Bishop Håkon of Bergen thanks Bjarne Erlingsson
DN 8/103 · 31 January 1338 · Bergen
What the letter says
Bishop Håkon of Bergen writes on 31 January 1338 to Bjarne Erlingsson and thanks him for his letter and news. He asks Bjarne to serve the king faithfully and to help with the errands of the priests Brynjolf and Halldor and of Thomas Skotte while the provost is close to the king. He asks Bjarne to greet the king and the queen.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To the honourable man Bjarne Erlingsson [and so on, as before]. God thank you for all the good you have always done us. In particular we thank you for the news and the loving letter we last received from you. We wish and would gladly know, and ask, that you serve our worthy lord the king with all service and loyalty, as we know you do and will do, all the more the more you think he needs it. You reminded us in a letter about Sira Halldor and Sira Brynjolf. You may now perhaps get Sira Brynjolf's errand concluded while the provost is so close to the king, as best you can. As for Sira Halldor: think about it too. We believe we have done for him as well as we are able, and we will gladly do so in future too. But St Laurence's Church, which Gisbright holds, will not fall vacant now, because the church at Vangen needs daily service (more) than he would need [uncertain interpretation]. We remember that we had asked you about Thomas Skotte's errand, and now we ask you again to find out how our lord the king will decide it while the provost is so close to him. Greet our worthy lord the king much from us with our service, and the queen likewise, and greet also all whom you think should be greeted from us. God almighty keep you and all your friends without end. Written in Bergen two nights before Candlemas (2 February), in the year of the Lord 1338.
Original text (excerpt)
Erlighom manne Biarna Erlingssyni [cetera vt prius.] Gud þakke yðr alla luti iamlegha med oss væl gorfua. namfnlegha ok serlegha þokkum ver yðr firir tidenðe ok kærleght bref er neest fenghom ver af yðr. œskiom ver ok gerna vita villðum ok bidium at þer þioner varom virduleghom herra konunginom með allre þionostu ok hollosto. sem ver vitum at þer gerir ok gera vilir. æ þess meir sem yðr þykkir at han meir þurfui. Minttu þer oss a .j. brefe ydru vm sira Hallðor ok sira Bryniolf. monu þer nu megha
Background
Bjarne Erlingsson is here Bjarne the younger, son of Erling Vidkunsson, and he died in 1353. The letter is a private letter from the bishop's letter book and shows that Bjarne was close to King Magnus Eriksson and Queen Blanka, and that he was used as an intermediary for matters the bishop wanted to bring before the king. The provost was probably the king's chancellor, who at that time was provost of St Mary's Church in Oslo, but the letter does not say so directly. Bishop Håkon of Bergen carried on an extensive correspondence with magnates, and his letters give insight into how matters concerning church offices were arranged through personal connections. Erling Vidkunsson had stepped down as drottsete in 1332, but the family still had contact with the court through his son.
People: Bjarne Erlingsson den yngre