The envoys from Lübeck have arrived
DN 8/144 · 13 July [1341.] · Bergen
Erling Vidkunsson of Giske had been appointed by the king to meet the envoys from Lübeck in Bergen. When they arrived, Erling was not in the city, and the bishop reminds him of the king's promise.
What the letter says
Bishop Håkon writes to Lord Erling from Bergen on 13 July, probably 1341, that he has received a letter from the councillors of Lübeck with two envoys, a priest and a merchant. They also have letters for Erling. The bishop sends him a slip with an extract from the king's letter to Lübeck, which shows that the king has promised that Erling will meet the envoys in Bergen together with the treasurer. The bishop thinks it should be done as the king wrote, or that at least a fitting excuse should be given. He also forwards a letter from Lord Ivar.
The letter in modern English
[Heading in the copy: To Lord Erling.] We received a letter from the councillors of Lübeck with two of their envoys, a priest and a merchant. We understood for certain that the councillors have written a similar letter to you, and these men send it to you together with this letter of ours. A slip or roll, if one should call it that, they gave us. It is drawn from the letter that our worthy lord the king has written to the men of Lübeck, and we send you the same. From it you can better understand how our lord the king has promised that you would come to Bergen to meet these envoys for negotiations together with the treasurer. You know best what you are charged with in this on the king's behalf. So you know what you are to do here. It would be well fitting on our lord the king's behalf that it were done as he has written, or at least that a fitting excuse were given, so that his forgetfulness would not be too much noticed. With Eindride Ivarsson we received Lord Ivar's letter. Sewn to it was another letter of his, which we now send you with this letter of ours. We gladly greet Lady Elin and the maidens, your daughters, and all your household. God keep you with his grace always. Written in Bergen on 13 July.
Original text
Ad dominum Erlingum. Veer fenghom bref af raadzmonnum j Lybykku med tuæimer þæira sændebodom æinum preste. ok odrum kaupmanne. vndirstodom ver til sannænda. at annat viderlight hafua þæir raadmænn til ydar ritat. er þessir sænda yder med þesso vaaro brefue. æina cedulam æder rollo. ef so skal kalla. fengho þæir oss. sæm wt er dræghin af vaars vyrdulighs herra konungsæns brefue. er hann hæfir til Lybykkumanna ritat. ok þa somu sændom ver yder.
Background
The letter belongs with the king's letter from Stockholm in May the same year, in which Erling was appointed to negotiate with Lübeck. Now the envoys had arrived, but Erling was not in Bergen. The bishop politely reminds him that the king has made a promise, and hints that the king may have forgotten to tell Erling in time. That Lübeck sent both a priest and a merchant shows that the city took the negotiations seriously. Lord Ivar is probably Ivar Ogmundsson.
People: Erling Vidkunsson, Elin Toresdatter