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THE OERA LINDA BOOK
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THE LETTERS

Chapter I: Okke, my son -

1. You must preserve these books with body and soul. They contain the
history of all our people, as well as of our forefathers.

2. Last year I saved them in the flood, as well as you and your
mother; but they got wet, and therefore began to perish. In order not
to lose them, I copied them on foreign paper.

3. In case you inherit them, you must copy them likewise, and your
children must do so too, so that they may never be lost.

4. Written at Liudwerd, in the year 3449 after Atland was submerged -
that is, according to the Christian reckoning, the year 1256.

5. Hidde, surnamed Oera Linda - Watch!

Chapter II: Beloved successors -

1. For the sake of our dear forefathers, and of our dear liberty, I
entreat you a thousand times never let the eye of a monk look on these
writings.

2. The monks are very insinuating, but they destroy in an underhand
manner all that relates to us Children of Frya.

3. In order to gain rich benefices, they conspire with foreign kings,
who know that we are their greatest enemies, because we dare to speak
to their people of liberty, rights, and the duties of princes.
Therefore they seek to destroy all that we derive from our
forefathers, and all that is left of our old customs.

4. Ah, my beloved ones! I have visited their courts! If Wr-alda
permits it, and we do not show ourselves strong to resist, they will
altogether exterminate us.

5. Written at Liudwerd, in the year 803 of the Christian era. Liko,
surnamed Oera Linda.
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THE BOOK OF ADELA'S FOLLOWERS

Chapter I: Thirty years after the day on which the folk-mother was
murdered by the commander Magy was a time of great distress -

1. All the states that lie on the other side of the Wrsara had been
wrested from us, and had fallen under the power of Magy, and it looked
as if his power was to become supreme over the whole land.

2. To avert this misfortune a general assembly of the people was
summoned, which was attended by all the men who stood in good repute
with the femmes. Then at the end of three days the whole council was
in confusion, and in the same position as when they came together.
Thereupon Adela demanded to be heard, and said:

3. "You all know that I was three years burgh-femme. You know also
that I was chosen for folk-mother, and that I refused to be
folk-mother because I wished to marry Apol; but what you do not know
is, that I have watched everything that has happened, as if I had
really been your folk-mother. I have constantly travelled about,
observing what was going on. By that means I have become acquainted
with many things that others do not know.

4. "You said yesterday that our relatives on the other side of the
Wrsara were dull and cowardly; but I may tell you that the Magy has
not won a single village from them by force of arms; but only by
detestable deceit, and still more by the rapacity of their dukes and
nobles.

5. "Frya has said we must not admit amongst us any but free people;
but what have they done? They have imitated our enemies, and instead
of killing their prisoners, or letting them go free, they have
despised the counsel of Frya, and have made slaves of them.

6. "Because they have acted thus, Frya cared no longer to watch over
them. They robbed others of their freedom, and therefore lost their
own.

7. "This is well known to you, but I will tell you how they came to
sink so low. The Finnar women had children. These grew up with our
Children of Frya. They played and gamboled together in the fields, and
were also together by the hearth.

8. "There they learned with pleasure the loose ways of the Finnar,
because they were bad and new; and thus they became corrupted in spite
of the efforts of their parents. When the children grew up, and saw
that the children of the Finnar handled no weapons, and scarcely
worked, they took a distaste for work, and became proud.

9. "The principal men and their cleverest sons made up to the wanton
daughters of the Finnar; and their own daughters, led astray by this
bad example, allowed themselves to be beguiled by the handsome young
Finnar in derision of their depraved fathers.

10. "When the Magy found this out, he took the handsomest of his
Finnar and Magyarar, and promised them red cows with golden horns to
let themselves be taken prisoners by our people in order to spread his
doctrines. His people did even more. Children disappeared, were taken
away to Upsaland, and after they had been brought up in his pernicious
doctrines, were sent back.

11. "When these pretended prisoners had learned our language, they
persuaded the dukes and nobles that they should become subject to the
Magy - that then their sons would succeed to them without having to be
elected.

12. "Those who by their good deeds had gained a piece of land in front
of their house, they promised should receive in addition a piece
behind; those who had got a piece before and behind, should have a
complete circuit; and those who had a complete circuit should have a
whole freehold. If the elders were true to Frya, then they changed
their course, and turned to the degenerate sons.

13. "Yesterday there were among you those who would have called the
whole people together, to compel the eastern states to return to their
duty. According to my humble opinion, they would have made a great
mistake.

14. "Suppose that there was a very serious epidemic among the cattle,
would you run the risk of sending your healthy cattle among the sick
ones? Certainly not. Every one must see that doing that would turn out
very badly for the whole of the cattle. Who, then, would be so
imprudent as to send their children among a people wholly depraved?

15. "If I were to give you any advice, it would be to choose a new
folk-mother. I know that you are in a difficulty about it, because out
of the thirteen burgh-femmes that we still have remaining, eight are
candidates for the dignity; but I should pay no attention to that.

16. "Tuntia, the burgh-femme of Medeasblik, who is not a candidate, is
a person of knowledge and sound sense, and quite as attached to our
people and our customs as all the rest together. I should further
recommend that you should visit all the burghs, and write down all the
laws of Frya's Tex, as well as all the histories, and all that is
written on the walls, in order that it may not be destroyed with the
burghs.

17. "It stands written that every folk-mother and every burgh-femme
shall have assistants and messengers - twenty-one femmes and seven
apprentices.

18. "If I might add more, I would recommend that all the respectable
girls in the burghs should be taught; for I say positively, and time
will show it, that if you wish to remain true Children of Frya, never
to be vanquished by fraud or arms, you must take care to bring up your
daughters as true Frya's daughters.

19. "You must teach the children how great our nation has been, what
great men our forefathers were, how great we still are, if we compare
ourselves to others.

20. "You must tell them of the wizards, of their magical deeds and
distant travels. All these stories must be told by the fireside and in
the field, wherever it may be, in times of joy or sorrow; and if you
wish to impress it on the brains and the hearts of your sons, you must
let it flow through the lips of your wives and your daughters."

21. Adela's advice was followed.

22. These are the reeves under whose direction this book is composed:

23. Apol, Adela's husband; three times a sea-king; reeve over
Astflyland and over Lindawrda. The burghs Liudgarda, Lindahem, and
Stavia are under his care.

24. The Saxman Storo, Sytia's husband; reeve over Hagafenna and Walda.
Nine times he was chosen as duke, that is, commander. The burghs Buda
and Mannagardaforda are under his care.

25. Abelo, Jaltia's husband; reeve over the Sudar Flyland. He was
three times commander. The burghs Aken, Liudburch, and Katsburch are
under his care.

26. Enoch, Dywek's husband; reeve over Westflyland and Texland. He was
chosen nine times for sea-king. Waraburch, Medeasblik, Forana, and
Fryasburch are under his care.

27. Foppa, Dunro's husband; reeve over the Siugon Elanda. He was five
times sea-king. The burgh Walhallagara is under his care.

Chapter II: This was inscribed upon the walls of Fryasburch in
Texland, as well as at Stavia and Medeasblik -

1. It was Frya's Day, and seven times seven years had elapsed since
Fasta was appointed folk-mother by the desire of Frya. The burgh of
Medeasblik was ready, and a burgh-femme was chosen. Fasta was about to
light her new lamp, and when she had done so in the presence of all
the people, Frya called from her watch-star, so that every one could
hear it:

2. "Fasta, take your style and write the things, that I may not
speak."

3. Fasta did as she was bid, and thus we became Frya's Children, and
our earliest history began.

4. This is our earliest history:

5. Wr-alda, who alone is eternal and good, made the beginning. Then
commenced time. Time wrought all things, even Irtha. Irtha bore grass,
herbs, and trees, all useful and all noxious animals. All that is good
and useful she brought forth by day, and all that is bad and injurious
by night.

6. After the twelfth yule-feast she brought forth three girls:

7. Lyda out of fierce heat.

8. Finda out of strong heat.

9. Frya out of moderate heat.

10. When the last came into existence, Wr-alda breathed his spirit
upon her in order that men might be bound to him. As soon as they were
full grown they took pleasure and delight in the visions of Wr-alda.

11. Hatred found its way among them.

12. They each bore twelve sons and twelve daughters - at every
yuletide a couple. Thence came all mankind.

13. Lyda was black, with hair curled like a lamb's; her eyes shone
like stars, and shot out glances like those of a bird of prey.

14. Lyda was acute. She could hear a snake glide, and could smell a
fish in the water.

15. Lyda was strong and nimble. She could bend a large tree, yet when
she walked she did not bruise a flower-stalk.

16. Lyda was violent. Her voice was loud, and when she screamed in
anger every creature quailed.

17. Wonderful Lyda! She had no regard for laws; her actions were
governed by her passions. To help the weak she would kill the strong,
and when she had done it she would weep by their bodies.

18. Poor Lyda! She turned grey by her mad behaviour, and at last she
died heart-broken by the wickedness of her children.

19. Foolish children! They accused each other of their mother's death.
They howled and fought like wolves, and while they did this the birds
devoured the corpse. Who can refrain from tears at such a recital?

20. Finda was yellow, and her hair was like the mane of a horse. She
could not bend a tree, but where Lyda killed one lion she killed ten.

21. Finda was seductive. Her voice was sweeter than any bird's. Her
eyes were alluring and enticing, but whoever looked upon them became
her slave.

22. Finda was unreasonable. She wrote thousands of laws, but she never
obeyed one. She despised the frankness of the good, and gave herself
up to flatterers.

23. That was her misfortune. Her head was too full, but her heart was
too vain. She loved nobody but herself, and she wished that all should
love her.

24. False Finda! Honey-sweet were her words, but those who trusted
them found sorrow at hand.

25. Selfish Finda! She wished to rule everybody, and her sons were
like her. They made their sisters serve them, and they slew each other
for the mastery.

26. Treacherous Finda! One wrong word would irritate her, and the
cruellest deeds did not affect her. If she saw a lizard swallow a
spider, she shuddered; but if she saw her children kill a Child of
Frya, her bosom swelled with pleasure.

27. Unfortunate Finda! She died in the bloom of her age, and the mode
of her death is unknown.

28. Hypocritical children! Her corpse was buried under a costly stone,
pompous inscriptions were written on it, and loud lamentations were
heard at it, but in private not a tear was shed.

29. Despicable people! The laws that Finda established were written on
golden tablets, but the object for which they were made was never
attained. The good laws were abolished, and selfishness instituted bad
ones in their place.

30. O Finda! Then Irtha overflowed with blood, and your children were
mown down like grass.

31. Yes, Finda! Those were the fruits of your vanity. Look down from
your watch-star and weep.

32. Frya was white like the snow at sunrise, and the blue of her eyes
vied with the rainbow.

33. Beautiful Frya! Like the rays of the sun shone the locks of her
hair, which were as fine as spiders' webs.

34. Clever Frya! When she opened her lips the birds ceased to sing and
the leaves to quiver.

35. Powerful Frya! At the glance of her eye the lion lay down at her
feet and the adder withheld his poison.

36. Pure Frya! Her food was honey, and her beverage was dew gathered
from the cups of the flowers.

37. Sensible Frya! The first lesson that she taught her children was
self-control, and the second was the love of virtue; and when they
were grown she taught them the value of liberty; for she said:

38. "Without liberty all other virtues serve to make you slaves, and
to disgrace your origin."

39. Generous Frya! She never allowed metal to be dug from Irtha for
her own benefit, but when she did it it was for the general use.

40. Most happy Frya! Like the starry host in the firmament, her
children clustered around her.

41. Wise Frya! When she had seen her children reach the seventh
generation, she summoned them all to Flyland, and there gave them her
Tex, saying:

42. "Let this be your guide, and it can never go ill with you."

43. Exalted Frya! When she had thus spoken Irtha shook like Wr-alda's
Sea. The ground of Flyland sunk beneath her feet, the air was dimmed
by tears, and when they looked for their mother she was already risen
to her watch-star; then at length thunder burst from the clouds, and
the lightning wrote upon the firmament, "Watch!"

44. Far-seeing Frya! The land from which she had risen was now a
stream, and except her Tex all that was in it was overwhelmed.

45. Obedient children! When they came to themselves again, they made
this high mound and built this burgh upon it, and on the walls they
wrote the Tex, and that every one should be able to find it they
called the land about it Texland. Therefore it shall remain as long as
Irtha shall be Irtha.

Chapter III: Frya's Tex -

1. Hail to the Children of Frya! At last you shall see me again.
Though him only can I recognise as free who is neither a slave to
another nor to himself. This is my counsel: when in dire distress, and
when mental and physical energy avail nothing, then have recourse to
the spirit of Wr-alda; but do not appeal to him before you have tried
all other means, for I tell you beforehand, and time will prove its
truth, that those who give way to discouragement sink under their
burdens.

2. To Wr-alda's spirit always shall you bare and bend your knees in
thricefold gratitude - for what you have received, for what you do
receive, and for the hope of aid in time of need.

3. You have seen how speedily I have come to your assistance. Do
likewise to your neighbour, but wait not for his entreaties. The
suffering would curse you, my femmes would erase your name from the
book, and I would regard you as a stranger.

4. Let not your neighbour express his thanks to you with bare and
bended knees, which are always reserved for Wr-alda's spirit alone.
Envy would assail you, wisdom would ridicule you, and my femmes would
accuse you of irreverence.

5. Four things are given for your enjoyment - air, water, land, and
fire - but Wr-alda is the sole possessor of them. Therefore my counsel
to you is, choose upright men who will fairly divide the labour and
the fruits, so that no man shall be exempt from work or from the duty
of defence.

6. If ever it should happen that one of your people should sell his
freedom, he is not of you, he is a bastard. I counsel you to expel him
and his mother from the land. Repeat this to your children morning,
noon, and night, till they think of it in their dreams.

7. If any man shall deprive another, even his debtor, of his liberty,
let him be to you as a vile slave; and I advise you to burn his body
and that of his mother in an open place, and bury them fifty feet
below the ground, so that no grass shall grow upon them. It would
poison your cattle.

8. Meddle not with the people of Lyda, nor of Finda, because Wr-alda
would help them, and any injury that you inflicted on them would
recoil upon your own heads.

9. If it should happen that they come to you for advice or assistance,
then it behoves you to help them; but if they should rob you, then
fall upon them with fire and sword.

10. If any of them should seek a daughter of yours to wife, and she is
willing, explain to her her folly; but if she will follow her lover,
let her go in peace.

11. If your son wishes for a daughter of theirs, do the same as to
your daughter; but let not either one or the other ever return among
you, for they would introduce foreign morals and customs, and if these
were accepted by you, I could no longer watch over you.

12. Upon my femme Fasta I have placed all my hopes. Therefore you must
choose her for folk-mother. Follow my advice, then she will hereafter
remain my femme as well as all the sacred femmes who succeed her. Then
shall the lamp which I have lighted for you never be extinguished. Its
brightness shall always illuminate your intellect, and you shall
always remain as free from foreign domination as your fresh
river-water is distinct from the salt sea.

Chapter IV: This has Fasta spoken -

1. All the regulations which have existed a century, that is, a
hundred years as measured by the carrier and the yule, may by the
advise of the folk-mother, with the consent of the community, be
inscribed upon the walls of the burgh, and when inscribed on the walls
they become laws, and it is our duty to respect them all.

2. If by force or necessity any regulations should be imposed upon us
at variance with our laws and customs, we must always return to our
own again. That is Frya's will, and must be that of all her children.

Chapter V: Fasta said -

1. Anything that any man commences, whatever it may be, on the day
appointed for Frya's worship shall eternally fail, for time has proved
that she was right.

2. It is become a law that no man shall, except from absolute
necessity, keep that day otherwise than as a joyful feast.

Chapter VI: These are the laws established for the government of the
burghs -

1. Whenever a burgh is built, the lamp belonging to it must be lighted
at the original lamp in Texland, and that can only be done by the
folk-mother.

2. Each folk-mother shall appoint her own femmes. The other
burgh-femmes shall do the same as the folk-mother.

3. The folk-mother of Texland may appoint her own successor, but
should she die without having done so, the election shall take place
at a general assembly of the whole nation.

4. The folk-mother of Texland may have twenty-one femmes and seven
apprentices, so that there may always be seven to attend the lamp day
and night. The other burgh-femmes may have the same number as the
folk-mother.

5. If a femme wishes to renounce her vow of celibacy, she must obtain
the permission of the folk-mother, and immediately resign her office,
before her passion shall have polluted the light.

6. For the service of the folk-mother and of each of the burgh-femmes
there shall be appointed twenty-one burghers - seven elder wizards,
seven elder warriors, and seven elder seamen.

7. Out of the seven three shall retire every year, and shall not be
replaced by members of their own family nearer than the fourth degree.

8. Every burgh may have three hundred young warriors.

9. For this service they must study Frya's Tex and the laws. From the
elder wizards they must learn wisdom, from the elder warriors the art
of war, and from the elder seamen the skill required for distant
voyages.

10. Every year one hundred of the warriors shall return to their
homes, and those that may have been wounded shall remain in the burghs
for the rest of their lives.

11. At the election of the warriors no burgher or reeve, or other
person of distinction, shall vote, but only the people.

12. The folk-mother of Texland shall have three times seven active
messengers, and three times twelve speedy horses. In the other burghs
each burgh-femme shall have three messengers and seven horses.

13. Each and every burgh-femme shall have fifty farm-workers chosen by
the people, but only those may be chosen who are not strong enough to
go to war or to go to sea.

14. Every burgh must provide for its own sustenance, and must maintain
its own defences, and look after its share of the general
contributions.

15. If a man is chosen to fill any office and refuses to serve, he can
never become a burgher, nor have any vote. And if he is already a
burgher, he shall cease to be so.

16. If any man wishes to consult the folk-mother or a burgh-femme, he
must apply to the scribe, who will take him to the burgomaster. He
will then be examined by a healer to see if he is in good health. If
he is passed, he shall lay aside his arms, and seven warriors shall
present him to the folk-mother.

17. If the affair concerns only one state, he must bring forward not
less than three witnesses; but if it affects the whole of Fryasland,
he must have twenty-one additional witnesses, in order to guard
against any deceptions.

18. Under all circumstances the folk-mother must take care that her
children, that is, Frya's people, shall remain as peaceable as
possible. This is her most important duty, and it is the duty of all
of us to help her in performing it.

19. If she is called upon to decide any judicial question between a
reeve and the community, she must incline towards the side of the
community in order to maintain peace, and because it is better that
one man should suffer than many.

20. If any one comes to the folk-mother for advice, and she is
prepared to give it, she must do it immediately. If she does not know
what to advise, he must remain waiting seven days; and if she then is
unable to advise, he must go away without complaining, for it is
better to have no advice at all than bad advice.

21. If a folk-mother shall have given bad advice out of illwill, she
must be killed or driven out of the land, deprived of everything.

22. If her burghers are accomplices, they are to be treated in a
similar manner.

23. If her guilt is doubtful or only suspected, it must be considered
and debated, if necessary, for twenty-one weeks. If half the votes are
against her, she must be declared innocent. If two-thirds are against
her, she must wait a whole year. If the votes are then the same, she
must be considered guilty, but may not be put to death.

24. If any of the one-third who have voted for her wish to go away
with her, they may depart with all their live and dead stock, and
shall not be the less considered, since the majority may be wrong as
well as the minority.

Chapter VII: Universal law -

1. All Frya's Children are equal, wherefore they must all have equal
rights on sea and land, and in all that Wr-alda has given.

2. Every man may seek the wife of his choice, and each woman may
bestow her hand on him whom she loves.

3. When a man takes a wife, a house and land must be given to him. If
there is no house, one must be built for him.

4. If he has taken a wife in another village, and wishes to remain,
they must give him a house and land there, and likewise the free use
of the common.

5. To every man must be given a piece of land behind his house for his
inheritance. No man shall have land in front of his house, still less
a complete circuit, unless he has performed some public service. In
such a case it may be given, and the youngest son may inherit it, but
after him it returns to the community.

6. Each village shall possess a common for the general good, and the
reeve shall take care that it is kept in good order, so that posterity
shall find it uninjured.

7. Each village shall have a market-place. All the rest of the land
shall be for tillage and forest. No one shall fell trees without the
consent of the community, or without the knowledge of the forester;
for the forests are general property, and no man can appropriate them.

8. The market charges shall not exceed one-twelfth of the value of the
goods either to natives or strangers. The portion taken for the
charges shall not be sold before the other goods.

9. All the market receipts must be divided yearly into a hundred parts
three days before the yule-day.

10. The reeve and his elders shall take twenty parts; the keeper of
the market ten, and his assistants five; the folk-mother one, the
burgh-femme four, the village ten, and the poor and infirm shall have
fifty parts.

11. There shall be no usurers in the market. If any should come, it
will be the duty of the femmes to make it known through the whole
land, in order that such people may not be chosen for any office,
because they are hard-hearted. For the sake of money they would betray
everybody the people, the folk-mother, their nearest relations, and
even their own selves.

12. If any man should attempt to sell diseased cattle or damaged goods
for sound, the market-keeper shall expel him, and the femmes shall
proclaim him through the country.

13. In early times almost all of Finda's people lived together in
their mother-country, which like Aldland is now submerged. They were
thus far away, and we had no wars. When they were driven hitherwards,
and appeared as robbers, then arose the necessity of defending
ourselves, and we had armies, kings, and wars.

14. For all this there were established regulations, and out of the
regulations came fixed laws.

Chapter VIII: Here follow the laws which were thus established -

1. Each Child of Frya must resist the assailants with such weapons as
he can procure, invent, and use.

2. When a boy is twelve years old he must devote one day in seven to
learning how to use his weapons.

3. As soon as he is perfect in the use of them they are to be given to
him, and he is to be admitted as a warrior.

4. After serving as a warrior three years, he may become a burgher,
and may have a vote in the election of the state officials.

