Vincens Lunge distrusts fat Laurits
DN 16/555 · 4 March 1532 · Helle
What the letter says
Vincens Lunge writes from Helle on 4 March 1532 to Eske Bille, commander at Bergenhus. The servant Oluf Alvsson, whom Lunge, Eske and the bishop in Bergen had sent to Oslo, came back the evening before, and Lunge sends him on to Bergen to tell them everything. Lunge distrusts the fat Laurits as an adventurer and spy, because his words and Oluf's do not agree. When Lunge's mother-in-law was in dispute with the archbishop, Laurits wrote all her plans to the archbishop. Lunge will soon return to the town, since no force is expected from the south.
The letter in modern English
Friendly, loving greeting with the best I am able, always sent first with our Lord. Dear kinsman and especially good friend. As you will remember, all three of us together sent my servant Oluf Alvsson to Oslo some time ago with some of our errands and instructions. You should know that he came back here to me late yesterday evening and apologised strongly for his journey having taken so long. So I am now sending him to you with orders to let you and the good lord bishop clearly understand all circumstances and news. When further messages or news reach me from the south or the north, I will share them with you at once. The fat Laurits I suspect of being an adventurer and a spy, because what Oluf Alvsson says and what he says do not agree. It may well be that he is up to knavery. The reason is that when he served my wife's mother, while she was in dispute with the archbishop, he wrote to the archbishop about all my mother's plans and circumstances. Nor has he behaved honourably and properly towards that good woman. I understand from your reply that no particular force is expected from the south, so on your good advice I will soon make my way back to the town. Give my kinswoman fru Sofie many thousand good nights on my wife's behalf and mine. I commend you to God and will always lovingly do what is dear to you all.
Original text
Wenlig k[erlig h]ilssen mett hues ieg gott formoer altit tilffo[rnn] sendt met wor herre Kere frende och besunderligen gode vennd Effther som ether vell fortencher ath vij alle tree samptligen noger tiid siiden forleenn afferdigede mind thienere Oluff Allssen til Opsloo met nogre vore verff och befalinger etc.
Background
Vincens Lunge was married to Margrete, daughter of fru Inger of Austrått, and here he calls Inger only «min hustrus mor», my wife's mother. The letter was written while Christian II was in Norway with an army and Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had gone over to him. Lunge, Eske Bille and the bishop in Bergen sided with King Frederik and needed news of what was happening in Oslo, where Christian II was. The dispute between fru Inger and the archbishop that Lunge mentions is probably the one that began around 1529 and was settled by an agreement in 1530. The letter shows how servants, spies and letters between the manors were vital to the great families at a time of war in the country. The letter does not say where Helle lay.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)