From Goddess to King, Chapter 14, ADELA, THE UN-ELECTED MOTHER

FROM GODDESS TO KING

A History of Ancient Europe from the

OERA LINDA BOOK

By Anthony Radford

CHAPTER 14

ADELA, THE UN-ELECTED MOTHER

Thenext sections of this book cannot begin with the traditional understanding
of recorded history because it is all new stuff. Our only familiarity is in the
origins of many proper names, several of which are described quite differently
in this text from standard works on word origins.

After the murder of Frana in 586 BC, the people wanted the burgtmaid Adela
to be their new Earth Mother but she refused because she wished to resign from
her citadel and marry, which she did. For the next thirty years no Mother could
be elected because each state supported its own Maiden. More land was lost to
the Magy of the Finns and Magyars but not by conquest of arms. He used propaganda
on children and bribes on the nobles, promising them permanent hereditary offices
with special privileges. These were long term plans that undermined the very foundation
of Friesland society.

Adela had studied this and advised the education of the young, particularly
the girls who would grow up to instill values into their children. She wanted
all their history recorded so that the next generation would grow up to be proud
of their heritage. Adela was the real author of the Oera Linda Book and other
lost volumes.

During Adelas unofficial reign, nobles were then being mentioned but the meaning
of such offices was changing. A count took the public inventory; he counted, initially
the market sales which were taxed and the profits of the ships which were shared
and later on, the military levy of armed men. It eventually became a position
of privilege, even an hereditary one. A duke was a hearer of disputes like a local
judge and it has already been mentioned that a king was an elected short-term
commander.

Adelas Advice:

Thirty years after the day on which the Earth Mother was murdered by the
commander Magy, was a time of great distress. All the states that lie on the other
side of the Weser had been wrested from us, and had fallen under the power of
Magy, and it looked as if his power was to become supreme over the whole land.
To avert this misfortune a general assembly of the people was summoned, which
was attended by all the men who stood in good repute with the Maidens. Then at
the end of three days the whole council was in confusion, and in the same position
as when they came together.

Thereupon Adela demanded to be heard, and said: “You all know that I was
three years Burgtmaid. You know also that I was chosen for Earth Mother, and that
I refused to be Earth Mother because I wished to marry Apol; but what you do not
know is, that I have watched everything that has happened, as if I had really
been your Earth Mother. I have constantly traveled about, observing what was going
on. By that means I have become acquainted with many things that others do not
know. You said yesterday that our relatives on the other side of the Weser were
dull and cowardly; but I may tell you that the Magy has not won a single village
from them by force of arms; but only by detestable deceit, and still more by the
rapacity of their dukes and nobles.

“Frya has said we must not admit among us any but free people; but what
have they done? They have imitated our enemies, and instead of killing their prisoners,
or letting them go free, they have despised the counsel of Frya, and have made
slaves of them.

“Because they have acted thus, Frya cared no longer to watch over them.
They robbed others of their freedom, and therefore lost their own.

“This is well known to you, but I will tell you how they came to sink so
low. The Finn women had children. These grew up with our free children. They played
and gamboled together in the fields, and were also together by the hearth.

“There they learned with pleasure the loose ways of the Finns, because they
were bad and new; and thus they became denationalized in spite of the efforts
of their parents. When the children grew up, and saw that the children of the
Finns handled no weapons, and scarcely worked, they took a distaste for work,
and became proud.

“The principal men and their cleverest sons made up to the wanton daughters
of the Finns; and their own daughters led astray by a bad example, allowed themselves
to be beguiled by the handsome young Finns in derision of their depraved fathers.
When the Magy found this out, he took the most handsome of his Finns and Magyars,
and promised them `red cows with golden horns to let themselves be taken prisoners
by our people in order to spread his doctrines. His people did even more. Children
disappeared, were taken away to the uplands, and after they had been brought up
in his pernicious doctrines, were sent back.

“When these pretended prisoners had learned our language, they persuaded
the dukes and nobles that they should become subject to the Magy – that then their
sons would succeed to them without having to be elected. Those who by their good
deeds had gained a piece of land in front of their house, they promised on their
side should receive in addition a piece behind; those who had got a piece before
and behind, should have a rounder, and those who had a rounder should have a whole
freehold. If the seniors were true to Frya, then they changed their course, and
turned to the degenerate sons. Yesterday there were among you those who would
have called the whole people together, to compel the eastern states to return
to their duty. According to my humble opinion, they would have made a great mistake.
Suppose that there was a very serious epidemic among the cattle, would you run
the risk of sending your own healthy cattle among the sick ones? Certainly not.
Every one must see that doing that would turn out very badly for the whole of
the cattle. Who, then, would be so imprudent as to send their children among a
people wholly depraved?

“If I were to give you any advice, it would be to choose a new Earth Mother.
I know that you are in a difficulty about it, because out of the thirteen Burgtmaid
that we still have remaining, eight are candidates for the dignity; but I should
pay no attention to that.