5. When he has been seven years a voter he then may have a vote for
the commander or king, and may be himself elected.

6. Every year he must be re-elected.

7. Except the king, all other officials are re-eligible who act
according to Frya's counsels.

8. No king may be in office more than three years, in order that the
office may not be permanent.

9. After an interval of seven years he may be elected again.

10. If the king is killed by the enemy, his nearest relative may be a
candidate to succeed him.

11. If he dies a natural death, or if his period of service has
expired, he shall not be succeeded by any blood relative nearer than
the fourth degree.

12. Those who fight with arms are not men of counsel, therefore no
king must bear arms. His wisdom must be his weapon, and the love of
his warriors his shield.

Chapter IX: These are the rights of the folk-mothers and the kings -

1. If war breaks out, the folk-mother sends her messengers to the
king, who sends messengers to the reeves to call the warriors to arms.

2. The reeves call all the burghers together and decide how many men
shall be sent.

3. All the resolutions must immediately be sent to the folk-mother by
messengers and witnesses.

4. The folk-mother considers all the resolutions and decides upon
them, and with this the king as well as the people must be satisfied.

5. When in the field, the king consults only his superior officers,
but three burghers of the folk-mother must be present, without any
voice. These burghers must send daily reports to the folk-mother, that
they may be sure nothing is done contrary to law or to the counsels of
Frya.

6. If the king wishes to do anything which his elders oppose, he may
not persist in it.

7. If an enemy appears unexpectedly, then the king's orders must be
obeyed.

8. If the king is not present, the next to him takes command, and so
on in succession according to rank.

9. If there is no officer present, one must be elected.

10. If there is no time to choose, any one may come forward who feels
himself capable of being an officer.

11. If a king has conquered a dangerous enemy, his successors may take
his name after their own. The king may, if he wishes, choose an open
piece of ground for a house and land; this land shall be a complete
circuit, which may be so large that there shall be seven hundred steps
to the boundary in all directions from the house.

12. His youngest son may inherit this, and that son's youngest son
after him; then it shall return to the community.

Chapter X: Here are the rules established for the security of all the
Children of Frya -

1. Whenever new laws are made or new regulations established, they
must be for the common good, and not for individual advantage.

2. Whenever in time of war either houses or ships are destroyed,
either by the enemy or as a matter of precaution, a general levy shall
be assessed on the people to make it good again, so that no one may
neglect the general welfare to preserve his own interest.

3. At the conclusion of a war, if any men are so severely wounded as
to be unable to work, they shall be maintained at the public expense,
and shall have the best seats at festivals, in order that the young
may learn to honour them.

4. If there are widows and orphans, they shall likewise be maintained
at the public expense; and the sons may inscribe the names of their
fathers on their shields for the honour of their families.

5. If any who have been taken prisoners should return, they must be
kept separate from the dwellings, because they may have obtained their
liberty by making treacherous promises, and thus they may avoid
keeping their promises without forfeiting their honour.

6. If any enemies be taken prisoners, they must be sent to the
interior of the country, that they may learn our free customs.

7. If they are afterwards set free, it must be done with kindness by
the femmes, in order that we may make them comrades and friends,
instead of haters and enemies.

Chapter XI: From Minno's writings -

1. If any one should be so wicked as to commit robbery, murder, arson,
rape, or any other crime, upon a neighbouring state, and our people
wish to inflict punishment, the culprit shall be put to death in the
presence of the offended, in order that no war may arise, and the
innocent suffer for the guilty.

2. If the offended will spare his life and forego their revenge, it
may be permitted. If the culprit should be a king, reeve, or other
state official, we must make good his fault, but he must be punished.

3. If he bears on his shield the honourable name of his forefathers,
his kinsmen shall no longer wear it, in order that every man may look
after the conduct of his relatives.

Chapter XII: Laws for the navigators; navigator is the title of those
who make foreign voyages -

1. All Frya's sons have equal rights, and every stalwart youth may
offer himself as a navigator to the alderman, who may not refuse him
as long as there is any vacancy.

2. The navigators may choose their own masters.

3. The traders must be chosen and named by the community to which they
belong, and the navigators have no voice in their election.

4. If during a voyage it is found that the sea-king is bad or
incompetent, another may be put in his place, and on the return home
he may make his complaint to the alderman.

5. If the fleet returns with profits, the navigators may divide
one-third among themselves in the following manner: The sea-king
twelve portions, the admiral seven, the boatswains each two portions,
the captains three, and the rest of the crew each one portion; the
youngest apprentices each one-third of a portion, the middle
apprentices half a portion each, and the eldest apprentices two-thirds
of a portion each.

6. If any have been disabled, they must be maintained at the public
expense, and honoured in the same way as the warriors.

7. If any have died on the voyage, their nearest relatives inherit
their portion.

8. Their widows and orphans must be maintained at the public expense;
and if they were killed in a sea fight, their sons may bear the names
of their fathers on their shields.

9. If an apprentice is lost, his heirs shall receive a whole portion.

10. If he was betrothed, his bride may claim seven portions in order
to erect a monument to her bridegroom, but then she must remain a
widow all her life.

11. If the community is fitting out a fleet, the purveyors must
provide the best provisions for the voyage, and for the women and
children.

12. If a navigator is worn out and poor, and has no house or land, it
must be given him. If he does not wish for a house, his friends may
take him home; and the community must bear the expense, unless his
friends decline to receive it.

Chapter XIII: Useful extracts from the writings left by Minno -

1. Minno was an ancient sea-king. He was a seer and a wizard, and he
gave laws to the Kretar. He was born at Lindawrda, and after all his
wanderings he had the happiness to die at Lindahem.

2. If our neighbours have a piece of land or water which it would be
advantageous for us to possess, it is proper that we should offer to
buy it. If they refuse to sell it, we must let them keep it. This is
Frya's Tex, and it would be unjust to act contrary to it.

3. If any of our neighbours quarrel and fight about any matter except
land, and they request us to arbitrate, our best course will be to
decline; but if they insist upon it, it must be done honourably and
justly.

4. If any one comes and says, "I am at war, you must help me."

5. Or another comes and says, "My son is an infant and incompetent,
and I am old, so I wish you to be his guardian, and take charge of my
property until he is of age."

6. It is proper to refuse in order that we may not come into disputes
about matters foreign to our free customs.

7. Whenever a foreign trader comes to the open markets at Wyringga and
Almanland, if he cheats, he must immediately be fined, and it must be
published by the femmes throughout the whole land.

8. If he should come back, no one must deal with him. He must return
as he came.

9. Whenever traders are chosen to go to trading stations, or to sail
with the fleets, they must be well known and of good reputation with
the femmes.

10. If, however, a bad man should by chance be chosen and should try
to cheat, the others are bound to remove him. If he should have
committed a cheat, it must be made good, and the culprit must be
banished from the land in order that our name may be everywhere held
in honour.

11. If we should be ill-treated in a foreign market, whether distant
or near, we must immediately attack them; for though we desire to be
at peace, we must not let our neighbours underrate us or think that we
are afraid.

12. In my youth I often grumbled at the strictness of the laws, but
afterwards I learned to thank Frya for her Tex and our forefathers for
the laws which they established upon it. Wr-alda or Alfeder has given
me many years, and I have travelled over many lands and seas, and
after all that I have seen, I am convinced that we alone are chosen by
Alfeder to have laws.

13. Lyda's people can neither make laws nor obey them, they are too
stupid and uncivilised. Many are like Finda. They are clever enough,
but they are too rapacious, haughty, false, immoral, and bloodthirsty.

14. The toad blows himself out, but he can only crawl. The frog cries,
"Work! Work!" but he can do nothing but hop and make himself
ridiculous. The raven cries, "Spare! Spare!" but he steals and wastes
everything that he gets into his beak.

15. Finda's people are just like these. They say a great deal about
making good laws, and every one wishes to make regulations against
misconduct, but does not wish to submit to them himself. Whoever is
the most crafty crows over the others, and tries to make them submit
to him, till another comes who drives him off his perch.

16. The word "Ewa" is too sacred for common use, therefore men have
learned to say, "Evin".

17. "Ewa" means that sentiment which is implanted in the breast of
every man in order that he may know what is right and what is wrong,
and by which he is able to judge his own deeds and those of others;
that is, if he has been well and properly brought up. "Ewa" has also
another meaning; that is, tranquil, smooth, like water that is not
stirred by a breath of wind. If the water is disturbed it becomes
troubled, uneven, but it always has a tendency to return to its
tranquil condition.

18. That is its nature, just as the inclination towards justice and
freedom exists in Frya's Children. We derive this disposition from the
spirit of Wr-alda, our provider, which speaks strongly in Frya's
Children, and will eternally remain so. "Ewa" is another symbol of
Wr-alda, who remains always just and unchangeable.

19. "Ewa", eternal and unalterable, the sign of wisdom and rectitude,
must be sought after by all pious people, and must be possessed by all
judges. If, therefore, it is desired to make laws and regulations
which shall be permanent, they must be equal for all men. The judges
must pronounce their decisions according to these laws.

20. If any crime is committed respecting which no law has been made, a
general assembly of the people shall be called, where judgment shall
be pronounced in accordance with the inspiration of Wr-alda's spirit.
If we act thus, our judgment will never fail to be right.

21. If instead of doing right, men will commit wrong, there will arise
quarrels and differences among people and states. Thence arise civil
wars, and everything is thrown into confusion and destroyed; and O
foolish people - while you are injuring each other the spiteful
Finda's people with their false priests come and attack your ports,
ravish your daughters, corrupt your morals, and at last throw the
bonds of slavery over the neck of every Child of Frya.

Chapter XIV: From Minno's writings -

1. When Nyhellenia, whose real name was Minerva, was well established,
and the Krekalandar loved her as well as our own people did, there
came some princes and priests to her burgh and asked Minerva where her
possessions lay.

2. Nyhellenia answered, "I carry my possessions in my own bosom. What
I have inherited is the love of wisdom, justice, and freedom. If I
lose these I shall become as the least of your slaves; now I give
advice for nothing, but then I should sell it."

3. The gentlemen went away laughing, and saying, "Your humble
servants, wise Hellenia."

4. But they missed their object, for the people took up this name as a
name of honour. When they saw that their shot had missed they began to
calumniate her, and to say that she had bewitched the people; but our
people and the good Krekalandar understood at once that it was
calumny.

5. She was once asked, "If you are not a witch, what is the use of the
eggs that you always carry with you?"

6. Minerva answered, "These eggs are the symbols of Frya's counsels,
in which our future and that of the whole human race lies concealed.
Time will hatch them, and we must watch that no harm happens to them."

7. The priests said, "Well answered; but what is the use of the dog on
your right hand?"

8. Hellenia replied, "Does not the shepherd have a sheep-dog to keep
his flock together? What the dog is to the shepherd I am in Frya's
service. I must watch over Frya's flocks."

9. The priests said, "We understand that very well; but tell us what
means the owl that always sits upon your head, is that light-shunning
animal a sign of your clear vision?"

10. Hellenia answered, "No; he reminds me that there are people on
Irtha who, like him, have their homes in temples and holes, who go
about in the twilight, not, like him, to deliver us from mice and
other plagues, but to invent tricks to steal away the knowledge of
other people, in order to take advantage of them, to make slaves of
them, and to suck their blood in imitation of vampires."

11. Another time they came with a whole troop of people, when the
plague was in the country, and said, "We are all making offerings to
the gods that they may take away the plague. Will you not help to turn
away their anger, or have you yourself brought the plague into the
land with all your arts?"

12. Minerva said, "No; I know no gods that do evil, therefore I cannot
ask them to do better. I only know of one good spirit, that is
Wr-alda's; and as he is good he never does evil."

13. The priests asked, "Where, then, does evil come from? All the evil
comes from you, and from the stupidity of the people who let
themselves be deceived by you. If, then, your god is so exceedingly
good, why does he not turn away the bad?"

14. Hellenia answered, "Frya has placed us here, and the carrier, that
is, time, must do the rest. For all calamities there is counsel and
remedy to be found, but Wr-alda wills that we should search it out
ourselves, in order that we may become strong and wise. If we will not
do that, he leaves us to our own devices, in order that we may
experience the results of wise or foolish conduct."

15. Then a prince said, "I should think it best to submit."

16. Hellenia answered, "Very possibly; for then men would be like
sheep, and you and the priests would take care of them, shearing them
and leading them to the shambles. That is what our god does not
desire, he desires that we should help one another, but that all
should be free and wise. That is also our desire, and therefore our
people choose their princes, reeves, elders, leaders, and masters from
among the wisest of the good men, in order that every man shall do his
best to be wise and good. Thus doing, we learn ourselves and teach the
people that being wise and acting wisely can alone lead to holiness."

17. The priests said, "That seems very good judgment; but if you mean
that the plague is caused by our stupidity, then Nyhellenia will
perhaps be so good as to bestow upon us a little of that new light of
which she is so proud."

18. Hellenia said, "Yes, but ravens and other birds of prey feed only
on dead carrion, whereas the plague feeds not only on carrion but on
bad laws and customs and wicked passions. If you wish the plague to
depart from you and not return, you must put away your bad passions
and become pure within and without."

19. The priests said, "We admit that the advice is good, but how shall
we induce all the people under our rule to agree to it?"

20. Then Hellenia stood up and said, "The sparrows follow the sower,
and the people their good princes, therefore it becomes you to begin
by rendering yourselves pure, so that you may look within and without,
and not be ashamed of your own conduct. Now, instead of purifying the
people, you have invented foul festivals, in which they have so long
revelled that they wallow like swine in the mire to atone for your
evil passions."

21. The people began to mock and to jeer, so that she did not dare to
pursue the subject; and one would have thought that they would have
called all the people together to drive us out of the land; but no, in
place of abusing her they went all about from Heinde Krekaland to the
Alpa, proclaiming that it had pleased the great god to send his clever
daughter Minerva, surnamed Nyhellenia, over the sea in a cloud to give
people good counsel, and that all who listened to her should become
rich and happy, and in the end governors of all the kingdoms of Irtha.

22. They erected statues to her on all their altars, they announced
and sold to the simple people advice that she had never given, and
related miracles that she had never performed. They cunningly made
themselves masters of our laws and customs, and by craft and subtlety
were able to explain and spread them around.

23. They appointed femmes under their own care, who were apparently
under the protection of Fasta, our first folk-mother, to watch over
the holy lamp; but that lamp they lit themselves, and instead of
imbuing the femmes with wisdom, and then sending them to watch the
sick and educate the young, they made them stupid and ignorant, and
never allowed them to come out. They were employed as advisors, but
the advice which seemed to come from them was but the repetition of
the behests of the priests.

24. When Nyhellenia died, we wished to choose another burgh-femme, and
some of us wished to go to Texland to look for her; but the priests,
who were all-powerful among their own people, would not permit it, and
accused us before the people of being unholy.

Chapter XV: From Minno's writings -

1. When I came away from Athenia with my followers, we arrived at an
island named by my crew Kreta, because of the cries that the
inhabitants raised on our arrival. When they really saw that we did
not come to make war, they were quiet, so that at last I was able to
buy a harbour in exchange for a boat and some silver implements, and a
piece of land.

2. When we had been settled there a short time, and they discovered
that we had no slaves, they were very much astonished; and when I
explained to them that we had laws which made everybody equal, they
wished to have the same; but they had hardly established them before
the whole land was in confusion.

3. The priests and princes declared that we had excited their subjects
to rebellion, and the people appealed to us for aid and protection.
When the princes saw that they were about to lose their kingdom, they
gave freedom to their people, and came to me to establish a code of
laws. The people, however, got no freedom, and the princes remained
masters, acting according to their own pleasure.

4. When this storm had passed, they began to sow divisions among us.
They told my people that I had invoked their assistance to make myself
permanent king. Once I found poison in my food. So when a ship from
Flyland sailed past, I quietly took my departure.

5. Leaving alone, then, my own adventures, I will conclude this
history by saying that we must not have anything to do with Finda's
people, wherever it may be, because they are full of false tricks,
fully as much to be feared as their sweet wine with deadly poison.

6. Here ends Minno's writings.

Chapter XVI: These are the three principles on which the following
laws are established -

1. Everybody knows that he requires the necessaries of life, and if he
cannot obtain them he does not know how to preserve his life.

2. All men have a natural desire to marry, and if it is not satisfied
they are not aware what evil may spring from it.

3. Every man knows that he wishes to live free and undisturbed, and
that others wish the same thing.

Chapter XVII: To secure this, these laws and regulations are made -

1. The people of Finda have also their rules and regulations, but
these are not made according to what is just - only for the advantage
of priests and princes - therefore their states are full of disputes
and murder. If any Child of Frya falls into a state of destitution,
his case must be brought before the reeve by the femmes, because a
high-minded Child of Frya cannot bear to do that himself.

2. If any man becomes poor because he will not work, he must be sent
out of the land, because the cowardly and lazy are troublesome and
ill-disposed, therefore they ought to be got rid of.

3. Every young man ought to seek a bride and to be married at
five-and-twenty.

4. If a young man is not married at five-and-twenty, he must be driven
from his home, and the younger men must avoid him. If then he will not
marry, he must be declared dead, and leave the country, so that he may
not give offence.

5. If a man is impotent, he must openly declare that no one has
anything to fear from him, then he may come or go where he likes.

6. If after that he commits any carnal act, then he must flee away; if
he does not, he may be given over to the vengeance of those whom he
has offended, and no one may aid him.

7. Any one who commits a theft shall restore it three-fold. For a
second offence he shall be sent to the tin mines. The person robbed
may forgive him if he pleases, but for a third offence no one shall
protect him.

Chapter XVIII: These rules are made for angry people -

1. If a man in a passion or out of illwill breaks another's limb or
puts out an eye or a tooth, he must pay whatever the injured man
demands. If he cannot pay, he must suffer the same injury as he has
done to the other. If he refuses this, he must appeal to the
burgh-femme in order to be sent to work in the silver or tin mines
until he has expiated his crime under the general law.

2. If a man is so wicked as to kill a Child of Frya, he must forfeit
his own life; but if the burgh-femme can send him to the tin mines for
his life before he is taken, she may do so.

3. If the prisoner can prove by proper witnesses that the death was
accidental, he may go free; but if it happens a second time, he must
go to the tin mines, in order to avoid any unseemly hatred or
vengeance.

Chapter XIX: These are the rules concerning bastards -

1. If any man sets fire to another's house, he is no Child of Frya, he
is a bastard. If he is caught in the act, he must be thrown into the
fire; and wherever he may flee, he shall never be secure from the
avenging justice.

2. No true Child of Frya shall speak ill of the faults of his
neighbours. If any man injures himself, but does no harm to others, he
must be his own judge; but if he becomes so bad that he is dangerous
to others, they must bring it before the reeve. But if instead of
going to the reeve a man accuses another behind his back, he must be
put on the pillory in the market-place, and then sent out of the land,
but not to the tin mines, because even there a backbiter is to be
feared.

3. If any man should prove a traitor and show our enemies the paths
leading to our places of refuge, or creep into them by night, he must
be the offspring of Finda; he must be burnt. The navigators must take
his mother and all his relations to a desolate island, and there
scatter his ashes, in order that no poisonous herbs may spring from
them. The femmes must curse his name in all the states, in order that
no child may be called by his name, and that his ancestors may
repudiate him.

4. War had come to an end, but famine came in its place. There were
three men who each stole a sack of corn from different owners, but
they were all caught.

5. The first owner brought his thief to the judge, and the femmes said
everywhere that he had done right.

6. The second owner took the corn away from his thief and let him go
in peace. The femmes said he had done well.

7. The third owner went to the thief's house, and when he saw what
misery was there, he went and brought a waggon-load of necessaries to
relieve their distress. Frya's femmes came around him and wrote his
deed in the eternal book, and wiped out all his guilt. This was
reported to the folk-mother, and she had it made known over the whole
land.

Chapter XX: What is written hereunder is inscribed on the walls of
Waraburch -

1. What appears at the top is the signs of the yule - that is, the
first symbol of Wr-alda: the Origin and the Beginning; from which time
is derived. This is the carrier, which must always go round with the
yule. According to this model Frya formed the set hand which she used
to write her Tex. When Fasta was folk-mother she made a running hand
out of it.

2. The wit-king, that is, sea-king Godfreiath the Elder, made separate
numbers for the set hand and for the running hand. It is therefore not
too much that we celebrate it once a year. We may be eternally
thankful to Wr-alda that he allowed his spirit to exercise such an
influence over our forefathers.

3. In her time Finda also invented a mode of writing, but that was so
high-flown and full of flourishes that her descendants have soon lost
the meaning of it.

4. Afterwards they learned our writing - that is, the Finnar, the
Thyriar, and the Krekalandar - but they did not know that it was taken
from the yule, and must therefore always be written round like the
sun.

5. Furthermore, they wished that their writing should be illegible by
other people, because they always had matters to conceal. In doing
this they acted very unwisely, because their children could only with
great difficulty read the writings of their predecessors, whereas our
most ancient writings are as easy to read as those that were written
yesterday.

6. Here is a specimen of the set hand and of the running hand, as well
as of the figures, in both:

Chapter XXI: This stands inscribed upon all burghs -

1. Before the bad time came our land was the most beautiful in the
World. The sun rose higher, and there was seldom frost. The trees and
shrubs produced various fruits, which are now lost. In the fields we
had not only barley, oats, and rye, but wheat which shone like gold,
and which could be baked in the sun's rays. The years were not
counted, for one was as happy as another.

2. On one side we were bounded by Wr-alda's Sea, on which no one but
us might or could sail; on the other side we were hedged in by the
broad Twiskland, through which Finda's people dared not come on
account of the thick forests and the wild beasts.

3. Eastward our boundary went to the extremity of the Aster Sea, and
westwards to the Middel Sea; so that besides the small rivers we had
twelve large rivers given us by Wr-alda to keep our land moist, and to
show our seafaring men the way to his sea.

4. The banks of these rivers were at one time entirely inhabited by
our people, as well as the banks of the Rene from one end to the
other.

5. Opposite Denamark and Juttarland we had colonies and a burgh-femme.
Thence we obtained copper and silver, as well as tar and pitch, and
some other necessaries.

