Nils Lykke thanks Eske Bille for his help and for the fish
DN 10/611 · 21 April 1530 · Fosen
What the letter says
Nils Lykke writes from Fosen on 21 April 1530 to Eske Bille and thanks him for Jens Hallandsfar and Søren the cloth-cutter, who have helped him during the negotiations between the archbishop, fru Ingerd and Vincens Lunge. He also thanks him for the fish Eske has lent him, and promises to get it back to him this summer. With Jens he sends a copy of the archbishop's letter to Helgeland. He expects to go to Denmark soon, but does not know when until fru Ingerd comes home, and he offers to handle Eske's errands there.
The letter in modern English
My willing, loving greeting with all the good I am able, always lovingly beforehand with our Lord. Dear Sir Eske, especially good friend. As I wrote to you most recently about how the dealings between the archbishop and my mother and Sir Vincens had turned out etc., and that the honourable good men you had sent with me, Jens Hallandsfar and Søren the cloth-cutter, have followed me throughout and been willing towards me in every way with counsel and deed with all their power and means, as honourable good men, I thank you, who sent them with me for comfort and support, most highly and lovingly, and likewise them in every way. Dear Sir Eske, I thank you most highly, lovingly and gladly for the fish that you lent me and relieved me with, and likewise for all the honour and good you have shown me. As for the fish, I will put my back into getting it as soon as I can this summer, and that and all other good I will willingly repay and deserve. Dear Sir Eske, I send you with Jens Hallandsfar a copy of the archbishop's letter that His Grace wrote to Helgeland etc. I know of no special news to write to you now, for here there is nothing but misery. May God Almighty grant me to hear good news of you, your dear wife and all good friends.
Original text
Myn veluillig kerlig helsszen met alt hues jeg got formaa altyd kerligen forscreffuit mett wor herre. kere her Eske besynderligh gode ven som jeg screff ether till nw syst forgongen hworledis then handell mellom erchebispen oc myn moder oc her Vincenc. seg begiffwit hafde etc. oc att the ærlige dandemendh som i haffde affærdit mett meg Jens Hallindzffar oc Søffwrinn offwerscherer haffue aldelis fwld meg oc wærett meg i alle maadhe welwilligh met raad oc daadt aff all theris macht oc formwe szom
Background
The letter follows up the settlement Nils Lykke brought about between Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson and fru Inger Ottesdatter and Vincens Lunge in March 1530 (DN 9/656). The archbishop's letter to Helgeland probably concerned the utfareleidang Eske wanted to collect there. That Lykke borrowed fish from the commander at Bergenhus shows that stockfish was used almost as a means of payment among the great men along the coast. Lykke writes that he does not know when he can travel until his mother-in-law fru Ingerd comes home, which suggests she was travelling in the spring of 1530. He wrote from Fosen, where he held the fief (len) and where Austrått, fru Inger's manor, lies. Of the place he is in, he writes that there is nothing but misery there.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)