1xDiplomatarium OP Dacie

 

Collected and edited by J.G.G. Jakobsen, Centre for Dominican Studies of Dacia.

Intro

Vol. I (1220-1299)

Vol. III (1400-1499)

Vol. IV (1500+)

 

 

 

Vol. II (1300-1399)

(the volume is under continued construction and still very far from completion)

Last update: 2013.04.19

 

 

Index:

Around 1300. The town nightwatch of Nidaros is to pass through a common between the king’s manor and the house of Friars Preachers.

1302. The general chapter decides to keep the province of Dacia unchanged in the reformed provincial structure of the Order; the province is exempted from establishing a studia generalia.

1302. Prior Provincial Oluf is absolved by the general chapter.

1302-08. Fr. Peder of Roskilde is elected prior provincial of Dacia and holds the office to 1308.

1304. Mrs. Cecilie Nielsdatter Galen leaves 1 mark to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde.

1304. Fr. Peder of Roskilde, prior provincial, represents Dacia at the Order’s General Chapter in Toulouse.

1305. Prior Israel Erlandi of the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna presents the case of his convent against the convent in Strängnäs regarding terminatione in Stockholm to the coming provincial chapter.

1305. Prior Provincial Petrus and the provincial chapter in Skänninge rule in favour of the convent in Sigtuna regarding the right to collect alms in and around Stockholm.

1307. Mrs. Cecilie Jonsdatter leaves 2 marks to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde.

1308. Mrs. Christine Nielsdatter Galen leaves 8 marks denariorum to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde.

1308. Fr. Oluf, former prior provincial of Dacia, dies at the convent in Næstved.

1309. Filip Björnsson leaves 50 marks to the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna, with whom he wishes to be buried.

After 1312. Parish priest Peder Brakke joins the Friars Preachers in Roskilde.

1315. Fr. Bent of the Friars Preachers (in Roskilde?) receives two farms on behalf of the sisters of St. Agnes.

1315. The prior of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde acts as vicar provincial on behalf of the sisters of St. Agnes.

1315. Prior Provincial Knud confirms a contract for the sisters of St. Agnes in Roskilde; indication of provincial chapter?

1316. Mrs. Christine Sjællandsfar leaves 3 marks annually to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde for an eternal Mass.

1318. Prior Hason of the Friars Preachers in Hamburg is send as municipal envoy of Hamburg to Tønsberg to negotiate with King Magnus Håkonsson of Norway.

1322. Prior Johannes and the Friars Preachers in Roskilde certify a papal bull for the Franciscan sisters of St. Clare.

1322. Fr. Bent of the Friars Preachers (in Roskilde?) receives estate on behalf of the sisters of St. Agnes.

1323. Bishop Niels of Børglum consecratres the priory church of the Friars Preachers in Holbæk.

1325. Lector Johannes of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde witnesses an entrance in the church of St. Agnes.

1326. Pope Johannes XXII allows for the Friars Preachers in Dacia to eat meat when they are out preaching, hearing confession or otherwise travelling outside their priories.

1327. Lector Johannes of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde is appointed vicar general for the province of Dacia.

1327. Prior Bent of Roskilde is appointed attorney for the sisters of St. Agnes by Prior Provincial Tyge.

1329. Gynceke Falkendal donates a field next to the mill of the Friars Preachers in Roskilde to the sisters of St. Agnes.

1330-50. Duchess Ingeborg donates 160 marks silver to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde for repairs on the priory.

1332. Prior Provincial Petrus Philippi of Dacia is elected archbishop of Uppsala.

1334. Fr. Johannes of the Friars Preachers travels through Flanders to the king of France as messenger of King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden-Norway.

1331-34. The Friars Preachers in Roskilde act as messengers for Nuncio Petrus Gervasii during his stay in Denmark.

1336. Provincial chapter of Dacia is held in Sigtuna.

1337. Prior Bent of Roskilde certifies two letters for the Bishop of Roskilde.

1338. Pope Benedict XII charges three Swedish canons to judge in a conflict between parish priests and mendicant friars in the archdiocese of Uppsala.

1338. Pope Benedict XII charges the archbishop of Nidaros to judge in a conflict between Fr. Peter Filipsson, archbishop of Uppsala, and the Franciscans in his diocese.

1338-39. The Friars Preachers in Nidaros ask Archbishop Petrus Philippi OP of Uppsala for permission to send two fratres terminarii into Jämtland.

1341. Mrs. Ingerd Pedersdatter leaves 1 shilling gros. to the Friars Preachers in Roskilde.

1341. Archbishop Petrus Philippi OP of Uppsala dies.

1349 31/5. The General Chapter prescribes commemorative prayers for Fr. Matheus of Dacia, who died on his way to last year’s chapter held in Lyon.

1350 13/5. Bishop Jakob Poulsen of Roskilde bequeathes the convents of Friars Preachers in Stralsund, Roskilde, Næstved and Holbæk; he wishes to be buried temporarily with the friars in Stralsund.

1340-50 (?). At the provincial chapter in Næstved a donation of books to the convent in Lund is tried and confirmed.

1349-50 (?). The bishop of Bergen prescribes a daily liturgical programme to be celebrated in the churches of Bergen as a remedy against the plague; on Wednesdays at the Friars Preachers.

Around 1350. Parish priests in Strängnäs diocese are forbidden to allow monks perform parochial sacraments without previous permission from the bishop.

1351 17/4. Papal Penitentiary Sigfridus Lincopensis OP of Dacia informs Thomas Svensson, parish priest of Tierp, that he has papal permission to choose his final confessor.

1355. Peder Lauridsen Panter supplicates to Pope Innocent IV for papal support of the construction of a new priory built in stone for the Friars Preachers in Vejle; the pope complies.