6. Opposite to us we had Brittania, formerly Westland, with her tin
mines.

7. Brittania was the land of the exiles, who with the help of their
burgh-femme had gone away to save their lives; but in order that they
might not come back they were tattooed with a "B" on the forehead, the
banished with a red dye, the other criminals with blue.

8. Moreover, our navigators and merchants had many factories among the
Heinde Krekalandar and in Lydia. In Lydia the people are black.

9. As our country was so great and extensive, we had many different
names. Those who were settled to the east of Denamark were called
Juttar, because often they did nothing else than look for amber on the
shore. Those who lived in the islands were called Letne, because they
lived an isolated life.

10. All those who lived between Denamark and the Sandfal, now the
Skelda, were called Stiurar, Sekampar, and Angelarar. The Angelarar
were men who fished in the sea, and were so named because they used
lines and hooks instead of nets.

11. From there to Heinde Krekaland the inhabitants were called
Kadhemar, because they never went to sea but remained ashore.

12. Those who were settled in the higher marches bounded by Twiskland
were called Saxmannar, because they were always armed against the wild
beasts and the savage Britne.

13. Besides these we had the names Landsaton, Marsatar, and Holt- or
Wodsatar.

Chapter XXII: How the bad time came -

1. During the whole summer the sun had been hidden behind the clouds,
as if unwilling to look upon Irtha. There was perpetual calm, and the
damp mist hung like a wet sail over the houses and marshes. The air
was heavy and oppressive, and in men's hearts was neither joy nor
cheerfulness.

2. In the midst of this stillness Irtha began to tremble as if she was
dying. The mountains opened to vomit forth fire and flames. Some sank
into the bosom of Irtha, and in other places mountains rose out of the
plain. Aldland, called Atland by the navigators, disappeared, and the
wild waves rose so high over hill and dale that everything was buried
in the sea. Many people were swallowed up by Irtha, and others who had
escaped the fire perished in the water.

3. It was also in Finda's land that Irtha vomited fire, and in
Twiskland. Whole forests were burned one after the other, and when the
wind blew from that quarter our land was covered with ashes. Rivers
changed their course, and at their mouths new islands were formed of
sand and drift.

4. During three years this continued, but at length it ceased, and
forests became visible. Many countries were submerged, and in other
places land rose above the sea, and the wood was destroyed through the
half of Twiskland. Troops of Finda's people came and settled in the
empty places. Our dispersed people were exterminated or made slaves.
Then watchfulness was doubly impressed upon us, and time taught us
that union is force.

Chapter XXIII: This was inscribed on the Waraburch by the Aldergamude
-

1. The Waraburch is not a femme's burgh, but the place where all the
foreign articles brought by navigators were stored. It lies three
hours south from Medeasblik.

2. Thus is the preface:

3. Hills, bow your heads; weep, ye streams and clouds. Yes. Skenland
blushes, an enslaved people tramples on your short kilt, O Frya.

4. This is the history:

5. In the year 101 after the submersion of Aldland a people came out
of the east. That people was driven by another. Behind us, in
Twiskland, they fell into disputes, divided into two parties, and each
went its own way. Of the one no account has come to us, but the other
came in the back of our Skenland, which was thinly inhabited,
particularly the upper part. Therefore they were able to take
possession of it without contest, and as they did no other harm, we
would not make war about it.

6. Now that we have learned to know them, we will describe their
customs, and after that how matters went between us. They were not
wild people, like most of Finda's race; but, like the Egiptalandar,
they have priests and also statues in their temples. The priests are
the only rulers; they call themselves Magyarar, and their leader Magy.
He is high priest and king in one. The rest of the people are of no
account, and in subjection to them.

7. This people have not even a name; but we call them Finnar, because
although all the festivals are melancholy and bloody, they are so
formal that we are inferior to them in that respect. But still they
are not to be envied, because they are slaves to their priests, and
still more to their creeds.

8. They believe that evil spirits abound everywhere, and enter into
men and beasts, but of Wr-alda's spirit they know nothing. They have
weapons of stone, the Magyarar of copper. The Magyarar affirm that
they can exorcise and recall the evil spirits, and this frightens the
people, so that you never see a cheerful face.

9. When they were well established, the Magyarar sought our
friendship, they praised our language and customs, our cattle and
silver weapons, which they would willingly have exchanged for their
gold and silver ornaments, and they always kept their people within
their own boundaries, and that outwitted our watchfulness.

10. Eighty years afterwards, just at the time of the yule-feast, they
overran our country like a snowstorm driven by the wind. All who could
not flee away were killed. Frya was appealed to, but the Skenlandar
had neglected her advice. Then all the forces were assembled, and
three hours from Godahisburch they were withstood, but war continued.

11. Kat or Katerinne was the name of the burgh-femme of Godahisburch.
Kat was proud and haughty, and would neither seek counsel nor aid from
the folk-mother; but when the burghers knew this, they themselves sent
messengers to Texland to the folk-mother. Minna - this was the name of
the folk-mother - summoned all the navigators and the young men from
Astflyland and Denamark.

12. From this expedition the history of Wodin sprang, which is
inscribed on the burghs, and is here copied:

13. At Aldergamude there lived an old sea-king whose name was Sterik,
and whose deeds were famous. This old fellow had three nephews. Wodin,
the eldest, lived at Lumkamakia, near the Emude, in Astflyland, with
his parents. He had once commanded troops. Tunis and Inka were naval
warriors, and were just then staying with their father at Aldergamude.

14. When the young warriors had assembled together, they chose Wodin
to be their commander or king, and the naval force chose Tunis for
their sea-king and Inka for their admiral. The navigators then sailed
for Denamark, where they took on board Wodin and his valiant host.

15. The wind was fair, so they arrived immediately in Skenland. When
the northern brothers met together, Wodin divided his powerful army
into three bodies. "Frya" was their war-cry, and they drove back the
Finnar and Magyarar like children.

16. When the Magy heard how his forces had been utterly defeated, he
sent messengers with truncheon and crown, who said to Wodin:

17. "O almighty king, we are guilty, but all that we have done was
done from necessity. You think that we attacked your brothers out of
illwill, but we were driven out by our enemies, who are still at our
heels. We have often asked your burgh-femme for help, but she took no
notice of us.

18. "The Magy says that if we kill half our numbers in fighting with
each other, then the wild shepherds will come and kill all the rest.
The Magy possesses great riches, but he has seen that Frya is much
more powerful than all our spirits together. He will lay down his head
in her lap.

19. "You are the most warlike king on Irtha, and your people are of
silver. Become our king, and we will all be your slaves. What glory it
would be for you if you could drive back the savages! Our trumpets
would resound with your praises, and the fame of your deeds would
precede you everywhere."

20. Wodin was strong, fierce, and warlike, but he was not
clear-sighted, therefore he was taken in their toils, and crowned by
the Magy.

21. Very many of the navigators and soldiers to whom this proceeding
was displeasing went away secretly, taking Kat with them. But Kat, who
did not wish to appear before either the folk-mother or the general
assembly, jumped overboard. Then a storm arose and drove the ships
upon the banks of Denamark, with the total destruction of their crews.
This strait was afterwards called the Katsgat.

22. When Wodin was crowned, he attacked the savages, who were all
horsemen, and fell upon Wodin's troops like a hailstorm; but like a
whirlwind they were turned back, and did not dare to appear again.

23. When Wodin returned, Magy gave him his daughter to wife. Whereupon
he was incensed with herbs; but they were magic herbs, and by degrees
he became so audacious that he dared to disavow and ridicule the
spirits of Frya and Wr-alda, while he bent his free head before the
false and deceitful images. His reign lasted seven years, and then he
disappeared. The Magy said that he was taken up by their gods and
still reigned over us, but our people laughed at what they said.

24. When Wodin had disappeared some time, disputes arose. We wished to
choose another king, but the Magy would not permit it. He asserted
that it was his right given him by his idols. But besides this dispute
there was one between the Magyarar and Finnar, who would honour
neither Frya nor Wodin; but the Magy did just as he pleased, because
his daughter had a son by Wodin, and he would have it that this son
was of high descent.

25. While all were disputing and quarrelling, he crowned the boy as
king, and set up himself as guardian and counsellor. Those who cared
more for themselves than for justice let him work his own way, but the
good men took their departure. Many Magyarar fled back with their
troops, and the sea-people took ship, accompanied by a body of
stalwart Finnar as rowers.

26. Next comes upon the stage the history of Nef Tunis and Nef Inka.

Chapter XXIV: All this is inscribed not only on the Waraburch, but
also on the burgh Stavia, which lies behind the port of Staveren -

1. When Tunis wished to return home, he went first towards Denamark;
but he might not land there, for so the folk-mother had ordered, nor
was he to land at Flyland nor anywhere about there. In this way he
would have lost all his people by want and hardship, so he landed at
night to steal and sailed by day. Thus coasting along, he at length
arrived at the colony of Kadik, so called because it was built with a
stone quay.

2. Here they bought all kinds of stores, but Tutia the burgh-femme
would not allow them to settle there. When they were ready they began
to disagree. Tunis wished to sail through the straits to the Middel
Sea, and enter the service of the rich king of Egiptaland, as he had
done before, but Inka said he had had enough of all those Finda's
people. Inka thought that perchance some high-lying part of Atland
might remain as an island, where he and his people might live in
peace.

3. As the two brothers could not agree, Tunis planted a red flag on
the shore, and Inka a blue flag. Every man could choose which he
pleased, and to their astonishment the greater part of the Finnar and
Magyarar followed Inka, who had objected to serve the kings of Finda's
people. When they had counted the people and divided the ships
accordingly, the fleet separated. We shall here of Tunis afterwards,
but nothing more of Inka.

4. Nef Tunis coasted through the straits to the Middel Sea. When
Atland was submerged there was much suffering also on the shores of
the Middel Sea, on which account many of Finda's people, Heinde and
Fere Krekalandar, and people from Lyda's land, came to us. On the
other hand, many of our people went to Lyda's land. The result of all
this was that the Heinde and Fere Krekalandar were lost to the
superintendence of the folk-mother.

5. Tunis had reckoned on this, and had therefore wished to find there
a good haven from which he might go and serve under the rich princes;
but as his fleet and his people had such a shattered appearance, the
inhabitants on the coasts thought that they were pirates, and drove
them away.

6. At last they arrived at the Phonisiar coast, in the year 193 after
Atland was submerged.

7. Near the coast they found an island with two deep bays, so that
there appeared to be three islands. In the middle one they established
themselves, and afterwards built a burgh wall round the place. Then
they wanted to give it a name, but disagreed about it. Some wanted to
call it Fryasburch, others Neftunia; but the Magyarar and Finnar
begged that it might be called Thyrhisburch.

8. Thyr was the name of one of their idols, and it was upon his
feast-day that they had landed there; and in return they offered to
recognise Tunis as their perpetual king. Tunis let himself be
persuaded, and the others would not make any quarrel about it.

9. When they were well established, they sent some senior navigators
and Magyarar on an expedition as far as the burgh of Sydon; but at
first the inhabitants of the coast would have nothing to do with them,
saying:

10. "You are only foreign adventurers whom we do not respect."

11. But when we sold them some of our silver weapons, everything went
well. They also wished to buy our amber, and their inquiries about it
were incessant. But Tunis, who was far-seeing, pretended that he had
no more weapons or amber.

12. Then merchants came and begged him to let them have twenty
vessels, which they would freight with the finest goods, and they
would provide as many people to row as he would require. Twelve ships
were laden with wine, honey, tanned leather, and saddles and bridles
mounted in gold, such as had never been seen before.

13. Tunis sailed to the Flymar with all this treasure, which so
enchanted the reeve of Westflyland that he induced Tunis to build a
warehouse at the mouth of the Flymar. Afterwards this place was called
Almanland, and the market where they traded at Wyringga was called
Toletmark.

14. The folk-mother advised that they should sell everything except
silver weapons, but no attention was paid to what she said. As the
Thyriar had thus free play, they came from far and near to take away
our goods, to the loss of our seafaring people. Therefore it was
resolved in a general assembly to allow only seven Thyrier ships and
no more in a year.

Chapter XXV: What the consequence of this was -

1. In the northernmost part of the Middel Sea there lies an island
close to the coast. They now came and asked to buy that, on which a
general assembly was held.

2. The folk-mother's advice was asked, and she wished to see them at
some distance, so she saw no harm in it; but as we afterwards saw what
a mistake we had made, we called the island Missellia. Hereafter will
be seen what reason we had.

3. The Golar, as the missionary priests of Sydon were called, had
observed that the land there was thinly peopled, and was far from the
folk-mother. In order to make a favourable impression, they had
themselves called in our language "Truth Followers"; but they had
better have been called "Truth Shunners", or, in short, Trowydar, as
our navigators afterwards called them.

4. When they were well established, their merchants exchanged their
beautiful copper weapons and all sorts of jewels for our silver
weapons and hides of wild beasts, which were abundant in our southern
countries; but the Golar celebrated all sorts of vile and monstrous
festivals, which the inhabitants of the coast promoted with their
wanton women and sweet poisonous wine.

5. If any of our people had so conducted himself that his life was in
danger, the Golar afforded him a refuge, and sent him to Phonisia,
that is, Palmland. When he was settled there, they made him write to
his family, friends, and connections that the country was so good and
the people so happy that no one could form any idea of it.

6. In Brittania there were plenty of men, but few women. When the
Golar knew this, they carried off girls everywhere and gave them to
the Britne for nothing. So all these girls served their purpose to
steal children from Wr-alda in order to give them to false gods.

Chapter XXVI: Now we will write about the war between the burgh-femmes
Kalta and Minerva -

1. And how we thereby lost all our southern lands and Brittania to the
Golar.

2. Near the mouth of the Suder Hrenum and the Skelda there are the
Siugon Elanda, named after Frya's seven watch-femmes of the week. In
the middle of one island is the burgh of Walhallagara, and on the
walls of this burgh the following history is inscribed.

3. Above it are the words, "Read, Learn, and Watch!"

4. In the year 563 after the submersion of Aldland a wise burgh-femme
presided here, whose name was Minerva - called by the navigators
Nyhellenia. This name was well chosen, for her counsels were new and
clear above all others.

5. On the other side of the Skelda, at Flyburch, Syrhed presided. This
femme was full of tricks. Her face was beautiful, and her tongue was
nimble; but the advice that she gave was always conveyed in mysterious
terms. Therefore the navigators called her Kalta, and the
land-dwellers thought it was a title.

6. In the last will of the dead folk-mother, Rosamond was named first,
Minerva second, and Syrhed third in succession. Minerva did not mind
that, but Syrhed was very much offended. Like a foreign princess, she
wished to be honoured, feared, and worshipped; but Minerva only
desired to be loved. At last all the navigators, even from Denamark
and Flymar, did homage to her. This hurt Syrhed, because she wanted to
excel Minerva.

7. In order to give an impression of her great watchfulness, she had a
cock put on her banner. So then Minerva went and put a sheep-dog and
an owl on her banner. The dog, she said, guards his master and his
flock, and the owl watches that the mice shall not devastate the
fields; but the cock in his lewdness and his pride is only fit to
murder his nearest relations. When Kalta found that her scheme had
failed she was still more vexed, so she secretly sent for the Magyarar
to teach her sorcery.

8. When she had had enough of this she threw herself into the hands of
the Golar; but all her malpractices did not improve her position. When
she saw that the navigators kept more and more aloof from her, she
tried to win them back by fear. At the full moon, when the sea was
stormy, she ran over the wild waves, calling to the navigators that
they would all be lost if they did not worship her. Then she blinded
their eyes, so that they mistook land for water and water for land,
and in this way many a good ship was totally lost.

9. At the first war-feast, when all her countrymen were armed, she
brought casks of beer, which she had drugged. When they were all drunk
she mounted her war-horse, leaning her head upon her spear. Sunrise
could not be more beautiful. When she saw that the eyes of all were
fixed upon her, she opened her lips and said:

10. "Sons and daughters of Frya, you know that in these last times we
have suffered much loss and misery because the navigators no longer
come to buy our paper, but you do not know what the reason of it is. I
have kept silence about it, but can do so no longer.

11. "Listen, then, my friends, that you may know on which side to show
your teeth. On the other side of the Skelda, where from time to time
there come ships from all parts, they make now paper from pumpkin
leaves, by which they save flax and outdo us.

12. "Now, as the making of paper was always our principal industry,
the folk-mother willed that people should learn it from us; but
Minerva has bewitched all the people - yes, bewitched, my friends - as
well as all our cattle that died lately. I must come out with it. If I
were not burgh-femme, I should know what to do. I should burn the
witch in her nest."

13. As soon as she had uttered these words she sped away to her burgh;
but the drunken people were so excited that they did not stop to weigh
what they had heard. In mad haste they hurried over the Sandfal, and
as night came on they burst into the burgh. However, Kalta again
missed her aim; for Minerva, her femmes, and her lamp were all saved
by the alertness of the navigators.

Chapter XXVII: We now come to the history of Jon -

1. Jon, Jhon, Jan, are all the same name, though the pronunciation
varies, as the navigators like to shorten everything to be able to
make it easier to call. Jon - that is, "Given" - was a sea-king, born
at Alderga, who sailed from the Flymar with a fleet of one hundred and
twenty-seven ships fitted out for a long voyage, and laden with amber,
tin, copper, cloth, linen, felt, otter-skins, beaver and rabbit skins.

2. He would also have taken paper from here, but when he saw how Kalta
had destroyed the burgh he became so angry that he went off with all
his people to Flyburch, and out of revenge set fire to it. His admiral
and some of his people saved the lamp and the femmes, but they could
not catch Syrhed, or Kalta. She climbed up on the furthest battlement,
and they thought she must be killed in the flames; but what happened?

3. While all her people stood transfixed with horror, she appeared
upon her steed more beautiful than ever, calling to them, "To Kalta!"

4. Then the other Skelda people poured out towards her. When the
navigators saw that, they shouted, "We are for Minerva!"

5. From this arose a war in which thousands were killed.

6. At this time Rosamond, that is Rosamuda, the folk-mother, who had
done all in her power by gentle means to preserve peace, when she saw
how bad it was, made short work of it. Immediately she sent messengers
throughout all the districts to call a general levy, which brought
together all the warriors of the country. The landsmen who were
fighting were all caught, but Jon with his navigators took refuge on
board his fleet, taking with him the two lamps, as well as Minerva and
the femmes of both the burghs.

7. Helprik, the commander, summoned him to appear; but while all the
soldiers were on the other side of the Skelda, Jon sailed back to the
Flymar, and then straight to our islands. His fighting men and many of
our people took women and children on board, and when Jon saw that he
and his people would be punished for their misdeeds, he secretly took
his departure.

8. He did well, for all our islanders, and the other Skelda people who
had been fighting were transported to Brittania. This step was a
mistake, for now came the beginning of the end.

9. Kalta, who, people said, could go as easily on the water as on the
land, went to the mainland and on to Missellia. Then came the Golar
out of the Middel Sea with their ships to Kadik, and along all our
coasts, and fell upon Brittania; but they could not make any good
footing there, because the government was powerful and the exiles were
still Children of Frya.

10. But now came Kalta and said, "You were born free, and for small
offences have been sent away, not for your own improvement, but to get
tin by your labour. If you wish to be free again, and take my advice,
and live under my care, come away. I will provide you with arms, and
will watch over you."

11. The news flew through the land like lightning, and before the
carrier had made one revolution of the yule she was mistress of all
the Thyriar in all our southern states as far as the Seiene. She built
herself a burgh in Berchland to the north, and called it Kaltasburch.
It still exists under the name of Kerenak. From this burgh she ruled
as a tyrannical folk-mother, against their will, not for her
followers, but over them, who were thenceforth called Kaltanar.

12. The Golar gradually obtained dominion over the whole of Brittania,
partly because they no longer had any burghs; secondly, because they
had there no burgh-femmes; and thirdly, because they had no real
lamps. From all these causes the people could not learn anything. They
were stupid and foolish, and having allowed the Golar to rob them of
their arms, they were led about like a bull with a ring in his nose.

Chapter XXVIII: Now we shall write how it fared with Jon; it is
inscribed at Texland -

1. Ten years after Jon went away, there arrived three ships in the
Flymar; the people cried, "Huzza!" From their accounts the folk-mother
had this written:

2. When Jon reached the Middel Sea, the reports of the Golar had
preceded him, so that on the coast of Heinde Krekaland he was nowhere
safe. Therefore he went with his fleet straight over to Lydia. There
the black men wanted to catch them and eat them. At last they came to
Thyr, but Minerva said:

3. "Keep clear, for here the air has been long poisoned by the
priests."

4. The king was a descendant of Tunis, as we were afterwards informed;
but as the priests wished to have a king, who, according to their
ideas, was of long descent, they deified Tunis, to the vexation of his
followers. After they had passed Thyr, the Thyriar seized one of the
rearmost ships, and as the ship was too far behind us, we could not
take it back again; but Jon swore to be revenged for it.

5. When night came, Jon went his course towards Fere Krekaland. At
last they arrived at a country that looked very barren, but they found
a harbour there. Minerva said:

6. "Here we need not perhaps have any fear of princes or priests, as
they always look out for rich fat lands."

7. When they entered the harbour, there was not room for all the
ships, and yet most of the people were too cowardly to go any further.

8. Then Jon, who wished to get away, went with his spear and banner,
calling to the young people, to know who would volunteer to share his
adventures. Minerva did the same thing, but wished to remain there.
The greater part stopped with Minerva, but the young navigators went
with Jon. Jon took the lamp of Kalta and her femmes with him. Minerva
retained her lamp and her own femmes.

9. Between Fere and Heinde Krekaland Jon found some islands, which he
thought desirable. Upon the largest he built a burgh in the wood
between the mountains. From the smaller islands he made expeditions
for vengeance on the Thyriar, and plundered their ships and their
lands. Therefore these islands were called Rawer Elanda, as well as
Jonhis Elanda.

