The Burg Liudgarda

Now will I myself write, first about my burgh and then about what I was able to see.¹

My burgh lies on the north end of the Liudgaarde.
The tower has six sides.
Thrice thirty feet high is it.
Flat from above.⁵
A little house thereupon, whence one observes the stars.
On each side of the tower, stands a house three hundred long and thrice seven feet broad, equally high except for the roof which is rounded.
All these of hard baked stone, and from without are there no others.

Around the burgh is a dike, thereabout, a moat, thrice seven feet deep, wide thrice twelve feet.
He who looks down from the tower, so sees he the shape of the yule.¹⁰

Upon the ground between the southern houses there, are all sorts of plants from near and far, the maids must learn the powers thereof.
Between the northern houses is only field.

The three northern houses are full of corn and other necessities.
Two southern houses are for the burghmaids to attend school and to dwell.
The southernmost house is the burghmaid’s home.¹⁵
In the tower hangs the Foddik.

The walls of the tower are adorned with costly stones.
In upon the southern wall is the Tex written.
On the right side thereof, finds one the first-lore; on the left side, the law.
One finds other things upon the other three sides.²⁰

Against the dike by the house stands the oven and the mill which is turned by four buffalos.
About our burgh wall is the home, thereupon the burghers and warriors dwell.
The surrounding dike thereof is one hour great, not a seaman’s, but a sun hour, whereof twice twelve come in a day.

In upon the inward side is a plain, five feet under the crown.
Thereupon are three-hundred crossbows covered with wood and leather.²⁵
Besides the houses of the residents, are there within, along the dike yet trice twelve emergency houses for the neighbours.

The field serves as a camp and as a pasture.
On the south side of the outermost dike is the Liudgaarde surrounded by the great Linden forest.
Her shape is three cornered about the bredth, so that the sun may shine thereupon.
For there are many foreign trees and flowers brought back by the sea-men.³⁰

The shape of our burgh is, as all others are; though ours is the greatest; but that of Texland is the greatest of all.
The door of Fryasburgh is so high that it rends the clouds, to that tower, are all (others) a comparison.

By us upon the burgh is it thusly dealt.³⁵
Seven young maids watch by the Foddik.
Every watch is three hours.
In the other time must they do housework, learn and sleep.

If they have been watching for seven years, they are thus free.
Then might they go among the people to look after their morals and give advice.⁴⁰

She who has been three years maid, so may sometimes go with the old maid.
The scribes must teach the girls to read, write and reckon.
The old men or graves must teach them right and duty, speechcraft, botany, healing, history, tales and songs, as well as all manner of things which are needed for them to give advice.
The burghmaid must teach them how they therewith must go to work among the people.