King Frederik wants a settlement between the archbishop, Lunge and fru Inger
DN 9/640 · 4 August 1529 · Kjöbenhavn
What the letter says
King Frederik I writes from Copenhagen on 4 August 1529 to Archbishop Olav in Trondheim. He had wished the conflict between the archbishop, Vincens Lunge and fru Ingerd to be negotiated at the herredag in Oslo at Midsummer. Now he thanks the archbishop for offering to travel to Bergen and lay the matter before Esge Bille and Niels Jepsen. He asks him to submit to the Council of the Realm of Norway, and if they cannot be reconciled there, to let the conflict rest until the king and the council can settle it themselves. Lunge has promised to abide by the same.
The letter in modern English
Frederik, by the grace of God King of Denmark, of the Wends and the Goths, elected King of Norway, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein etc. [in Latin] With respect sent before and our sincere favour. Dear lord and father, you shall know that you last wrote to us about the discord and disagreement which has begun between you and our dear Lord Vincens Lunge, knight, our man and councillor. We then wrote back to you with your own messenger that you should let all such discord and disagreement with Lord Vincens rest until you came to Oslo for the herredag that was set there for St John's Day at Midsummer just past, so that the matter between you and fru Ingerd could be negotiated there in friendship or by law. Now we have also learned that you have since written to our dear Esge Bille, our man, councillor and official at Bergenhus, and Niels Jepsen, our foremarsk [uncertain reading, probably a trusted courtier], that you will travel in person to Bergen as soon as possible and set out for them and other good lords your reasons and the cause of the discord between you and Lord Vincens Lunge and fru Ingerd, and that you will then gladly abide by their advice and will. For this letter and offer which you have written to them we thank you lovingly.
Original text
Ffredericus dei gracia Dacie Sclauorum Gothorumque rex jn regem Noruegie electus dux Slesuicensis Holsacie etc.Premissa reuerencia cum nostro sincero fauore. Kiere herre oc fader moj wiide att som i oss siistes tiilscreffuett haffue om then twedragt oc wenighedt som er begyntt emellom ether oc oss elskelige her Vincen. Lunge riidder wor mand oc raadt oc wij tha egen tiilscreffue ether mett ether eygett budt thet i schulle lade sliig twedragtt oc venighedt mett her Vincen.
Background
Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson was head of the Norwegian Council of the Realm and the most powerful man in the country, while Vincens Lunge and his mother-in-law fru Inger of Austrått (died 1555) were the king's leading men in northern and western Norway. Early in 1529 the archbishop had seized their fiefs, farms and estates (see DN 13/527), and the king feared open civil war in a kingdom where he had not yet been crowned. King Frederik I resided in Denmark and governed Norway through letters and envoys. That he calls Lunge «our man and councillor» and mentions fru Ingerd only in passing suggests that he saw the conflict mainly as a matter between the archbishop and Lunge. A settlement «in friendship or by law» meant either an agreement between the parties or a court judgement.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)