10. When Minerva had examined the country which is called by the
inhabitants Attika, she saw that the people were all goatherds, and
that they lived on meat, wild roots, herbs, and honey. They were
clothed in skins, and had their dwellings on the slopes of the hills,
wherefore they were called Hellinggar.

11. At first they ran away, but when they found that we did not attack
them, they came back and showed great friendship. Minerva asked if we
might settle there peaceably. This was agreed to on the condition that
we should help them to fight against their neighbours, who came
continually to carry away their children and to rob their dwellings.

12. Then we built a burgh at an hour's distance from the harbour. By
the advice of Minerva it was called Athenia, because, she said:

13. "Those who came after us ought to know that we are not here by
cunning or violence, but were received as friends."

14. While we were building the burgh the principal personages came to
see us, and when they saw that we had no slaves it did not please
them, and they gave Minerva to understand it, as they thought that she
was a princess.

15. But Minerva said, "How did you get your slaves?"

16. They answered, "We bought some and took others in war."

17. Minerva replied, "If nobody would buy slaves they would not steal
your children, and you would have no wars about it. If you wish to
remain our allies, you will free your slaves."

18. The princes did not like this, and wanted to drive us away; but
the most enlightened of the people came and helped us to build our
burgh, which was built of stone.

19. This is the history of Jon and Minerva.

20. When they had finished their story they asked respectfully for
silver weapons; for, said they, "Our foes are powerful, but if we have
good arms we can withstand them."

21. When this had been agreed to, the people asked if Frya's customs
would flourish in Athenia and in other parts of Krekaland. The
folk-mother answered:

22. "If the Fere Krekalandar belong to the direct descent of Frya,
then they will flourish; but if they do not descend from Frya, then
there will be a long contention about it, because the carrier must
make five thousand revolutions of his yule before Finda's people will
be ripe for liberty."

Chapter XXIX: This is about the Gertmannar -

1. When Hellenia or Minerva died, the priests pretended to be with us,
and in order to make it appear so, they deified Hellenia. They refused
to have any other burgh-femme chosen, saying that they feared there
was no one among her femmes whom they could trust as they had trusted
Minerva, surnamed Nyhellenia.

2. But we would not recognise Minerva as a goddess, because she
herself had told us that no one could be perfectly good except the
spirit of Wr-alda. Therefore we chose Gert, Pire's daughter, for our
burgh-femme.

3. When the priests saw that they could not fry their herrings on our
fire, they left Athenia, and said that we refused to acknowledge
Minerva as a goddess out of envy, because she had shown so much
affection to the natives.

4. Thereupon they gave the people statues of her, declaring that they
might ask of them whatever they liked, as long as they were obedient
to her. By these kinds of tales the stupid people were estranged from
us, and at last they attacked us; but as we had built our stone burgh
wall with two horns down to the sea, they could not get at us. Then,
lo and behold! An Egiptalandar high priest, bright of eye, clear of
brain, and enlightened of mind, whose name was Sekrops, came to give
them advice.

5. When he saw that with his people he could not storm our wall, he
sent messengers to Thyr. Thereupon there arrived three hundred ships
full of wild mountain soldiers, which sailed unexpectedly into our
haven while we were defending the walls.

6. When they had taken our harbour the wild soldiers wanted to plunder
the state and our ships - one had already ravished a girl - but
Sekrops would not permit it; and the Thyriar navigators, who still had
Frya's blood in their veins, said:

7. "If you do that we will burn our ships, and you shall never see
your mountains again."

8. Sekrops, who had no inclination towards murder or devastation, sent
messengers to Gert, requiring her to give up the burgh, offering her
free exit with all her live and dead property, and her followers the
same. The wisest of the burghers, seeing that they could not hold the
burgh, advised Gert to accept at once, before Sekrops became furious
and changed his mind.

9. Three months afterwards Gert departed with the best of Frya's
Children, and seven times twelve ships. Soon after they had left the
harbour they fell in with at least thirty ships coming from Thyr with
women and children. They were on their way to Athenia, but when they
heard how things stood there they went with Gert. The sea-king of the
Thyriar brought them altogether through the strait which at that time
ran into the Rade Sea.

10. At last they landed at the Pangab, called in our language the five
rivers, because five rivers flow together to the sea. Here they
settled, and called it Gertmannia.

11. The king of Thyr afterwards, seeing that all his best navigators
were gone, sent all his ships with his wild soldiers to catch them,
dead or alive. When they arrived at the strait, both sea and Irtha
trembled. The land was upheaved so that all the water ran out of the
strait, and the muddy shores were raised up like a rampart. This
happened on account of the virtues of the Gertmannar, as every one can
plainly understand.

Chapter XXX: In the year 1005 after Aldland was submerged, this was
inscribed on the eastern wall of Fryasburch -

1. After twelve years had elapsed without our seeing any Krekalandar
in Almanland, there came three ships, finer than any that we possessed
or had ever seen.

2. On the largest of them was a king of the Jonhis Elenda whose name
was Ulysus, the fame of whose wisdom was great. To him a priestess had
prophesied that he should become the king of all Krekaland provided he
could obtain a lamp that had been lighted at the lamp in Texland. For
this purpose he had brought great treasures with him, above all,
jewels for women more beautiful than had ever been seen before. They
were from Troia, a state that the Krekalandar had taken.

3. All these treasures he offered to the folk-mother, but the
folk-mother would have nothing to do with them. At last, when he found
that there was nothing to be got from her, he went to Walhallagara.

4. There there was established a burgh-femme whose name was Kat, but
who was commonly called Kalip, because her lower lip stuck out like a
mast-head. Here he tarried for years, to the scandal of all that knew
it.

5. According to the report of the femmes, he obtained a lamp from her;
but it did him no good, because when he got to sea his ship was lost,
and he was taken up naked and destitute by another ship.

6. There was left behind by this king a scribe of pure Frya's blood,
born in the new harbour of Athenia, who wrote for us what follows
about Athenia, from which may be seen how truly the folk-mother
Hellicht spoke when she said that the customs of Frya could never take
firm hold in Athenia.

7. From the other Krekalandar you will have heard a great deal of bad
about Sekrops, because he was not in good repute; but I dare affirm
that he was an enlightened man, very renowned both among the
inhabitants and among us, for he was against oppression, unlike the
other priests, and was virtuous, and knew how to value the wisdom of
distant nations. Knowing that, he permitted us to live according to
our own Law Book.

8. There was a story current that he was favourable to us because he
was the son of a daughter of Frya and an Egiptalandar priest - the
reason of this was that he had blue eyes, and that many of our girls
had been stolen and sold to Egiptaland, but he never confirmed this.
However it may have been, certain it is that he showed us more
friendship than all the other priests together.

9. When he died, his successors soon began to tear up our charters,
and gradually to enact so many unsuitable statutes that at long last
nothing remained of liberty but the shadow and the name. Besides, they
would not allow the laws to be written, so that the knowledge of them
was hidden from us. Formerly all the cases in Athenia were pleaded in
our language, but afterwards in both languages, and at last in the
native language only.

10. At first the men of Athenia only married women of our own race,
but the young men as they grew up with the girls of the country took
them to wife. The bastard children of this connection were the
handsomest and cleverest in the World; but they were likewise the
wickedest, wavering between the two parties, paying no regard to laws
or customs except where they suited their own interests.

11. As long as a ray of Frya's spirit existed, all the building
materials were for common use, and no one might build a house larger
or better than his neighbour's; but when some degenerate statesmen got
rich by sea-voyages and by the silver that their slaves got in the
silver countries, they went to live out on the hills or in the
valleys.

12. There, behind high enclosures of trees or walls, they built
palaces with costly furniture, and in order to remain in good odour
with the nasty priests, they placed there likenesses of false gods and
unchaste statues. Sometimes the dirty priests and princes wished for
the boys rather than the girls, and often led them astray from the
paths of virtue by rich presents or by force.

13. Because riches were more valued by this lost and degenerate race
than virtue or honour, one sometimes saw boys dressed in splendid
flowing robes, to the disgrace of their parents and femmes, and to the
shame of their own sex.

14. If our simple parents came to a general assembly at Athenia and
made complaints, a cry was raised, "Hear, Hear! There is a sea-monster
going to speak!"

15. Such is Athenia become, like a morass in a tropical country full
of leeches, toads, and poisonous snakes, in which no man of decent
habits can set his foot.

Chapter XXXI: This is inscribed in all our burghs -

1. How our Denamark was lost to us in the year 1602 after the
submersion of Aldland.

2. Through the mad wantonness of Wodin, Magy had become master of the
east part of Skenland. They dare not come over the hills and over the
sea. The folk-mother would not prevent it. She said:

3. "I see no danger in their weapons, but much in taking the
Skenlandar back again, because they are so degenerate and spoilt."

4. The general assembly were of the same opinion. Therefore it was
left to him.

5. A good hundred years ago the Denamarkar began to trade; they gave
their silver weapons in exchange for gold ornaments, as well as for
copper and silver-ore. The folk-mother sent messengers to advise them
to have nothing to do with this trade. There was danger to their
morals in it, and if they lost their morals they would soon lose their
liberty.

6. But the Denamarkar paid no attention to her. They did not believe
that they could lose their morals, therefore they would not listen to
her. At last they were at a loss themselves for weapons and
necessaries, and this difficulty was their punishment. Their bodies
were brilliantly adorned, but their cupboards and their sheds were
empty.

7. Just one hundred years after the first ship with provisions sailed
from the coast, poverty and want made their appearance, hunger spread
her wings all over the land, dissension marched proudly about the
streets and into the houses, charity found no place, and unity
departed. The child asked its mother for food; she had no food to
give, only jewels. The women applied to their husbands, the husbands
appealed to the reeves; the reeves had nothing to give, or if they
had, they hid it away.

8. Now the jewels must be sold, but while the navigators were away for
that purpose, the frost came and laid a plank upon the sea and the
strait. When the frost had made the bridge, vigilance ceased in the
land, and treachery took its place. Instead of watching on the shores,
they put their horses in their sledges and drove off to Skenland.

9. Then the Skenlandar, who hungered after the land of their
forefathers, came to Denamark. One bright night they all came. They
said:

10. "Now we have a right to the land of our fathers."

11. And while they were fighting about it, the Finnar came to the
defenceless states and ran away with the children. As they had no good
weapons, they lost the battle, and with it their freedom, and Magy
became master.

12. All this was the consequence of their not reading Frya's Tex, and
neglecting her counsels.

13. There are some who think that they were betrayed by the reeves,
and that the femmes had long suspected it; but if any one attempted to
speak about it, his mouth was shut by golden chains.

14. We can express no opinion about it, we can only say to you: Do not
trust too much to the wisdom of your princes or of your femmes; but if
you wish to keep things straight, everybody must watch over his
passions, as well as the general welfare.

15. Two years afterwards Magy himself came with a fleet of light boats
to steal the lamp from the folk-mother of Texland.

16. This wicked deed he accomplished one stormy winter night, while
the wind roared and the hail rattled against the windows. The watchman
on the tower hearing the noise, lighted his torch. As soon as the
light from the tower fell upon the burgh, he saw that already armed
men had got over the wall.

17. He immediately gave the alarm, but it was too late. Before the
guard was ready, there were two thousand people battering the gate.
The struggle did not last long. As the guard had not kept a good
watch, they were overwhelmed.

18. While the fight was going on, a rascally Finn stole into the
bedroom of the folk-mother, and would have raped her. She resisted
him, and threw him down against the wall. When he got up, he ran his
sword through her:

19. "If you will not have me, you shall have my sword."

20. A Denamarkar soldier came behind him and clave his head in two.
There came from it a stream of black blood and a wreath of blue flame.

21. The Magy had the folk-mother nursed on his own ship. As soon as
she was well enough to speak clearly, the Magy told her that she must
sail with him, but that she should keep her lamp and her femmes, and
should hold a station higher than she had ever done before.

22. Moreover, he said that he should ask her, in presence of all his
chief men, if he would become the ruler of all the lands and people of
Frya; that she must declare and affirm this, or he would let her die a
painful death.

23. Then, when he had gathered all his chiefs around her bed, he
asked, in a loud voice, "Frana, since you are a prophetess, shall I
become ruler over all the lands and people of Frya?"

24. Frana did as if she took no notice of him; but at last she opened
her lips, and said:

25. "My eyes are dim, but the other light dawns upon my soul. Yes, I
see it. Hear, Irtha, and rejoice with me.

26. "At the time of the submersion of Aldland, the first spoke of the
yule stood at the top. After that it went down, and our freedom with
it.

27. "When two spokes, or two thousand years, shall have rolled down,
the sons shall arise who have been bred of the fornication of the
princes and priests with the people, and shall witness against their
fathers. They shall all fall by murder, but what they have proclaimed
shall endure, and shall bear fruit in the bosoms of able men, like
good seed which is laid in thy lap.

28. "Yet a thousand years shall the spoke descend, and sink deeper in
darkness, and in the blood shed over you by the wickedness of the
princes and priests.

29. "After that, the dawn shall begin to glow. When they perceive
this, the false princes and priests will strive and wrestle against
freedom; but freedom, love, and unity will take the people under their
protection, and rise out of the vile pool.

30. "The light which at first only glimmered shall flow over your
surface, but you must not absorb it. At last the poisoned animals
shall eat it, and die of it. All the stories that have been written in
praise of the princes and priests shall be committed to the flames.
Thenceforth your children shall live in peace."

31. When she had finished speaking she sank down.

32. The Magy, who had not understood her, shrieked out, "I asked you
if I should become master of all the lands and people of Frya, and now
you have been speaking to another."

33. Frana raised herself up, stared at him, and said, "Before seven
days have passed your soul shall haunt the tombs with the night-birds,
and your body shall be at the bottom of the sea."

34. Swelling with rage, the Magy said, "Very good; say that I am
coming!"

35. Then he said to his executioners, "Throw this woman overboard!"

36. This was the end of the last of the folk-mothers. We do not ask
for revenge. Time will provide that; but a thousand thousand times we
will call with Frya - "Watch! Watch! Watch!"

Chapter XXXII: How it fared afterwards with the Magy -

1. After the murder of the folk-mother, he brought the lamp and the
femmes into his own ship, together with all the booty that he chose.
Afterwards he went up the Flymar because he wished to take the
burgh-femme of Medeasblik or Stavia and install her as folk-mother;
but there they were on their guard.

2. The navigators of Staveren and Alderga would gladly have gone to
Jon, but the great fleet was out on a distant voyage; so they
proceeded in their small fleet to Medeasblik, and kept themselves
concealed in a sheltered place behind trees.

3. The Magy approached Medeasblik in broad daylight; nevertheless, his
men boldly stormed the burgh. But as they landed from the boats, our
people sallied forth from the creek, and shot their arrows with balls
of burning turpentine upon the fleet. They were so well aimed that
many of the ships were instantly on fire. Those left to guard the
ships shot at us, but they could not reach us.

4. When at last a burning ship drifted towards the ship of the Magy,
he ordered the man at the helm to sheer of, but this man was the
Denamarkar who had cleft the head of the Finn. He said:

5. "You sent our folk-mother to the bottom of the sea to say that you
were coming. In the bustle of the fight you might forget it; now I
will take care that you keep your word."

6. The Magy tried to push him off, but the navigator, a real Child of
Frya and strong as an ox, clutched his head with both hands, and
pitched him into the surging billows. Then he hoisted up his brown
shield, and sailed straight to our fleet. Thus the femmes came unhurt
to us; but the lamp was extinguished, and no one knew how that had
happened.

7. When those on the uninjured ships heard that the Magy was drowned,
they sailed away, because their crews were Denamarkar. When the fleet
was far enough off, our navigators turned and shot their burning
arrows at the Finnar.

8. When the Finnar saw that, and found that they were betrayed, they
fell into confusion, and lost all discipline and order. At this moment
the garrison sallied forth from the burgh. Those who resisted were
killed, and those who fled found their death in the marshes of the
Krylinger Wald.

Chapter XXXIII: Postscript -

1. When the navigators were in the creek, there was a wag from
Staveren among them, who said, "Medea may well laugh if we rescue her
from the burgh."

2. Upon this, the femmes gave to the creek the name Medea Meilakkia.

3. The occurrences that happened after this everybody can remember.
The femmes ought to relate it in their own way, and have it well
inscribed. We consider that our task is fulfilled. Hail!

4. The end of the book.
_________________________________________________________________

THE WRITINGS OF ADELBROST AND APOLLONIA

Chapter I: My name is Adelbrost, the son of Apol and Adela -

1. I was elected by my people as reeve over the Lindawrda. Therefore I
will continue this book in the same way as my mother has spoken it.

2. After the Magy was killed and Fryasburch was restored, a
folk-mother had to be chosen. The folk-mother had not named her
successor, and her will was nowhere to be found. Seven months later a
general assembly was called at Grenega, because it was on the boundary
of Saxanamark. My mother was chosen, but she would not be the
folk-mother. She had saved my fathers life, in consequence of which
they had fallen in love with each other, and she wished to marry.

3. Many people wished my mother to alter her decision, but she said:

4. "A folk-mother ought to be as pure in her conscience as she appears
outwardly, and to have the same love for all her children. Now, as I
love Apol better than anything else in the World, I cannot be such a
folk-mother."

5. Thus spoke and reasoned Adela, but all the other femmes wished to
be the folk-mother. Each state was in favour of its own femme, and
would not yield. Therefore none was chosen, and the country was
without any restraint.

6. From what follows you will understand Liudgert, the king who had
lately died, who had been chosen in the lifetime of the folk-mother,
and seemingly with the love and confidence of all the states.

7. It was his turn to live at the great court of Dokhem, and in the
lifetime of the folk-mother great honour was done to him there, as
there were more messengers and knights there than had ever been seen
there before. But now he was lonely and forsaken, because every one
was afraid that he would set himself above the law, and rule them like
the slave kings.

8. Every official imagined that he did enough if he looked after his
own state, and did nor care for the others. With the burgh-femmes it
was still worse. Each of them depended upon her own judgment, and
whenever a reeve did anything without her, she raised distrust between
him and his people. If any case happened which concerned several
states, and one femme had been consulted, the rest all exclaimed that
she had spoken only in the interest of her own state.

9. By such proceedings they brought disputes among the states, and so
severed the bond of union that the people of one state were jealous of
those of the rest, or at least considered them as strangers; the
consequence of which was that the Golar or Trowydar took possession of
our lands as far as the Skelda, and the Magy as far as the Wrsara.

10. How this happened my mother has explained, otherwise this book
would not have been written, although I have lost all hope that it
would be of any use. I do not write in the hope that I shall win back
the land or preserve it: in my opinion that is impossible. I write
only for the future generations, that they may all know in what way we
were lost, and that each may learn that every crime brings its
punishment.

11. My name is Apollonia. Two-and-thirty days after my mothers death
my brother Adelbrost was found murdered on the wharf, his skull
fractured and his limbs torn asunder. My father, who lay ill, died of
fright. Then my younger brother, Apol, sailed from here to the west
side of Skenland. There he built a burgh named Lindasburch, in order
there to avenge our wrong. Wr-alda accorded him many years for that.
He had five sons, who all caused fear to Magy, and brought fame to my
brother.

12. After the death of my mother and my brother, all the bravest of
the land joined together and made a covenant, called the Adelband. In
order to preserve us from injury, they brought me and my youngest
brother, Adelhirt, to the burgh - me to the femmes, and him to the
warriors.

13. When I was thirty years old I was chosen as burgh-femme, and my
brother at fifty was chosen reeve. From mothers side my brother was
the sixth, but from fathers side the third. By right, therefore, his
descendants could not put Oera Linda after their names, but they all
wished to do it in honour of their mother.

14. In addition to this, there was given to us also a copy of The Book
of Adelas Followers. That gave me the most pleasure, because it came
into the World by my mothers wisdom. In the burgh I have found other
writings also in praise of my mother. All this I will write
afterwards.

15. These are the writings left by Brunno, who was the scribe of this
burgh:

16. After the followers of Adela had made copies, each in his state,
of what was inscribed upon the walls of the burgh, they resolved to
choose a folk-mother. For this purpose a general assembly was called
at this farm.

17. By the advice of Adela, Tuntia was recommended. That would have
been arranged, only that my burgh-femme asked to speak: she had always
supposed that she would be chosen folk-mother, because she was at the
burgh from which folk-mothers had generally been chosen.

18. When she was allowed to speak, she opened her false lips and said:

19. "You all seem to place great value on Adelas advice, but that
shall not shut my mouth. Who is Adela, and whence comes it that you
respect her so highly? She was what I am now, a burgh-femme of this
place; is she, then, wiser and better than I and all the others? Or is
she more conversant with our laws and customs?

20. "If that had been the case, she would have become folk-mother when
she was chosen; but instead of that, she preferred matrimony to a
single life, watching over herself and her people. She is certainly
very clear-sighted, but my eyes are far from being dim. I have
observed that she is very much attached to her husband, which is very
praiseworthy; but I see, likewise, that Tuntia is Apols niece. Further
I say nothing."

21. The principal people understood very well which way the wind blew
with her; but among the people there arose disputes, and as most of
the people came from here, they would not give the honour to Tuntia.
The conferences were ended, knives were drawn, and no folk-mother was
chosen.

22. Shortly afterwards one of our messengers killed his comrade. As he
had been a man of good character hitherto, my burgh-femme had
permission to help him over the frontier; but instead of helping him
over to Twiskland, she fled with him herself to Wrsara, and then to
the Magy.

23. The Magy, who wished to please his sons of Frya, appointed her
burgh-femme of Godahisburch, in Skenland; but she wished for more, and
she told him that if he could get Adela out of the way he might become
master of the whole of Fryasland. She said she hated Adela for having
prevented her from being chosen folk-mother. If he would promise her
Texland, her messenger should serve as guide to his warriors. All this
was confessed by her messenger.