1363. The papal penitentiary Fr. Gotscalcus Falkdal of the Friars Preachers is suggested by King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden as new bishop of Linköping, but this is declined by Pope Urban V.

1383. Fr. Michael, Bishop of Skálholt, and Dr. Thidericus Koller passes judgment in conflict between the Friars Preachers in Lund, Lübeck and Stralsund about terminatio at the herring markets in Skåne.

1384. Seneschal Bo Jonsson of Sweden leaves 100 marks for each convent in Sweden for which they are to say three masses for him every week for three years.

1387. Mrs. Kristina Fadersdotter leaves 3 pounds of grain to the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna and a tapestry for the prior of the convent.

1387. Mogens Store of Gotland is buried in the church of the Friars Preachers in Visby.

1390. Fr. Botto is transferred from the province of Dacia to Teutonia.

1392. Pope Boniface IX complies with a supplication from Queen Margrethe I of Denmark-Norway-Sweden and the Friars Preachers of Dacia to found a new Dominican convent in Vyborg.

1396. Parish priests in Sweden are forbidden to allow mendicant friars hear confession without previous permission from the bishop.

 

 

 

 

around 1300

Nidaros

Convent of Nidaros

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.

 

 

 

1302   Whitsun (a)

Bologna

Province of Dacia

The general chapter decides to reorganize the structure of advertisement of electional chapters; the province of Dacia remains among those to be called upon by the convent of Paris (2. reading). In the new provincial structure of the Order it is decided to maintain the province of Dacia unchanged (2. reading). Whereas all provinces henceforth are to establish a studium generale of their own, the provinces of Dacia, Grecia and Terra Sancta are exempted from this. Finally, 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.

 

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

 

A:

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

Iste sunt approbaciones. (…) 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. (…)  [p. 312]

Iste sunt inchoaciones. (…) Item hanc. In capitulo de studentibus, ubi dicitur, sex autem provincie, etc. deleatur, et ponatur, quelibet autem provincia, exceptis Dacie, Grecie, Terre sancte, provideat; ut semper in aliquo conventu ydoneo sit generale studium et solempne. (…) [p. 314]

Ista sunt suffragia pro vivis. (…) 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. (…) [p. 316]

 

Comments: On the same general chapter’s absolution of Fr. Oluf as prior provincial of Dacia, see 1302.

 

Published: Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, pp. 312-316.

 

 

 

1302   Whitsun (b)

Bologna

Province of Dacia

The general chapter absolves Fr. Oluf as prior provincial of Dacia.

 

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

Language: Latin.

 

A:

In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Amen. Acta capituli generalis Bononie celebrati anno Domini MCCCII. (…) Iste sunt absoluciones. Absolvimus priores provinciales Ungarie, Dacie, Terre sancte. (…).

 

Dansk oversættelse:

I Faderens og Sønnens og Helligåndens navn, amen. [Dette er] akterne fra generalkapitlet afholdt i Bologna i det Herrens år 1302. (…) Disse er afløsningerne: Provincialpriorerne af Hungaria, Dacia og Terra Sancta afløses. (…)          

 

B:

[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. Oluf (Olavus), see 1286. He was replaced as prior provincial by Fr. Peder (see 1302-08). According to Bernard Gui, Fr. Oluf spent his last years at the convent in Næstved, where he died in 1308. ● For other decisions at the general chapter involving the province of Dacia, see 1302.

 

Published: A. Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III, pp. 315. B. Handlinger rörande Dominikaner-Provinsen Dacia, 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: Fr. Peder (Petrus) of Roskilde is probably identical with the prior of that same convent known in the 1290s. If so, he seems to have succeeded Fr. Oluf (Olavus) twice: first as prior conventual of Roskilde in 1286 (when Oluf was elected provincial), and secondly as prior provincial in 1302. He might also be identical with the personal confessor for Jakob Herbjørnsen mentioned in 1299.

 

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

Literature: Gallén 1946, pp. 64-65.

 

 

 

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

Toulouse

Convent of Roskilde, Province of Dacia

Fr. Peder of Roskilde represents the province of Dacia at the Order’s General Chapter in Toulouse.

 

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

 

Dacie: fr. P. de Rusquillis.

 

Comments: The identity of Fr. P. de Rusquillis at the general chapter in Toulouse is not clarified any further, but no doubt, he is identical with the “frater P. de Rusquillis”, the former Prior Peder (Petrus) of the convent in Roskilde, who according to Bernard Gui was elected prior provincial of Dacia in 1302.

 

Published: Monumenta ordinis fratrum Praedicatorum historica vol. IV, p. 1.

 

 

 

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 ‘terminatione’ 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 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 terminatione 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, prior provincial of Dacia, see 1291-97. ● On Fr. Nicolaus, see 1291-97. ● On Fr. Israel Erlandi, see 1281. ● On Fr. Boio, see 1291-97. ● Fr. Vernerus, lector of the Friars Preachers in Lund, is otherwise unknown. ● On the conflict about the terminatione in Stockholm, see earlier 1305.

 

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

 

 

 

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

Convent of Næstved, Province of Dacia

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

 

Source: Priores prouinciales in prouincia Dacie.

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

1315 18/1

Fakse Herred

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

At the moot of the Herred of Fakse, Fr. Bent 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.

