The councillors in the south refuse to sit with Nils Lykke
DN 15/507 · 13 May 1535 · Oslo
What the letter says
Four councillors of the realm south of the mountains write from Oslo on 13 May 1535 to Archbishop Olav. They had asked for the council meeting in Trondheim to be moved from 23 May to Midsummer because the roads were impassable and there was no fodder for the horses. Now they have learned of Nils Lykke's heretical deed with Lucie, the daughter of fru Ingerd Ottesdatter and sister of his late wife, and they will not come as long as the archbishop gives him safe conduct and treats him as a councillor. Instead they send their letter of election for Duke Christian, who they believe can best defend the realm against the Lübeckers, and ask the archbishop and the councillors north of the mountains to issue a joint letter of election on parchment. They also ask for an answer on how large a tax the country can accept, for example a tenth or a twelfth penny.
The letter in modern English
A mind ready to serve, with constant and reverent zeal to please, in place of the greatest reverence and greeting [Latin opening]. Most worthy father in God, dear gracious lord. Some time ago we received Your Grace's loving and gracious letter about a general council meeting, which Your Grace had appointed in Trondheim on Trinity Sunday [23 May 1535]. At Your Grace's wish we answered Your Grace in writing by Your own messenger that the time and the appointed term seemed to us far too short, and that because of floods, impassable roads and lack of fodder for the horses, especially at that time of year, we did not think we could attend that council meeting. In the same answer we asked Your Grace to postpone the meeting of lords until Midsummer [24 June]. By that time most of us, unless lawful hindrance prevented us, fully intended to come. Since then there has now lately come to our knowledge, God help us, the unchristian, worldly [uncertain reading], abominable heretical deed that Nils Lykke has pitifully, shamefully, wretchedly and viciously committed with the honourable and well-born woman fru Ingerd Ottesdatter's daughter Lucie, his late wife's own sister by blood.
Original text
Promptum obsequendj animum cum assiduo et reuerendo gratificandj studio loco plurime [reuerencie ett salutis Høigwer(dige) y gwd ffader kerre nadige Herre Vndffinge vii etthers Naadis høigwerdighetz noger thiid siidhen forledhenn kerlige och gwnstige tiillschriffuellsse om en allmynde herredagh som etthers Naade vdj Trwndhem trinitatis Søndagh att stande forrammitt haffde fformelldendis etc.
Background
According to DN the letter was sealed by the bishops of Hamar and Oslo, the chancellor Morten Krabbe and Vincens Lunge, who was married to fru Inger's daughter Margrete. Vincens Lunge thus put his seal to a letter condemning his own brother-in-law. Nils Lykke had been married to Eline Nilsdatter, and under canon law a relationship with a late wife's sister was incest. The councillors call him an excommunicated body, a heretic and a heathen, and write that they will not sit on a bench with him. In the election of a king the councillors south of the mountains came out for Duke Christian of Holstein, who became Christian III, while the archbishop hesitated. The complaint about floods, impassable roads and lack of fodder is a reminder of how hard it was to travel from Oslo to Trondheim in spring. Fru Inger is named only as Lucie's mother, but the letter shows how the scandal in her family became a matter for the whole Council of the Realm.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)