Chapter II: The second writing -

1. Fifteen months after the last general assembly, at the festival of
the Winne Month, everybody gave himself up to pleasure and
merry-making, and no one thought of anything but diversion; but
Wr-alda wished to teach us that watchfulness should never be relaxed.
In the midst of the festivities the fog came and enveloped every place
in darkness. Cheerfulness melted away, but watchfulness did not take
its place. The coastguard deserted their beacons, and no one was to be
seen on any of the paths.

2. When the fog rose, the sun scarcely appeared among the clouds; but
the people all came out shouting with joy, and the young folks went
about singing to their bagpipes, filling the air with their melody.
But while every one was intoxicated with pleasure, treachery had
landed with its horses and riders.

3. As usual, darkness had favoured the wicked, and they had slipped in
through the paths of Linda Wald. Before Adelas door twelve girls led
twelve lambs, and twelve boys led twelve calves. A young Saxman
bestrode a wild bull which he had caught and tamed. They were decked
with all kinds of flowers, and the linen tunics of the girls were
fringed with gold from the Rene.

4. When Adela came out of her house, a shower of flowers fell on her
head; they all cheered loudly, and the fifes of the boys were heard
over everything. Poor Adela! Poor people! How short will be your joy!
When the procession was out of sight, a troop of Magyarar soldiers
rushed up to Adelas house.

5. Her father and her husband were sitting on the steps. The door was
open, and within stood Adelbrost her son. When he saw the danger of
his parents, he took his bow from the wall and shot the leader of the
pirates, who staggered and fell on the grass. The second and third met
a similar fate.

6. In the meantime his parents had seized their weapons, and went
slowly to Jons house. They would soon have been taken, but Adela came.
She had learned in the burgh to use all kinds of weapons. She was
seven feet high, and her sword was the same length. She waved it three
times over her head, and each time a knight bit the dirt.

7. Reinforcements came, and the pirates were made prisoners; but too
late - an arrow had penetrated her bosom! The treacherous Magy had
poisoned it, and she died of it.

Chapter III: The elegy of the burgh-femme -

1. Yes, departed friend, thousands are arrived, and more are coming.

2. They wish to hear the wisdom of Adela.

3. Truly, she was a princess, for she had always been the leader.

4. O sorrow, what can you do?

5. Her short kilt of linen, and her tunic of wool, she spun and wove
herself. How could she add to her beauty? Not with pearls, for her
teeth were more white; not with gold, for her tresses were more
brilliant; not with precious stones, for her eyes, though soft as
those of a lamb, were so lustrous that you could scarcely look into
them.

6. But why do I talk of beauty?

7. Frya was certainly not more beautiful.

8. Yes, my friends, Frya possessed seven perfections, of which each of
her daughters inherited one, or at most three. But even if she had
been ugly, she would still have been dear to us.

9. Is she warlike? Listen, my friend. Adela was the only daughter of
our reeve. She stood seven feet high. Her wisdom exceeded her stature,
and her courage was equal to both together.

10. Here is an instance. There was once a turf-ground on fire. Three
children got upon yonder gravestone. There was a furious wind. The
people were all shouting, and their mother was helpless. Then came
Adela. She cried:

11. "What are you all standing still here for? Try to help them, and
Wr-alda will give you strength."

12. Then she ran to the Krylwald and got some elder branches, of which
she made a bridge. The others then came to assist her, and the
children were saved.

13. The children bring flowers to the place every year.

14. There came once three Phonisiar sailors, who began to ill-treat
the children, when Adela, having heard their screams, beat the
scoundrels till they were insensible, and then, to prove to them what
miserable wretches they were, she tied them all three to a spindle.

15. The foreign lords came to look after their people, and when they
saw how ridiculously they had been treated they were very angry, till
they were told what had happened.

16. Upon that they bowed themselves before Adela, and kissed the hems
of her short kilt and tunic.

17. But come, distant living friend. The birds of the forest fled
before the numerous visitors. Come, friend, and you shall hear her
wisdom.

18. By the gravestone of which mention has already been made her body
is buried. Upon the stone the following words are inscribed:

19. "Tread softly, for here lies Adela."

20. The old legend which is written on the outside wall of the burgh
tower is not written in The Book of Adelas Followers. Why this has
been neglected I do not know; but this book is my own, so I will put
it in out of regard to my relations.

Chapter IV: The oldest doctrine -

1. Hail to all the well-intentioned Children of Frya!

2. Through you Irtha shall become holy.

3. Learn and announce to the people that Wr-alda is the ancient of
ancients, for he created all things.

4. Wr-alda is all in all, for he is eternal and everlasting.

5. Wr-alda is everywhere but invisible, and therefore is called a
spirit. All that we can see of him are the created beings who come to
life through him and go again, because from Wr-alda all things proceed
and return to him.

6. Wr-alda is the beginning and the end.

7. Wr-alda is the only mighty being, because from him all strength
comes, and returns to him. Therefore he alone is the creator, and
nothing exists without him.

8. Wr-alda established eternal principles, upon which the laws of
creation were founded, and no good laws could stand on any other
foundation.

9. But although everything is derived from Wr-alda, the wickedness of
men does not come from him. Wickedness comes from heaviness,
carelessness, and stupidity; therefore they may well be injurious to
men, but never to Wr-alda.

10. Wr-alda is wisdom, and the laws that he has made are the books
from which we learn, nor is any wisdom to be found or gathered but in
them.

11. Men may see a great deal, but Wr-alda sees everything. Men can
learn a great deal, but Wr-alda knows everything. Men can discover
much, but to Wr-alda everything is open. Mankind are male and female,
but Wr-alda created both. Mankind love and hate, but Wr-alda alone is
just. Therefore Wr-alda is good, and there is no good without him.

12. In the progress of time all creation alters and changes, but
goodness alone is unalterable; and since Wr-alda is good, he cannot
change. As he endures, he alone exists; everything else is show.

Chapter V: The second part of the oldest doctrine -

1. Among Findas people there are false teachers, who, by their
over-inventiveness, have become so wicked that they make themselves
and their adherents believe that they are the best part of Wr-alda,
that their spirit is the best part of Wr-aldas spirit, and that
Wr-alda can only think by the help of their brains.

2. That every creature is a part of Wr-aldas eternal being, that they
have stolen from us.

3. But their false reasoning and ungovernable pride have brought them
on the road to ruin. If their spirit was Wr-aldas spirit, then Wr-alda
would be very stupid, instead of being sensible and wise; for their
spirit labours to create beautiful statues, which they afterwards
worship.

4. Findas people are a wicked people, for although they presumptuously
pretend among themselves that they are gods, they proclaim the
unconsecrated false gods, and declare everywhere that these idols
created Wr-alda and all that therein is - greedy idols, full of envy
and anger, who desire to be served and honoured by the people, and who
exact bloody sacrifices and rich offerings; but these presumptuous and
false men, who call themselves servants of the gods and priests,
receive and collect everything in the name of the idols that have no
real existence, for their own benefit.

5. They do all this with an easy conscience, as they think themselves
gods not answerable to any one. If there are some who discover their
tricks and expose them, they hand them over to the executioners to be
burnt for their calumnies, with solemn ceremonies in honour of the
false gods; but really in order to save themselves.

6. In order that our children may be protected against their
idolatrous doctrine, the duty of the femmes is to make them learn by
heart the following:

7. "Wr-alda existed before all things, and will endure after all
things. Wr-alda is also eternal and everlasting, therefore nothing
exists without him. From Wr-aldas life sprang time and all living
things, and his life takes away time and every other thing."

8. These things must be made clear and manifest in every way, so that
they can be made clear and comprehensible to all. When we have learned
thus much, then we say further:

9. "In what regards our existence, we are a part of Wr-aldas
everlasting being, like the existence of all created beings; but as
regards our form, our qualities, our spirit, and all our thoughts,
these do not belong to the being."

10. All these are passing things which appear through Wr-aldas life,
and which appear through his wisdom, and not otherwise; but whereas
his life is continually progressing, nothing can remain stationary,
therefore all created things change their locality, their form, and
their thoughts.

11. So neither Irtha nor any other created object can say, "I am" but
rather, "I was". So no man can say, "I think" but rather, "I thought".

12. The boy is greater and different from the child; he has different
desires, inclinations, and thoughts. The man and father feels and
thinks differently from the boy, the old man just the same. Everybody
knows that.

13. Besides, everybody knows and must acknowledge that he is now
changing, that he changes every minute even while he says, "I am", and
that his thoughts change even while he says, "I think".

14. Instead, then, of imitating Findas wicked people, and saying, "I
am the best part of Wr-alda, and through us alone he can think."

15. We proclaim everywhere where it is necessary, "We, Fryas Children,
exist through Wr-aldas life - in the beginning mean and base, but
always advancing towards perfection without ever attaining the
excellence of Wr-alda himself."

16. Our spirit is not Wr-aldas spirit, it is merely a shadow of it.

17. When Wr-alda created us, he lent us his wisdom, brains, organs,
memory, and many other good qualities. By this means we are able to
contemplate his creatures and his laws; by this means we can learn and
can speak of them always, and only for our own benefit. If Wr-alda had
given us no organs, we should have known nothing, and been more
irrational than a piece of sea-weed driven up and down by the ebb and
flood.

Chapter VI: This is written on parchment; speech and answer to other
femmes as an example -

1. An unsociable, avaricious man came to complain to Trast, who was
the femme of Stavia. He said a thunderstorm had destroyed his house.
He had prayed to Wr-alda, but Wr-alda had given him no help.

2. Trast asked, "Are you a true Child of Frya?"

3. The man replied, "From father and forefathers."

4. Then she said, "I will sow something in your conscience, in
confidence that it will take root, grow, and bear fruit.

5. "When Frya was born, our mother stood naked and bare, unprotected
from the rays of the sun. She could ask no one, and there was no one
who could give her any help.

6. "Then Wr-alda wrought in her conscience inclination and love,
anxiety and fright. She looked round her, and her inclination chose
the best. She sought a hiding-place under the sheltering lime-trees,
but the rain came, and the difficulty was that she got wet. She had
seen how the water ran down the pendent leaves; so she made a roof of
leaves fastened with sticks, but the wind blew the rain under it.

7. "She observed that the stem would afford protection. She then built
a wall of sods, first on one side, and then all round. The wind grew
stronger and blew away the roof, but she made no complaint of Wr-alda.
She made a roof of rushes, and put stones upon it. Having found how
hard it is to toil alone, she showed her children how and why she had
done it. They acted and thought as she did.

8. "This is the way in which we became possessed of houses and
porches, a street, and lime-trees to protect us from the rays of the
sun. At last we have built a burgh, and all the rest. If your house is
not strong enough, then you must try and make another."

9. He said, "My house was strong enough, but the flood and the wind
destroyed it."

10. Trast asked, "Where did your house stand?"

11. He answered, "On the bank of the Rene."

12. Trast asked, "Did it stand on a knoll or in a village?"

13. The man said, "No; my house stood alone on the bank. I built it
alone, but I could not alone make a hillock."

14. Trast answered, "I knew it; the femmes told me. All your life you
have avoided your neighbours, fearing that you might have to give or
do something for them; but one cannot get on in Wr-alda that way, for
Wr-alda, who is kind, turns away from the niggardly.

15. "Fasta has advised us, and it is engraved in stone over all our
doors.

16. "If you are selfish, distrustful towards your neighbours, teach
your neighbours, help your neighbours, and they will return the same
to you. If this advice is not good enough for you, I can give you no
better."

17. The man blushed for shame, and slunk away.

Chapter VII: Now I will write myself, first about my burgh, and then
about what I have been able to see -

1. My burgh lies near the north end of the Liudgarda. The tower has
six sides, and is ninety feet high, flat-roofed, with a small house
upon it out of which they look at the stars. On each side of the tower
is a house three hundred feet long, and twenty-one feet broad, and
twenty-one feet high, besides the roof, which is round. All this is
built of hard-baked bricks, and outside there is nothing else. The
burgh is surrounded by a dyke, with a moat thirty-six feet broad and
twenty-one feet deep.

2. If one looks down from the tower, he sees the form of the yule. In
the ground among the houses on the south side all kinds of native and
foreign herbs grow, of which the femmes must study the qualities.
Among the houses on the north side there are only fields. The three
houses on the north are full of corn and other necessaries; the two
houses on the south are for the femmes to live in and keep school. The
most southern house is the dwelling of the burgh-femme.

3. In the tower hangs the lamp. The walls of the tower are decorated
with precious stones. On the south wall the Tex is inscribed. On the
right side of this are the formulas, and on the other side the laws;
the other things are found upon the three other sides.

4. Against the dyke, near the house of the burgh-femme, stand the oven
and the mill, worked by four oxen. Outside the burgh wall is the place
where the burghers and the warriors live. The fortification outside is
an hour long - not a navigators hour, but an hour of the sun, of which
twenty-four go to a day. Inside it is a plain five feet below the top.
On it are three hundred crossbows covered with wood and leather.

5. Besides the houses of the inhabitants, there are along the inside
of the dyke thirty-six refuge-houses for the people who live in the
neighbourhood. The field serves for a camp and for a meadow. On the
south side of the outer fortification is the Liudgarda, enclosed by
the great Linda Wald. Its shape is three-cornered, with the widest
part outside, so that the sun may shine in it, for there are a great
number of foreign trees and flowers brought by the navigators.

6. All the other burghs are the same shape as ours, only not so large;
but the largest of all is that of Texland. The tower of the Fryasburch
is so high that it rends the sky, and all the rest is in proportion to
the tower.

7. In our burgh this is the arrangement:

8. Seven young femmes attend to the lamp, giving thricefold thanks to
Wr-aldas spirit; each watch is three hours, in which they must bend
their knees six hundred times. In the rest of their time they do
housework, learn, and sleep. When they have watched for seven years
they are discharged; then they may go among the people as
elder-femmes, to look after their morals and to give advice. The
elder-femmes must give thricefold thanks to Wr-aldas spirit for six
hours each day. When the femmes have served three years, they may
sometimes accompany the elder-femmes.

9. The scribe must teach the femmes to read, to write, and to reckon.
The elders, or burghers, must teach them justice and duty, morals,
botany, and medicine, history, traditions, and singing, besides all
that may be necessary for them to give advice. The burgh-femme must
teach them how to set to work when they go among the people.

10. Before a burgh-femme can take office, she must travel through the
land a whole year. Three grey-headed burghers and three elder-femmes
must go with her.

11. This was the way that I did. My journey was along the Rene - on
this side up, and on the other side down. The higher I went, the
poorer the people seemed to be. Everywhere about the Rene the people
dug holes, and the sand that was got out was poured with water over
fleeces to get the gold, but the girls did not wear golden crowns of
it. Formerly they were more numerous, but since we lost Skenland they
have gone up to the mountains. There they dig ore and make silver.

12. Above the Rene among the mountains I have seen Marsatar. The
Marsatar are people who live on the lakes. Their houses are built upon
piles, for protection from the wild beasts and wicked people. There
are wolves, bears, and horrible lions. Then come the Swetsar, the
nearest to the frontiers of the Heinde Krekalandar, the followers of
Kalta and the savage Twisklandar, all greedy for robbery and booty.

13. The Marsatar gain their livelihood by fishing and hunting. The
skins are sewn together by the women, and prepared with birch bark.
The small skins are as soft as a womans skin. The burgh-femme at
Fryasburch told us that they were good, simple people; but if I had
not heard her speak of them first, I should have thought that they
were not Fryas people, they looked so impudent.

14. Their wool and herbs are bought by the Rene people, and taken to
foreign countries by the ship captains. Along the other side of the
Rene it was just the same as at Lydasburch. There was a great river or
lake, and upon this lake also there were people living upon piles. But
they were not Fryas people; they were black and brown men who had been
employed as rowers to bring home the men who had been making foreign
voyages, and they had to stay there till the fleet went back.

15. At last we came to Alderga. At the head of the south harbour lies
the Waraburch, built of stone, in which all kinds of clothes, weapons,
shells, and horns are kept, which were brought by the navigators from
distant lands. A quarter of an hours distance from there is Alderga, a
great river surrounded by houses, sheds, and gardens, all richly
decorated. In the river lay a great fleet ready, with banners of all
sorts of colours.

16. On Fryas Day the shields were hung on board likewise. Some shone
like the sun. The shields of the sea-king and the admiral were
bordered with gold. From the river a canal was dug going past the
burgh Forana, with a narrow outlet to the sea. This was the egress of
the fleet; the Fly was the ingress. On both sides of the river are
fine houses built, painted in bright colours. The gardens are all
surrounded by green hedges.

17. I saw there women wearing felt tunics, as if it were writing felt.
Just as at Staveren, the girls wore golden crowns on their heads, and
rings on their arms and ankles.

18. To the south of Forana lies Alkmarum. Alkmarum is a lake or river
in which there is an island. On this island the black and brown people
must remain, the same as at Lydasburch.

19. The burgh-femme of Forana told me that the burghers go every day
to teach them what real freedom is, and how it behoves men to live in
order to obtain the blessing of Wr-aldas spirit. If there was any one
who was willing to listen and could comprehend, he was kept there till
he was fully taught. That was done in order to instruct the distant
people, and to make friends everywhere.

20. I had been before in the Saxanamark, at the burgh Mannagardaforda.
There I saw more poverty than I could discover wealth here.

21. She told me that whenever at the Saxanamark a young man courts a
young girl, the girl asks:

22. "Can you keep your house free from the banished Trisklanders? Have
you ever killed any of them? How many cattle have you already caught,
and how many bear and wolfskins have you brought to market?"

23. And from this it comes that the Saxmannar have left the
cultivation of the soil to the women, that not one in a hundred can
read or write; from this it comes, too, that no one has a motto on his
shield, but only a misshapen form of some animal that he has killed;
and lastly, from this comes also that they are very war-like, but
sometimes as stupid as the beasts that they catch, and as poor as the
Twisklandar with whom they go to war.

24. Irtha and the sea were made for Fryas people. All our rivers run
into the sea. The Lydas people and the Findas people will exterminate
each other, and we must people the empty countries. In movement and
sailing is our prosperity.

25. If you wish the highlanders to share our riches and wisdom, I will
give you a piece of advice.

26. Let the girls, when they are asked to marry, before they agree,
ask their lovers:

27. "What parts of the World have you travelled in? What can you tell
your children about distant lands and distant people?"

28. If they do this, then the young warriors will come to us; they
will become wiser and richer, and we shall have no occasion to deal
with those nasty people.

29. The youngest of the femmes who were with me came from the
Saxanamark. When we came back she asked leave to go home. Afterwards
she became burgh-femme there, and that is the reason why in these days
so many of our navigators are Saxmannar.

30. The end of Apollonias book.
_________________________________________________________________

THE WRITINGS OF FRETHORIK AND WILIOW

Chapter I: My name is Frethorik, surnamed Oera Linda, which means Over
the Linda -

1. In Liudwerd I was chosen as judge. Liudwerd is a new settlement
within the fortification of the burgh Liudgarda, of which the name has
fallen into disrepute. In my time much has happened. I had written a
good deal about it, but afterwards much more was related to me. I will
write an account of both one and the other after this book, to the
honour of the good people and to the disgrace of the bad.

2. In my youth I heard complaints on all sides. The bad time was
coming; the bad time did come - Frya had forsaken us. She withheld
from us all her watch-femmes, because monstrous idolatrous images had
been found within our landmarks.

3. I burnt with curiosity to see those images.

4. In our neighbourhood an elder-femme tottered in and out of the
houses, always calling out about the bad times. I came to her; she
stroked my chin; then I became bold, and asked her if she would show
me the bad times and the images. She laughed good-naturedly, and took
me to the burgh. An old man asked me if I could read and write.

5. I said, "No."

6. He replied, "Then you must first go and learn, otherwise it may not
be shown to you."

7. I went daily to the scribe and learnt.

8. Eight years afterwards I heard that our burgh-femme had been
unchaste, and that some of the burghers had committed treason with the
Magy, and many people took their part. Everywhere disputes arose.
There were children rebelling against their parents; good people were
secretly murdered. The elder-femme who had brought everything to light
was found dead in a ditch.

9. My father, who was a judge, would have her avenged. He was murdered
in the night in his own house. Three years after that the Magy was
master without any resistance. The Saxmannar had remained religious
and upright. All the good people fled to them. My mother died of it.
Now I did like the others.

10. The Magy prided himself upon his cunning, but Irtha made him know
that she would not tolerate any Magy or idol on the holy bosom that
had borne Frya. As a wild horse tosses his mane after he has thrown
his rider, so Irtha shook her forests and her mountains. Rivers flowed
over the land; the sea raged; mountains spouted fire to the clouds,
and what they vomited forth the clouds flung upon Irtha.

11. At the beginning of the Arne Month Irtha bowed towards the north,
and sank down lower and lower. In the Wolfa Month the low lands of
Denamark and Fryasland were buried under the sea. The woods in which
the images were, were torn up and scattered by the wind.

12. The following year the frost came in the Herde Month, and laid
Fryasland concealed under a sheet of ice. In Sella Month there were
storms of wind from the north, driving mountains of ice and stones.
When the spring-tides came Irtha raised herself up, the ice melted;
with the ebb the forests with the images drifted out to sea.

13. In the Winne, or Minna Month, every one who dared went home. I
came with a femme to the burgh Liudgarda. How sad it looked there. The
forests of the Lindawrda were almost all gone. Where Liudgarda used to
be was sea. The waves swept over the fortifications. Ice had destroyed
the tower, and the houses lay heaped over each other.

14. On the slope of the dyke I found a stone on which the scribe had
written his name. That was a sign to me. The same thing had happened
to other burghs as to ours. In the upper lands they had been destroyed
by Irtha, in the lower lands by the water. Fryasburch, at Texland, was
the only one found uninjured, but all the land to the north was sunk
under the sea, and has never been recovered.

15. At the mouth of the Flymar, as we were told, thirty salt swamps
were found, consisting of the forest and the ground that had been
swept away. At Westflyland there were fifty. The canal which had run
across the land from Alderga was filled up with sand and destroyed.
The navigators and other travellers who were at home had saved
themselves, their goods, and their relations upon their ships.