 

A:

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 what convent Fr. Bent (Benedictus) is related to, but Roskilde is the most likely one. He acted on behalf of the nunnery of St. Agnes again at the ‘landsting’ (the moot of Zealand) in 1322, and he might be identical with a Fr. Bent, who is referred to as prior in Roskilde 1327. Cecilie Herlugsdatter (Cecilia filia Herlugi) 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 vicar provincial of Dacia. 20 August of the same year, the contract was confirmed by the prior provincial, Fr. Knud (Canutus). 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 (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. Knud, prior provincial of Dacia, confirms the above-mentioned contract between Dame Cecilie and the nunnery of St. Agnes in Roskilde.

 

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

Language: Latin.

 

Uniuersis presentes litteras inspecturis frater Kanutus fratrum ordinis predicatorum prouincie Dacie prior et seruus inutilis. salutem in omium saluatore. Ut firma ueritas ac sincera caritas ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei et professionis nostre sollicite conseruetur, ordinacionem et concessionem factam per priorissam et conuentum sororum sancte Agnetis Roskildis de bonis in Olæfsthorp scotatis et datis earundem sororum monasterio per nobilem dominam Ceciliam relictam domini Iohannis Syælænsfaræ iunioris nunc sororem ordinis ibidem. uidelicet ut dicta domina et soror, dictorum bonorum fructus et prouentus libere percipiat ad dies suos pro sua suarumque filiarum consolacione et utilitate, tenore presencium, approbo, ratifico et confirmo, cum omnibus determinacionibus et circumstanciis, quas littera prefati conuentus noscitur plenius continere. In quorum omnium firmitatem sigillum nostrum presentibus est appensum. Datum Roskildis anno domini m.ccc.xv. in die beati Bernardi abbatis.

 

Comments: Fr. Knud (Canutus) became prior provincial of Dacia in 1308. It is unknown why a vicar provincial governed the province in February 1315, but Knud might have been either sick or temporarily absolved from office, before he had recovered or was re-elected in August. Poor health might be a possibility, as he is not heard of again after November that same year. The next known prior provincial of Dacia (Tyge) emerges in the sources as late as 1327. 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. For comments on Dame Cecilie and her entry in the nunnery of St. Agnes, see 1315.01.18.

 

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.

 

 

 

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 16th 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.

 

 

 

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; 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.

 

A:

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 1315.01.18 (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 15/8

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.

 

 

 

1325 7/4

Roskilde

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

Fr. Johannes, lector with 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. Niels Mikkelsen 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: Lector Johannes Albus was appointed vicar general for the province of Dacia by the general chapter in 1327. He might also be identical with the Prior Johannes of the Roskilde convent in 1322.06.10. Fr. Niels Mikkelsen (Nicolaus Michaelis) 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. Dame Christine (Christina filia Johannis), daughter of Jens Sjællandsfar the Elder, donated estate to the nunnery in 1316.03.24 (see comment there); her nieces Lunde and Cecilie had been with the sisters since o.1310, and her sister Cecilie since 1315.08.20. Dame Margrethe Tygesdatter (Margareta filia Tuchoni), who co-witnessed the entrance of Sister Christine, was a wealthy, Zealandic landowner of the Hvide family (in Gallén 1946, p. 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 (Cecilia filia Henrici) was among the other named lay guests at the Easter Mass in the nunnery church.

 

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

 

 

 

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

Perpignan

Convent of Roskilde, Province of Dacia

The General Chapter of the Order of Preachers in Perpignan removes the prior provincial of Dacia and installs Fr. Johannes Albus, lector at the convent in Roskilde, as vicar general for the province, until a new provincial has been elected and installed.

 

Source: Acta capitulorum generalium OP.

Language: Latin.

 

Absolvimus priores provinciales Anglie, Polonie et Dacie. Item. Ponimus vicarium generalem in provincia Dacia fratrem Johannem Album, lectorem Roscildensem, donec provincialis electus et confirmatus et presens fuerit in eadem.

 

Comments: Fr. Johannes Albus is also known as lector in Roskilde in 1325, where he witnessed a woman joining the Dominican sisters of Roskilde St. Agnes in the monastery church. He might also be identical with the Prior Johannes of Roskilde known in 1322. The reason for the removal of the three priors provincial is unknown, as is the identity of the Dacian provincial. Fr. Knud (Canutus), who was elected provincial in 1308, was still in office in 1316, but from then to 1327, the records name no provincials of Dacia. In August 1327, the probably newly appointed provincial was Fr. Tyge. Alternatively, Fr. Tyge was the removed one, as he later in the same year left the office to become bishop of Börglum (the northern-most bishopric of Jutland).

 

Published: Monumenta ordinis fratrum Praedicatorum historica vol. IV, p. 172.

 

 

 

1327 19/8

Ringsted

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

Fr. Tyge, prior provincial of the Friars Preachers in Dacia, and Fr. Bent, prior of the convent in Roskilde, accept, together with Erik Valdemarsson, son of Princess Jutta, to leave the decision of the strife between the Dominican sisters of St. Agnes and the princess’ heirs to 12 of Zealand’s best men at the landsting. Furthermore, the prior provincial gives power of attorney to Prior Bent 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: 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. Fr. Bent (Benedictus) 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. Fr. Tyge ‘Klerk’ (Tucho ‘Clericus’) was only prior provincial of Dacia for a short period, but he probably held the office in 1326, when he is known to have taken part in the dethronement of King Christoffer II of Denmark. In 1328, Fr. Tyge was appointed bishop of Børglum (northern Jutland), while the former bishop joined the Order of Preachers. In his time as both provincial and bishop, the relation between the Dominican order and the Danish kings cooled significantly. The Landsting of Zealand 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.

 

A:

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.

 

A:

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.

 

 

 

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. 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.

 

 

 

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 was absolved from office in 1333 by the general chapter, as he had been elected by the canons of Uppsala Cathedral for new Swedish archbishop in 1332. 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.

