Holger Rosenkrantz wants an end to the inheritance dispute after fru Ingegerd
DN 23/240 · 16 august 1530 · Nykøbing
Fru Inger and Vincens Lunge held Giske in these years, and here the inheritance case over old fru Ingerd continues. Holger Rosenkrantz had won the case for his brother's children and now asks Eske Bille to have the judgement carried out.
What the letter says
The knight Holger Rosenkrantz writes from Nykøbing on 16 August 1530 to Eske Bille, commander at Bergenhus. He is pursuing a case against Sir Vincens Lunge on behalf of the children of his late brother, Sir Otte Holgersen, over an inheritance in Norway after old fru Ingerd. Vincens and his mother-in-law have taken the inheritance wrongfully, Holger writes, and he won the case at law at the last herredag in Oslo. Now he asks Eske, in accordance with the king's letter, to set a day, settle between the parties according to law and send him Vincens' answer in writing, witnessed by several good men.
The letter in modern English
Friendly greeting always beforehand with our Lord. Dear Sir Eske Bille, especially good friend. As you will well remember and know, I have a lawsuit with Sir Vincens Lunge on behalf of the children of my late brother Sir Otte Holgersen, God have his soul, concerning an inheritance that by law has fallen to them in Norway after old fru Ingerd. That inheritance Sir Vincens and his wife's mother have wrongfully taken to themselves, and I won it back at law last time at the herredag in Oslo on behalf of my said brother's children. Therefore I gladly ask you, and will gladly repay you in whatever way I can, to take the trouble, as our dearest, most gracious lord's letter says, to set a day as soon as it seems most convenient to you, and to settle between us according to law what further stands between us concerning this inheritance, as our dearest, most gracious lord's letter says. I will further give you my letter of authority. And if you would give me in writing from you, with several good men present who are named for it, what Sir Vincens answers you on this, I will always repay you in whatever way I can or am asked. Herewith commending you to God. Written at Nykøbing on the Tuesday after Our Lady's great day [the Assumption, 15 August] in the year of the Lord 1530. Holger Rosenkrantz, knight.
Original text
Venligh hilssen altid ffortent [sic] met wor herre. Kerre her Eske Bilde syndh(e)rligh gode wen. Som eth(e)r wel ffortencker oc witth(e)rligth er at ieg haffuer noghre rætte gangh met her Wincensius Lunge paa min sallige brodh(e)rs børns wegne her Otte Holgerdsens hwes sciell gud haffue om nogen arff som thennom met laagen til ffalden er y Norge effth(e)r gamle ffrue Ingerdss huilken arff her Wincencius oc hans høstrv modh(e)r seg til tagen haffuer met wrette huilken som ieg nw siste gangh
Background
Old fru Ingerd is Ingegerd Erlendsdatter of Hananger at Lista, widow of the knight Olav Guttormsson, and she died around 1525. Vincens Lunge's mother-in-law is fru Inger Ottesdatter of Austrått, and the DN summary identifies both women. The dispute over the inheritance stood between fru Inger and Lunge on one side and the children of the Danish nobleman Otte Holgersen Rosenkrantz on the other, and the inheritance probably consisted largely of landed property. The herredag was a meeting at which the king and the Council of the Realm judged major cases, and the herredag in Oslo was probably the one in 1529. The king had issued a letter that Eske should deal with the case, and Holger refers to it. The letter shows that fru Inger and her sons-in-law at this time had disputes both with the archbishop and with Danish noble families, and that such inheritance cases could drag on for years.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)