Fru Inger and the archbishop make peace
DN 9/723 · 23 Oktbr. 1532 · Throndhjem
What the letter says
Fru Inger Ottesdatter of Austrått, widow of the steward of the realm Nils Henriksson, announces in Trondheim on 23 October 1532 that she has been reconciled with Archbishop Olav. Three years earlier strife and enmity had arisen between them, which Nils Lykke settled with a contract, but about two years later the archbishop attacked her again when Christian II came with a large army. Now her sons-in-law Vincens Lunge and Nils Lykke have mediated a final settlement for all robbery, attacks, killing and harm up to this day. She has received compensation, and when the archbishop has paid what he still owes, the old contract shall be dead and void, and later disputes are to go to the Council of the Realm of Norway or common friends.
The letter in modern English
I, Inger Ottesdatter of Austrått, widow of the honourable, well-born man and stern knight Nils Henriksson, formerly steward of the realm of Norway, God have his soul, acknowledge and make known to all with this my open letter the following: Three years ago, through some evil instigators, envious men and poisonous counsellors, great division, strife, discord, disagreement and enmity arose between the most worthy father in God lord Olav, by the grace of God Archbishop in Trondheim and legate of the papal see, and me, so that I, my children and servants, through such hostile attacks, violence and treatment, came into great grief, fear, need, harm and ruin and so on. That discord, ill will and enmity was set right, calmed and turned into good will and friendship by the honourable, well-born man and stern knight Nils Lykke, my dear son, who took on the matter between us with great diligence, effort and trouble, for the good, help and welfare of both of us. This is clearly enough contained and explained in the open, sealed letter and contract which was then made, negotiated, concluded and sealed between us through Nils, my dear son, on Christian, fair, sincere and proper terms.
Original text
Jegh Jngerdt Ottis dotther tiill Østrott erligh velbyrdigh mandtz oc strenge ridders her Niells Henrichssons fordom Norigis riigis hoffmesther hwes siell gud haffwe effttherleffwerske kennes och giør vittherligtt mett thette mytt obne breff for alle att efftther som ther nw try aar sydhenn forledene [formidelst nogre ondhe tiillskyndere affgwnnere och forgifftige raadgiffwere førdtt och komen var stortt spliitth twesth twedracth wenighet oc fyndskaff imellom verdigiste i gudtt fader her Oluff
Background
The settlement came after Christian II had given up in the summer of 1532, and Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had to come to terms with King Frederik's men. Fru Inger is often regarded as the most powerful woman in Norway at this time, and she writes as the widow of Nils Henriksson, who had been steward of the realm (rikshovmester). Both sons-in-law were councillors of the realm, and they had themselves waged the war against the archbishop, so they were hardly neutral mediators. The words «vanner og lige» mean amends and settlement, and «an eternally settled matter for born and unborn» means that not even descendants could reopen the case. The compensation was given in separate letters the same day and the day before, with a bond of debt, farms and tithe on Ørland. The next year fru Inger gave up Giske after the mediation at Bud, where the Council of the Realm awarded the farm to Karine Alvsdatter.
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)