This is an Award of Arms, done 15 February 1554 by King Gustaf I Vasa of Sweden for Joen Karlsson. First comes a translation of the original text, followed by my reworking of it to fit the SCA. The letter itself is written on parchment. The first letter is large and done with flourishes, and the first line is written slightly larger than the rest of the text. The arms are emblazoned in a square in the middle of the document, the text flowing around said square. There are no other illuminations. A large seal is hung from a loosely twisted string, threaded through holes in the upturned lower edge of the parchment.
Markland, öresland, and penningland refer to the size of the estates; they are taxed to one mark, öre, or penny respectively. One mark is eight öre, one öre is three örtug, one örtug is eight pennies.
Vii GustaAf medt Guds nåde Swerigis, Götis och Wendirs konung. göre wittergillt. Att wij aAf synnerlig gunst och nåde, så och för wallig och gulle tro tieniste som khenness skjelig wår tro tienere och betalningsman opå Orreholmen Joen Karlsson oss och wårt Rijke Swerige her tilldage troligen gjordt och bewist gaAver och ännu yttermere her eafter göre och bewise må och fall, oxå länge han leAwer, gaAve undt och giAwit, som wij och nu medt thette wårtt öpne breAf onne och giAfwe honom och hans eAfterkomende ächte barn, och hans barn arfwe evig frijhet och frälse opå tesse eAfterschreAfne Gods och Gårdar, som är en gård Åsta, ligger för Tolff ör land jord udi Skillinge Sokn, item en gård Salista, ligger för Siu ör och eAlfwe penninge land jord udi Fleensbij i Fleen Sokn udi Oppunde Gåredt, och opå alla andre Godts och Gårder som honom genom GiAftermål eller någett annett lagefong tilkome kunne, Och thett som tilförende frälst är och frälse varitt haffwer. Och giaAfwe wij honom her med Skiöld, Hielm, och Sköldemärke som är en blå falk udi ett gultt fiald, medt Twa gule jegere horn och en Blå falk ther emellan opå hielmen. Opå thett han same Gods under rätt frälse till wår och Rigisens tienste lijke som andre frälsis män ger i Rykitt theres Godts under rätt frälse niute, bruke och behålle må och skall. Siudendes för then skuld alle som för wåre sigils wele och schote göre och lathe, att the förbemalte Joen Karlsson eller hans EAfterkommande rette EArfwinger her emott icke udi någen måtte hinder eller förfong göre sskole. wid wår ogunste Och thets till yttermere wisse lathe wij hängie wårt Kongelige Secret her neden före.
Gah på wårtt Slott Stockholm then 15 dagen februarij Annao Domine Tusende femhundrede femtije opå thett fierde
We Gustaf, by God's grace king of Sweden, Gota and Wenden, make it known that we of exceptional favour and grace, so also for well and good faithful service that is due our servant and paymaster on Orreholmen Joen Karlsson us and our realm Sweden here to date truely done and shown and furthermore hereafter do and show will and shall, as long as he lives, gift given, as We now with this our open letter and gives him and his future legitimate children, and his children heirs, eternal freedom and tax-exemption on these hereafter listed estates, that are one estate Åsta, lies for twelve öres land in Skillinge parish, item one estate Salista, lies for ten öres and eleven pennies land in Flensby in Flens parish in Oppunda hundred, and on all the estates that will come to him by marriage or gift, and that which is and has been exempt from taxes in the past, and We give him hereby Shield, Helmet, and shield sign that is a blue falcon in a yellow field, with two yellow hunter's horns and a blue falcon there between on the helmet. That he these same estates under right exemption to our and our Realm's service like other noblemen in the Realm their estates under right exemption may enjoy, use, and keep, and that they not deny Joen Karlsson or his descendant legitimate heirs in no way any let or hinderance shall make, by our displeasure and that to make doubly sure We let hang our Royal Seal here below.
Given in our Castle Stockholm the 15th day february Anno Domini Thousand fivehundred fifty on the fourth.
We [name] and [name], by Right of Arms King and Queen of Drachenwald, make it known that We by exceptional favour and grace, so also for true and faithful service to us and our Realm, gives [name], as long as he/she may live, with this Our open letter, freedom and exemption from tax and dues on all the estates he/she owns in Drachenwald, and that may come to him/her by marriage, inheritance, or gift, and also give him/her Shield and Device that is [blazon]. That [name] these estates under right exemptions in the service of Us and Drachenwald like all other noble men and women in Our Realm may enjoy, use, and keep, and that no one any let or hinderance make, by our displeasure, We here below ascribe Our names.
Given in [place] the [date],
[Signatures]