16. But the black people at Lydasburch and Alkmarum had done the same;
and as they went south they saved many girls, and as no one came to
claim them, they took them for their wives. The people who came back
all lived within the lines of the burgh, as outside there was nothing
but mud and marsh. The old houses were all smashed together. People
bought cattle and sheep from the upper lands, and in the great houses
where formerly the femmes were established cloth and felt were made
for a livelihood.

17. This happened in the year 1888 after the submersion of Atland.

18. For two hundred and eighty-two years we had not had a folk-mother,
and now, when everything seemed lost, they set about choosing one. The
lot fell upon Gosa, surnamed Makonta. She was burgh-femme of
Fryasburch, in Texland. She had a clear head and strong sense, and was
very good; and as her burgh was the only one that had been spared,
every one saw in that her call.

19. Ten years after that the navigators came from Forana and
Lydasburch. They wished to drive the black men, with their wives and
children, out of the land. They wished to obtain the opinion of the
folk-mother upon the subject.

20. She asked them, "Can you send them all back to their country? If
so, then lose no time, or they will find no relatives alive."

21. They said, "No."

22. Gosa replied, "They have eaten your bread and salt; they have
placed themselves entirely under your protection. You must consult
your own hearts. But I will give you one piece of advice. Keep them
till you are able to send them back, but keep them outside your
burghs. Watch over their morals, and educate them as if they were
Fryas sons. Their women are the strongest here. Their blood will
disappear like smoke, till at last nothing but Fryas blood will remain
in their descendants."

23. So they remained here.

24. Now, I should wish that my descendants should observe in how far
Gosa spoke the truth. When our land began to recover, there came
troops of poor Saxmannar men and women to the neighbourhoods of
Staveren and Alderga, to search for gold and other treasures in the
swampy lands. But the navigators would not permit it, so they went and
settled in the empty villages of the Westflyland in order to preserve
their lives.

Chapter II: now I will relate how the Gertmannar and many followers of
Hellenia came back -

1. Two years after Gosa became the folk-mother there arrived a fleet
at Flymar. The people shouted, "Huzza!" They sailed to Staveren, where
they shouted again. Their flags were hoisted, and at night they shot
lighted arrows into the air. At daylight some of them rowed into the
harbour in a boat, shouting again, "Huzza!"

2. When they landed a young fellow jumped upon the rampart. In his
hand he held a shield on which bread and salt were laid. After him
came a grey-headed man, who said:

3. "We come from the Fere Krekaland to preserve our customs. Now we
wish you to be kind enough to give us as much land as will enable us
to live."

4. He told a long story, which I will hereafter relate more fully.

5. The reeve did not know what to do. They sent messengers all round,
also to me. I went, and said, "Now that we have a folk-mother it
behoves us to ask her advice."

6. I went with them myself. The folk-mother, who already knew it all,
said:

7. "Let them come, they will help us to keep our lands, but do not let
them remain in one place, that they may not become too powerful over
us."

8. We did as she said, which was quite to their liking. Friso remained
with his people at Staveren, which they made again into a port as well
as they could. Wichhirte went with his people eastwards to the Emude.

9. Some of the descendants of Jon who imagined that they sprang from
the Alderga people went there. A small number, who fancied that their
forefathers had come from the Siugon Elanda, went there and set
themselves down within the enclosure of the burgh of Walhallagara.

10. Liudgert, the admiral of Wichhirte, was my comrade, and afterwards
my friend. Out of his diary I have taken the following history.

11. After we had been settled twelve times a hundred and twice twelve
years in the five waters, whilst our sea warriors were navigating all
the seas they could find, came Alexandre the king, with a powerful
army descending the river towards our villages. No one could withstand
him; but we navigators, who lived by the sea, put all our possessions
on board ships and took our departure.

12. When Alexandre heard that such a large fleet had escaped him, he
became furious, and swore that he would burn all the villages if we
did not come back. Wichhirte was ill in bed. When Alexandre heard
that, he waited till he was better. After that he came to him,
speaking very kindly - but he deceived, as he had done before.

13. Wichhirte answered, "O greatest of kings, we navigators go
everywhere; we have heard of your great deeds, therefore we are full
of respect for your arms, and still more for your wisdom; but we who
are free-born Fryas Children, we may not become your slaves; and even
if I would, the others would sooner die, for so it is commanded in our
laws."

14. Alexandre said, "I do not desire to take your land or make slaves
of your people, I only wish to hire your services. That I will swear
by both our gods, so that no one may be dissatisfied."

15. When Alexandre shared bread and salt with him, Wichhirte had
chosen the wisest part. He lest his son fetch the ships. When they
were all come back Alexandre hired them all. By means of them he
wished to transport his people to the Helige Gongga, which he had not
been able to reach. Then he chose among all his people and soldiers
those who were accustomed to the sea.

16. Wichhirte had fallen sick again, therefore I went alone with
Nearchus, sent by the king.

17. The voyage came to an end without any advantage, because the
Joniar and the Phonisiar were always quarrelling, so that Nearchus
himself could not keep them in order.

18. In the meantime, the king had not sat still. He had let his
soldiers cut down trees and make planks, with which, with the help of
our carpenters, he had built ships.

19. Now he would himself become a sea-king, and sail with his whole
army up the Gongga; but the soldiers who came from the mountainous
countries were afraid of the sea. When they heard that they must sail,
they set fire to the timber yards, and so our whole village was laid
in ashes. At first we thought that this had been done by Alexandres
orders, and we were all ready to cast ourselves into the sea: but
Alexandre was furious, and wished his own people to kill the soldiers.

20. However, Nearchus, who was not only his chief officer, but also
his friend, advised him not to do so. So he pretended to believe that
it had happened by accident, and said no more about it. He wished now
to return, but before going he made an inquiry who really were the
guilty ones. As soon as he ascertained it, he had them all disarmed,
and made them build a new village. His own people he kept under arms
to overawe the others, and to build a burgh.

21. We were to take the women and children with us. When we arrived at
the mouth of the Euphrat, we might either choose a place to settle
there or come back. Our pay would be guaranteed to us the same in
either case.

22. Upon the new ships which had been saved from the fire he embarked
the Joniar and the Krekalandar. He himself went with the rest of his
people along the coast, through the barren wilderness; that is,
through the land that Irtha had heaved up out of the sea when she had
raised up the strait as soon as our forefathers had passed into the
Rade Sea.

23. When we arrived at Ny Gertmannia - Ny Gertmannia is the port that
we had made in order to take in water - we met Alexandre with his
army. Nearchus went ashore, and stayed three days. Then we proceeded
further on.

24. When we came to the Euphrat, Nearchus went ashore with the
soldiers and a large body of people; but he soon returned, and said:

25. "The king requests you, for his sake, to go a voyage up the Rade
Sea; after that each shall receive as much gold as he can carry."

26. When we arrived there, he showed us where the strait had formerly
been. There he spent thirty-one days, always looking steadily towards
the desert.

27. At last there arrived a great troop of people, bringing with them
two hundred elephants, a thousand camels, a quantity of timber, ropes,
and all kinds of implements necessary to drag our fleet to the Middel
Sea. This astounded us, and seemed most extraordinary, but Nearchus
told us that his king wished to show to the other kings that he was
more powerful than any kings of Thyr had ever been. We were only to
assist, and that surely could do us no harm.

28. We were obliged to yield, and Nearchus knew so well how to
regulate everything, that before three months had elapsed our ships
lay in the Middel Sea. When Alexandre ascertained how his project had
succeeded, he became so audacious that he wished to dig out the
dried-up strait in defiance of Irtha; but Wr-alda deserted his soul,
so that he destroyed himself by wine and rashness before he could
begin it.

29. After his death his kingdom was divided among his princes. They
were each to have preserved a share for his sons, but that was not
their intention. Each wished to keep his own share, and to get more.
Then war arose, and we could not return. Nearchus wished us to settle
on the coast of Phonisia, but that no one would do. We said we would
rather risk the attempt to return to Fryasland.

30. Then he brought us to the new port of Athenia, where all the true
Children of Frya had formerly gone. We went, soldiers with our goods
and weapons. Among the many princes Nearchus had a friend named
Antigonus. These two had only one object in view, as they told us - to
help the royal race, and to restore freedom to all Krekaland.
Antigonus had, among many others, one son named Demetrius, afterwards
called the State Winner.

31. He went once to the state of Salamis, and after he had been some
time fighting there, he had an engagement with the fleet of
Ptholemeus. Ptholemeus was the name of the prince who ruled over
Egiptaland. Demetrius won the battle, not by his own soldiers, but
because we helped him. We had done this out of friendship for
Nearchus, because we knew that he was of bastard birth by his white
skin, blue eyes, and fair hair.

32. Afterwards, Demetrius attacked Hrodus, and we transported thither
his soldiers and provisions. When we made our last voyage to Hrodus,
the war was finished. Demetrius had sailed to Athenia. When we came
into the harbour, the whole village was in deep mourning. Friso, who
was king over the fleet, had a son and a daughter so remarkably fair,
as if they had just come out of Fryasland, and more beautiful than any
one could picture to himself.

33. The fame of this went all over Krekaland, and came to the ears of
Demetrius. Demetrius was vile and immoral, and thought he could do as
he pleased. He carried off the daughter. The mother did not dare await
the return of her Joi - the navigators wives call their husbands Joi
or Swethirte. The men call their wives Trast and Fro or Frow, that is,
"Delight" and "Frolic". That is on account of the pleasure they bring.

34. As she dared no wait for her husbands return, she went with her
son to Demetrius, and implored him to send back her daughter; but when
Demetrius saw the son he had him taken to his palace, and did to him
as he had done to his sister. He sent a bag of gold to the mother,
which she flung into the sea. When she came home she was out of her
mind, and ran about the streets calling out:

35. "Have you seen my children? Woe is me! Let me find a place to hide
in, for my husband will kill me because I have lost his children."

36. When Demetrius heard that Friso had come home, he sent messengers
to him to say that he had taken his children to raise them to high
rank, and to reward him for his services. But Friso was proud and
passionate, and sent a messenger with a letter to his children, in
which he recommended them to accept the will of Demetrius, as he
wished to promote their happiness; but the messenger had another
letter with poison, which he ordered them to take.

37. It said, "Your bodies have been defiled against your will. That
you are not to blame for; but if your souls are not pure, you will
never come into Walhalla. Your spirits will haunt Irtha in darkness.
Like the bats and owls, you will hide yourselves in the daytime in
holes, and in the night will come and shriek and cry about our graves,
while Frya must turn her head away from you."

38. The children did as their father had commanded. The messenger had
their bodies thrown into the sea, and it was reported that they had
fled.

39. Now Friso wished to go with all his people to Fryasland, where he
had been formerly, but most of them would not go. So Friso set fire to
the village and all the royal storehouses; then no one could remain
there, and all were glad to be out of it. We left everything behind us
except wives and children, but we had an ample stock of provisions and
warlike implements.

40. Friso was not yet satisfied. When we came to the old harbour, he
went off with his stout soldiers and threw fire into all the ships
that he could reach with his arrows. Six days later we saw the
war-fleet of Demetrius coming down upon us. Friso ordered us to keep
back the small ships in a broad line, and to put the large ships with
the women and children in front.

41. Further, he ordered us to take the crossbows that were in the fore
part and fix them on the sterns of the ships, because, said he:

42. "We must fight a retreating battle. No man must presume to pursue
a single enemy - that is my order."

43. While we were busy about this, all at once the wind came ahead, to
the great alarm of the cowards and the women, because we had no slaves
except those who had voluntarily followed us. Therefore we could not
escape the enemy by rowing.

44. But Wr-alda knew well why he did this; and Friso, who understood
it, immediately had the fire-arrows placed on the crossbows. At the
same time he gave the order that no one should shoot before he did,
and that we should all aim at the centre ship.

45. He said, "If we succeeded in this, the others would all go to its
assistance, and then everybody might shoot as he best was able."

46. When we were at a cable and a half distance from them the
Phonisiar began to shoot, but Friso did not reply till the first arrow
fell six fathoms from his ship. Then he fired, and the rest followed.
It was like a shower of fire; and as our arrows went with the wind,
they all remained alight and reached the third line. Everybody shouted
and cheered, but the screams of our opponents were so loud that our
hearts shrank.

47. When Friso thought that it was sufficient he called us off, and we
sped away; but after two days of slow sailing another fleet of thirty
ships came in sight and gained upon us. Friso cleared for action
again, but the others sent forward a small rowing-boat with
messengers, who asked permission to sail with us.

48. They were Joniar, and had been compelled by Demetrius to go to the
old harbour; there they had heard of the battle, and girding on their
stout swords, had followed us.

49. Friso, who had sailed a good deal with the Joniar, said, "Yes."

50. But Wichhirte, our king, said, "No. The Joniar are worshippers of
false gods; I myself have heard them call upon them."

51. Friso said, "That comes from their intercourse with the real
Krekalandar. I have often done it myself, and yet I am as pious a
Child of Frya man as any of you."

52. Friso was the man to take us to Fryasland, therefore the Joniar
went with us. It seems that this was pleasing to Wr-alda, for before
three months were past we coasted along Brittania, and three days
later we could shout, "Huzza!"

Chapter III: This writing has been given to me about Northland or
Skenland -

1. When our land was submerged I was in Skenland. It was very bad
there. There were great lakes which rose from Irtha like bubbles, then
burst asunder, and from the rents flowed a stuff like red-hot iron.
The tops of high mountains fell and destroyed whole forests and
villages. I myself saw one mountain torn from another and fall
straight down. When I afterwards went to see the place there was a
lake there.

2. When Irtha was composed there came a duke of Lindasburch with his
people, and one femme who cried everywhere:

3. "Magy is the cause of all the misery that we have suffered."

4. They continued their progress, and their hosts increased. The Magy
fled, and his corpse was found where he had killed himself.

5. Then the Finnar were driven to one place where they might live.
There were some of mixed blood who were allowed to stay, but most of
them went with the Finnar.

6. The duke was chosen as king. The temples which had remained whole
were destroyed. Since that time the good Northlandar come often to
Texland for the advice of the folk-mother; still we cannot consider
them real Children of Frya.

7. In Denamark it has certainly happened as with us. The navigators,
who call themselves famous sea-warriors, went on board their ships,
and afterwards went back again.

Chapter IV: Hail!

1. Whenever the carrier has completed a period, then posterity shall
understand that the faults and misdeeds that the Brokmannar have
brought with them belonged to their forefathers; therefore I will
watch, and will describe as much of their manners as I have seen.

2. The Gertmannar I can readily pass by. I have not had much to do
with them, but as far as I have seen they have mostly retained their
language and customs.

3. I cannot say that of the others. Those who descend from the
Krekalandar speak a bad language, and have not much to boast of in
their manners. Many have brown eyes and hair. They are envious and
impudent, and cowardly from superstition. When they speak, they put
the words first that ought to come last. For old they say "at", for
salt, "sat", and for man, "ma" - too many to mention. They also use
abbreviations of names, which have no meaning.

4. The Joniar speak better, but they drop the "H", and put it where it
ought not to be. When they make a statue of a dead person they believe
that the spirit of the departed enters into it; therefore they have
hidden their statues of Frya, Fasta, Medea, Thiania, Hellenia, and
many others. When a child is born, all the relatives come together and
pray to Frya to send her femmes to bless the child. When they have
prayed, they must neither move nor speak.

5. If the child begins to cry, and continues some time, it is a bad
sign, and they suspect that the mother has committed adultery. I have
seen very bad things come from that. If the child sleeps, that is a
good sign - Fryas femmes are come. If it laughs in its sleep, the
femmes have promised it happiness.

6. Moreover they falsely believe that spirits, witches, sorcerers,
dwarfs, and elves, are descended from the Finnar.

7. Herewith I will finish, and I think I have written more than any of
my forefathers - Frethorik.

8. Frethorik, my husband, lived to the age of sixty-three. Since one
hundred and eight years he is the first of his family who died a
peaceable death; all the others died by violence, because they all
fought with their own people, and with foreigners for right and duty.

9. My name is Wiliow. I am the femme who came home with him from
Saxanamark. In the course of conversation it came out that we were
both of Adelas family - thus our affection commenced, and we became
man and wife. He left me with five children, two sons and three
daughters. Konered was my eldest son, Hachgana my second. My eldest
daughter is called Adela, my second Frulik, and my youngest Nocht.
When I went to Saxanamark I preserved three books - The Book of Songs,
The Book of Narratives, and The Hellenia Book.

10. I write this in order that people may not think they were by
Apollonia. I have a good deal of annoyance about this, and therefore
now wish to have the honour of it. I also did more. When Gosa Makonta
died, whose goodness and clear-sightedness have become a proverb, I
went alone to Texland to copy the writings that she had left; and when
the last will of Frana was found, and the writings left by Adela or
Hellenia, I did that again.

11. These are the writings of Hellenia. I have put them first because
they are the oldest.

Chapter V: Hail to all true Children of Frya!

1. In olden times, the slave people knew nothing of liberty. They were
brought under the yoke like oxen. They were driven into the bowels of
Irtha to dig metals, and had to build houses of stone as dwelling
places for princes and priests. Of all that they did nothing came to
themselves, everything must serve to enrich and make more powerful the
priests and the princes, and to satisfy them.

2. Under this treatment they grew grey and old before their time, and
died without any enjoyment; although Irtha produces abundantly for the
good of all her children. But our runaways and exiles came through
Twiskland to their boundaries, and our navigators came to the
harbours. From them they heard of liberty, of justice, and laws,
without which men cannot exist. This was all absorbed by the unhappy
people like dew into an arid soil.

3. When they fully understood this, the most courageous among them
began to clank their chains, which grieved the princes. The princes
are proud and warlike; there is therefore some virtue in their hearts.
They consulted together and bestowed some of their superfluity; but
the cowardly hypocritical priests could not suffer this.

4. Among their false gods they had created also wicked cruel monsters.
Pestilence broke out in the country; and they said that the gods were
angry with the domineering of the wicked. Then the boldest of the
people were strangled in their chains. Irtha drank their blood, and
that blood produced corn and fruits that inspired with wisdom those
who ate them.

5. In the year 1600 after Atland was submerged, something happened
which nobody had reckoned upon. In the heart of Findas land, upon a
mountain, lies a plain called Kasamyr, that is, "Extraordinary". There
was a child born whose mother was the daughter of a king, and whose
father was a high-priest. In order to hide the shame they were obliged
to renounce their own blood. Therefore it was taken out of the state
to poor people.

6. As the boy grew up, nothing was concealed from him, so he did all
in his power to acquire wisdom. His intellect was so great that he
understood everything that he saw or heard. The people regarded him
with respect, and the priests were afraid of his questions. When he
was of full age he went to his parents. They had to listen to some
hard language; and to get rid of him they gave him a quantity of
jewels, but they dared not openly acknowledge him.

7. Overcome with sorrow at the false shame of his parents, he wandered
about. While travelling he fell in with a navigator from Fryasland who
was serving as a slave, and who taught him our manners and customs. He
bought the freedom of the slave, and they remained friends till death.
Wherever he went he taught the people not to tolerate rich men or
priests, and that they must guard themselves against false shame,
which everywhere did harm to love and charity.

8. He said, "Irtha bestows her treasures on those who scratch her
skin; so all are obliged to dig, and plough, and sow if they wish to
reap, but no one is obliged to do anything for another unless it be
out of goodwill."

9. He taught that men should not seek in her bowels for gold, or
silver, or precious stones, which occasion envy and destroy love.

10. He said, "To embellish your wives and daughters, the river offers
her pure stream. No man is able to make everybody equally rich and
happy, but it is the duty of all men to make each other as equally
rich and as happy as possible. Men should not despise any knowledge;
but justice is the greatest knowledge that time can teach, because she
wards off offences and promotes love."

11. His first name was Jesus, but the priests, who hated him, called
him Fo, that is, "False"; the people called him Krisen, that is,
"Shepherd"; and his friend who was a Child of Frya called him Buda,
because he had in his head a treasure of wisdom, and in his heart a
treasure of love.

12. At last he was obliged to flee from the wrath of the priests; but
wherever he went his teaching had preceded him, whilst his enemies
followed him like his shadow. When Jesus had thus travelled for twelve
years he died; but his friends preserved his teaching, and spread it
wherever they found listeners.

13. What do you think the priests did then? That I must tell you, and
you must give your best attention to it. Moreover, you must keep guard
against their acts and their tricks with all the strength that Wr-alda
has given you. While the doctrine of Jesus was thus spreading over
Irtha, the false priests went to the land of his birth to make his
death known.

14. They said they were his friends, and they pretended to show great
sorrow by tearing their clothes and shaving their heads.

15. They went to live in caves in the mountains, but in them they had
hid all their treasures, and they made in them images of Jesus. They
gave these statues to simple people, and at last they said that Jesus
was a god, that he had declared this himself to them, and that all
those who followed his doctrine should enter his kingdom hereafter,
where all was joy and happiness.

16. Because they knew that he was opposed to the rich, they announced
everywhere that poverty, suffering, and humility were the door by
which to enter into his kingdom, and that those who had suffered the
most on Irtha should enjoy the greatest happiness there.

17. Although they knew that Jesus had taught that men should regulate
and control their passions, they taught that men should stifle their
passions, and that the perfection of humanity consisted in being as
unfeeling as the cold stones.

18. In order to make the people believe that they did as they
preached, they pretended to outward poverty; and that they had
overcome all sensual feelings, they took no wives. But if any young
girl had made a false step, it was quickly forgiven.

19. They said, "The weak are to be assisted, and to save their souls
men must give largely to the temple."

20. Acting in this way, they had wives and children without
households, and were rich without working; but the people grew poorer
and more miserable than they had ever been before.

21. This doctrine, which requires the priests to possess no further
knowledge than to speak deceitfully, and to pretend to be pious while
acting unjustly, spreads from east to west, and will come to our land
also.

