The archbishop grants fru Inger safe conduct home to Austrått
DN 10/588 · [Sept.-Oktbr. 1529.] · [Throndhjem.]
Fru Inger of Austrått held Giske in these years, but had lost her farms to the archbishop. Here she is for the first time promised that she may return home to Austrått, and her fiefs are to be returned once they are reconciled.
What the letter says
In the autumn of 1529 Archbishop Olav answers the mission of Bishop Hans Reff of Oslo, Olav Galde and Peder Hansson, who had been sent to reconcile him with fru Ingerd Ottesdatter and Vincens Lunge. The envoys had no authority to promise compensation, but the archbishop nevertheless grants fru Ingerd safe conduct until the next assembly of lords. She may travel home to her farms Austrått and Fosen with her people and use all her landed estate. Once they are reconciled, he will give her back silver, money and the fiefs. The prisoners on both sides are to be released, but must give themselves up again if no settlement is reached.
The letter in modern English
Instruction and answer on the errands and missions which the worthy father in God Lord Bishop Hans of Oslo, the honourable and well-born man and stern knight Lord Olav Galde, councillor of the realm of Norway, and the well-born man Peder Hansson, courtier of our dearest most gracious lord, had been charged with on behalf of the honourable and well-born woman fru Ingerd Ottesdatter and Lord Vincens to the most worthy father Lord Archbishop Olav of Trondheim, etc. First, the Lord Archbishop showed himself willing, according to the letters, advice and wish of our dearest most gracious lord, the high-born prince King Frederik etc., His Grace's dear son, the high-born prince Duke Christian, and the Councils of the Realm of Denmark and Norway, gladly and obediently to enter into friendly negotiation and settlement with fru Ingerd and Lord Vincens, if anyone had been present who acknowledged having authority to answer for and make good the charges, arrogance and harm which His Grace complained had been done to him by them. For the said lords and envoys did not dare to go much further than the meaning and wording of their sealed instruction.
Original text
Jnstructz oc swar po the ærendhe oc verff som verdughe fadher i gud her biscop Hans till Oslo erlig velbyrdig man oc strenghe ridder her Oluff Galle Norges riges raad oc velbyrdig man Pædher Hanssen vor kæreste nodigste herres hoffsindher haffde i befaling po erlig oc velbyrdig qwindes [vengne ffrw Jngerd Ottesdatters oc her Vincentij vegne till verdugeste fadher her erchebiscop Oluff till Trondhem etc.Først loed her erchebispen seg veluillig findis i thet att hand vor kæreste nodigste herres
Background
Early in 1529 Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had seized fru Inger's farms and estates, and here she is for the first time promised that she may return to Austrått, her main farm on Fosen by the Trondheimsfjord. Fru Inger (died 1555) is often counted the richest woman in Norway in her time, and Austrått was the centre of her collection of estates. A safe conduct (leide) was a promise of free and safe passage, and a «feilig dag» was an agreed truce. That both sides had taken prisoners shows that the conflict had been a small war, with armed servants on both sides. The envoys had been sent by Duke Christian and the Council of the Realm from the herredag in Oslo, and the letter shows that the archbishop held firm to his demand for compensation for the damage he believed he had suffered. The truce was set to run until fourteen days after Midsummer 1530, when a new assembly of lords was to be held in Bergen (see DN 10/592).
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)