Nils Lykke on who is the rightful heir to Giske
DN 22/230 · 8. februar 1533 · Tautra
What the letter says
Nils Lykke writes from Tautra on 8 February 1533 to Eske Bille, commander at Bergenhus. The king had given Nils the part of Giske to which the Crown might have a right under Norwegian law, in the belief that the estate belonged to Ture Jönsson. Nils believes the Crown has no right there and has therefore let the matter rest. He mentions three who claim the estate: his mother-in-law Lady Inger Ottesdatter, the maiden Karine Alvsdatter and a maiden Gjørvel in Sweden, and refers to Vincens Lunge, who said that Karine had been found the most rightful heir in a case in Oslo.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
Friendly and loving greeting always beforehand with Our Lord. Dear Lord Eske, especially good friend. You wrote to me that His Royal Majesty, our most gracious lord, has written to you that he is said to have granted and given me Giske farm and estate etc., in the belief that it belonged to Lord Ture Jensson, and that you should inquire and find out how His Majesty's letter to me read on this, and who was the most rightful heir to the farm and estate. You asked me to tell you the truth about it. Dear Lord Eske, I note well that there have been secret good friends with etc. [uncertain reading], which I leave to Almighty God together with everything else. How His Majesty's letter about this gift reads is most clearly recorded in His Majesty's own register. But since you so much wish to know, you shall know in truth that the letter reads thus: all the part that His Grace's High Mightiness and the throne of Norway has or may obtain under the law of Norway in this farm and estate, His Majesty has graciously granted and given to me and my heirs. I have written to His Majesty that as far as I have now noted and found out, His Majesty can obtain nothing there under the law of Norway. Therefore I have not concerned myself with the matter at all, and I will also in future with God's help deal with it with all Christian fairness. Who shall or may be the most rightful and truest heir, God knows. I do not know. My wife's mother, Lady Inger [O
Original text (excerpt)
Wenlig och kerlig helssien altiidt forskreffuitt mett Wor Herre. Kere her Eske besynderlig godhe wen som I skreffue meg thill att kongelige maiestatt wor nadigiste herre haffuer skreffuitt Etter til att hans kongelige maiestatt skall haffue vndt oc giffuett meg Giske gaard och gottz et cetera i thett att thett hørde here Twre Jenssen thill och attJ skulde forhøre oc forffare hworledis hands kongelige maiestatte breff meg giffuett lydde ther omm och hwem som rettest arffwing waare till fore gaard
Background
Ture Jönsson of Tre Rosor, a Swedish councillor of the realm, had claimed Giske as a kinsman of Alv Knutsson, but he joined Christian II's campaign in Norway in 1531 to 1532 and was killed. King Frederick I therefore assumed that the estate was forfeit to the Crown and passed it on to Nils Lykke. Nils Lykke was a Danish nobleman married to a daughter of Lady Inger Ottesdatter of Austrått, and Vincens Lunge was married to another of the daughters, which is why Nils calls him brother. The letter shows how Giske after 1502 became an inheritance settlement between several branches of the family, with Swedish, Danish and Norwegian nobility involved, while the king tried to get something out of it. The maiden Gjørvel is probably Gjørvel Fadersdatter, who later married Truid Ulfstand and inherited the estate. The enclosed note about his sister Helvig and that his own situation has become difficult probably refers to the personal problems Nils Lykke had in 1533, but the letter does not say what they were. A private letter like this gives a rare insight into how the magnates discussed inheritance matters among themselves.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger), Karine Alvsdatter, Gjørvel Fadersdatter (Sparre)