulorum generalium OP. B. Priores prouinciales in prouincia Dacie.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis Bononie celebrati anno Domini MCCCII. (…)

Iste sunt absolutiones. Absolvimus priores provinciales Ungarie, Dacie, Terre sancte. (…) [315]

Item, districte injungimus prioribus provincialibus et eorum vicariis provinciarum inferius contentarum, videlicet, Francie, Theotonie, provincie Provincie, Anglie, Lombardie, Ungarie, ut de qualibet duas marcas argenti. Provincie vero Romane, regni Cicilie, Hyspanie, Aragonie, Polonie, Boemie, Grecie, Dacie; de qualibet unam marcam procuratori ordinis in Romana curia, infra sequens festum nativitatis domini, curent fideliter mittere, vel per securum nuncium assignare. (…) [316]

[Frater Oliverius] (…) priorque fuit in universo annis ∙xix∙, fuitque absolutus ultima vice in generali capitulo Bononie anno Domini MCCCII. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

[Broder Oluf] (…) var [provincial]prior i ialt 19 år, han blev afløst anden gang på generalkapitlet i Bologna i det Herrens år 1302. (…)

Comments: On Fr. Olavus, see 1286. He was replaced as prior provincial by Fr. Petrus (see 1302-08) and spent his last years at the convent in Næstved, where he died in 1308.

Published: A. Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, pp. 315-316. B. Handlingar… , p. 6; Priores prouinciales in prouincia Dacie (online).

1302-08

Convent of Roskilde, Province of Dacia

Fr. Peder of the convent in Roskilde becomes the seventh prior provincial of Dacia in 1302, where he succeeds Fr. Oluf and holds the office for 5½ years, until he is absolved by the general chapter in 1308 and succeeded himself by Fr. Knud.

Source: Bernardi Guidonis Historia.

Language: Latin.

(…) Septimus fuit frater P. de Rusquillis, qui successit fratri Oliuero anno Domini M.ccc.ii, prior prouincialisque fuit annis quinque cum dimidio, fuitque absolutus in generali capitulo Paduano anno Domini M.ccc.viii. Octauus prior prouincialis fuit frater Canutus, qui successit fratri Petro de Rusquillis anno Domini M.ccc.viii. (…)

Comments: On Fr. Petrus, see 1291 22/8.

Published: Handlinger rörande Dominikaner-Provinsen Dacia, p. 6.

Literature: Gallén 1946, pp. 64-65.

1303 (26/5)

Besançon

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers adds the new province of Tolosana to the ‘Parisian group’ of provinces, including Dacia, for which elective general chapters are to be declared from the convent in Paris, just as the province is added to the full list of provinces to take part in such elective chapters.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis apud Bisuncium celebrati anno Domini MCCCIII. (…) Item hanc, in capitulo de electione magistri, ubi dicitur, Parisiensis conventus, provincialibus Hyspanie, Provincie, deleatur Provincie et dicatur provincie Tholosane, Anglie, Dacie, Aragonie, provincie Provincie. Et hec habet ∙iii∙ capitula. Item hanc, in capitulo de electione diffinitorum capituli generalis et provincialis, ubi dicitur, Hyspanie, Provincie, deleatur Provincie et dicatur Tholosane provincie, Francie, Lombardie, Romane provincie, regni Cicilie, Ungarie, Theutonie, Anglie, Grecie, Polonie, Dacie, Jerosolimitane provincie, Aragonie, Boemie, et provincie Provincie. Et hec habet ∙iii∙ capitula.

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● The Parisian group had been formed by constitutional decision of the general chapter in 1242 8/6, with the addition of Bohemia in 1301 21/5. The provinces qualified for participation in elective chapters had been listed by constitutional decision of the general chapter in 1241 19/5, with the addition of Aragonia and Bohemia in 1301. The two measures were included in ch. II:4-5 in the Constitutions of 1256.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, pp. 317-318.

1301 (21/5) Köln

The above-mentioned addition has its first reading at the general chapter.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis apud Coloniam celebrati anno Domini MCCCI. (…) Iste sunt inchoationes. (…) Item hanc, [in capitulo] de electione magistri, ubi dicitur, Parisiensis conventus, provincialibus Hispanie, Provincie, deleatur Provincie et dicatur Tholosane provincie, Anglie, Dacie, Aragonie et provincie Provincie. Item hanc, [in capitulo] de electione diffinitorum generalis et provincialis capituli, ubi dicitur, Hyspanie, Provincie, deleatur Provincie et dicatur Tholosane provincie, Francie, Lombardie, Romane provincie, regni Cicilie, Ungarie, Theotonie, Anglie, Grecie, Polonie, Dacie, Jerosolimitane provincie, Aragonie, Boemie, et provincie Provincie. (…)

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, p. 303.

1302 (10/6) Bologna

The above-mentioned addition has its second reading at the general chapter.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis Bononie celebrati anno Domini MCCCII. (…) Iste sunt approbationes. (…) Item hanc, in capitulo de electione magistri, ubi dicitur, Parisiensis conventus, provincialibus Hispanie, Provincie, deleatur Provincie et dicatur provincie Tholosane, Anglie, Dacie, Aragonie, et provincie Provincie. Et hec habet ·ii· capitula. Item hanc, in capitulo de electione diffinitorum generalis et provincialis capituli, ubi dicitur, Hyspanie, Provincie, deleatur Provincie et dicatur provincie Tholosane, Francie, Lombardie, Romane provincie, regni Cicilie, Ungarie, Teotonie, Anglie, Grecie, Polonie, Dacie, Ierosolymitane provincie, Aragonie, Boemie, et provincie Provincie. Et hec habet ·ii· capitula. (…)

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, p. 312.

1304 10/3

Convents of Helsingborg, Lund, Odense, Ribe, Roskilde, Viborg, Åhus and Århus

Will for Dame Cecilie, widow of Marshal Johannes Kalf, in which she leaves 20 marks denariorum and a golden cross to the Dominican convent situated the closest to her future place of death and in which she wants to be buried; preferably, it appears, the convent of Lund or Ribe. If she is not buried in Lund, the convent here is to receive 6 marks denariorum, and if not in Ribe, this convent should have 5 marks denariorum. Furthermore, she leaves 5 marks denariorum to the Friars Preachers in Viborg, 3 marks denariorum to the friars in Helsingborg, and 1 mark denariorum to each of the convents in Roskilde, Odense and Århus. In addition, 1 mark denariorum is given personally to each of two friars: Fr. Anders, lector of the convent in Åhus, and Fr. Torsten the Elder of the convent in Århus. Finally, the convent of Ribe is given her personal psalterium.

Source: Original document. National Archive of Sweden, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti amen. Ego Cecilia relicta domini. Iohannis Kalf quondam marscalci illustris Danorum Sclauorumque regis. (...) pro remedio anime mee de bonis mihi a deo collatis testamentum meum ordino in hunc modum. Lego in primis pro redempcione crucis ad terram sanctam uiginti marcas denariorum Iutensis monete. Item locum sepulture mee eligo apud fratres predicatores in uiciniori conuentu loco mortis mee in quacumque terra me mori contigerit et eidem conuentui lego uiginti marcas denariorum illius terre et crucem auream quam habeo in qua est lignum domini. (...) Item fratribus predicatoribus Lundis sex marcas denariorum si ibidem sepulta non fuero. Fratribus minoribus ibidem v. marcas denariorum. (...) Item fratribus predicatoribus in Helsingburgh .iii. marcas denariorum. (...) Item fratri Andree lectori ordinis fratrum predicatorum in Aosia .i. marcam denariorum. (...) Fratribus predicatoribus Roskildis .i. marcham. Fratribus minoribus ibidem .i. marcham. (...) Fratribus predicatoribus Otthonie unam marcham. Fratribus minoribus ibidem .i. marcham. denariorum. (...) Item fratribus predicatoribus Ripis .v. marchas denariorum si ibidem sepulta non fuero et psalterium quod dedit mihi dilectus maritus meus siue ibidem sepulta fuero siue non. (...) Fratribus predicatoribus Wibergis quinque marchas denariorum. Fratribus minoribus ibidem .iii. marchas denariorum. (...) Fratribus predicatoribus Arusie unam marcham. fratri Thorstano seniori ibidem .i. marcham. (...) Exequcionem autem huius mee ordinacionis diligenti deliberacione prehabita confecte committo dilecto filio meo Iohanni Kalf decano Lundensi et aliis suis fratribus filiis meis (...). In huius autem ordinacionis et facti euidentiam et confirmacionem pleniorem sigillum meum una cum sigillis dictorum uidelicet Iohannis Kalf filii mei et domini Petri de Eliæryth fratris mei presentibus sunt appensa. Actum anno domini m.ccc.quarto in die beati Gregorii pape.

Comments: Cecilie Nielsdatter (Cecilia filia Nicolai) was of the Scanian Galen family (related to the Hvides) and a daughter of the king’s prefect of Scania, Niels Erlandsen (Nicolaus Erlandi), and thus a niece of the renowned Archbishop Jakob Erlandsen. The mentioned brother is Peder Nielsen (Petrus Nicolai), a landowner with seat in Eljarød in south-eastern Scania. While her felt connection to Lund is obvious, it is difficult to explain her preference for the convent in Ribe. It would appear that she did in fact end her days in Lund or nearby, as her death-day, 27 July 1318, is recorded in the Liber Daticus Lundensis. Dame Cecilie was married to Johannes Kalf, marshal of the former King Erik V Glipping, while her son of the same name was dean at the cathedral chapter of Lund. None of the named friars, Fr. Anders (Andreas) of Åhus or Fr. Torsten the Elder (Thorstanus senioris), are known from other sources.

Published: Erslev, Testamenter... no. 25; Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. II no. 1421; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. V no. 309.

1304 15/6

Toulouse

Province of Dacia

Fr. Petrus de Roskilde represents the Friars Preachers of Dacia as elector at the general chapter in Toulouse, where he takes part in the election of Fr. Aymericus Giliani as master general of the Order. Whereas all provinces henceforth are to establish a studium generale and a studium solemne of their own, the provinces of Dacia, Grecia and Terra Sancta are exempted from this.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis apud Tholosam celebrati anno Domini MCCCIIII.

Sabbato sancto in vigilia penthecostes quod fuit ∙xvii∙ kalendas junii, anno Domini MCCCIIII apud Tholosam congregatis et inclusis in conclavi juxta morem constitutionum electoribus magistri numero ∙xxxvi∙ in tertio scruptino electus est ab eisdem canonice in magistrum ordinis frater Aymericus Placentinus, natione Lombardus, erat autem tunc lector Bononiensis, electus in provincialem Grecie, non tamen elector magistri, sed presens in conventu Tholosano, ∙xxxvii∙ annos habens in ordine, legerat tam in phylosophica quam in theologia, ∙xxiiii∙ annis, ut ipsemet dixit ibidem, priorque fuerat Bononie. Erant autem inter electores provinciales ∙xiii∙ hii videlicet qui sequuntur: Hispanie frater Egidius de Aravalho; Francie frater R[aymundus] Romani, magister in theologia; Romane provincie frater Hugo; Theotonie frater Antonius; Polonie frater Lippoldus; provincie Provincie frater Johannes Vigorosi; Lombardie superioris frater Jacobus vel Quido de Concaneto; provincie Tholosane frater Guillelmus Petri bacallarius; Ungarie frater Aymericus; Dacie frater P[etrus] de Rusquillis; Terre Sancte frater Geraldus Bermundi Petragoricensis; Boemie frater Egidius qui fuerat provincialis annis ∙xxiiii∙; Saxonie frater Aycardus, magister in theologia, non tamen erat confirmatus in die electionis magistri, sed die lune sequenti fuit confirmatus in provincialem a magistro. [1]

Confirmamus has constitutiones. (…) Item hanc. In capitulo de studentibus, ubi dicitur, sex autem provincie, deleatur, et dicatur sic, quelibet autem provincia exceptis Dacie, Grecie et Terre sancte, provideat, ut semper in aliquo conventu ydoneo sit generale studium et sollempne. Et hec habet ·iii· capitula. [2]

Comments: Fr. P. de Rusquillis is most likely identical to the Prior Petrus of the convent in Roskilde, who was elected prior provincial of Dacia in 1302; on him, see 1291 22/8. As provincial, he was hardly connected particularly to Roskilde by anything but his name. ● This was the second change to a measure in ch. II:14 in the Constitutions of 1256 concerning students, stating that in addition to the studium generale in Paris, also the four provinces of Provincia, Lombardia, Teutonia and Anglia were to run such schools; this addition had itself been decided at the general chapter in 1248. At the general chapter in 1291, the measure was changed into six provinces, adding Hispania and Romana. ● The reason for Dacia’s exemption is not said, but probably the province was not found sufficiently equipped with qualified teachers. A studium generale was not established in Dacia until 1505 11/5* with a school at the convent in Västerås, in 1525 3/6* transferred to Roskilde. ● The studium solemne was a provincial school of theology, meant to prepare friars chosen for lector studies before sending them to the studia generalia.

Published: Monumenta ordinis fratrum Praedicatorum historica vol. IV, pp. 1-2 (with note 1).

1302 (10/6) Bologna

The above-mentioned addition to the Constitutions about studia generalia has its first reading at the general chapter.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis Bononie celebrati anno Domini MCCCII. (…) Iste sunt inchoationes. (…) Item hanc, in capitulo de studentibus, ubi dicitur, sex autem provincie etcetera deleatur, et ponatur, quelibet autem provincia, exceptis Dacie, Grecie, Terre sancte, provideat; ut semper in aliquo conventu ydoneo sit generale studium et solempne. (…)

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, p. 314.

1303 (26/5) Besançon

The above-mentioned addition has its second reading at the general chapter.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis apud Bisuncium celebrati anno Domini MCCCIII. (…) Iste sunt approbationes. (…) Item hanc, in capitulo de studentibus, ubi dicitur, sex autem provincie, deleatur totum et dicatur quelibet autem provincia exceptis provinciis Dacie, Grecie, Terre sancte, provideat, ut semper in aliquo conventu ydoneo sit generale studium et solempne. Et hec habet ∙ii∙ capitula. (…)

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, p. 320.

1305 17/7

Sigtuna

Convents of Sigtuna, Skänninge and Strängnäs, Province of Dacia

Fr. Israel Erlandi, prior of the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna, presents to the prior provincial and the provincial chapter to be held in Skänninge the case of his convent against the convent of Strängnäs concerning the right to perform terminario in Stockholm, especially in regard of collecting seal oil at the Stockholm sealbooths. From the convent in Sigtuna is besides Prior Israel mentioned Fr. Bernardus, subprior, Fr. Roricus, Fr. Emundus, Fr. Thorirus, Fr. Boecius, Fr. Andreas and Fr. Johannes; from the convent in Strängnäs Fr. Laurentius, prior, Fr. Mathias ‘Kornhest’, Fr. Magnus and Fr. Ericus.

Source: Original document. The Swedish National Archives, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

Reverendis in Christo patribus, priori provinciali, et diffinitoribus in capitulo provinciali, Skeningie celebrando, frater Israel et conventus Sictuniensis, reverenciam et obedienciam debitam cum saluti. Paternitati vestre dirigimus articulos infrascriptos, de negocio, quod vertitur inter nos et fratres Strengienenses de mendicacione foce. Primus est, quod taberne in quibus foca mendicatur, adiacent et pertinent ville Stokholmensi, et quasi eiusdem ville pars sunt, unde siquis ibidem infirmatur, vel moritur, a sacerdote Stokholmensis ecclesie, visitatur communicatur, et sepelitur in cimiterio ecclesie eiusdem. Item omnis foca, Stokholmis venditur et emitur, sed solummodo in dictis tabernis ∙v∙ sialabodum, quia aliquantulum distant a concursu multitudinis, propter fetorem, foca mensuratur. Secundus est, quod semper habueramus hucusque dictam mendicacionem sine impeticione cuiuslibet, in pacifica possessione, donec frater Laurencius, tunc prior Strengiensis, movit, et misit fratrem Mathiam, dictum Cornhest, jam triennio ibidem mendicare, qui statim prohibitus fuit per priorem Sictunie, tunc, vicarium provincialis, et ad presenciam eius vocatus non venit, excusans se per infirmitatem et defectum navis. Dictum autem locus est in nostro archiepiscopatu, legiferatu, et provincia nostra attundia, non in Surdermannia, in qua est conventus Strengiensis. Reverendus vero pater, prior provincialis, hiis nostris racionibus et consimilibus, Strengienensiumque similiter auditis, et diligenter hincinde (consideratis) ponderatis, ordinavit quod in dictis sialabodum de foca mendicacionem faceremus ea condicione adiecta, quam in littera sua super hoc negocio expressit, donec per judicium provincie, finaliter causa seu questio dicta finiretur, remittens nobis litteram suam, sub sigillo suo, tenorem predictum continentem, quem exibitor presencium lector noster, paternitati vestre presentabit, villas eciam que adiacent parochie dicte Solnø, que sunt similiter in nostro archiepiscopatu, legiferatu, et provincia scilicet attundia, licet ex parte meridionali torrentis Stokholmensis, et ultra sialabodir situate, nostras, et in nostris terminis esse recognoscimus et affirmamus, quamuis interdum villas predictas et ipsi mendicaverant, nostris fratribus, joca illa, quasi exilia et parve (valoris) utilitatis, ad aliquot annos non visitantibus, frater tamen Røricus dicit, et jurat in anima sua, quod ad triginta annos fuit socius fratris Emundi, Sictoniensis, illic mendicantis pluribus annis. Item jurat frater Thorirus, quod frater Bo, et alii de Siktonia multis annis, terminos illos pacifice colverunt. Contigit insuper estate precedenti, venerabilem patrem, dominum archiepiscopum nostrum, cum magistro Andrea preposito, una et domino Birgero, Uplandie legifero, nec non et domino Rødh Kialbrsson, domino Benedicto Boson, aliisque ecclesiasticis et militaribus personis ydoneis, mitti ab illustri rege nostro super quodam negocio, quod vertebatur inter ipsum et dominum Ericum ducem, fratrem suum, de confinio et limitibus inter provincias memoratas, diligenter requisituris. Qui et indagacione rusticorum antiquorum, convicaneorum utriusque provincie, repererunt in ipso confinio scilicet inter Arusboawik et Telgedi, quod est ultra confinium villarum predictarum, petras quasdam, in quas infusi sunt circuli ferrei, futuris seculis, veritatem antiquorum, omnibus ostendentes, ibique majorum et seniorum sagacitate, verum confinium, coram rege nostro et duce, juramentis affirmarent. Supradictis nos racionibus, et approbacionibus confisi, et potissime littera reverendi patris, prioris provincialis, misimus ex more fratres nostros, Andream et Johannem, ad tabernas sepedictas, pro foca ut prius mendicanda, quibus ibidem aliquandiu morantibus, supervenerunt fratres Strengienenses, Magnus et Ericus, asserentes se missos a priore suo et conventu similiter ibidem mendicare, ad quos accessit frater Bernardus, tunc supprior noster, eis ostendens et legens litteram provincialis, qui responderunt se prius talia audivisse, et propter hec nihil facere vel omittere, postea rogavit, et tandem mandavit eis prior noster, frater Israel, tanquam terminorum nostorum invasoribus sub pena precepti, quod desisterent, qui responderunt idem quod prius nos vero videntes illorum pertinaciam, malvimus, non juri sed scandalo cedere, quam contencionibus confusibiliter deservire, ego frater Israel, fratribus nostris mandati i supersedere. Supplicamus igitur humiliter paternitati vestre quatinus, equa lance libretis justiciam, ne compellamur indebite luere, quod honestati, concordie et paci, eciam cum extraneorem irrisione, ei dampno nostro, studuimus providere, valete in Christo. Scriptum anno Domini MCCCV sabbato proximo ante Margarete.

Dansk sammenfatning:

Broder Israel og det menige konvent i Sigtuna hilser ærbødigt de ærværdige fædre, provincialprioren og de befuldmægtigede i det provincialkapitel, der skal afholdes i Skänninge. Konventet i Sigtuna hævder for det første, at boderne, hvor man indsamler sæltran, hører til staden Stockholm og at det kun er i Stockholm, at man handler med sæltran, selvom sælboderne ligger i byens udkant pga. stanken. For det andet har brødrene altid i fred og ro kunnet foretage denne indsamling uden indblanden af andre, indtil prior Lars i Strängnäs sendte broder Mathias “Kornhest” for at indsamle sæltran på samme plads; denne blev derpå forbudt at gøre dette af prioren i Sigtuna, som da var provincialvikar, og Mathias blev stævnet til møde hos prioren, men mødte ikke op. Ifølge Sigtuna-konventet ligger Stockholm i deres bispedømme og i landskabet Attundaland, og ikke i Södermanland, hvori Strängnäs kloster ligger. Endvidere har konventet brev med provisorisk tilladelse fra provincialprioren til at foretage nævnte sæltranindsamling indtil spørgsmålet afgøres ved provincialkapitlets domstol. De hævder endvidere, at de byer, der tilhører Solna sogn, som også ligger inden for nævnte område og landskab, er at betragte som deres og inden for deres grænser, hvilket bekræftes af deres medbroder Rørik, som sammen med broder Emund har indsamlet almisser dér i årevis, samt deres medbroder Thor, som har svoret, at broder Bo med flere fra Sigtuna igennem mange år fredeligt har dyrket dette område. De tager også støtte i en undersøgelse af grænserne imellem nævnte landskaber foretaget på kongens bud af ærkebiskoppen, domprovsten Anders, den upplandske lagmand Birger, og flere andre gejstlige og verdslige, pga. en tvist imellem kongen og hertug Erik, hvorved man har fundet nogle grænsesten. Forsikret ved ovenstående havde konventet i Sigtuna sendt broder Anders og broder Johannes til nævnte boder for ligesom tidligere at indsamle sæltran, men disse var blevet overrasket af Strängnäsbrødrene Magnus og Erik, der sagde, at de var sendt af deres prior og konvent for at gøre det samme. Dette var sket på trods af påtaler og befalinger fra såvel subprior Bernhard og prior Israel i Sigtuna, og derfor bønfalder konventet nu kapitlet om på retfærdig vis at afgøre striden.

Comments: On the front of the letter is written: Priori provinciali et diffinitoribus capituli provincialis Skeningie celebrandi; and below this: Negocium de sialabothum Stokholmis. ● On Fr. Israel Erlandi, see 1281. ● Fr. Laurentius (Lars), prior of the Friars Preachers in Strängnäs, is otherwise unknown. ● Fr. Mathias ‘Kornhest’ (Mats ‘Kornhest’), sent as frater terminarius for the convent in Strängnäs to Stockholm, is otherwise unknown. The byname can be translated to ‘Cornhorse’, perhaps indicating his physical size or that he, as a frater terminarius, was bringing back grain to the convent? ● Fr. Roricus (Rørik) and Fr. Emundus (Emund), friars of the convent in Sigtuna, had allegedly collected alms in Solna parish for years as fratres terminarii for Sigtuna; the wording indicates that Fr. Roricus was quite old in 1305, Fr. Emundus perhaps no longer alive. None of them is otherwise known. ● On Fr. Boecius, see 1286. He too had allegedly ‘through numerous years peacefully taken care’ of the district of the sealbooths and Solna parish. ● On Fr. Thorirus (Thor), see 1280. ● Fr. Andreas (Anders) and Fr. Johannes (Jöns) of the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna, sent as fratres terminarii to the sealbooths in Stockholm, are otherwise unknown. ● Fr. Magnus and Fr. Ericus of the Friars Preachers in Strängnäs were sent as fratres terminarii to the sealbooths in Stockholm. The former is otherwise unknown. Fr. Ericus (Erik) was witness to a testament in 1310. ● On Fr. Bernardus, see 1289. ● The prior provincial of Dacia at this time was Fr. Petrus, see 1291 22/8. ● The provincial chapter held in Skänninge later that same year ruled in favour of the Sigtuna convent. ● The claims that friars from Sigtuna for years had collected alms in Stockholm and Solna parish indicates that terminatio at this time was a well-established institution within the Dominican Order in Dacia. It even suggests that some friars were based for longer periods out in the termini. According to Fr. Israel’s argumentation, the Swedish-Dominican termini by large followed the secular-ecclesiastical and lay border lines of parishes, dioceses and law districts. ● Seal oil was produced from boiled seal blubber and used for candles and various kinds of surface preservation (e.g. for ships, shoes and leather); it was also used as medicine against scurvy. It was an important export article for northern Scandinavia, with Stockholm as the main centre of production and trade; a lot of Scandinavian seal oil was shipped to Lübeck and other Hanseatic cities. The Stockholm seal booths (sialaboðer) were situated south of the city, on the eastern part of Södermalm’s northern shore. The location may reflect the stench mentioned in the letter, which especially came from the fact that oil was easier extracted from blubber, which had been left to rot. Also meat from the seals were cut and sold at the seal booths. Since seals live in the water, they were ecclesiastically classified as fish, and the meat was therefore sanctioned as Lent food (Grandlund 1972; Grandlund 1974; Vollan 1974; Yrwing 1974).

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. II no. 1475.

1305 c. 22/8

Skänninge

Convents of Lund, Ribe, Sigtuna, Skänninge and Strängnäs, Province of Dacia

Fr. Petrus, prior provincial of Dacia, and the provincial chapter held in Skänninge rule in favour of the convent in Sigtuna against the one in Strängnäs in concern of the long-going conflict between them about the right to collect alms in and around Stockholm. Diffinitors provincial of the chapter are Fr. Nicolaus, prior in Skänninge; Fr. Israel, prior in Sigtuna; Fr. Boio, lector in Ribe; and Fr. Vernerus, lector in Lund.

Source: Original document. The Swedish National Archives, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

Omnibus presentes litteras inspecturis, frater Petrus, fratrum ordinis predicatorum in provincia Dacia, prior provincialis, licet indignus, necnon, et fratres Nicholaus prior Skeningensis, Israel, prior Sictuniensis, Boio, lector Ripensis, Vernerus, lector Lundensis, diffinitores capituli provincialis, Skeningie celebrati, salutem in domino sempiternam. Tenore presencium constare volumus evidenter, quod questionem jam pluries ventilatam inter conventus Sictuniensem et Strengenensem de limitatione terminorum circa Stokholm, decidere et litibus finem imponere volentes, ordinamus et diffinimus, quod Sialaboðer et tota parochia Stokholmensis attineat fratribus Sictuniensibus, pleno jure. In cuius rei testimonium sigilla nostra presentibus sunt appensa. Datum Skeningie anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo quinto in nostro capitulo provinciali.

Dansk oversættelse:

Til alle som får dette brev at se: Broder Peder, skønt uværdig provincialprior for ordenen af prædikebrødre i provinsen Dacia, samt brødrene Niels, prior i Skänninge, Israel, prior i Sigtuna, Bøye, lektor i Ribe, Verner, lektor i Lund, diffinitorer ved provincialkapitlet afholdt i Skänninge: hilsen evindelig med Gud. Vi gør vitterligt med dette brev, at vi vil afgøre den allerede mangfoldige gange drøftede tvist imellem konventerne i Sigtuna og Strängnäs om afgrænsningen af terminerne omkring Stockholm og gøre en ende på striden. Derfor fastsætter og bestemmer vi, at sælboderne og hele Stockholms sogn skal tilhøre brødrene i Sigtuna med al ret. Til vidnesbyrd herom er vore segl hængt under dette brev. Givet i Skänninge i det Herrens år 1305 på vort provincialkapitel.

Comments: The letter is only dated to 1305, but from another letter is the provincial chapter known to have taken place around 22 August. ● On Fr. Petrus, see 1291 22/8. ● On Fr. Nicolaus, see 1291 22/8. ● On Fr. Israel Erlandi, see 1281. ● On Fr. Boyo, see 1291 22/8. ● Fr. Vernerus, lector of the Friars Preachers in Lund, is otherwise unknown. ● On the conflict about the terminario in Stockholm, see earlier 1305.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. II no. 1478; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. V no. 380.

1307 (14/5)

Strasbourg

Province of Dacia

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers reprimands the prior provincial of Dacia and the diffinitors of the provincial chapter for having absolved all preachers general (in Dacia) against the Constitutions of the Order; each diffinitor is therefore imposed a penance of three days on bread and water.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis Argentine celebrati anno Domini MCCCVII. (…) Iste sunt penitentie. (…) Item, cum provincialis Dacie et diffinitores in suo provinciali capitulo omnes predicatores generales absolverint contra generalem consuetudinem ordinis approbatam, cuilibet diffinitorum injungimus tres dies in pane et aqua et absolvimus omnes alios per eosdem in eodem capitulo substitutos. (…)

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● The prior provincial of Dacia at this time was Fr. Petrus de Roskilde (1302-1308), see 1291 22/8.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, p. 26.

1307 9/10

Hørsholm

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convents of Holbæk, Næstved, Ribe, Roskilde, Schleswig and Viborg

Will for Cecilie Jonsdatter, in which she leaves 3 marks denariorum to each of the Dominican convents in Roskilde, Ribe and Schleswig, 2 marks denariorum to the Friars Preachers in Viborg and Næstved, and 1 mark denariorum to the Friars Preachers in Holbæk. Furthermore, Fr. Vagn of the convent in Schleswig is personally given 3 marks denariorum. In addition, the Dominican nunnery of St. Agnes in Roskilde is given 5 marks denariorum to the fabrica of the church and a similar amount for the sisters, while one of them, Katrine Mortensdatter, is left 8 marks denariorum and Cecilie’s personal psalterium, which she has already received. Finally, the sisters of St. Agnes are given 20 marks denariorum of the 60 marks that a special friend had asked her to donate for the benefit of his soul.

Source: Transcript in the Esrum Book.

Language: Latin.

(...) ego Cecilia filia domini Jon Ioonsun dicti Litlæ bone memorie (...) de bonis et prediis michi ad deo concessis meum constituo testamentum, in hunc modum. Inprimis omnium lego et confero monasterio Esrom, ubi meam eligo sepulturam, curiam meam quam habeo in Smørem, cum omnibus agris, pratis ac aliis dicte curie adjacentibus et sexaginta marchas denariorum (...). Item ecclesie beati Lucii Roskildis, v marchas denariorum, pauperibus scolaribus ibidem iij marchas denariorum, ecclesie fratrum minorum ibidem v marchas denariorum, conventui ibidem v marchas denariorum, (...) ecclesie fratrum maiorum ibidem ~~iiij~~ iij marchas denariorum, ecclesie beate Agnetis ibidem v marchas denariorum, conventui monialium v marchas, sorori Katerine Martensdotter ibidem viij marchas denariorum, et unum salterium sibi per me concessum. (...) Fratribus predicatoribus in Holæbæk marcham denariorum. (...) Item fratribus minoribus in Nestwæth iij marchas denariorum, fratribus maioribus ibidem ij marchas denariorum. (...) Item fratribus minoribus in Wiburg v marchas denariorum et ad fabricam ecclesie eorum iij pund annone, fratribus majoribus ibidem ij marchas denariorum. (...) fratribus minoribus ibidem [i.e. Ripis] v marchas denariorum, fratribus maioribus ibidem iij marchas denariorum (...). Item in Syndæriwcia ecclesie beati Petri in Hethæby iii marchas denariorum, pauperibus scolaribus ibidem iii marchas denariorum, fratribus maioribus ibidem iij marchas denariorum, fratri Woghn ibidem iij marchas denariorum, (...). Item de lx marchis denariorum Siælandensium michi a quodam amico meo speciali commissis pro anima eius conferendis, lego ad fabricam ecclesie in Slængæthorp xx marchas denariorum, item ecclesie beate Agnetis Roskildis xx marchas denariorum, item ad fabricam ecclesie fratrum minorum Haffnis xx marchas denariorum (...). Ne igitur de presentis testamenti confectione aliqua in posterum possit dubitacio suboriri presentem litteram cum sigillis uenerabilium patrum ac dominorum, Olaui miseracione diuina episcopi Roskildensis, fratris Iohannis abbatis in Æsrom, quos cum instantia peto, necnon et cum sigillis militum predictorum Petri Niclissun, Petri dicti Wæthær, et Nicolai filii mei supradicti, ac meo proprio sigillo feci communiri. (...) Actum Hyrnixholmæ, anno Domini m.ccc.septimo in die beati Dynosisii...

Comments: Cecilie Jonsdatter (Cecilia filia Johannis) was daughter of the Scanian prefect Jon Jonsen Litle (Johannes Johannis) of both the Galen and the Hvide family, who was the king’s confident and leader of the Danish nobility with significant estates on Zealand. Cecilie was married twice, first to a distant cousin of the Hvide family, Tyge Jurisen (Tucho Jurii), who had died as early as 1280, leaving her with five known children to reach adulthood. Secondly, she was married to Peder Ebbesen (Petrus Ebboni), who she also outlived. Both Cecilie and her father Jon seem to have died in the year of the will. She chose the Cistercian Esrum Abbey in north-eastern Zealand for her burial place. Besides this Cistercian connection, it is worth noticing a preference for the Franciscans, as the Franciscan convent in all towns with both orders not only is mentioned before the Dominicans (which is quite unusual in Danish wills), the Friars Minors are also systematically given larger amounts of money. The mentioning of Fr. Vagn of Schleswig does, however, also prove a personal relation to circles within the Dominican environment. Cecilie’s special relation to Sister Katrine Mortensdatter (Catarina filia Martini) of St. Agnes in Roskilde is not known any further. Hørsholm was a demesne and the manorial centre of the family estates in north-eastern Zealand. Hedeby (Hethæby) is the Viking Age name for Schleswig in Southern Jutland (Syndæriwcia). The identity of the special friend, from whom the sisters of St. Agnes received another 20 marks, is unknown.

Published: Codex Esromensis no. 116; Erslev, Testamenter... no. 28; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VI no. 91.

1308 23/5

Roskilde

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convents of Roskilde and Århus

Will for Christine Nielsdatter, widow of Jakob Blåfod, in which she leaves 10 marks denariorum to the Friars Preachers in Århus and 8 marks denariorum to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde. Furthermore, frater Anders of the convent in Århus is personally given 2 marks. In addition, the Dominican nunnery of St Agnes in Roskilde is given 6 marks denariorum in common, while sister Alike the Elder is left 1 mark denariorum.

Source: Original document. Arnamagnæan Collection, University of Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Ego Cristina relicta domini Iacobi dicti Blaphoot (...) de bonis mihi a deo concessis in remedium anime mee testamentum meum condo et ordino in hunc modum. In primis igitur, lego et confero, sororibus apud sanctam Claram Roskildis duas curias meas in Hafnæleuæ, in quibus demorantur, Nicolaus Gris et Petrus Iutæ, apud quas sorores immutabiliter eligo sepeliri. Item pro edificio monasterii dictarum sororum lx marchas denariorum. (...) Item fratribus minoribis Roskildis viii marchas denariorum. Item fratribus predicatoribus ibidem tantum. Item sororibus apud sanctam Agnetem ibidem vi marchas denariorum. Sorori Alikæ maiori ibidem i marcham denariorum. (...) Item fratribus predicatoribus Arus x marchas denariorum . fratri Andree ibidem ii marchas. (...) Ad certitudinem autem et stabilitatem firmiorem sigilla, uenerabilis in Christo patris ac domini O. dei gracia, episcopi Roskildensis, ac honorabilis uiri, domini O. decani, et discreti domini Iohannis Thythæberg canonici Roskildensis, necnon et nobilium dominorum N. dicti Rany et Petri Wæther, cum meo proprio sigillo, huic littere apponi supplico humiliter propter deum. Actum et datum Roskildis presentibus religiosis fratribus, Henrico Stalbug et Bernardo, ac aliis fidedignis, anno domini mcccviii in die ascensionis domini.