“Teuntia, the Burgtmaid of Medesblik, who is not a candidate, is a person
of knowledge and sound sense, and quite as attached to our people and our customs
as all the rest together. I should further recommend that you should visit all
the citadels, and write down all the laws of Fryas Tex, as well as the histories,
and all that is written on the walls, in order that it may not be destroyed with
the citadels.

“It stands written that every Earth Mother and every Burgtmaid shall have
assistants and messengers – twenty-one maidens and seven apprentices.

“If I might add more, I would recommend that all the respectable girls in
the towns should be taught; for I say positively, and time will show it, that
if you wish to remain true children of Frya, never to be vanquished by fraud or
arms, you must take care to bring up your daughters as true Fryas daughters.

“You must teach the children how great our country has been, what great
men our forefathers were, how great we still are, if we compare ourselves to others.

“You must tell them of the sea-heroes, of their mighty deeds and distant
voyages. All these stories must be told by the fireside and in the field, wherever
it may be, in times of joy or sorrow; and if you wish to impress it on the brains
and the hearts of your sons, you must let it flow through the lips of your wives
and your daughters.” Adelas advice was followed.

With the ever-encroaching tide of Findas descendants changing what Fryas
children considered their pure racial, ethnic, political and moral homeland, the
inevitable loss of all their heritage to the Magi can be understood. Once they
had held sway over all of Europe from as far as Atland to the Caucasus, but now
only a remnant nation centered roundabout the mouth of the Rhine survived. This
was still a formidable force in the sixth century BC consisting of thirteen citadels,
each with a burgtmaid. Adela, seeing the trend of events, felt the need to record
their story before it was totally lost or corrupted by the records of the new
peoples who were both encroaching and supplanting the traditional makeup of Friesland
society.

The story was initially written or begun by a number of maidens of whom we
know nothing but their names. Adelas fears were well justified as their history
and the principles for which it stood would be lost in large part through the
deliberate acts of the early Christian hierarchy in Europe. The tales of Frya
and her maidens would be labeled as pagan beliefs of the land. They would be denigrated
and fear would be instilled in every child about the evils of these “witches”.

The differences between the Roman or Greek pantheon and that of the present
day Hindu pantheon are not great. These are all spiritual people, that is, believing
in something greater than themselves, but the word “pagan” has been given a connotation
it does not deserve. Originally it simply meant a countryman or “of the land”,
then it would come to mean one who was not Christian but the Church learned to
use pagan methods and became very adept in the use of propaganda. Most of their
cunning was learned from the tactics of the Magi.

Adela advised that the inscriptions on the walls of the citadels and the great
trading warehouses should be recorded. That there were several such books is referred
to but only one has survived. Remember these are recordings on paper from a humid
country. It has been hard enough for clay tablets to survive in dryer climates,
but paper had to be recopied by descendants from time to time who had to be still
dedicated to the project. It is remarkable that even one has been preserved for
twenty-six hundred years especially through ages where simply possessing heathen
works was punishable by fire. The following extract gives some indication to the
later authors of the Book. See Plate 8 for the Oera Linda family tree, which shows
some light on the authorship and date of the work.

These are the Grevetmen under whose direction this book is composed:

Apol, Adelas husband; three times a sea-king; Grevetman of Ostflyland and
Lindaoord. The towns Liudgaard, Lindahelm, and Stavia are under his care.

The Saxon Storo, Sytias husband; Grevetman over the Hoogefennen and Wouden.
Nine times he was chosen as duke or heerman. The towns Buda and Mannagardaforde
are under his care.

Abelo, Jaltias husband; Grevetman over the Zuiderflylanden. He was three
times heerman. The towns Aken, Liudburg, and Katsburg are under his care.

Enoch, Dywckes husband; Grevetman over Westflyland and Texel. He was chosen
nine times for sea-king. Waraburgt, Medesblik, Forana, and Fryasburgt are under
his care.

Here in the writings of Adela is a postscript to this historical account, an
anecdote to the circumstances of which we are not privy. The burgtmaid Medea is
mentioned. The only other mention of Medea in the book is in regard to statues
or idols of pagan gods. It could simply be a common name or it could be another
story that we will never be told.

Following that postscript, the will of Frana was included in the Book from
the writings of Della Hellenia by Wiljo, a contributor some two hundred years
later about 290 BC. It was not found at the time Frana was killed.

When the sailors were in the creek, there was a wag from Stavern among them,
who said, “Medea may well laugh if we rescue her from her citadel.”

Upon this, the maidens gave to the creek the name Medea Meilakkia. The occurrences
that happened after this everybody can remember. The maidens ought to relate it
in their own way, and have it well inscribed. We consider that our task is fulfilled.
Hail!

Thus runs Franas last will:

“All noble Frisians, Hail! In the name of Wr-Alda, of Frya, and of Freedom,
I greet you; and pray you if I die before I have named a successor, then I recommend
to you Teuntia, who is Burgtmaid in the citadel of Medesblik; till now she is
the best.”

