The king asks Esge Bille to judge the estate fru Inger is withholding
DN 12/428 · 19 March 1529 · Gottorp
What the letter says
King Frederik I writes from Gottorp on 19 March 1529 to Esge Bille. Holger Rosenkrantz has complained that Vincens Lunge and fru Ingerd, widow of Nils Henriksson, wrongfully withhold estate, movable and immovable, in Norway that belongs to his brother's children. When Esge comes to Bergen, he is to summon both parties, hear them and judge according to the evidence, and give the decision in writing.
The letter in modern English
We Frederik, by the grace of God King of Denmark, of the Wends and the Goths, elected King of Norway, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and Dithmarschen, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, greet you, our dear Esge Bille, our man and councillor, lovingly with God and our grace. Know that our dear Lord Holger Rosenkrantz, knight, our official at our castle of Nykøbing, has reported to us that our dear Lord Vincens Lunge and fru Ingerd, widow of Lord Niels Henriksson, knight, hold some estate, movable and immovable, in our realm of Norway that belongs to his brother's children, and that it is wrongfully withheld from him and them. Therefore we lovingly ask and command you, and with this our open letter give you authority, that when you first come to Bergen, you shall summon before you our dear Lord Vincens Lunge and fru Ingerd on the one side and Lord Holger or his representative on the other, hear them in the matter between them and part them by law. And whatever you do and learn in the matter and pronounce between them according to the evidence of both, you shall give in writing, as you will answer for it before God and acknowledge it before us. Likewise we lovingly ask both parties whom the matter concerns, and who are named above, to appear with their evidence before our dear Esge Bille when he summons them, and to receive and bear what is law and right in it.
Original text
Vii Frederiich mett guds nade Danmarcks Wendes oc Gottes konning wdtwoldt konning tiill Norge hertug i Slesuig Holsten Stormaren oc Ditmerschen greffue i Oldenburg oc Delmenhorst helsze ether oss elskelige Esge Biille wor mand oc raadt kerligen mett gudt oc wor nade Wiider att oss elkelige her Holger Roszenkrans riidder wor embesmand paa wortt slot Nykøping haffuer berett fore oss att oss elskelige her Vincencius Lunge oc frue Jngerdt her Niels Henricksens riidders epterleuerske haffue nogett
Background
Esge Bille had been appointed the new commander of Bergenhus after Vincens Lunge and arrived there in May 1529 (DN 13/527). Holger Rosenkrantz was commander of Nykøbing castle and pursued the case for the children of his brother Otte Holgersen Rosenkrantz. The estate was the inheritance of Ingerd Erlendsdatter, which fru Inger of Austrått (died 1555) and Lunge had taken into their keeping because fru Inger considered herself the nearest heir. «Movable and immovable» estate means movables and land. The king gave Esge authority to judge, but the case instead ended before Duke Christian at the herredag in Oslo in August, where the inheritance was awarded to the Rosenkrantz children (DN 9/637).
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)