Comments: Christine Nielsdatter (Christina filia Nicolai) was a sister of the above-mentioned Dame Cecilie (see 1304.03.10), and thus a daughter of the Scanian prefect Niels Erlandsen (Nicolaus Erlandi) of the Galen family. She was married to Jakob Nielsen Blåfod (Jacobus Nicolai “Bluefoot”), a petty noble of Zealand, who appears to have been among the many Danish nobles accused of being involved in the unsolved murder of King Erik V in 1286, who therefore fled the country as an outlaw and whose estates were confiscated by the Crown. Christine and Jakob had two known daughters, of which Margrethe had joined the Franciscan nunnery of St. Clare in Roskilde, where her mother Christine chose to be buried. The other daughter, Edle, was married to Knight Niels Jonsen Rane (Nicolaus Johannis Rane), who is one of the witnesses mentioned in the will with the initial N. only; at the time of the will, Niels Rane was one of King Erik VI’s closest confidents, but in 1316 he was executed for treason. The initial O. for the bishop and the dean of Roskilde stands for Olavus. As mentioned, Christine chose to be buried with the Franciscan nuns in Roskilde, and her will shows a general preference for Franciscan convents, just as the two fraters mentioned in the end are Friars Minors. Her relation to the Dominican convent of Århus is unknown, and Fr. Anders (Andreas) is not mentioned elsewhere. It would be tempting to identify him with the lector Anders of the Åhus convent mentioned in Christine’s sister’s will of 1304, as the Latin names of Århus and Åhus are easily and often confused, but since the mentioning of the Århus convent is followed by several Franciscan convents in Jutland, it seems unsafe in this case to read Arus as Åhus in Scania.

Published: Erslev, Testamenter... no. 29; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VI no. 126.

1308 (2/6)

Padua

Provinces of Dacia, Grecia, Hungaria, Lombardia inferioris and Teutonia, Convent of Paris (prov. Francia)

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers absolves the priors provincial of Dacia, Teutonia, Grecia, Hungaria and Lombardia inferioris. Furthermore, Fr. Hemmingus of Dacia, who is assigned the studium generale in Paris, is imposed a penance of ten days on bread and water, ten masses and ten disciplinas for having returned to his province without a socius, to be called back to his studies in shame.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Acta capituli generalis in Padua celebrati anno Domini MCCCVIII. (…)

Iste sunt absolutiones. Absolvimus priores provinciales Dacie, Theutonie, Grecie, Ungarie et inferioris Lombardie. (…) [35]

Iste sunt penitentie. (…) Quia frater Emignus de provincia Dacie, deputatus studio Parisiensi, de provincia sua sine socio recessit, ipsum in penam a studio revocamus et damus ei decem dies in pane et aqua, decem missas et decem disciplinas. (…) [36]

Dansk oversættelse:

I Faderens og Sønnens og Helligåndens navn, amen. Akter af generalkapitlet afholdt i Padua i det Herrens år 1308. (…) Dette er afsættelserne: Vi afsætter provincialpriorerne af Dacia, Teutonia, Grecia, Hungaria og Lombardia inferioris. (…) Dette er bodspålæggelserne: (…) Fordi broder Hemming af provinsen Dacia, tilknyttet skolen i Paris, er rejst tilbage til sin provins uden socius [og] kun i skam tilbagekaldt til skolen, og vi giver ham ti dage på brød og vand, ti messer og ti displineringer. (…)

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● The prior provincial of Dacia at this time was Fr. Petrus de Roskilde (1302-1308), see 1291 22/8. ● For the undisciplined friar, who left the studium in Paris to return to Dacia without a socius, two variants of the act have the name forms Hemingus and Eymingus, undoubtedly pointing to the Scandinavian name Hemming. Fr. Hemmingus may be identical to a vicar provincial approached by the Archbishop of Uppsala in 1313 6/6, and/or the Prior Hemmingus of the convent in Västerås known in 1314 12/1.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, pp. 35-36.

1308 (Aug.-Sep.)

Province of Dacia, Convent of Odense

Fr. Canutus of the Friars Preachers in Odense is elected prior provincial of Dacia as successor to Fr. Petrus de Roskilde.

Source: Bernardi Guidonis Historia.

Language: Latin.

Dansk oversættelse:

Den ottende provincialprior var broder Knud, som efterfulgte broder Peder af Roskilde i det Herrens år 1308. (Han døde i Næstved i embedet, som han holdt med ære i næsten 13 år. Han var af konventet i Odense.)

Comments: The notes on Fr. Canutus’ origination from Odense, the duration of his provincial office and the place of his death are only known from an addition to the original list preserved in a manuscript version from Barcelona (Codex Barchionensis); the addition is written with a different hand than the preceding text. ● Fr. Canutus (Knud) apparently came from the convent of Friars Preachers in Odense, when he was elected prior provincial of Dacia in 1312, which probably took place at a provincial chapter around August-September. In 1310, he bought a bible from (or for) the convent in Haderslev, as donated by the King of Norway. He represented his province as elector at the general chapter in Carcassonne in 1312 13/5. On four occasions he acted in cases concerning the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes in Roskilde. He confirmed a combined admission and donation of Lady Cecilia in 1315 20/8; and he received some of the disputed estates of the princesses from Lady Sofie von Regensburg in 1315 28/11, 1316 25/2 and 1317. According to the addition of the chronicle, he died at the convent in Næstved after almost 13 years in office, which points to 1321 as his year of death.

Published: Handlinger rörande Dominikaner-Provinsen Dacia, p. 6; Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum vol. 70, pp. 88-89; Priores prouinciales in prouincia Dacie (online).

1308

Convent of Næstved, Province of Dacia

Fr. Oluf, former prior provincial of Dacia, dies in Næstved.

Source: Bernardi Guidonis Historia.

Language: Latin.

(…) Hic [:frater Oliverius] obiit in Nestvit anno Domini MCCCVIII.

Dansk oversættelse:

(…). Han [dvs. broder Oluf] døde i Næstved i det Herrens år 1308.

Comments: Fr. Oluf (Olavus) was elected prior provincial in 1286 and absolved from office in 1302. It can be assumed from the reference that he spent his last years of retirement at the Dominican convent in Næstved.

Published: Handlinger rörande Dominikaner-Provinsen Dacia, p. 6; Priores prouinciales in prouincia Dacie (online).

1309 16/8

Värnamo

Convent of Sigtuna

Last will and testament for Filip Björnsson in which he wishes to be buried in the priory of the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna, for which the convent is bequeathed with 50 marks denariorum.

Source: Original document. The National Archives of Sweden, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et ffilii et spiritus sancti amen. Ego Philippus Bjornsson sanus mente et corpore, testamentum meum condono et ordino per hunc modum. In primis meam eligo sepulturam apud ffratres predicatores Sictunie quibus lego quinquaginta marcas denariorum. Item quinquaginta marcas denariorum deputo ad distribuendum monasteriis ecclesiis hospitalibus et pauperibus per executores huius testamenti mei pro solucione autem predictorum denariorum deputo unam marcam terre sitam in Grunsø, redimendam per heredes meos inffra annum a tempore obitus mei computendam. Exequtores huius testamenti mei, ffacio Sigmundum Kiældærsson, Magnum Niclis son, Philippum Michaelis filium et dominum Laurencium sacerdotem in Walby. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum meum presentibus est appensum, et sigilla Sigmundi Kiældærsson, Magni Niclisson, Philippi Michaelis ffilio presentibus apponi peto. Actum apud Værnæmo anno Domini MCCCIX inffra octavam asumcionis beate Marie.

Comments: Neither Filip Björnsson nor his location can be identified. He appears to have been a small-scale landowner, probably of rural low nobility.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. II no. 1632.

1312 27/2

Riga

Convents of Tallinn and Visby (prov. Dacia),

Dorpat, Lübeck, Riga, Rostock, Stralsund and Wismar (prov. Saxonia)

Archbishop Friedrich of Riga mediates a settlement between Bishop Hartung of Saaremaa and the city council of Riga concerning the killing of two Riga prelates, Provost Wedekin and Canon Heinrich, according to which the citizens of Riga are to found two altars, one in the Dominican and one in the Franciscan church of Riga, including the cost of a priest serving at the altars. In return, both convents are to organize perpetual masses for the souls of the killed prelates to be said in all churches of the two orders in Livonia, Lübeck, Rostock, Stralsund, Wismar and Visby. Finally, three citizens of Riga are to go on a pilgrimage to Rocamadour in France.

Source: Original document. The State Archives of Latvia, Riga.

Language: Latin.

Frater Fridericus, Dei et apostolice sedis gratia s. Rigensis ecclesie archiepiscopus, universis Christi fidelibus has patentes litteras inspecturis salutem in auctore salutis. Ad notitiam presentium et memoriam futurorum universis notum facimus per presentes, quod venerabilis frater noster in Christo, dominus Hartungus, Osiliensis episcopus, et vasalli Osiliensis ecclesie, pro se ipsis ex parte una, et advocatus, consules et cives civitatis nostre Rigensis ex parte altera, coram nobis personaliter constituti, super mortibus quondam Wedekini prepositi et Henrici canonici Rigensis ecclesie, omniumque aliorum, cum eis olim eadem ecclesia et in Riga tunc temporis occisorum, nec non super omnibus excessibus et singulis atque culpis tunc inibi perpetratis diligentem tractatum habentes, tandem, divina gratia cooperante et mediantibus nobis, ad hanc concordiam devenerunt, quod in ecclesia fratrum minorum unum altare et in ecclesia fratrum predicatorum Rigae aliud altare erigantur, presbiterique ordinentur pro eis, qui in ipsis celebrare debeant, et fraternitates procurent per monasteria totius Livonie, et in civitatibus maritimis, videlicet Lubek, Rostoc, Sundis, Wismaria et Gotlandia, pro animabus dictorum occisorum, nec non tres cives Rigenses ad s. Marie ecclesie de Rupe Amatoris, pro redemtione dictarum animarum destinentur. Et una dictarum partium alteri ad invicem omne jus, omnemque actionem, quod et quae sibi communiter vel divisim ex predictis mortibus et excessibus, vel ipsorum aliquo quoquomodo spectantia seu pertinentia, libere et absolute dimisit pariter et donavit, promittentes ad invicem dicte partes, se de cetero super premissis mortibus et excessibus vel ipsorum aliquo, aut occasione eorum, per se, vel per alios in judicio vel extra nullatenus molestare, nec movere aliquam questionem, sed servare perpetuo omnia et singula suprascripta, et in nulla contra ipsa facere vel venire de jure, vel de facto, occasione aliqua sive causa. In cuius rei testimonium nostrum sigillum presentibus duximus apponendum. Datum Rigae, anno Domini MCCXII, ∙iv∙ calendas martii, pontificatus nostri anno ∙viii∙.

Comments: The redeeming arrangement was apparently implemented, as the convent of Friars Preachers in Lübeck later that same year promised to say the perpetual masses for the said prelates, who were allegedly ‘killed during a riot’, after the convent had been asked to do so by the city council of Riga and paid to do so by the local city council of Lübeck (LEKUB 1. ser. vol. II no. 639).

Published: Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 637.

1312 13/5

Carcassonne

Province of Dacia

Fr. Canutus, prior provincial of the Friars Preachers in Dacia, represents his province as elector at the general chapter in Carcassonne, where he takes part in the election of Fr. Berengarius de Landore as master general of the Order.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Anno Domini MCCCXII tertio ydus maii in vigilia pentecostes in conventu Carcasonne celebrata fuit electio magistri ordinis, fuitque electus in magistrum frater Berengarius de Laudona magister in theologia, oriundus de diocesi Ruthenensi; erat autem tunc prior provincialis provincie Tholosane. Erat autem ∙xlv∙ numero electores, inter quos erant prior provinciales ∙xvii∙ scilicet: Hyspanie frater Lupus; Francie frater Erveus, magister in theologie; Romane provincie frater Philippus; regni Sicilie frater Raynaldus; Theutonie frater Henricus; Polonie frater Peregrinus; Grecie frater P[etrus] Barbois Bitterensis; Aragonie frater Romeus, magister in theologia; Provincie frater Guillelmus de Lauduno; Lombardie superioris frater Barnabas; provincie Tholosane frater Berengarius de Laudona, magister in theologia; Lombardie inferioris frater Corradus; Anglie frater Nicholaus, magister in theologia Oxonie; Dacie frater Canutus; Boemie frater Dislaus; Saxonie frater Johannes de Busco. (…)

Comments: On Fr. Canutus, see 1308.

Published: Monumenta ordinis fratrum Praedicatorum historica vol. IV, p. 56 (with note 2).

After 1312

Convent of Roskilde

Parish priest Peder Brakke of Broby leaves his incumbency to join the convent of Friars Preachers in Roskilde.

Source: Sorø Donation Book.

Language: Latin.

Honorabilis vir dominus Petrus, dictus Brackæ, curatus ecclesiæ Broby, de Fyeneslöfmaglæ oriundus, dedit monasterio spiritu devotionis suæ ad profectum animæ curiam unam in Fyæneslöffmaglæ (…). Qvam qvidem curiam mater ejus Inge antea etiam contulerat donatione testamenti, anno domini mcccxii. Hic Petrus habuit a monasterio pro beneficio donationis hujus qvinqve solidos terræ cum dimidio in villa Broby concessive ad dies suos. Qvi tandem, relictis omnibus, ad fratres ordinis prædicatorum transmigravit Roskildis.

Comments: Peder Brakke (Petrus Brackæ) is only known from this mentioning in the donation book of Sorø Abbey. It is one of the extremely few descriptions of a friar’s pre-Dominican life in Denmark. In consideration of Peder’s social origin, there are indications that he probably came from rather well-off family, at least with status of lower nobility. Indeed, his birth-place of Fjenneslevmagle was seat of one the kingdom’s most wealthy and powerful families in the twelfth century. Both Fjenneslevmagle, the Cistercian Sorø Abbey and Peder’s parochial office of Broby (or Vester Bråby) were situated within in close area of south-western Zealand. Whereas no districts of Dominican terminaring are known for sure in Scandinavia, the priest’s decision to join the convent of Roskilde (instead of e.g. Holbæk, which was located closer by) could perhaps indicate that the south-west Zealandic area of Sorø-Broby was within the district of Roskilde; the fact that the Roskilde convent later on owned a domus terminarie in the nearby town of Slagelse only supports this thesis.

Published: Scriptorum Rerum Danicarum vol. IV, p. 480.

1314 21/4

Tallinn

Convent of Tallinn

Fr. Bernardus, prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, and his convent verify, along with Bishop Henrik, Dean Johann and the cathedral chapter of Tallinn, transcripts of five letters of royal privileges issued by Danish kings for Daugavgrīva Abbey.

Source: Original document. The Swedish National Archives, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

Universis Christi fidelibus presentia inspecturis frater Henricus miseratione divina episcopus Revaliensis, Jo. decanus, totumque capitulum, B. prior, totusque conventus fratrum predicatorum ibidem, salutem in omnium salvatore. Noveritis nos vidisse et diligenter perspexisse litteras domini nostri illustrissimi regis Danorum, non rasas, non abolitas, non cancellatas, nec in aliqua sui parte viciatas, tenores infrascriptos de verbo ad verbum continentes: (…). Et nos in omnium horum evidenciam firmiorem sigilla nostra presentibus duximus apponenda. Datum Revalie, anno Domini MCCCXIIII, dominica secunda post pascha.

Dansk oversættelse:

Broder Henrik, af Guds barmhjertighed biskop af Reval, Johannes, dekan, og hele kapitlet sammesteds, Bernhard, prior, og hele konventet af prædikebrødre sammesteds, til alle troende kristne, der får dette brev at se: Hilsen med alles frelser. I skal vide, at vi har set og omhyggeligt gennemlæst følgende breve udstedt af vor herre, de danskes berømmelige konge, hvilke var uskrabede, ustungne, ufordærvede og ubeskadigede i enhver henseende, ord for ord af nedenstående indhold: (…). Og vi har ladet vore segl hænge under dette brev til urokkeligt vidnesbyrd om alt dette. Givet i Reval i det Herrens år 1314, anden søndag efter påske.

Comments: Only the initial letter B. of the prior’s name is stated in the letter, but from an additional letter of verification issued a month later we are given his full name Bernardus. ● Fr. Bernardus may be identical with the friar of that name, who was transferred to the convent in Tallinn at the provincial chapter in 1291. Together with Dean Johannes, he verified another two transcripts of privileges for the city of Tallinn in May 1314. He had been replaced as prior in Tallinn by Fr. Arnoldus in 1315. ● The verified letters were issued by King Erik V Glipping of Denmark in 1266 4/10 (DD 2. ser. vol. II no. 41) and 1283 25/6 (DD 2. ser. vol. III no. 64), and by King Erik VI Menved of Denmark in 1288 25/6 (DD 2. ser. vol. III no. 302), 1298 3/8 (DD 2. ser. vol. IV no. 323) and 1311 21/3 (DD 2. ser. vol. VI no. 334). ● Daugavgrīva (Dünamunde) Abbey was a Cistercian monastery situated near Riga.

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VII no. 148.

1315 18/1

Fakse Herred

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde?

At the moot of the Herred of Fakse, Fr. Benedictus of the Friars Preachers, on behalf of the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes in Roskilde, receives a deed on two farms in Olstrup from Dame Cecilie, widow of Jens Sjællandsfar the Younger, represented by her son Oluf, for the salvation of the souls of herself and her late husband.

Sources: A. Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen. B. Register of Roskilde St. Agnes Monastery.

Language: A. Latin. B. Danish.

Omnibus presentes litteras audituris et inspecturis, Cecilia relicta domini Iohannis Syælænzfaræ iunioris, salutem in domino sempiternam. Constare uolo uniuersitati uestre per presentes, quod ego in remedium anime mee neconon et dilecti mariti mei dedi et scotari feci per manum filii mei Olaui in manus fratris Benedicti ordinis predicatorum omnia bona mea mobilia et immobilia in Olæfstørp monasterio sancte Agnetis Roskildis, duas uidelicet curias cum omnibus attinenciis suis iure perpetuo possidendas presentibus nobilibus domino Clemente Hærlugh sun Hæmmingo Olæf sun, et Godikæ Friis, et pluribus aliis, accedente ad hoc filiorum meorum uoluntate et consensu. In cuius facti euidenciam presentes litteras, sigillis dominorum Clementis Hærlugh sun, Petri Grubbæ, quoniam filii mei sigilla non habent, una cum sigillo meo feci sigillari. Actum placito Faxæheret anno domini m.ccc.xv sabbato post octauas epiphanie.

B (registration of A):

Ett skiøde breff paa tho gaarde j Olstrup frw Sitzille her Jens Siellandzfars skiøthe broer Bentt paa closters wegne. 1315.

English translation of B:

A deed letter on two farms in Olstrup, which Mrs. Cecilie, Mr. Jens Sjællandsfar’s, conveyed to Fr. Bent on behalf of the monastery. 1315.

Comments: It is not stated to what convent Fr. Benedictus (Bent) was related, but Roskilde seems the most likely. He acted on behalf of the nunnery of St. Agnes again at the ‘landsting’ (the moot of Sjælland) in 1322 10/19, and he is probably identical to the Fr. Benedictus, who held office as Dominican prior in Roskilde in 1327 19/8 and again in 1337 10/1; the first time (once again) acting on behalf of the Dominican sisters at the landsting of Sjælland, the second time as witness for the Bishop of Roskilde. It was probably also he, who as a nameless prior of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde was hired by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii in 1333 4/12 to secretly transport collected papal tax money from Roskilde to Helsingborg, for which he was paid 5 shilling gros tournois for his travel expenses and efforts. Due to warfare in the area, he did not reach Helsingborg in agreed time, however, where he was awaited in vain in 1334 10/1. ● Cecilie Herlugsdatter was daughter of Herlug Erlandsen of the Galen family and thus a niece of Archbishop Jakob Erlandsen. Her husband, Knight Jens Sjællandsfar the Younger (Johannes ‘Zealander’ iunioris), was of a local noble family (Sjællandsfar) in south-eastern Zealand. He had died before 1310. Two of their daughters, Lunde and Cecilie, had joined the convent of St. Agnes in Roskilde around 1310, and in a later letter of 1315, it is stated that their mother now had done the same. ● As the conditions of the gift was somewhat special (Cecilie and her daughters were to enjoy the income of the two farms individually in their lifetime), the agreement was co-approved three days later by the (unnamed) conventual prior of Roskilde, who was also acting as vicar provincial of Dacia. 20 August of the same year, the contract was confirmed by Prior Provincial Canutus of Dacia in Roskilde. ● The Herred of Fakse (provincia Faxæ) consisted of 10 parishes in south-eastern Zealand. The village of Olstrup (Olæfstørp) was situated in one of these, namely Ulse.

Published: A. Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VII no. 246. B. Ældste danske Archivregistraturer vol. IV, p. 282.

1315 21/1

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde, Province of Dacia

The prior of the convent in Roskilde seals, as acting vicar provincial, the conditions of the donation and entry of Dame Cecilie with the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes in Roskilde.

Source: Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Uniuersis presentes litteras inspecturis uel audituris, soror Cecilia priorissa apud sanctam Agnetem Roskildis, totusque conuentus sororum ibidem, salutem in domino sempiternam. Quoniam nobilis domina, Cecilia, relicta domini Iohannis Syælænsfaræ iunioris dedit et scotauit monasterio nostro omnia bona sua in Olefstorp, mobilia et inmobilia, uidelicet duas curias cum omnibus attinenciis suis, nos uicem rependere uolentes pro benefactis, concedimus dicte domine ad dies suos usum predictorum bonorum ut fructus de eisdem leuet ac percipiat secundum suam uoluntatem, hac adiecta condicione, ut curia orientalis pro usu suo sit et post mortem eius libere redeat ad monasterium, curia uero occidentalis cedat in usum filiarum suarum que in monasterio sunt, et post decessum earum nichilominus redeat ad conuentum. In cuius concessionis assecuracionem et firmitatem, sigillis, prioris Roskildensis tunc uicarii prioris prouincialis super locum nostrum, et nostro, et conuentus nostri presentes litteras fecimus roborari. Actum anno domini m.ccc.xv in die beati Agnetis uirginis et martiris.

Comments: The identity of the prior in Roskilde at this time is unknown. It is also unknown why he was acting as vicar provincial. In August the same year, the contract was confirmed by the prior provincial, Fr. Knud (Canutus), who had been acting in the office since 1308. See also the comments to the letter above (1315.01.18).

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VII no. 248.

1315 20/8

Roskilde

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde?, Province of Dacia

Fr. Canutus, prior provincial of Dacia, confirms the above-mentioned contract between Lady Cecilie and the nunnery of St. Agnes in Roskilde.

Source: Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Universis presentes litteras inspecturis frater Kanutus fratrum ordinis predicatorum provincie Dacie prior et servus inutilis, salutem in omium salvatore. Ut firma veritas ac sincera caritas ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei et professionis nostre sollicite conservetur, ordinationem et concessionem factam per priorissam et conventum sororum sancte Agnetis Roskildis de bonis in Olæfsthorp scotatis et datis earundem sororum monasterio per nobilem dominam Ceciliam relictam domini Johannis Syælænsfaræ junioris nunc sororem ordinis ibidem, videlicet ut dicta domina et soror, dictorum bonorum fructus et proventus libere percipiat ad dies suos pro sua suarumque filiarum consolatione et utilitate, tenore presentium, approbo, ratifico et confirmo, cum omnibus determinationibus et circumstanciis, quas littera prefati conuentus noscitur plenius continere. In quorum omnium firmitatem sigillum nostrum presentibus est appensum. Datum Roskildis anno Domini MCCCXV in die beati Bernardi abbatis.

Comments: On Fr. Canutus, prior provincial of Dacia 1308-1321, see 1308. It is unknown why a vicar provincial governed the province in February 1315, but Fr. Canutus might have been either sick or temporarily absolved from office, before he had recovered or was re-elected in August. ● The time of year (20 August) of the letter strongly suggests that the provincial approval was given either during or after the annual provincial chapter, and since the letter is dated in Roskilde, we hereby have an indication of the only known provincial chapter held in Roskilde - which is rather peculiar considering the size and age of the convent. ● On Lady Cecilie and her entry in the nunnery of St. Agnes, see 1315 18/1.

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VII no. 291.

1316 24/3

Ringsted

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde

Dame Christine, daughter of Jens Sjællandsfar the Elder, donates all her estate in Vindinge to the Dominican nunnery of St. Agnes in Roskilde on the condition that half of the annual revenue shall return to her in her lifetime. When she dies, half a main portion of her entire estate shall be given to the fabrica of the nunnery church, except for an annual amount of 2 x 3 marks, which is to be paid each year on her death-day to the sisters of St. Agnes and to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde for the salvation of her soul.

Source: Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Omnibus presens scriptum cernentibus, frater Petrus abbas Ringstadensis, Nicholaus Tuuysun de Hørby, Magnus Syndæsun, Benedictus dictus Billæ, Nicholaus Iønssun, Olauus Niclæssun, Iohannes Niclæssun, salutem in domino, sempiternam. Ueritati uolentes fidele testimonium perhibere presentibus protestamur nos presentes fuisse et uidisse quod nobilis domina Cristina filia domini Iohannis Syalensfaræ senioris in placito generali Syalendie constituta, anno domini m.ccc.xvi. quarta feria post mediam quadragesimam, Petro Thørbænsun filio suo et Andrea Iønssun genero suo presentibus ac consencientibus, dedit et scotauit monasterio sancte Agnetis Roskildis, omnia bona sua in Winniggæ in parochia Swærbyræ in Hammærsheret mobilia et inmobilia, iure perpetuo possidenda tali adiecta condicione quod predicta domina Cristina medietatem reddituum de dictis bonis in solidum cum prefato monasterio, leuaret singulis annis ad dies uite sue. Insuper uoluit et declarauit quod post eius transitum de hoc seculo, medietas porcionis, que eam contingebat, libere cedat monasterio ad fabricam ecclesie ordinanda, hoc excepto quod singulis annis in suo anniuersario de predicta porcione, tres marche, fratribus predicatoribus Roskildis et sororibus apud sanctam Agnetem totidem in remedium anime sue perpetuo diuidantur. In cuius protestacionis firmitatem et certitudinem, siggilla nostra presentibus sunt appensa. Datum Ringstadis anno et die supradictas.

Comments: Christine Jonsdatter (Christina filia Johannis) was daughter of Jens Sjællandsfar the Elder (Johannes ‘Zealander’ senioris), and so of the Sjællandsfar Family from south-eastern Zealand. Furthermore, she was a sister of Jens Sjællandsfar the Younger, whose daughters Lunde and Cecilie, had joined the convent of St. Agnes around 1310, followed by their mother Cecilie in 1315 (see above). Christine too entered the nunnery in 1325. She was a widow of Torben Jensen Galen and mother of the mentioned Peder Torbensen (Petrus Thorberni). “Half a main portion” was the maximum share of one’s estate that anyone in medieval Denmark could leave by will to non-family. Vindinge was a village in Sværdborg Parish, Hammer Herred, in the southern-most part of Zealand. Ringsted is situated in the very centre of Zealand, where it housed a Benedictine abbey (here represented by Abbot Petrus) and the medieval moots of Zealand (‘Sjællands landsting’).

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VII no. 361.

1316 (30/5)

Montpellier

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers proposes a reform of the studia generalia-structure, due to travel distances and since friars of the remote provinces often have problems finding non-studying socii travelling between the same provinces. It is therefore suggested that not only the provinces of Dacia, Grecia and Terra sancta, but also Hispania, Hungaria, Polonia and Bohemia are exempted from maintaining studia generalia, and that the remaining studia are grouped in two regions, to which neighbouring provinces are allowed to send more students; Dacia (along with Hungaria, Grecia and Polonia) is allowed to admit two friars to each studium in the provinces of Lombardia superioris and inferioris, Romana, Regni Sicilia and Teutonia. Furthermore, commemorational prayers are prescribed for a comprehensive list of live lay rulers around Europe, including the kings of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, with one mass by each priest.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Montempessulanum celebrati anno Domini MCCCXVI. (…)

Iste sunt inchoationes. (…) Item, cum pro eo, quod diverse provincie ad generalia studia, Parisiensi excepto, possint unum tantum fratrem mittere pro studente, multa incommoda et dispendia subsequantur, tum quia sic assignatis communiter opportuno tempore socius non occurrit, tum eciam quia studia posita sunt in remotis, fratres accedendo ad illa gravant seipsos et provincias in expensis, inchoamus hanc: in capitulo de studentibus, ubi dicitur: quelibet autem provincia etcetera, dicatur sic: quelibet autem provincia, exceptis Ispanie, Ungarie, Terre sancte, Polonie, Dacie, Grecie et Boemie, provideat, ut semper in conventu aliquo ydoneo sit generale studium et sollempne, et ad illum locum quilibet prior provincialis de diffinitorum capituli provincialis vel maioris partis eorum consilio et assensu potestatem habeat mittendi duos fratres ydoneos ad studendum modo videlicet infrascripto, ut scilicet ad studia provinciarum Lombardie inferioris, Romane provincie, regni Sicilie, Theutonie, superioris Lombardie tantum duos fratres mittere possint ipse nunc nominate provincie et cum eis provincie Ungarie, Grecie, Polonie et Dacie. Ad studia vero provinciarum Tholosane, Anglie, Aragonie, provincie Provincie et Saxonie mittere tantum possint similiter duos fratres, ipse nunc nominate provincie et cum eis provincie Hyspanie, Francie, Terre sancte et Boemie. Quelibet autem provincia divisa mittere possit ∙iiii^or∙ fratres ad studium provincie condivise. (…) [89-90]

Ista sunt suffragia pro vivis. (…) Item, pro dominis regibus Castelle, Sycilie, Portugallie, Ungarie, Boemie, Dacie, Suecie et Norvegie quilibet sacerdos ∙i∙ missam. (…) [97]

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● The reform proposal was not approved by the following chapters and therefore never implemeted. It aimed to ease the described travelling problems derived from the previous reform of 1301-03, where the quota for several provinces (although apparently not for Dacia) were reduced from two to one student at each studium generale (for Paris, though, from three to two). A new system was introduced by the general chapter in 1326, when all provinces were allowed – and indeed obliged – to send two students to each studia generalia of foreign provinces. ● The regents to be commemorated in Scandinavia at the time was King Erik VI Menved of Denmark (1286-1319), King Birger Magnusson of Sweden (1290-1318) and King Håkon V Magnusson of Norway (1299-1319).

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, 89-90 and 97.

Literature: Hinnebusch 1973, 44-45.

1318 22/7

Tønsberg

Convent of Hamburg (prov. of Saxonia)

Fr. Hason, prior of the Friars Preachers in Hamburg, is send as one of three envoys on behalf of the city of Hamburg to Tønsberg to negotiate with King Håkon Magnusson of Norway about Hamburg merchants’ right to operate in his kingdom. The city renounces its claims for compensation against the king for lost prophits, while the king grants Hamburg the same privileges as all other foreigners henceforth.

Source: Transcript from the 16^th century. National Library of Sweden, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

Universis presentes literas inspecturis Haquinus Dei gratia rex Norvegie salutem in Domino sempiternam. Noverint universi quod anno Domini MCCCXVIII undecimo kalendas Augusti, apud castrum Tunsbergense placitavimus cum viris providis et honestis viro religioso fratre Hasone priore fratrum predicatorum civitatis Hamburgensis Ricardo dicto Varck et Godfrido Ypinge consulibus Hamburgensibus nunciis et procuratoribus eiusdem civitatis legitime constitutis super sedatione displicentie quam nos ex justis et verisimilibus conjecturis concepimus contra cives Hamburgenses in hunc modum, quod procuratores antedicti renunciaverunt simpliciter et expresse perpetuo pro se et omnibus concivibus et mercatoribus eiusdem civitatis omnimode emende et satisfactioni pro quibuscumque dampnis et injuriis si qua dictis civitatensibus et ipsis adherentibus per nos et nostros usque ad hec tempora fuerint illata promittentes pro se et suis concivibus fide prestita corporali, quod contra predictam renunciacionem nullo modo veniant verbo facto vel aliquo alio ingenio sed pocius promiserunt nobis et omnibus nostris amicitiam sinceram de cetero observare. Nos vero propter instantiam plurimorum principum ac humilem et instantem supplicationem dictorum procuratorum duorum consulum ac decem aliorum comburgensium eorundem purgationem admisimus pro eorum excusatione sufficienti ipsis Hamburgensibus totam displicentiam nostram dimittentes et rancorem, propter preces venerabilium patrum dominorum Nidrosiensis archiepiscopi ac aliorum prelatorum regni nostri et eosdem Hamburgenses ad pacem et amicitiam nostram recepimus specialem dantes et concedentes eisdem licentiam et facultatem cum mercimoniis suis ad regnum nostrum veniendi, ibidem morandi et de mercimoniis suis et mercaturis more aliorum extraneorum libere disponendi. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum nostrum una cum sigillis venerabilium patrum dominorum Elavi Nidrosiensis archiepiscopi Helgonis Osloensis Audfini Bergensis Botulphi Hamarensis episcoporum presentibus est appensum. Datum loco et die et anno supradictis.

Published: Diplomatarium Norvegicum vol. VI no. 97.

1321 18/6

Florence

Province of Dacia, Convent of Sigtuna

Fr. Laurentius Tyllingensis of the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna represents the province of Dacia as diffinitor at the general chapter in Florence. After the chapter, he co-seals along with the other diffinitors a letter by Master General Herveus Natalis to the entire Order concerning measures taken against discrepance with the movement of ‘Spirituals’ within the Order, especially present in the province of Romana.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

Volumus et ordinamus, quod diffinitores anni presentis et socii eorumdem cum pueris in redeundo de capitulo generali bene et curialiter recipiantur, caritative tractentur et secundum facultatem conventuum melius procurentur. Noverint universi presentes literas inspecturi, quod nos frater Herveus, magister ordinis fratrum predicatorum, Petrus de Palude, magister in theologia, diffinitor Francie, Recuperus de Guardavalle Senensis, diffinitor provincie Romane, Stephanus diffinitor Polonie, Benedictus de Pesculo, inquisitor, diffinitor regni Sicilie, Philippus de Cumis diffinitor Lombardie superioris, Gulielmus de Ebruton, magister in theologia, diffinitor Anglie, Bernardus de Pino diffinitor Aragonie, Henricus de Grunic diffinitor Theutonie, Benedictus de Vaccia diffinitor Hungarie, Rogerius de Marcia diffinitor Lombardie inferioris, Gienisius de Bruna diffinitor Bohemie, Gulielmus Dulcini de monte Albano diffinitor provincie Tholosane, Corradus de Albersthat diffinitor Saxonie, Laurencius Tyllingensis de conventu Sictuniensi diffinitor Dacie, Nicholaus de Creta diffinitor Grecie, et Petrus Lamberti lector Montispessulani diffinitor provincie Provincie, auditis et etiam receptis in scriptis delacionibus contra fratres aliquos de Romana provincia, qui spirituales ab aliquibus vocabantur, diligenti prius inquisitione premissa, examinando delatos per sententiam excommunicationis et per preceptum et etiam juramentum, non invenimus in predictis esse probatum contra eos aliquid contra fidem seu etiam bonos mores, nec etiam in eis invenimus singularitatem vite fundatam in aliqua heresi vel errore. Volentes igitur finem ponere in predictis et quos non invenimus nocentes per aliquod contra eos probatum seu etiam confessatum, salvare et excusare, ut de jure tenemur, ac in posterum precavere, ne in nostro ordine et maxime in Romana provincia de predictis et circa predicta aliqua scandala oriantur, fecimus, que sequuntur: Primo determinamus omnes nemine discrepante et ex conscientia et de jure nichil esse probatum contra eos, qui spirituales vocantur, seu confessatum per eos contra fidem et bonos mores et contra singularitatem vite in aliquo errore seu secta fundatam; Secundo publice inhibemus et districtius, ne aliquis frater singularitatem habeat in modo vivendi, que de se induceret in scandalum vel errorem, et nullus frater singularis in orationibus sive abstinentiis et modo vivendi quantumcumque etiam virtuoso alios pro secta et colligatione fienda ad se trahere audeat quoquomodo, et penas imponimus contrarium facientibus valde graves; Tercio prohibemus districte sub penis determinatis et gravibus, ne aliquis ex proposito vel deliberatione et ex certa scientia fratrem aliquem vel aliquos in communi spirituales vel de spiritu seu etiam spigolistas vel quovis nomine significante sectam vel colligantiam singularem appellare presumat. In horum autem omnium firmitatem et robur ego frater Herveus, magister ordinis, presentes literas sigilli nostri et sigillorum omnium predictorum diffinitorum feci munimine roborari. Datum Florencie post capitulum generale anno Domini MCCCXXI die ∙xviii^a∙ junii.

