A letter of petition of the designated pastor of li, Henrik, son of Philip, addressed to the Pope, dated to 1488: the original text in Latin, with some new emendations, translation into Finnish, philological comments and a commentary clarifying the historical contexts

摘要

The document in Latin, FMU (=Medieval Documents of Finland) 4190, gives us the presentation for a decision-making to the Pope Innocentius VIII and his resolution regarding the priest Henrik, son of Philip, in the diocese of Turku, requesting to notify the pastorate of li, with its connex-parishes Simo and Kello, of a favourable decision. The document was first edited by K.H. Karlsson, perhaps with an average thoroughness in the orthography, and lacking, traditionally, in opening all the abbreviations. Furthermore, Karlsson, as it was usual in those times, does not offer any kind of interpretation, let alone any translation, which on the other hand is partly understandable, taking into consideration the strongly rhetoric style of the letter. The main points of the contents of the letter are in short, as follows. Due to the death of the previous priest Erik, son of Ebilaeus, of the pastorate of Ii, - belonging previously to the diocese of Turku there was a vacancy for a priest, together with its connex-parishes Simo and Kello. Henrik, son of Philip, priest in the the diocese of Turku got the office through a letter, in the vernacular language (that is, in Swedish), of the bishop of the diocese, legitimately appointed, and thus coming into effect formally in the correct process. But as Henrik suspected that the process might be, for some reasons, not valid, he applied the Pope for a special grace to be provided for him. The earnings of the priest of Ii consisted of not more than commonly estimated four Swedish silver marks in a year. The decision given in Rome, at S. Peter's church, was favourable and dated to August the 16th of the fourth year as the Pope, that is, in 1488. The reasons for Henrik's letter are not clear, but we may suspect that he doubted the validity of the appointment letter that was given to him by Bishop of Turku. At that time the bishop was Konrad Bitz (acting as bishop 1460-1489) who was involved in the political turmoil in the Union of Kalmar. He supported the Union King opposing his superior, the Archbishop. However, Konrad Bitz was on the losing side and he was punished: he had to plea for absolution from the Pope. This had taken place already in 1473 and long before Henrik's own appointment, but because the reputation of the bishop was tarnished Henrik may have suspected that his letter of appointment was not valid.