EN015.01 Burg
Ott 2025
E. Laws
Burg Laws
15.01 [015] These are the laws for the burgs:
1. When a burg is built somewhere, its Lamp must be kindled from the original flame at Texland, and that may only be done by the Folksmother.
2. Every Mother shall choose her own Maidens, as shall the Maids who serve as Mothers at the other burgs.
3. The Mother at Texland may choose her successor. But should she die without having done so, the election shall take place at a General Assembly where all communities deliberate together.
4. The Mother at Texland may have twenty-one Maidens and seven spindle girls, so that there might always be seven to attend the Lamp day and night. The Maids who serve as Mothers at the other burgs shall have just as many.
5. If a Maiden wishes to wed, she must announce it to her Mother and immediately return to the people before she pollutes the light with her unchaste breath.
6. To the Mother and each Burgmaid, twenty-one lords shall be assigned: seven old sages, seven old warriors, and seven old sea campaigners. [016]
7. Of these, three out of every seven shall retire each year, and they shall not be succeeded by relatives nearer than the fourth degree.
8. Each burg may have three hundred young defenders.
9. For this service, they must learn Frya’s Tex and the laws. From the sages, they must learn wisdom; from the old warriors, the art of war; and from the sea kings, the skills required to undertake distant voyages.
10. Every year, one hundred of these defenders shall return home. But if any are no longer able to stand or walk, they may remain at the burg for the rest of their lives.
11. At the selection of the defenders, none from the burg shall have a vote; neither reeves nor other chiefs, but only the common folk.
12. The Mother at Texland shall be given three times seven solid messengers with three times twelve speedy horses. The other Burgmaids shall each have three messengers with seven horses.
13. Every burg shall also have fifty husbandmen chosen by the folk, but for that task only those who are not able and sturdy enough for defense or seafaring may be put forward. [017]
14. Every burg must be self-sufficient and sustained by its surrounding farmland and by the share it earns from the market.
15. If someone is chosen to serve at a burg and refuses, he can never become a lord, and thus will have no right to vote. If he is already a lord, he shall lose the honor.
16. If someone seeks counsel from the Mother or from a Burgmaid, he must present himself to the scribe, who will bring him to the burg master. He must also go to the leech — that is the healer — who must determine whether he is possessed of evil passions. If he is judged sound, he must lay aside his arms and seven defenders will bring him to the Mother.
17. If the affair concerns only one territory, at least three envoys must come. If it regards the whole of Fryasland, twenty-one additional witnesses must be present. This is so in order that no suspicion may arise, nor tricks be played.
18. Over all matters brought forward, the Mother must preside and see to it that her children — that is Frya’s folk — avoid extremity of behavior, disposition, and wealth. This is her highest duty, and it is the duty of us all to help her in performing it. [018]
19. If she is called upon to decide any judicial question between a reeve and the community, and she finds merit in both sides, she must decide in favor of the community so that the matter is settled and since it is better that one man should suffer injustice than many.
20. If someone comes for counsel and the mother knows what advice to give, she must do so without delay. If she does not at once know the answer to his question, she may let him wait seven days. If she then still does not know, he must leave and he may not protest, since receiving no counsel is better than receiving bad counsel.
21. If a Mother has given bad advice out of ill will, she must be killed or driven from the land, stark naked and empty-handed.
22. If her burg lords are accomplices, the same must be done with them.
23. If her guilt is doubtful or is only suspected, it must be considered and debated; if needs be, for twenty-one weeks. If only half the votes are against her, she must be declared not guilty. If two-thirds are against her, the case shall be delayed one full year. If the votes are then the same, she may be declared guilty, but not killed. [019]
24. If there are some among the one-third who are so convinced of her innocence that they wish to follow her, they may do so with all their floatable and portable goods, and no one shall despise them for it; for the majority may just as well be mistaken as the minority.
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EN014.09 Festa ᐊ previous/next ᐅ EN019.08 Common
In other languages
- DE015.01 Burggesetze
- ES015.01 Leyes de Burgo
- FS015.01 BURCHSÉWA
- NL015.01 Burgwetten
- NO015.01 Borgslover
Other English translations
Chapter E: Sandbach 1876