Skule demands compensation for the robbery at Scarborough
DN 19/142 · [1222?] · ikke stedsnavn
Skule Bårdsson of the Giske family writes here to the English king as jarl, ruling Norway together with King Håkon. The robbery at Scarborough probably concerned one of his own merchant ships, and he had got the Pope to support his claim for compensation.
What the letter says
Skule, who calls himself «by the grace of God duke of Norway», writes probably in 1222 to King Henry III of England. He reminds him that Henry's father, King John, promised to make amends for the robbery and dishonour that Skule and his men suffered at the hands of the king's men at Scarborough, and that the elder William Marshal stood surety for the compensation. Skule has many times sent envoys with letters and gifts and received fine promises in return, while the debt is unpaid, the costs have grown and envoys have drowned. Now he has obtained a letter from the Pope in the matter, and he asks the king to settle it without further delay.
The letter in modern English
To the illustrious lord Henry, by the grace of God King of England, S[kule], by the same grace Duke of Norway, sends greeting and sincere and special friendship. Your most serene highness knows how the lord King John, your father, promised to make amends for that robbery and dishonour which his men did to us and our men at Scarborough, and how W[illiam] Marshal the elder stood surety on your behalf for the same debt. It is also well known to your wisdom how many times we have sent our envoys to your presence with our letters and with many and most beautiful gifts in this same matter, and how many times [you] with many and most beautiful promises have drawn out our hope. But now, because so much has been written in vain, and the debt has been withheld, many costs have been added ... and our envoys have drowned, it is wearisome to demand amends with fruitless words and receive only barren replies [uncertain reading]. Because we love your excellence and know that the lord Pope is most dear to you, we have obtained letters from him to you. Therefore we beseech your magnificence as if anew that, as befits royal dignity, you will keep your promises and at last settle our matter, so that we may feel that our long patience and the present petition of the apostolic lord have been of use to us.
Original text
Illustri domino Henrico, Dei gratia regi Anglie, S[culius] eadem gratia dux Norwegie, salutem et specialis amicitie sinceritatem. Noverit serenissima sublimitas vestra, qualiter dominus rex Johannes pater vester rapinam illam et dedecus que ab hominibus suis nobis et hominibus nostris apud Scardum Burgum facta fuerunt emendari promiserit, et qualiter W[illelmus] senex Marescallus ex parte vestra pro eodem debito se prestiterit fidejussorem.
Background
Skule Bårdsson (1189 to 1240) was jarl and ruled Norway together with King Håkon Håkonsson. He descended from the Giske family through Tora Skoftesdatter and the Rein family. The robbery at Scarborough on the English east coast probably concerned a Norwegian merchant ship and its cargo, since Skule had his own merchants in the trade with England. By then the matter had dragged on for several years, from the time of King John before 1216. That Skule got the Pope to write to the English king shows how much the matter meant to him, and that he had good connections in Rome. The letter also shows how costly and dangerous it was to keep in touch across the North Sea, with envoys drowning on the way. Skule took the title «duke» for himself in these letters, and he received it only in 1237.
People: Skule Bårdsson