King Magnus’s letter of warning to Visby

We Magnus, King of Sweden Norway and Skåne by divine right, extend salutations to your good and wise men, mayor and the people of the city of Visby, grace and peace in the Lord.

As you are aware, it has long been known to us that some of our enemies are conspiring to cause detriment and ruin of us and the entire kingdom. In secret they have pledged to attack your area, which is the closest, by force of arms and a strong army, and so you must ensure that your city, its wall and its ports are guarded with sufficient diligence, by all means necessary, both with a night guard and other watches.

We therefore beseech you and command and order you strictly with this admonition: that you keep watch in all places, both night and day, awaiting the arrival of such dangers, so that the kingdom and you via your vigilance come to no harm due to carelessness, as you have so much less to fear by simply protecting your city and port with adequate safety measures.

Neglect none of this, as surely as you protect and love the good condition of the kingdom and our honour.

Pronounced in Stockholm in the Year of Our Lord 1361, the Saturday before Ascension.

Translation from Swedish, excerpt from Gun Westholm’s book “Visby 1361 Invasionen”.