Fru Inger's complaint against the archbishop dismissed in Oslo
DN 8/606 · 7 Septbr. 1529 · Oslo
Fru Inger and Vincens Lunge, who held Giske in these years, complain here that the archbishop has taken farms, fiefs and inheritance from them without judgment. The letter also shows that Henrik Krummedike won the inheritance case against them over the property of Lady Ingerd Erlendsdatter.
What the letter says
Herr Henrik Krummedike writes from Oslo on 7 September 1529 to Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson. He regrets that the archbishop did not come to Oslo, where Duke Christian and Danish councillors of the realm have waited for eight weeks. Herr Vincens Lunge, fru Inger Ottesdatter and Nils Lykke on her behalf have complained that the archbishop has taken farms, fiefs, inheritance, gold, silver, documents and household goods from them without judgement, but the council would not give judgement in the archbishop's absence. Henrik himself has won the inheritance of Otte Holgersson Rosenkrantz's children from fru Inger and Vincens, and he asks the archbishop to hand over whatever of the children's property he has taken from them.
The letter in modern English
My humble loving greeting always lovingly sent before to Your Grace's Worthiness with our Lord. Most worthy, worthy father and lord, dear Bishop Olav, may Your Worthiness be pleased to know that the high-born prince Duke Christian, our dearest gracious lord's son, has now stayed here for eight weeks with the good lords of the Council of Denmark who followed His Highness here. And he would gladly have spoken with Your Worthiness on many notable errands and affairs, which His Highness had been commanded by his lord father and by the Council of the Realm of Denmark to negotiate and consider here with Your Worthiness, had Your Grace's circumstances allowed Your Grace to come. And it would surely have been very useful for this poor kingdom, for the benefit, profit and support of its inhabitants, and likewise for the holy Church. Your Worthiness would then have found the good lords of Denmark who were sent here with His Highness well disposed towards Your Grace in every way, to help and strengthen Your Worthiness and this poor kingdom to all good with all our utmost power, as the good lord herr Gunder, Your Grace's Worthiness's brother, had been charged to inform Your Grace and make further known, had God granted that he had come to speak with Your Grace.
Original text
Myn ydmige kiarligh helszen edher nades verdighedt altiidt kiarligh fforsendt medt vor herre verdigste verdige ffadher ock herre kiære bisp Olleff tæckess edher verdighedt at ville vide at then høgborne fførste hertugh Kristiern vor kiæreste nadige herres søn haffuer nu medt de gode herrer aff Danmarcks raadt som hans høgmectighedt hidt ffulde, ffortøffuett her j viij vger ock giarne hade værett edher verdighedt till ordtz ffor mange ock merckelighe ærindt ock verff skyldt som hans
Background
Henrik Krummedike wrote as one of the Danish councillors of the realm who had accompanied Duke Christian to the herredag in Oslo. Nils Lykke was a Danish councillor of the realm married to fru Inger's daughter Eline, and he pursued the case for his mother-in-law. The complaint shows how sweeping the archbishop's seizure was: farms, fiefs and inheritance, but also movables such as gold, silver, jewels, documents and money. Movable and immovable, loose and fixed, means both chattels and land. Henrik's own case concerned the inheritance of fru Ingerd Erlendsdatter of Hananger, to which the children of Otte Holgersson Rosenkrantz had a claim, and fru Inger and Vincens answered that they could return nothing until the archbishop gave back what he had taken. The letter is courteous towards the archbishop, and Henrik offers to promote his affairs with the king.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)