Bishop Håkon of Bergen thanks Bjarne Erlingsson
DN 8/109 · [15 May 1338.] · Bergen
What the letter says
In spring 1338, probably on 15 May, Bishop Håkon of Bergen writes a short letter to Bjarne Erlingsson and his father. He apologises that the letter is short because he has much to do in spring and does not want to hold back the messenger, and gives thanks for Bjarne's last letter, from which he understood that Bjarne was to come to Bergen. The rest of the letter is not reproduced in the source.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To Bjarne (Erlingsson). Greeting as before. We write very briefly to you and your father this time, both because we have so much to do now in the spring, and because we did not want to delay the boy (the messenger) on his journey. We thank you warmly for the fine and loving letter we last received from you. In it we understood that you [uncertain interpretation] were to come here. The rest as before (the letter book does not reproduce the rest of the letter).
Original text (excerpt)
Ad Biarnonem. Salutacio vt prius. Vidrlijkt miok skrifwm ver. yðr ok fodur ydrum at þesso sinni. bæde saker nokorrar so vaarrar fiolskylldu ok so saker þess, at ver vilðum æighi swæinsens færd seinka. Þokkum ver yðr mykilegha firir fagert bref ok kærleght er ver fenghom af yðr neest vndirstodom ver j. þi ydra hingatkomo et sic totum vt prius.
Background
Bjarne Erlingsson was the son of Erling Vidkunsson, the former drottsete, and died in 1353. Bishop Håkon Erlingsson of Bergen kept a letter book, a collection of copies of the letters he sent, and that is why this letter is preserved. The letter book reproduces only the opening here, but the editor's summary shows that the full letter mentioned news of the king, the queen and Ulv Saksesson at Båhus, the state of affairs in Sweden, a church council in Nidaros and the bishop's illness. It shows that the Bjarkøy family was in regular contact with the leaders of the church and received a steady flow of political news. The letter is a private letter and gives a glimpse of how magnates kept themselves informed in the period when King Magnus Eriksson ruled both Norway and Sweden.