EN029.12 Precedents
Ott 2025
F. Minno’s Writings
1. Laws and Directives
Useful Precedents
29.12 Useful precedents from the writings left by Minno:
(Minno was an old sea king, seer, and philosopher.[1] He gave laws to the Cretans. He was born in the Linden Wards and, after all his wanderings, he had the good fortune to pass away at Lindenheim.)
1. If our neighbors have a piece of land or water that seems good to us, it is fitting for us to ask them to sell it.[2] If they refuse, we must let them keep it. That is according to Frya’s Tex, and it would be unjust to take it from them.
2. If neighbors should quarrel and dispute amongst themselves over some cause or piece of land and ask us to make judgment, it would be better to let the matter blow over; but if we cannot get out of it, we must honorably and justly pass judgment. [030]
3. If any should come and say: “I am at war, you must help me”; or if another comes and says: “My son is underage and unskilled. I am old, so I wish to name you steward over him and over my land until he comes of age,” one ought to refuse in order that we may not come into dispute over matters that are in conflict with our Frya morals.
4a. If a foreign trader comes to the open market at Wieringen or to Almanland and he commits fraud, he is to be immediately branded (as a cheat) and made known by the maidens throughout the land.[3] If he ever comes back, no one shall deal with him. He may leave the way he came.
4b. Thus, when traders are chosen to go throughout the markets, or to sail with the fleet, one ought to choose only those who are very well known and in good repute with the maidens.
4c. If it should nonetheless chance that a bad man is among them, who wishes to cheat people, then it is up to the others to prevent that. If he has already committed the fraud, it must be set right and the culprit banished from the lands in order that our name should everywhere be deemed honorable.
5. But if we find ourselves at a foreign market, whether near or far, and it happens that the people do us harm or steal from us, we must react with quick intensity; for although we [031] must do all we can for the sake of peace, our half-brothers may never treat us with disrespect or believe that we are cowardly.
Notes
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Other English translations
Chapter F: Sandbach 1876