Comments: Fr. Laurentius Tyllingensis is not known with certainty from any other sources. His byname suggests a connection to Tillinge (Tillinge parish, diocese of Uppsala) near Enköping, about 40 km west of Sigtuna. Gallén identified him with a canon secular, Magister Laurentius, acting at the cathedral chapter of Uppsala from 1289-1302, after which he was supposed to have joined the Order, but the thesis seems rather unfounded; if Gallén is right, though, Tillinge probably referred to Laurentius’ prebend while a canon (Gallén 1946, 111 with note 49). ● The ‘Spirituals’ of the Dominican Order was closely related to a contemporary reform movement in the Franciscan Order, which at this time was particularly strong in Tuscany and eventually led to a permanent division of the Friars Minor. In both orders, the Spirituals promoted a more strict observance to what they interpreted as the original essence of the ideas of their founding masters. For the Friars Preachers, the Spiritual discussion had begun in the province of Romana in late thirteenth century, but was apparently settled at a provincial chapter in Todi in 1319 with three conclusive decrees: 1. The thoughts and acts of the zealous friars (the Spirituals) were recognized as fully legitimate and non-heretical; 2. For the sake of continued unity and concord, controversial points should no longer be discussed publicly; and 3. The term ‘Spirituals’ was no longer permitted used on or by Friars Preachers as it engendered discord within the Order. It was these three decrees of Todi that the master general confirmed with his letter after the general chapter in 1321.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, pp. 136-138.

1320-21

Province of Dacia, Convents of Næstved and Roskilde

Fr. Canutus, prior provincial of the Friars Preachers in Dacia, dies in office in Næstved. Fr. Wernerus of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde is elected new prior provincial.

Source: Bernardi Guidonis Historia.

Language: Latin.

Octavus prior provincialis fuit frater Canutus, qui successit fratri Petro de Rusquillis anno Domini MCCCVIII. (Hic obiit Nesvik in officio quod tenuit gloriose fere tredecim annis (…). Nonus fuit frater Wernerus de Roskildis qui tenuit officium septem annis fuitque absolutus in capitulo Pirpiniano anno Domini MCCCXXVIII. (...).)

Dansk oversættelse:

Den ottende provincialprior var broder Knud, som efterfulgte broder Peder af Roskilde i det Herrens år 1308. (Han døde i Næstved i embedet, som han holdt med ære i næsten 13 år (…). Den niende var broder Verner af Roskilde, som holdt embedet i syv år og blev afløst på generalkapitlet i Perpignan i det Herrens år 1328.

Comments: The notes the duration of his provincial office and the place of his death are only known from an addition to the original list preserved in a manuscript version from Barcelona (Codex Barchionensis); the addition is written with a different hand than the preceding text. ● The year is not explicitly dated. According to the chronicle, Fr. Canutus was elected in 1308 and held office for almost 13 years, and his successor was absolved at the general chapter in Perpignan in 1328 after seven years of service; thus, this would both point to 1321. However, the general chapter of Perpignan, where an unnamed provincial of Dacia was indeed absolved, took place in 1327, not in 1328, so the preceding change of provincial may just as well have occurred in 1320. ● On Fr. Canutus, see 1308. ● Fr. Wernerus (Verner) is not mentioned by name in any other sources. He seems to have been at the general chapter in Vienna in 1322, since the following chapter in 1323 (15/5) absolved the prior of the convent in Cologne, who allegedly had given the Dacian provincial a poor reception on his journey home from the chapter. Fr. Wernerus himself was absolved from provincial office by the general chapter in 1327 (31/5), along with two other provincials and without any explicit reason. According to the chronicle, he died shortly after (perhaps in 1328) and was buried with the convent in Åhus; this suggests that he may have asked for his absolution himself due to poor health.

Published: Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum vol. 70, pp. 88-89; Priores prouinciales in prouincia Dacie (online).

1322 10/6

Roskilde

Convent of Roskilde

Prior Johannes and the convent of Friars Preachers in Roskilde together with Provost Skjalm and the cathedral chapter of Roskilde act as witnesses in certified copy of a papal letter to the Franciscan sisters of St. Clare.

Source: Original document. Arnamagnæan Collection, University of Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Omnibus presens scriptum cernentibus, Skelmerus prepositus Roskildensis, totumque capitulum canonicorum ibidem, frater Iohannes prior fratrum predicatorum Roskildensium, ac conuentus eorundem ibidem, salutem in domino Iesu Christo. Nouerint uniuersi, nos litteras sanctissimi patris domini Bonifacii octaui felicis memorie, non cancellatas, non rasas, non abolitas, nec in aliqua parte sui suspectas uel uiciatas, sub uera bulla, et filo de serico uidisse, tenorem infra scriptum de uerbo ad uerbum continentes: Bonifacius episcopo (...). In cuius rei testimomium sigilla nostra presentibus sunt appensa. Datum Roskildis anno domini millesimo.ccc.xx.secundo quarta feria proxima post dominicam sancte trinitatis.

Comments: This is the only mentioning of Fr. Johannes as prior of the convent in Roskilde. His identity is unknown, but he might be identical with the Fr. Johannes de Dacia, who became penitentiary in Avignon in 1324, and later returned to Roskilde as Bishop Johannes Nyborg (†1344) in 1330 15/6; certainly, the priorate was occupied by Fr. Bent (Benedictus) in 1327. An alternative possibility is Fr. Johannes Albus, known as lector of the Roskilde convent in 1325, who was appointed vicar general for the province of Dacia by the general chapter in 1327. The certification to the Franciscan nunnery was of a papal bull from 1296. There is no immediate reason as to why the friars performed this favour to the Franciscan nuns. Provost Skjalm Pedersen (Skelmerus Petri) is known as provost in Roskilde from 1315 till his death in 1331. Otherwise, not much can be said about him, but his first name might indicate a relation to the Hvide family. In the cathedral chapter of Roskilde, the provost ranked second after the dean, but since the old bishop had recently died, and the dean (Johannes Hind) had been elected new bishop the same Spring, a new dean had not been chosen at this time.

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VIII no. 420.

1322 19/10

Ringsted

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde?

On behalf of the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes in Roskilde, Fr. Bent of the Friars Preachers receives a deed on property in Ølsemagle and Lyngby from Mrs. Edel, widow of Niels Tinde, as dowry for her daughter’s entry in the nunnery.

Source: A. Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen. B. Register of Roskilde St. Agnes Monastery.

Language: A. Latin. B. Danish.

Omnibus presens scriptum cernentibus. Nicholaus dictus Sweyn, Nicholaus Jønæssun, Magnus dictus Toddæ, Iacobus dictus Hafwræ, Nicholaus Grybby, Petrus Geræthsun, salutem in domino sempiternam. Notum facimus uniuersis tam presentibus quam futuris, nos presentes fuisse quod anno domini m.ccc.xx.ii domina Hætlæ relicta Nicholai dicti Tindæ, presencialiter constituta in placito Syalendie generali in crastino Luce ewangeliste scotari fecit per manum filii sui Heninnggi Tuuæsun, fratre Benedicto scotacionem recipiente, monasterio sancte Agnetis Roskildis racione recepcionis filie sue ad ordinem sororum in loco supradicto dimidium bool in censu terre in Olsyæ Maglæ, et octo solidos terre in censu in Lungby in Flackæbyershæræth cum domibus, fructibus, ac omnibus aliis mobilibus et inmobilibus pertinentibus ad bona predicta, iure perpetuo possidenda, ita tamen quod filia sua, fructus et prouentus de bonis in Lungby, pro usibus suis diebus uite sue leuet postmodum monasterium sororum predictarum ut tenetur. Promisit insuper domina predicta bona memorata, monasterio predicto, conseruare, ab inpeticione cuiuslibet, quousque sorores dicti loci in possessione debita, secura et consueta, fuerint, secundum leges patrie ad hoc constitutas. In cuius rei testimonium siggilla nostra presentibus sunt appensa. Datum anno et die supradictis.

B (registration of A):

Ett breff, att fru Hettle, Niels Tyndes efftherleffuerske haffuer befalitt hindis søn Hening Tyndeszen att schøde broder Bentt ett halfftt boell j Öllszemagle och otte skelling jord j Lundby j Flackebiergs herritt paa hinders datters wegne, som gaffs j closter. 1322.

English translation of B:

A letter that Mrs. Edel, widow of Niels Tinde, have instructed her son Henning Tindesen to deed Fr. Bent half a bol in Ølsemagle and 8 shilling land in Lundby in Flakkebjerg Herred on behalf of her daughter, who was given in monastery. 1322.

Comments: Fr. Bent (Benedictus) also acted on behalf of the sisters in 1315 18/1 (see comment here). The conveyance took place at the ‘landsting’ of Zealand with thingstead in Ringsted. The donating family is not known otherwise, but appears to be of Zealandic petty nobility. Ølsemagle (Olsyæ Maglæ) is a parochial village in Ramsø Herred, eastern Zealand, while Lyngby (Lungby) was a village in Eggeslevmagle Parish, Flakkebjerg Herred in south-western Zealand. A bol constituted what was considered a full-sized farm.

Published: A. Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. VIII no. 450. B. Ældste danske Archivregistraturer vol. IV, p. 288.

1323 (15/5)

Barcelona

Province of Dacia, Convent of Cologne (prov. Teutonia)

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers absolves Fr. Jacobus de Buscho, prior of the convent in Cologne, because of poor reception and irreverent treatment of the prior provincial of Dacia on his return journey from the preceding general chapter in Vienna.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Barchinonam celebrati anno Domini MCCCXXIII. (…) Iste sunt penitentie. Quoniam fratres Jacobus de Buscho, prior Coloniensis de provincia Theutonie, priorem provincialem Dacie redeuntem de capitulo preterito Viennensi male recepit et irreverenter tractavit, eum a suo officio in penam absolvimus. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

I Faderens og Sønnens og Helligåndens navn, amen. Dette er akterne af generalkapitlet afholdt i Barcelona i det Herrens år 1323. (…) Dette er afstraffelserne: Eftersom broder Jakob de Buscho, prior af Köln i provinsen Teutonia, lod provincialprioren af Dacia på tilbagevejen fra det forudgående kapitel i Wien blive dårligt modtaget og respektløst behandlet, afsætter vi ham som straf fra hans embede. (…)

Comments: The prior provincial of Dacia at the time was most likely Fr. Wernerus, who had been elected for office in 1320-21. ● The previous general chapter, which the prior provincial had attended, was held in Vienna around pentecost 1322.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, p. 149.

1323 15/8

Convent of Holbæk

The church of the Friars Preachers in Holbæk, raised by King Christoffer II of Denmark, is consecrated by Bishop Niels of Børglum.

Source: Annales Petri Olavi.

Language: Latin.

1323. Ecclesia fratrum predicatorum in Holbeck edificata est per Christoforum regem, et concecrata est per Nicolaum episcopum Burglanensem in festo assumptionis beatis virginis.

Dansk oversættelse:

Prædikebrødrenes kirke i Holbæk bliver opført af kong Christoffer og bliver indviet af biskop Niels af Børglum på Jomfru Marias himmelfartsdag.

Comments: The entry suggests that the construction of the priory church was at least partially funded by King Christoffer II of Denmark, making it one of only two instances of royal involvement with Dominican convent foundations in Denmark. Christoffer did, however, have special relations to Holbæk, where he from 1297 at the latest was installed as royal chieftain and fief-holder at Holbæk Castle. He became king in 1320, when his brother Erik IV Menved died childless. Thus, the funding initiative must have been made in his time as local lord, not as king of Denmark. ● The reason that the church was consecrated by Bishop Niels of Børglum (the diocese of northern Jylland) and not its ‘own’ bishop of Roskilde is that the latter, Johannes Hind, at this time was living in exile due to a conflict with the king. In addition, Bishop Niels was a very good friend of the Order of Preachers, and he himself decided to join the Order in 1328. ● The patron saint of the Dominican priory and church in Holbæk is not known, but since the church was consecrated on the Day of Assumption of the Holy Virgin, it is plausible that she was among its main patrons. ● Since the convent in Holbæk was established in 1275, it has traditionally been suggested that the church of 1323 replaced one destroyed by the fire in 1287, but the entry for this year only states that the friars’ domus in Holbæk burned down, it says nothing about any church. Thus, it is quite likely that this was indeed the first priory church of the Friars Preachers in Holbæk.

Published: Scriptores Rerum Danicarum vol. I, p. 190; Annales Danici, p. 210.

Literature: Jakobsen 2003.

1323 2/10

Vilnius

Convents of Tallinn (prov. Dacia) and Riga (prov. Saxonia)

Fr. Arnoldus, prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, and Fr. Wessellus, prior of the Friars Preachers in Riga, are representing the royal Danish sheriff in Tallinn and the city of Riga respectively at the peace negotiations in Vilnius with King Gediminas of Lithuania.

Sources: A. Original document. The State Archives of Latvia, Riga. B-C. Transcript in papal confirmation of 1324 31/8. Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Königsberg.

Languages: A. German. B-C. Latin.

Alle de gene, de dessen breff ansen und horen, de latet groten de baden der landesheren und der stede, de to Liflande und to Estlande und to Curlande sint, de van den sulven heren und steden sant sint to Gedeminnen, deme koninge van Lettowen, und vunscet en heil und frede in Gode. Wi boden, herr Arnolt Stoyve, de in des bischoppes stede is van der Rige an gestliken saken (…); van des hovetmannes wegene des edelen koninges van Denemarken und siner menen man, broder Arnolt, de prior van Revele und her Hinric van Parenbeke; (…) van der stades wegene van der Rige her Hinric van der Mothowe, her Johan Langeside, her Ernest, van dersulven stad, broder Wessel, prior der predikere, van der minnerbroder wegene broder Albrecht Sluc: Wi hebben met desseme vorbenomenden koninge Gedeminnen enen steten vrede gemaket und met allen sinen luden, de unde eme beseten sint, vor alle kerstene lude, de ere boden to eme senden und vrede met eme holden willet, dar wil he gerne vrede mede hebben in aldussdaniker wise: (…) Desse bref is utgegeven uppe deme hus thor Vilne, na unses Heren bort dusent jar dre hundert jar in deme dre und tvintegesten jare, des sunnendages na sunte Micheles dage.

Dansk oversættelse:

Alle dem, der ser dette brev eller hører det læse, hilses af udsendingene fra landsherren og stæderne i Livland, Estland og Kurland, som er sendt af den samme herre og de samme stæder til Gedemin, Litauens konge, og ønsker dem helse og fred med Gud. Vi udsendinge, hr. Arnold Stoyve, som er biskoppen af Rigas stedfortræder i gejstlige sager (...); på vegne af den ædle konge af Danmarks høvedsmand og hans menige mænd, broder Arnold, prior i Reval, og hr. Henrik af Parenbeke; på staden Rigas vegne hr. Heinrich von Mithowe, hr. Johann Langeside, hr. Ernst, af den samme stad, broder Wessel, prior for prædikanterne, på de små brødres vegne broder Albrecht Slut: Vi har med denne fornævnte kong Gedemin og med alle hans mænd, som bor og bygger under ham, sluttet en varig fred for alle kristne, som sender deres udsendinge til ham og vil holde fred med ham og med hvilke han gerne vil holde fred på følgende måde: (...) Til vidnesbyrd om disse fornævnte ting og til stadfæstelse af en varig fred har vi alle hængt vore segl under dette brev. Dette brev er givet i borgen i Vilnius i år 1323 efter Vorherres fødsel på søndagen efter Skt. Mikkelsdag.

Omnibus presens scriptum visuris vel audituris Arnoldus Stoyve venerabilis in Christo patris ac domini, domini Friderici, Dei et apostolice sedis gratia sacrosancte Rigensis ecclesie archiepiscopi, in spiritualibus vicarius generalis (…); frater Arnoldus, prior fratrum predicatorum in Revalia, Hinricus miles de Parenbeke, vasallus excellentissimi principis regis Dacie; (…) dominus Hinricus de Mithowia, Johannes Langleside, Ernestus Dives, consules civitatis Rigensis, frater Wesellus, prior predicatorum, frater Albertus Slut de ordine minorum, salutem in Domino sempiternam. Noverint universi presentium inspectores, quod nos prenominati nuntii, nuper ad magnificum principem Godemundum, Lethowinorum regem, cum plena potestate faciendi et dimittendi, missi, cum ipso rege et suis, pro omnibus hominibus Christianis, qui suos nuntios ad nos diriguntur et pacem nobiscum tenere intendunt, inivimus pacem stabilem atque firmam, conditione subscripta: (…). Datum in castro nostro Vilna, anno Domini MCCCXXIII dominica proxima post festum beati Michaelis.

Omnibus has litteras visuris vel audituris Gedeminus Lethowinorum rex pacem in Domino et salutem. Universis notum facimus per presentes, quod secundum nostras litteras venerunt ad presentiam nostram nuntii dominorum terrarum Livonie et Estonie: (…) ex parte capitanei nobilissimi regis Dacie et vasallorum suorum frater Arnoldus, prior predicatorum in Revalia, et Hinricus miles de Parenbeke; (…) ex parte civitatis Rigensis domini Hinricus de Mithowia, Johannes Langleside, Ernestus Dives, frater Wessellus, prior predicatorum, et frater Albertus Slut ex parte minorum. (…) Datum in castro nostro Vilna, anno Domini MCCCXXIII dominica proxima post festum beati Michaelis.

Dansk oversættelse:

Gedemin, konge af Litauen, til alle, der ser dette brev eller hører det læse: Fred og hilsen med Gud. Vi gør vitterligt for alle med dette brev, at i medfør af vort brev fremmødte følgende sendebud for os fra herrerne af Livland og Estland: (…) for Danmarks højbårne konges høvedsmand og hans vasaller broder Arnold, prior for prædikanterne i Reval, og ridder Henrik af Parenbeke; (…) på vegne af staden Riga hr. Heinrich Mithowe, Johann Langeside, Ernst Dive, broder Wessel, prædikanternes prior, og broder Albrecht Slut på vegne af de små brødre. (…) Givet på vor borg Vilnius i det Herrens år 1323 på søndagen efter Skt. Mikkelsdag.

Comments: The peace treaty was confirmed by Pope John XXII in 1324 31/8 (LEKUB 1. ser. vol. II no. 707), from which the transcripts of B and C are preserved. ● Fr. Arnoldus is known as prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn since 1315. ● The Danish king of the time was Christoffer II (1320-1326 and 1329-1332).

Published: A. Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. IX no. 67. A-B. Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 694. C. Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 693; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. IX no. 68.

1324 (3/6)

Bordeaux

Provinces of Dacia and Regni Sicilia

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers prescribes commemorational prayers for Fr. Andreas, diffinitor of the province of Regni Sicilia, who died on his way home from the preceding chapter in Barcelona, and for the diffinitor of the province of Dacia, who has died on his way to the present chapter in Bordeaux.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Burdigalam celebrati anno Domini MCCCXXIIII. (…) Ista sunt suffragia (…) Pro defunctis viginti. Notum facimus fratribus universis, quod frater Andreas diffinitor pro provincia regni Sicilie, rediens de capitulo generali Barcinone celebrato, mortuus fuit in via. Item, notum facimus, quod diffinitor pro provincia Dacie, veniens Burdigalam ad capitulum generale, mortuus est in via. (…)

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● It is unknown who the deceased diffinitor of Dacia was.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, p. 154.

1325 7/4

Roskilde

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde

Fr. Johannes, lector of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde, attests to have witnessed Christine Jonsdatter Sjællandsfar make the vow to the prioress of the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes in Roskilde, after which she took the veil. This took place during the sisters’ Easter Mass. Fr. Nicolaus Michaelis celebrated the Mass.

Source: Transcripts in Bartholin’s Collectanea and at The Royal Library, Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Uniuersis presentes litteras inspecturis frater Iohannes lector fratrum predicatorum Roskildis et Margareta relicta nobilis uiri domini Henrici Albært sen dicta de Thythæbiærgh salutem in domino sempiternam. Ueritati uolentes testimonium perhibere notum facimus et in uerbo ueritatis presentibus protestamur sororem Christinam filiam Iohannis Siælænzfæræ senioris anno domini m.ccc.xx.v. die sancto pasche in missa conuentuali sororum sancte Agnetis post Credo in nostra presentia, sollempnem professionem fecisse in manus priorisse, et uelem quod profitentibus sororibus dari solet in signum perpetue firmitatis deuote et humiliter accepisse. Huic autem sollempni professioni, omnes sorores interfuerunt cum multis aliis secularibus mulieribus et puellis, scilicet domicella Cecilia filia domini Henrici Albærtsen, domicella Ingiærth filia domini Iacobi Niclæssen, et filia Andree Niclæssen de Skania cum aliis multis minus nominatis. Interfuit etiam frater Nicholaus Michaelis qui sacris indutus euangelium sollempniter legit in missa. In quorum omnium testimonium sigilla nostra presentibus sunt appensa. Datum Roskildis, anno et die supradictis.

Comments: Fr. Johannes Albus (Johannes Hvide) of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde was appointed vicar general for the province of Dacia by the general chapter in 1327 (31/5); his appointment would suggest that he was representing Dacia as diffinitor at the general chapter in Perpignan. He might also be identical to the Prior Johannes of the Roskilde convent in 1322 10/6. ● Fr. Nicolaus Michaelis (Niels Mikkelsen) is only known from this mentioning. Most likely, he was a priest from the friars’ convent in Roskilde; this is indeed one of the very few insights given by the sources to everyday relations between the two Dominican convents in Roskilde. ● Lady Christine Jonsdatter, daughter of Jens Sjællandsfar the Elder, donated estate to the nunnery in 1316 24/3; her nieces Lunde and Cecilie had been with the sisters since o.1310, and her sister Cecilie since 1315 20/8. ● Lady Margrethe Tygesdatter, who co-witnessed the entrance of Sister Christine, was a wealthy, Zealandic landowner of the Hvide family (in Gallén 1946, 179, she is erroneously related to the family ‘Sjællandsfar’). As a child, she was raised in the nunnery of St. Agnes, and in gratitude of her upbringing with the nuns, she donated some landed estate to the convent in 1322. At this point, she was a widow after Knight Heinrich Albertsen, Count of Eberstein, with manorial seat in Tybjerg in southern Zealand. Her daughter Cecilie was among the other named lay guests at the Easter Mass in the nunnery church.

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. IX no. 181.

1325 11/4

Turku

Convent of Turku

The convent of Friars Preachers in Turku testifies that Nils Hvit in Kimito has left the disposal of his property entirely to his brother Henrik, a parish curator of Turku.

Source: Transcript in Registrum ecclesiae Aboensis.

Language: Latin.

Universis presens scriptum cernentibus Nicholaus Hwitæ, in Kymittæ commorans, salutem in Domino sempiternam. Tenore presencium omnibus innotescat, quod karissimo fratri meo, domino Henrico, curato et sacriste ecclesie Aboensis, juxta ritum consessum et beneplacitum heredum meorum, bona sua mobilia et immobilia, ex hereditate seu quocunque modo per industriam suam sibi succedencia, libere ordinandi, commutandi, vendendi, in ultimisque vite sue de eisdem pro sue voluntatis libito testandi plenariam confero libertatem, ratum et gratum finaliter habiturus quicquid per ipsum dominum Henricum factum fuerit in premissis. Et ne per me seu quocunque heredes meos huiuscemodi ordinacio molestari, prepediri seu retractari valeat in posterum, presentem cedulam sigillis virorum discretorum, videlicet fratrum predicatorum conventus Finlandensis, domini Elavi de Reso, canonicus Aboensis, Konradi, dilecti generi mei, Henrici de Lybik et Gerardi Watherhonæ, cum sigillum personale non habui, in testimonium duxi evidens muniendam. Scriptum et actum anno Domini MCCCXX quinto, tercio idus aprilis, in civitate Aboensi.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. III no. 2509; Åbo domkyrkas Svartbok no. 39; Finlands Medeltidsurkunder no. 324.

1325 (26/5)

Venice

OP, Provinces of Anglia, Dacia, Francia and Lombardia superioris, Convent in Vejle

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers introduces an annual tax to be paid by the priors provincial for the expenses of the Order’s procurator at the Curia; the prior provincial of Dacia is assessed to pay 4 florins a year. Furthermore, the chapter concedes to the foundation of one convent in each of the provinces Lombardia superioris, Francia, Dacia and Anglia.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Venecias celebrati anno Domini MCCCXXV. (…)

Iste sunt admonitiones et ordinationes. (…) Item, volumus et ordinamus, quod quilibet provincialis teneatur mittere procuratori ordinis pro expensis, que facte sunt in curia pro bullis impetratis, et que fient in posterum, circa festum resurrectionis domini proximum venturum, secundum taxationem infra annotatam: Provincia Hispanie ∙x∙ florenos, Francie ∙xv∙ florenos, provincia Tholosana ∙x∙ florenos, provincia Lombardie inferioris ∙x∙ florenos, provincia regni Sicilie ∙viii∙ florenos, provincia Anglie ∙xii∙ florenos, provincia Theutonie ∙xx∙ florenos, provincia Ungarie ∙viii∙ florenos, provincia Lombardie superioris ∙v∙ florenos, provincia Aragonie ∙x∙ florenos, provincia Polonie ∙iiii∙ florenos, provincia Dacie ∙iiii∙ florenos, provincia Boemie ∙iiii∙ florenos, provincia Saxonie ∙x∙ florenos, provincia Terre sancte ∙x∙ florenos, provincia Grecie ∙vi∙ florenos. (…) [159]

Concedimus unam domum provincie Lombardie superioris. Item, aliam provincie Francie ponendam in s. Ademaro. Item, aliam provincie Dacie. Item, aliam provincie Anglie ponendam in Ybernia. (…) [161]

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● The convent foundation in Dacia was most probably the one in Vejle, the only one known from this period.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, pp. 159-161.

1326 21/8

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Pope Johannes XXII complies with a request for help from the Friars Preachers in Dacia, whom due to the infertile land of their province and a ‘cooled-off love’ in the hearts of people find it difficult to receive sufficient with proper food, whenever they are outside the priories preaching, hearing confession or in other legitimate errands, and for this reason they have been forced to eat bread made of rye, barley and even bark, and to drink nothing but water, and therefore they have returned to their convents starved and miserable, more dead than alive. Thus, the pope allows for them to eat meat, if necessary, even if this is against their constitutions, but only on days when all Christians are allowed to do so.

Source: Transcript in Registra Avinionensia. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Dilectis filiis ... priori provinciali et fratribus ordinis predicatorum provincie Dacie salutem. Presignis ordinis vestri religio fecunditate referta virtutum necnon devotionis sinceritas quam reverenter erga Romanam exhibetis ecclesiam promerentur, ut vos illa gratia prosequamur que necessitatibus vestris fore dinoscitur oportuna. Sane petitio vestra nobis nuper exhibita continebat, quod cum vos in officio predicationis vel audiencia confessionis, aut alicuius alterius necessarie occupationis extra vestros convuentus in provincia vestra esse contingat, sepe per plures dies estis pro alimenta vobis secundum primaria statuta regularia vestri ordinis conveniencia, ac vite necessaria propter terre ipsarum partium vastitatem et sterilitatem, necnon ut refrigescentem in cordibus hominum tempore caritatem, nisi vobiscum portetis, invenire nequitis, immo vos pane grosso siligineo vel ordeaceo, et quandoque pane de corticibus arborum confecto, et aqua sola, plures contentari oportet, propter quod macie et miseria affecti, quasi mortui revertimini ab occupationibus supradictis, et diu ut asseritis in statu huiusmodi vivere non possitis. Quare nobis humiliter supplicastis, ut providere vobis super hoc de oportuno remedio, de benignitate apostolica, misericorditer dignaremur. Nos igitur vobis pio compacientes affectu, et volentes vestris super hoc quantum cum deo possumus necessitatibus providere, huiusmodi supplicationibus inclinati, ut quocienscunque vos seu aliquem vestrum in huiusmodi officio predicationis vel audientia confessionis, aut alicuius necessarie occupationis, extra vestros conventus esse contingerit, ut prefertur et alimenta conveniencia vobis secundum statuta predicta invenire non possetis, super quibus vestras conscientias oneramus, possitis libere vesci carnibus temporibus quibus catholici homines eis in illis partibus vesci solent statutis et consuetudinibus vestri ordinis in contrarium editis nequaquam obstantibus, auctoritate vobis presentium indulgemus. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre concessionis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum. Datum Avinione ∙xii∙ kalendas Septembris pontificatus nostri anno decimo.

Dansk oversættelse:

Hilsen til vore elskede sønner ... provincialprioren og brødrene af Prædikantordenen i provinsen Dacia. Eders ordens udmærkede fromhed, som er fuld af fortjenstfulde dyder, og den oprigtige hengivenhed, som I med ærefrygt viser overfor Romerkirken, fortjener, at vi viser Eder en sådan nåde, som kan afhjælpe Eders trang. I en ansøgning fra Eder, som nylig er forebragt os, stod der, at når det hænder, at I i Eders prædiketjeneste eller når I skal høre skriftemål eller i et andet nødvendigt ærinde befinder Eder udenfor Eders klostre i Eders provins, er I ofte flere dage igennem ude af stand til at skaffe de levnedsmidler, som ifølge ordenens oprindelige almindelige regler passer for Eder, men kan på grund af de udstrakte golde jorder i hine egne og tillige af den grund, at kærligheden i menneskenes sind med tiden ligesom kølnes, ikke finde noget, med mindre I selv bringer det med Eder, ja, at endog adskillige af Eder må nøjes med rug- eller bygbrød og engang imellem med barkbrød og vand alene, så I vender magre og elendige og ligesom døde hjem fra disse udflugter. Og da I, efter hvad I siger, ikke kan leve længe i denne tilstand, har I derfor nu ydmygt ansøgt os om, at vi med apostolisk velvilje i vor barmhjertighed ville sørge for Eder med et passende lægemiddel i dette anliggende. Vi tænker da kærligt på Eder og vil tage os af Eders nød, så godt vi efter Guds vilje kan, og vi bøjer os for denne Eders ansøgning og giver Eder ved dette brev bevilling på, at I hver gang I eller en af Eder i ovennævnte prædiketjeneste eller når I skal høre skriftemål eller har en anden nødvendig beskæftigelse og derfor befinder Eder udenfor Eders klostre, som anført, og ikke kan finde næringsmidler, som efter ordenens almindelige bestemmelser passer for Eder, hvilket vi overlader til Eders samvittighed at afgøre, frit må nyde kød på de samme tider som andre katolikker plejer at nyde det i hine egne, uanset herimod stridende bestemmelser og sædvaner i Eders orden. Intet menneske må vove at bryde dette vort bevillingsbrev eller dumdristigt handle herimod. Men hvis nogen skulle vove at forsøge det, skal han vide, at han derved vil pådrage sig Gud den almægtiges og hans hellige apostles Petrus’ og Paulus’ vrede. Givet i Avignon den 21. august i vort pontifikats tiende år.

Comments: The spot for the prior provincial’s name is left open in the register.

Published: Diplomatarium Norvegicum vol. VII no. 112; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. IX no. 308.

1327 (31/5)

Perpignan

Province of Dacia, Convents of Roskilde and Åhus

Fr. Wernerus, prior provincial of the Friars Preachers in Dacia, is absolved from office by the general chapter in Perpignan, who appoints Fr. Johannes Albus, lector of the convent in Roskilde, as vicar general of Dacia until a new provincial has been elected. Shortly after, Fr. Wernerus dies in Åhus, where he is buried.

Sources: A. Acta capitulorum generalium OP. B. Bernardi Guidonis Historia.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Perpinianum celebrati anno Domini MCCCXXVII. (…) Iste sunt absolutiones. (…) Absolvimus priores provinciales Anglie, Polonie et Dacie. (…) Item, ponimus vicarium generalem in provincia Dacie fratrem Johannem Album, lectorem Roscildensem, donec provincialis electus et confirmatus et presens fuerit in eadem.

Nonus fuit frater Wernerus de Roskildis qui tenuit officium septem annis fuitque absolutus in capitulo Pirpiniano anno Domini MCCCXXVIII. Hic obiit Aosie et sepultus est ibidem modicum post absolutionem.

Dansk oversættelse:

Den niende var broder Verner af Roskilde, som holdt embedet i syv år og blev afløst på generalkapitlet i Perpignan i det Herrens år 1328. Han døde i Åhus og er begravet samme sted kort efter afløsningen.

Comments: This part of source B is only known from an addition to the original list preserved in a manuscript version from Barcelona (Codex Barchionensis); the addition is written with a different hand than the preceding text. ● B has the year of the Perpignan chapter and his absolution as 1328, which is, however, obviously wrong; perhaps this was instead the year of Fr. Wernerus’ soon following death? ● On Fr. Wernerus, see 1320-21. As nothing is stated about the reason for his absolution, and considering his soon following death, he may indeed have asked for it himself due to poor health. ● On Fr. Johannes Albus, see 1325 7/4. His appointment as vicar general for the the province until a new provincial was elected would suggest that he was representing Dacia as diffinitor at the general chapter in Perpignan. ● The following provincial chapter apparently elected Fr. Tucho as new prior provincial of Dacia, see 1327 19/8. ● Jarl Gallén, who apparently did not know the prolonged version of source B, and thus did not know about Prior Provincial Wernerus, suggested that the absolved provincial in 1327 was Fr. Tucho, who was then re-elected at the following provincial chapter (Gallén 1946, 133-134).

Published: A. Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, pp. 171-172. B. Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum vol. 70, pp. 88-89; Priores prouinciales in prouincia Dacie (online).

1327 19/8

Ringsted

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde, Province of Dacia

Fr. Tucho, prior provincial of the Friars Preachers in Dacia, and Fr. Benedictus, prior of the convent in Roskilde, accept, together with Lord Erik Valdemarsson, son of Princess Jutta, to leave decision of the strife between the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes and the princess’ heirs to 12 of Sjælland’s best men at the landsting. Furthermore, the prior provincial gives power of attorney to Prior Benedictus to conduct the case on behalf of the nunnery.

Source: Transcript in Bartholin’s Collectanea.

Language: Latin.

Omnibus presens scriptum cernentibus frater Petrus Abbas Ringstadiensis, Andreas Pæterson de Allandorp Jacobus Niclæsson ranæ, milites, Nicolaus Sweygh, Ivarus Ivarson, Johannes Ivarson, Nicolaus Krook, Nicolaus Denkæn, Nicolaus Jønesson de Kwærkæby et Godrinus Magnusson, armigeri, salutem in domino sempiternam. Ne quod veritas approbat a posteris trahatur in dubium litterarum testimonio solet perhennari. Constamus igitur omnibus et singulis presentibus et futuris nos sub anno domini millesimo trecentesimo uicesimo septimo feria quarta proxima ante festum beati Bartholomei apostolici in placito generali Syelandie personaliter constitutos fuisse uidisse et audiuisse, quod dominus Ericus Valdemari contra fratrem Tuchone, ordinis fratrum predicatorum priorem prouincialem Dacie Suecie et Noruegie et fratrem Benedictum priorem ordinis eiusdem Roskildis super bonis omnibus et singulis et ubicunque locorum infra regni Dacie terminos sitis monasterio beate Agnetis uirginis ibidem scilicet Roskildis per inclitas domicellas Agnetem et Iuttæ clare memorie in eodem placito generali iuste et legaliter datis et scotatis, querimoniam proferebat, asserens se melius ius quam dicti fratres nomine dicti monasterii habere in eisdem, at illi dicti fratres ex parte monasterii eiusdem e conuerso respondebant dicentes dicta bona omnia et singula antedicto monasterio sancte Agnetis ratione uere donationis et scotationis ut premissum est iuste et legaliter attinere. Ut autem dicta causa inter eos rite et rationabiliter ac secundum iuris exigentiam, eo melius citiusque finiri et determinari ualuisset, ideo dominus Ericus supradictus ex una parte nomine sui, et frater Benedictus antedictus ex altera parte nomine monasterii antedicti, cui frater Tucho supradictus prior prouincialis plenam potestatem et auctoritatem in eodem placito dictam causam rite et discrete terminandi et finiendi commisit penitus et assignauit denominationem terre que dicitur landsnæfnd, in qua duodecim meliores et discretiores terre Syelandie nominati et scripta esse dignoscuntur, uidelicet dominus Inguarus Hyort, dominus Kanutus Niclæssen, dominus Nicolaus Tuuosen, dominus Iohannes Olæfsen, dominus Nicolaus Absolonis, dominus Petrus Grubbe, milites; Iohannes Duuæ, Nicolaus Mandorp, Nicolaus Iønæssen Kwærkæby, Olauus Iønæssen de Pæterstorp, Matheus Taa de Krakæthorp et Iohannes Magnussen rector eiusdem placiti, armigeri tunc temporis in dicto placito firmauerunt, promittentes se quod quicquid per dictos nominatores rite et rationabiliter factum fuerit in premissis ratum ac firmum totaliter et omnimode uelle tenere et habere, qui quidem nominatores ad agendum jurandum et determinandum super causa antedicta feria quarta proxima post purificacionem beate Marie nunc instantem ad dictum placitum debent conuenire. Ne autem aliqua dubitacionis materia super huiusmodi protestacione per nos facta, ab aliquibus in posterum debeat suboriri, presentes litteras sigillorum nostrorum munimine fecimus roborari, in testimonium et cautelam firmiorem. Datum Ringstadis, eodem placito anno et die supradictis.

