The king gives Giske to Nils Lykke
NRR 1, s. 35 · 1. mai 1532 · København
What the letter says
In Copenhagen on 1 May 1532 King Frederick I grants Sir Nils Lykke, his wife Lady Eline and their heirs all the right that the king and the Crown of Norway hold in the Giske manor and estate. The estate had passed by inheritance to the maiden Karine Alvsdatter, but Ture Jensson had taken it for himself, and Lady Ingerd Ottesdatter had also held it for some years. The gift is compensation for what Nils Lykke had lost by staying loyal to the king, while Archbishop Olav and his men took land, fiefs and goods from him. Lykke is to own what Lady Ingerd has held of the manor, and the king promises to warrant the gift.
The letter in modern English
Sir Nils Lykke, knight, received a letter to this effect: the Council of the Realm of Norway has renounced its fealty, homage and loyal service to us (the king) and has again paid homage and sworn to our and the realm's open enemy King Christian as their king. Excepted are some who still prove themselves loyal councillors, men and servants, above all Sir Nils Lykke, who has now stayed with the king in Denmark for a year. While he has been away from Norway, from his wife and household, the king's opponents, chief among them Archbishop Olav and his helpers, have overpowered him and taken from him his land and fiefs, goods and jewels, and have hindered, seized and dealt in hostile fashion with his wife, children, sister and people. Therefore the king, as compensation for all the harm he has suffered for his loyalty, has granted Nils Lykke, Lady Eline and the heirs of both all the right that may fall or has fallen to the king and the Crown of Norway in the Giske manor and estate. It had passed by inheritance to the maiden Karine Alvsdatter [of Tre Rosor], and Sir Ture Jensson [of Tre Rosor], our and the realm's open enemy and outlaw, has now in this hostile business taken it for himself as his own. Lady Ingerd Ottesdatter has likewise held the same manor and estate for some years. Lykke is to own and keep for all time what Lady Ingerd has held of this manor, and what has belonged
Original text
Hr. Nils Lykke Ridder fik Brev, at efterdi Norges Riges Raad have opskrevet os (Kongen) Huldskab, Mandskab og tro Tjeneste, og igjen hyldet og svoret vor og Rigens aabenbare Fiende Kong Christiern for deres Konge, undtagen Nogle, som fremdeles bevise sig som troe Raad, Mænd og Tjenere, besynderlig Hr. Nils Lykke, som nu ved eet Aar har opholdt sig i Danmark hos Kongen, og medens han saaledes har været fraværende fra Norge, fra Hustru og Folk, have Kongens Modstandere, fornemlig Erkebiskop Olaf o
Background
In the winter of 1531 to 1532 Christian II landed in Norway to win back his throne, and Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson and several councillors of the realm paid homage to him. Nils Lykke was a Danish nobleman, married to Eline Nilsdatter, daughter of Lady Inger of Austrått, and he had stood by King Frederick. Ture Jensson, that is Ture Jönsson of Tre Rosor, had managed the Giske estate for the heirs of Knut Alvsson and had now gone over to Christian II. The king thus rewarded loyalty with property he regarded as taken from an enemy. The dispute over Giske went on all the same: in 1533 the Council of the Realm meeting at Bud awarded the estate to Karine Alvsdatter, and Nils Lykke died in captivity at Steinvikholm in 1535. The king's claim to a right in Giske probably rested on Ture having been declared an outlaw.