Norwegian friends wait for Knut Alvsson
DN 22/17 · 12. desember [1501] · Lena
What the letter says
Herr Erik Eriksson writes from Lena on 12 December, probably 1501, to herr Svante Nilsson. He has sent both Svante and his brother-in-law herr Knut Alvsson the news that the king is in Copenhagen, will keep Christmas at Varberg and has gathered men. Svante should make Knut understand that if he does not come to Norway, the good men on his side will be forced to go over to the king. Herr David the Scot has come from Norway towards Älvsborg with three or four ships and is waiting for Knut, and he sent back the food Henrik Krummedike sent him.
The letter in modern English
[Extract. The edition prints only parts of the letter.] Dear kinsman, I wrote to you and at the same time to my brother-in-law herr Knut Alvsson [written «Ollsson»] this news: Åke Hansson has sure news that the king is in Copenhagen and will keep Christmas at Varberg, and that he has gathered men. [...] Dear kinsman, I think it advisable that you make herr Knut understand that if he does not come to Norway, the good men who are on his side will otherwise be forced to go over to the king, to their great harm and ruin, because they have waited [uncertain reading] for him to come, day after day etc. Dear kinsman, herr David the Scot came from Norway in towards Älvsborg with three or four manned ships and waited for herr Knut. Herr Henrik Krummedike sent him fresh food and whatever else he saw fit. Herr David sent it back to him. I presume that he is waiting off the Norwegian side for herr Knut etc. [...]
Original text
---. Kere frende screff iak Idher tiill och myn swogher her Knwd Ollsson sambledis tesse efftherne tyende ath Age Hansson haffwer for wissæ tyendhe ath kongen er i Kyoppenhaffen och vill holle syn jwll poo Worberigh och haffwer forsambleth folk. --- . Kere frende tyk the mik rad ware atI lode her Knwd forstaet om han ickæ komb tiill Norge the gode men som are tiill villæ ath the otther nøddis koninghen tiill hondh thom tiill stor skade och forderff forti the forbydde ther hans tiill komelsæ
Background
Erik Eriksson (Gyllenstierna) of Fogelvik was the brother of Knut Alvsson's first wife Görvel, and he calls Knut his brother-in-law. The letter shows that Knut was in Sweden at this time and planning to move into Norway, and that his supporters in Norway were waiting for him day after day. Varberg in Halland lay near the border between the three kingdoms, and the king's Christmas there suggests that he was gathering forces against Sweden and Norway. David the Scot was probably a Scottish ship's captain in the service of the Sture side, but the letter says little about him. The edition prints only extracts, and according to the DN summary the rest deals among other things with disputes over fiefs and with a pirate who asked Erik's bailiff for safe conduct.
People: Knut Alvsson