Fru Inger gives thanks for wine and passes on news from Denmark
DN 11/600 · 14 February 1534 · Österaat
What the letter says
Fru Inger Ottesdatter writes from Austrått on 14 February 1534 to fru Sophie, wife of Eske Bille at Bergenhus. She thanks her for half an ame of wine. Peder Hansen has come over the Dovrefjell with letters and a safe conduct from Denmark's Council of the Realm to the archbishop and has been with Nils Lykke. He reported that the matter between the emperor and the council concerning King Christian and his children is settled, that the emperor's and the Dutch ships have gone home and are expected back against Lübeck, and that several Danish nobles have held weddings.
The letter in modern English
Sisterly and loving greeting always sent beforehand with our Lord. Dear sister, I thank you lovingly and gladly for all the honour and virtue and for all the good you have always done and shown me, and especially for the half ame of wine [ame: a measure of wine] which you sent me. For that I thank you greatly and will gladly repay it in whatever way I can according to my poor means. Dear sister, Peder Hansen came down here to Trondheim over the Dovrefjell with letters to the archbishop from Denmark's Council of the Realm, with their safe conduct [promise of safe passage] which was requested at Bud. The said Peder has been with my son Sir Nils and told him the following news. First, that between the imperial majesty and Denmark's Council of the Realm the whole matter of King Christian and his children shall be settled forever. Likewise that the imperial majesty's and the Dutch ships have run home again, and they are expected to come back against Lübeck with much greater power by water and land. You will learn more about this in Sir Eske's letter, how it was settled. Dear sister, he also told as news that Axel Gøye's wedding has taken place, and he got Erik Styge's daughter's daughter. Jacob Hardenberg's wedding has also taken place, and he got Sophie, Lykke's daughter. And Ludvig Munk is riding fast to his wedding and is to have the maiden Kirsten, Lykke's daughter.
Original text
Søsterlig och kierligen heelszenn altiidt tiil fornne szendt mett wor herre kiere søster tacker ieg etther *keirligenn oc gerne fore all ære oc dygd oc fore alt gott som i meg altiidt giortt oc beuist haffue och besønnderligenn fore thend ɉ amme wienn szom i szendhe meg for huilkiidtt ieg ether storligenn tacker oc wiill ieg thett gerne forskyldhe i hues motthe ieg kand effther miin fatthiigenn machtt.
Background
The letter is a rare private letter from fru Inger herself, and she calls fru Sophie Krummedike «dear sister» as a mark of friendship. Nils Lykke she calls «my son», as he was her son-in-law. The safe conduct, a promise of safe passage, had been requested at the council meeting at Bud the year before. The news shows the unsettled year 1534, when Denmark was without a king and the conflict with Lübeck was coming to a head, shortly before the Count's Feud broke out. An ame was a measure of wine, and half an ame was probably around 75 litres, an estimate. Ingeborg and Lucie, who send greetings, were her daughters.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)