Esge Bille takes over Bergenhus and reports the archbishop's seizures
DN 13/527 · 31 May 1529 · Bergenhus
What the letter says
Esge Bille writes from Bergenhus on 31 May 1529 to King Frederik I that he came to Bergen on 17 May and took over the castle from Vincens Lunge on 20 May, but received very little inventory. He asks for a ship with flour, malt and provisions, and reports that fru Ingerd and Lunge say the archbishop has taken all their fiefs, farms and estates, which he has had confirmed. Lunge refuses to give up the guns and powder taken from Dutchmen. Esge also reports that timber, ships, stockfish and whale blubber cannot be had until the northern ships arrive, asks for a carpenter to build a mill and recommends Niels Jepsen for a fief.
The letter in modern English
Letter to His Royal Majesty, our gracious lord. My humble, submissive, willing, dutiful and loyal service always sent before to Your Grace's Royal Majesty with our Lord. Dearest gracious lord, may Your Grace's Royal Majesty deign to know that I came into the town here on Whit Monday [17 May], and at once on the Thursday after [20 May] I took over command of the castle here at Bergenhus from Lord Vincens. God grant that it may be of use to Your Grace's Royal Majesty, and to me and my wife and children without harm or ruin. I received very little inventory here on Your Grace's behalf, and I now send Your Grace a list of it. Therefore I advise and humbly ask Your Grace to send here at once, at the first opportunity, a ship with flour, malt, provisions and other things with which I can keep the castle. If I do not get it, I shall be forced to take it out here on Bryggen, to Your Grace's great loss and harm. Dearest gracious lord, the men I have here at the castle on Your Grace's behalf I cannot let go. For the archbishop here in the country is taking on all the men he can get. What the reason for that is, I do not know. Fru Ingerd and Lord Vincens have told me that he has received and taken over all their fiefs, farms and estates. I have also learned and inquired elsewhere, and it is so. How matters develop on this in future I will also write to Your Grace as soon as possible.
Original text
Breff till Kongelige Majestat vor nadte herreMyn ydmyg wnderdanlige willige plectige tro tienniste eder nadis Kongelige Majestat altiid till foren send met vor herre Keriste nade herre werdes eders nadis kongelige Majestath ath wiide ath jegh kom her ind for byen andhen pindz dagh Och strax om torsdaghen ther nest epter tha anammede jegh slotz loghen her paa Berghenhuss aff her Vincencius gud giiffue ath thet motte bliffue eder nadis kongelige Majestat nytteligth och megh och myn høstrv och
Background
Esge Bille was a Danish nobleman who became commander of Bergenhus in 1529, and this is his first report to the king. Vincens Lunge, son-in-law of fru Inger of Austrått (died 1555), had to step down, and relations between the two were tense from the first day. The letter is a key source for the fact that early in 1529 Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had seized the fiefs, farms and estates of fru Inger and Lunge. It also gives a picture of Bergen as a trading town: the stockfish, here called bergefisk, and the whale blubber came with the northern ships from northern Norway around Midsummer, and before that the stores were empty. Bryggen was the quarter of the Hanseatic merchants, where provisions could be bought, but at a high price. The inventory was the castle's fixed equipment, weapons and stores, which were to be handed over from one commander to the next.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)