Fru Inger and Vincens arrive in Oslo
DN 8/594 · 30 June 1529 · Oslo
What the letter says
Herr Vincens Lunge writes from Oslo on 30 June 1529 to Eske Bille, commander of Bergenhus. He and his mother-in-law fru Inger Ottesdatter reached Oslo on Midsummer Day and found a message from King Frederik that the king himself could not come to the coronation but would send his son Duke Christian with Danish councillors of the realm. A canon from Trondheim has brought the archbishop's excuse that he cannot attend, and Vincens writes that this is now the fourth time the archbishop has refused to crown the king. He lists who is coming with the duke and asks Eske to look after his interests in Bergen.
The letter in modern English
Friendly loving greeting always sent before with our Lord. Dear herr Eske, kinsman and especially good friend, you shall know that my mother [mother-in-law] fru Ingerd and I came here to Oslo after a good journey on Midsummer Day [24 June], and found ahead of us the yacht [small ship] and messenger of His Royal Majesty, our dearest gracious lord, which had arrived the evening before, with a letter to the Council of the Realm of Norway. The letter says that His Grace, because of notable [important] affairs and errands concerning His Grace's lands, kingdoms and principalities, and because he daily expects the notable envoys of His Imperial Majesty and of the high-born princes and kings of France, England, Hungary, Scotland and Portugal to come to him, likewise could not come here to Oslo in person at this time to receive his royal coronation. Nevertheless His Grace would as soon as possible send here his lord son Duke Christian with some of the Council of the Realm of Denmark, who together with the Council of the Realm of Norway shall help every man to law and justice, and he therefore asked the Council of the Realm of Norway to wait here in Oslo until his lord son arrives. Of the messenger you sent to the archbishop of Trondheim I have so far heard nothing except that in Trondheim they are said to have strongly doubted whether he was your servant.
Original text
Venligh kerligh hiilssen alltiid tilffornn send met vor herre. Kerre her Eske frende oc synderligh gode venn maa i vide at mynd modher frw Jnger oc jegh komme hiid tiill Opslo met behollenn reysse sancte Hans dagh oc fwnne ther for oss kongelige matz vor keriste nadige herris jacth oc bwd om affthenen tiillffoernn indkomne met han scriffuelsse tiill Norigis riigis raadt lyendis at hans nade for merchelige verff oc erendis skylldt hans nadis land riige oc førstendømme andrørendis saa oc for
Background
Vincens Lunge was a Danish nobleman and doctor of law who was married to fru Inger's daughter Margrete, which is why he calls her mother. He had been commander of Bergenhus and handed the castle over to Eske Bille in May 1529, just before he and fru Inger travelled to the herredag in Oslo. King Frederik I had been king in Norway since 1524 but was never crowned here, and it was the archbishop of Nidaros who was to crown him. That same spring Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had taken fru Inger's and Vincens' fiefs in Trøndelag, so the remark about the many excuses was also a partisan statement. Midsummer Day (sankthansdag) is 24 June.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)