Bjarne Erlingsson of Bjarkøy seals the king's safe conduct
SDHK 2232 · 20. mars 1308 · Bergen
What the letter says
King Håkon V announces in Bergen on 20 March 1308 that he grants free and secure safe conduct to prelates and knights who, on behalf of King Erik of Denmark and his brother Christopher, wish to come to him in Viken and negotiate the matter of Junker Nils on 23 May or before. They may stay safely with the king while the negotiations last and travel freely home within 20 days after they end. The king forbids everyone, on pain of death, to break the safe conduct. Bishop Arne of Bergen and the king's councillors and barons Erik Valdemarsson, Bjarne Erlingsson of Bjarkøy and Snare Aslaksson set their seals to it together with the king.
The letter in modern English
To all etc. H(åkon), by the grace of God king of Norway etc. We make known to all that we hereby give and grant free and secure safe conduct to all prelates and knights on behalf of the magnificent princes, Lord Erik, king of Denmark, and his brother Christopher, to come freely to us in Viken, those who wish to negotiate with us in the matter of Junker Nils on the tenth day before the Kalends of June (23 May) or before that time. They may also stay with us while the negotiations last, and from the day the negotiations end they may return home freely within the twentieth day, safe from us and all of ours, each and every one. We command each and every one, both foreigners and natives, who are under our power, on pain of losing their heads, that no one rashly violate or break this safe conduct. Rather, all are to receive them kindly and treat them with honour for as long as this safe conduct lasts. In witness of this the seals of the reverend father Lord Arne, by the grace of God bishop of the church of Bergen, and of the discerning men of our council, Lords Erik Valdemarsson, Bjarne Erlingsson of Bjarkøy and Snare Aslaksson, our barons, are hung below together with our seal. Given in Bergen in the year of the Lord 1308, the Wednesday before Laetare Sunday (20 March).
Original text
Omnibus &c. H. Dei gracia Rex Norvegie &c. notum facimus universis, qvod nos damus et concedimus per præsentes salvum et securum conductum qvibuscunqve prælatis militibus ex parte magnificorum principum dominorum Erici regis Dacie et Christofori fratris sui ad nos libere veniendi in Vichiam super deliberacione domicelli Nicolai nobiscum 10:mo Kal. Junii vel citra tempus illud volentibus placitare et nobiscum tempore placitacionis morandi, nec non a die placitacionis finite infra vicesimum diem p
Background
Bjarne Erlingsson was then around 60 years old and one of the leading men in King Håkon V's council. Here he is called "of Bjarkøy", after the family estate in northern Norway, even though through his wife Margrete Nikolasdatter he also controlled Giske. The safe conduct belongs to the negotiations between Norway and Denmark in the years when Håkon V was in conflict with the Danish king and the Swedish dukes. A safe conduct was a guarantee of safe passage, and the councillors' seals were meant to make the guarantee credible. At about the same time, in January 1308 or 1309, Bjarne wrote the will in which he gave Giske to his granddaughter Kristin (DN 15/1). The letter is known from a copy made after the Middle Ages.
People: Bjarne Erlingsson