Comments: Fr. Tucho (Tyge ‘Klerk’) is only known as acting prior provincial of the Friars Preachers in Dacia from this single instance. He must have been elected at the provincial chapter a few weeks before, where a successor for Fr. Wernerus, absolved at the general chapter in 1327 (31/5), had to be found. When Bishop Niels of Børglum in 1328 12/2 was papally absolved from office and, according to his own wish, admitted into the Order of Preachers, Pope John XXII enjoined Archbishop Karl of Lund to find and appoint a qualified episcopal successor for him; he apparently chose the Dominican prior provincial. Fr. Tucho is not recorded as bishop of Børglum until 1329, when he had been imprisoned by King Christoffer II of Denmark, who wanted to avoid the automatically initiated interdict by collecting a long list of accusations against the bishop in 1330 22/9 to justify his arrest. Among the issues it was claimed that Fr. Tucho ‘dictus Klerk’ had been one of the key initiators behind the deposition of King Christoffer in 1326 (at a time, however, when Tucho was neither prior provincial nor bishop), as prior provincial he had acquired the episcopal see of Børglum with lies, and henceforth this ‘so-called bishop’ had eagerly opposed the reinstallment of the king in 1329, supported the king’s foreign enemies and promoted rebels within the kingdom, and generally violated and misused his episcopal power in practical every way possible; it is impossible to judge if there was any actual basis behind any of the accusations. The indictment, which was in fact an apologia for the king’s act aimed at the Curia, was co-signed by lay and clergy at the provincial diet of northern Jylland, including the convent of Friars Preachers in Viborg, but since the original document is still extant at the National Archives in Copenhagen, it apparently never left Denmark. An interdict certainly was nevertheless proclaimed upon Denmark because of the imprisonment. Sjælland, Lolland and Falster were absolved from the interdict in 1331 2/5, Northern Halland in 1331 21/7, but although Bishop Tucho was released in 1332 10/1 and reinstalled in 1332 18/5, and King Christoffer subsequently died on 2 August the same year, the interdict was still standing in Jylland and Fyn in 1336 21/7, when the prior of the Friars Preachers in Schleswig co-signed a joined supplication to the pope from ecclesiastical and lay authorities in the duchy of Schleswig to revoke the interdict for their province. It was in fact left by Pope Benedict XII to Bishop Tucho himself in 1337 21/6 to investigate and judge if the interdict could be revoked in the provinces held by Count Gerhard III of Holstein, whom he had already settled with in 1337 21/2. After his release, the sources are quiet about the Dominican bishop of Børglum, who acted on ordinary episcopal matters in 1332 6/5, 1333 2/10 and 1341 3/1. A new bishop of Børglum, Anders, is known from 1345. Fr. Tucho was dead in 1350 22/3. ● Fr. Benedictus (Bent) had also acted on behalf of the sisters at moots in 1315 and 1322, but this is the first time he is explicitly located to the convent in Roskilde - and the first time he is titled prior. He is mentioned again in 1337, still as conventual prior in Roskilde. ● This letter represents one of the last chapters of the long strife concerning the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes Monastery in Roskilde and the estates, which the princesses Agnes and Jutta brought into the nunnery with them in 1263, but soon after tried to take out again, when leaving the nunnery, which led to a juridical struggle, which on several occasions involved the friars from the neighbouring convent (see 1279 and 1297). On 3 February 1328, the case was finally settled, as the landsting ruled in favour of the nunnery; a verdict, which was apparently followed by the princesses’ heirs. ● The landsting of Sjælland had its thingstead in Ringsted.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. IV no. 2625; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. IX no. 430.

1329 15/2

Roskilde

Nunnery of St. Agnes (Roskilde), Convent of Roskilde

Gynceke de Falkendal donates a field situated north-east of Roskilde, next to the mill of the Friars Preachers, to the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes.

Source: A. Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen. B. Register of Roskilde St. Agnes Monastery.

Language: A. Latin. B. Danish.

Omnibus presens scriptum cernentibus Gynzikæ de Falkædalæ salutem in domino. Quod factum est in publico et apparenter ne per oblivionem hominum defluxu temporis delabatur solet testimonio litterarum roborari et in memoriam reduci ac renovari. Ideo ad noticiam tam precencium quam futurorum produco et tenore presencium recognosco me in crastino Valentini martyris in placito Roskildensis dedisse et scotasse monasterio sancte Agnetis ibidem agrum dudum meum qui dicitur Vindæbothæ hawghæ situm inter ipsum monasterium et molendinum fratrum predicatorum cum omnibus pertinenciis suis integraliter scilicet, cum agris, pratis, pomerio, et aque profluxu in anime mee remedium et antedicti claustri subsidium. Ut autem ista donacio et scotacio sit firma et perpetua obligo me et heredes meos per presentes ipsam meam scotacionem prefatam ab omni inpugnante et inpedire volente stabilem facere et firmam nunc et in posterium. Datum anno domini m.ccc.xx.nono in crastino beati Valentini martyris. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum Claws, fratris mei, et meum presentibus sunt appensa.

B (registration of A):

Ett Gynzicka aff Falchedalls Latine pergamendtz breff paa en agher, kallis Windebohaffue, liggendis hoss adelueyen emellum sorte brødre mølle oc sanctæ Agnetæ closter. Datum 1329.

English translation of B:

A Gynceke of Falkendal’s Latin parchment letter on a field, called Vindebo Garden, lying by the public road between Black Friars’ Mill and St. Agnes Monastery. Given 1329.

Comments: On the back of the letter is written: Paa jenn agher, som kalles Wynerbo haffuæ liggendis hoss adelweyen imellum Suartebroder mølle oc sancte Agnetis closter (“On a field, called Vindebo Garden, lying by the public road between Blackfriar Mill and St. Agnes Monastery”). Gynceke Gyncelinsen was an esquire with manorial seat in Falkendal just outside of Roskilde. He was also citizen in Roskilde and is known as mayor around 1350. He was son of an immigrated petty nobleman from the island of Rügen, and possibly, he himself was the father of the Dominican penitentiary (1362-64) Godskalk Mule de Falkendal (†1374) (Gallén 1946, p. 180). The mill of the Friars Preachers was located somewhere along the stream on the priory site, which was covering most of the north-eastern part of town.

Published: A. Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. X no. 100. B. Ældste danske Archivregistraturer vol. IV, pp. 285-286.

1329 15/2 Roskilde

A written evidence of the city court of Roskilde on the above-mentioned donation.

Source: A. Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen. B. Register of Roskilde St. Agnes Monastery.

Language: A. Latin. B. Danish.

Universis ad quos presentes littere pervenerint, communitas consulum et civium Roskildensium salutem in domino. Ut veritas debitum processum habeat et ne per oblivionem vel malignancium machinacionem a suo termino inpediatur, consuevit indicium scripture litterarum certam cognicionem reformare et dubium proculpellere fine assequto veritatis. Quapropter presencium et subsequencium noverit universitas, Gynzikæ, filium Gyncelini de Falkædalæ, civem Roskildensem dedisse et scotasse in placito nostro et presencia nostra in crastino beati Valentini martyris monasterio sancte Agnetis virginis in eadem civitate agrum tunc suum qui dicitur Windæbothæ haughæ situm inter viam puplicam juxta monasterium predictarum dominarum et molendinum fratrum predicatorum cum omnibus suis pertinenciis, videlicet, agris patris pomerio et aque influxu et decursu sicut eundem agrum post patrem suum jure hereditario quiete et pacifice habuit et possedit. Insuper eciam obligavit se et heredes suos predictum agrum cum scotacione sua liberum facere ab omni si fuerit nunc et in posterum inpedire volente et reddere prius dicto monasterio dominarum in perpetuum quiete possidendum. Datum et actum, anno domini m.ccc.vicesimo nono, in crastino beati Valentini martyris. In cuius facti evidenciam sigillum civitatis nostre presentibus fecimus apponi.

B (registration of A):

Borgemester oc raadtz breff vdj Roschiille, att Gynziicka aff Falckedall, borgere vdj Roskiille, schøtte samme ager, Windeboe haffue, tiill sanctæ Agne closter paa byethinget. Datum 1329.

English translation of B:

Mayor and council’s letter in Roskilde that Gynceke of Falkendal, citizen in Roskilde, deeded the same field, Vindebo Garden, to St. Agnes Monastery at the city court. Given 1329.

Comments: On the back of the letter is written: Super unum agrum in Windæbothæhawæ.

Published: A. Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. X no. 101. B. Ældste danske Archivregistraturer vol. IV, p. 286.

1329

Province of Dacia

Bishop Tucho OP of Børglum is imprisoned by King Christoffer II of Denmark and because of this the Danish church has to endure an interdict for the next seven years and eight months.

Source: A. Chronica Jutensis. B. Annales Scanici.

Language: Latin.

Igitur anno Domini 1329. (…) Cepit autem Christoferus quendam Tukonem, episcopum Burglanensem; propter cuius captionem clerus regni tenuit interdictum annis 7 et mensibus octo.

Dansk oversættelse:

Således i det Herrens år 1329. (…) Men til gengæld lod Christoffer da fængsle Tyge, biskop af Børglum; på grund af denne fængsling måtte den danske gejstlighed overholde et interdikt i syv år og otte måneder.

1329. Interdictum fuit per totam Daciam propter captivitatem domini Tulonis [:Tukonis], episcopi Burglanensis.

Dansk oversættelse:

1329. Hele Danmark lægges under interdikt på grund af fængsling af hr. Tyge, biskop af Børglum.

Comments: On Bishop Tucho OP of Børglum and the interdict caused by his imprisonment, see 1327 19/8. ● On King Christoffer II of Denmark (1320-1326 and 1329-1332), see 1323 15/8. The imprisonment was executed shortly after the king’s reinstallment, which Bishop Tucho allegedly had opposed. ● The interdict was revoked for Sjælland in 1331 2/5, for Northern Halland in 1331 21/7, but although Bishop Tucho was released in 1332 10/1 and reinstalled in 1332 18/5, the rest of the country remained under interdict until 1337 21/6.

Published: A. Scriptores Rerum Danicarum vol. II, pp. 391-392; Annales Danici, p. 161; Danmarks middelalderlige annaler, p. 294. B. Scriptores Rerum Danicarum vol. VI, p. 532; Annales Danici, p. 189; Danmarks middelalderlige annaler, p. 72.

1330 15/6

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Fr. Johannes Nyborg of the Friars Preachers, minor penitentiary at the Curia in Avignon for the church province of Dacia, is by papal reservation appointed bishop of Roskilde by Pope John XXII.

Source: Transcript. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Johanni de Nyborgh electo Roskildensi (…). Superni dispositione consilii, per quod in regno mundi ordinationem universa suscipiunt, in supreme dignitatis specula quamquam immerite constituti, ad universas orbis ecclesias intuitum apostolice considerationis extendimus et de illarum statu prospero cogitamus, opem et operam, quantum nobis ex alto conceditur, impendentes, ut ecclesiarum ipsarum regimina, cum eas contingerit suorum pastorum gubernatione destitui, personis committantur providis, virtutum titulis insignitis, sub quarum umbra et tutela felicibus eedem ecclesie spiritualiter et temporaliter coadjuvante domino refloreant eventibus et successibus prosperis colletentur. Olim siquidem, Johanne episcopo Roskildensi ecclesie Roskildensis regimini presidente, nos ….. provisionem eiusdem ecclesie, cum eam ubiconque vacare contingeret, dispositioni nostre ac dicte sedis duximus specialiter reservandam. Postmodum vero, dicta ecclesia per obitum ipsius Johannis episcopi ….. pastoris solatio destituta, nos ….. post deliberationem, quam de preficiendo ecclesie prefate virum talem, per quem possit circumspecte regi ad dirigi et etiam defensari, cum fratribus nostris habuimus diligentem, demum ad te ordinis fratrum predicatorum professorum, penitentiarium nostrum, litterarum scientia etcetera, prout familiari experientia novimus, insignitum, direximus oculos nostre mentis. Quibus omnibus pensatis de persona tua eidem ecclesie Roskildensi providemus teque illi preficimus in episcopum et pastorem ….. firma spe fiduciaque conceptis, quod, dextera Domini tibi assistente propicia, prelibata ecclesia sub fructuosi regiminis tui cura votiva honoris et comodi suscipiat incrementa ….. . Datum Avinione 17 kalendas julii anno 14.

In eodem modo capitulo ecclesie Roskildensis; clero civitatis et diocesis Roskildensis; populo civitatis et diocesis Roskildensis; archiepiscopo Lundensi.

Dansk oversættelse:

Til vor søn Johannes Nyborg, udvalgt biskop i Roskilde, hilsen og apostolisk velsignelse. (...) Men efter at nævnte kirke ved samme biskop Johannes’ død, som nyligt betalte sin gæld til naturen i de egne, er berøvet sin hyrdes trøst, har vi i betragtning af, at ingen uden vi denne gang kan befatte os med embedsindsættelse i den kirke på grund af vor omtalte reservation og dekret, efter omhyggelig overvejelse med vore brødre om at indsætte en sådan mand i spidsen for omtalte kirke, som med omsigt vil kunne styre og lede og også værne den, først rettet vor opmærksomheds øje mod dig, som værende af Prædikebrødrenes Orden og vor pønitentiar, en mand, som udmærker sig ved boglig lærdom, nidkærhed for reglen, et ordentligt levned og hæderværdige sæder, kyndighed i det åndelige og andre fortjenstfulde dyder, således som vi har lært dig at kende ved personlig omgang. Da nu alt dette er overvejet under tilbørlig eftertanke providerer vi med apostolisk myndighed efter omtalte brødres råd Roskilde Kirke med din person og sætter dig i spidsen for den som biskop og hyrde (...). Derfor pålægger vi dig, kloge mand, med apostolisk brev, at du fromt tager denne dig af Herren pålagte byrde på dig og bestræber dig for at varetage nævnte sjælesorg og forvaltning så omhyggeligt, trofast og klogt, at Kirken vil glæde sig over at være en klog styrer og frugtbar forvalter betroet, og du selv foruden den evige gengældelses belønning kan gøre dig fortjent til at modtage forøget velsignelse og nåde af os og det apostoliske sæde. Givet i Avignon den 17. juli i år 14.

Comments: On Fr. Johannes Nyborg, see 1322 10/6 and 1324 3/3. He remained bishop of Roskilde until his death in 1344. The appointment coincided with his preceding appointment as collector of the papal tithe in Denmark, as which he officially continued until 1332. ● Fr. Johannes Nyborg was installed to replace the deceased Bishop Jens Hind of Roskilde (1320-1330). The appointment was additionally announced in letters for the cathedral chapter of Roskilde (DD 2. ser. vol. X no. 213), the clergy and lay population of the diocese of Roskilde (ibid. no. 214-215) and the archbishop of Lund (ibid. no. 216). ● This was one of the first Scandinavian examples of bishops actually being installed on papal reservation. When Fr. Johannes apparently was so easily accepted by the cathedral chapter it was probably because the canons already knew him well from when he previously had been prior of the convent in Roskilde (Jakobsen 2007).

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. VI no. 5102; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. X no. 212.

Literature: Jakobsen 2007.

1330 16/6 Avignon

After his episcopal appointment, Fr. Johannes Nyborg promises to pay 1000 golden florins in servitium commune to the Papal Treasury at St. Michael’s Day (29/9).

Source: Register in Obligationes. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

[Anno 1330] die 16 junii, Avinione in hospito Petri episcopi Portuensis, frater Johannes electus Roskildensis in Dacia promisit pro suo communi servitio 1000 florini auri et 5 servitia consveta persolvere in curia videlicet medietatem in festo beatis Michaelis de mensi septembris extunc proxime sequturo, alioquin infra sex menses etcetera et juravit ut in forma.

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. I no. 190.

1330-1336-1350

Convent of Roskilde

Duchess Ingeborg donates a total sum of 160 marks silver to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde split over three years. A total of 100 marks is given for repairs on the priory church in 1330 and 1336, and in 1350 another sum of 60 marks is given for repairs on the priory.

Source: Annales Petri Olavi.

Language: Latin.

1330 et 1336. Ingeburgis, ducissa Suecie, Hallandie, Holbec et Samsiø dedit fratribus predicatoribus Roskildis in testamento pro reparatione ecclesie et emendatione mense 100 marcas puri argenti, et pro reparatione claustri 60 marchas puri argenti anno Domini 1350.

Comments: Duchess Ingeborg (1301-c.1360) was probably the most powerful woman in Scandinavia of her time. She was a Norwegian princess, who at a very early age married a Swedish prince, whereby she became Duchess of Sweden. After a number of royal deaths in 1319-20, she found herself the mother of the child king of both Norway and Sweden: Magnus Eriksson. After being removed from both the governing councils by Norwegian and Swedish nobles, she turned to her Danish estates, which included large parts of northern Zealand that she held in mortgage with her second husband, Duke Knud Porse of Halland, who together with the Counts of Holstein had deposed the Danish king and now in fact ruled the country themselves. As Knud died in 1330, Ingeborg became a dowager duchess for the second time. Her two first donations to the Roskilde friars came during this notorius ‘Reign of the Counts’ in the 1330s. Commemorational prayers were prescribed for her and her king son by the general chapter of the Friars Preachers in 1331 19/5. In 1350, times had changed significantly, as King Valdemar IV had regained power in Denmark and by doing so had taken most of Ingeborg’s Danish possessions. Ingeborg’s actual relation to the Dominicans in Roskilde is hard to establish, as Roskilde does not appear to have been a part of her reign, but no other convent of any order received any similar donations from her. In fact, she gave yet another donation to the convent in 1358.02.05.

Published: Scriptores Rerum Danicarum vol. I, p. 191; Annales Danici, p. 210.

1331 (19/5)

Vitoria

Province of Dacia

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers prescribes commemorational prayers for, among many others, the king of Sweden-Norway, for his mother, for the former Queen Isabella of Norway and her daughter, Duchess Ingeborg of Sweden, with one mass each.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis celebrati apud Victoriam anno Domini MCCCXXXI. (…) Ista sunt suffragia pro vivis. (…) Item, pro dominis regibus Ungarie, Sicilie, Boemie, Majoricarum, et domino rege Cyprie, Suezie, Norvegie et pro domina matre eius et domina Isabella regina antiqua Norvegie, et domina Andeba, filia eius, ducissa Svecie, et domina Elysabeth quondam Boemie et Polonie regina quilibet sacerdos ∙i∙ missam. (…)

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● The only Scandinavian king at the time was King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden-Norway (1319-1364 Sweden, 1319-1355 Norway); see 1334 12/2. He was the son of Duke Erik Magnusson of Södermanland (†1318) and Princess Ingeborg of Norway; by this time his mother had become widow for the second time after Duke Knud Porse of Halland (†1330), still playing a highly influential role in both Sweden and Denmark (see 1330-36-50). ● Queen Dowager Isabella of Norway (†1358) was the queen of King Eirik II Magnusson of Norway (1280-1299), and the sister of King Robert Bruce of Scotland. Her daugther Ingeborg was married to Duke Valdemar of Öland (†1318).

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, p. 213.

1331 20/6

Convent of Roskilde

Two Friars Preachers of the convent in Roskilde are paid 12 gros tournois by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for bringing letters regarding his papal errand from Roskilde to the bishops in Jylland.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Hec sunt expense facte per me magistrum Petrum Gervasii canonicum Vivariensem predictum apostolice sedis nuncium in dictis regnis Dacie, Suecie et Norwegie, extraordinarie pro negociis domini nostri pape, quas quidem expensas solvi de pecunia sexannali decime supradicte. (…)

Item die ∙xx∙ junii, auditis rationibus collectorum Lundensium quas tunc reddere poterant viventes nam aliqui ex eis mortui erant, iterum jui ad Sialendiam, videlicet, ad civitatem Roskildensem et solvi pro naulo navis cum qua transivi et cum qua etiam conductor meus reversus fuit ∙xiiii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item dedi conductori predicto ∙x∙ grossos Turonenses. Item significavi domino episcopo Roskildensi qui in extraria parte diocesis sue erat, me venisse ad civitatem Roskildensem requirens eum ut veniret auditurus rationes collectorum decime una mecum, qui respondit non posse venire illa vice nec posse stare in civitate illa propter defectum expensarum, et dedi nuncio ∙vi∙ grossos Turonenses. Item scripsi prelatis in Jucia et collectoribus dicte decime significans eis me venisse pro dicta decima colligenda et quod pararent rationes et si quid habebant fideliter custodirent et dedi duobus fratribus predicatoribus qui dictas litteras portaverunt, pro subsidio expensarum suarum et pro naulo, nam duo passagia maris habebant transire ∙xii∙ grossos Turonenses. (...)

Dansk oversættelse:

Dette er udgifter afholdt af mig, magister Pierre Gervais, kannik af Viviers, det apostoliske sædes ekstraordinære nuntius i nævnte kongeriger Danmark, Sverige og Norge for at forhandle på vegne af vor herre paven, hvilke udgifter jeg har indløst fra summen af den ovenfor nævnte seksårstiende. (…)

Fremdeles drog jeg den 20. juni atter, efter at have påhørt nogle af de lundske kollektoreres regnskaber, for så vidt de var i live, thi nogle af dem var døde, til Sjælland, nemlig til staden Roskilde (...).

Fremdeles skrev jeg til prælaterne i Jylland og til kollektorerne af nævnte tiende og meddelte dem, at jeg ville komme til dem for at indsamle nævnte tiende, og at de skulle gøre regnskaberne rede, og hvis de lå inde med noget, omhyggeligt bevogte det, og jeg gav de to prædikebrødre, som overbragte dette brev, til hjælp for deres omkostninger og til skipperløn, da de to gange skulle drage over havet, 12 groter tournois. (...)

Comments: Petrus Gervasii (Pierre Gervais) was a French magister and canon of Saint-Vozy in Puy-en-Velay near Lyon. Before arriving in Scandinavia, the pope had also made him canon of Viviers, to which he henceforth usually ascribed himself. In 1329 5/8 he was appointed papal nuncio and enjoined to collect papal taxes from Scandinavia together with Archbishop Karl of Lund and the Dominican penitentiary of Dacia, Fr. Johannes Nyborg, and with the latter to act as papal legates in the church province as well; when Johannes Nyborg was appointed bishop of Roskilde in 1330 15/6, the entire task was up to the French magister alone. A new series of authorisations and assignments were issued by Pope John XXII in 1330 2/8. Petrus Gervasii arrived in Denmark on 26 March 1331 by ship from Flanders to Skåne, where he met one of his appointed co-collectors, Archbishop Karl of Lund. During April he made two journeys to Sjælland, but only to find that Bishop Johannes Nyborg OP of Roskilde was abroad. It was on this his third trip to Roskilde on 20 June 1331, where the Dominican bishop still had no time to see him, as his was occupied elsewhere in the diocese, that the nuncio paid two local Friars Preachers to carry letters from him to the bishops in Jylland. This service was repeated in 1332 26/3, when the nuncio paid (another?) two friars for bringing his letters from Roskilde to the collectors in Odense on Fyn. One of these west-Danish bishops, Fr. Tucho OP of Børglum, responded by paying 8 gros tournois in 1332 6/5. While in Denmark, the nuncio apparently preferred to stay in Lund and Roskilde, probably with the local Dominican convents. In the autumn of 1332, Nuncio Gervasii continued his mission into Sweden, where he apparently mainly stayed in Skara and Linköping. Here, the Dominican prior in Visby on Gotland, Fr. Matheus, became one of his assistants. In 1333 12/1, the prior wrote a letter for the nuncio to the pope, and in 1333 8/6, the nuncio paid for Prior Matheus’ travel expenses going to the general chapter in Dijon, as he continued from there to Avignon with letters from Petrus Gervasii to the Curia. In 1333 5/6, the nuncio received 3 florins from the prior of the convent in Sigtuna as aid for the Holy Land donated by people, who wanted to stay anonymous. In the summer of 1333, the nuncio went to Norway, where he visited Oslo and Bergen. The bishop of Oslo, Salomon Toraldsson, showed extraordinarily reluctant to pay his papal dues, and before continuing to Bergen in July 1333, the nuncio hired two local Friars Preachers to negotiate with the bishop, while their prior was paid to collect evidence against him. At his very arrival to the harbour of Bergen in 1333 3/8, the nuncio asked to be sailed on to the priory of the Friars Preachers, where he probably took his accomodation until departing again about a month later, this time to Bruges to prepare the transport of the collected tax money to Avignon. Returning from Flanders to Sweden in the autumn, he received in 1333 26/11 a servant of the Dominican penitentiary for Dacia in Avignon, who brought with him papal letters ‘and other means of negotiations’ for the nuncio, although somewhat damaged in apparently suspicous ways. Petrus Gervasii then returned to Denmark, where his job was about done, the collected tax money deposited in Lund and Roskilde – probably inside the Dominican priories. In 1333 4/12 the nuncio hired the Dominican prior in Roskilde to secretly transport half the collected sum to Helsingborg, from where it was to be shipped to Bruges. Additionally, the convent in Roskilde received a barrel of beer, possibly as thanks for accommodation and assistance for two-and-a-half years. The prior, however, did not make it to Helsingborg on the agreed time, as he was awaited in vain by the nuncio’s men in 1334 10/1, allegedly due to warfare in the area; it is not said, though, if the money was lost or if he was just late. In 1334 28/3, the nuncio thanked his Dominican hosts in Lund for safekeeping collected tax money while he was in Sweden and for ‘occasionally doing work on behalf of our lord the pope’, for which the prior and lectopr were paid 2 marks. Petrus Gervasii left Skåne and Denmark in early April 1334 to arrive shortly after in Lübeck. Here too he paid the Dominican prior and lector for having safekept deposited money and performed various services for him, and the convent was given a festive dinner. In return, the prior in 1334 18/4 handed over some sixennial tithe money deposited by the bishop and cathedral chapter of Turku. It may also have been with the Friars Preachers that the Dean of Roskilde in 1332 had deposited 120 marks silver on behalf of the nuncio, just as the nuncio himself stayed in the city (and the priory) for three weeks during spring. The story repeated itself when Petrus Gervasii arrived in Bruges in early June: the local Dominican prior handed over 35 pounds gros tournois deposited by Bishop Jakob of Ribe as sixennial tithe of his diocese in 1334 2/6, after which the convent was rewarded with funding of a festive dinner. ● It is not explicitly stated that the friars belonged to the convent in Roskilde. Although this seems to be their most likely affiliation, they may also have been two visiting friars from Jylland, who brought the letters with them back home. ● The journey apparently went from Sjælland to Jylland across Fyn, as it is stated that the friars had to cross the sea twice, i.e. the sea straits Storebælt and Lillebælt.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 114; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XI no. 152.

1332 10/1

Kiel

Province of Dacia

In the peace settlement between King Christoffer II of Denmark and Count Gerhard III of Holstein it is stated that all prisoners on both sides are to be released, among them not least the bishop of Børglum (Fr. Tucho of the Friars Preachers), who is to testify beforehand in written form that he holds no claims against the king or his allies.

Source: Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen.

Language: German.

In Godes namen, amen. Wi Gherhard, van der gnade Godes greue tu Holsten vnde tu Stormeren betiughet vnde bekennet in desseme openen breue, dat twischen den edelen herren kunningen Cristofere vnde Erike van Denemarken vnde vseme leuen vedderen greue Johanne van Holsten van der enen weghene, vnde vs van der anderen weghene ghe deghedinget is en ganz sone: (…). Vnde alle vangene an beyden siden de scolen wesen ledich vnde los vnde binamen hertoch Otto vnde de byscop van Burlum. Vnde de biscop scal gheuen sine opene breue dat he vp den kuningh vnde alle de ene hulpen van nene vorderingen hebben moghe. (…) Vnde tu ener vestinge desser vorbenomeden ding, so hebbe wi vse yngesighel henget tu desseme breue. Dat wi greue Gherd alle desse ding stede vnde vast holen, so hebbe wi eme entruwen louet, vnde vse yngheseghel henget tu desseme breue. Desse bref is gescreuen vnde geuen in der stat tu deme Kile dusent iar vnde drehundert in deme twe vnde druteghesten iare na Godes bort, des vrigedaghes binnen den achte daghen to twelften.

Dansk oversættelse:

I Guds navn, amen. Vi Gert, af Guds nåde greve af Holsten og Stormarn, bevidner og erklærer med dette åbne brev, at der mellem de ædle herrer kongerne Christoffer og Erik af Danmark, samt vor kære fætter grev Johann af Holsten, som den ene part, og os som den anden, er aftalt en fuldstændig udsoning: (…). Og alle fanger på begge sider skal være fri og løsladte, navnlig hertug Otto og biskoppen af Børglum. Og biskoppen skal udstede sit åbne åbne brev om, at han ikke har noget krav på kongen og på alle der har hjulpet ham. (…) Og til fastholdelse af disse fornævnte ting har vi hængt vort segl under dette brev. At vi, grev Gert, skal holde alt dette fast og ubrydeligt, det hat vi lovet ham på tro og love og hængt vort segl under dette brev. Dette brev er skrevet og givet i staden Kiel i året 1332 efter Guds byrd fredagen før ottendedagen efter tolvte juledag.

Comments: The bishop of Børglum at this time was Fr. Tucho OP (1328-1345), see 1327 19/8. He had been imprisoned on the king’s order in 1329 and released again before 1332 18/5. ● Count Gerhard III of Holstein (1312-1340) played a significant part in Danish politics from 1320 to 1340. He shared the north-German county of Holstein with his cousin Johann III (†1359) and held the family’s extensive mortgages on numerous Danish provinces against loans to King Erik VI Menved of Denmark. When King Christoffer II broke his coronation charter, the Danish nobility called on the 11-year old Duke Valdemar V of Schleswig to take the throne from the deposed king in 1326 (as King Valdemar III of Denmark), and as his uncle and main mortgage-holder on the kingdom Count Gerhard became chief of his regency in 1326-1330, as de facto lord of Jylland and Fyn. Even though Christoffer had to be reinstalled as king in 1330, the count’s power was only increased in the western provinces, where he became still more hated by the nobility, until he was murdered in 1340 by an unknown nobleman, ‘Niels Ebbesen’, by some believed to be the late King Christoffer’s son, Prince Valdemar (to be King Valdemar IV). Although it was Count Gerhard’s military success and political power that caused Bishop Tucho’s release, it was his provinces of the kingdom that took the longest to free from the interdict, as he apparently also had somehow violated Tucho’s privileges, which the two of them did not manage to settle until 1337 21/2. ● On King Christoffer II of Denmark (1320-1326 and 1329-1332), see 1323 15/8.

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. X no. 348.

1332 26/3

Convent of Roskilde

Two Friars Preachers of the convent in Roskilde are paid 12 gros tournois by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for bringing letters from Roskilde to Odense.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item die ∙xxvi∙ marcii misi de Roskildis in Feoniam litteras mandans collectoribus decime predicte in civitate et diocesi Ottoniensibus ut pararent rationes suas et quicquid collegerant de decima memorata ut paratum invenirem quia in proximo volebam venire ad eos et dedi duobus fratribus predicatoribus qui dictas portaverunt litteras pro naulo et subsidio expensarum suarum ∙xii∙ grossos Turonenses. (...)

Dansk oversættelse:

(...) Fremdeles sendte jeg den 26. marts breve fra Roskilde til Fyn og befalede kollektorerne af førnævnte tiende i staden og stiftet Odense, at de skulle gøre deres regnskaber, og hvad de havde indsamlet af omtalte tiende rede, så jeg kunne finde det parat, da jeg i nærmeste fremtid ville komme til dem, og jeg gav to prædikebrødre, som overbragte brevene, til skipperløn og til deres udgifter 12 grot tournois. (...)

Comments: It is not explicitly stated that the friars belonged to the convent in Roskilde. Although this seems to be their most likely affiliation, they may also have been two visiting friars from Odense, who brought the letters with them back home. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 115; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XI no. 152.

1332 18/5

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Pope John XXII authorizes Bishop Tucho OP of Børglum to give absolution and grant dispensation to those clergy in his diocese, secular and regular alike, who may have become irregular by celebrating mass and administering sacraments during the interdict, which had been laid upon Denmark due to the imprisonment of the bishop himself by King Christoffer II of Denmark; the bishop had been apprehended before the high altar of his cathedral while celebrating mass, to be tormented and put in iron chains in a pitch-dark prison for the next 22 months.

Source: Transcripts in Regesta Avinionensis and Regesta Vaticana. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Venerabili fratri Thome [:Thuconi] episcopo Burglanensi, salutem. Exhibite nobis pro parte tua petitionis series continebat, quod tu olim ob indefessam libertatem [:libertatis] ecclesie tue Burglanensis defensionem per flagitiosum Christophorum tunc regnum Dacie tyrampnice regentem in illis partibus hostilem cleri impugnatorem indutus pontificalibus pro missa per te tunc celebranda ante majus altare dicte tue ecclesie captus et vigintiduobus mensibus cathenis ferreis ac aliis exquisitis suppliciis gravissime tormentatus fuisti et teterrimo jacuisti ergastulo captivatus, propter quod dictum regnum fuit ecclesiastico suppositum interdicto. Quare cum aliqui sacerdotes et clerici tam religiosi quam seculares illarum partium existant, qui tempore huiusmodi interdicti a dicto Christophoro per metum mortis compulsi in nonnulis ecclesiis huiusmodi etiam ecclesiastico suppositis interdicto celebrando divina seu ecclesiastica sacramenta indebite ministrando vel aliter se divinis officiis immiscendo excommunicationis, suspensionis et interdicti sententias per statuta provincialia se dubitent incurrisse ac exinde irregularitatis maculam contraxisse, pro parte tua nobis extitit humiliter supplicatum, ut eisdem sacerdotibus et clericis providere super hoc de oportune absolutionis et dispensationis beneficio misericorditer dignaremur. Nos igitur de tua circumspectione plenam in Domino fiduciam obtinentes ac volentes cum eisdem sacerdotibus et clericis benignius agere in hac parte tuis supplicationibus inclinati absolvendi per te vel alium auctoritate apostolica illos sacerdotes et clericos, cuiuscumque conditionis, religionis, ordinis vel status existant, qui in tua diocesi Burglanensi commiserunt premissa ab huiusmodi excessibus ac excommunicationis sententia juxta formam ecclesie et cum eis super irregularitate, si quam proptera contraxerunt dispensandi, si hoc humiliter petierint, ac injungendi eis pro modo culpe penitentiam salutarem et alia que de jure fuerint injungenda, tenore presentium concedimus facultatem. Datum Avinione ∙xv∙ kalendas junii anno sextodecimo.

