The archbishop is to preach a crusade for Skule
DN 1/10 · 4 Novbr. 1226 · Lateran
What the letter says
Pope Honorius III writes at the Lateran on 4 November 1226 to the Archbishop of Nidaros. The Duke of Norway, Skule, has taken the cross and is preparing with a great number of crusaders to aid the Holy Land, and he offers free passage by ship to all who wish to come. The Pope asks the archbishop to preach the crusade solemnly throughout the church province. He also gives him authority to absolve from excommunication crusaders, and others who wish to take the cross, who have been excommunicated for laying violent hands on someone, unless the offence is so grave that the case must go to the Pope.
The letter in modern English
Bishop Honorius etc. to the Archbishop of Nidaros. As we have understood from your letter, and fully accept, our beloved son the noble man [Skule], Duke of Norway, who has taken the cross, is magnificently preparing himself for the aid of the Holy Land with a numerous multitude of crusaders, offering to all who wish to cross the sea with him passage by ship free and without freight charge. So that the Christian people, roused by the trumpet of your preaching, may be more strongly stirred to aid the said land, we earnestly admonish your brotherhood, commanding you by apostolic letter to preach the word of the cross solemnly in your province and have it preached. You shall remind each and every one that in this hour of need they should come to the help of Christ in every way they can, so that both you and they may gain incomparable merit, and we may commend your diligence with worthy praise in the Lord. Furthermore, if any crusaders, or any who wish to take the cross, are bound by the bond of excommunication for laying violent hands on someone, we grant you the power to absolve them according to the form of the Church, unless their offence is so grave and enormous that they must rightly be sent to the Apostolic See. Given at the Lateran two days before the nones of November [4 November] in the eleventh year [1226].
Original text
Honorius episcopus etc. Nidrosiensi archiepiscopo. Cum, sicut ex litteris tuis et utique acceptamus, dilectus filius nobilis vir [Skulo] dux Norwegie crucesignatus ad Terre sancte subsidium cum numerosa crucesignatorum multitudine magnifice se accingat, offerens omnibus secum transfretare volentibus gratis navigium sine naulo, ut tue predicationis tuba excitatus populus christianus ad dicte terre subsidium fortius animetur, fraternitatem tuam monemus attente per apostolica tibi scripta
Background
Skule Bårdsson (1189 to 1240) was jarl and ruled the kingdom together with King Håkon Håkonsson. He descended from the Giske family through Tora Skoftesdatter. The letter was written the day after the letter about the church tax for Skule's crusade (DN 1/9), and the two belong together. To take the cross meant making a vow to go on crusade, and crusaders received the protection of the Church and remission of sins. Excommunication (bann) was the Church's punishment by which the guilty person was shut out from the sacraments, and violence against clergy was punished with excommunication that only the Pope, or someone he authorised, could lift. By letting the archbishop absolve such people, more could join Skule's army. The crusade never took place, however, and Skule remained in Norway.
People: Skule Bårdsson