 

 

 

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 ∙xiie∙ 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. ● King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden (1319-1364) and Norway (1319-1343) apparently felt closely connected to both mendicant orders. 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.

 

 

 

1331-1334

Convents of Lund and Roskilde

Papal nuncio and collector Petrus Gervasii takes local Friars Preachers into his service as messengers during his stay in Denmark 1331-34, where he periodically lives with the convents of Roskilde and Lund. From Roskilde, pairs of friars are send with papal letters to Jutland (1331.06.20) and Funen (1332.03.26), and during the final winter of the nuncio’s stay (1333-34), he leaves it to the Dominican prior of Roskilde to secretly transport half of the collected money to the harbour of Helsingborg, from where it is to be sailed to Bruges; the prior does not succeed, though, because of an on-going war. For his trouble, the prior is paid 5 shilling grot, while the convent of Roskilde is given a barrel of beer. Furthermore, the prior and the lector of Lund is paid for conducting some unspecified papal matters, just as they have kept collected money in the priory while the nuncio was in Sweden.

 

Source: Original account book. Vatican Archives, Rome.

Language: Latin.

 

Liber rationum magistri Petri Gervasii dudum in Dacia Suecia Gocia et Norwegia apostolice sedis nuncii. (...)

   Item die .xx. junii (1331), auditis racionibus collectorum Lundensium quas tunc reddere poterant viventes nam aliqui ex eis mortui erant, iterum jui ad Sialendiam, videlicet, ad civitatem Roskildensem (...). Item scripsi prelatis in Jucia et collectoribus dicte decime significans eis me venisse pro dicta decima colligenda et quod pararent raciones 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. (...)

   Item die .xxvi. marcii (1332) misi de Roskildis in Feoniam litteras mandans collectoribus decime predicte in civitate et diocesi Ottoniensibus ut pararent raciones 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. (...)

   Item die .iiii. decembris (1333) jui versus ecclesiam Roskildensem et solvi pro naulo seu pro maris transitu -.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. (...) Item anno domini .m.ccc.xxxiiii. 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. (...)

   Item die lune in crastinum pasche (1334) exivi civitatem Roskildensium 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. (...)

 

Comments: The source is the account book of Nuncio Petrus Gervasii for expenses during his stay in Scandinavia 1331-1334, as reported to the Curia in Avignon by his return. Although termed ‘papal nuncio’, the main job of Petrus Gervasii in Scandinavia clearly was to collect the Peter’s pence, 6-years-tithe and other papal taxes. The time made it, however, an unusual difficult task, as lawless conditions prevailed in Denmark during his entire stay; the Danish king had been deposed, and the country was governed by a number of Danish og German mortgage-holders (in Danish history known as ‘the Reign of the Counts’); seen in this light, it is in fact impressing that Petrus succeeded in collecting any money at all. Originally, he was meant to be accompanied by a Danish Dominican, the former penitentiary Fr. Johannes Nyborg, but just before their departure, Fr. Johannes was appointed new bishop of Roskilde by the pope. Apparently, the collected papal taxes in Denmark was often kept in the Dominican priories of Roskilde and Lund. A similar Swedish-Norwegian base for Nuncio Gervasii appears to have been the Dominican priory of Skara in Western Götaland. None of the friars from Roskilde or Lund is named in the accounts, but the Prior of Roskilde, who was sent to Helsingborg, was most likely Fr. Bent (Benedictus), who is known as prior in Roskilde 1327 and 1337. The mentioned Paraclito was the Augustinian abbey of Æbelholt by Arresø in north-eastern Zealand.

 

Published: Diplomatarium Danicum 2. ser. vol. XI no. 152.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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 reverencia 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.

Literature: Gallén 1946, pp. 167-168.

 

 

 

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.

 

A:

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

 

B:

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

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 (18th 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.

 

 

 

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 etc. (...) Cupientes igitur ut ecclesia fratrum ordinis predicatorum opidi Weldele Ripensis diocesis in honore et sub vocabulo eiusdem gloriose virginis fundata et quam quondam Laurencius Johannis ex lignis construi ut accepimus fecit de lapidibus vel alias honorabilius construatur et a Christi fidelibus congruis honoribus frequentetur et ut fideles ipsi eo libencius confluant ad eandem quo ibidem uberis dono celestis gracie conspexerint se refectos de omnipotentis Dei misericordia et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius auctoritate confis omnibus vere penitentibus et confessis qui ecclesiam ipsam devote visitaverint annuatim ad eiusdemque ecclesie constructionem huiusmodi manus porrexerint adiutrices unum annum et quadraginta dies de injunctis eis penitenciis 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: Diplomatarium Danicum 3. ser. vol. IV no. 333.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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 17th 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 førne 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.

 

 

 

1387 5/12

Sigtuna

Convent of Sigtuna

Last will and testament for Kristina Fadersdotter de Venngarn, in which she leaves 3 pounds of grain to the Friars Preachers in Sigtuna and a tapestry for the prior of the convent.

 

Source: Original document. The National Archives, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

 

In nomine Domini amen. Ego Cristina Fadhersdotter in Vinagarnum licet corpore debilis mente tamen sana testamentum meum de bonis mihi a Deo collatis in hunc modum ordino et dispono. (…) claustro Vpsalie ∙iii∙ pund annone, claustro Sictunie ∙iii∙ pund annone, priori ibidem ∙i∙ tapetum (…). In cuius testamenti et ultime voluntatis firmiorem evidenciam sigillum meum una cum sigillis liberorum meorum, videlicet Fadheri Biørnsson, presbiteri canonici Upsalensis, et Ingeborghis Biørnsdotter, duxi presentibus appendendum. Datum Sictunie anno Domini MCCCLXXX septimo in profesto beati Nicolai, episcopi et confessoris.

