Fru Inger asks for safe conduct for Nils Lykke
DN 11/617 · 9 June 1535 · Österaat
What the letter says
Fru Inger writes from Austrått on 9 June 1535 and asks Archbishop Olav to persuade Vincens Lunge to let Nils Lykke have safe conduct, because there is already strife enough. She asks the archbishop not to take amiss a heated letter from Vincens, who is both quick-tempered and angry at the bad news. She reports that Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg has come to Copenhagen and is demanding an account from Count Christopher. She sends two tubs of butter, promises another before the council meeting and reminds him of the two live pike the archbishop has promised her.
The letter in modern English
My humble and loving greeting always sent before with our Lord Jesus Christ. Dearest lord, may almighty God always grant me to hear, learn and ask good news of the fortune and welfare of Your Grace's life. Dearest lord, my son herr Vincens wrote to me and gave me a good scolding [uncertain reading: «austwr», perhaps «anskuor»] in his letter, because I wrote to him that it seemed advisable to me that he let Nils Lykke have safe conduct for many reasons, especially in these frail times we now have. It seems to me that we have strife enough, and I fear it will be enough for us all. I did this not for any kindness or love he has shown me, only for the sake of the circumstances. Dearest lord, I fear that my son herr Vincens has written somewhat hastily to Your Grace. Therefore I gladly ask Your Grace's dignity not to take it amiss or to despise him for it, for the man is both hasty and angry at such ruinous news. I have both written to him and told his servant that whatever Your Grace writes about this, Your Grace does it all with good intent and meaning, so that the whole families on both sides shall not be ruined or despised for the sake of one person.
Original text
Mynn ydmygelige och kierlig helssenn althiid for sendtt mett vor herre Jesu Christo. allerkieriste herre eders naadis liiff lyche och velferdtt vndne meg thend alszommeictugiste gud till eders naade altiid att høre forfare och spørie. allerkieriste herre schreff myn szøn her Vincentius meg till och gaff meg vell austwr (anscuor?) i sitt breff for thett ieg schreff hannwm tiil att meg thycthe vere raaliigtt att hand lodtt Niels Lyche faa leigde for mange orsager skyld bescwynderlig i thenne
Background
Nils Lykke was a Danish nobleman who had been married to fru Inger's daughter Eline Nilsdatter. After Eline's death he began a relationship with her sister Lucie, which under the law of the Church was incest and a grave offence. Safe conduct (leide) was a promise of safe passage, so that a man could appear without being arrested. Vincens Lunge, whom fru Inger calls her son, was her son-in-law, and he was among the councillors south of the mountains who refused to sit in a meeting with Nils Lykke (see DN 15/507). Duke Albrecht of Mecklenburg was an ally of Lübeck and Count Christopher in the Count's Feud. The butter was packed in tubs instead of barrels because the brine could run out when the barrels were opened, and then the butter turned rancid. Anne Lunge was probably the daughter of Vincens Lunge and Margrete Nilsdatter and thus a grandchild of fru Inger.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)