News from Bergen to Erling in May 1338
DN 7/150 · 15 May 1338 · Bergen
What the letter says
Bishop Håkon of Bergen thanks Lord Erling Vidkunsson on 15 May 1338 for a friendly letter and asks God to give him a good and quick journey here. Lord Ivar came to Bergen on the eve before St Hallvard's day and told of his time with Erling. The bishop of Hamar has written that the king came to Båhus on Easter Day and the queen four days later, and that things are bad in Sweden and worse in Scania. The archbishop has summoned the bishops to a council in Nidaros at St Lawrence's eve. The bishop greets Lady Elin and the daughters.
The letter in modern English
[Heading in the copy: To Lord Erling Vidkunsson.] [Greeting as before.] God thank you for the fair letter and the kindness we received from you last. We understood from it that you are coming here, and we pray God to make the journey both healthy and swift, as he sees best and easiest for you. Lord Ivar came to Bergen on the evening of St Hallvard's eve. He told us how long and with what great joy he was with you. We were shown a letter from the lord bishop of Hamar, in which he said for certain that our worthy lord the king came to Båhus on Easter Day, and the queen on the fourth day of Easter, from outside by ship. He also said that Lord Ulv Saksesson rode to him at once. As the lord bishop said in his letter, things stand very badly in Sweden and even worse in Scania. The lord archbishop has summoned us to a council with the other bishops, to be held in Nidaros at the coming St Lawrence's eve. We expect, by God's will and mercy, that the trouble we have had will soon turn to the better, and for this we thank God and his blessed mother. Other news, such as there is here, the swain can tell you, and we believe that Sira Brynjulv and Remund are doing their part. We gladly greet Lady Elin and all your honourable maiden daughters and the household. God keep you and all your friends. Written in Bergen on the feast of the martyr Hallvard in the year of our Lord 1338.
Original text
Ad dominum Erlingum Viðkunni. [Salutacio ut prius] Gud þakke ydr firir fagert bref ok kærleght er ver fenghom af yðr neest. undirstoðom ver j þi ydra hingatkomo er ver bidium gud at hann geri bæde hæilbrigda ok skiota eftir þi sem hann væitt yðr hentazst vera ok haglegazst. kom herra Juar til Biorghvinar Hallvardz voku æftan. sagde hann oss hworsu lengi ok med mikilli gledi hann med yðr var.
Background
The letter shows how news travelled among the magnates: a bishop in Hamar writes to a bishop in Bergen, who passes it on to Erling. Lord Ivar is probably Ivar Ogmundsson, knight and councillor of the realm, who was close to both Erling and the bishop. Båhus was the king's castle on the border with Sweden, and the queen was probably Blanche of Namur, whom Magnus had married. The council in Nidaros was a church synod at which the archbishop gathered the bishops of the church province. The bishop also mentions his own illness, which recurs in several of the letters.
People: Erling Vidkunsson, Elin Toresdatter