 

Dansk oversættelse:

I Herrens navn amen. Jeg Kristina Fadersdotter i Venngarn, sandelig svag af legeme men frisk i sind, forordner og opstiller mit testamente over det gods, som Herren har skænket mig, på følgende måde: (…). klosteret i Uppsala 3 pund korn, klosteret i Sigtuna 3 pund korn, prioren sammesteds et vægtæppe (…). Til et stærkere bevis på dette testamente og min sidste vilje har jeg bestemt at mit segl skal vedhænges dette brev sammen med segl tilhørende mine børn, nemlig Fader Björnsson, præst og kannik i Uppsala, og Ingeborg Bjärnsdotter. Givet i Sigtuna i det Herrens år 1387 dagen før den salige biskop og bekender Nikolai festdag.

 

Comments: Kristina Fadersdotter was the widow of Björn Nilsson, chieftain of Ärlinghundra herred. Their son, Fader Björnsson, was canon at the cathedral chapter in Uppsala. Their home, Venngarn, was a manor located in the outskirts of Sigtuna.

 

Published: Lindgren, Salutem in Domino sempiternam no. II.

 

 

 

1387

Convent of Visby

Mogens Store on Gotland is buried in the Dominican Church of St. Nicholas in Visby.

 

Source: Cronica Guthilandorum.

Language: Danish.

 

Aar 1387 (…). Døde Mogens Store paa Guthiland, begrafuen i S. Nicolai Kircke, huor hans Vaaben er siunlig udi Muren.

 

Comments: The identity of Mogens Store (Magnus Magnus) is not known, but he was probably of ‘high peasantry’ or low nobility from Gotland. ● According to the chronicler Hans Nielsen Strelow, Mogen Store’s coat of arms was still visible in the church wall in 1633, indicating the existence of a grave stone.

 

Published: Cronica Guthilandorum, p. 184.

 

 

 

1390 10/8

Provinces of Dacia and Teutonia

Fr. Botto (Botulphus?) is transferred from the province of Dacia to Teutonia by the master general.

 

Source: Registrum litterarum generales magistri OP.

Language: Latin.

 

Anno 1390. (…) Item die 10 augusti transtulit frater Bottonem de Dacia ad provinciam Theutoniae.

 

Comments: The master general of the Order of Preachers at this time was Fr. Raymundus de Capua (1380-1399).

 

Published: Quellen und Forschungen zur Geschichte des Dominikanerordens in Deutschland vol. VI, p. 11.

 

 

 

1392 23/2

Rome

Province of Dacia, Convent of Vyborg

Pope Boniface IX complies with a supplication from Queen Margrethe I of Denmark-Norway-Sweden, the prior provincial and the Friars Preachers in the province of Dacia for the foundation of a new Dominican convent in or nearby Vyborg, dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary and all the angels, for the increase of (gudsdyrkelsen) and for comfort, help and salvation of Christian people in the vicinity of the castle, who are recurrently harassed by Russians and other infidels. The priory is to be constructed in accordance with (forskrifter) of the Order of Preachers with a church or oratory, cemetery, bells and belltower, garden, and other buildings necessary for their work. The permission explicitly dispensates from the general prohibition against new mendicant convents issued by Pope Boniface VIII.

 

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

Language: Latin.

 

Bonifacius etc. dilectis filiis priori provinciali et fratribus provincie Dacie ordinis fratrum predicatorum secundum morem dicti ordinis salutem etc. Sacre vestre religionis, sub qua devotum et sedulum exhibetis Domino familiatum, promeretur honestas, ut votis vestris, in hiis presertim, que divini cultus et vestri ordinis augmenta respiciunt, quantum cum Deo possumus favorabiliter annuamus. Sane peticio pro parte carissime in Christo filie nostre Margarete, Dacie et Norwigie regine illustris, nobis nuper exhibita continebat, quod in diocesi Aboensi regni Swecie est quoddam sollenne castrum, Wiborch nuncupatum, cum terra seu opido circa ipsum castrum, que quidem terra, castrum seu opidum [ac] christifideles in eis degentes propter vicinitatem Ruthenorum et aliarum infidelium nationum ipsorum Ruthenorum et infidelium incursibus sepius molestantur, et propterea eadem regina vehementer affectat, quod in dicta diocesi prope Wiborch seu in terra vel opido predictis aliquis locus fratrum vestri ordinis pro consolacione et animarum salute dictorum fidelium ac divini cultus augmento ad honorem et sub vocabulo beate Marie virginis et omnium angelorum fundetur et eciam construatur; quare pro parte dicte regine fuit nobis humiliter supplicatum, ut vobis recipiendi ac fundandi et construendi inibi locum huiusmodi, si vobis et dicto ordini legitime acquiratur, cum ecclesia seu oratorio, cimiterio, campanili, campana, ortaliciis, domibus aliisque necessariis officinis licenciam concedere de benignitate apostolica dignaremur. Nos itaque, qui huiusmodi cultus et religionis augmenta ferventer appetimus, huiusmodi supplicacionibus inclinati vobis recipiendi, fundandi et construendi locum ipsum in loco tamen ad hoc congruo et honesto pro usu et habitacione predictis, felicis recordacionis Bonifacii pape VIII, predecessoris nostri, qua inhibetur, ne fratres ordinum mendicantium in aliqua civitate, castro vel villa locum ad habitandum recipere de novo presumant absque apostolice sedis licencia speciali faciente plenam et expressam de inhibitione huiusmodi mencionem et quibuscunque aliis constitucionibus contrariis nequaquam obstantibus, jure tamen parrochialis ecclesie in omnibus semper salvo auctoritate apostolica tenore presencium licenciam elargimur; vobis nicholominus concedentes, quod fratres vestri ordinis in ipso loco, postquam fundatus et constructus exstiterit, pro tempore moraturi gaudeant omnibus privilegiis, indulgenciis, exempcionibus, libertatibus et graciis, quibus alii fratres dicti ordinis ex concessione apostolica gaudent et eciam potiuntur. Nulli ergo etc. nostre concessionis et voluntatis infringere etc. Si quis autem etc. Datum Rome apud Sanctum Petrum septimo kalendas marcii anno tercio.

