Nils Lykke turns back in Bergen when the king is dead
DN 12/541 · 7 May(?) 1533 · Bergen
What the letter says
Nils Lykke writes from Bergen, probably on 7 May 1533, to Anders Bille. During Lent he received a letter from King Frederik I summoning him, but in Bergen he learned that the king was dead. On the advice of the Bishop of Bergen and Eske Bille he sends the king's men and the black yacht to Denmark and returns home himself. He asks Anders to help bring about a settlement between Holger Rosenkrantz, on behalf of the children of Otte Holgersen Rosenkrantz, and his mother-in-law fru Ingerd.
The letter in modern English
My wholly willing and loving greeting with whatever good I can, always sent beforehand with our Lord. Dear Sir Anders, gracious and especially good friend, I lovingly let you know that some time before Lent I received a letter from the royal majesty, our dearest gracious lord, that I should come in person to his royal majesty. I obeyed in all submissive obedience, as I was dutifully bound and obliged. The honourable, well-born man and stern knight Sir Vincens Lunge, my dear brother-in-law, also gave me some letters and errands to take, letters and writings to you and several of his friends, lovingly charged to carry out, which I would also gladly have done. When I came here to Bergen, I was met by the lamentable, sorrowful and regrettable news that the king's majesty, our dearest gracious lord, had passed away and was dead. May the almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and joy. Accordingly, and on the good advice of the most reverend lord the Bishop of Bergen and Sir Eske Bille, I have sent the king's majesty's men and the black yacht [a smaller sailing ship], which I have kept with me here this winter, to Denmark.
Original text
Myn gantz welwillig och kerlig helssen mett hwes jeg gott formaa altiidt for(s)creuett mett wor herre. Kere her Anders gynstig og besynderlig godhe wen giffuer jeg etther kerligen tilkenne att noghet fore fasthe fiik jeg kongelige matte wor keriste nadige herres skriffuelsse att jeg personlligen skulde giffue meg til hans k: matt. etc. hwor efftther jeg meg y all wnderdanigh hørsamhett som jeg tyenstlig skuldig och plychtig war, (at) rette etc.
Background
King Frederik I died on 10 April 1533, and the realm was then without a king until Christian III was elected the following year. Nils Lykke was a Danish nobleman and councillor of the realm in Norway, married to fru Inger's daughter Eline. The letter shows how the news of the king's death reached Bergen and halted Nils's journey. The yacht was a smaller sailing vessel, and it had lain with him over the winter. The settlement with the Rosenkrantz family suggests a dispute between fru Inger and the children of Otte Holgersen, but the letter does not say what the dispute concerned. The settlement was to be made with a sum in gold, silver and money.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)