EN144.17 Motherless

Ott 2025

U. Koneread

2. About Friso

Motherless

[144/17] Now I will write about Friso:

Friso, who already had power through his own people, was also elected principal reeve by the residents of the district Staveren. He ridiculed our way of defending the land and fighting at sea. Therefore, he founded a school where young men learn to fight in the manner of the Greeks. But I believe his aim was to win the allegiance of the young folk. I also sent my brother there — ten years ago now — because, thought I, since we no longer have a mother to protect the one from the other, I must be twice as vigilant to prevent Friso from becoming our master.

[145] Gosa did not name to us any successor. This I will not judge. But there are yet suspicious elders who think she made a deal about it with Friso. When Gosa died, the people of all regions wanted to elect a new mother. But Friso, who was busy establishing a realm for himself, had no desire for counsel or messengers from Texland.

When the messengers of the landsmen came to him, he spoke and declared: “Gosa was farseeing and wiser than all the aldermen combined, and still she found no light or clarity in this matter. Therefore, she had not the confidence to choose a successor. And choosing one that was doubtful would have been bad in her view. She thus wrote in her last will that you would do better having no mother than one on whom you cannot rely.”

Notes

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Sandbach 1876

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[p.197 cont.] Now I will write about Friso.

Friso, who was already powerful by his troops, was chosen chief Grevetman 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 Greek 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 mother, it behoves me to be doubly watchful, in order that he may not become our master.

Goss 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 mother; but Friso, who was busy establishing a kingdom for himself, did not desire to have any advice or messenger from Teerland. When the messengers of the Landsaten came to him, he said that Gosa had been far-seeing and wiser than all the counts together, and yet she had been unable to see any light or way out of this affair; therefore 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, It is better to have no mother than to have one on whom you cannot rely.

Notes Sandbach

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EN144.17 Motherless