Friso, who had learned our history from the book of the Adelingen,
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
any citadels, he sent Adel to the citadel of Texland in order to make
himself better acquainted with our laws, language, and customs. 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
count being chosen.
While Adel was studying at Texland there was a lovely maiden at the
citadel. She came from Saxenmarken, from the state of Suobaland,
therefore she was called at Texland Suobene, although her name was
Ifkja. 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 Berthold, her father, to ask her in
marriage. Berthold was a prince of high-principled feelings. He had
sent his daughter to Texland in the hope that she might be chosen
Burgtmaagd in her country, but when he knew of their mutual affection
he bestowed his blessing upon them. Ifkja was a clever Frisian. As
far as I have been able to learn, she always toiled and worked to
bring the Frya's people back under the same laws and customs. To
bring the people to her side, she travelled with her husband through
all Saxenmarken, and also to Geertmannia--as the Geertmen had named
the country which they had obtained by means of Gosa. Thence they
went to Denmark, and from Denmark by sea to Texland. From Texland
they went to Westflyland, and so along the coast to Walhallagara;
thence they followed the Zuiderryn (the Waal), till, with great
apprehension, they arrived beyond the Rhine at the Marsaten of whom
our Apollonia has written. 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 citadel 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. The
murderers that had committed this crime were Twisklanders, who had at
that time audaciously crossed the Rhine to murder and to steal. The
Twisklanders are banished and fugitive children of Frya, but their
wives they have stolen from the Tartars. The Tartars are a brown
tribe of Finda's people, who are thus named because they make war on
everybody. They are all horsemen and robbers. This is what makes the
Twisklanders so bloodthirsty. The Twisklanders who had done the wicked
deed called themselves Frijen or Franken. 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. In the same way as Apollonia, they
visited Lydasburgt and the Alderga. Afterwards they made a tour of all
the neighbourhood of Stavera. They behaved with so much amiability,
that everywhere the people wished to keep them. Three months later,
Adel sent messengers to all the friends that he had made, requesting
them to send to him their "wise men" in the month of May.
his wife, he said, who had been maagd of Texland, had received a copy
of it. In Texland many writings are still found which are not copied
in the book of the Adelingen. One of these writings had been placed by
Gosa with her last will, which was to be opened by the oldest maiden,
Albetha, as soon as Friso was dead.