The king to the archbishop on the settlement with fru Inger
DN 7/676 · 10 May 1530 · Husum
Fru Inger of Austrått, who held Giske in these years, had been in open conflict with the archbishop. The king's letter on the settlement shows that a dispute between her and the archbishop was a matter for the king himself.
What the letter says
King Frederik I writes from Husum on 10 May 1530 to Archbishop Olav of Nidaros. He is glad that the dispute between the archbishop and fru Ingerd, widow of Sir Nils Henriksson, and Sir Vincens Lunge has been settled. The rumour Nils Lykke has reported, that the archbishop was about to go over to King Christian, the king has never believed. The questions of the fiefs of Gauldal and Trøndelag and of Kastelle Abbey near Båhus are to be decided at the herredag in Copenhagen on 2 July, and the archbishop is to summon there those subjects north of the mountains who have anything to complain of.
The letter in modern English
Frederik, by the grace of God King of the Danes, the Slavs and the Goths, elected King of Norway, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein etc. With reverence first and with our sincere favour. Dear lord and father, as you inform us in writing by this messenger of yours that the enmity, discord, strife and disagreement that was between you on the one side and our beloved fru Ingerd, widow of Sir Nils Henriksson, knight, and Sir Vincens Lunge, knight, our man and councillor, on the other side, is now to be amicably and well settled and reconciled, that pleases us very well, and we are in every way glad to see that such strife and discord between you and them has been laid down and settled etc. Likewise, as you also inform us that our beloved Sir Nils Lykke, knight, our man and servant, has told you that you had been slandered and accused before us of wishing to leave us and go over to our and the realm's open enemy, the high-born prince King Christian, we kindly let you know that such a rumour reached us in secret. But we knew well that it was not so, and therefore we did not believe the rumour and gave it no credence in any way. We have trusted that you have always unbreakably kept, and will hereafter keep, the oath, fidelity, loyalty and homage that you yourself have personally promised, spoken and sworn to us, and we have never had any doubt of it etc.
Original text
Fredericus dei gracia Danorum Sclauorum Gothorumque rex electus in regem Noruegie dux Slesuicensis Holsacie etc.Premissa reuerencia cum nostro sincero fauore. Kiere herre och ffader som i giffue oss mett thette etthers bud schrifftligenn tilkiennde, at hues findskab twedragt twist och wenighed, som wor emellom etther paa thennd enne, och oss elskelige ffrue Jnngierd her Niels Hennrickszens ritters effterleuerske och her Vincen#n Lunge ritter wor mannd och raad paa thennd annden sidhe, skall nu
Background
Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson was the most powerful man in Norway north of the mountains, and in 1529 he had come into open conflict with fru Inger of Austrått and her son-in-law Vincens Lunge. Fru Inger was the widow of the councillor of the realm Nils Henriksson, and the king refers to her in exactly that way. The letter shows how closely she was woven into the politics of the realm: a dispute between her and the archbishop was a matter for the king himself. The rumour that the archbishop sided with the deposed Christian II was serious, and the king replies with assurances and promises about the fiefs. Gauldal and Trøndelag were crown fiefs (len) that the archbishop held in enfeoffment, meaning he governed them and took the revenues in return for dues and service. Kastelle Abbey lay near Båhus in Bohuslän, which then belonged to Norway, and here the king's courtier and the archiepiscopal see stood against each other over the ownership. Seven years later, in 1537, the archbishop had to flee the country.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)