 

Dansk oversættelse:

Bonifacius osv. til sine elskede sønner provincialprioren og brødrene af prædike­brødrenes orden i provinsen Dacia efter nævnte ordens skik: Hilsen osv. Eders hellige ordens hæder, under hvilken I yder Gud from og oprigtig tjeneste, fortjener, at vi nådigt, så vidt vi kan med Gud, imødekommer Eders ønsker, særligt angående dette, som tager sigte på forøgelse af gudsdyrkelsen og af Eders orden. En ansøgning, der for nylig er forelagt os på vegne af vor såre kære datter i Kristus Margrethe, Danmarks og Norges berømmelige dronning, indeholdt altså, at der i Åbo stift i Sveriges rige er en anset borg kaldet Viborg, tillige med land eller en by omkring denne borg, hvilket land, hvilken borg eller by og de troende kristne, der bor i dem, på grund af naboskabet med russerne og andre vantro folkeslag ofte forulempes ved disse russeres og vantros indfald, og at samme dronning af den grund voldsomt higer efter, at der i nævnte stift nær Viborg eller i fornævnte land eller by grundlægges og ligeledes indstiftes en stiftelse for brødre af Eders orden til trøst og sjælefrelse for nævnte troende og til forøgelse af gudsdyrkelsen til ære for og med navnet ‘Den hellige Jomfru Maria og Alles Engle’, hvorfor man på nævnte dronnings vegne ydmygt har rettet den bøn til os, at vi af apostolisk velvilje ville værdiges at bevilge Eder tilladelse til at modtage og grundlægge og indstifte denne stiftelse sammesteds, hvis den på lovlig hvis kan erhverves for Eder og nævnte orden, med kirke eller oratorium, kirkegård, klokketårn, klokke, haver, huse og andre nødvendige bygninger for Eders virksomhed. Idet vi som glødende stræber efter forøgelse af denne dyrkelse og fromhed derfor bøjer os for disse bønner, bevilger vi Eder med apostolisk myndighed i kraft af dette brev tilladelse til at modtage, grundlægge og indstifte denne stiftelse, dog på et hertil passende og agtværdigt sted, til brug og bopæl for fornævnte, uanset vor forgænger - salig ihukommelse - pave Bonifacius VIII’s bestemmelse, i hvilken det forbydes, at brødre af tiggerordenerne drister sig til fra nyt at modtage en stiftelse til bopæl i nogen stad, borg eller landsby uden det apostoliske sædes særlige tilladelse, der fuldstændigt og udtrykkeligt omtaler dette forbud, og alle andre bestemmelser, der strider herimod, idet dog sognekirkens ret stedse er forbeholdt med hensyn til alt. Vi tilstår Eder lige så vel, at brødrene af Eders orden, der til enhver tid måtte bo i denne stiftelse, efter at den er grundlagt og indstiftet, skal nyde alle de privilegier, bevillinger, eksimeringer, friheder og nådesbevisninger, som andre brødre af nævnte orden ifølge apostolisk bevilling nyder og ligeledes besidder. Intet menneske osv. osv. Hvis nogen osv. Givet ved Skt. Peter i Rom den 23. februar i det tredje år.

 

Comments: Vyborg (Fin.: Viipuri; Swe.: Viborg) located in present-day Russia near the border to Finland was in the Middle Ages with the entire district of Karelia a highly disputed borderland between Russia and the kingdom of Sweden. The castle Vyborg was built by the Swedes in 1293, and in 1323 Karelia was incorporated into the Swedish duchy of Finland and the diocese of Turku. A small urban settlement developed around the castle during the fourteenth century, but it was especially during the reign of the Nordic Union-regents by the turn of the fifteenth century that it started to flourish. Queen Margrethe I of Denmark-Norway-Sweden (1387-1396, de facto-regent 1396-1414) initiated the foundation of two mendicant convents in this frontier town of her realm, a Dominican in 1392 and a Franciscan before 1403, and granted Vyborg its first urban privileges in 1403. Her interest in Karelia was connected with her attempt to gain Swedish support against her opponent King Albrecht of Sweden.

 

Published: Finlands Medeltidsurkunder no. 1005; Diplomatarium Danicum 4. ser. vol. IV no. 531.

 

 

 

1396 14/3

Arboga

Convents in Sweden

Parish priests are forbidden to allow mendicant friars hearing confession if such friars have not beforehand been allowed in the diocese by the bishop in question.

 

Source: Act of provincial synod of Sweden. Various medieval transcripts. National Library of Sweden, Stockholm; Uppsala University Library; The National Archives, Stockholm.

Language: Latin.

 

Statuta provincialia. (…) Item quod fratres mendicantes non admittantur per curatos ad audiendas confessiones, nisi prius docuerint se per episcopos dyocesanos admissos. (…)

 

Comments: Transcripts are preserved for the dioceses of Skara and Linköping, as well as for Vadstena Abbey. ● Similar decisions were made against unspecified “monks” and “foreign priests” in Strängnäs diocese c.1350 and Jämtland in 1440.