22. But when the priests fancy that they have entirely extinguished
the light of Frya and Jesus, then shall all classes of men rise up who
have quietly preserved the truth among themselves, and have hidden it
from the priests. They shall be of princely blood of priests, slave
blood, and Fryas blood. They will make their light visible, so that
all men shall see the truth; they shall cry woe to the acts of the
princes and the priests.

23. The princes who love the truth and justice shall separate
themselves from the priests; blood shall flow, but from it the people
will gather new strength. Findas people shall contribute their
industry to the common good, Lydas people their strength, and we our
wisdom. Then the false priests shall be swept away from Irtha.
Wr-aldas spirit shall be invoked everywhere and always; the laws that
Wr-alda in the beginning instilled into our consciences shall alone be
listened to.

24. There shall be neither princes, nor masters, nor rulers, except
those chosen by the general voice. Then Frya shall rejoice, and Irtha
will only bestow her gifts on those who work. All this shall begin in
the year 4000 after the submersion of Atland, and a thousand years
later there shall exist no longer either priest or oppression.

25. Dela, surnamed Hellenia - Watch!

26. Thus runs Franas last will:

27. All noble Children of Frya - Hail!

28. In the name of Wr-alda, of Frya, and of freedom, I greet you; and
pray you if I die before I have named a successor, then I recommend to
you Tuntia, who is burgh-femme in the burgh of Medeasblik; till now
she is the best.

29. This Gosa has left behind her:

30. Hail to all men!

31. I have named no folk-mother, because I knew none, and because it
is better for you to have no folk-mother than to have one you cannot
trust.

32. One bad time is passed by, but there is still another coming.
Irtha has not given it birth, and Wr-alda has not decreed it. It comes
from the east, out of the bosom of the priests.

33. It will breed so much mischief that Irtha will not be able to
drink the blood of her slain children. It will spread darkness over
the minds of men like storm-clouds over the sunlight. Everywhere craft
and deception shall contend with freedom and justice. Freedom and
justice shall be overcome, and we with them.

34. But this success will work out its own loss. Our descendants shall
teach their people and their slaves the meaning of three words; they
are: "Universal Law", "Freedom", and "Justice". At first they shall
shine, then struggle with darkness, until every mans head and heart
has become bright and clear. Then shall oppression be driven from
Irtha, like the thunder-clouds by the storm-wind, and all deceit will
cease to have any more power.

35. Gosa.
_________________________________________________________________

THE WRITINGS OF KONERED

Chapter I: My forefathers have written this book in succession -

1. I will do the same, the more because there exists no longer in my
state a burgh on which events are inscribed as used to be the case. My
name is Konered. My fathers name was Frethorik, my mothers name was
Wiliow. After my fathers death I was chosen as his successor. When I
was fifty years old I was chosen for chief reeve.

2. My father has written how the Lindawrda and Liudgarda were
destroyed. Lindahem is still lost, the Lindawrda partially, and the
north Liudgarda is still concealed by the salt sea. The foaming sea
washes the ramparts of the burgh. As my father has mentioned, the
people, being deprived of their harbour, went away and built houses
inside the ramparts of the burgh; therefore that complete circuit is
called Liudwerd. The navigators say Liuwrd, but that is nonsense.

3. In my youth there was a portion of land lying outside the rampart
all mud and marsh; but Fryas people were neither tired nor exhausted
when they had a good object in view. By digging ditches, and making
dams of the mud that came out of the ditches, we recovered a good
space of land outside the rampart, which had the form of a hoof three
poles eastwards, three southwards, and three westwards.

4. At present we are engaged in ramming piles into the ground to make
a harbour to protect our rampart. When the work is finished we shall
attract navigators. In my youth it looked very queer, but now there
stands a row of houses.

5. Leaks and deficiencies produced by poverty have been remedied by
industry. From this men may learn that Wr-alda, our Alfeder, protects
all his creatures, if they preserve their courage and help each other.

Chapter II: Now I will write about Friso -

1. Friso, who was already powerful by his troops, was chosen chief
reeve of the districts round Staveren. He laughed at our mode of
defending our land and our sea fights; therefore he established a
school where the boys might learn to fight in the Krekalandar manner,
but I believe that he did it to attach the young people to himself. I
sent my brother there ten years ago, because I thought, now that we
have not got any folk-mother, it behoves me to be doubly watchful, in
order that he may not become our master.

2. Gosa has given us no successors. I will not give any opinion about
that; but there are still old suspicious people who think that she and
Friso had an understanding about it. When Gosa died, the people from
all parts wished to choose another folk-mother; but Friso, who was
busy establishing a kingdom for himself, did not desire to have any
advice or messenger from Texland.

3. When the messengers of the Landsaton came to him, he said that Gosa
had been far-seeing and wiser than all the reeves together, and yet
she had been unable to see any light or way out of this affair;
therefor she had not had the courage to choose a successor, and to
choose a doubtful one she thought would be very bad; therefore she
wrote in her last will:

4. "It is better to have no folk-mother than to have one on whom you
cannot rely."

5. Friso had seen a great deal. He had been brought up in the wars,
and he had just learned and gathered as much of the tricks and cunning
ways of the Golar and the princes as he required, to lead the other
reeves wherever he wished. See here how he went to work about that.

6. Friso had taken here another wife, a daughter of Wilfrethe, who in
his lifetime had been chief reeve of Staveren. By her he had two sons
and two daughters. By his wish Kornelia, his younger daughter, was
married to my brother. "Kornelia" is not good Fryas language; her name
ought to be written "Kornhelia".

7. Wemod, his elder daughter, he married to Kauch. Kauch, who went to
school with him, is the son of Wichhirte, the king of the Gertmannar.
But "Kauch" is likewise not good Fryas language, and ought to be
"Kap". So they have learned more bad language than good manners.

8. Now I must return to my story.

9. After the great flood of which my father wrote an account, there
came many Juttar and Letne out of the Balda or Kuade Sea. They were
driven down the Katsgat in their boats by the ice as far as the coast
of Denamark, and there they remained. There was not a creature to be
seen; so they took possession of the land, and named it after
themselves, Juttarland.

10. Afterwards many of the Denamarkar returned from the higher lands,
but they settled more to the south; and when the navigators returned
who had not been lost, they all went together to Seland. By this
arrangement the Juttar retained the land to which Wr-alda had
conducted them. The Selandar navigators, who were not satisfied to
live upon fish, and who hated the Golar, took to robbing the Phonisiar
ships.

11. In the south-west point of Skenland there lies Lindasburch, called
Lindasnose, built by one Apol, as is written in the book. All the
people who live on the coasts, and in the neighbouring districts, had
remained true Children of Frya; but by their desire for vengeance upon
the Golar, and the followers of Kaltana, they joined the Selandar. But
that connection did not hold together, because the Selandar had
adopted many evil manners and customs of the wicked Magyarar, in
opposition to Fryas people.

12. Afterwards, everybody went stealing on his own account; but when
it suited them they held all together. At last the Selandar began to
be in want of good ships. Their shipbuilders had died, and their
forests as well as their land had been washed out to sea. Now there
arrived unexpectedly three ships, which anchored off the ramparts of
our burgh. By the disruption of our land they had lost themselves, and
had missed Flymuda.

13. The merchant who was with them wished to buy new ships from us,
and for that purpose had brought all kinds of valuables, which they
had stolen from the Kaltanarland and Phonisiar ships. As we had no
ships, I gave them active horses and four armed couriers to Friso;
because at Staveren, along the Alderga, the best ships of war were
built of hard oak which never rots.

14. While these sea rovers remained with us, some of the Juttar had
gone to Texland, and thence to Friso. The Selandar had stolen many of
their strongest boys to row their ships, and many of their finest
daughters to have children by. The great Juttar could not prevent it,
as they were not properly armed. When they had related all their
misfortunes, and a good deal of conversation had taken place, Friso
asked them at last if they had no good harbours in their country.

15. They answered, "Oh, yes; a beautiful one, created by Wr-alda. It
is like a bottle, the neck narrow, but in the belly a thousand large
boats may lie; but we have no burgh and no defences to keep out the
pirate ships."

16. Friso said, "Then you should make them."

17. The Juttar said, "That is very good advice; but we have no workmen
and no building materials; we are all fishermen and trawlers. The
others are drowned or fled to the higher lands."

18. While they were talking in this way, my messengers arrived at the
court with the Selandar gentlemen. Here you must observe how Friso
understood deceiving everybody, to the satisfaction of both parties,
and to the accomplishment of his own ends. To the Selandar he promised
that they should have yearly fifty ships of a fixed size for a fixed
price, fitted with iron chains and crossbows, and full rigging as is
necessary and useful for men-of-war, but that they should leave in
peace the Juttar and all the people of Fryas race.

19. But he wished to do more; he wanted to engage all our sea rovers
to go with him upon his fighting expedition. When the Selandar had
gone, he loaded forty old ships with weapons for wall defences, wood,
bricks, carpenters, masons, and smiths, in order to build burghs.
Witto, or Witte, his son, he sent to superintend.

20. I have never been well informed of what happened; but this much is
clear to me, that on each side of the harbour a strong burgh has been
built, and garrisoned by people brought by Friso out of Saxanamark.
Witto courted Siuchthirte and married her. Wilhem, her father, was
chief alderman of the Juttar - that is, chief reeve or officer. Wilhem
died shortly afterwards, and Witto was chosen in his place.

Chapter III: What Friso did further -

1. Of his first wife he still had two brothers-in-law, who were very
daring. Hetto - that is, "Heat" - the youngest, he sent as messenger
to Kattaburch, which lies far in the Saxanamark. Friso gave him to
take seven horses, besides his own, laden with precious things stolen
by the sea-rovers. With each horse there were two young sea-rovers and
two young horsemen, clad in rich garments, and with money in their
purses.

2. In the same way as he sent Hetto to Kattaburch, he sent Bruno that
is, "Brown" - the other brother-in-law, to Mannagardawrda.
Mannagardawrda was written Mannagardaforda in the earlier part of this
book, but that is wrong. All the riches that they took with them were
given away, according to circumstances, to princes, princesses, and
chosen young girls.

3. When his young men went to the tavern to dance with the young
people there, they ordered baskets of spice, gingerbread, and tuns of
the best beer. After these messengers he let his young people
constantly go over to the Saxanamark, always with money in their
purses and presents to give away, and they spent money carelessly in
the taverns.

4. When the Saxmannar youths looked with envy at this they smiled, and
said:

5. "If you dare go and fight the common enemy you would be able to
give much richer presents to your brides, and live much more
princely."

6. Both the brothers-in-law of Friso had married daughters of the
chief princes, and afterwards the Saxman youths and girls came in
whole troops to the Flymar.

7. The burgh-femmes and elder-femmes who still remembered their
greatness did not hold with Frisos object, and therefore they said no
good of him; but Friso, more cunning than they, let them chatter, but
the younger femmes he led to his side with golden fingers. They said
everywhere:

8. "For a long time we have had no folk-mother, but that comes from
being fit to take care of ourselves. At present it suits us best to
have a king to win back our lands that we have lost through the
imprudence of our folk-mothers."

9. Further they said, "Every Child of Frya has permission to let his
voice be heard before the choice of a prince is decided; but if it
comes to that, that you choose a king, then also we will have our say.
From all that we can see, Wr-alda has appointed Friso for it, for he
has brought him here in a wonderful way. Friso knows the tricks of the
Golar, whose language he speaks; he can therefore watch against their
craftiness. Then there is something else to keep the eye upon. What
reeve could be chosen as king without the others being jealous of
him?"

10. All such nonsense the young femmes talked; but the elder-femmes,
though few in number, tapped their advice out of another cask. They
said always and to every one:

11. "Friso does like the spiders. At night he spreads his webs in all
directions, and in the day he catches in them all his unsuspecting
friends. Friso says he cannot suffer any priests or foreign princes,
but we say that he cannot suffer anybody but himself; therefore he
will not allow the burgh of Stavia to be rebuilt; therefore he will
not have the folk-mother again. Today Friso is your counsellor,
tomorrow he will be your king, in order to have full power over you."

12. Among the people there now existed two parties. The old and the
poor wished to have the folk-mother again, but the young and the
warlike wished for a father and a king. The first called themselves
"Mothers Sons", the others, "Fathers Sons", but the Mothers Sons did
not count for much; because there were many ships to build, there was
a good time for all kinds of workmen. Moreover, the sea-rovers brought
all sorts of treasures, with which the femmes were pleased, the girls
were pleased, and their relations and friends.

13. When Friso had been nearly forty years at Staveren he died. Owing
to him many of the states had been joined together again, but that we
were the better for it I am not prepared to certify. Of all the reeves
that preceded him there was none so renowned as Friso; for, as I said
before, the young femmes spoke in his praise, while the elder-femmes
did all in their power to make him hateful to everybody. Although the
old women could not prevent his meddling, they made so much fuss that
he died without becoming king.

Chapter IV: Now I will write about his son Adel -

1. Friso, who had learned our history from The Book of Adelas
Followers, had done everything in his power to win their friendship.
His eldest son, whom he had by his wife Swethirte, he named Adel; and
although he strove with all his might to prevent the building or
restoring of any burghs, he sent Adel to the burgh of Texland in order
to make himself better acquainted with our laws, language, and
customs.

2. When Adel was twenty years old Friso brought him into his own
school, and when he had fully educated him he sent him to travel
through all the states. Adel was an amiable young man, and in his
travels he made many friends, so the people called him Atharik - that
is, "Rich in Friends" - which was very useful to him afterwards, for
when his father died he took his place without a question of any other
reeve being chosen.

3. While Adel was studying at Texland there was a lovely femme at the
burgh. She came from Saxanamark, from the state of Suobaland,
therefore she was called at Texland Suobene, although her name was
Ifkia. Adel fell in love with her, and she with him, but his father
wished him to wait a little. Adel did as he wished; but as soon as he
was dead, sent messengers to Bertholda, her father, to ask her in
marriage.

4. Bertholda was a prince of high-principled feelings. He had sent his
daughter to Texland in the hope that she might be chosen burgh-femme
in her country, but when he knew of their mutual affection he bestowed
his blessings upon them. Ifkia was a clever Child of Frya. As far as I
have been able to learn, she always toiled and worked to bring the
Fryas people back under the same laws and customs.

5. To bring the people to her side, she travelled with her husband
through all Saxanamark, and also to Gertmannia - as the Gertmannar had
named the country which they had obtained by means of Gosa. Thence
they went to Denamark, and from Denamark by sea to Texland. From
Texland they went to Westflyland, and so along the coast to
Walhallagara; thence they followed the Suder Hrenum, till, with great
apprehension, they arrived beyond the Rene at the Marsatar of whom our
Apollonia has written.

6. When they had stayed there a little time, they returned to the
lowlands. When they had been some time descending towards the
lowlands, and had reached about the old burgh of Aken, four of their
servants were suddenly murdered and stripped. They had loitered a
little behind. My brother, who was always on the alert, had forbidden
them to do so, but they did not listen to him.

7. The murderers that had committed this crime were Twisklandar, who
had at that time audaciously crossed the Rene to murder and to steal.
The Twisklandar are banished and fugitive Children of Frya, but their
wives they have stolen from the Tartarar. The Tartarar are a brown
tribe of Findas people, who are thus named because they make war on
everybody. They are all horsemen and robbers. This is what makes the
Twisklandar so bloodthirsty.

8. The Twisklandar who had done the wicked deed called themselves
Fryar or Frankar. There were among them, my brother said, red, brown,
and white men. The red and brown made their hair white with lime-water
but as their faces remained brown, they were only the more ugly.

9. In the same way as Apollonia, they visited Lydasburch and the
Alderga. Afterwards they made a tour of all the neighbourhood of
Staveren. They behaved with so much amiability, that everywhere the
people wished to install Adel as king. Three months later, Adel sent
messengers to all the friends that he had made, requesting them to
send to him their representatives in the Minna Month [...]

10. [...] his wife, he said, who had been a femme at Texland, had
received a copy of it. In Texland many writings are still found which
are not copied in The Book of Adelas Followers. One of these writings
had been placed by Gosa with her last will, which was to be opened by
the most senior elder-femme, Albethe, as soon as Friso was dead.

Chapter V: Here is the writing with Gosas advice -

1. When Wr-alda gave children to the mothers of mankind, he gave one
language to every tongue and to all lips. This gift Wr-alda had
bestowed upon men in order that by its means they might make known to
each other what must be avoided and what must be followed to find true
life, and to hold that life to all eternity.

2. Wr-alda is wise and good, and all foreseeing. As he knew that
happiness and holiness would flee from Irtha when wickedness could
overcome virtue, he has attached to the language an equitable
property. This property consists in this, that men can neither lie nor
use deceitful words without stammering or blushing, by which means the
innately bad are easily known.

3. As thus our language opens the way to happiness and blessedness,
and thus helps to guard against evil inclinations, it is rightly named
the language of the gods, and all those by whom it is held in honour
derive honour from it. But what has happened? As soon as among our
half brothers and sisters deceivers arose, who gave themselves out as
servants of the good, it soon became otherwise.

4. The deceitful priests and the malignant princes, who always clung
together, wished to live according to their own inclinations, without
regard to the laws of right. In their wickedness they went so far as
to invent other languages, so that they might speak secretly in
anybodys presence of their wicked and unworthy affairs without
betraying themselves by stammering, and without showing a blush upon
their countenances.

5. But what has that produced? Just as the seed of good herbs which
has been sown by good men in the open day springs up from the ground,
so time brings to light the evil seed which has been sown by wicked
men in secret and in darkness.

6. The wanton girls and effeminate youths who consorted with the
immoral priests and princes, taught the new language to their
companions, and thus spread it among the people till the language of
the gods was clean forgotten.

7. Would you know what came of all this? How that stammering and
blushing no longer betrayed their evil doings - virtue passed away,
wisdom and liberty followed; unity was lost, and quarrelling took its
place; love flew away, and unchastity and envy met round their tables;
and where previously justice reigned, now it is the sword. All are
slaves - the subjects of their masters, envy, bad passions and
covetousness.

8. If they had only invented one language things might possibly have
still gone on well; but they invented as many languages as there are
states, so that one people can no more understand another people than
a cow a dog, or a wolf a sheep. The navigators can bear witness to
this. From all this it results that all the slave people look upon
each other as strangers; and that as a punishment of their
inconsiderateness and presumption, they must quarrel and fight till
they are all destroyed.

Chapter VI: Here is my counsel -

1. If you wish that you alone should inherit the World, you must never
allow any language but the language of the gods to pass your lips, and
take care that your own language remains free from outlandish sounds.
If you wish that some of Lydas children and some of Findas children
remain, you must do the same.

2. The language of the Ast Skenlandar has been perverted by the vile
Magyarar, and the language of the followers of Kaltana has been
spoiled by the dirty Golar. Now, we have been weak enough to admit
among us the returned followers of Hellenia, but I anxiously fear that
they will reward our weakness by debasing our pure language.

3. Many things have happened to us, but among all the burghs that have
been disturbed and destroyed in the bad time, Irtha has preserved
Fryasburch uninjured; and I may remark that Fryas language, or the
language of the gods, has always remained here untainted.

4. Here in Texland, therefore, schools should be established; and from
all the states that have kept to the old customs the young people
should be sent here, and afterwards those whose education is complete
can help those who remain at home.

5. If foreigners come to buy ironwares from you, and want to talk and
bargain, they must come back to the language of the gods. If they
learn the language of the gods, then the words, "To Be Free", and, "To
Have Justice", will come to them, and glimmer and glitter in their
brains to a perfect light, and that flame will destroy all bad princes
and hypocritical dirty priests.

6. The native and foreign messengers were pleased with that writing,
but no schools came from it. Then Adel established schools himself.
Every year Adel and Ifkia went to inspect the schools. If they found a
friendly feeling existing between the natives and foreigners, they
were extremely pleased.

7. If there were any who had sworn friendship together, they assembled
the people, and with great ceremony let them inscribe their names in a
book which was called The Book of Friendship, and afterwards a
festival was held. All these customs were kept up in order to bring
together the separate branches of Fryas race; but the femmes who were
opposed to Adel and Ifkia said that they did it for no other reason
than to make a name for themselves, and to bring all the other states
under their subjection.

8. Among my fathers papers I found a letter from Liudgert the Gertman.
Omitting some passages which only concern my father, I proceed to
relate the rest.

9. Pangab, that is, "Five Rivers", and by which we travel, is a river
of extraordinary beauty, and is called "Five Rivers" because four
other streams flow into the sea by its mouth. Far away to the eastward
is another large river, the Helige or Sacred Gongga. Between these two
rivers is the land of the Hindos. Both rivers run from the high
mountains to the plains. The mountains in which their sources lie are
so high that they reach the heavens, and therefore these mountains are
called Himellaia.

10. Among the Hindos and others out of these countries there are
people who meet together secretly. They believe that they are pure
children of Finda, and that Finda was born in the Himellaia mountains,
whence she went with her children to the lowlands. Some of them
believe that she, with her children, floated down upon the foam of the
Gongga, and that that is the reason why the river is called the Helige
Gongga.

11. But the priests, who came from another country, traced out these
people and had them burnt, so that they do not dare to declare openly
their creed. In this country all the priests are fat and rich. In
their temples there are all kinds of monstrous images, many of them
gold.

12. To the west of the Pangab are the Yrar, or "Morose", the
Gedrostne, or "Runaways", and the Orjetten, or "Forgotten". These
names are given by the priests out of spite, because they fled from
their customs and religion.

13. On their arrival our forefathers likewise established themselves
to the east of the Pangab, but on account of the priests they likewise
went to the west.

14. In that way we learned to know the Yrar and the other people. The
Yrar are not savages, but good people, who neither pray to nor
tolerate images; neither will they suffer priests or temples; but as
we adhere to the light of Fasta, so they everywhere maintain fire in
their houses.

15. Coming still further westward, we arrive at the Gedrostne.
Regarding the Gedrostne: they have been mixed with other people, and
speak a variety of languages. These people are really savage
murderers, who always wander about the country on horseback hunting
and robbing, and hire themselves as soldiers to the surrounding
princes, at whose command they destroy whatever they can reach.

