Thirty years after the day on which the Volksmoeder was murdered by
the commander Magy, was a time of great distress. All the states that
lie on the other side of the Weser 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. 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 Maagden (priestesses). 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:--
You all know that I was three years Burgtmaagd. You know also that
I was chosen for Volksmoeder, and that I refused to be Volksmoeder
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 Volksmoeder. 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. You said yesterday that our relatives on
the other side of the Weser 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.
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.
Because they have acted thus, Frya cared no longer to watch over
them. They robbed others of their freedom, and therefore lost
their own.
This is well known to you, but I will tell you how they came to sink
so low. The Finn women had children. These grew up with our free
children. They played and gamboled together in the fields, and were
also together by the hearth.
There they learned with pleasure the loose ways of the Finns, because
they were bad and new; and thus they became denationalised in spite of
the efforts of their parents. When the children grew up, and saw that
the children of the Finns handled no weapons, and scarcely worked,
they took a distaste for work, and became proud.
The principal men and their cleverest sons made up to the wanton
daughters of the Finns; and their own daughters, led astray by this bad
example, allowed themselves to be beguiled by the handsome young Finns
in derision of their depraved fathers. When the Magy found this out,
he took the handsomest of his Finns and Magyars, 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 the uplands, and after
they had been brought up in his pernicious doctrines, were sent back.
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. Those who by their good deeds had gained a piece of land
in front of their house, they promised on their side should receive
in addition a piece behind; those who had got a piece before and
behind, should have a rondeel (complete circuit); and those who had
a rondeel should have a whole freehold. If the seniors were true to
Frya, then they changed their course, and turned to the degenerate
sons. 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. Suppose that there was a very serious epidemic among
the cattle, would you run the risk of sending your own 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? If I were to give you any advice, it would be to choose a
new Volksmoeder. I know that you are in a difficulty about it, because
out of the thirteen Burgtmaagden that we still have remaining, eight
are candidates for the dignity; but I should pay no attention to that.
Teuntia, the Burgtmaagd 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 farther
recommend that you should visit all the citadels, 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 citadels.
It stands written that every Volksmoeder and every Burgtmaagd
shall have assistants and messengers--twenty-one maidens and seven
apprentices.
If I might add more, I would recommend that all the respectable girls
in the towns 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.
You must teach the children how great our country has been, what
great men our forefathers were, how great we still are, if we compare
ourselves to others.
You must tell them of the sea-heroes, of their mighty deeds and
distant voyages. 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.
Adela's advice was followed.