The settlement with Jon Offesson and the church at Stårheim
DN 8/125 · 11 February 1340 · Bergen
Erling Vidkunsson of Giske and Bjarkøy had been drottsete, the foremost man in the realm after the king. The letter shows that he was still involved in national politics, and it mentions the church on his farm in Nordfjord.
What the letter says
Bishop Håkon thanks Lord Erling from Bergen on 11 February 1340 for the copy of the settlement between the king and Lord Jon Offesson, which he received on 3 February and has passed on to the archbishop. The king has charged the archbishop with ordering the coinage and the administration of Tønsberghus and Vardøhus together with the Council of the Realm. The archbishop asked Lord Ivar, Gunnar and the bishop for advice, but they thought the matter too great to answer without a larger meeting. The bishop promises to settle the matter of Stårheim church the first time he comes to Fjordane. He has heard that Sigurd Ribbung has submitted to the king's grace and given up the castle.
The letter in modern English
[Heading in the copy: To Lord Erling.] For the copy of the settlement between our lord the king and Lord Jon Offesson, with the other news that came with it, which we received on St Blaise's day (3 February) in the evening after vespers, and for all the other friendship, kindness and good will you have always shown us, we thank you warmly from the heart. With the copy of the settlement we did as you asked and advised us: we sent it to the lord archbishop at once on the morning after St Mary's day [uncertain interpretation]. We expect that he has written to you in full about how our lord the king has placed in his hands the ordering and settling of the realm's coinage and of the administration of Tønsberghus and Vardøhus, together with the rest of the Council of the Realm and other wise men, as he sees most right, fair and useful for the people of the land and the realm. The king says he will hold to and confirm all that he rightly does for the benefit and profit of the realm, as said before. The archbishop asked Lord Ivar, Gunnar and us for advice on this. We asked for time to consider, and we understood that most thought it hard to answer in such great matters before a larger meeting of good men could be held. So we do not yet know how he will finally answer. Our lord the king has written very kindly to him and to Lord Ivar. You also wrote to us about Stårheim church.
Original text
Ad dominum Erlingum. Firir wtskrift daghþinganar vaars herra konungs ok herra Jones Offæsonar med odrum tiðendom. er þi fylghdu. ok ver tokom in festo Blasij. vm kwældet eftir æftansongh. ok allan annan vinskapp kærleika ok goduilia os iamlegha teedan. þokkum ver yðr mykilegha af hiarta. gerdom ver vm vtskrift daghþingarennar sem þer bador os ok reedor. sendom hana herra erkibiskupi. þeghar aat Marimœsso vm morghenen eftir. veentom ver at hann hafwe yðr med fullnaðe skrifwat.
Background
The letter suggests that Lord Jon Offesson had been in conflict with the king, and that Sigurd Ribbung held a castle, «the house», on his behalf. The letter does not say which castle it was. The letter shows that Erling received and circulated copies of important documents even though he was no longer drottsete. The coinage was important, because poor coins hurt both the king and ordinary people. Gunnar was probably the king's fehirde, the treasurer, in Bergen. Stårheim church lay on Erling's odal farm in Nordfjord, and Fjordane is the old name for the districts there.
People: Erling Vidkunsson, Elin Toresdatter