Fru Inger reckons up the farms in the exchange with the archbishop
DN 9/748 · 11 April 1534 · Österaat
Fru Inger of Austrått, who held Giske for a time, here checks the figures for the farms in the exchange with the archbishop. The letter shows how closely she followed her estate, and that she clashed with her son-in-law Nils Lykke over the levy from Feivåg.
What the letter says
Fru Inger Ottesdatter writes from Austrått on 11 April 1534 to Archbishop Olav about the landed property on Ørland that he has made over to her. She believes it is less than the letter states and claims more property, among it 3 spann belonging to the canons. She will pay separately for Vesse in Hemne and exchange her share in Å in Hemne for the deserted farm Rymme in Stjørdalen. On an enclosed slip she asks the archbishop to help two farmers from Feivåg, whom Nils Lykke has summoned before the Council of the Realm over their leidang.
The letter in modern English
My humble and loving greeting always sent beforehand with our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear lord, I thank your grace humbly, lovingly and gladly for all the honour and virtue your grace has always shown me. Dear lord, as your grace well remembers, the last time I was with your grace at the castle [Stenviksholm], your grace told me that I got 1 spann in Grande and 1 spann in Uthaug more than your grace's letter contains [spann and pund: units of land rent]. I promised your grace 2 spann back in another place, to your grace's will and favour, even though the one spann in Grande was divided among the farmers, so that each farmer had held ½ pund. Your grace said you did not know whether it was more than 6 spann. Yet the letter was concluded with all its appurtenances, nothing excepted, without deceit. But Hov was ½ pund less than the letter says. Likewise Røstad was 1 pund more than the letter says, Indstrand ½ spann and the farm in Bjugn 1 pund. Likewise it does not come to more than 3 spann on Ørland, which I had promised to pay your grace. Your grace promised me that I should have the 2 spann at Berg and 1 spann at Nes, which belong to the canons, and that your grace would settle with them on my behalf and pay them 3 spann back on their behalf in Gauldalen and in Sparbu. That I will also gladly do.
Original text
Mynn ydmygelig och kerlig helsszen althiid *forchendtt medt vor herre Iesu Christo. Kiere herre thacker ieg ethers naade ydmygelig kerlig och gerne for all ære och dydtt szom edhers naade haffwer meg althiid bewiist. Kiere herre szom edhers naade vell fortencker then siisthe thiid ieg var hoiss edhers naade paa slodtthet tha talde ethers naade meg tiill att ieg folde j spand y Grande och j spand y Wphogh mære en edhers naadis breff jnde holdher.
Background
The letter follows up the exchange of land of March 1534, in which fru Inger gave the archbishop farms in Skogn, Inderøy, Støren and Melhus and received other property in return. Now she checked the figures and found that the farm Hov was ½ pund less than the letter said, while other farms were larger. Spann and pund were units of land rent, and the reckoning shows how closely an estate owner followed every share in every farm. A deserted farm (ødegård) was a farm without its own tenant, often abandoned after the Black Death, which was let together with a neighbouring farm. The slip shows that fru Inger held Ørland with all royal revenue by letter from the king, and that she came into conflict with her son-in-law Nils Lykke over where the leidang from Feivåg was to be delivered. She writes that she trusts the archbishop «as any friend I have, next to my sons and own children».
People: Ingerd Ottesdatter (fru Inger)