Bjarne and Vidkunn are sent to England
DN 19/311 · 24 april 1284 · Bergen
What the letter says
King Eirik of Norway writes in Bergen in April 1284 to King Edward I of England. He has made the baron Sir Bjarne and Sir Vidkunn his proxies and envoys. They are to present the letter of alliance between Edward's father, King Henry, and Eirik's father, King Magnus, and ask that it be renewed and confirmed. They are also empowered to complain about the damage and wrongs that Norwegian merchants daily suffer from the bailiffs in England, especially in Lynn, and to ask that this stop and be compensated.
The letter in modern English
Letter of the King of Norway, in which he appoints proxies to present to the King of England a letter of alliance made between H[enry], King of England, and Magnus, King of Norway. To the magnificent prince, his dearest brother in Christ, the lord Edward, illustrious King of England, Eirik, by the same grace King of Norway, sends greeting and the affection of sincere love, with continual increase of glory and honour. Your excellence should know that we have made, appointed and ordained our beloved and faithful men, Sir Bernard [Bjarne], baron, and Sir Vidkunn, our knights, our true and lawful proxies and special envoys. They are to present to you the letter of alliance made between the magnificent princes, the lord Henry, of famous memory, your father, on the one side, and our dearest father in Christ, King Magnus, on the other. They are to ask your highness to renew and also confirm this alliance, and that everything contained in it be kept inviolably. They are also to promise on our behalf that we will keep, and have kept, all that is promised and agreed in this alliance, and confirm it in the same manner and form in which you see fit to confirm it.
Original text
Littera Regis Norwegie, in quo constituit procuratores ad exhibendam quandam litteram confederacionis Regi Anglie, que facta fuit inter H. Regem Anglie et Magnum Regem Norwegie. Magnifico principi, fratri suo in Christo karissimo, domino Edwardo, Regi Anglie illustri, Ericus, eadem gratia, Rex Norwegie, salutem, et sincere dilectionis affectum, cum continuis glorie et honoris incrementis.
Background
Bjarne Erlingsson (c. 1248 to 1313) and his brother Vidkunn Erlingsson (died c. 1302) were of the Bjarkøy family, and both were councillors of the realm in the regency council for the young King Eirik Magnusson. In the spring of 1284 Norway was at war with the German Hanseatic towns, which had imposed a blockade on Norway, and that made trade with England even more important. Lynn, today King's Lynn, was one of the most important ports for Norwegian merchants buying grain. The letter shows that the brothers from Bjarkøy were the foremost diplomats the kingdom had. By Roman reckoning «the sixth day before the kalends of May» corresponds to 26 April, while DN has 24 April.
People: Bjarne Erlingsson, Vidkunn Erlingsson