Dansk oversættelse:

Til vor ærværdige broder biskop Tyge af Børglum, vær hilset. Din ansøgning, som er forelagt os, indeholder, at du i sin tid på grund af dit utrættelige forsvar af Børglumkirkens frihed blev taget til fange foran din nævnte kirkes højalter af den skændige Christoffer, der dengang på tyrannisk vis regerede i kongeriget Danmark som en fjendtlig forfølger af gejstligheden i de egne, mens du var iført bispeskrud for at holde messe, og grusomt blev martret i 22 måneder med jernlænker og andre udsøgte pinsler, og som fange blev kastet i et bælgmørkt fængsel, hvorfor nævnte rige blev lyst i interdikt. Da nu nogle præster og klerke, såvel regelbundne som sekulære, i de egne, bevæget af frygt for døden fra nævnte Christoffers hånd, er i tvivl om hvorvidt de ved at holde gudstjeneste i nogle kirker, der også var underlagt samme interdikt, eller ved utilbørligt at have meddelt kirkelige sakramenter eller på anden måde befattet sig med gudstjeneste under samme interdikt har pådraget sig bandlysnings-, suspensions- og interdiktsdom ifølge provinsvedtægterne og som følge heraf har pådraget sig irregularitetens lyde, har du derfor i dit vedkommende ydmygt bønfaldet os om barmhjertigt at værdiges at sørge for samme præster og klerke med absolutionens og dispensationens velgerning i den anledning. Da vi nu med Herren nærer fuld tillid til din indsigt og vil handle velvilligt med samme præster og klerke i den sag, har vi imødekommet dine bønner og giver dig med dette brev fuldmagt til personligt eller ved en anden med apostolisk myndighed og i overensstemmelse med Kirkens form at absolvere de præster og klerke uanset deres stilling, regel, orden eller stand, som har begået ovenstående i dit stift Børglum, fra disse forseelser og fra bandlysningsdommen, og at dispensere fra irregulariteten, hvis de har pådraget sig nogen derved, når de ydmygt beder om derom, og at pålægge dem en velgørende bod og andet som med rette bør pålægges dem i forhold til brødens art. Givet i Avignon den 18. maj i vort sekstende år.

Comments: Reg. Avin. has the name form Thome episcopo Burglavensi, Reg. Vat. has Th. episcopo Burglanensi. ● On Bishop Tucho OP of Børglum and his imprisonment, see 1327 19/8. ● On King Christoffer II of Denmark, see 1323 15/8.

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. I no. 225 (Reg. Avin.); Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. X no. 370 (Reg. Vat.).

1332 23/5

Lancken

Province of Dacia, Convent of Stralsund (prov. Saxonia)

Bishop Johannes Nyborg OP of Roskilde, Fr. Thidericus, prior of the Friars Preachers in Stralsund, and the guardian of the Friars Minor in Stralsund collectively certify a number of letters on Rügen for the city of Stralsund.

Source: Original document. Stralsund Stadtarchiv.

Language: Latin.

Nos frater Johannes miseratione divina episcopus Roskildensis, frater Tidericus prior fratrum predicatorum, et frater … gardianus fratrum minorum conventuum in Stralessund recognoscimus et publice appositione nostrorum sigillorum presentibus protestamur quod anno Domini MCCCXXX secundo sabbato proximo ante asscensionem Domini vidimus legimus audivimus litteras infrascriptas sigillo domini Giselberti Rinbisch et aliorum infrascriptorum de Flandria sigillatas non cancellatas non abrasas nec in aliqua parte viciatas infrascriptum tenorem de verbo ad verbum continentes: (…). Quod vidimus testamur cuiuslibet jure salvo. Datum Lanckus in Ruya anno Domini et die supradictis.

Dansk oversættelse:

Vi broder Johannes, af Guds miskundhed biskop af Roskilde, broder Dietrich, prior for prædikebrødrenes, og broder … , gardian for mindrebrødrenes konventer i Stralsund, erkender og bevidner offentligt ved at hænge vore segl under dette brev, at vi i det Herrens år 1332 på lørdagen før Kristi Himmelfartsdag har set, læst og hørt de nedenstående breve, beseglede med den herre Giselbrecht Rinbischs og andre nedenstående fra Flanderns segl, ufordærvede, uskrabede og ubeskadigede i enhver henseende, indeholdende nedenstående ord for ord: (…). Vi bevidner at have set dette under forbehold af enhvers ret. Givet i Lancken på Rügen i det Herrens år og dag som ovenfor nævnt.

Comments: ● On Bishop Johannes Nyborg OP of Roskilde, see 1322 10/6. The bishop of Roskilde was on Rügen on a regular basis, as the island was part of his diocese. ● Fr. Thidericus, prior of the Friars Preachers in Stralsund, has not been identified from other sources. ● Lancken (today Lancken-Granitz) is situated on the easternmost part of the island Rügen. Although being part of the diocese of Roskilde, Rügen was not included in the Dominican province of Dacia, as it belonged to the terminus of the convent in Stralsund and, thus, was part of the province of Saxonia. ● The certification was of nine letters of receipts for the city of Stralsund issued by various merchants from Flanders; the letters are published in PomUB vol. VI nos. 3526, 3568, 3569, 3570, 3573, 3580, 3583, 3709 and 3723.

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. X no. 378.

1332

Province of Dacia

Fr. Petrus Philippi, prior provincial of the Friars Preachers in Dacia, is elected archbishop of Uppsala. During his episcopacy he suffers much trouble with the Friars Minor.

Source: Registrum ecclesie Upsalensis.

Language: Latin.

(…) Quartodecimus archiepiscopus Upsalensis fuit frater Petrus Philippi, prius prior provincialis ordinis predicatorum, qui fecit sacarstiam lapideam in Arnø, et perpessus multas injurias a minoribus (…).

Comments: Fr. Petrus Philippi (Peter Filipsson) was a nobleman from Uppland, son of Knight Filip Finvidsson of Rumby. In 1321 he was lecturer at the Dominican convent in Sigtuna, after which followed a series of years as prior the same place. He was elected prior provincial of Dacia in 1328, but left the office in 1332, as he had been elected archbishop of Uppsala to replace Olof Björnsson, who had died on 1332 15/3; his election by the canons of the cathdral chapter was confirmed by the pope in 1332 3/10. As archbishop, Fr. Petrus came into a broad conflict with the Friars Minor of his diocese (i.e. in Stockholm, Enköping and Uppsala), which included hindering King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden from being crowned in the Franciscan priory church in Stockholm; because of complaints from the Franciscan minister provincial of Dacia, Pope Benedict XII charged the Norwegian archbishop to investigate and judge the case in 1338. Petrus Philippi stayed in office until his death in 1341, whereafter he was buried with his old convent in Sigtuna.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. V no. 3834; Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum vol. III:2.

1333 12/1

Convent of Visby

The prior of the Friars Preachers in Visby is paid 3 shilling gros by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for writing a letter on his behalf to the pope.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item anno Domini MCCCXXXIII die ∙xii∙ mensis januarii (…). Item dedi priori predicatorum Visbicensium per quem scripsi domino nostro pape ∙iii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium.

Dansk oversættelse:

(…) Ligeledes i det Herrens år 1333 på den 12. januar (…). Ligeledes givet prædikanternes prior i Visby, for at have skrevet til vor herre paven: 4 skilling grot tournois.

Comments: The prior of the Friars Preachers in Visby at this time was Fr. Matheus. He witnessed a letter for Petrus Gervasii in 1333 13/2 and was paid in 1333 8/6 for carrying a letter from the nuncio to the papal Curia in Avignon, as he happened to be in the neighbourhood anyway, attending the general chapter in Dijon in 1333 23/5. At this chapter, he was appointed vicar general for the province of Dacia until a replacement had been elected for Prior Provincial Petrus Philippi, the new archbishop of Uppsala. Whereas well-documented for the first half of 1333, nothing else is known about his biography. He may be identical to the unfortunate Fr. Matheus, diffinitor of Dacia, who died on his way to the general chapter in Lyon 1348 (see 1349 31/5). ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6. ● The letter in question written by Prior Matheus cannot be identified.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 118.

1333 (23/5)

Dijon

Provinces of Aragonia, Dacia and Regni Sicilie, Convent of Visby

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers appoints vicars general for the provinces of Regni Sicilia, Dacia and Aragonia to lead their provinces until new priors provincial are elected; Fr. Matheus, prior of the convent in Visby, is appointed for the province of Dacia.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Divionum celebrati anno Domini MCCCXXXII[I]. (…) Facimus vicarium in provincia regni Sicilie fratrem Franciscum de Aquila, priorem Aquilanum, donec prior provincialis electus confirmatus fuerit et in eadem presens extiterit. Item, in provincia Dacie facimus vicarium generalem fratrem Mattheum priorem Wisbucensem. Item, in provincia Aragonie facimus vicarium generalem fratrem Johannem Fortis, magistrum in theologia, donec prior provincialis electus et confirmatus fuerit et presens extiterit in eadem. Expliciunt acta capituli generalis apud Divionum Lugdunensis diocesis.

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● On Fr. Matheus, see 1333 12/1. He was installed as vicar in the provincial office to replace Fr. Petrus Philippi, who had been elected archbishop of Uppsala in 1332. His appointment was most likely triggered by his presence at the general chapter, either as diffinitor or socius; this is not stated in the acts, but he is known to have gone to the Curia in Avignon in the same period (1333 8/6).

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, p. 222.

1333 5/6

Convent of Sigtuna

The prior of the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna hands over 3 florins to Nuncio Petrus Gervasii collected as aid for the Holy Land from some people, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

De legatis factis in subsidium Terre sancte in Suecia. Anno Domini MCCCXXXIII (…) die ∙v∙ mensis junii. (…) Item recepi a priore predicatorum de Citonia Upsalensis diocesis pro dicto legato facto per quandam personam quam nominare noluit: ∙iii∙ florenos parvos. Noluit habere litteras.

Comments: The prior of the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna at this time cannot be identified. Fr. Bernardus held the office in 1328 16/2, while Fr. Siggon was prior in 1339 21/7. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 92.

1333 8/6

Convent of Visby

Fr. Matheus, prior of the Friars Preachers in Visby, is given a horse worth 10 marks by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for bringing letters to the pope and the papal chamberlain (in Avignon) concerning the nuncio’s negotiations in Sweden. Furthermore, the prior is paid 2 golden florins for his travel expenses.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item ∙viii∙ die junii (…). Item dedi fratri Matheo priori predicatorum Wisbicensium qui debuit portare litteras domino nostro pape et domino camerario continentes relationem negotiorum que gesseram in regno Suecie unum equum valoris ∙x∙ marchas denariorum Suevorum. Item dedi eidem ∙ii∙ florenos auri pro expensis suis.

Dansk oversættelse:

(…) Ligeledes den 8. juni (…). Ligeledes givet broder Mats, prædikanternes prior i Visby, som skal bringe breve til vor herre paven og den herre kammermesteren angånde de forhandlinger, som jeg har haft i kongeriget Sverige, en hest til en værdi af: 10 mark penge svensk. Ligeledes givet den samme 2 guldfloriner for hans udgifter.

Comments: On Fr. Matheus, see 1333 12/1. He attended the general chapter in Dijon in 1333 (23/5) and must have agreed to carry letters for the nuncio on to the Curia in Avignon, where he probably planned to continue to anyway, now he was in the region. In this way, the province found external funding for his travel expenses. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 120.

1333 9/6

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Fr. Johannes Åbo of the Friars Preachers, minor penitentiary at the Curia in Avignon for the church province of Dacia, assists and mediates a payment from the Apostolic Camera to Jakob Lok, a Dane, for bringing papal letters “and other means of negotiation of the Roman Church” to Nuncio Petrus Gervasii in Sweden; Jakob Lok signs for it all with the penitentiary acting as interpreter.

Source: Register in Apostolic Camera. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Acta fuerunt hec Avinione in camera thesaurarie a nativitate Domini millesimo CCCXXXIII indictione prima (…). Anno et loco quibus supra proxima die ∙ix∙ mensis junii, Jacobus dictus Lok diocesis Wibergensis cui fuerunt tradite de presenti certe littere apostolice et alie tangentes negotia Romane ecclesie portande per ipsum ad partes Suessie, discreto viro domino Petro Gervasii canonico Vivariensi apostolice sedis nuntio, recepit, de pecunia camere domini nostri pape a predicto domino camerario Dei gratia archiepiscopo Arelatensi, domini pape camerario, et se habuisse et recepisse recognovit, interprete mediante, fratre Johanne Abbo penitentiario domini pape, pro expensis suis faciendis eundo ad dictas partes, sex solidos Turonensium grossorum cum obolo rotunda testes sunt domini Guillelmus de Bos clericus camere domini pape, et Johannes Cortoys rector ecclesie de Niannay Ambianensis diocesis.

Comments: Fr. Johannes Åbo is not known with certainty from any other sources. His byname suggests a relation to Turku (Åbo) in Finland, thus, he may be identical to one of two Johanneses known at the convent of Turku in 1331: Prior Johannes Laurentii or Fr. Johannes Allonis. It has also been suggested that he may be identical to the Fr. Johannes, confessor of King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden-Norway, who travelled through Flanders to France as royal envoy in 1334 12/2 (Gallén 1946, 156 note 36; Haug 2008, 110). Fr. Johannes Åbo probably became minor penitentiary for the church province of Dacia shortly after his predessor and namesake Fr. Johannes Nyborg was appointed bishop of Roskilde by the pope in 1330 15/6. His term ended before 1338 23/6, when another Finnish confrater, Fr. Petrus de Åbo, had taken over. Haug has suggested that he died in the winter of 1337-38 (Haug 2008, 110). ● Jakob Lok was apparently a layman originating from the diocese of Viborg in northern Jylland, Denmark. His errand in Avignon is unknown. He did hand over the letters to Nuncio Petrus Gervasii somewhere in Sweden on 26 November, but apparently not quite in the state they had been given to him (see below); at this occasion the nuncio termed him ‘a servant of the Dacian penitentiary’. The nuncio too paid for Lok’s travel expenses, and the messenger had furthermore used 2 golden florins of his. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6. ● The papal letters that Jakob Lok carried on to Petrus Gervasii are most likely four letters preserved through transcripts in the Vatican Archives, all issued by Pope John XXII on 28 May 1333: one is an authorization to collect sixennial tithe of the clergy in Norway and Sweden, two are recommendations for the nuncio addressed to King Magnus of Norway (and Sweden) and the Scandinavian clergy respectively, and the last one was a personal covering letter for the nuncio himself (PNRD nos. 81-84).

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. I no. 239; Acta Pontificum Svecica 1. ser. vol. I no. 300 b.

1333 26/11

Nuncio Petrus Gervasii receives the abovementioned papal letters from Jakob Lok, “the Dacian penitentiary’s servant”, although they have been damaged, and he pays him for his expenses.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item ∙xxvi∙ die novembris dedi famulo penitentiarii de Dacia dicto Looch qui mihi portavit unam litteram clausam et duas patentes apostolicas quia dixit se fuisse spoliatum in via, quod non fuit verum ut postea didici, ∙viii∙ grossos Turonenses, et ibidem habuerat de nepote meo ∙ii∙ florenos auri. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

(…) Fremdeles den 26. november gav jeg pønitentiaren for Dacias svend, kaldet Looch, som havde bragt mig et beseglet pavebrev og to åbne, som han sagde var blevet ødelagt undervejs, hvilket jeg dog siden erfarede ikke var sandt, 8 groter tournois, og samtidig havde han brugt 2 af mine gyldne floriner. (…)

Comments: See above.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 122.

1333 Primo July

Convent of Oslo

The prior and two Friars Preachers of the convent in Oslo are paid 4 shilling gros tournois by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for acting as envoys regarding the nuncio’s ongoing negotiation with the Bishop of Oslo concerning his payment of due papal taxes, while the nuncio himself is setting off for Bergen.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item ∙iiii∙ feria post octabas apostolorum Petri et Pauli exivi Osloyam et solvi pro naulo Bergas ∙iiii∙ solidos grossorum cum ∙viii∙ denariis grossorum Turonensium. Item quia non potui expedire viam meam vento contrariante, misi Bergas nuncium per terram cum litteris meis per quas commisi domino episcopo Bergensi vices meas si non contingeret me venire ad terminum assignatum, et solvi dicto famulo pro expensis suis in illa via ∙xxii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item dedi prior predicatorum quem misi pro informatione recipienda contra episcopum Osloensem ∙ii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. Item dedi aliis duobus fratribus quos misi pro eodem negotio ∙ii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

(...) Fremdeles gav jeg prædikanternes prior, som jeg sendte for at modtage meddelelser imod biskoppen af Oslo, 2 skilling grot tournois. Fremdeles gav jeg to andre brødre, som jeg sendte for at forhandle med den samme, 2 skilling grot tournois. (…)

Comments: It is not explicitly stated from which convent the Dominican prior and friars came, but for it all to make sense it must have been friars affiliated to the house in Oslo, acting on the nuncio’s behalf before departure to Bergen. Actually, it is not even stated that the two friars were Dominican, but although Friars Minor were present in Oslo, Nuncio Petrus Gervasii consequently used Dominican friars only during his entire legation in Scandinavia. ● The prior of the Friars Preachers in Oslo at this time cannot be identified with certainty, but in 1335 6/9 the office was held by Fr. Asulphus. ● The bishop of Oslo at this time was Salomon Toraldsson (1322-1351). ● As the prior is paid to ‘receive letters against the bishop’ and the two friars are paid to negotiate with him, it gives the impression of a rather unwilling attitude from the bishop. In fact, Bishop Salomon could or would not pay his papal debt and because of this he was eventually excommunicated by Petrus Gervasii in 1335. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 121.

1333 3/8

Convent of Bergen

At his arrival in Bergen, Nuncio Petrus Gervasii immediately goes to the priory of the Friars Preachers.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item ∙iii∙ die augusti cum venit navis ad portum Bergensem dedi famulus navis, qui deposuerunt tonellas cum rebus et duxerunt cum una batella ad domum predicatorum, ∙iiii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item die ∙iiii∙ augusti emi ∙vi∙ pelles pergameni pro ∙iiii∙ grossis Turonensibus.

Dansk oversættelse:

(...) Fremdeles den 3. august med ankomst ad havet til havnen i Bergen gav jeg sømændene, der læssede tønder med mere og med en båd førte mig hen til prædikanternes hus, 4 groter tournois. Fremdeles den 4. august købte jeg 6 skind pergament til 4 groter tournois. (…)

Comments: The Dominican priory in Bergen was situated a little away from the mercantile harbour near a small habour of its own. ● Undoubtedly, the meaning is that the nuncio sought his accomodation with the friars. There are, however, no references to any payment for this lodging; perhaps the convent for its hospitality received some of the parchment that he set out to buy the following day. The nuncio probably stayed with the friars until the 8 September, when he sailed off to Bruges. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 121.

1333 4/12

Convent of Roskilde

The prior of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde is paid 5 shilling gros tournois by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for transporting half the collected papal tax money (of Denmark) from Roskilde to Helsingborg, from where it will be shipped out of the country; the prior is paid for his expenses and efforts, and additionally his convent receives a barrel of beer to the value of 20 gros tournois. The second half of the tax money is brought out of the country by ship by the Abbot of Æbelholt, for which he and his socius are paid 3 shilling gros tournois and 10 gros tournois respectively.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item die ∙iiii∙ decembris jui versus ecclesiam Roskildensem et solvi pro naulo seu pro maris transitu ∙viii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item solvi pro expensis famulorum domini archiepiscopi, qui me conduxerunt usque ad mare in Helsingburgh, ∙xiii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item solvi pro expensis domini Johannis de Capella canonici Roskildensis, qui ulterius direxit me in via usque Roskildis ∙viii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item dedi abbati de Paraclito qui portavit extra terram illam unam partem pecuniarum quas tunc receperam ibi, pro expensis et maris transitu, ∙iii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium, et dedi socio suo ∙x∙ grossos Turonenses. Item dedi priori predicatorum Roskildensium, qui reliquam partem pecuniarum debuit extra terram illam portare usque Helsingborgh tam pro maris transitu quam pro expensis et laboribus, ∙v∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. Item dedi conventui suo unam lagenam servisie pro qua solvi ∙xx∙ grossos Turonenses. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

(…) Fremdeles drog jeg den 4. december mod kirken i Roskilde og betalte i skipperløn eller for overfarten over havet 8 groter tournois. (...) Fremdeles gav jeg abbeden i Æbelholt, som bragte den ene part af pengene, som jeg indtil da havde modtaget, uden for landet, til underhold og overfart over havet 3 skilling grot tournois, og jeg gav hans rejsefælle 10 groter tournois. Fremdeles gav jeg prioren for prædikanterne i Roskilde, som skulle bringe den anden part ud af landet til Helsingborg, såvel til overfart over havet som til underhold og for møje, 5 skilling grot tournois. Fremdeles gav jeg hans konvent en tønde øl, for hvilket jeg betalte 20 groter tournois. (...)

Comments: The prior of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde at this time was probably Fr. Benedictus, who was in office in 1327 19/8 and 1337 10/1; on him, see 1315 18/1. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6. ● The nuncio undoubtedly hired the two monastic prelates for the shipping in order to bring the huge sum of money out of the wartorn and lawless country as discretely as possible. As recorded in the account book on 1334 10/1, the prior was, however, not able to make it to Helsingborg on agreed time due to warfare in the area; it is not evident, though, if the money had been taken from him or if he was just late. ● The barrel of beer for the convent in Roskilde was probably given to show his gratitude for accommodation, friendship and services since his first arrival two-and-a-half years earlier. ● Æbelholt (Paraclito) was an Augustinian abbey situated in north-eastern Sjælland, on the way from Roskilde to Helsingborg.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 123; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XI no. 152.

1334 10/1

Convent of Roskilde

The prior of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde is awaited in vain in Helsingborg by a clerk of Nuncio Petrus Gervasii and a priest in the service of the Archbishop of Lund, whereto he was due to arrive by ship from Sjælland with half the collected tax money from Denmark, but he was unable to be there in time because of the war; while waiting in Helsingborg, with three horses, his two recipients had expenses for 22 gros tournois.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item anno Domini MCCCXXXIIII die ∙x∙ januarii misi unum clericum meum una cum quodam presbitero domini archiepiscopi ad recipiendum pecunias quas debuit portare in Helsingburgh prior predicatorum Roskildensium in octava epiphanie et non potuit propter guerram, qui expectantes dictum priorem ibidem expenderunt ∙xxii∙ grossos Turonenses, cum tribus equis. (...)

Dansk oversættelse:

(…) Fremdeles i det Herrens år 1334 den 10. januar sendte jeg min klerk sammen med en af den herre ærkebispens præster for at modtage pengene, som prioren for prædikanterne i Roskilde skulle bringe til Helsingborg ottendedagen efter helligtrekongersdag, og det formåede han ikke på grund af krigen, og idet de ventede på nævnte prior, forbrugte de med tre heste 22 groter tournois. (…)

Comments: The prior of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde had been hired by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for the task in 1333 4/12. Obviously, he was meant to ride with the two men – and the money – on horseback from Helsingborg to Lund, where the nuncio had celebrated Christmas. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 123; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XI no. 152.

1334 12/2

Mâle

Province of Dacia

Count Louis of Flanders-Never-Rethel issues a letter of free passage for Master Peter Andersson (Pierre Andrieu), secretary of King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden-Norway, and Fr. Johannes of the Friars Preachers, confessor of the same king, both of them travelling through Flanders to King Philippe VI of France as messengers of the Swedish king.

Source: Transcript. Archives Départementales du Nord, Lille.

Language: French.

Nous Loys, conte de Flandre, de Neuers et de Rethel, faisons sauoir à touz que nous auons donné et donnons à maistre Pierre Andrieu, secrétaire de tresnoble et puissant prince, monseigneur le roy de Suece et de Noruoe, et à frère Jehan de l’ordre des prescheurs, confesseur du dit seigneur, messagés enuoiéz depar lui à nostre tresredouté seigneur, monseigneur le roy de France, bon et sauf conduit pour aler et venir par tout nostre pais et conté de Flandre, par ainssi qu’il[s] ne se mesfacent et sauf les priuilèges et franchises de noz villes de nostre dite conté et pais de Flandre dessus dit. Pour quoy nous mandons et commandons à tous nos justiciers et subgets et à tous les gardes de noz passages, des fins de nostre dite conté et pais, que les dessus diz maistre P. et Jehan, leur mesnie et harnois en la manière dessus dite lessent passer paisiblement sanz aucum arrest faire par le tesmoing de ces lettres scellées de nostre scel. Donné à Male le ∙xii^e∙ jour de feurier l’an de grace MCCC trente trois.

Comments: The letter is dated 1333, which in present-day terms means 1334, as New Year in France at this time began at Easter. ● Fr. Johannes is otherwise unknown. There is no telling which convent he came from, any of the Swedish and Norwegian houses is possible. It has been suggested that he could be identical to the papal penitentiary of Dacia, Fr. Johannes Åbo, acting in Avignon in 1333 9/6 (Gallén 1946, 156 note 36; Haug 2008, 110). ● King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden (1319-1364) and Norway (1319-1343) apparently felt closely connected to both mendicant orders. The Order of Preachers prescribed commemorational prayers for him at the general chapter in 1331 (19/5), and in 1363, he had another Dominican confessor, Fr. Gotscalcus Falkdal, whom he suggested to the pope as new bishop of Linköping.

Published: Sveriges traktater med främmande magter vol. I no. 221.

1334 28/3

Convent of Lund

The prior and lector of the Friars Preachers in Lund are paid 2 marks by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for safekeeping collected tax money, while the nuncio was in Sweden, and for ‘occasionally doing work on behalf of our lord the pope’.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item die lune in crastinum pasche exivi civitatem Roskildensem et solvi pro naulo ∙viii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item dedi priori et lectori predicatorum Lundensium qui servaverant aliquas pecunias quas commiseram eis quando jui in Sueciam et aliquando laboraverant pro negociis domini pape ∙ii∙ marchas denariorum Scaniensium. (...)

Dansk oversættelse:

(...) Fremdeles om mandagen efter påske forlod jeg staden Roskilde og betalte skipperløn 8 groter tournois. Fremdeles gav jeg prioren og lektoren for prædikanterne i Lund, som opbevarede nogle penge, som jeg havde overgivet dem, da jeg drog til Sverige, og som af og til havde beskæftiget sig med den herre pavens hverv, 2 mark i skånske penge. (...)

Comments: Neither the prior nor the lector of the Friars Preachers at this time can be identified. The office of prior was held by Fr. Nicolaus in 1329 1/5 and by Fr. Thrugillus in 1350 12/3. ● This is the only reference to any services performed by the Friars Preachers in Lund for Petrus Gervasii. The nuncio was, however, quite often in Lund during his legation, and most likely he had his accomodation with the friars and used their assistance whenever needed. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 124; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XI no. 152.

1334 18/4

Convent of Lübeck (prov. Saxonia)

The prior and convent of the Friars Preachers in Lübeck hands over 13 pounds gros tournois to Nuncio Petrus Gervasii on behalf of the bishop and cathedral chapter of Turku as remaining sixennial tithe from the city and diocese of Turku.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

De decima sexannali in regno Suecie. (…) Item anno Domini MCCCXXXIIII die ∙xviii∙ aprilis. Recepi a domino episcopo Aboensi et capitulo ecclesie Aboensis per manus prioris et conventus fratrum predicatorum Lybicensium ratione restantis decime sexannalis insolute de civitate et diocesi Aboensibus: ∙xiii∙ libras grossorum Turonensium. Habuerunt litteras quia notarium non habebam.

Comments: See below.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 91

1334 April

The prior, lector and two senior friars of the Friars Preachers in Lübeck are paid 6 shilling gros tournois by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for safekeeping deposited tax money and assisting him in his work. Additionally, the convent as a whole receives 2 shilling gros tournois for a festive dinner.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item die ∙vi∙ aprilis exivi Lundis et jui Malmøghe ad navem et dedi familis domini archiepiscopi qui me de nocte conduxerunt ∙ii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. Item dedi pro curru qui traxit res et pecunias ad navem ∙iiii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. Item solvi pro batella que duxit nos ad magnam navem ∙iiii∙ sterlingos. Item solvi pro naulo de Dacia ad civitatem Lybicensem in Alamania ∙v∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. Item solvi pro batella que portavit nos deportu ad civitatem Lybicensem cum rebus ∙vi∙ sterlingos. Item dedi priori predicatorum Lybicensium et lectori ac aliis duobus senioribus qui habuerunt custodiam depositi et laboraverant pro negotiis meis ∙vi∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. Item dedi conventui pro pitantia ∙ii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

(…) Fremdeles gav jeg prioren for prædikanterne i Lübeck og lektoren og to andre seniorbrødre, som har bevoget det deponerede og assisteret med mit hverv, 6 skilling grot tournois. Fremdeles gav jeg konventet til en festmiddag 2 skilling grot tournois. (…)

Comments: It is not precisely stated when Nuncio Petrus Gervasii paid the Friars Preachers in Lübeck, but he left Lund and Malmö on 6 April 1334, from where there is one or two days journey to Lübeck, is known to have been there on 18 April (see above) and he left Lübeck on 3 May. ● The Friars Preachers in Lübeck are not mentioned earlier in the nuncio’s records, but they obviously assisted him in the same way as the convents in Roskilde, Lund and Skara, by safekeeping collected money and performing various errands. In April 1332, the dean of the cathedral chapter in Roskilde had transported 120 marks silver and other valuable items to Lübeck on behalf of the nuncio, and although it is not stated, it would seem from the later entry that it was all deposited with the friars (PNRD, 116). In the late summer of 1332, the nuncio himself stayed for about three weeks in Lübeck, possibly living in the priory (PNRD, 117). ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 124.

1334 2/6

Bruges

Convent of Bruges (prov. Francia)

The prior and convent of the Friars Preachers in Bruges hands over 35 pounds gros tournois to Nuncio Petrus Gervasii on behalf of Bishop Jakob of Ribe as sixennial tithe from the city and diocese of Ribe.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

De receptis ex decima sexannali in civitate et diocesi Ripensibus in regno Dacie. (…) Item anno Domini MCCCXXXIIII die secunda mensis junii. Recepi per manus prioris et conventus fratrum predicatorum Brugensium in Flandria pro domino Jacobo episcopo Ripensi tradencium ∙xxxv∙ libras grossorum Turonensium de pecunia predicte decime mutuo recepta per dictum episcopum a collectoribus ipsius decime in civitate et diocesi Ripensibus. (…)

Comments: On Bishop Jakob Splitaf of Ribe (1327-1345), see 1332 21/3. ● On Petrus Gervasii and his legation in Scandinavia, see 1331 20/6.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 80.

1334 primo June

The convent of Friars Preachers in Bruges receives 6 shilling and 2 pence gros tournois by Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for a festive dinner, when he is handed over papal tax money from Scandinavia deposited in the priory.

Source: Account book of Petrus Gervasii, 1331-1334.

Language: Latin.

Item dedi pro naulo usque ad Flandriam ∙iiii∙ solidos grossorum Turonensium. Item dedi famulis de navi qui introduxerunt res in navem et extra posuerunt in batellam ∙ii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item dedi pro batella de portu Scluse usque ad Dammam ∙ii∙ grossos Turonenses. Item dedi de Damma usque Brugis pro batella ∙v∙ sterlingos. Item dedi conventui predicatorum Brugensium quando recepi depositum ∙vi∙ solidos et ∙iii∙ denarii grossorum Turonensium pro pitantia. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

(…) Fremdeles gav jeg prædikanternes konvent i Brugge, da jeg modtog det deponerede, 6 skilling og 3 penning grot tournois til en festmiddag. (…)

Comments: The entry is not dated, but sixennial tithe money deposited by the bishop of Ribe had been handed over by the convent on 2 June. Apart from the sum from Ribe, the money may for a part also have included the half of the Danish collection that the Abbot of Æbelholt shipped out of the country in 1333 4/12.

Published: Pavelige Nuntiers Regnskabs- og Dagbøger, p. 125.

1336 21/7

Pont-de-Sorgues

Convent of Schleswig, Province of Dacia

The prior of the Friars Preachers in Schleswig co-signs a joint supplication from clergy and lay authorities in the duchy of Schleswig, including Duke Valdemar V, for Pope Benedict XII to revoke the interdict laid upon Denmark for their particular province, partly because the duchy is not a formal part of the kingdom of Denmark and partly because neither the regents nor the people of Schleswig have had anything to do with King Christoffer II’s illegal imprisonment of Bishop Tucho OP of Børglum, which originally caused the interdict. On the contrary, Duke Valdemar’s uncle, Count Gerhard III of Holstein, has led an army to victory against the king, deposed him and imprisoned his youngest son, Otto, whom he would not set free until the bishop had been released. The Church of Schleswig has suffered greatly during the six years of interdict, causing grave damages to the religious devotion and Christian behaviour in the diocese. As a consequence of the supplication, Pope Benedict XII now enjoins three German clergy – the provost of Neumünster along with the schoolmaster and cantor of Hamburg – to investigate if the request is just, and if so to revoke the interdict.

Source: Transcript in Regesta Avinionensis. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Dilectis filiis ... preposito monasterii in Novomonasterio per prepositum soliti gubernari, et ... scolastico ac ... cantori ecclesie Hamburgensis Bremensis diocesis, salutem. Plenis desideriis affectantes occurrere periculis animarum cunctisque fidelibus de salutis fomite providere ad ea libenter apostolice benignitatis inclinamus auditum, per que ipsis fructus salutiferi plenitudo valeat provenire hoc moderamine adhibito in premissis, quod, qui legitime reperiuntur obnoxii, declinare nequeant canonice judicium ultionis. Ex tenore siquidem petitionis venerabilis fratris nostri ... episcopi et dilectorum filiorum capituli Sleswicensium, ... prioris predicatorum et ... gardiani fratrum minorum ordinum, nobilis viri Waldemari ducis Jutie, consulum, militum et communis civitatis ac universitatum diocesis Sleswicensis, ac ducatus eiusdem Jutie nobis oblate percepimus, quod licet diocesis et ducatus predicti de provincia Lundensi fore noscantur, tamen ipse ducatus per se dominium existit, quamquam olim in feudum a rege Dacie, qui erat pro tempore teneretur, quodque nullus ex eis consilium vel favorem seu auxilium dederat, quod venerabilis frater noster Tucho episcopus Burglanensis a nobili viro Christophoro dudum rege Dacie captus manciparetur custodie carcerali, propter cuius captivitatem virtute cuiusdam statuti concilii provincialis Lundensis per sedem apostolicam confirmati interdictum in quibusdam diocesibus dicte provincie observatur, necnon Gerardus comes de Holzatia ipsius ducis avunculus eiusdem ducis nomine cum militibus diocesis et ducatus prefatorum plurimisque stipendiariis dictum Christophorum tunc regem cum exercitu suo in camp Martio dicte diocesis existentem inito prelio debellavit, et Ottonem dicti Christofori secundogenitum ipso Christoforo et primogenito suo fugientibus captivavit, qui nullo modo de carcere liberari potuit, antequam dictus episcopus Burglanensis esset a vinculis absolutus et restitutus pristine libertati. Quare nobis supradicti episcopus Sleswicensis, capitulum, prior, guardianus, dux, consules, milites, commune, ac universitates humiliter supplicaverunt, ut ne quis dampnum patiatur ubi videtur premium mervisse, ac interdictum huiusmodi jam sexennium vel circa sine culpa dictorum episcopi Sleswicensis, ducis et aliorum supplicantium prefatorum, sed propter solam obedientiam et reverentiam ipsius sedis observatum existat, cum etiam ob prefatum interdictum multa mala et enormia in partibus illis insurgant sacerdotes et laici indifferenter in ecclesiis et cimiteriis occidantur, decime male solventur, omnes libertates ecclesie deprimantur et pereant, quidam laici incorrigibiles et inobedientes mortuos suos in cimiteriis manu laicali sepeliant, quascunque inhibitiones ecclesiasticas conentur infringere, nec sit, qui possit eorum dampnabilem errorem restringere ac insaniam temperare, ac prelati ecclesiarum, cum gladio temporali careant, spirituali gladio subditos suos vel seipsos nequeant defensare, nos dictorum supplicantium innocentiam et obedientiam attendentes providere ipsis et animabus eorum super eiusdem oportuna relaxatione interdicti de predicti sedis clementia dignaremur. Quia igitur prenarrata si veritate nitantur videntur in hac parte favorem succurrentis gratie promereri discretioni vestre per apostolica scripta committimus et mandamus quatenus si est ita, vos vel duo aut unus vestrum predictum interdictum quo ad ducatum, civitatem et diocesim Sleswicensem predictos, cunctas ecclesias et loca eorum usque ad eiusdem sedis beneplacitum auctoritate apostolica relaxetis, et ubi et quando expedire videritis per vos vel alium seu alios denuntietis interdictum ipsum taliter relaxatum. Volumus tamen, quod eadem auctoritate plenam et sufficientem informationem recipere procuretis, si qui de dictis ducatu et diocesi Sleswicensi de huiusmodi captione huiusmodi Burglanensis predicti extiterint et contra illos, quos per informationem huiusmodi reperietis de dicta informatione fuisse culpabiles et prefertur juxta formam supradicti statuti eiusdem concilii auctoritate predicta vestrumque processum super hoc habendum executioni debite demandare sublato appellationis obstaculo studeatis contradictores per censuram ecclesiasticam appellatione postposita compescendo. Testes autem, qui fuerint nominati, si se gratia, odio vel timore subtraxerint, censura simili appellatione cessante compellatis veritati testimonium prohibere, non obstante si aliquibus communiter vel divisim a prefata sit sede indultum, quod excommunicari, suspendi vel interdicti non possint per litteras apostolicas non facientes plenam et expressam ac de verbo ad verbum de indulto huiusmodi mentionem. Datum apud Pontemsorgie Avinionensis diocesis ∙xii∙ kalendas augusti anno secundo.

