King Frederik: fru Inger's case shall rest
DN 8/601 · 5 August 1529 · Kjöbenhavn
What the letter says
King Frederik I replies from Copenhagen on 5 August 1529 to his son Duke Christian in Norway on a long list of questions. He sends a ship with provisions, lets Henrik Krummedike stay with the duke over the winter and demands accounts from doctor Vincens Lunge for both the latest and the earlier tax. About fru Inger Ottesdatter the king writes that her case shall rest until it is finally settled, since she refers to the archbishop. Otherwise he gives advice on leniency towards the people, reconciliation with the archbishop, coinage, the churches' treasures, the fortification in Bergen, the salmon fishery in Topdal and much else.
The letter in modern English
By the grace of God Frederik, King of the Danes, the Wends and the Goths, elected King of Norway, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn etc. Our friendship and whatever more love and good we are otherwise able to do out of fatherly loyalty, always first. High-born prince, friendly dear son. That Your Love has crossed over happily and in good health with your people, we are glad to hear and rejoice at it. But since Your Love writes to us in the first letter that You have summoned the archbishop of Trondheim, and asks for our advice, first whether You should wait for his coming, and whether You should stay there over the winter if need should require it, and where You would then get provisions [fetalje] etc., we will in friendly intent not conceal from Your Love our thoughts on this point. It seems advisable to us that Your Love should diligently take counsel on this point with the councillors You have with You, Danish and Norwegian. If it is then found that You can wait for the bishop's coming, we also regard that as good and advisable. For that need we send Your Love herewith a ship with provisions, as much as we can best spare at present. If Your Love could also find means to obtain maintenance there over the winter, be it at Akershus or in Bergen, we would be well pleased, and it would also be well advised. If not, that is a path that shows itself.
Original text
Vonn gots gnadenn Friderich zw Dennemarcken der Wendenn vnnd Gotthen khunig: erwelther khunig zw Norwegenn: hertzog zw Sleszwigh: Holstenn: Stormarnn: etc.Vnnszer freuntschafft vnnd was wir sonst aus vetterliche trwe mher liebs vnnd guts vormugenn alltzeit zuuornn: Hoichgeborner furst: freuntlicher lieber shun: Das d: l: glucklig vnnd gesunt myt den yren vbergekhumen: sollichs horen wyr gern: vnnd sein desselbigen erfrewt Szo aber nhun d: l: jm ersten brieue vns thut schreibenn: das szie den
Background
The letter is the king's answer to the letter Duke Christian sent from Oslo in July, in which fru Inger explained that the tax money she had collected had been taken by the archbishop together with her farm. King Frederik I had never been to Norway himself and ruled through commanders, councillors of the realm and now his son. In the edition the name is written «vor (vrou) Jngeburgh», and the editor reads it as fru Inger Ottesdatter, which the connection with the duke's letter supports. The king's line was cautious: he wanted to avoid a break with Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson and keep obedient subjects, and so neither the tax case against fru Inger nor her dispute with the archbishop was to be pressed now. A last was a large measure for goods such as grain and fish, and the salmon fishery in the river Topdalselva in Agder belonged to the crown's revenues.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)