The king summons Vincens Lunge and fru Inger over the inheritance of Otte Holgersson's children
DN 12/413 · 15 Oktbr. 1528 · Flensborg
Fru Ingerd Erlandsdatter, who was probably related to the heirs of Giske, had regarded Otte Holgersson's children as her heirs. Here the king summons fru Inger and Vincens Lunge, who believed they stood closer to the inheritance and had probably taken charge of her property.
What the letter says
From Flensburg on 15 October 1528 King Frederik I summons Vincens Lunge and fru Ingerd Ottesdatter, widow of herr Nils Henriksson, to appear before the king and the councils of the realms of Denmark and Norway at the first general meeting of lords (herredag) in Norway. Herr Holger Rosenkrantz, guardian of the children of his late brother Otte Holgersson, claims goods, silver, gold and money which Lunge and fru Inger are said to have taken, and to which the children are entitled by inheritance. If they fail to appear, judgement will be given on the evidence presented.
The letter in modern English
We Frederik, by the grace of God king of the Danes, the Wends and the Goths, elected king of Norway, duke in Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, count in Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, greet you, our beloved herr Vincens Lunge, knight, our man, councillor and official at our castle of Bergenhus, and our beloved fru Ingerd Ottesdatter, widow of herr Nils Henriksson, knight, warmly with God and our grace. We let you know that our beloved herr Holger Rosenkrantz, knight, our man, servant and official at our castle of Nykøbing, has informed us that he has a claim against you on behalf of his brother's children for certain goods, silver, gold and money that you are said to have taken, and which have fallen to his brother's children, herr Otte Holgersson's children, by right of inheritance. He is their rightful guardian. Therefore we ask you warmly, and require, that you and the said fru Ingerd or her rightful guardian prepare to appear before us and our beloved councils of the realms of Denmark and Norway at the first general meeting of lords to be held in our realm of Norway, without further hindrance or delay of any kind, and there obey and abide, on both sides, by whatever is pronounced in court. Do not fail in this, for otherwise judgement will be given on the evidence presented. Commending you to God.
Original text
Wij Frederich mett guds naade Danm(ar)ks Wenndis och Gottis koning wdtuold koning till Norge hertug vdj Slesuig Holstenn Stormarenn oc Ditmerschenn greffue vdj Oldennburg och Delmennhorst helsze etther oss elskelige her Vincencius Lunge ritther wor mand raad och embitzmand paa wortt slott Bergenhussz oc oss elskelige ffru Inngierd Ottessdatther her Niels Hienrickszens ritthers efftherleuerske kerligen med gud oc wor naade wider at oss elskelige her Holgierd Rosennkrantz ritther wor mand tienner
Background
Otte Holgersson Rosenkrantz died of plague in Lübeck in 1525 (DN 8/538), and the old fru Ingerd Erlandsdatter in Bergen had regarded him and his children as her heirs (DN 10/514). Lunge and fru Inger themselves believed they stood closer to the inheritance, and the summons suggests that they had taken charge of her property and movables after she died. A herredag was a meeting at which the king and the council of the realm sat as a court in cases between great lords. The case continued, for in July 1529 Anne Rud wrote that the king had ordered Henrik Krummedike to go to court on the children's behalf (DN 23/192). The letter is an example of how the inheritance disputes around fru Inger were taken all the way to the king.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)