16. The country between the Pangab and the Gongga is as flat as
Fryasland near the sea, and consists of forests and fields, fertile in
every part, but this does not prevent the people from dying by
thousands of hunger. The famines, however, must not be attributed to
Wr-alda or Irtha, but to the princes and priests.

17. The Hindos are timid and submissive before their princes, like
hinds before wolves. Therefore the Yrar and others have called them
Hindos, which means "Hinds". But their timidity is frightfully abused.
If strangers come to purchase corn, everything is turned into money,
and this is not prevented by the priests, because they, being more
crafty and rapacious than all the princes put together, know very well
that all the money will come into their pockets.

18. Besides what the people suffer from their princes, they suffer a
great deal from poisonous and wild beasts. There are great elephants
that sometimes go about in whole flocks and trample down cornfields
and whole villages. There are great black and white cats which are
called tigers. They are as large as calves, and they devour both men
and beasts.

19. Besides other creeping animals there are snakes from the size of a
worm to the size of a tree. The largest can swallow a cow, but the
smallest are the most deadly. They conceal themselves among the fruits
and flowers, and surprise the people who come to gather them. Any one
who is bitten by them is sure to die, as Irtha has given no antidote
to their poison, because the people have so given themselves up to
idolatry.

20. There are, besides, all sorts of lizards, tortoises, and
crocodiles. All these reptiles, like the snakes, vary from the size of
a worm to the trunk of a tree. According to their size and fierceness,
they have names which I cannot recollect, but the largest are called
alligators, because they eat as greedily the putrid cattle that float
down the stream as they do living animals that they seize.

21. On the west of the Pangab where we come from, and where I was
born, the same fruits and crops grow as on the east side. Formerly
there existed also the same crawling animals, but our forefathers
burnt all the underwood, and so diligently hunted all the wild
animals, that there are scarcely any left.

22. To the extreme west of the Pangab there is found rich clay land as
well as barren heaths, which seem endless, occasionally varied lovely
spots on which they eye rests enchanted. Among the fruits there are
many that I have not found here. Among the various kinds of corn some
is as yellow as gold. There are also golden apples, of which some are
as sweet as honey and others as sour as vinegar.

23. In our country there are nuts as large as a childs head. They
contain cheese and milk. When they are old oil is made from them. Of
the husks ropes are made, and of the shells cups and other household
utensils are made. I have found in the woods here bramble and holly
berries. In my country we have trees bearing berries, as large as your
lime-trees, the berries of which are much sweeter and three times as
large as your gooseberries.

24. When the days are at the longest, and the sun is in the zenith, a
mans body has no shadow. If you sail very far to the south and look to
the east at midday, the sun shines on your left side as it does in
other countries on the right side.

25. With this I will finish. It will be easy for you, by means of what
I have written, to distinguish between false accounts and true
descriptions.

26. Your Liudgert.
_________________________________________________________________

THE WRITINGS OF BEDEN

Chapter I: My name is Beden, son of Hachgana -

1. My uncle Konered, not having married, left no children. I was
elected in his place. Adel, the third king of that name, approved of
the choice, provided I should acknowledge him as master. In addition
to the entire inheritance of my uncle, he gave me some land which
adjoined my own, on condition that I would settle people there who
should never his people [...]

2. [...] therefore I will allow it a place here.

Chapter II: Letter of Rika the elder-femme, read at Staveren at the
yule-feast -

1. My greeting to all of you whose forefathers came here with Friso.
According to what you say, you are not guilty of idolatry. I will not
speak about that now, but will at once mention a failing which is very
little better. You know, or you do not know, of the thousand glorious
titles Wr-alda has; but you all know that he is named Alfeder, because
that everything comes and proceeds from him for the sustenance of his
creatures.

2. It is true that Irtha is named sometimes Alfedstre, because she
brings forth all the fruits and grains on which men and beasts are
fed; but she would not bear any fruit or grain unless Wr-alda gave her
the power. Women who nourish their children at their breasts are
called nurses, but if Wr-alda did not give them milk the children
would find no advantage; so that, in short, Wr-alda really is the
nourisher.

3. That Irtha should be called Alfedstre, and that a mother should be
called a feeder, one can understand, figuratively speaking; but that a
father should be called a feeder, because he is a father, goes against
all reason. Now I know whence all this folly comes. Listen to me. It
comes from our enemies; and if this is followed up you will become
slaves, to the sorrow of Frya and to the punishment of your pride.

4. I will tell you what happened to the slave people; from that you
may take warning. The foreign kings, who follow their own will, place
Wr-alda below the crown. From envy that Wr-alda is called Alfeder,
they wish also to be called feeders of the people. Now, everybody
knows that kings regulate neither productiveness nor wealth; and that
they have their sustenance by means of the people, but still they
persist in their arrogance.

5. In order to attain their object they were not satisfied from the
beginning with free gifts, but imposed a tax upon the people. With the
tax thus raised they hired foreign soldiers, whom they retained about
their courts. Afterwards they took as many wives as they pleased, and
the smaller princes and gentry did the same.

6. When, in consequence, quarrels and disputes arose in the
households, and complaints were made about it, they said every father
is the feeder of his household, therefore he shall be master and judge
over it. Thus arose arbitrariness, and as the men ruled over their
households the kings would do over their people.

7. When the kings had accomplished that, that they should be called
feeders of the people, they had statues of themselves made, and
erected in the temples beside the statues of their idols, and those
who would not bow down to them were either killed or put in chains.
Your forefathers and the Twisklandar had intercourse with the
foreigners, and learned these follies from them. But it is not only
that some of your men have been guilty of stealing titles, I have also
much to complain of against your wives.

8. If there are men among you who wish to put themselves on a level
with Wr-alda, there are also women who wish to consider themselves
equals of Frya. Because they have borne children, they call themselves
mothers; but they forget that Frya bore children without having
intercourse with a man. Yes, they not only have desired to rob Frya
and her folk-mothers of their glorious titles - with whom they cannot
put themselves upon an equality - but they do the same with the
glorious names of their fellow creatures.

9. There are women who allow themselves to be called ladies, although
they know that that only belongs to the wives of princes. They also
let their daughters be called femmes, although they know that no young
girls are so called unless they belong to a burgh. You all fancy that
you are the better for this name stealing, but you forget that
jealousy clings to it, and that every wrong sows the seed of its own
rod.

10. If you do not alter your course, in time it will grow so strong
that you cannot see what will be the end. Your descendants will be
flogged by it, and will not know whence the stripes come. But although
you do not build burghs for the femmes and leave them to their fate,
there will still remain some who will come out of woods and caves, and
will prove to your descendants that you have by your disorderliness
been the cause of it.

11. Then you will be damned. Your ghosts will rise frightened out of
their graves. They will call upon Wr-alda, Frya, and her femmes, but
they shall receive no succour before the yule shall enter upon a new
circuit, and that will only be three thousand years after this
century.

12. The end of Rikas letter.

Chapter III: [...] therefore I will first write about Swarte Adel -

1. Swarte Adel was the fourth king after Friso. In his youth he
studied first at Texland, and then at Staveren, and afterwards
travelled through all the states. When he was twenty-four years old
his father had him elected judge and named Askar. As soon as he became
Askar he always took the part of the poor. He said:

2. "The rich do enough of wrong by means of their wealth, therefore we
ought to take care that the poor look up to us."

3. By arguments of this kind he became the friend of the poor and the
terror of the rich. It was carried so far that his father looked up to
him. When his father died he succeeded, and then he wished to retain
his office as well, as the kings of the east used to do. The rich
would not suffer this, so all the people rose up, and the rich were
glad to get out of the assembly with whole skins.

4. From that time there was no more talk of equality. He oppressed the
rich and flattered the poor, by whose assistance he succeeded in all
his wishes. King Askar, as he was always called, was seven feet high,
and his strength was as remarkable as his height. He had a clear
intellect, so that he understood all that was talked about, but in his
actions he did not display much wisdom. He had a handsome countenance
and a smooth tongue, but his soul was blacker than his hair.

5. When he had been king for a year, he obliged all the young men in
the state to come once a year to his residence to have a sham fight.
At first he had some trouble with it, but at last it became such a
habit that old and young came from all sides to ask if they might take
part in it. When he had brought it to this point, he established
military schools. The rich complained that their children no longer
learned to read and write.

6. Askar paid no attention to it; but shortly afterwards, when a sham
fight was held, he mounted a throne and spoke aloud:

7. "The rich have come to complain to me that their boys do not learn
to read and write. I answered nothing; but I will now declare my
opinion, and let the general assembly decide."

8. While they all regarded him with curiosity, he said further:

9. "According to my idea, we ought to leave reading and writing at
present to the femmes and elders. I do not wish to speak ill of our
forefathers; I will only say that in the times so vaunted by some, the
burgh-femmes introduced disputes into our country, which the
folk-mothers were unable, either first or last, to put an end to.

10. "Worse still, while they talked and chattered about useless
customs the Golar came and seized all our beautiful southern country.
Even at this very time our degenerate brothers and their soldiers have
already come over the Skelda. It therefore remains for us to choose
whether we will carry a yoke or a sword.

11. "If we wish to be and remain free, it behoves our young men to
leave reading and writing alone for a time; and instead of playing
games of swinging and wrestling, they must learn to play with sword
and spear. When we are completely prepared, and the boys are big
enough to carry helmet and shield and to use their weapons, then, with
your help, I will attack the enemy.

12. "The Golar may then record the defeat of their helpers and
soldiers upon our fields with the blood that flows from their wounds.
When we have once expelled the enemy, then we must follow it up till
there are no more Golar, slaves, or Tartarar to be driven out of Fryas
inheritance!"

13. "That is right!" the majority shouted, and the rich did not dare
to open their mouths.

14. He must certainly have thought over this address and had it
written out, for on the evening of the same day there were copies in
at least twenty different hands, and they all sounded the same.
Afterwards he ordered the ship people to make double prows, upon which
steel crossbows could be fixed. Those who were backward in doing this
were fined, and if they swore that they had no means, the rich men of
the district were obliged to pay.

15. Now we shall see what resulted from all this bustle. In the north
part of Brittania, which is heavily forested, there exists a Skotse
people. Most of them spring from Fryas blood, some of them are
descended from the followers of Kaltana, and, for the rest, from
Britne and fugitives who gradually, in the course of time, took refuge
there from the tin mines. Those who came from the tin mines have
wives, either altogether foreign or of foreign descent.

16. They are all under the dominion of the Golar. Their arms are
wooden bows and arrows pointed with stags horn or flint. Their houses
are of turf and straw, and some of them live in caves in the
mountains. Sheep that they have stolen form their only wealth. Some of
the descendants of Kaltanas followers still have iron weapons, which
they have inherited from their forefathers.

17. In order to make myself well understood, I must let alone for a
while my account of the Skotse people, and write something about the
Heinde Krekalandar. The Heinde Krekalandar formerly belonged to us
only, but from time immemorial descendants of Lyda and Finda have
established themselves there.

18. Of these last there came in the end a whole troop from Troia.
Troia is the name of a state that the Fere Krekalandar had taken and
destroyed. When the Trojans had nestled themselves among the Heinde
Krekalandar, with time and industry they built a strong state with
walls and a burgh named Rome, that is, "Spacious". When this was done,
the people by craft and force made themselves masters of the whole
land.

19. The people who live on the south side of the Middel Sea come for
the most part from Phonisia. The Phonisiar are a bastard race of the
blood of Frya, Finda, and Lyda. The Lyda people were there as slaves,
but by the unchastity of the women these black people have degenerated
the other people and dyed them brown.

20. These people and the people of Rome are constantly struggling for
the supremacy over the Middel Sea. The Romar, moreover, live at enmity
with the Phonisiar; and their priests, who wish to assume the sole
government of the World, cannot bear the sight of the Golar.

21. First they took from the Phonisiar Missellia - then all the lands
lying to the south, the west, and the north, as well as the southern
part of Brittania - and they have always driven away the Phonisiar
priests, that is the Golar, of whom thousands have sought refuge in
North Brittania. A short time ago the chief of the Golar was
established in the burgh which is called Kerenak, that is the corner,
whence he issued his commands to the Golar. All their gold was
likewise collected there.

22. Keren Herne, or Kerenak, is a stone burgh which once belonged to
Kalta. Therefore the femmes of the descendants of Kaltanas followers
wished to have the burgh again. Thus through the enmity of the femmes
and the Golar, hatred and quarrelling spread over Berchland with fire
and sword. Our navigators often came there to get wool, which they
paid for with prepared hides and linen.

23. Askar had often gone with them, and had secretly made friendship
with the femmes and some princes, and bound himself to drive the Golar
out of Kerenak. When he came back there again he gave to the princes
and the fighting men iron helmets and steel bows. War had come with
him, and soon blood was streaming down the slopes of the mountains.

24. When Askar thought a favourable opportunity occurred, he went with
forty ships and took Kerenak and the chief of the Golar, with all his
gold. The people with whom he fought against the soldiers of the
Golar, he had enticed out of the Saxanamark by promises of much booty
and plunder. Thus nothing was left for the Golar. After that he took
two islands for stations for his ships, from which he used later to
sally forth and plunder all the Phonisiar ships and states that he
could reach.

25. When he returned he brought nearly six hundred of the finest
youths of the Skotse mountain people with him. He said that they had
been given him as hostages, that he might be sure that the parents
would remain faithful to him; but this was untrue. He kept them as a
bodyguard at his court, where they had daily lessons in riding and in
the use of all kinds of arms.

26. The Denamarkar, who proudly considered themselves sea warriors
above all the other navigators, no sooner heard of the glorious deeds
of Askar, than they became jealous of him to such a degree, that they
would bring war over the sea and over his lands.

27. See here, then, how he was able to avoid a war. Among the ruins of
the destroyed burgh of Stavia there was still established a clever
burgh-femme, with a few femmes. Her name was Reintia, and she was
famed for her wisdom. This femme offered her assistance to Askar, on
condition that he should afterwards rebuild the burgh of Stavia.

28. When he had bound himself to do this, Reintia went with three
femmes to Hals. She travelled by night, and by day she made speeches
in all the markets and in all the assemblies.

29. Wr-alda, she said, had told her by his thunder that all Fryas
people must become friends, and united as brothers and sisters,
otherwise Findas people would come and sweep them off the face of
Irtha.

30. After the thunder Fryas seven watch-femmes appeared to her in a
dream seven nights in succession. They had said:

31. "Disaster hovers over Fryasland with yoke and chains; therefore
all the people must do away with their surnames, and only call
themselves Fryas Children, or Fryas people.

32. "They must all rise up and drive Findas people out of Fryas
inheritance. If you will not do that, you will bring the slave chains
round your necks, and the foreign chiefs will ill-treat your children
and flog them till the blood streams into your graves. Then shall the
spirits of your forefathers appear to you, and reproach your cowardice
and thoughtlessness."

33. The stupid people who, by the acts of the Magyarar, were already
so much accustomed to folly, believed all that she said, and the
mothers clasped their children to their bosoms. When Reintia had
brought the king of Hals and the others to an agreement, she sent
messengers to Askar, and went herself along the Balda Sea.

34. From there she went to the Hlithhawar, so called because they
always strike at their enemys face. The Hlithhawar are fugitives and
banished people of our own race, who wander about in the Twiskland.
Their wives have been mostly stolen from the Tartarar. The Tartarar
are a branch of Findas race, and are thus named by the Twisklandar
because they never will be at peace, but provoke people to fight. She
proceeded on beyond the Saxanamark, crossing through the other
Twisklandar in order always to repeat the same thing.

35. After two years had passed, she came along the Rene home. Among
the Twisklandar she gave herself out for a folk-mother, and said that
they might return as free and true people; but then they must go over
the Rene and drive the Golar out of Fryas south lands. If they did
that, then her king Askar would go over the Skelda and win back the
land.

36. Among the Twisklandar many bad customs of the Tartarar and
Magyarar have crept in, but likewise many of our laws have remained.
Therefore they still have femmes, who teach the children and advise
the old. In the beginning they were opposed to Reintia, but at last
she was followed, obeyed, and praised by them where it was useful or
necessary.

37. As soon as Askar heard from Reintias messengers how the Juttar
were disposed, he immediately, on his side, sent messengers to the
king of Hals. The ship in which the messengers went was laden with
womens ornaments, and took a golden shield on which Askars portrait
was artistically represented. These messengers were to ask the kings
daughter, Frethogunsta, in marriage for Askar.

38. Frethogunsta came a year after that to Staveren. Among her
followers was a Magy, for the Juttar had been long ago corrupted. Soon
after Askar had married Frethogunsta, a temple was built at Staveren.
In the temple were placed monstrous images, bedecked with gold-woven
dresses. It is also said that Askar, by night, and at unseasonable
times, kneeled to them with Frethogunsta; but one thing is certain,
the burgh of Stavia was never rebuilt.

39. Reintia was already come back, and went angrily to Prontlik the
folk-mother, at Texland, to complain. Prontlik sent out messengers in
all directions, who proclaimed that Askar is gone over to idolatry.
Askar took no notice of this, but unexpectedly a fleet arrived from
Hals. In the night the femmes were driven out of the burgh, and in the
morning there was nothing to be seen of the burgh but a glowing heap
of rubbish.

40. Prontlik and Reintia came to me for shelter. When I reflected upon
it, I thought that it might prove bad for my state. Therefore, we hit
upon a plan which might serve us all. This is the way we went to work.
In the middle of the Krylwald, to the east of Liudwerd, lies our place
of refuge, which can only be reached by a concealed path. A long time
ago I had established a garrison of young men who all hated Askar, and
kept away all other people.

41. Now it was come to such a pitch among us, that many women, and
even men, talked about ghosts, white women, and dwarfs, just like the
Denamarkar. Askar had made use of all these follies for his own
advantage, and we wished to do the same. One dark night I brought the
femmes to the burgh, and afterwards they went along the path dressed
in their short white kilts, mimicking dwarfs and ghosts, so that
nobody dare go there any more.

42. When Askar thought he had his hands free, he let the Magyarar
travel through his states under all kinds of names, and, except in
Grenega and my state, they were not turned away anywhere. After that
Askar had become so connected with the Juttar and the Denamarkar, they
all went roving together; but it produced no real good to them.

43. They brought all sorts of foreign treasures home, and just for
that reason the young men would learn no trades, nor work in the
fields; so at last he was obliged to take slaves; but that was
altogether contrary to Wr-aldas wish and Fryas counsel. Therefore the
punishment was sure to follow it.

44. This is the way in which the punishment came. They had all
together taken a whole fleet that came out of the Middel Sea. This
fleet was laden with purple cloths and other valuables that came from
Phonisia. The weak people of the fleet were put ashore south of the
Seiene, but the strong people were kept to serve as slaves. The
handsomest were retained ashore, and the ugly and black were kept on
board ship as rowers.

45. In the Fly the plunder was divided, but, without their knowing it,
they divided the punishment too. Of those who were placed in the
foreign ships six died of colic. It was thought that the food and
drink were poisoned, so it was all thrown overboard, but the colic
remained all the same. Wherever the slaves or the goods came, there it
came too.

46. The Saxmannar took it over to their marches. The Juttar brought it
to Skenland and along the coasts of the Balda Sea, and with Askars
navigators it was taken to Brittania. We and the people of Grenega did
not allow either the people or the goods to come over our boundaries,
and therefore we remained free from it.

47. How many people were carried off by this disease I cannot tell;
but Prontlik, who heard it afterwards from the femmes, told me that
Askar had helped out of his states a thousand times more Children of
Frya than he had brought dirty slaves in.

48. When the pest had ceased, the Twisklandar who had become free came
to the Rene, but Askar would not put himself on an equality with the
princes of that vile degenerate race. He would not suffer them to call
themselves Fryas Children, as Reintia had offered them, but he forgot
then that he himself had black hair.

49. Among the Twisklandar there were two tribes who did not call
themselves Twisklandar. One came from the far south-east, and called
themselves Allemannar. They had given themselves this name when they
had no women among them, and were wandering as exiles in the forests.
Later on they stole women from the slave people like the Hlithhawar,
but they kept their name.

50. The other tribe, that wandered about in the neighbourhood, called
themselves Frankar, not because they were free, but the name of their
first king was Frank, who, by the help of the degenerate femmes, had
had himself made hereditary king over his people. The people nearest
to him called themselves "Thioths Sons" - that is, "Sons of the
People". They had remained Children of Frya, because they never would
acknowledge any king, or prince, or master except those chosen by
general consent in a general assembly.

51. Askar had already learned from Reintia that the Twisklander
princes were almost always at war with each other. He proposed to them
that they should choose a duke from his people, because, as he said,
he was afraid that they would quarrel among themselves for the
supremacy. He said also that his princes could speak with the Golar.
This, he said, was also the opinion of the folk-mother.

52. Then the princes of the Twisklandar came together, and after
twenty-one days they chose Alrik as duke. Alrik was Askars nephew. He
gave two hundred Skotse and one hundred of the greatest Saxmannar to
go with him as a bodyguard. The princes were to send twenty-one of
their sons as hostages for their fidelity.

53. Thus far all had gone according to his wishes; but when they were
to go over the Rene, the king of the Frankar would not be under Alriks
command. Thereupon all was confusion. Askar, who thought that all was
going on well, landed with his ships on the other side of the Skelda;
but there they were already aware of his coming, and were on their
guard. He had to flee as quickly as he had come, and was himself taken
prisoner.

54. The Golar did not know whom they had taken, so he was afterwards
exchanged for a noble Gol whom Askars people had taken with them.
While all this was going on, the Magyarar went about audaciously over
the lands of our neighbours. Near Egmuda, where formerly the burgh
Forana had stood, they built a temple larger and richer than that
which Askar had built at Staveren.

55. They said afterwards that Askar had lost the battle against the
Golar, because the people did not believe that Wodin could help them,
and therefore they would not pray to him. They went about stealing
young children, whom they kept and brought up in the mysteries of
their abominable doctrines.

56. Were there people who [...]
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