Joachim Lykke seeks an inheritance from fru Inger
DN 2/1123 · 3 August 1537 · Aarhus
What the letter says
The knight Joachim Lykke of Østrup gives Eske Bille power of attorney in Aarhus on 3 August 1537 to take legal action against fru Ingerd, widow of Sir Nils Henriksson, or against her guardian. The case concerns all the inheritance in houses, land, household goods, money, ships and other things that the children of his son Sir Nils Lykke may claim after their father and mother. Eske is to act as if Joachim himself were present.
The letter in modern English
Joachim Lykke of Østrup, knight, makes known to all with this my open letter that I give the honourable and well-born man Eske Bille full authority and power to take legal action against fru Ingerd, widow of Sir Nils Henriksson, or against her empowered guardian, concerning all the inheritance in houses, land, household goods, money, ships and everything else that may rightly fall by inheritance to the children of my son Sir Nils Lykke after their father and mother, with nothing excepted, and to do and refrain from doing in this as if I were present myself. In further witness I press my seal below this my open letter. Done in Aarhus on the Friday after the feast of St Peter in Chains [3 August] in the year of our Lord 1537.
Original text
Jachim Lucke paa Østrup rider giører alle wytterliigt met thette mytt opnne breff at ieg fwldmøndiig oc mactiige giører erliig oc welburdiige mand Eskie Bilde at gange y rette met frw Jnggiard her Niels Henricksszens effther leffuerske, eller met hinders fwld møndig weri, om ald then arffue hws iord boff pening skib oc ald annet som myn søns her Niels Lückis børn kand til falde aff rette arffue, epther theres fader oc moder intthet wndtagenn oc giøre oc lade ther wdi som ieg sielffuer til stede
Background
Nils Lykke was a Danish nobleman who had been married to fru Inger's daughter Eline Nilsdatter. Eline died young, and Nils Lykke died in 1535 in the custody of Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson at Steinvikholm, after being accused of a relationship with Eline's sister Lucie. The children, Nils and Helvig, grew up with fru Inger (DN 6/742). Their grandfather Joachim Lykke wanted to secure their inheritance from their mother, and much of it lay with fru Inger herself. The letter suggests that the Lykke family in Denmark and fru Inger did not agree on how much fell to the children. Eske Bille was commander of Bergenhus and knew conditions in Norway, which probably explains why Joachim chose him as his attorney.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)