Bishop Håkon on the dispute over the fishing station of Grip
DN 9/108 · 1 January 1338 · Bergen
What the letter says
On 1 January 1338 Bishop Håkon of Bergen answers Arne Gjavaldsson about a conversation he had heard between the archbishop and Bjarne Erlingsson about the fishing station of Grip. Bjarne had laid claim to the station, and the archbishop answered that the church of Nidaros had long owned it. Arne had then said that he only knew that Archbishop Eilif owned the station while the king was a child. The bishop cannot remember Arne saying that Eilif had taken it unlawfully.
The letter in modern English (excerpt)
We Håkon, by God's mercy Bishop of Bergen, greet you, Arne Gjavaldsson, with God's greeting and our friendship. Your letter came to us. In it you asked that we should carefully recall the conversation between our worthy lord the archbishop and Bjarne Erlingsson about Grip. We remember well that Bjarne came with such a reminder and such a claim to the same fishing station. Our worthy lord the archbishop answered, as we remember it, that the holy church of Nidaros had long held and owned the same station, as far as he knew best, and that you would know it well, he said. You said that you knew no more about it than that our lord Archbishop Eilif had held and owned the station in our lord the king's childhood. That you should have said that he had acquired it unlawfully we can in no way remember. Nor do we believe that you have ever spoken ill of him, either while he lived or after his death, for we knew what love he had for you and you for him. We hardly believe either that we would have heard anyone speak ill of him without letting it pass without a word or an answer. Write openly to us as to your friend, who will and shall gladly do what may please you. God keep you now and always. Written in Bergen on the day of the Circumcision of Jesus (1 January) 1338.
Original text (excerpt)
Ver Hakon [með guðs miskun biskup i Biorgwin] heilsom yðr Aarne Giafuallzson með q. g. ok vaarre vinaatto. Bref ydart kom til vaar .j. hueriu en þer beidduszt at ver skyllðum giorla aminnaszt. viðrtolu. vaars vyrdulegs herra erkibiskups ok Biarna Erllings sonar. vm Gripar. Minnumszt ver giorlla at Biarne gerdi nokora so. aminningh ok tiltolu vm þat sama vær. suaraðe vaar vyrdulegr herra erkibiskupen sem oss minnir at heilogh Niðaross kirkia. hafdi þat sama vær. lenghi fylght ok hefdatt. efter þi
Background
Grip is a small island community far out in the sea off Kristiansund, and it was a fishing station where the fishery yielded great income. Bjarne Erlingsson the younger (died 1353) was the son of Erling Vidkunsson, and his family probably claimed Grip as old property. Archbishop Eilif Kortin held office from 1309 to 1332, and the king's childhood refers to the time when Magnus Eriksson was an under age king after 1319. Arne Gjavaldsson was evidently afraid of becoming known as the one who had accused the late archbishop, and therefore asked Håkon for a written statement. The letter is a letter of testimony in the form of a private letter, and such statements could be used as evidence in a dispute. It shows that the church and the Bjarkøy family competed for the rights to the fishing stations along the coast.
People: Bjarne Erlingsson den yngre