No winter residents in Bergen
HUB 2 nr. 502 · 1331 Aug. 9 · Bergen
The drottsete Erling Vidkunsson of Bjarkøy and Giske is among those who consent to the new rules for foreign merchants in Bergen. It is one of the last great ordinances from his time in the government.
What the letter says
King Magnus Eriksson renews in Bergen on 9 August 1331 the rules for foreign merchants in the town, with the consent of Archbishop Eiliv, Bishop Salomon of Oslo, the drottsete Erling Vidkunsson and the council of the realm. Foreigners who arrive at Holy Cross Day in spring may stay until Holy Cross Day in autumn. After that no foreigner who is not married to a Norwegian woman may live, rent a house or trade in the town before spring, and householders who rent to them are fined 13 mark and 8 ørtuger. Nor may foreigners buy up malt, grain, butter or other Norwegian goods to carry them abroad, or buy cattle and food in the countryside.
The letter in modern English
Magnus, by the grace of God King of Norway, Sweden and Gautland, sends to all people in Bergen who see or hear this letter God's greeting and his own. Foreign merchants who sail here with lawful goods from Germany and other lands have often and persistently complained before us and our council that they no longer find such opportunities to buy here as before. For almost all the goods in the country are gathered up and carried away in winter, so that too little is left to buy at market time. Likewise councillors, householders and other townspeople have often complained that every winter the town is so full of foreigners engaged in illicit and peddling trade that the natives cannot buy anything for themselves and can barely obtain the food they need. Since we are bound to protect the liberties of everyone in our realm, over which God has made us king, each in his place and as the law, old custom and the ordinances of our predecessors, the kings in Norway, command, we make known to all that with the consent and advice of the worthy lord Archbishop Eiliv, our dearest friend, Sir Salomon, Bishop of Oslo, the drottsete Erling Vidkunsson and the whole of the rest of the council of the realm gathered here, at the request of the said natives and foreigners and in accordance with the precept of our predecessors, the kings of Norway, especially our dearest grandfather King Håkon of illu
Original text
Magnus von Gottes Gnaden König von Norwegen, der Schweden und Goten sendet allen Leuten in Bergen, die diesen Brief sehen oder hören, Gottes Gruss und den seinigen. Ausländische Kaufleute, die mit ihren gesetzlich zulässigen Waaren sowohl von Deutschland wie von andern Ländern hierher segeln, haben oft und anhaltend vor uns und unserm Rath darüber Klage geführt, dass sie hier nicht mehr solche Kaufgelegenheit finden wie früher, weil fast alle im Lande befindlichen Waaren während des Winters zusa
Background
Erling Vidkunsson (c. 1292 to 1355) of Bjarkøy and Giske was drottsete (steward of the realm) for King Magnus Eriksson from 1323, and this is one of the last great ordinances from his time in the government. The background was complaints from two sides: foreign merchants found too little to buy at the market because goods were bought up in winter, and townsmen in Bergen complained that foreigners staying the winter took the trade from them. Holy Cross Day in spring is 3 May and in autumn 14 September, and the same deadlines appear in the complaint from Oslo and Tønsberg around 1442, where Sigurd Jonsson stood on the Norwegian side (HR II,2 nr. 590). Vadmel was coarse woollen cloth that was also used as a means of payment. The letter is printed in DN 7/135 and in Norges gamle Love 3 nr. 70, and the Hansisches Urkundenbuch gives it in German translation. Only the first part of the text is given here.
People: Erling Vidkunsson