Fru Inger sends a power of attorney to Deventer
DN 5/1096 · 24 May 1539 · Sæm
What the letter says
Fru Ingerd Ottesdatter writes from Sem near Tønsberg on Whitsun Eve 1539 to Johan van Halteren and Johan Drake, burghers of Deventer. She received two letters from them eight days before Whitsun and now sends the power of attorney they asked for, so that they can claim the silver, gold and jewels the archbishop left in Deventer, which belong to the children of Sir Nils Lykke. The draft from the secretary Nicolaus has been lost, and she asks them to arrange a new one if needed, and promises to pay the costs when they come to Bergen. She also promises to help Johan's brother Lambert van Halteren with matmål, butter and other goods, and expects to be in Bergen around midsummer.
The letter in modern English
My friendly greeting beforehand. Honoured, dear Johan, I let you know in friendship that I have received two letters you have written to me. One was written on the Sunday after Easter and the other on the Sunday before mid-Lent. I received both eight days before Whitsun. They concerned the silver, gold and jewels that belong to Sir Nils Lykke's children, which the archbishop left behind in Deventer, and that I should send you and Johan Drake a power of attorney for that property. Now I send you the power of attorney. I have also received Master Nicolaus the secretary's letter, and he wrote to me about a draft that I was to send him, and that same draft, which concerned obtaining justice in the matter, has slipped from my hands. Therefore, dear Johan, my wish is that you and Johan Drake negotiate with Master Nicolaus. If it should be that you cannot get the property out without having the draft, then let Master Nicolaus make me another draft, correct in its form, and send it, and I will seal it or have another written from it and send it into your hands. Whatever it costs you, I will repay you when you come to Bergen.
Original text
Mynenn vruntlykenn ghruth thouorne. Erszame leue Johan do ich jw vruntlykenn to weten dat ich hebbe entfongen ij breffue de gy my thoschreuen hebben dat ene was geschreuen des soendages naa paschen vnde dat andre des sondages vor mydfasten de kregh ick beyde viij dage vor pinxten vmme dat soeluer golth vnde clenodie dat her Nigels Luckkes kynder to kompt dat de archebiscop leth naa sich bynnen Deuenther dath ich scholde jw vnde Johan Draken vulmacht senden vmme dat sulue guth nu sende ich jw de
Background
This letter was written on the same day as the letter to the secretary of Deventer (DN 5/1095) and belongs to the same case concerning the jewels of Nils Lykke's children, which Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had taken with him when he fled in 1537. Johan van Halteren and Johan Drake were burghers of Deventer, and a later letter calls them Bergen traders, merchants who traded with Bergen (DN 6/742). The letter shows how the case was pursued through the trading network: in return Inger offers to help the brother Lambert with goods in Bergen. Matmål was a due or commodity measured in food, and butter was one of the most common means of payment in Norway. That Inger expected to be in Bergen in the summer suggests that she conducted business there herself.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)