Nils Lykke sends his sister with fru Inger to Bergen
DN 23/367 · 16 mai 1534 · Fosen
What the letter says
Nils Lykke writes from Fosen on 16 May 1534 to fru Sophie, wife of Eske Bille at Bergenhus. He has sent off his sister Helvig with his mother-in-law fru Ingerd, who has promised to bring her to Eske and Sophie. He asks Sophie to receive Helvig and take her to Denmark, to his father and their friends, and to give her advice and guidance. He himself hopes to follow soon and speak with them in Bergen or in Denmark.
The letter in modern English
Friendly and loving greeting always written beforehand with our Lord. Dear fru Sophie, sister and especially good friend. I thank you most lovingly and gladly for all the virtue, honour and good you have always shown me, which I will most gladly repay and deserve with whatever good I can. I also lovingly let you know that I have now sent off my dear sister Helvig with the honourable, well-born woman fru Ingerd, my dear wife's mother, and she has promised me that she will lovingly bring her to the honourable, well-born man and stern knight Sir Eske Bille, my especially good friend, and to you. So my most loving prayer and request is that you will receive her and take her with you to Denmark to my dear father and our friends, and advise, teach and instruct her for her best. In this both she and I put our comfort and trust in you, that you will show yourself friendly and willing. Dear sister, I hope with God's help soon to follow and speak with you myself in Bergen or in Denmark, more fully and better than I can write now. I ask you most earnestly and lovingly always to advise, act and look to my best in a friendly way, as I put my full trust in you. Dear fru Sophie, dear sister, be friendly and willing in all the said ways. That I will always lovingly and gladly repay and deserve with all the good in my power, wherever I can be of service and loving help to you.
Original text
Wenlig och kerlig helssen altiidh forescreffuett mett wor herre. Kere frw Sophye susther och besynderlig gode wenn. Tacker jeg etther gantz kerligen oc gerne fore alld dygd ære och gott som j meg altiidh bewist haffue hwilketth jeg will gants gerne mett hwes jeg gott formaa kerligen forskulle och fortyene.
Background
Nils Lykke was a Danish nobleman, married to fru Inger's daughter Eline, who died in 1532. His sister Helvig had probably lived with him in Norway, and fru Inger mentions her too in her letter of February the same year. Fru Inger now travelled to Bergen herself, and in the autumn of 1534 she was with her son-in-law Vincens Lunge at Lungegården in Bergen. The journey was long. From Trøndelag to Bergen was probably around 600 kilometres along the coast, an estimate. The letter shows how noblewomen were sent between families and countries escorted by relatives. The children Nils mentions were his and Eline's.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)