Skule's merchant gets his ship released at Lynn
DN 19/162 · 4 aug. 1224 · Bedford
«The Duke of Norway» is Skule Bårdsson, of the Giske family through Tora Skoftesdatter. The letter shows that he had his own merchant in the trade with England, and that the English king made an exception for his ship.
What the letter says
King Henry III of England grants at Bedford on 4 August 1224 that the ship of Peter Oddsson, merchant of the Duke of Norway, may sail home. The ship had been held in the port of Lynn because the king had ordered ships to be arrested. The bailiffs of Lynn and of all other English ports are told to let the ship, with all the cargo and chattels on board, go home without hindrance this time.
The letter in modern English
On licence. The lord king has given licence and granted that the ship of Peter, son of Odd, merchant of the Duke of Norway, which is arrested in the port of Lynn by reason of the lord king's order for the arrest of ships, may freely and without hindrance return to its own parts this time. And it is commanded to the bailiffs of Lynn and to all other bailiffs of the sea ports of England to whom this letter comes that, notwithstanding the said order, they allow the said ship, with all the things and chattels on board, to return to its own parts without hindrance. Witness as above [that is, the king, at Bedford on 4 August], in the eighth year [1224].
Original text
De licentia. Dominus rex licentiam dedit et concessit quod navis Petri filii Odonis, mercatoris ducis Norvegie, in portu Lenn arestata occasione precepti domini regis, quod fecit de navibus arestandis, libere et sine impedimento ad partes suas hac vice possit redire. Et mandatum est ballivis Lenn et omnibus aliis ballivis portuum maris Anglie, ad quos presentes littere pervenerint, quod, non obstante mandato predicto, navem predictam cum omnibus rebus et catallis in ipsa navi contentis, ad
Background
The duke is Skule Bårdsson (1189 to 1240), of the Giske family through Tora Skoftesdatter, who was then jarl and ruled Norway together with King Håkon Håkonsson. The letter shows that Skule had his own merchant, Peter Oddsson, who traded with England for him. Lynn, today King's Lynn in Norfolk, was one of the most important ports for Norwegian ships, and from here grain among other things was shipped to Norway. In the summer of 1224 the English king seized ships, probably for use in war, and a Norwegian ship could easily be held back. That the king made an exception for Skule's ship shows how much weight the English court placed on friendship with him. For a great man like Skule, trade was part of power, and the profit from such voyages could pay for both hird (retinue) and gifts.
People: Skule Bårdsson