 

Published: Gummerus, Synodalstatuter… no. 2, pp. 27-29 (esp. § 8).

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Acta capitulorum generalium OP. Acts from the general chapters of the Order of Preachers. Archivum Generalis Ordinis Praedicatorum, Rome. Published in Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vols. III-IV, VIII-XIV, Rome 1898 ff.

Annales 266-1430. Swedish yearbook for the period 266-1430, probably compiled by Dean Nils Birgersson of the cathedral chapter in Strängnäs around 1420, apparently partly based on a lost continuation of the Annales Skeningenses. National Library of Sweden, Stockholm (B 17). Published by E.M. Fant in Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum vol. I:1, pp. 22 ff.; by G. Paulsson in Annales Suecici medii aevi, pp. 275-292; and by J.G.G. Jakobsen in Annales Ordinis Predicatorum in Provincia Dacie (Scriptores ordinis predicatorum de provincia Dacie online) 2012.

Annales Petri Olavi. My name for the annalistic part of the chronicle of Petrus Olavi’s Collectanea (c.1533-34). Arnemagnæan Collection, University of Copenhagen. Published in Scriptores Rerum Danicarum vol. I, Copenhagen 1771, pp. 171-197. Also published in extracts by E. Jørgensen in Annales Danici medii ævi, Copenhagen 1920, pp. 206-211.

Bartholin’s Collectanea. A compilation of transcripts of medieval documents and chronicles collected by Thomas Bartholin (†1690). The actual collection was lost in the great fire of 1728, but an eighteenth-century copy is preserved. The Royal Library, Copenhagen. Published in numerous extracts in later diplomataria, such as Diplomatarium Danicum.

Bernardi Guidonis Historia Ordinis Dominicanorum (Codex Cracow). A chronicle written by Bernard Gui c.1310 containing a list of the first eight priors provincials of Dacia. General Archives of the Order of Friars Preachers, Rome. The list is published by K.H. Karlsson in Handlinger rörande Dominikaner-Provinsen Dacia section II, p. 6; and in Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vol. III.

Cronica Guthilandorum - Den Guthilandiske Cronica. Chronicle of the history of the island Gotland compiled by Hans Nielsen Strelow, published in Copenhagen 1633. Reprinted in Visby 1978.

Esrum Book. Records of privileges and donations to the Cistercian Esrum Abbey on Zealand; compiled c.1497. The Royal Library, Copenhagen. Published by O. Nielsen in Codex Esromensis, Copenhagen 1880-81; letters from before 1413 also published individually in Diplomatarium Danicum, wills from before 1450 in Erslev’s Testamenter.

Register of Roskilde St. Agnes Monastery. Register of letters of donations and privileges to the Dominican nunnery of St. Agnes in Roskilde; compiled 1575. The Danish National Archives, Copenhagen. Published in Ældste danske Archivregistraturer vol. IV, Copenhagen 1885, pp. 275-290.

Registrum ecclesie Upsalensis. List of bishops and archbishops of Uppsala covering the period to 1344, compiled by Archbishop Hemming Nilsson (†1351) of Uppsala. Preserved in medieval transcript (A 8), The Swedish National Archives. Published in Diplomatarium Suecanum vol. V no. 3834; and in Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum vol. III:2.

Registrum litterarum generales magistri OP. Register of letters given by the master generals of the Order of Preachers. Archivum Generalis Ordinis Praedicatorum, Rome. Published in Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica vols. XVII and XXI, Rome 1935-47; Quellen und Forschungen zur Geschichte des Dominikanerordens in Deutschland vols. 6, 7, 10, 37 and 40, Leipzig & Cologne 1911-52; Acta capitulorum provinciae Poloniae ordinis praedicatorum vol. I, Rome 1972; and Handlingar rörande Dominikaner-Provinsen Dacia, Stockholm 1901.

Sorø Donation Book. Records of donations to the Cistercian Sorø Abbey on Zealand; compiled c.1440. Published by J. Langebek in Scriptorum Rerum Danicarum vol. IV, Copenhagen 1776, 463-531.

 

 

 

Source publications:

Acta Pontificum Svecica. Papal diplomas concerning medieval Sweden. Published by L.M. Bååth, Stockholm 1936-57.

Annales Danici medii ævi. Various medieval annals of Danish origin or Danish content. Published and commented by E. Jørgensen, Copenhagen 1920.

Annales Suecici medii aevi. Various medieval annals of Swedish origin or Swedish content. Published and commented by G. Paulsson, Lund 1974.

Bjärka-Säby och dess ägare (Rosman, Bjärka-Säby…). History of the manor Bjärka-Säby in Sweden with an appendix of related medieval documents published in extenso. Published by H. Rosman, Stockholm 1923-27.

Codex Esromensis, Esrum Klosters Brevbog. Records of privileges and donations to the Cistercian Esrum Abbey on Zealand; compiled c.1497. Published by O. Nielsen, Copenhagen 1880-81.

Diplomatarium Danicum. All registered letters concerning medieval Denmark; pro tem going to 1412 (from 1401 webversion only). Published by Det danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab, Copenhagen 1938 ff.

Diplomatarium Norvegicum. All registered letters concerning medieval Norway. Published by C.C.A. Lange & al., Christiania/Oslo 1849-1976. Also available online.

Diplomatarium Suecanum. All registered letters concerning medieval Sweden; pro tem going to c.1375. Published by Kungl. vitterhets historie och antikvitets-akademien och Riksarkivet, Stockholm 1829 ff. Also available in online webversion.

Finlands Medeltidsurkunder. All registered letters concerning medieval Finland. Published by R. Hausen, Helsinki 1910-35. Also published online as part of the Diplomatarium Fennicum.

