The killing in Romsdal: Olav Isaksson promises to answer for it
DN 8/636 · 8 Novbr. 1530 · Fosen
What the letter says
Olav Isaksson declares at Fosen on 8 November 1530 that he has bound himself to appear when summoned before Archbishop Olav, his lord Vincens Lunge and other lords. The case concerns the killing of the archbishop's servant Hans Persson, whom Olav recently killed at Aage Tordsson's farm in Romsdal. Olav says it happened by mishap, drunkenness and folly and not in order to break the settlement between the archbishop and Lunge. The pledge was given with Sir Nils Lykke, fru Ingerd Ottesdatter and three other men present.
The letter in modern English
I, Olav Isaksson, make known with this my open letter that here at Fosen, in the presence of the honourable, well-born man and stern knight Sir Nils Lykke, the honourable and well-born woman fru Ingerd Ottesdatter, widow of Sir Nils Henriksson, and these honourable, sensible good men and good fellows named below: Brother Jens Andersson of Helgeseter, Hans Eriksson, servant of the most reverend father in God the lord Archbishop of Trondheim etc., and Hogen, master mason of Trondheim, I have bound myself on my honour and integrity, life and goods, to come in wherever I am summoned, before the said lord archbishop, my lord Sir Vincens Lunge etc. and other lords and good men, when evidence and proof have been given concerning the fight and brawl that took place between me and Hans Persson, the said lord archbishop's servant, God have mercy on his soul, whom I killed, as God and I must lament, recently at Aage Tordsson's farm in Romsdal. And I will answer to the said lords and good men as high and as low as I am found guilty, if it can be found that I did this deed with premeditation, or out of any particular insolence or malice towards the said lord archbishop, or in order to undo and violate the contract and settlement made between the said lord archbishop and my lord Sir Vincens.
Original text
Jeg Oluff Isaachssen gør wytherligtt med thette mitt obnebreff att jeg her paa Fosin for erligh welburdig mand oc streng ridder her Niels Lucke offwerwarijndes erlig oc welburdig quinne frw Ingerd Ottes dotter her Niels Henrichssens effterleffuerske oc thesse effterne hedherlige fornumstighe dannemend oc daneswæne brodher Jens Anderssen aff Hellgesetter Hans Erichssen erwerdigeste fader med gwd her erchebiscops aff Trundhems tyæner etc.
Background
The settlement between Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson and fru Inger and Vincens Lunge was only a few months old, and a killing between their men could easily revive the dispute. Olav Isaksson was Lunge's man and Hans Persson the archbishop's servant, and so Olav stressed that the killing was not planned. By law a killing could be settled with compensation to the dead man's kin, and Olav promises both Christian penance before God and compensation according to the law. The pledge was given at Fosen, where Nils Lykke held the fief (len), and fru Inger stood among the witnesses. That she took part in such a case suggests that she was at this time one of the most powerful people in Trøndelag. Among the other witnesses were a brother from Helgeseter Abbey in Trondheim, a servant of the archbishop and a master mason from the town.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)