The dispute over the half-barrel in Deventer
DN 6/747 · 10 Febr. 1541 · Deventer
What the letter says
Johan van Halteren, burgher of Deventer and attorney for fru Inger and Nils Lykke's children, writes on 10 February 1541 to Sir Eske Bille. The Emperor, the Queen and Duke Frederick of the Palatinate have asked the council of Deventer for both the church silver the Archbishop of Trondheim left there and the half-barrel with the jewels of Nils Lykke's children. Johan has opposed this and produced the archbishop's sealed letters stating that the jewels were only given to him for safekeeping and belonged to Nils Lykke and the children. The other side claims that Nils Lykke lived ungodly, and that the property should therefore be confiscated. Johan asks Eske to help so that the jewels are returned to the children and do not end up with the Count Palatine.
The letter in modern English
My willing service and whatever I can do, always beforehand to Your Sternness. Stern, honourable, worthy, wise and prudent, gracious, dear lord. The Archbishop of Trondheim, while he lived, placed certain church treasures in trust in the town of Deventer, such as chalices, monstrances and other things, as security for his creditors. Among them there is also a half-barrel in which are packed certain jewels belonging to the surviving children of the late Sir Nils Lykke, knight. Now our most gracious lord His Imperial Majesty, our gracious lady the Queen and Duke Frederick, Count Palatine, have earnestly asked an honourable council of the town of Deventer to take to themselves both the church treasures and the other jewels in the half-barrel, which belong to the said children. Against this I, who hold the procuration and power of attorney of fru Inger, the children's grandmother, and of the children themselves, have opposed, saying and showing that the jewels in the half-barrel never belonged to the Archbishop of Trondheim, and that the archbishop only received them in trust on behalf of Sir Nils' surviving children, according to the content of the seal and letters the bishop gave out concerning them. To defend these jewels for the children, His Royal Grace of Denmark, at the request of Juer Lykke, Sir Nils' brother, has written to the town of Deventer.
Original text
Mynen guetwilligen dienst ende wess ick vermach v. strengheit altijt tbeuoren. Gestrenge erntveste achtbare wise ende vursichtige gunstige lieue heer. Die ertzbisscope van Dronten hefft by synen leuendigen lyue in trouwer handt gestalt bynnen der stadt Deuenter zekere kercken guederen als kelcken monstrantien ende anders, tot versekeringe van synen sculdeners.
Background
Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had placed the Church's chalices and monstrances and other valuables in safekeeping in Deventer as security for his creditors. Emperor Charles V was lord of the Netherlands, and «the Queen» is probably his sister Mary, who governed the country for him. Duke Frederick of the Palatinate was married to Dorothea, daughter of the deposed King Christian II, and claimed the Nordic crowns, so the struggle over the treasures in Deventer was tied to the dispute over the throne of Denmark and Norway. The charge that Nils Lykke lived ungodly probably refers to the case of his relationship with his sister-in-law Lucie, which the archbishop had used against him. Juer, that is Jørgen, Lykke was Nils Lykke's brother and had got the Danish king to write to Deventer. Eske Bille was now a Danish councillor of the realm and governor, which is why he could be of help.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)