Dansk oversættelse:

Til de kære sønner … provst i klosteret i Neumünster, der plejer at styres af en provst, og skolemester … samt kantor … ved Hamburg Kirke i Bremen stift, hilsen. (...) Af ordlyden af en ansøgning stilet til os fra vor ærvædige broder biskop … af Slesvig og vore kære sønner kapitlet i Slesvig, prædikanternes prior ... og ... , gardian for de små brødres orden, af den velbyrdige mand hertug Valdemar af Jylland, af rådmændene, ridderne og almuen i førnævnte Slesvig stad og stift og i samme hertugdømme Jylland her vi erfaret, at selvom førnævnte stift og hertugdømme vides at høre til Lunds kirkeprovins, er dog hertugdømmet et selvstændigt område, skønt det i sin tid var et len af den danske konge, som fandtes til enhver tid, og at ingen af dem har med råd, gunst eller bistand medvirket til, at vor ærværdige broder biskop Tyge af Børglum blev fanget og sat i fængsel af den velbyrdige mand Christoffer, daværende konge af Danmark (...). Derfor har ovennævnte Slesvig biskop, kapitel, prior, guardian, hertug, rådmænd, riddere og almue ydmygt bønfaldt os om, for ikke at lade nogen lide tab, hvor de synes at have fortjent belønning, og da dette interdikt allerede i seks år eller deromkring har været overholdt, uden at der var brøde hos nævnte Slesvig biskop, hertug og de andre omtalte supplikanter, men af lydighed og ærbødighed imod det apostoliske sæde, og da som følge af førnævnte interdikt mange og store ulykker hjemsøger de egne, præster og lægmænd dræbes uden videre i kirken og på kirkegårde, tienden betales dårligt, alle kirkens friheder undertrykkes og går til grunde (...), pålægger og overdrager vi med dette brev Eder, gode mænd, at I eller to eller én af Eder, hvis det forholder sig således, med apostolisk myndighed efter samme sædes vilje ophæver førnævnte interdikt, for så vidt det drejer sig om førnævnte Slesvig hertugdømme, stad og stift og alle deres kirker (...). Givet ved Pont-de-Sorgues i Avignon stift den 21. juli i vort andet år [1336].

Comments: The prior of the Friars Preachers in Schleswig at this time cannot be identified. ● On Bishop Tucho OP of Børglum, see 1327 19/8. ● The bishop of Schleswig at this time was Hellembert (Helmbrecht) (1330-1342, †1343). ● The prior of the Friars Preachers in Schleswig at this time cannot be identified. ● Prince Valdemar V of Schleswig (1325-1364) also ruled as King Valdemar III of Denmark (1326-1330) during the first deposition of Christoffer II; as he was still only a teenager during this reign (he was born around 1314), the de facto regent was his uncle, Count Gerhard III of Holstein. ● On King Christoffer II of Denmark (1320-1326 and 1329-1332), see 1323 15/8. ● The German recipients of the papal bull have been identified as Heinrich, provost of the monastery in Neumünster; and Johann and Heinrich, schoolmaster and cantor at the cathedral chapter in Hamburg (DD/DRB 2. ser. vol. XI no. 309). ● The interdict on Denmark was launched in 1330 22/9 due to the royal imprisonment of Bishop Tucho OP of Børglum, whom King Christoffer II of Denmark accused of a number of crimes committed against the diocese of Børglum during his short episcopal office. The true reason for the imprisonment, though, seems to be that the Dominican bishop was one of the most eager opponents to Christoffer’s reinstallment as king in 1329, and according to the royal party he had also been one of the key initiators of the deposition of the king in the first place in 1326; at this time, however, Fr. Tucho was neither bishop nor prior provincial yet. Although the bishop was released in 1332 and the king died in the same year, the interdict was maintained for large parts of the kingdom until 1337. It was in fact left by Pope Benedict XII to Bishop Tucho himself in 1337 21/6 to investigate and judge if the interdict could be revoked in the provinces held by Count Gerhard III of Holstein.

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. I no. 270; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XI no. 309.

1336 15/8

Convent of Sigtuna, Province of Dacia

The provincial chapter of Dacia is held in Sigtuna.

Source: Annales 266-1430.

Language: Latin.

MCCCXXXVI. (…) et capitulum predicatorum fuit Siktunie in assumpcione beate Virginis.

Dansk oversættelse:

1336. (…) og prædikanternes kapitel foregik i Sigtuna på Jomfru Marias Himmelfartsdag.

Published: Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum vol. I:1, p. 28; Annales Suecici, p. 285; Annales Ordinis Predicatorum Dacie (online).

1337 10/1

Convent of Roskilde

Fr. Bent, prior of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde, together with the Franciscan custodian Fr. Gerlak of Roskilde and two local citizens, certifies two letters for the Bishop of Roskilde.

Source: Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Omnibus presens scriptum cernentibus frater Benedictus prior fratrum predicatorum Roskildis frater Gerlacus custos fratrum minorum ibidem, Gynsekinus Gynselinssun et Johannes Tuvæson cives Roskildenses salutem in domino sempiternam. Noverint universi nos litteras infrascriptas domini Ingwari Hyort quondam militis sub veris suis sigillis salvis et integris non rasas non abolitas non cancellatas nec in aliqua parte viciatas, tenores qui secuntur continentes. (...) Quod vidimus hoc testamur cuiuslibet jure salvo. In cuius rei testimonium sigilla nostra presentibus sunt appensa. Datum anno domini m.ccc.xxx.septimo feria sexta post diem epiphanie domini.

Comments: Fr. Bent (Benedictus) is probably first mentioned in 1315 as ‘acting provincial’ on behalf of the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes at the moot of Fakse Herred, which he also represented at the landsting of Zealand in 1322 and 1327; the latter time as prior of the convent in Roskilde. He is probably also identical with the unnamed Roskilde prior, who in the winter of 1333-34 was given the dangerous task of secretly transporting half of the collected, papal taxes from Roskilde to Helsingborg. After 1337, Fr. Bent is not heard of again; in 1342, at the latest, he was replaced as prior in Roskilde by Jakob From. Fr. Gerlak (Gerlacus) of the Friars Minors is known as Franciscan custodian of Zealand in the 1330s, and in 1351, he was elected minister provincial of Dacia until 1359. One of the co-witnessing citizens, Gynceke Gyncelinsen, is known as mayor of Roskilde in 1350. He was also an esquire with manorial seat in Falkendal just outside of Roskilde, and he might be the father of the Dominican penitentiary [1362-64] Godskalk Mule de Falkendal (†1374) (Gallén 1946, p. 180). He had donated land to the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes in 1329. The certifications were given for the Dominican Bishop Johannes Nyborg of Roskilde [1330-44] in regard of two letters to his predecessor, Jens Hind [1321-30], from Knight Ingvar Hjort (†1334, Jens Hind’s brother) confirming the bishop’s lordship of Copenhagen.

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XII no. 1.

1338 4/7

Avignon

Convent of Sigtuna

Pope Benedict XII charges three senior canons of Västerås, Strängnäs and Uppsala to investigate the complaints and judge in the conflict between parish priests in the archdiocese of Uppsala and friars of the mendicant orders. The canons are instructed to make sure that both parties comply with the ‘Super cathedram’ and later papal bulls on the matter.

Source: Transcript. National Archive of Sweden, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

Benedictus episcopus servus servorum dei dilectis filiis, arosiensis, et strengenensis, prepositis ac decano upsalensis ecclesiarum salutem et apostolicam benedictionem, frequentes hactenus, immo innumerose quodammodo, de diversis mundi partibus venerabilium fratrum nostrorum episcoporum, aliorumque superiorum, prelatorum, necnon dilectorum filiorum, rectorum, curatorum, et parochialium sacerdotum querele, contra dilectos filios, predicatorum, et minorum, ordinum fratres, sedis apostolice, jamdudum concitarunt, nostrumque clamosis insinuacionibus excitare et fatigare non cessant auditum, quod iidem fratres, decretalem dudum editam a felicis recordacionis bonifacio papa VIII, predecessore nostro, que incipit, super cathedram, ac deinde per pie memorie, Clementem papam V predecessorem nostrum in viennensi concilio innouatam temere observare non curant, sed ipsam transgredi non verentur in eiusdem sedis contemptum animarum suarum periculum et eorundem conquerencium, et ecclesiarum parochialium prejudicium et gravamen Intelleximus quoque quod plerumque prefatis dictorum, predicatorum et minorum, nec non heremitarum, sancti augustini, et carmelitarum, ordinum fratribus, in cuius ordinis dictorum, heremitarum, personis, idem predecessor bonifacius decretalem predictam in qua tantum, de ipsis predicatorum, et minorum, cavetur ordinibus, per omnia volvit postmodum integraliter et inconcusse servari, quamque subsequenter felicis recordacionis Johannes papa XXII predecessor noster ad dictorum carmelitarum fratrum ordinem antedictum, quo ad omnia in ea contenta extendit a predictis episcopis, prelatis, rectoribus, curatis, et sacerdotibus, contra tenorem decretalis predicte, graves injurie, atque molestie in diversis partibus inferuntur, nuper eciam pro parte dilectorum filiorum, rectorum, et curatorum, tam parochialium, quam aliorum quarumcunque ecclesiarum, civitatis et diocesis upsalensis, nobis extitit intimatum, quod predicti eorundem predicatorum, minorum heremitarum et carmelitarum ordinum fratres contra tenorem decretalis eiusdem, multa eisdem rectoribus et curatis et eorum singulis gravamina, et injurias inferunt et jacturas, quia igitur parum esset jura condere, nisi qui eadem tueatur existat Nos dicti johannis predecessoris qui decretalem predictam de fratrum suorum, de quorum numero fuimus, consilio, volvit et mandavit. integraliter observari vestigiis inherentes, discrecioni vestre per apostolica scripta mandamus, quatinus vos vel duo, aut unus vestrum, per vos vel alium seu alios eciam si sint extra loca in quibus deputati estis conservatores, seu judices tam eisdem rectoribus et curatis ipsorum civitatis et diocesis upsalensis et eorum cuilibet adversus fratres predictos, quam econverso eisdem fratribus, adversus rectores et curatos prefatos et singulos eorundem, efficacis defensionis presidio assistentes, ac facientes decretalem predictam, quo ad omnia eius capitula firmiter observari non permittatis contra tenorem ipsius per memoratos fratres dictorum ordinum eisdem rectoribus et curatis vel alicui seu aliquibus eorundem nec eciam per dictos rectores et curatos seu aliquem vel aliquos ipsorum eisdem fratribus gravamina aut injurias irrogari facturi ipsis hincinde de quibuscumque injuriis, molestacionibus gravaminibus, et dampnis illatis hactenus et eciam imposterum inferendis eisdem contra tenorem decretalis eiusdem in illis videlicet que judicialem requirunt indaginem summarie simpliciter et de plano sine strepitu et figura judicii in aliis vero prout qualitas ipsorum exegerit justicie complementum, Molestatores et injuriatores huiusmodi necnon contradictores quoslibet et rebelles, quandocumque et quocienscumque expedierit, per censuram ecclesiasticam appellacione postposita compescendo, non obstantibus quibuscumque exempcionibus specialibus vel generalibus tam fratribus et ordinibus predictis vel alicui seu aliquibus fratrum et ordinum eorundem, quam prefatis rectoribus et curatis seu ipsorum alicui seu aliquibus communiter vel divisim, sub quacumque forma vel expressione verborum, ab eadem sede concessis, ac eiusdem bonifacii qua cauetur ne aliqui extra suam civitatem vel diocesim nisi in certis exceptis casibus et in illis ultra unam dietam a fine sue diocesis ad judicium evocetur, seu ne judices et conservatores a sede deputati, predicta extra civitatem et diocesim in quibus deputati fuerint, contra quoscumque procedere, sive alii vel aliis vices suas committere, aut aliquos ultra unam dietam, a fine diocesis eorundem trahere presumant dummodo ultra duas dietas, aliquis extra suam civitatem et diocesim auctoritate presencium non trahatur, seu quod de aliis quam de manifestis injuriis et molestiis et aliis que judicialem indaginem exigunt penis in eos si secus exegerint, et in id procurantes adjectis, conservatores se nullatenus intromittant, quam aliis quibuscumque Constitucionibus a predecessoribus nostris romanis pontificibus tam de judicibus delegatis et Conservatoribus, quam personis ultra certum numerum per litteras apostolicas ad judicium non vocandis, aut aliis editis, que nostre possent in hac parte jurisdictioni aut potestati, ejusque libero excercicio quomodolibet obviare, seu si tan eisdem fratribus, vel eorum, ordinibus, aut alicui seu aliquibus fratrum et ordinum predictorum, quam rectoribus cunctis predictis vel aliquibus ipsorum, seu quibusuis aliis communiter vel divisim a prefata sit sede indultum, quod excommunicari suspendi vel interdici, seu extra vel ultra certa loca, vel alio quocumque modo ad judicium evocari non possint per litteras apostolicas non facientes plenam et expressam ac de verbo ad verbum de indulto huiusmodi et eorum personis locis ordinibus et nominibus propriis mencionem et quibuslibet aliis indulgenciis, seu privilegiis dicte sedis generalibus vel specialibus quorumcunque tenorum, existant per que presentibus non expressa vel totaliter non inserta, vestre jurisdictionis explicacio in hac parte valeat quomodolibet impediri et de quibus quorumque totis tenoribus de verbo ad verbum, specialem oporteat in nostris litteris fieri mencionem Ceterum, judicibus seu Conservatoribus quibuscumque per litteras apostolicas, sub quacumque alia quam presenti verborum, forma vel expressione confectas, eisdem, dictorum predicatorum minorum heremitarum, ac carmelitarum, ordinum fratribus, seu ipsis ordinibus communiter vel divisim, super dampnis et injuriis, et aliis quibuscumque rebus, seu negociis alias deputatis et subdelegatis eorum presentibus et futuris, auctoritate presencium districtius inhibemus ne aliquem seu aliquos auctoritate litterarum ipsarum, pretextu seu occasione quorumcunque dampnorum vel injuriarum, sive gravaminum contra tenorem predicte decretalis super cathedram, ipsis fratribus, seu eorum ordinibus communiter vel divisim, a quibuscumque personis illatorum, hactenus, et eciam inferendorum, imposterum, coram se alicubi deinceps ad judicium, vel alias quoquomodo vocare, seu in causam aliquatenus trahere presumant, inhibicionem huiusmodi non solum ad futura, sed eciam ad quouis modo adhuc pendencia et jam cepta negocia volentes extendi, ac decernentes prefatas litteras, et processus earum, auctoritate quomodocumque habitos et habendos, ad dampna gravamina et injurias huiusmodi contra tenorem dicte decretalis illata et inferenda ut dictum est deinceps aliquatenus non extendi Ac eciam irritum et inane si secus super premissis per quoscumque scienter vel ignoranter contigerit attemptari vobis nichilominus injungentes ut inhibicionem nostram huiusmodi ad dictorum judicum seu Conservatorum et subdelegatorum noticiam de quibus vobis expedire videbitur deducere procuretis Insuper volumus et apostolica auctoritate decernimus quod quilibet vestrum prosequi valeat articulum eciam per alium inchoatum quamuis idem inchoans nullo fuerit impedimento canonico prepeditus. Ideoque a datum presencium sit vobis et unicuique vestrum in premissis omnibus et eorum singulis ceptis et non ceptis presentibus et futuris perpetuata potestas et jurisdictio attributa ut eo vigore eaque firmitate possitis in premissis omnibus et singulis ceptis et non ceptis presentibus et futuris et pro predictis procedere ac si predicta omnia et singula quorum vobis cepta fuissent et juridictio vestra et cuiuslibet vestrum in predictis omnibus et singulis per citacionem vel modum alium perpetuata legittimum extitisset Constitucione predicta super Conservatoribus et alia qualibet in contrarium edita non obstante. Datum Avinione IIII nonas julii pontificatus nostri anno quarto.

Comments: Although the papal bull undoutedly is a response to an actual secular-mendicant conflict in the archdiocese of Uppsala, the wording of the letter cannot be used to say much about the items of complaints, as it appear to be a standard papal formula; this is especially evident from the consequent including of Carmelites and Augustinian Hermits, who were not present in Scandinavia at all at this time. The bull is, actually, more likely to refer to an on-going conflict between secular clergy and Friars Preachers on the one side against Franciscan friars on the other, on the former side led by the Dominican Archbishop Peter Filipsson of Uppsala (see 1338 1/9).

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum no. 3369.

1338 1/9

Avignon

Convent of Sigtuna

Pope Benedict XII charges the archbishop of Nidaros to investigate and judge in a conflict between the Franciscans and the Dominican archbishop of Uppsala, Fr. Petrus Philippi, who is said to persecute the Franciscan friars in his archdiocese. According to the complaints from the Franciscan minister provincial and the entire province, the archbishop and four named canons has unjustfully hindered King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden from being crowned in the Franciscan priory church of Stockholm, excommunicated their priory in Enköping, ordered a house torn down in Uppsala belonging to the priory there, and forbidden the secular clergy of the archdiocese from giving alms to the friars. Furthermore, the dean of the cathedral chapter is distributing defamatory texts against the Franciscans.

Source: Transcript. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Benedictus [Episcopus servus servorum Dei] Venerabili Fratri ... Archiepiscopo Nidrosiensi. Salutem etc. Offitii nostri debitum exigit, ut quibusuis poscentibus justitie plenitudinem impendamus. Ex tenore siquidem querulose petitionis dilectorum filiorum ... Ministri Provincialis, et Fratrum Ordinis Minorum Provintie Dacie juxta morem ipsius Ordinis nominate nobis oblate percepimus, quod venerabilis Frater noster Petrus [Archi]episcopus Upsalensis, qui Ordinis Fratrum Predicatorum existit, eosdem Fratres Minores persequitur toto posse, ipsisque gravamina plurima una cum Sighfrido Decano, Laurentio Vnga Magistro Amero Odhino, et Jordano Canonicis Ecclesie Upsalensis intulit, et inferre continue non desistit. Nam idem Archiepiscopus certos homines, qui quemdam Apostatam eorum de Ecclesia loci dictorum Fratrum Minorum in Scokolm Upsalensis Diocesis per violentiam extrahendo libertatem ecclesiasticam, et immunitatem eorum violantes nec non illos qui dictum Apostatam excommunicatum scienter admiserunt ad divina offitia, et communicaverunt eidem, punire atque corrigere, ipsisque Fratribus super hiis justitiam facere deregaverit, et nichilominus subditis suis inhibuit ne prefatis Fratribus elemosinas erogarent, neve carissimus in christo filius noster Magnus Rex Suetie Illustris, qui tunc coronari debebat, quique in loco predicto ipsorum Fratrum Minorum in Scokolm, ubi habet clare memorie Regem avum, et Reginam aviam suos sepultos, disposuerat coronationis sue recipere Diadema, in eodem loco eorundem Fratrum Minorum in Stokolm coronari valeret impedivit locum etiam dictorum Fratrum Minorum in Enecopia dicte Diocesis sine aliqua justa causa ecclesiastico supposuit interdicto, nec hiis contentus quoddam edifitium ipsorum Fratrum Minorum tunc situm in Civitate Upsalensi poni fecit sine aliqua causa rationabili in ruinam, dicta quoque Sacerdotum suorum prohibentium aliquos peccata sua eisdem Fratribus Minoribus confiteri nec posse nec debere, approbavit, et non desinit approbare, favet etiam in hoc Sacerdotibus antedictis, aliaque ipsis Fratribus Minoribus gravamina, et injurias plurimas irrogavit, prefatus insuper Decanus sub nomine Capituli ejusdem Ecclesie Upsalensis contra dictum Ordinem Minorum libellos diffamatorios edidit, et per illas partes publice divulgavit suo tamen sigillo tantummodo sigillatos. Ipsi etiam Canonici dilectis filiis ... Gardiano, et Fratribus loci eorum Upsalensis graves injurias, et violentias intulerunt, et familiares ipsorum Canonicorum eis mandantibus precipientibus et ratum habentibus in nonnullos ipsorum Fratrum Minorum ipsos spoliando rebus eorum manus atrociter injecerunt Dei timore postposito temere violentas. Quare nobis ipsi Minister, et Fratres Ordinis Minorum ejusdem Provintie Datie humiliter supplicarunt, ut adversus Archiepiscopum, Decanum et Canonicos supradictos providere eis super premissis de oportunis remediis ex apostolica Clementia dignaremur. Quocirca Fraternitati tue per apostolica Scripta committimus, et mandamus, quatenus vocatis, qui fuerint evocandi, et auditis simpliciter, et de plano sine strepitu et figura Juditii hinc inde propositis autoritate nostra facias ipsis partibus super predictis, et singulis et ab illis emergentibus et dependentibus ipsisque connexis justitie complementum. Contradictores etc. Testes autem etc. Non obstantibus tam de duabus dietis in Concilio generali, quam felicis recordacionis Bonifacii Pape VIII. Predecessoris nostri, qua inter cetera cavetur, ne aliquis etc. in contrarium editis, per quas tue jurisditionis explicatio possit in hac parte quomodolibet impediri seu si aliquibus etc. Datum Avinione Kalendas Septembris Anno Quarto.

Comments: Apparently, the bull and conflict is only concerning the Dominican archbishop and not the Friars Preachers as such, but it is included here because it is related to a general on-going conflict between the two mendicant orders, especially concerning Dominican access to the city of Stockholm. The secular-Franciscan conflict did, however, go deeper than the archbishop’s Dominican background and the strife on Stockholm. During a preceding conflict between Dukes Erik and Valdemar versus the metropolitan of Uppsala, the Franciscans had supported the dukes, whereas the Friars Preachers, not least in Sigtuna, had taken the side of the archiepiscopal see; thus, it was no coincident that the canons chose their former Dominican ally as new archbishop when the old one died in 1332. According to the reply to the accusations from the archbishop and his canons, there where also enough non-Dominican issues to put against the Franciscans (Diplomatarium Suecanum no. 3434). It is probably the same conflict that the pope charged a different committee to take care off a few months earlier in 1338. · On Fr. Petrus Philippi, see 1332. · The recipient of the letter, the Norwegian archbishop of Nidaros, was Pål Bårdsson, probably not the most objective judge to appoint, since he himself apparently had a grudge against the Friars Preachers in Nidaros, who in 1338-39 complained to his Dominican colleague in Uppsala about archiepiscopal persecutions, while the Franciscans here were being unjustly favoured. · Thus, perhaps not surprising, it was not the Norwegian archbishop but three Swedish bishops, who managed to put the archiepiscopal-Franciscan part of the conflict to an end on 1 December 1339.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum no. 3380; Diplomatarium Norvegicum vol. VI no. 155.

Literature: Lindbæk 1914, pp. 28-29; Gallén 1946, pp. 154-155.

1339 3/3

Convent of Tallinn

Fr. Johannes de Fellin, prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, refuses to recognize the legal authority of Abbot Johannes of Padis and Dean Thomas of Ösel, who has been appointed papal commissioners in the conflict between the Dominican convent and the cathedral chapter in Tallinn concerning the burial of a layman, but according to the prior have disqualified themselves for this task on various issues. It is noted that the papal letter of authority was presented to Fr. Johannes Vickele of the Tallinn convent, while he was visiting the cathedral chapter.

Source: Transcript from the mid-fifteenth century. Tallinn City Archives.

Language: Latin.

In nomine Domini, amen. Anno incarnationis eiusdem MCCCXXXIX indictione ∙vii∙ die tertia mensis martii hora ∙vi∙. Nos fratres Johannes de Velin, prior fratrum ordinis predicatorum conventus Revaliensis, coram testibus infrascriptis pro me et fratribus mee cure commissis, sicut alias sic et nunc protestor in hiis quod se judicium verum et aequum in partibus istis cuiuscunque juris vel privilegii beneficio nos habere sentiremus, nequaquam ad partes remotiores pro justitia et judicio consequendam transiremus. Sed licet vos domini venerabiles fratres, Johannes, abba monasterii de Pades cisterciensis ordinis, et Thoma, decane ecclesie Osiliensis, sonari feceritis in ecclesia nostra Revaliensi, quod vos nobis in judices sitis per sedem apostolicam deputati, dico tamen excipiendo, quod vos non credimus, nec fatemur esse tales, cum Romana sedes ex certa scientia suspectis judicibus causas non committat, vosque nobis multiplicarie, suspecti sitis. Primo ex eo, quod nobis jurisdictionem vestram, si quam habetis, aut ipsas litteras apostolicas, virtute quarum vobis in nos potestas provenire deberet, si posset, legitime et secundum formam juris intimare minime curavistis sed omisso juris ordine, non esse, sed magis videri et appellari et tamen judices aequi maluistis. Item ex eo, quod, cum constaret vobis, nos ad sedem Romanam a manifesto gravamine per dominum Olavum episcopum et G. decanum, nec non et eius capitulum, in injusta cumulatione cuiusdam funeris, quod apud nos sepeliri de jure debuerat, nobis allato, jamdudum appellasse, ad suggestionem tamen partis adverse, quam fovetis, a prosequutione appellationis nostre nos conati estis, non tam fraudulenter quam etiam violenter, impedire. Item ex eo, quod, cum appellatione pendente nihil debeat innovari, et nos vos abbatem predictum viva voce, vos vero decanum per litteras et nuntios speciales rogavimus, quod nihil de negotio, inter nos et capitulum ecclesie Revaliensis ventilato, faceretis, quousque nos, sicut et partem aliam, audissetis; quod etiam vos, domine abba, facere promisistis, infra sex dierum spatium a tempore facte promissionis in contrarium actum divertistis, vos vero, domine decane, respondendo nostris nuntiis dixistis, dominum H. Hanevere contra nos apud vos jam egisse, et nisi vos contra nos procederitis dixistis, partem adversam velle contra nos appellare. Item ex eo etiam specialiter quod vos domine abba sicut personaliter fatemini scientiam juris et experientiam non haberetis, sed quod domino H. Hanevere, canonico Revaliensi, qui de parte est adversa, et domino Thome decano supradicto videtur faciendum hoc facitis. Liquet igitur manifeste quod nec vobis neque decano predicto non immerito suspectis dominus papa negotium committet quodcunque inter partes decidendum. Et si non de vobis adesset suspicio nulla tamen vobis in nos videtur causa jurisdictionis attributa cum etiam ipsum rescriptum cui vos inniti videmini quod nostro fratri Johanni Vickele per canonicos familiari quodam tractatu inter eos sedenti oblatum diligenter perspexi vitium pretendet manifestum. Patet enim ex ipsius tenore ipsum facita veritate et suggesta familiaritate fuisse impetratum quod nunquam cancellarius concessisset si sibi veritatis series occultata non fuisset. Immo quam excipiendo dico pro me et meis fratribus supradictis quod nos nec citare nec jurisdictionem aliquam in nos potestis exercere sed neque nos coram vobis seu vestrum aliquo tenemur aliquatenus comparere cum periculosum sit coram suspecto judice litigare.

Comments: Fr. Johannes de Fellin, prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, later in 1339 testified to a transcript of a letter of privileges from 1282 for the city of Riga; and also in 1339 a letter of royal privileges from 1311 for the city of Tallinn. The byname indicates that he originated from the town of Viljandi (Ger. Fellin) in southern Estonia, alternatively that he was formerly based there as frater terminarius; the town never housed a Dominican convent of its own. ● Fr. Johannes Vickele of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn is not known from any other sources. ● For the actual conflict and the appointment of the two papal commissioners, see 1337. In 1340, the case seems to have launched an interdict against the convent.

Published: Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 785.

Literature: Walther-Wittenheim 1938, pp. 67-68; Gallén 1946, pp. 181-182.

1338-39

(Nidaros)

Convent of Nidaros

The convent of Friars Preachers in Nidaros asks Fr. Petrus Philippi, archbishop of Uppsala, for permission to send two fratres terminarii to Jämtland, where the priest Fr. Arnerus Laurentii shall celebrate mass, preach, hear confession and impose penance, while the novice Fr. Haquinus shall help him quest for alms and donations for the repair of the dilapidated buildings of their priory. In addition, the friars complain that their own bishop, Archbishop Pål Bårdsson of Nidaros, constantly harasses them, while favouring “his beloved Friars Minor” and the Cistercians.

Source: Original document. The National Archives, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

Venerabili in Christo patri ac domino suo fratri Petro Philippi ordinis predicatorum divina miseracione archiepiscopo Upsalensi fratres conventus Niðrosiensis salutem et oracionum suffragia cum debite servitutis reverentia et honore. Noverit vestra paternitas veneranda dilectos in Christo fratres fratrem Arnerum Laurencii sacerdotem et fratrem Haquinum novicium Juisse de conventu cum honesto viro Haralldo exactori jamcie nostro confratri ac sincero benefactori cum nostro unanimi consensu ac licencia speciali. Et quia urgens penuriarum necessitas ac graves caristie quas patimur vestra pietatis subsidia, de quibus multum confidimus nos cogit obnixis precibus efflagitare. Quapropter dominacioni vestre suplicamus quatinus in conventus nostri commodum et Juvamen dictos fratres per jamciam transeuntes pro ista vice tamquam terminarios presentatos admittere dignemini graciose, concedentes fratri Arnero ut possit ex vestra licencia et beneplacito divina celebrare, verbum dei proponere, confessiones audire, ac penitencias imponere salutares, instant enim nobis muri et sartatecta ecclesie reparanda aliaque edificia domus nostre satis gravia et sumptuosa. Ideo rogamus vos vi personaliter dignemini conventum nostrum piis elemosinarum largicionibus respicere ac alios ad hoc informare, ut per vestram industrie benivolenciam nostra pauperies in aliquo valeat alleviari. Dominus archiepiscopus Nidrosiensis eiusque collegium ad minus nos in aliquo bono respicit, sed infert nobis infinita gravamina, et multas infestaciones de quarta omnium funeralium, quamuis ecclesie parrochiales suas habeant integraliter porciones. Prohibet eciam nos predicare in civitate et rure, nec confessiones audire. Et sub pena privacionis officii et beneficii vetat sacerdotibus ne nobis benefaciant vel humaniter recolligant. Et quod nobis maliciose denegat, minoribus tamquam suis karissimis concedit, admittit eciam cistercienses ad mendicandum, dans eis auctoritatem communicandi populum propter donaria que recepit in occultis hec vestre suggerimus pietati tamquam firmius confidentes per vestram sollerciam nobis super hiis de aliquo oportuno remedio provideri Valeat et vigeat vestri status honorificencia ecclesie dei ad exaltacionem, nobisque ad uberiorem cumulum meritorum.

Comments: The letter is undated, but obviously dates to the archiepiscopal office of Fr. Petrus Philippi of Uppsala, 1332-1341. The most likely period can be narrowed in to the years 1338-39, where Archbishop Petrus is known to have been in a dispute of his own with the Friars Minor in Uppsala, a strife, which Archbishop Pål Bårdsson of Nidaros was papally appointed to investigate and pass judgment on, in the autumn of 1338 - a situation which the Friars Preachers in Nidaros may have wanted to make the best of, while at the same time helping their fellow friar in Uppsala with counter-arguments against his judge. ● On Fr. Petrus Philippi, archbishop of Uppsala, see 1338. ● The priest Fr. Arnerus Laurentii (Arne Larsson) and the novice Fr. Haquinus (Håkon) of the Friars Preachers in Nidaros are otherwise unknown. ● Jämtland is a landscape in north-western Sweden on the border between Norway and Sweden. At this time, it was part of the Norwegian kingdom, but at the same time within the Swedish archdiocese of Uppsala. ● The ‘exactor’ Harald was some sort of lay sheriff of Jämtland, who apparently had permitted the terminatione and generally appears as a friend of the Order.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. IV no. 3405; Jämtlands och Härjedalens Diplomatarium vol. I no. 37.

Literature: Gallén 1946, pp. 167-168.

c. 1340 10/11

Koykere

Convent of Tallinn

Bishop Oluf of Tallinn requests the bailiff, mayors and city council of Tallinn to take no notice of the interdict, which has been lais upon the city by the pope, and to dismiss all unjust allegations made against the Friars Preachers of Tallinn for having caused the interdict.

Source: Original document. Tallinn City Archives.

Language: Latin.

Olavus, divina miseratione episcopus Revaliensis, honorabilibus viris, dominis advocato, proconsulibus et consulibus civitatis Revaliensis, quicquid honoris et commodi poterit, cum salute. Non miremini de interdicto, quod non est per nos positum nec aliquo alio, nisi solo papa, de quo teste Deo dolemus, quod per nos non potest relaxari, et ideo si aliqui fratribus predicatoribus culpam vel causam huius imponunt, eis graviter injuriantur, unde rogamus, quatinus amore Dei, zelo justitie, nostrarumque precum interventu predictos fratres non gravetis verbis vel factis, nec contra eos aliquid molestie vel gravaminis a quibuscunque vestris concivibus fieri permittatis. In Domino valete. Scriptum Koykere, in profesto beati Martini, nostro sub secreto.

Dansk oversættelse:

Oluf, ved Guds miskundhed biskop af Reval, til de hæderværdige mænd, de herrer fogeden, borgmestrene og rådmændene i staden Reval: Ære og fordel med hilsen. I må ikke undres over interdiktet, som ikke er pålagt af os eller af nogen anden end paven alene. Det smerter os - Gud er vort vidne - at det ikke kan hæves af os, og hvis nogen derfor tilskriver eller tillægger prædikebrødrene skylden eller årsagen, gør de dem alvorligt uret. Derfor beder vi, at I af kærlighed til Gud og af iver efter retfærdighed, samt ved vore bønners mellemkomst, ikke krænker førnævnte brødre i ord eller gerning eller tillader, at der tilføjes dem nogen overlast eller skade af Eders medborgere. Skrevet i Koykere den 10. november under vort segl.

Comments: The letter is without a year, but in LEKUB it is dated to around 1340, in DD to 1330-37. DD connects it to a general interdict laid upon Denmark due to the imprisonment of the the Dominican Bishop Tucho Klerk of Børglum, but it seems unikely that this would have inflicted such anger against the Friars Preachers in Tallinn. More likely the interdict relates to the conflict between the Friars Preachers of Tallinn and the cathedral chapter of the city reported in 1337 and 1339. Oluf ‘de Roskilde’ was bishop of Tallinn from 1322 to 1350, and apparently did not support his canons in the case against the convent.

Published: Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 794; Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. X no. 280.

Literature: Walther-Wittenheim 1938, p. 68; Gallén 1946, p. 182.

1341 13/8

Province of Dacia, Convent of Sigtuna

Fr. Petrus Philippi OP, archbishop of Uppsala, dies and is buried with the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna.

Sources: A. Registrum ecclesie Upsalensis. B. Annales 266-1430.

Language: Latin.

(…) archiepiscopus Upsalensis (…) frater Petrus Philippi (…) obiit anno Domini millesimo CCCXL primo dominica infra octavas beati Laurencii et sepultus est Sictonie apud predicatores. (…)

MCCCXLI. Obiit frater Petrus Philippi ordinis predicatorum archiepiscopus Upsalensis, cui successit dominus Hemingus prepositus Arosiensis.

Dansk oversættelse:

1341. Broder Peter Filipsson af Prædikantordenen, ærkebiskop i Uppsala, døde, (og) blev efterfulgt af herr Hemming, provst i Västerås.

