Bishop Håkon gives Erling news of his son Bjarne
DN 8/114 · [Høsten 1338.] · Bergen
What the letter says
In autumn 1338 Bishop Håkon of Bergen writes to Erling Vidkunsson. He has received a letter from «our dearest Bjarne», Erling's son, saying that Bjarne and Sir Ivar met on 24 August and came to Tønsberg the following Saturday, where they met Sigurd Havtoresson, Stig Håkonsson and several others. It was expected that Bjarne and Gunnar hvit would travel to the king on behalf of them all, and a servant had told him that Gunnar was taken prisoner until Bjarne got him released. The bishop greets Lady Elin, the daughters and the whole household.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To Sir Erling Vidkunsson. We have received a letter from our dearest Bjarne. From it we understand that he and Sir Ivar met in Trumusundene [uncertain interpretation] on St Bartholomew's Day (24 August), and the Saturday after he came to Tønsberg. There they met, Sigurd Havtoresson, Stig Håkonsson and several other good men. It was then expected that my Bjarne and Gunnar hvit would travel to the king on behalf of them all. What came of it we do not yet know. As to how things went afterwards with Gunnar, he said that you could tell us, together with other news you would like to make known to us. The servant mentioned to us that Gunnar had been taken prisoner, until Bjarne got him released. Other news we have not received this time. Ask us for whatever you wish, as your friend, for we gladly do what may give you pleasure. We gladly greet Lady Elin, your daughters the maidens and the whole household. God keep you etc.
Original text (excerpt)
Ad dominum Erlinghum Við(kunni.) Veer fenghom bref af kærazsta Biarna vaarom j. hweriu er ver vndirstoðom at þæir funnuzst j. Þrumu sundum herra Jvar ok hann. in festo Bartholomei. en laughardaghen þar æftir kom hann til Tunsbergs, funnuzst þæir þar Sighurðr Hafþoressson ok Stiker Hakonarson ok aðrer flæiri goðr menn. var þa j. voon. at Biarne min ok Gunnar hwiter skyldu ferdazst til konungs a allra þæirra vægna. en hwat sem af vard vndirstoðom ver en æighi. hworssu med Gunnar var sijdan gort sa
Background
Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarkøy and Giske had been drottsete, regent, from 1323 to 1332, and his son Bjarne the younger was at this time a young magnate. In 1338 and 1339 there was conflict between a group of Norwegian magnates and King Magnus Eriksson, who ruled both Norway and Sweden and was often in Sweden. The meeting in Tønsberg and the journey to the king probably belong to this conflict, and that Gunnar hvit was taken prisoner suggests that the negotiations were tense. Sigurd Havtoresson of Sudreim, who took part in the meeting, later married Erling's daughter Ingeborg, and the letter shows that the families already stood together politically. The letter is a private letter, and its warm tone shows that the bishop was close to Erling's family. Sir Ivar is probably Ivar Ogmundsson.
People: Erling Vidkunsson, Bjarne Erlingsson den yngre, Sigurd Havtoresson, Elin Toresdatter