The writings of Konered about Friso and mothers sons and fathers sons

How Friso did further ¹
From his first wife had he two brothers-in-law, who were very brave.
Hetto, that is “hot”, the youngest sent he as emissary to Kattaburgh which lies deep in the Saxonmarks.

He had received, from Friso, seven horses besides his own, laden with costly things, robbed by seafighters.
By every horse were two seafighters and two young riders, clad in rich clothes and money in their purses.⁵
Even as he sent Hetto to Kattaburgh, sent he Bruno, that is brown the other brother-in-law to Mannagarda wrda, Mannagarda wrda is earlier in this book written Mannagarda forda, but that is mistaken.

All riches which they had with them were, according to circumstances, sent away to princes and princesses and to chosen maidens.
Came then his knaves to the taproom to dance with the youngfolk, so let they baskets with spicebread and kegs or barrels of the best beer come.
After this mission let he ever young folk travel over the Saxon-marks, who all had money in their purses and all brought presents and gifts with them, and they parted unencumbered of their wealth.
When it now happened that the Saxon youths looked enviously on, then smiled they kindly and said, if you dare to fight the common foe, so canst thou give thy bride much richer gifts and yet spend like a prince.¹⁰
Both brothers-in-law are betrothed to daughters of famous princes, and afterwards came the Saxon youths and maidens by whole troops, down the Flymeer.

The burghmaids and the old maids who yet wist of their former greatness, inclined not over toward Friso’s under-taking, therefore they said nothing good about him.
But Friso cleverer than they, let them gab.
But the young maids bound he to his cause with golden fingers.

They said all about, we no longer have any more Mother, but that comes thence, that we are of age.¹⁵
A king suits us today, so that we win back our land, which the Mothers have lost through their carelessness.
Further said they, always to Frya’s child is freedom given, to let his voice be heard before it is decided at the election of a prince, but should it come to be that ye choose yourselves again a king, so will I thus speak my mind.

By all what I may observe, so is Friso thereto chosen through Wralda, for he has wonderfully led him hither.
Friso wot the tricks of the Gauls whose speech he speaks, he can thus watch against their deceptions.
Then is there also yet a wit to reflect upon, which grave should one choose to be king, without that the other become envious of him.²⁰

All sorts of talk is spoken by the young maids, but the old maids although few in number, tapped their speech from another keg.
They spoke always and to everyone: Friso, said they, does as the spiders do, at night spins he nets to all sides and by day beguiles he therein his unwary friends.

Friso says that he might not suffer no priests nor strange princes, but I say, he may not abide no one but himself.
Therefore will he not allow that the burgh Stavia be built up again.
Therefore will he have no Mother again.²⁵

Today is he your advice giver, but tomorrow will he your king, so that he may reign over you all.

In the bosom of the folk are two parties emerged.
The old and poor would have a Mother again, but the youngfolk, who were full of contention, would have a dad or king.
The first called themselves mother’s sons were of no account, for because there were many ships being made, was there a surplus for shipwrights, smiths, sailmakers, ropemakers and for all other tradesmen.

Moreover brought the seafighters all sorts of baubles with them.³⁰
Thereof had the wives pleasure, and thereof had all their kinsfolk pleasure and all their friends and acquaintances.
When Friso had held house for forty years at Staveren, he died.

Through his travail had he brought many states back together, though if we be the better therefore, can I not prove.
Of all Graves who were before him was there none so famous as Friso had been.
Though so as I earlier said, the young maids spoke his praise, while the old maids did everything to blame him and to make him hateful to all people.³⁵

Now could the old maids well not hinder him therewith in his undertakings, but they have, with their clamour, effected so much that he died without becoming king.