Comments: On Fr. Petrus Philippi, see 1332.

Published: A. Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. V no. 3834; Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum vol. III:2. B. Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum vol. I:1, p. 28; Annales Suecici, p. 285; Annales Ordinis Predicatorum Dacie (online).

1341 13/9

Søborg

Convents of Næstved and Roskilde

Will for Ingerd Pedersdatter, wife of Ølrik Skaft, in which she leaves 2 shilling gros. to the Friars Preachers in Næstved and 1 shilling gros. to every monastery in Roskilde, which would include the Dominican priory and nunnery.

Source: Transcript in the Esrum Book.

Language: Latin.

In nomine sancte et individue trinitatis. (...) horum ego Ingerdis Pætersdotter conthoralis dilectissimi mei Ølrici Skafft (...) testamentum meum, et hanc ultimam meam voluntatem, ac legacionem condo, ordino et facio in hunc modum. In primis igitur lego monasterio Esrom ubi corpusculum meum terre peto instantius commendari, curiam unam in Uppesundby, et ornamenta unius sacerdotis pro missis celebrandis cum uno calice argenteo. (...) Item cuilibet monasterio Roskildis unum solidum grossorum. Item monasteriis fratrum predicatorum et minorum Nestwedis duos solidos grossorum. (...) Actum Syoburgis anno domini m.ccc.xl. primo profesto exaltacionis sancte crucis sub sigillis exequtorum predictorum.

Comments: Ingerd Pedersdatter (Ingerd filia Petri) was daughter of a knight Peder Karlsen (Petrus Caroli) of Bjergby. Her husband Ølrik (Ulricus) Skaft or Skakt was an esquire. The location of the landed estate listed in the will clearly points to a connection to north-eastern Zealand, where the Cistercian Esrum Abbey and the castle of Søborg are located, but other parts of the will also point to southern Zealand, which may explain the special attention for the priories in Næstved.

Published: Codex Esromensis no. 206; Erslev, Testamenter... no. 40; Diplomatarium Danicum 3. ser. vol. I no. 196.

1341 26/9

(Tallinn)

Convent of Tallinn

Last will and testament for Rutger Dynevar ‘the Older’, city councillor of Tallinn, in which he leaves 1 mark silver for the Dominican church of St. Catherine in Tallinn and 1 mark silver for his relative, Fr. Folquinus Dynevar (‘the Younger’), who is friar at the convent.

Source: Original document. Tallinn City Archives.

Language: Latin.

In nomine Domini amen. Cum legitur secundum Augustinum, quod nec certius sit morte hora vero mortis nec incertius, hinc est, quod ego Rotherus Dynevar senior licet debilis sim mei corporis tamen Dei gratia sanus et sciens mee mentis, volens anime mee de bonis a Deo michi collatis salubriter providere testamentum meum ordino in hunc modum: Primo lego quadraginta marcas argenti pro una vicaria domino Hinrico Dynevar sacerdoti mei fratris domini Lydekini filio facienda. Quo quidem domino Hinrico Dynevar defuncto extunc Hinricus Dynevar Volquini filius prefixam habebit vicariam loco domini Hinrici Dynevar antedicti. Predicto autem Hinrico Volquini Dynevar filio mortuo honorabiles viri domini consules Revalienses dicte vicarie erunt provisores, qui eam proximioribus et dignis personis, qui ex gladii latere processerunt, debent benefitiare. Item 1 marcam argenti ecclesie beati Nicolai, domino Bernardo Dynevar rectori eiusdem 2 marcas argenti, domino Nicolao Fabro 1 fertonem et duobus dominis capellanis ibidem cuilibet 4 oras ac ad organa 1 fertonem ecclesia in eadem. Item capelle sancte Barbare 2 cumulos lapidum, quorum etiam vectura et structura ad murum eos deponendo et tantum sementi, quantum ad hos necesse fuerit, totum de mea pecunia solvi. Item ecclesie beate Marie virginis in castro 1 marcam argenti. Item ecclesie sanctimonialium 1 marcam argenti. Item ecclesie beati Olavi 1 marcam argenti. Item ecclesie beate virginis Katerine 1 marcam argenti. Item ecclesie sancti spiritus 1 marcam argenti. Item ecclesie hospitalis 1 marcam argenti. Item Volquino Dynevar 5 marcas argenti et sue filie, quando desponsata fuerit, 5 marcas argenti filioque, suo fratri Volquino ordinis fratrum predicatorum 1 marcam argenti, reliquis vero suis pueris cuilibet 1 marcam argenti. Item Wynando predicti Volquini Dynevar fratri 1 marcam argenti. Item sorori Rotheri Dynevar junioris in Zozatho existenti 5 marcas argenti. Item tribus filiabus sororis domini Hermanni Stympel in claustro sanctimonialium cuilibet 1 marcam argenti. Item Lytgardi Quade 1 fertonem. Item pauperibus 3 albos markess(enses) pannos. Item 3 stiparum elemosine debent dari insuper, si filius heredibus morte fuerit preventus, extunc de bonis per ipsum relictis filii et heredes domini Frederici de Hummer 60 marcas argenti debent sublevare. De superstitibus autem bonis dicti mei filii debent 60 marcas argenti poni ad 40 marcas argenti suprascriptas, ut vicaria de centum marcas argenti plenarie sit prenotata. Residua enim bona omnia assigno heredibus mei fratris domini Lydekini Dynevar sepedicti. Executores et provisores huius mei testamenti eligo et constituo honorabiles viros dominos Hermannum Morum et Lodwicum Hamer consules Revalienses, Fredericum de Hummer, Rotherum et Johannem dictos Dynevar cives ibidem. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum meum una cum sigillis executorum meorum predictorum et aliorum presentium scilicet dominorum Hermanni Stympel et Johannis Cracht consulum Revaliensium presentibus est appensum. Datum et actum anno Domini MCCCXL primo feria tertia ante festum beati Michaelis.

Comments: Fr. Folquinus Dynevar is not known from other sources. His family relation to testator is not clear, but he may have been the son of his cousin. According to the will, Fr. Folquinus was son of Folquinus Dynevar (’the Older’), a burgher in Tallinn known from the period 1314-1347. He had a brother, Hinrick Dynevar ‘the Younger’, who was a secular priest in Tallinn. ● Rutger Dynevar ‘the Older’ is known as city councillor in Tallinn in the 1330-40s. The Dynevar family originated from Lübeck, from where they settled in Tallinn from the late thirteenth century. Of the eight male members mentioned in the will, there were two city councillors, three burghers, three secular priests and one friar, all living in Tallinn. The family name is belived to derive from Dünefahrt, ‘dune travelling’, possibly referring to the multiple sand dunes along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea between Lübeck and Tallinn.

Published: Revaler Urkunden und Briefe no. 20.

1343 1/6

Paris

Provinces of Dacia and Terra sancta

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers absolves the priors provincial of Terra sancta and Dacia and installs them as vicars general of their provinces until new provincials are elected.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis Parisius in festo penthecostes celebrati anno Domini MCCCXLIII. (…) Iste sunt absolutiones. Absolvimus hoc provinciales: Terre sancte et facimus eum ibidem vicarium generalem, donec provincialis fuerit presens in provincia supradicta. Item, Dacie et facimus eum ibidem vicarium generalem, donec provincialis electus fuerit et confirmatus et presens extiterit in provincia Dacie memorata. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

I Faderens og Sønnens og Helligåndens navn, amen. Dette er akterne af generalkapitlet afholdt i Paris i pinsen det Herrens år 1343. (…) Dette er afsættelserne: Vi afsætter disse provincialer: I Terra sancta og indsætter ham selv som generalvikar, indtil en provincial er til stede i ovennævnte provins. Ligeledes i Dacia og indsætter ham selv som generalvikar, indtil en provincial er valgt og godkendt og tilstedeværende i omtalte provins Dacia. (…)

Comments: The prior provincial of Dacia in question cannot be identified. Gallén suggested that it was probably Fr. Ascerus, known to be provincial of Dacia at some point in the period 1333-49 (Gallén 1946, 136). ● There are no indications as to why any of the two priors provincial were absolved.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, p. 290.

1343 27/10

Tallinn

Convent of Tallinn

Fr. Wifbrandus, vice prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, declares along with Bishop Oluf of Tallinn and the cathedral chapter, two Cistercian abbots, the city council of Tallinn and a number of Estonian knights and esquires that they due to utter distress and necessity have seen no other way than to plead to the Teutonic Order of Livonia for help against the military uprising of pagan Estonians, who threatens to demolish the entire Christian community of the country.

Source: Transcript. Königsberg Staatsarchiv.

Language: Latin.

Universis Christi fidelibus presentia visuris vel audituris, Olavus, miseratione divina ecclesie Revaliensis episcopus, Gotfridus, decanus, totumque capitulum ibidem, frater Gobelinus, abbas monasterii Rume in Gothlandia ordinis cisterciensis, frater Nicolaus, abbas in Pades eiusdem ordinis, frater Wifbrandus, gerens vices prioris conventus Revaliensis, (…), milites, (…), armigeri, consiliarii domini regis Dacie, in Estonia commorantes, nec non universitas vasallorum suorum ibidem, proconsules et consules civitatis Revalie servitium debitum et paratum. Ne ea, que bono animo et quacunque necessitate inevitabili, que legem non habet, fiunt, per iniquam detrahentium malitiam calumniari possint falsi admixtione, expedit, ut per scripture et veridicorum testimonia memorie commendentur. Recognoscimus igitur pre presentes et publice protestamur, quod post invasionem Estonum infidelium, depredationem et interfectionem dominorum suorum, spoliationem bonorum eorundem, nec non et maleficia eorum quam plurima, nos, qui eramus adhuc superstites, eosdem rebelles ad dominorum suorum subjectionem et ad ecclesie unitatem cogere et revocare non valentes, ob meram necessitatem, nos urgentem, honorabiles et religiosos viros magistrum et fratres hospitalis s. Marie ordinis domus Theutonicorum Irlitan. in Livonia, sine quorum presidio hec novella orientalis ecclesie plantatio defensari non possit, omni instantia rogavimus, ut divine remunerationis intuitu nobis, ad compescendum et revocandum dictos perfidos ab infidelitatis errore, dignarentur subsidium repartiri, protestantes presentibus, quod quecunque per dictos magistrum et fratres una nobiscum contingerint et contingant, ad nostras instantias evenire, quia timetur verisimiliter, quod, nisi celeriter eorum tirannidi occurratur, ipsorum infidelium numerus nimium augmentetur, maxime quia alii huius provincie neophiti, eorum exemplo provocati, jam incipiunt vacillare. Si quis autem universitatis vestre auribus aut alias cuiuscumque contrarium instillaverit, in conscientiis nostris audemus dicere, quod causa odii et invidie contra omnimodam, hoc faciant veritatem, ut filii diaboli zizaniam seminantes, nam astamus eis et astare volumus coram quocumque, quod ad supplicationes nostras multiplices et necessarias dicti magister et fratres in defensando nos, terram et castra, et ad faciendum premissa sibi assumpserunt sollicitudines, curas et labores. In quorum omnium testimonium evidens sigilla nostra presentibus duximus apponenda. Datum et actum Revalie, anno Domini millesimo tricentesimo quadragesimo tertio, in vigilia Simonis et Jude apostolorum.

Dansk oversættelse:

Oluf, af Guds miskundhed Revalkirkens biskop, Godfred, dekan, og hele kapitlet sammesteds, broder Gobelin, abbed i klosteret Gudvalla på Gotland af Cistercienserordenen, broder Nikolaus, abbed i Padis af samme orden, broder Wifbrand, stedfortræder for prioren for konventet i Reval, (...), riddere, (...), væbnere, hr. kongen af Danmarks råder, boende i Estland, og desuden alle hans vasaller sammesteds, borgmestre og rådmænd i staden Reval til alle troende kristne, som får dette brev at se eller hører det læse: Skyldig og redebon tjeneste. (...) Vi erkender derfor med dette brev og erklærer offentligt, at efter de vantro esters angreb, plyndring og drab på derres herrer, udplyndring af sammes gods samt efter mangfoldige andre misgerninger, har vi, som endnu er overlevende og som ikke kan tvinge samme oprørere til underkastelse under deres herrer og kalde dem tilbage til Kirkens enhed, så indstændigt, som vi kan, på grund af den hårde nåd, der tvinger os, bedt de hæderværdige og fromme mænd ordensmesteren og brødrene af Skt. Marie Hospitalsorden i Livland, uden hvis beskyttelse denne østlige kirkes nye udplantning ikke kan værnes, om at de med henblik på den guddommelige gengældelse ville værdiges at yde os undsætning til at tøjle og kalde nævnte troløse tilbage fra vantroens vildfarelse, idet vi erklærer med dette brev, at alt, hvad nævnte ordensmester og brødre måtte foretage i fællesskab med os, sker efter indtrængende anmodning, eftersom det med al sandsynlighed må befrygtes, at antallet af disse vantro forøges overvættes meget, hvis ikke deres tyranni hurtigt imødegås, især fordi andre af denne kirkeprovins’ nyomvendte, lokket af deres eksempel, nu begynder at vakle. (...) Til klart vidnesbyrd om alt dette har vi ladet vore segl hænge under dette brev. Givet og forhandlet i Reval i det Herrens år 1343 den 27. oktober.

Comments: Fr. Wifbrandus, vice prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, is not known from any other sources. ● A well-organized (and allegedly pagan) peasant revolt broke out in Estonia in April 1343. The Teutonic Order prevented a rebellious attack on Tallinn in May, and the uprising was finally put down by the Germans in November.

Published: Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 820; Diplomatarium Danicum 3. ser. vol. I no. 376.

1345 26/9

Tallinn

Convent of Tallinn

Fr. Robertus, prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, and his entire convent verify along with Dean Gottfried and the cathedral chapter of Tallinn, the Cistercian abbot of Padis and the Teutonic castellan of Tallinn a transcript of a letter from 1344 by King Valdemar III of Denmark-Estonia to Stig Andersen, appointing him royal sheriff of Tallinn and Estonia.

Source: Original document. Tallinn City Archives.

Language: Latin.

Universis presentia visuris seu audituris, Godifridus, decanus ecclesie Revaliensis, totumque capitulum ibidem, frater Nicolaus, abbas cisterciensis ordinis in Pades, frater Gosswinus de Herike, cui castrum Revaliense ad usus corone regni Dacie ad custodiendum est commissum, nec non fratres Robertus, prior, totusque conventus ordinis fratrum predicatorum in Revalia, salutem in Domino sempiternam. Noverint universi nos litteras illustrissimi principis domini Woldemari, regis Dacie, vidisse et audivisse non rasas non abolitas non cancellatas nec in aliqua sui parte vitiatas de verbo ad verbum tenorem qui sequitur continentes: (...) In cuius perspectionis testimonium sigilla nostra presentibus sunt appensa. Datum Revalie, anno Domini MCCCXL quinto, feria secunda proxima ante festum beatis Michaelis archangeli.

Dansk oversættelse:

Godfred, dekan ved kirken i Reval, og hele kapitlet sammesteds, broder Nikolaus, abbed for cistercienserne i Padis, broder Goswin af Herike, hvem borgen i Reval er overdraget til bevogtning til nytte for riget Danmarks krone, samt brødrene Robert, prior, og hele konventet af prædikebrødre i Reval til alle, som får dette brev at se eller hører det læse: Hilsen evindelig i Herren. Alle skal vide, at vi har set og hørt et brev, udstedt af den berømmelige fyrste hr. Valdemar, Danmarks konge, hvilket brev var uskrabet, ustunget, ufordærvet og ubeskadiget i enhver henseende, og af den ordlyd som her følger: (...) Til vidnesbyrd om dette gennemsyn er vore segl hængt under dette brev. Givet i Reval i det Herrens år 1345 på den 26. september.

Comments: Fr. Robertus was probably also prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn in 1349 20/3, when he confirmed the redemtpion of an outstanding debt to the convent. ● The verified letter of 1344 1/8 is published in LEKUB 1. ser. vol. II no. 823.

Published: Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 836; Diplomatarium Danicum 3. ser. vol. II no. 181.

1348 21/6

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Fr. Bartholomeus Johannis, deacon of the Friars Minor in Dacia, is permitted by Pope Clement VI to transcend into the Cistercian Order due to the persecutions he is exposed to by friars of his own order, as there is no other mendicant orders in Dacia but the Friars Preachers.

Source: Transcript in Regesta Avinionensis. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Bartholomeo Johannis fratri ordinis minorum provincie Dacie in diaconatus ordine constituto. Religionis favor exposcit et devotionis tue sinceritas promeretur, ut petitionibus tuis et illis potissime, que anime tue salutem respiciunt, quantum cum Deo possimus favorabiliter annuamus. Exhibita siquidem nobis tua petitio continebat, quod tu olim ordinem fratrum minorum ingressus fuisti et regularem professionem emisisti in eo quodque propter aliquas guerras et persecutiones plurimes tibi indebite illatas, quamquam nullus aliquod crimen tibi obiceret vel obicere posset, et propter periculum magnum et metum, qui cadere poterat in constantem, a dicto ordine recessisti, et per aliquem modum animam tuam salvare non potes in ordine memorato, maxime cum dicte persecutiones durent ad presens, quodque in Dacia provincia non sunt religiones alie mendicantium nisi predicatorum et fratres ordinis prelibati, quare nobis supplicasti, ut providere tibi et statui tuo in hac parte de benignitate apostolica dignaremur. Nos igitur huiusmodi tuis supplicationibus inclinati transeundi ad ordinem Cisterciensem quibuscunque privilegiis dictis ordinibus concessis necnon constitutionibus et statutis et consuetudinibus contrariis nequaquam obstantibus tibi tenore presentium licentiam elargimur. Datum Avinione ∙xi∙ kalendas julii anno septimo.

Dansk oversættelse:

Til vor elskede søn Bartholomæus Jensen, broder i Minoritordenen i provinsen Dacia med ordensgrad af diakon. Iver for troen kræver og din fromme oprigtighed fortjener at, så vidt vi kan med Gud, nådigt imødekommer dine anmodninger, især da de tager sigte på din sjæls frelse. En anmodning fra dig, der er forelagt os, oplyser, at du fordum er indtrådt i De Små Brødres Orden og for denne har aflagt munkeløfte, og at du på grund af forskellige og mangeartede stridigheder og forfølgelser, som du utilbørligt blev genstand for, skønt ingen foreholdt eller kunne foreholde dig nogen forbrydelse, og at du på grund af den store fare og frygt, som kan gribe selv den standhaftigste mand, har trukket dig tilbage fra nævnte orden, og at du ikke på nogen måde kan frelse din sjæl i omtalte orden, især da nævnte forfølgelser stadig pågår, og da der i provinsen Dacia ikke er andre tiggerordener end prædikebrødrenes og brødrenes af fornævnte orden har du ydmygt bønfaldet os om, at vi af apostolisk velvilje vil værdige os til at drage omsorg for dig og din stilling i så henseende. Idet vi bøjer os for disse dine bønner, skænker vi dig med dette brevs ordlyd tilladelse til at træde over i Cistercienserordenen, uanset alle privilegier, der er tilstået nævnte ordener, og desuden uanset hvilke som helst forordninger, bestemmelser og sædvaner, der strider herimod. Intet menneske må bryde dette vort tilståelsesbrev eller i dumdristigt vovemod handle derimod. Hvis nogen drister sig til at forsøge dette, må han vide, at han derved vil pådrage sig Gud den almægtiges og hans hellige apostle Petrus’ og Paulus’ vrede. Givet i Avignong den 21. juni i vort syvende år.

Comments: Fr. Bartholomeus Johannis OFM apparently had a difficult time adapting to conventual life anywhere. On 9 December 1355 he approached the papal curia again, explaining that as he had not been able to find admission in any Cistercian convent either, he now supplicated for permission to join the Benedictine Abbey of St. Canute in Odense, which because of the plague was in need of monks (KS 2. ser. vol. IV, 588-589). ● It is not stated why the explicitly mentioned Dominican alternative was not an option.

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. I no. 355; Diplomatarium Danicum 3. ser. vol. III no. 32.

1349 20/3

(Tallinn)

Convent of Tallinn

Fr. Robertus of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn and the rest of the convent confirm that they have been paid 8 marks silver by Johan Pallevere, which he owed them on behalf of his uncle, the late Fr. Hermannus Grimme, one of their brethren. Because of this, the property held by the convent as mortgage for the outstanding debt is now fully returned to its owners in the Tallinn city council.

Source: Original document. Tallinn City Archives.

Language: Latin.

Universis presentia visuris vel audituris frater Robertus ceterique fratres ordinis predicatorum de conventu Revaliensi salutem in domino Jhesu Christo. Tenore presentium dimittimus liberum et quitum ab omni inpetitione octo marcarum argenti, quibus Johannes Pallevere nostro conventui obligabatur ex parte avunculi sui fratris Hermanni Grimme pie memorie fratris nostris. Resignantes dominis consulibus Revaliensibus omne jus, quod habuimus in area nobis pro predicta pecunia ratione pigneris assignata. Littere super hiis date, si in postrum invente fuerint, nullius erunt roboris seu virtutis. In testimonium premissorum sigillum nostri conventus presentibus est appensum. Anno Domini MCCCXL nono ante dominicam medie quadragesime ferie sexta.

Comments: On Fr. Robertus, see 1345 26/9. Although not explicitly stated, Fr. Robertus appears to have been the prior of the convent in Tallinn, just as he was in 1345. ● Fr. Hermannus Grimme is not known from any other sources. ● The meaning seems to be that when Fr. Hermannus died, 8 marks silver of his inheritance should go to the convent, but as his biological heir and nephew, Johan Pallevere (‘the Younger’), apparently had some problems or reluctance to redeem this, some city councillors – perhaps acting as curators of the will – had put some real property – probably within Tallinn – up as mortgage for the amount due.

Published: Revaler Urkunden und Briefe no. 30.

1349 (31/5)

Barcelona

Province of Dacia

The general chapter prescribes commemorative prayers from all its friars for Fr. Matheus, diffinitor of the province of Dacia, who died on his way to last year’s general chapter held in Lyon.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Barchinonam celebrati anno Domini MCCCXLIX. (…)

Iste sunt assignaciones: (…) Denunciamus fratribus universis, quod fratres singuli teneantur ad suffragia pro fratre Beuno diffinitore provincie Lombardie inferioris, et pro fratre Matheo diffinitore provincie Dacie, qui preterito anno in via generalis capituli obierunt.

Comments: None of the general chapters in 1348-49 are dated, but they traditionally took place at Pentecost, which in 1348 fell on 8 June and in 1349 on 31 May. ● Fr. Matheus, the deceased diffinitor of Dacia, may be identical to the prior of the Friars Preachers in Visby, who attended the general chapter in 1333 23/5; see 1333 12/1.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, p. 331.

1350 13/5

Stralsund

Convents of Holbæk, Næstved, Roskilde and Stralsund (prov. Saxonia), Nunnery of Roskilde

Last will and testament for Bishop Jakob Poulsen of Roskilde, in which he leaves 50 marks Stralsund for the Friars Preachers in Stralsund, with whom he wishes to be buried until his fellow canons or friends arrange the return of his corpse. In addition, the convent is given 10 marks for the dining of the friars; the prior is given a silver cup and silver spoons; the lector is given a fur cape of marten skin; Fr. Hermannus Meppen is given a fur cape and a silver spoon; and Fr. Johannes de Kampen, who has served the bishop during his illness, receives a tunic and a scapular of fine cloth. Furthermore, the convents of Friars Preachers in Roskilde and Næstved are bequeathed with a last of grain each, the convents of Friars Preachers in Holbæk and Dominican sisters in Roskilde St. Agnes with half a last of grain each. Finally, Master Peder Nielsen receives a small set of ornamental vestments, which was given to the bishop by Fr. Matheus, along with a small missal and a sermon collection by Fr. Jacobus de Lausanne OP.

Source: Transcript in Bartholin’s Collectanea.

Language: Latin.

In nomine Domini, amen. Divina sapienta que suaviter disponit omnia mortablibus hominibus ita pie providit ut de terrenis que transeunt mercari valeant eterna que subsistunt. Eapropter nos Jacobus divina providentia episcopus Roskildensis, volentes de bonis a Deo amministrationi nostre providere, testamentum nostrum condimus in hunc modum. In primis igitur legamus illustrissimo principi domino nostro Waldemaro regi Dacie annulum aureum et duas balistas. (...) Item inclite domine nostre, domine Ingeburgi, ducisse Hallandie, amphoram argenteum. (...) Item domino Petro Niclessen unum par preparamentorum et ornamentorum nostrorum parvorum, quod nobis dedit frater Matheus, cum parvo missali nostro, sermones Jacobi de Losanna (...). Item claustro fratrum predicatorum Sundis, ubi nostram elegimus sepulturam, donec capitulum nostrum vel amici nostri corpus nostrum duxerint traducendum ∙L∙ marchas Sundenses. Item pro refectione fratrum ibidem ∙x∙ marchas. Item domino priori ibidem cyphum argenteum cum cocliari de argento. Item lectori ibidem pellicium de mardsfeld. Item fratri Hermanno Meppen pellicium de variis pellibus et ∙i∙ cocliar argenti. Item fratri Johanni de Campen, qui nobis infirmitate servivit, tunicam et scapulare de bono panno. Item fratribus minoribus ibidem ∙x∙ marchas Sundenses. Item predicatoribus Roskildensibus ∙i∙ lestam annone. Item fratribus minoribus ibidem tantum. Item claustro beate Agnetis et sororibus ibidem tantum. Item claustro beate virginis ibidem dimidiam lestam. Item claustro sancte Clare ibidem tantum. Item fratribus predicatoribus Nestwed ∙i∙ lestam annone. Item fratribus minoribus ibidem tantum. Item fratribus predicatoribus in Holbek dimidiam lestam annone. (...) Exequtores autem huius testamenti nostri constituimus et ordinamus honorabiles viros dominos Nicholaum Johannis, decanum; Johannem de Capella, prepositum; Hemmingum, archidyaconum; Petrum Nicholai, canonicum ecclesie nostre Roskildensis; et Magnum Toddæ (...). In cuius rei testimonium sigillum nostrum et sigilla predictorum exequtorum nostrorum presentibus duximus apponenda. Datum Sundis anno Domini MCCC quinquagesimo in octava ascensionis eiusdem.

Dansk oversættelse:

I Herrens navn, amen. Guds visdom, som lifligt ordner alt for de dødelige mennesker, har kærligt draget omsorg for, at de til gengæld for det jordiske, der forgår, kan erhverve det evige, der består. Vi, Jakob, ved Guds forsyn biskop af Roskilde, som skønt skrøbelig af legeme dog er karsk af sind, og som ønsker at sørge for vor sjæls frelse med det gods Gud har betroet til vor bestyrelse, opsætter derfor vort testamente på følgende måde. For det første testamenterer vi den højbårne fyrste, vor herre Valdemar, Danmarks konge, en guldring og to armbrøste. (...) Fremdeles til vor berømmelige frue, fru Ingeborg, hertuginde af Halland, en sølvkande. (...) Fremdeles til hr. Peder Nielsen vort lille messesæt og ornat, som broder Mathæus har givet os, tillige med vort lille missale og Jakob af Lausanne’s prædikener (...). Fremdeles til prædikebrødreklosteret i Stralsund, hvor vi har valgt vort gravsted, indtil vort kapitel eller vore venner overfører vort legeme, 50 stralsundske mark. Fremdeles til brødrenes bespisning sammesteds 10 mark. Fremdeles til hr. prioren sammesteds en sølvskål med sølvskeer. Fremdeles til lektoren sammesteds et mårskindsslag. Fremdeles til broder Hermann Meppen et slag af forskellige slags skind og en sølvske. Fremdeles til broder Johann af Kampen, som har tjent os under vor sygdom, en kjortel og et skapular af godt klæde. Fremdeles til de små brødre sammesteds 10 stralsundske mark. Fremdeles til prædikebrødrene i Roskilde en læst korn. Fremdeles til de små brødre sammesteds det samme. Fremdeles til Skt. Agnete Kloster og søstrene sammesteds en halv læst. Fremdeles til Vor Frue Kloster sammesteds en halv læst. Fremdeles til Skt. Klara Kloster sammesteds det samme. Fremdeles til prædikebrødrene i Næstved en læst korn. Fremdeles til de små brødre sammesteds det samme. Fremdeles til prædikebrødrene i Holbæk en halv læst korn. (...) Til eksekutorer af dette vort testamente indsætter og udnævner vi de hæderlige mænd og herrer Niels Jonsen, dekan, Johannes Kappelgård, provst, Hemming, ærkedegn, Peder Nielsen, kannik ved vor kirke i Roskilde, og Magnus Todde (...). Til vidnesbyrd herom har vi ladet vort segl og vore fornævnte eksekutorers segl hænge under dette brev. Givet i Stralsund i det Herrens år 1350 på ottendedagen efter Kristi Himmelfart.

Comments: Bishop Jakob Poulsen of Roskilde (†1350) was elected bishop by his fellow canons in Roskilde in 1344 as successor for Bishop Johannes Nyborg OP (1330-1344), under whom he had served as dean since around 1334. As the highest-ranking prelate of the cathedral chapter, he seems to have led a close partnership between the cathedral chapter and the two local mendicant convents in Roskilde during a highly complicated political period without any clear lay regency in the country. As dean, he appears alongside Dominican priors of the diocese in a mutual supportive way in documents from 1335 and 1343, and as witness to a will bequeathing the convent in Lund in 1342. The amicable relations with the Friars Preachers apparently continued during his episcopacy, as shown by his choice of accommodation with the convent in Stralsund in 1350, and the great generosity towards friars in Stralsund and the various Sjælland convents in his will. His family background is unknown, but the private landed properties recorded in his will point to an origin from northern Sjælland and Hornsherred. ● The errand of Bishop Jakob Poulsen in Stralsund is unknown. He played a leading role in the government of King Valdemar IV of Denmark, whom at this time chose to engage in the ongoing wars in northern Germany between Mecklenburg and Brandenburg, and as the Danish king is known to have formed a political alliance with the king of Poland in the summer of 1350, the Roskilde bishop may have been in Stralsund on behalf of his king in some of these political matters. However, since the adjacent island of Rügen was still officially part of the Roskilde diocese, he may also have been there on a strictly episcopal business. ● The identity of the Fr. Matheus (Mads), from whom Bishop Jakob had received the liturgical items, is unknown, but if the sermon collection by Fr. Jacobus de Lausanne is ascribed to the same donor, he may very well have been Dominican – if so most likely from Roskilde. ● Master Peder Nielsen was obviously a secular priest, probably from the diocese of Roskilde, perhaps from the city of Roskilde itself. ● Due to the close political alliance between Bishop Jakob Poulsen and King Valdemar IV, who at this time had just gained control of Sjælland, it is of little surprise that the king is mentioned as the first person to be favoured by the will. It is more puzzling as the next person to find the king’s opponent, Duchess Ingeborg, whom had played a powerful role in the preceding regency of Sjælland and for this reason recently had been expelled from the country. ● ‘Last’ was a cubic measure, which in medieval Denmark corresponded to 12 pounds or 48 barrels, in today’s measures about 6,000 litres.

Published: Erslev, Testamenter... no. 45; Diplomatarium Danicum 3. ser. vol. III no. 285.

(1340-50?)

Næstved

Convents of Helsingborg, Lund, Lödöse and Næstved, Province of Dacia

At the provincial chapter celebrated at the convent in Næstved, a committee of three Friars Preachers - Fr. Thyrgil, prior of the convent in Helsingborg, Fr. Nils, lector of the convent in Lödöse, and Fr. Laurencius, unknown convent - rules in favour of the convent in Lund in regard of some books, which have been given to the convent with the approval of Prior Provincial Asser.

Source: Original document. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Noverint universi, quod … Thrygillus prior Helsingburgensis, Nicolaus lector Lydhosiensis et Laurencius … judic[es] constituti in capitulo provinciali Nestvidis celebrato totum, quidquid in littera …ris bo[ne me]morie continetur super applicatione librorum suorum ad conventum Lunden[sem cum li]centia fratris Asceri prioris provincialis Dacie, super hoc sibi datam, [sen]tentialiter approbamus et eidem Lundensi conventui adjudicamus. Sig. nostra.

Comments: The preserved text has several lacunes due to damages in the document. It was retrieved by the National Archives from a private auction in 1787. The document bears three preserved seals. ● The document is undated. The names of Prior Thyrgil (Thrygillus) and especially Prior Provincial Asser (Ascerus) do, however, point to the 1340s. A perhaps identical Fr. Thyrgil (Thyrgillus) was prior at the convent in Lund in 1350 and 1353, and so he could have held a similar office in neighbouring Helsingborg in the preceeding years. A Fr. Asser is known as a leading friar of his Order in the circles of St. Bridget of Vadstena in the period 1333-1349, and Jarl Gallén suggested that he was identical with the unnamed prior provincial of Dacia absolved at the general chapter in 1343 (Gallén 1946, 135-136). ● Unfortunately, the name of the donor of the books are missing due to the document’s damaged condition, just as the whole reason for the trial is left unclear, but apparently some other part within the Dominican province of Dacia - probably another convent - had disputed the rights of the friars in Lund.

Published: Repertorium danici 1. ser. vol. II no. u 362 (p. 512).

1349-50?

Bergen

Convent of Bergen

The bishop and cathedral chapter of Bergen prescribe a liturgical remedy against the plague, which involves a fixed daily programme five days a week consisting of masses, donations of alms for the poor, processions, fasting and Holy Communion to take place at different ecclesiastical institutions: on Wednesdays at the Friars Preachers, on Thursdays at the Friars Minor, on Fridays at Nonneseter Nunnery, on Saturdays at Munkeliv Abbey, and on Sundays at the cathedral.

Source: Transcript by Langebek (18^th century). The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen.

Language: Latin.

Insinuantur presencia quod pro remedio pestilencie institutum est per nos et capitulum nostrum predictum ut quinque misse solempniter continuentur quinque diebus sub hec forma ut offertorium habeatur recoracione et singuli qui intersint missis habeant in manibus candelam ardentem et offerant oblacionem unius denarii que distribuenda est pauperibus per discretos ad hoc deputatos. Omnes eciam qui intersint prefatis missis et processionibus incedant discalceati jejunientque quatuor diebus sequentibus et sic vere contriti et confessi recipiant sacram communionem in die dominico futuro ordo stacionum inter ista hodie fiat stacio ad fratres predicatores, feria quinta ad fratres minores, feria sexta ad sorores in Nunnasetyr, sabbato ad Munkleff, et in die dominica ad summam ecclesiam cathedralem. Curent igitur solliciti sint omnes et singuli dominum Deum nostrum ex intimo devocionis affectu exorare ac sacratissimam Dei genetricem, sanctam Annam et ceteros sanctos ut intercedentibus eorum intercessionibus et meritis Deus nobis propicietur et reviventem plagam peccatis nostris timemus condignam avertere dignetur, tempusque concedere pro facienda poenitencia fructuosa. Datum etc.

Comments: Undated transcript, which in a now lost version known by Jacob Langebek was placed just before a letter by Bishop Olav of Bergen from 1445. There was, however, no plague in Bergen in the mid-1440s, which may suggest that Langebek’s diploma itself was a transcript from the major Norwegian plague year of 1349; this was indeed the year approximately ascribed to it by Langebek. Thorkelin and Lange preferred to see it as an original from around 1449, whereas the editors of DN have dated it to ‘1445 at the latest’ (DN vol. XXI no. 431). The mid-fourteenth-century dating is supported by the fact the papal curia in these years endorsed exactly such means to be taken by the bishops.

Published: Diplomatarium Norvegicum vol. XXI no. 431.

around 1350

Convent of Strängnäs

The bishop of Strängnäs forbids regular clergy to baptize children in the diocese, just as the parish priests are forbidden to appoint monks for hearing confessions, imposing penance and ministering other parochial sacraments without permission from the bishop or his provost.

Source: Regulations for the Diocese of Strängnäs. Original document. Uppsala University Library.

Language: Latin.

