Bishop Håkon sends Erling news from Bjarne
DN 8/116 · [3 Decbr.? 1338.] · Bergen
What the letter says
Bishop Håkon of Bergen writes, probably in December 1338, to Erling Vidkunsson and thanks him for the first news from his son Bjarne, which he received on 24 November. The same day he received a new letter from Bjarne in Viken with the messenger Gudleik, and he forwards it to Erling with Endride Gunnesson. He reports the rumour that Sir Pål has entered the Dominican order in Oslo and that his wife has become a nun. He asks Erling to greet Lady Elin, the maiden Ingebjørg and the other daughters.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To Sir Erling [Vidkunsson]. God thank you for all the friendship, good will and love we have always experienced from you. In particular we thank you for wishing to let us know the first tidings you received from our dearest Bjarne after we parted in Bergen last time, even though they reached us later than you wished. Your letter and his, which you sent from the north, we received now on the eve of St Catherine's Day (24 November) just past. The same day we received a letter from our Bjarne from the south, from Viken, with his fant [uncertain interpretation: servant or messenger] Gudleik. That same letter of his we now send you with Endride Gunnesson. We believe that Remund de Lamena will have written to you about the tidings that have happened in Vesterlanda. Without a letter it is said, on the word of Sir Hallkjell, whose servant has just come from Viken, that Sir Pål has taken the habit of the Preaching Friars (the Dominicans) in Oslo, and that his wife has become a nun in the same place. We were well and in good spirits when this letter was written. May God let us hear the same of you and your household. We ask you to greet Lady Elin, the maiden Ingebjørg and all your other daughters and all who wish you well. Ask us freely for whatever you wish. God keep you now and always. Written in Bergen.
Original text (excerpt)
Ad dominum Erlingum. Gud þakke yðr alla vinaatto. gooduilia ok kærlæika er ver hofuum jamfnan. af yðr rœynt. namflegher ok serlegha. þokkum ver yðr, at þer vildur oss lata vndirstanda. þau fyrstu tidenðe er þer fengor af kærazsta Biarna varom. sijðan ver skilðumst j. Biorgwin neest. þo at þau kœme seinna. til vaar. en ydar vili var til fenghom ver ydart bref ok hans nu a Katerinar mœsso æftan er var. er þer senðor nor- ðan til, þan sama dagh fenghom ver bref Biarna vaars. sunnan til af Vikenne m
Background
Erling Vidkunsson of Giske and Bjarkøy had been drottsete until 1332 and was now living on his estates in the north, while his son Bjarne had travelled south. Bishop Håkon of Bergen was a hub for news, and the letter shows how letters went between Viken, Bergen and northern Norway with their own messengers and took weeks on the way. The maiden Ingebjørg is Ingeborg Erlingsdatter, who in 1354 received Giske from her father and married Sigurd Havtoresson. Sir Pål is Pål Eiriksson, a magnate who according to the rumour entered a monastery together with his wife. The letter also mentions news from Vesterlanda, that is, the British Isles. This is a private letter, preserved as a copy among the bishop's letters.
People: Erling Vidkunsson, Bjarne Erlingsson den yngre, Elin Toresdatter, Ingebjørg Erlingsdatter