Gustav Vasa's list of the help the Dalecarlian Junker received in Norway
DN 14/622 · [16? March 1528] · [Stockholm]
What the letter says
In notes from King Gustav Vasa's side, probably from March 1528, it is recorded what prisoners from the Dalecarlian Junker's following have told about the help he received in Norway. Archbishop Olav gave him 10 men, a dozen arquebuses and a gilded neck chain, the cathedral chapter in Trondheim gave gold rings, money and clothes, Vincens Lunge a gold arm ring and Erik Ugerup a weapon mounted with silver. Fru Ingerd gave him 10 arquebuses and a velvet cap, because he was to have her daughter, and his betrothed gave him shirts. Lunge and Ugerup escorted him back to Jämtland.
The letter in modern English
Likewise the men we have captured from the said rogue's party have informed us how our neighbours, the Norwegians, have furthered and honourably maintained this same traitor in Norway more than he is worth, right before our eyes, and helped him with clothes, money, powder, guns, weapons and men and other gifts, to our greatest harm and great vexation, as is written hereafter: Archbishop Olav helped him with 10 men and a dozen arquebuses and gave him a large gilded neck chain. Likewise herr Knut, dean in Trondheim, a gold ring. And other canons there have given him some money and some clothes. Likewise herr Asmund a gold ring. Likewise doctor Vincens gave him an arm ring of gold. Likewise Erik Ugerup a Swiss dagger [uncertain reading: «swidtzere»] mounted with 100 lodd of silver or more. Likewise fru Ingerd has helped him with 10 arquebuses and given him a velvet bonnet [cap], because he is to have her daughter, as has been said. Had she really wanted to provide her daughter with a Swedish husband, she could surely have found others here who were her equals, so that the maidens of Norway should not need to offer themselves to such a rogue and traitor. Likewise his betrothed has given him shirts. Likewise this same rogue lets fall many words and boasts of the help he expects from the Norwegians and some in Denmark, which one can however place little reliance on.
Original text
Haffue oc the karle som vy grepett haffue fraa forscreffne skalckis parthj giørt oss vnderwising huore wore naabør the Norske haffue forfordet oc wordelige ophollet samme forræder mere end hand er werdt vtj Norge oss vnder øgen, oc giørt hannom wnsettinge mett klede pendinge, krut bøsser werie oc folck oc andre skenckelsze paa wort argest, oc oss tiil stoert fortrædt, som her epter screffuit staar Erchebiscop Oleff wnsotte hannom x karle oc en dyssen hagebøsser oc skenckte hannom en forgyldt
Background
The Dalecarlian Junker Nils Stensson was a pretender who claimed to be the son of Sten Sture the Younger and led the men of Dalarna in revolt against Gustav Vasa. The list was drawn up on the Swedish side as an accusation against the Norwegian lords, and it is based on what the prisoners said. It can be compared with the archbishop's own account (DN 9/612), where he says he gave the Junker no men apart from three, and with fru Inger's defence (DN 9/607), where she writes of «four or six men and three or six arquebuses». The daughter who was to marry him was Eline Nilsdatter, and the betrothed is the same maiden. The Swedish writer thinks fru Inger could have found a better Swedish husband for her daughter. An arquebus (hakebørse) was a heavy hand firearm.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)