(…) [§ 8.] Inhibemus districte, ne aliquis religiosus admittetur ad elevandum puerum de sacro fonte. (…) [§ 32.] Item nullus sacerdos vocet monachum ad audiendam confessionem, penitenciam injungendam vel alia sacramenta parochianis ministranda, neque aliquem rectorem, nisi de nostra licencia vel nostri prepositi. (…)

Comments: The document is undated, but the handwriting is dated to around 1350 (Gummerus 1902, 23). ● The bishop giving the statutes is unnamed, but likely candidates are Sigmund (1345-1355) or Thyrgils (1355-1378). ● The statutes do not state the type of religiosus or monachum, but it is likely that Friars Preachers of the convent in Strängnäs have been among the regular clergy in question. ● Similar episcopal restrictions against parish priests outsourcing parts of their parochial duties without preceding permission from the bishop are known from Sweden in 1396 and 1440.

Published: Gummerus, Synodalstatuter… no. 25, pp. 87-93 (esp. § 8 and 32).

1351 17/4

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Fr. Sigfridus Lincopensis of the Friars Preachers, papal penitentiary for the church province of Dacia, informs Master Thomas Svensson, parish vicar of Tierp in the diocese of Uppsala, that Pope Clemens VI has complied with his supplication for being allowed to choose a confessor of his own will to give him the final absolution at his deathbed.

Source: Original document. The Swedish National Archives, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

Frater Sigfridus Lincopensis ordinis predicatorum, domini nostri pape penitentiarius pro provincia Dacie, dilecto nobis in Christo domino Thome Suenonis, perpetuo vicario ecclesie Tierp Upsalensis diocesis, salutem et presentibus dare fidem. Solet annuere sedes apostolica piis votis et justis petencium supplicacionibus, maxime ubi salus requiritur animarum, favorem benivolum impartiri. Hinc est, quod sanctissimus pater et dominus noster, dominus Clemens, divina providencia papa ∙vi∙, tuis supplicacionibus per nos sibi expositis inclinatus, ut confessor tuus, quem ad hoc duxeris eligendum, omnium peccatorum tuorum, de quibus corde contritus et ore confessus fueris, semel tantum in mortis articulo plenam remissionem tibi, in sinceritate fidei et unitate sancte Romane ecclesie ac obediencia devocioneque dicti domini pape et successorum suorum Romanorum pontificum canonice intrancium persistenti, auctoritate apostolica concedere valeat, devocioni tue duxit vive vocis oraculo indulgendum: ita tamen, quod idem confessor de hiis, de quibus fuerit alteri satisfaccio impendenda, eam per te, si supervixeris, vel per tuos heredes, si tunc forte expiraveris, faciendam injungat, quam tu vel illi facere teneamini, ut prefertur. Et ne, quod absit, ob huiusmodi graciam reddaris proclivior ad illicita imposterum committenda, volvit idem dominus papa, quod, si ex confidencia remissionis huiusmodi aliqua forte commiseris, quo ad illa predicta remissio tibi nullatenus suffragetur. In cuius rei testimonium predicta omnia de dicti domini pape speciali commissione vive vocis oraculo nobis facta tibi et eidem confessori sub nostri appensione sigilli tenore presencium intimamus. Datum Avinione anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo quinquagesimo primo, indiccione quarta, decima septima die mensis aprilis, pontificatus dicti domini Clementis pape ∙vi∙ anno nono.

Comments: On Fr. Sigfridus Lincopensis, see 1347.

Published: Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. VI no. 5267.

1352

Convent of Strängnäs

A storm brings the tower of Blackfriars Church in Strängnäs to collapse.

Source: Annales 266-1430.

Language: Latin.

(MCCCLII). Fuit magnus ventus in civitate Strengyanæs ita quod turris ceciderit de ecclesia cathedrali et turris predicatorum ibidem ac alia mirabilia.

Dansk oversættelse:

(1352). En stor storm i byen Strängnäs fik tårnet på domkirken og prædikebrødrenes tårn sammesteds, samt andre pragtværker, til at styrte ned.

Comments: This particular entry has no stated year, but it is listed as an individual entry between entries of 1351 (MCCCLI) and 1353 (MCCCLIII).

Published: Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum vol. I:1, p. 28.

1355 4/10

Avignon

Convent of Vejle

The papal curia receives a supplication from Peder Lauridsen Panter, knight and ambassador in Avignon of King Valdemar IV of Denmark, for support of the construction of a new priory of St. Mary for the Friars Preachers in Vejle. The convent was founded by the supplicant’s father, who gave the friars a priory built in wood, whereas the new one is to be made in stone.

Source: Transcript in Registra Avinionensia. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Supplicat S. V. humilis et devotus vester Petrus Laurencii miles ambassiator regis Dacie, quatenus claustrum sancte Marie virginis in opido Wedele Ripensis diocesis ordinis fratrum predicatorum, quod pater suus ex domibus propriis videlicet ligneis tantum construi fecit, ut de lapidibus et manus porrigentibus adiutrices certas indulgencias secundum placitum S. V. annuatim elargiri de speciali gratia dignemini ut in forma, - fiat de uno anno et ∙xl∙ diebus ad ∙x∙ annos G. Et quod transeat sine alia leccione, - fiat G. Datum Avinione ∙iiii∙ non. octobris anno tertio.

Comments: Peder Lauridsen Panter († after 1360), knight and royal justiciary, member of regent council for King Valdemar IV of Denmark during his journeys abroad 1352-55. ● His father, the alleged founder of the convent, was Knight Laurids Jonsen Panter (†1340), lord of Langeland and seneschal of the Danish kings Christoffer II (1320-1326 and 1329-1332) and Valdemar III (1326-1330). He was also a major benefactor of the Benedictine priory in Halsted on Lolland (DD 3. ser. vol. IV no. 190). ● The Dominican connection of the Panter family continued into the third generation also, as two daughters of Peder Lauridsen, Edle and Marine Pedersdatter, in 1383 joined the Dominican nunnery of St. Agnes in Roskilde. At this occasion, their grandmother Cecilie donated some landed estate to the nunnery. ● The wording that the father had the priory built “..of his own houses, although only of wood…” indicates that the convent at first was given residence in some existing wooden buildings owned by the seneschal (Nyborg & Poulsen 2005, 260).

Published: Kirkehistoriske Samlinger 2. ser. vol. IV, 587-588.

1355 4/10 Avignon

Pope Innocent VI complies with the supplication above and issues a letter of indulgence for the benefit of the Friars Preachers in Vejle in which anyone, who visits their church and helps with its reconstruction in stone, is granted 1 year and 40 days of indulgence; the letter is valid for 10 years.

Source: Transcript in Registra Avinionensia. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Universis Christi fidelibus presentes litteras inspecturis salutem etcetera. Preclara meritorum insignia, quibus regina celorum virgo Dei genitrix gloriosa humani patrona generis illustrata in excelsis preintitulatur, humilis contemplationis studio recensentes dignum rationabiliter arbitramur, ut sue laudis et honorificentie cultum in terris apostolicis satagamus favoribus ampliare. Cupientes igitur ut ecclesia fratrum ordinis predicatorum opidi Weldele Ripensis diocesis in honore et sub vocabulo eiusdem gloriose virginis fundata et quam quondam Laurentius Johannis ex lignis construi ut accepimus fecit de lapidibus vel aliter honorabilius construatur et a Christi fidelibus congruis honoribus frequentetur et ut fideles ipsi eo libentius confluant ad eandem quo ibidem uberius dono celestis gratie conspexerint se refectos de omnipotentis Dei misericordia et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius auctoritate confisi omnibus vere penitentibus et confessis qui ecclesiam ipsam devote visitaverint annuatim ad eiusdemque ecclesie constructionem huiusmodi manus porrexerint adjutrices unum annum et quadraginta dies de injunctis eis penitentiis misericorditer relaxamus presentibus post decennium minime valituris. Datum Avinione ∙iiii∙ nonas octobris anno tercio.

Dansk oversættelse:

Til alle troende kristne, som får dette brev at se: Hilsen osv. (...) Idet vi derfor ønsker, at prædikebrødreordenens kirke i byen Vejle, Ribe stift, som er stiftet til ære for og i samme glorrige jomfrus navn, og som afdøde Laurids Jonsen, som vi har hørt, lod opføre i træ, kan blive opført i sten eller på anden mere hædrende måde, og søges af de troende med passende æresbevisninger, og for at disse troende desto hellere skal strømme til samme, jo mere de til overmål indser, at de sammesteds bliver kvæget ved den himmelske nådegave, eftergiver vi barmhjertigt i tillid til Gud den almægtiges barmhjertighed og hans apostle Sankt Peters og Sankt Paulus’ myndighed alle, der føler sand anger og bekender deres synder og som fromt besøger denne kirke hvert år og rækker den en hjælpende hånd til samme kirkes opførelse, ét år og 40 dages af den dem pålagte kirkebod, idet dette brev dog ikke skal være gyldigt efter 10 års forløb. Givet i Avignon den 4. oktober i det tredje år.

Published: Acta pontificum Danica vol. I no. 449; Diplomatarium Danicum 3. ser. vol. IV no. 333.

1356 (12/6)

Verdun

Convents of Bergen (prov. Dacia), Dublin (prov. Anglia), La Coruña? (prov. Hispania), Metz (prov. Francia) and unknown (prov. Hungaria)

The general chapter of the Friars Preachers deports eight friars of the convent in Metz, where they have caused ‘grave disturbances, scandals, defamation and enormous perpetration’, to four convents in each of the provinces of Hungaria, Dacia, Anglia and Hispania; among these, Fr. Henricus de Mescliniis and Fr. Hugo Feci are assigned to the convent in Bergen.

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen. Hec sunt acta capituli generalis apud Virdunum celebrati anno Domini MCCCLVI. (…) Iste sunt penitentie. Propter gravia disturbia, scandala et diffamationes dampnabiles et enormes perpetrata per fratres inferius nominatos de conventu Metensi ipsos provinciis et conventibus sequentibus assignamus. Primo: conventui de viculis de provincia Ungarie fratrem Johannem de Fonte et Sidalmanum. Item conventui Bergensi de provincia Dacie fratrem Henricum de Mescliniis et Ugonem Feci. Item conventui Dublini de provincia Anglie fratrem Albertum de sancto Viro et Arnulfum Rutinem. Item conventui Cruviensi de provincia Yspanie fratrem Bertrandum de Vandelevilla et Johannem Bochannym assignamus, mandantes omnibus et singulis predictis in virtute sancte obedientie, quatenus infra mensem a notitia presentium recedant de dicto conventu Metensi et versus conventus, quibus sunt assignati, recta via dirigant gressus suos. Et nichilominus omnes prefatos et alios et singulos fratres dicti conventus, qui cum superius nominatis vicario reverendi patris magistri ordinis hactenus non obediverunt nec obediunt, etiam de presenti nos omnes et singuli priores provinciales et diffinitores huius anni unanimiter et concorditer audiencia confessionum quorumcumque secularium et predicatione ac omnibus et singulis graciis ordinis ex causis rationabilibus et certa sciencia privamus, imponentes et mandantes eisdem in virtute sancte obediencie et sub pena excommunicationis, quod presentem privationem et subtractionem firmiter et inviolabiliter teneant et observent. (…)

Comments: The act is undated, but the chapter was usually held at Pentecost. ● Fr. Henricus de Mescliniis and Fr. Hugo Feci are not known from any other sources. ● It is noteworthy that not only were the eight friars deported to distant provinces in the four corners of Europe, even within these provinces they were assigned to remotelying convents: Bergen in Dacia, Dublin in Anglia, La Coruña(?) in Hispania and ‘some small village’ in Hungaria. ● More exact details on the nature of the scandals in Metz are not available.

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. IV, 374.

1363 1/9

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Pope Urban V informs King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden that he cannot comply with the king’s request for an exchange of the present bishop of Linköping with the papal penitentiary, Fr. Gotscalcus Falkdal of the Order of Preachers, who is also the king’s confessor, but he is willing to start a papal investigation of the accusations put forward against the bishop, should the king or anyone else supplicate for this, and if such a possible investigation should justify an absolution of the bishop, he will keep the penitentiary in mind for his replacement.

Source: Transcript in Registra Avinionensia. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Carissimo in Christo filio Magno regi Suuetie illustri salutem etcetera. Litteras tue serenitatis gratanter recepimus, in quibus nobis significare curasti, quod … episcopus Lincopensis regni tui Swetie multa enormia contra regiam magnitudinem fuerat machinatus, propter quod nostro apostolatui supplicasti, ut eundem episcopum suo episcopatu privare illique de persona dilecti filii Gotscalci Falcdal ordinis predicatorum penitentiarii nostri ac confessoris tui, de quo geris fiduciam specialem preficere dignaremur. Licet igitur fili carissime dicti episcopi excessus nobis summe displiceat et cupiamus in hiis que juste possumus satisfacere notis tuis, quia cum idem episcopus secundum jura a dicta sua ecclesia, cui allegatus existat, absque rationabili causa probata amoveri non debet et privationem ipsius non servato juris ordine juste ac honeste facere non possemus, tua devota prudentia moleste non ferat, si, ut petisti, tuam petitionem huiusmodi non duximus adimplendam. Verum si aliquis vel tuo nomine vel alias velit eundem episcopum accusare, accusationemque prosequi secundum uiam juris et consuetudinem Romane ecclesie parati sumus in hac parte quanto citius poterimus facere justitie complementum dictumque penitentiarium in hiis, que pro tempore poterimus tue considerationis intuitu libenter habebimus apostolicis favoribus commendatum. Ceterum quia ut scripsisti dilectum filium Henricum Biscop in dicto tuo regno apostolice sedis nuntium ac collectorem proventuum apostolice camere debitorum ex certis causis non habebas acceptum et optabas quod aliquem de tuo regno in huiusmodi collectorie officio poneremus, cum clerici de dicto regno gentibus prefate camere non sint noti et extimentur minus apti et non informati ad dictum officium exercendum dilectum filium Guidonem de Cruce capellanum nostrum virum discretum et grate conversationis, qui ut putamus regiis precordiis erit acceptus ad prefatum officium prout per alias litteras tue sublimitati seriosius scribimus duximus deputandum. Datum Avinione kalendas septembris anno primo.

Comments: On Fr. Gotscalcus Falkdal, see 1362. ● On King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden, see 1334.

Published: Acta Pontificum Svecica 1. ser. vol. I no. 654.

around 1364

(Tallinn)

Convent of Tallinn

Ludekin Meyer in Tallinn takes refuge at the priory of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn when the local city bailiff is sent to arrest him due to a claimed injustice committed by him against a foreigner, Hermann ‘the Furrier’, amounting to ½ mark.

Source: Original concept. Tallinn City Archives

Language: Latin.

Noveritis nos litteram vestram percepisse diligenter quam ex parte concivis vestri Hermanni Kursewerte super quidam injuria in nostra civitate deberet esse illata, nobis destinastis, unde scientes quod nos de talibus causis videlicet dimidia marca nichil scivimus veritatis antequam nobis scripsistis et nos multum pertubat quod tali causa molestatus estis. (…) Presertim vestra littera lecta et percepta, nostro advocato jubebatur, quod predictum Ludekinum Meyen promissores ratione premissorum debuisset posuisse, quem in suo hospitio non invenit, sed profugus ad claustram monachorum pervenit, et omnia bona que habuit in hospitio arestavit de quibus bonis Hermanno Pellifici dimidiam marcam Rig. per exhibitorem presentium destinamus; et si predictum Ludekinum in nostro jure arripuerimus, secundum nostri juris formam plenarie volumus judicare et omnes suos coadjutores et complices, quos experire valeamus etiam plene secundum jus nostrum velut prefertur volumus judicare. (…)

Dansk oversættelse:

Vi har modtaget det Deres brev, som I har sendt til os vedrørende den uret, der er overgået Deres medborger Hermann Buntmager i vor by. Vi har ikke tidligere kendt til sagens sandhed vedrørende den halve mark og vi beklager dybt det besvær som det har afstedkommet. (…) Efter modtagelsen af Deres brev pålagde vi vor foged at bringe Ludekin Meyen for retten. Fogeden fandt ham imidlertid ikke hjemme, idet han var flygtet til munkenes kloster. Alle værdigenstande fundet i hans bolig blev derfor konfiskeret, og derigennem modtog Hermann Buntmager ½ mark af dette brevs overbringer. Så snart den nævnte Ludekin er blevet pågrebet og bragt for vor ret, vil vi dømme ham og hans medsammensvorne strengt efter vor retslige praksis. (…)

Comments: The concept is undated, but it is written by the same hand as three other concepts for letters sent by the Tallinn city magistrate to Sheriff Narvo Ingevaldsson of Finland; these are also undated, but two of them can from their content be dated to the spring of 1364. ● It is not stated at which ‘monks cloister’ Ludekin Meyer had sought asylum, but the Dominican priory was the only male monastic house in the city. ● Nothing in the text identifies the recipient of the letter or from where Hermann Furrier came, but most likely it was, like the three related letters in the concept book, directed at Narvo Ingevaldsson, suggesting that Hermann probably was a burgher of Turku.

Published: Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. II no. 1007.

1371 19/1

Avignon

Province of Dacia

Fr. Jacobus of the Friars Preachers, papal penitentiary for the church province of Dacia, pays 104 golden florins, 9 shilling and 9 pence to the cardinal chamberlain on behalf of Bishop Niels of Roskilde as his servitium commune for the College of Cardinals.

Source: Register in Obligationes. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Nos Guillelmus tituli sancti Stephani in Celiomonte presbiter cardinalis sacri collegii cardinalium camerarius tenore presentium recognoscimus et fatemur, quod Nicolaus episcopus Roskildensis in Dacia pro parte partis sui communis servitii, in quo prefato collegio tenebatur, 100 florenos auri et pro parte servitii familiarium cardinalium predictorum 4 florenos auri, 9 solidos, 9 denarii mon. curr. Avin. per manus fratris Jacobi penitentiarii de Dacia nobis pro ipso collegio recipientibus solvi fecit. De quibus etcetera. In quorum etcetera. Datum Avinione die 19 januarii anno 1371.

Comments: On Fr. Jacobus Johannis, see 1370 2/3. ● Niels Jakobsen Ulfeldt (†1395) was bishop of Roskilde in 1369-1395. He was of noble origin from Skåne and a friend of King Valdemar IV of Denmark, who helped him to canonries at the cathedral chapters in both Roskilde and Lund, at the latter as cathedral provost from 1360. He was elected bishop of Roskilde after the death of Bishop Henrik Gertsen in 1368. There are no extant signs of any favorable attitude towards the Dominicans during his episcopal lifetime – on the contrary, he showed keen support for the Franciscan view of Immaculate Conception by founding a daily appraisal for it in his cathedral at great expense – but after his death it was stated in 1402 23/9 that each year on his anniversary (18 January), the Friars Preachers in Roskilde were to receive 1 shilling gros as payment for a perpetual mass celebrated for the bishop.

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. I no. 677.

1371 23/1 Avignon

Likewise, Fr. Jacobus also pays 117 golden florins, 7 shilling and 5 pence on behalf of Bishop Niels as servitium commune for the Apostolic Camera.

Source: Register in Obligationes. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

Universis presentes litteras inspecturis Arnaldus etcetera. Universitati vestre etcetera, quod Nicholaus episcopus Roskildensis in Dacia pro parte partis sui communis servitii, in quo est etcetera, 100 florenos auri prefate camere necnon pro parte partis 4 servitiorum 17 florenos auri, 7 solidos et 5 denarii mon. Avin. clericis etcetera per manus fratris Jacobi penitentiarii de Dacia die date presentium solvi fecit. De quibus etcetera. Insuper etcetera. Datum Avinione die 23 januarii anno 1371.

Published: Acta Pontificum Danica vol. I no. 678.

1379

Tallinn

Convent of Tallinn

Herman van der Hove, mayor of Tallinn, hands over 100 marks to the city council of Tallinn for a perpetual rent of 6 marks to be paid out annually on 2 February to the Friars Preachers in Tallinn for the maintenance of their altar piece. At a later time, the council hands over 60 marks of the amount to the convent itself.

Source: Das Revaler Rentenbuch.

Language: German.

Anno Domini 1379. Consulatus - predicatores.

Witlick si, dat wy radmanne der stad Reuele hebben upghehauen van hern Hermanne van der Huuen, borghermestere unses rades, hundert marc ryg.; dar sulle wy van gheuen alle jaer vp de hochtiid tho lichtmessen den predekerbruderen tho Reuele tho erer tafelen notdroft ses marc ryg. rente mit alsodaner vnderscheide als vnse opene bref thosecht, den wy dar vp ghegheuen hebben; weret ock, dat de vorbeschreuenen brudere nicht vol ne deden vor de almessen nach dem breue, so mach dat her Hermen van der Huue wedder rupen by sime sunden liue.

Van dusseme vorschreuenen gelde hebbet de moenke van deme rade 60 mrc. ryg. entfangen.

Comments: Herman van der Hove, mayor of Tallinn, was reported dead in 1384. ● In 1385 10/11 it was clarified that the donation was for an annual mass to be celebrated by a vicar at the Altar of St. Dominic in the priory church. The last line about the out payment of 60 marks may be a later addition, possibly from the event in 1385, when the son of Mayor Curd Kegheler, Detmer, was appointed vicar of the said altar and assigned 4 of the 6 marks for the annual service, as the entry follows directly after this in the Rentenbuch. It is unclear whether the 60 marks are identical to the same amount paid by Curd Kegheler on this occasion.

Published: Publikationen aus dem Revaler Stadtarchiv vol. V no. 67.

1383 2/8

Lübeck

Convents of Lübeck, Lund and Stralsund, Provinces of Dacia and Saxonia

Fr. Michael, bishop of Skálholt, and Dr. Thidericus Koller, both of the Order of Preachers, pass judgment in a conflict between the Dominican provinces of Dacia and Saxonia. They have been enjoined to do so by Master General Raymundus de Capua, who while in Nuremburg received a complaint from the friars in Dacia regarding Saxonian friars’ activities at the herring markets in Skåne. The master general has denied the German friars access to the markets, but subsequently he passed the case on to the two appointed judges, who as a compromise allow the convents in Lübeck and Stralsund to each send two friars to serve German merchants and fishermen at the markets during the market season.

Source: Original document. Lübeck Staatsarchiv.

Language: Latin.

Frater Mychael Dei gracia Schalatensis ecclesie episcopus, reverendis in Christo patribus ac fratribus universis per provincias Dacie Saxonie ordinis fratrum predicatorum constitutis sinceram in Domino karitatem. Licet venerabilis in Christo pater frater Raymundus magister ordinis dictorum fratrum predicatorum generalis nuper in Nurenbergh personaliter constitutus ad importunam instanciam fratrum dicte provincie Dacie districtissime inhibuerit fratribus provincie Saxonie eciam per sentenciam excommunicacionis latam ne terminos dicte provincie Dacie aliquatenus ingrediantur sine licencia prioris provincialis vel vicarii generalis eiusdem tamen idem venerabilis pater magister ordinis antedictus auditis nuper in Colonia hincinde partibus de gracia utique speciali nobis et fratri Thyderico Koller sacre theologie professori provincie Saxonie dictam causam in tot et in parte sentencialiter et finaliter decernendam atque terminandam vive vocis oraculo plenarie commisit. Cupientes igitur paci religioni ac equitati parcium predictarum providere de consilio discretorum tenore presencium sentencialiter diffinimus et ordinamus quod tantum quatuor fratres et non plures videlicet duo de conventu Lubicensi et duo de conventu Sundensi per suos priores de consilio seniorum ad hoc deputati et electi tempore nundinarum ad Schaniam licite valeant transire et ibidem missas coram civibus quorum capellani sunt celebrare ac elemosinas recipere et mendicare ab hominibus et mercatoribus ac piscatoribus dicte dumtaxat provincie Saxonie seu inter fittas eorundem de dicta provincia Saxonie constitutis. Insuper nu huiusmodi licencia fratribus provincie Saxonie aliis sub pena carceris ingressum dicte provincie Dacie contra hanc nostram prohibicionem simpliciter et de plano tenore presencium interdicimus et precipue ad terram Schanie tempore nundinarum predictarum dictis eciam quatuor fratribus tempore nundinarum ad Schaniam pro tempore transmittendis in virtute sancte obediencie precipimus et sub sentencia excommunicacionis in hiis scriptis lata trina tamen canonica monicione premissa ne ab incolis mercatoribus piscatoribus seu hominibus utriusque sexus dicte provincie Dacie scienter aliquo modo elemosinam quamcumque exigant mendicent ac requirant nec eciam sacramenta ecclesiastica ministrare presumant nec confessiones audiant nisi sint dyocesanis episcopis illorum hominum quorum confessiones audire requiruntur legitime presentati. Sub eadem pena prohiberum ne aliquis dictorum quatuor fratrum missas celebret in tentoriis carnificum vel in quocunque loco alio inhonesto. Ceterum quia justum est ut sub una regula et unius professionis voto vivunt in omni karitate se mutuo prosequantur idcirco quatuor fratribus sepedictis per presentes imponimus districtissime ut fratres dicte provincie Dacie apud mercatores provincie Saxonie karitatiue studeant promovere. Ad eciam scrupulum consciencie in premissis omnibus et singulis amovendum universis ad quos presentes littere pervenerint, notum facimus per presentes quod sentenciam excommunicacionis per venerabilem magistrum ordinis contra fratres provincie Saxonie latam in quantum premissis omnibus aut alicui parti suprascripte dinoscitur contraire de consilio discretorum tollimus et revocamus quousque ab eodem patre venerabili aliud receperitis in mandatis. Datum Lubeke anno Domini MCCCLXXXIII secunda die mensis augusti nostro ac dicti magistri Thyderici college nostre in hac causa sub sigillis.

Dansk oversættelse:

Broder Michael, af Guds nåde biskop af kirken i Skálholt, til de ærværdige fædre i Kristus og alle brødre i provinserne Dacia og Saxonia af prædikebrødrenes orden: Oprigtig kærlighed med Gud. Skønt den ærværdige fader i Kristus broder Raymund, generalmagister for ordenen af nævnte prædikebrødre, for nylig i Nürnberg personligt på en indtrængende opfordring fra brødrene i nævnte provins Dacia på det strengeste ligeledes ved en fældet bandlysningsdom har forbudt brødrene i provinsen Saxonia på nogen måde at overskride grænserne for nævnte provins Dacia uden tilladelse fra provincialprioren eller sammes generalvikar, har dog samme ærværdige fader, fornævnte ordensgeneral, efter for nylig i Köln at have hørt begge parter af en ubetinget særlig nåde med levende røst fuldstændigt overladt os og broder Dietrich Koller, professor i den hellige teologi, fra provinsen Saxonia, ved slutdom helt og delvis at erklære sig i og afslutte nævnte sag. Idet vi derfor ønsker at drage omsorg for fornævnte parters fred, fromhed og billighed, afsiger vi som slutdom og anordner med dette brev på gode mænds råd, at blot fire brødre og ikke flere, nemlig to fra konventet i Lübeck og to fra konventet i Stralsund, der er udpeget og udvalgt hertil af deres priorer med de ældstes råd, i markedstiden frit kan rejse til Skåne og sammesteds holde messer i nærværelse af de borgere, hvis kappelaner de er, og modtage almisser og tigge, dog kun blandt mennesker og købmænd og fiskere fra nævnte provins Saxonia eller dem, der befinder sig på de fed, der tilhører samme fra nævnte provins Saxonia. For at denne tilladelse desuden ikke skal synes på nogen som helst måde at blive til skade for brødrene fra provinsen Dacia, forbyder vi enkelt og ligetil med dette brev alle andre brødre fra provinsen Saxonia under trussel om fængselsstraf at betræde nævnte provins Dacia i modstrid med dette vort forbud, og i særdeleshed med hensyn til landet Skåne i tiden for fornævnte markeder påbyder vi ligeledes nævnte fire brødre, der til enhver tid skal oversendes i markedstiden til Skåne som fornævnt, og i kraft af den hellige lydighed og under den bandlysningsdom, der er fældet med dette brev - dog efter forudskikket trefoldig kanonisk påmindelse - at de med viden ikke på nogen måde må opkræve nogen som helst almisse af indbyggerne, købmændene, fiskerne eller menneskene af begge køn i nævnte provins Dacia, tigge og opfordre til, ej heller driste sig til at forvalte de kirkelige sakramenter eller høre skriftemål, medmindre de på lovformelig vis har fået det overgivet af stiftsbisperne for de mennesker, hvis skriftemål de opfordres til at høre. Vi forbyder under samme straf at nogen af nævnte fire brødre holder messer i slagternes telte eller på noget som helst andet upassende sted. Men eftersom det er retfærdigt, at de, der lever under én regel og ét professionsløfte, gensidigt ærer hinanden i al kærlighed, pålægger vi af den grund oftnævnte fire brødre på det strengeste med dette brev, at de kærligt skal stræbe efter at befordre brødrene af nævnte provins Dacia hos købmændene fra provinsen Saxonia. For ligeledes at fjerne samvittighedstvivl med hensyn til alt det fornævnte hos alle gør vi med dette brev vitterligt for alle, hvem dette brev når frem til, at vi på gode mænds råd ophæver og tilbagekalder den bandlysningsdom, der er fældet af den ærværdige ordensmester mod brødrene fra provinsen Saxonia, for så vidt den vides at gå imod alt det fornævnte eller nogen del af det ovennævnte, indtil I modtager noget andet som befaling af samme ærværdige fader. Givet i Lübeck i det Herrens år 1383 den 2. august med vort og den nævnte dr. Dietrichs segl.

Comments: It is not explicitly stated that any of the two judges are Dominican, but it would be highly irregular for a master general to appoint external judges to settle an internal Dominican affair. Furthermore, they are both referred to as fraters. ● The episcopal see Schalatensis is in Diplomatarium Danicum identified with Scala in southern Italy, but this see apparently had no bishops in the period 1369-1384, and none whatsoever called Michael. It is thus much more likely to identify him with Bishop Michael Magnusson of Skálholt in Iceland, who was in office 1382-1391; he seems to have been a Dominican penitentiary, appointed bishop in Skálholt by the pope while serving at the Curia, and the judgment therefore seems to have been passed on his way back home to Scandinavia and Iceland. According to Icelandic sagas, Bishop Michael was of Danish origin and not very well liked among the Icelanders, partly for his nationality, partly for introducing visitations and a more strict ecclesiastical administration in the diocese. He eventually was absolved from office and returned to Denmark. If this identification is correct, this is the only documentation for his Dominican relation. ● Fr. Thidericus Koller is undoubtedly identical to the Dominican doctor of theology, who in 1396 was vicar provincial of Saxonia and teaching at the university in Erfurt. ● Fr. Raymundus de Capua was master general of the Order of Preachers 1380-1399; he is especially known as initiator of the Dominican reform movement. ● The judgment was part of a long, on-going conflict between the Dominican provinces of Dacia, Saxonia and Polonia about the right to have friars present at the financial important herring markets in Skanør and Falsterbo, Skåne. Geographically, the markets were situated within the terminus of the Dacian convent in Lund, but as the market sites within the season held some sort of international status, several merchants from the north German and north Polish cities brought along mendicant friars from their respective cities as ‘maritime chaplains’. See also 1385, 1461, 1477, 1492, 1494 and 1508.

Published: Lübeckisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. IV no. 422; Diplomatarium Danicum 4. ser. vol. II no. 370.

1384 16/4

Vadstena

Convents in Sweden

Last will and testament for Bo Jonsson, seneschal of Sweden, in which he leaves 100 marks for each monastic convent in Sweden, Finland and Gotland, for which each of them is to say three masses for him every week in a period of three years.

Source: Transcript from early 17^th century. The National Archives of Sweden, Stockholm.

Language: Swedish.

Alla them, som thetta breeff höra eller see helser iagh Boo Joonsson, droste innem Swerikie, ewærdeliga medh Gudi. Førthenn skulld, att iagh hafuer tenncht medh Gudz hielp før rickzsenns gagn och æhrende føllga minom kæra herra och høgbornom fursta konung Allbrecht till fijennda lannd och dødzsens tijma ær allom mannom owiss, ty skipar iagk heel och heelbregda medh berådne modhe min æhrende och tingh, sosom herefter føllger. (…) Først gifuer iagh Wårfru clostre i Wastenom, som iagk min lægerstadh walldt hafuer (…). Item gifuer iagh huarie cløstre, både frwklostrom och munckasklostrom, huariom spitale och huarie helga andes hwse, både i Swerike, Østerlanndom och Gottlande, hundrede mark swenska penninga, och ther føre skall huart cløster migh lathe seije tree messor och så monge vigilias i huarie weke try åhr omkring. (…) Till alle thesse før^ne æhrende bewijsning och stadfestellse lather iagh mitt innsigle her witterlige førehengie, och till wittnesbørd bedes iagh heederliga och welborne manna innsigle, som alle thesse førnembde skipan nærstadde wore, såsom æro min moderbroder, her Boo Booson riddare, her Hemming Laurentzsson, prost af Wermelande, Petter Thomasson och Haralld Bagge. Schrifuit och vthgifuit åhrom efter Gudz byrd MCCCLXXXIIII nesta løgerdagen effter påska dagh wider Wadztena cløster.

Comments: Bo Jonsson (†1386) of the noble family Grip was a member of the Swedish national council from 1359. By lending money to the kings in return for mortgage land, he became the biggest non-royal landowner in medieval Sweden, with an immense political power. When King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden tried to reduce the power of the high nobility, Bo Jonsson led a delegation of nobles placing Albrecht von Mecklenburg on the Swedish throne instead in 1363. As king, Albrecht was highly dependent on Bo, whom he made seneschal (‘drost’) of the kingdom in 1371, and during the reign of Albrecht, the seneschal was de facto lord of a third of Sweden and all of Finland. ● Practically all Bo Jonsson’s religious devotion was directed at the newly founded Brigittine abbey in Vadstena, where he also chose to be buried. Monastically, he is otherwise best known for having one of his noble opponents, Karl Nilsson, killed in the Franciscan church of Stockholm in 1381. ● The will was written more than two years before Bo Jonsson died (20 August 1386). The reason was explicitly that the seneschal at this time was following his king, Albrecht, on a military campaign.

Published: Rosman, Bjärka-Säby… vol. I no. 6, pp. 356-361.

1384 23/6

(Tallinn)

Convent of Tallinn

The city council of Tallinn issues an appraising letter of reference concerning the character of Fr. Johannes Jagow, prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn. At a later point, a similar letter is issued in favour of another prior, Fr. Johannes Vrolingk.

Source: Concept in Revaler Denkelbuche. Tallinn City Archives.

Language: Latin.

Universis et singulis ad quorum notitiam presentia pervenerint. Nos proconsules et consules Revalie presentibus fratrem et dominum Johannem Yachouwen, priorem nuper claustri fratrum ordinis predicatorum in Revalia, se laudabiliter et honeste, bone fame et conversationis nobiscum rexisse et regitasse, ita quod grates sibi referimus multiformes, et nichil aliud de eo scientes, nisi quod de honesto ac famuso viro scire debeat. Quare rogamus omnes et singulos, tam seculares quam spirituales, ad quos se dictus dominus Johannes Yachouwe diverterit, ipsum promovere et promotum circa vos habere, pro quo vobis, diligenter requisiti curabimus complacere. Datum anno Domini MCCCLXXX quarto, in vigilia nativitatis beatis Johannis baptiste, nostro sub secreto presentibus a tergo affixo.

Comments: Beneath the text is added with a later hand: Consilimis tenoris huius littere fuerat etiam data fratri Johanni Vrolingk, priori. ● Fr. Johannes Yaghow, prior of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn, verified a series of letters in 1379 21/10. His byname may suggest that he originated from the small town of Jagów in the Altmark district, today north-western Poland, or – more likely – that he was of the noble family von Jagow. ● Fr. Johannes Vrolingk was prior of the Tallinn convent in 1385 10/11. ● It is unknown what the letters of recommendation were meant for.

Published: Liv-, Est- und Kurländisches Urkundenbuch 1. ser. vol. III no. 1209.

1385 27/1

Tallinn

Convent of Tallinn

Curd Kegheler and Johan Stoltevot, mayors of Tallinn, testify before the city council of Tallinn that they have witnessed how Johan Hapesel, canon of Saarema, in the church of the Friars Preachers in Tallinn has declared himself satisfied in regard of a mortgage put forward by Hinrick Krouwel, also mayor of Tallinn, on behalf of Bo Jonsson.