Nils Lykke on his knees before fru Inger
DN 11/623 · 6 July 1535 · Österaat
Nils Lykke, who had been given the Crown's right in Giske by the king, has now been captured by the archbishop's men. Fru Inger was his mother-in-law, and here she asks that he be spared a dishonourable death for the sake of the children and the family.
What the letter says
Fru Inger writes from Austrått on 6 July 1535 after the archbishop's men have seized Nils Lykke. She asks that if his life cannot be spared, he should at least be spared a shameful death, for the sake of his children and family, and be allowed to die by the sword or be kept in prison until the country has a new king. At the request of the archbishop's servants she went out to Fosen to receive the children and what was left of the goods. She and Olav Toresson locked it away in chests and in his storehouse, except for raisins, figs and sugar that Nils Lykke gave to Ingeborg and the children. She tells how Nils Lykke fell on his knees before her and asked forgiveness, and that she gave it.
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 life, fortune, health and welfare of Your Grace. Dear lord, I thank Your Grace's dignity for all the kindness, mildness and goodness Your Grace has shown me, a wretched woman, and my poor children. May almighty God reward Your Grace for it, and I will gladly repay it in my poor humility as best I can. Dear lord, I understand that Your Grace's servants have written well to Your Grace about how things have gone and fared with the poor, wretched man Nils Lykke. If he can now see that he has done wrong, and now falls into great humility and puts all his hope in God's hands and in Your Grace's mildness and mercy, whatever Your Grace will do or have done with him, then I ask for God's sake and for his poor children and his family and kinsmen that they shall not suffer too great dishonour and shame because of a contemptible death. Dear lord, if it were so that Your Grace could by no means spare his life, God forbid, then let him at least come to the sword, or sit in Your Grace's prison until a lord and king comes into the country, and his proper judge.
Original text
Mynn ydmygelig och kerligh hellssenn altiid forsendtt mett wor herre Jesu Christo. Allerkæriste herre eders naadis liiff. lycche. hellszenn och wellferdtt wndne meg thend alszommeictugiste gud till eders naade altiid att høre. forfare och spørrie. kiere herre tachker ieg eders naadis werdughædtt for all dyd och mildhedz och gott som eders naade meg arme qwindne och mine fattig barnn beuist haffue hwilkiidtt eders naade thend alszommeictugiste gud lønne och jegh gerne mett myn fattig ygmygtt
Background
Nils Lykke was taken prisoner on Fosen at the beginning of July 1535 and brought to Steinvikholm. He died in captivity there towards the end of the year. Fru Inger's plea that he should at least die by the sword shows the period's view of honour: a nobleman was beheaded, while hanging or burning was a disgrace that also struck the family. It was probably Nils Lykke's own belongings on Fosen that she locked away, and two keys, one with her and one with Olav Toresson, were meant to ensure that no one took anything without the other knowing. Raisins, figs and sugar were costly imports that show how rich a noble household could be. Ingeborg is her daughter Ingeborg Nilsdatter, and the children are probably Nils Lykke's children with Eline Nilsdatter, that is fru Inger's grandchildren. The fief she mentions was probably the one Nils Lykke had held.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)