Swedish lords dare not write to Svante Nilsson
DN 22/3 · [Etter 6. juli 1499?] · Ål
What the letter says
Herr Bengt Ryning writes from Ål, probably after 6 July 1499, to herr Svante Nilsson. Some good lords in Uppland have asked him to warn Svante that the archbishop, herr Sten Sture and other lords would gladly write to him about the affairs of the realm, but they dare not because of Svante's dealings with herr Knut Alvsson and others. Bengt fears that Svante will be scorned and that his friends will not dare to help him. The edition prints only an extract of the letter.
The letter in modern English
[The beginning is omitted in the edition.] Dear friend [«sælle», companion], you should know that I received letters and messages from some good lords in Uppland saying that I should first let you know that the good lords, my lord the archbishop and herr Sten and other good lords, would very gladly write to you about the important affairs of the realm. Now they dare not do so because of the dealings you have with herr Knut and others, and they greatly fear that the realm will be set far back [uncertain reading: «til akters»] by such matters. Dear friend, I also fear that you will be greatly scorned in many ways. Your good friends, who would gladly offer you help in all matters of great weight, dare not do so. [The rest of the letter is omitted in the edition.]
Original text
---. Kære sælle mi ma J vide ad jag fik nagen skrivelse ok bod af nagere gode hærrer j Opland vid thed sinne ad jag skvlle late Jder førsta ad the gode hærrer min hærre erkebispen ok hær Sten ok flere g[o]de hærrer ville Jder g[a]nzska gerna tilskrive om rikesens mærkelig ærende skyld ok nv tøres the thed ekke gøre før then omgængilse som J have med hær Knvt ok flere ok thy frøkte the storlige ad riked skal blive storlige til akters før sadan saker skyld.
Background
Knut Alvsson was the son of Alv Knutsson and Magnhild Oddsdatter and heir to a large part of the Giske estate. He also held land and had kinsmen in Sweden, and he was closely tied to the Swedish magnates who were in conflict with King Hans. Svante Nilsson (Sture) later became regent of Sweden, and Sten Sture the Elder had been regent until 1497. The letter suggests that as early as 1499 contact with Knut was seen as politically dangerous among the lords of Uppland. The dating is uncertain and rests on an assessment in Historisk tidsskrift from 1974. According to the DN summary, the omitted part of the letter also tells that Bengt cannot get iron for Svante, that fru Gjertrud Narvesdatter has died, and that Svante should tear the letter to pieces.
People: Knut Alvsson