Vincens Lunge wants to take Giske back from the archbishop
DN 16/554 · 25 February 1532 · Helle
What the letter says
Vincens Lunge writes on 25 February 1532 from Helle to Eske Bille at Bergenhus and thanks him and Lady Sophie for whale blubber, wine and news. He is furious with the archbishop for robbery, seizures and harm against the king, the realm and himself, and promises to get redress even if it costs him all his men. He asks Eske to help the bailiff punish those who have left the jakt, and wants them to attack Giske. The force at Giske is smaller than the farmers say, he writes.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Friendly and loving greeting always first sent with our Lord. Dear Lord Eske, kinsman and especially good friend. I thank you lovingly and gladly for your good letter, news, advice and gifts of whale blubber and wine, which you together with my dear kinswoman Lady Sophie have now sent to me and my wife. We will both together repay it with love and joy. You write in the letter about my men who have come from the north. You shall know that I, because of the treacherous [uncertain reading] conduct towards the king's majesty, the realm and all of us, and for manifold outrage, robbery, seizure, harm, grief and arrogance that I and my friends have suffered without any honest warning, am so wholly and fully embittered and incensed against this archbishop that even if I should sacrifice every single man I have around me, I shall with God's help get some redress again. I did not know that the men had left the jakt, and I could not easily believe it. If there are any who further wish to follow their own heads and do not go on board the jakt again [uncertain reading], I kindly ask you to help my bailiff with fitting punishment. For I will not rest until they have measured their strength against each other. The force at Giske is not as great against them as rumour says. You know well what understanding farmers have of judging courtiers, compared with others. I know of nothing special to write to you this time. Farewell, and greet your dear wife with many thousand good nights f
Original text (excerpt)
Venligh och kerligh hellssen altiidt tillffornne sendt met vor herre Kere Her Eske frende och besinderlige godhe vend betaccher iegh ether kerligen gerne for etthers godhe tillskriffuellsse tyender rodh och sendingher vdj hwalspec oc vind som i met sampt mynd kere frenche ffrw Sophie megh och mynd hø- strw nw tilhondhe skycchett [haffwe och sendt haffwe hwilchet vij bodhe sampteligen kerligen och gernne forskyllde ville Som i røre vdj ethers schriffuellsse om mith folch norden aff kommett etc. T
Background
The letter follows up the letter of 21 February the same year, in which Vincens learned that Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had 60 men at Giske. In the winter of 1531 to 1532 Norway was divided between the supporters of the deposed Christian II, among them the archbishop, and King Frederick I, whom Vincens Lunge and Eske Bille supported. Vincens was married to a daughter of Inger Ottesdatter of Austrått and through her had control of Giske, so the loss of the farm struck him personally. Lady Sophie was Eske Bille's wife, and Vincens calls her frenke, that is, kinswoman. The remark about the farmers shows the distance between the nobility and the common people: Vincens believed that the farmers could not judge how strong the trained courtiers were. The letter is a private letter and shows that Giske was a military base worth fighting over.