Useful things from the left behind writings of Minno ¹

Minno was an old seaking, a seer and a philosopher.
To the Cretans has he given law.

He was born at Lindaoorden and after all his wanderings, has he enjoyed the luck to die at Lindahem.

Whenever our neighbour has a deal of land or water, that seems good to us, so it befits us to ask about that purchase, if they won’t naught not do that, then must one let them keep it.⁵

That is after Frya’s Tex and it should be unright to grab that (which is not ours).

Whenever the neighbours quarrel and argue over any (other) matter than over land, and they (ask) us Frya’s to pronounce a judgement, so aught one to already let that alone, though if one can not do naught thereabout, so must one do that honestly and justly.

Comes there someone and says, I have war, now must you help me;
if another comes and says, my son is not of age and incapable, and I am old and now would I make thee guardian over him and over my land, until he be of age, so aught one to decline, so that we may not come into conflict in cases arguing with our free ideals.

Whenever there comes a foreign merchant upon the open market at Wyringga or at Almanland and he cheats, so is he, that hour, fined and made known, throughout the land, by the maids.¹⁰

Comes he then back, so shall nobody buy from him, he may wander hence as he is come.
Thus, whenever salespeople are chosen to go to market or to sail with the fleet, so aught one to choose only the ilk whom one knows through and through and are in good stead with the maids.

If it happens nonetheless that a bad man be among (them), who will betray people, so aught the others to prevent that.

If he already has done it, so must one correct that and banish the wrong-doer from the land, so that our name shall be accepted everywhere with honour.

But if we find ourselves upon a foreign market, be it near or far, and it happens that folk does us harm or steals from us, so aught we to strike them with haste, for although we aught to do all for the sake of peace, our half brother may never scorn us nor ween that we are afraid.¹⁵