Bishop Håkon admonishes Bjarne Erlingsson
DN 8/117 · 3 Decbr. [1338.] · Bergen
What the letter says
Bishop Håkon of Bergen writes on 3 December 1338 to Bjarne Erlingsson and thanks him for a comforting letter. He urges Bjarne to look after his own honour and honour the honourable family he has come from, and reminds him of the verse «Whatever you do, do it wisely, and consider the outcome». The bishop says that only on 25 November did he receive the news Bjarne had written to his father after leaving Bergen, and that his friends in Bergen are well.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
To Bjarne Erlingsson. God thank you for all the love, courtesy and good will you have always shown us. In particular we thank you for wishing to comfort us with your letter. From it we understand various things that do not seem to fall out entirely as one would wish. The wise God, who can make the very best out of the worst, will turn and change it to the good, and may God soon let us hear and understand that. We gladly see that you work above all for your own honour and that of your friends, so that after God himself you turn the greatest care towards yourself and your honour. Think diligently of the honourable family you have come from, and that you may with all your ability honour and do credit to it, so that it turns to the honour of God, to you and to all your friends who strive for it. We have full confidence that you will do this with God's grace, if you diligently think of the verse you have long known: Quicquid agas prudenter agas et respice finem (Whatever you do, do it wisely, and consider the outcome). The tidings you wrote to your father just after you had left Bergen we did not receive until now on St Catherine's Day (25 November) just past. He had nevertheless had them in hand long before. Of your friends here we can tell you that all are well and in good health. May God let us hear the same of you. More we cannot write to you this time, busy as we are. God and his blessed mother keep and strengthen you now and always. Written in Bergen on 3 December
Original text (excerpt)
Ad Bernonem Erlingi. Gud þakke yðr allan kærleika hœfuersko ok gooduilia er þer hafer jamfnan oss teett, namflegha ok seerlegha þokkum ver yðr at þer villdur hugga os med brefe ydru. vndirstoðom ver j. þui ymisa so luti þa er æighi þykkir allt eftir vilia falla. Mun hin hagazster gud, er af hinu vesta kan allra bezst at gera þui til godz snua. ok vænda. ok þat late gud os sem fyrst fregna. ok vndirstanda. gerna siam ver. at þer sem frammazst erfedir firir yðri sœmd ok ydra vina. so at eftir gud
Background
Bjarne Erlingsson the younger (died 1353) was the son of Erling Vidkunsson of Giske and Bjarkøy, who had been drottsete, that is, regent, from 1323 to 1332. Bishop Håkon Erlingsson of Bergen was a close friend of the family, and several of his letters are preserved as copies. This is a private letter, and its tone shows how close the men of the church and the magnates were to one another. The admonition to think of his family and of the outcome suggests that Bjarne was in a difficult situation; the letter does not say what it was. Bjarne had travelled south to Viken, where King Magnus Eriksson often stayed, and it is likely that the journey had to do with politics.