Handlingar rörande Dominikaner-Provinsen Dacia. Material in the Archivum Generalis Ordinis Praedicatorum, Rome, concerning the province of Dacia; mainly provincial lists by Bernard Gui (c.1310) and Dacian records in the Registrum Generalis Magistri Ordinis Predicatorum (1474-1531). Published by K.H. Karlsson, Stockholm 1901.

Kirkehistoriske Samlinger. An annual periodical on various aspects of church history in Denmark, with several first-time publications of sources in the earliest volumes. Published by Institute for Church History at Copenhagen University, Copenhagen 1849 ff.

Lübeckisches Urkundenbuch. All registered letters concerning the medieval city (1. ser.) and diocese (2. ser.) of Lübeck, 1139-1470. Published by Verein für Lübeckische Geschichte, Lübeck 1843-1932.

Monumenta Ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum Historica. Various source material from the archives of the Order of Preachers, e.g. the general chapter acts. Published by B.M. Reichert & al., Rome 1897 ff.

Quellen und Forschungen zur Geschichte des Dominikanerordens in Deutschland. Sources and studies concerning the German Dominicans. Published by P. von Löe & B.M. Reichert, Leipzig 1907 ff.

Repertorium diplomaticum regni danici medii aevi (Repertorium danici). List of all registered letters concerning the kingdom of Denmark in the Middle Ages (1085-1513), several citing complete letters or abstracts. Published by K. Erslev and W. Pedersen for Selskabet for Udgivelse af Dansk Kirkehistorie, Copenhagen 1894-1939.

Salutem in Domino sempiternam – Fem medeltida brev. Five letters from medieval Sweden presented for studies in Latin. Published and translated to Swedish by C. Lindgren, Uppsala 1990.

Scriptores Rerum Danicarum. Various medieval annals and chronicles of Danish origin or Danish content, as well as several ecclesiastical letter books. Published by J. Langebek and P.F. Suhm, Copenhagen 1772-1834; reprint Wiesbaden 1969.

Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum. Various medieval annals and chronicles of Swedish origin or Swedish content. Published by C. Annerstedt & al., Uppsala 1818-1876.

Sverges traktater med främmande magter. Letters concerning international relations of Sweden. Published by O.S. Rydberg (vols. I-IV, 822-1560), Stockholm 1877-95.

Synodalstatuter och andre kyrkorättsliga aktstycken från den svenska medeltidskyrkan (Gummerus, Synodalstatuter…). Acts of Swedish provincial synods and other church statutes of the Middle Ages. Published by Jaakko Gummerus, Uppsala 1902.

Testamenter fra Danmarks middelalder indtil 1450 (Erslev, Testamenter…). All registered Danish wills from 1183 to 1450. Published by K. Erslev for Det Kongelige Danske Selskab for Fædrelandets Historie og Sprog, Copenhagen 1901.

Trondhjemske Samlinger. Local-historical yearbook from Trondheim (Nidaros), occasionally publishing sources of local relevance. Published by Trondhjems Historiske Forening, Trondheim 1962 ff.

Ældste danske Archivregistraturer. Various Danish registers of letters preserved in The Danish National Archives; most of the registers are of the sixteenth century, but concerning medieval letters. Published in five volumes by Det Kongelige Danske Selskab for Fædrelandets Historie og Sprog, Copenhagen 1854-1910.

 

 

 

Literature referred to in the diplomatarium:

Blom, Grethe Authén (1974): ‘Magnus Lagabøters bylov og Trondheim – med en innledning om Bergens bylovs overføring til rikets øvrige kjøpsteder’, in: Trondhjemske Samlinger vol. 9:2, 99-145.

Gallén, Jarl (1946): La Province de Dacie de l’ordre des Frères Prêcheurs 1 - Histoire générale jusqu’au Grand Schisme, Helsingfors.

Grandlund, John (1972): ‘Säljakt’ (Sverige), in: Kulturhistorisk Leksikon for Nordisk Middelalder vol. 17, 694-695.

Grandlund, John (1974): ‘Tran’ (Sverige), in: Kulturhistorisk Leksikon for Nordisk Middelalder vol. 18, 551-552.

Jakobsen, Johnny Grandjean Gøgsig (2003): ‘Da prædikebrødrene kom til Holbæk – Om de mulige bevæggrunde og samtidspolitiske forhold bag en dominikansk klosterstiftelse på Sjælland i starten af senmiddelalderen’, in: Kirkehistoriske Samlinger, 2003, 7-35. (Online version.)

Lindbæk, Johannes (1914): De danske Franciskanerklostre, Copenhagen.

Lunde, Øivind (1977): Trondheims fortid i bygrunnen - Middelalderbyens topografi på grunnlag av det arkeologiske materialet inntil 1970, ‘Norwegian Antiquarian Bulletin’ vol. 2, Trondheim.

Nyborg, Ebbe & Niels Jørgen Poulsen (2005): ‘†Sortebrødrekirke (Vejle)’, in: Danmarks Kirker XVII: Vejle Amt, Copenhagen, 259-268.

Vollan, Odd (1974): ‘Tran’ and ‘Tranhandel’, in: Kulturhistorisk Leksikon for Nordisk Middelalder vol. 18, 549-551 and 557-560.

Yrwing, Hugo (1974): ‘Tranhandel’ (Sverige), in: Kulturhistorisk Leksikon for Nordisk Middelalder vol. 18, 560-561.

 

 

 

Centre for Dominican Studies of Dacia

Johnny G.G. Jakobsen, Department of Scandinavian Research, University of Copenhagen

Postal address: Njalsgade 136, DK-2300 Copenhagen, Denmark ● Email: jggj@hum.ku.dk