The children of Adela and Apol continued the record. Here their daughter Apollonia
writes her version of what transpired at the assembly called to elect a new Earth
Mother after the death of Frana. Adela was chosen but refused to be the Mother
because she chose marriage. A general misgiving of the whole national tradition
had befallen the separate states as each of them forsook cooperation for individual
short-term advantage.

Many lands were lost as a consequence of this attitude and Apollonia herself
had given up hope that anything could restore them.

After the Magy was killed and Fryasburgt was restored, a Mother had to be
chosen. The Mother had not named her successor, and her will was nowhere to be
found. Seven months later a general assembly was called at Grenega, because it
was on the boundary of Saxony. My mother was chosen, but she would not be the
Mother. She had saved my fathers life, in consequence of which they had fallen
in love with each other, and she wished to marry. Many people wished my mother
to alter her decision, but she said an Earth Mother ought to be as pure in her
conscience as she appears outwardly, and to have the same love for all her children.

“Now, as I love Apol better than anything else in the world, I cannot be
such a Mother.” Thus spoke and reasoned Adela, but all the other maidens wish
to be the Mother. Each state was in favor of its own maiden, and would not yield.
Therefore none was chosen, and the kingdom was without any restraint.

From what follows you will understand Liudgert, the king who had lately
died, had been chosen in the lifetime of the Mother, and seemingly with the love
and confidence of all the states. It was his turn to live at the great court of
Dokhem, and in the lifetime of the Mother great honor was done to him there, as
there were more messengers and knights there than had ever been seen there before.
But now he was lonely and forsaken, because everyone was afraid that he would
set himself above the law, and rule them like the slave kings.

Every headman imagined that he did enough if he looked after his own state,
and did not care for the others. With the burgtmaidens it was still worse. Each
of them depended upon her own judgment, and whenever a Grevetman did anything
without her, she raised distrust between him and his people. If any case happened
which concerned several states, and one maiden had been consulted, the rest all
exclaimed that she had spoken only in the interest of her own state. By such proceedings
they brought disputes among the states, and so severed the bond of union that
the people of one state were jealous of those of the rest, or at least considered
them as strangers; the consequences of which was that the Gauls or Triuwenden
took possession of our lands as far as the Scheldt, and the Magy as far as the
Wesara.

How this happened my mother has explained, otherwise this book would not
have been written, although I have lost all hope that it would be of any use.
I do not write in the hope that I shall win back the land or preserve it: in my
opinion that is impossible. I write only for the future generations, that they
may all know in what way we were lost, and that each may learn that every crime
brings its punishment.

Adelas advice to copy the records inscribed on the walls throughout the land
was made before the congress that was called to elect a new Earth Mother. These
people made paper from flax and even pumpkin leaves, parchments called skrivfilt
so naturally there has been no lasting records of any originals. Adela advised
the choice of the Burgtmaid Teuntia as the successor, actually the recommendation
made in the will of the previous Earth Mother Frana that had been lost, but politics
then was not unlike politics today. A jealous burgtmaid spoke eloquently enough
to confound the elections. Her name is not known but she was the Mother of Texland,
a place from where earth mothers were often chosen and she had expected to be
next. This burgtmaid even fled to the Magy, who made her a mother in Scandinavia,
and tried to combine her influence with his own in order to return her to Texland
as the new Earth Mother.

The consequences of this aborted election were a self-imposed exile and rebellion
by the jealous Maiden with the ever-willing help of the Magy followed by an invasion
of Texland itself.

These are the writings left by Bruno, who was the recorder of this burgt.
After the followers of Adela had made copies, each in his kingdom, of what was
inscribed upon the walls of the burgt, they resolved to choose a Mother. For this
purpose a general assembly was called at this farm.

By the first advice of Adela, Teuntia was recommended. That would have been
arranged, only that my Burgtmaid asked to speak: she has always supposed that
she would be chosen Mother, because she was at the burgt from which mothers had
generally been chosen.

When she was allowed to speak, she opened her false lips and said: “You
all seem to place great value on Adelas advice, but that shall not shut my mouth.
Who is Adela, and whence comes it that you respect her so highly? She was what
I am now, a Burgtmaid of this place; is she, then, wiser and better than I and
all the others? Or is she more conversant with our laws and customs? If that had
been the case, she would have become Mother when she was chosen; but instead of
that she preferred matrimony to a single life, watching over herself and her people.
She is certainly very clear-sighted, but my eyes are far from being dim. I have
observed that she is very much attached to her husband, which is very praiseworthy;
but I see, likewise, that Teuntia is Apols niece. Further I say nothing.”

The principal people understood very well which way the wind blew with her;
but among the people there arose disputes, and as most of the people came from
here, they would not give the honor to Teuntia. The conferences were ended, knives
were drawn, and no Mother was chosen.

Shortly afterwards one of our messengers killed his comrade. As he had been
a man of good character hitherto, my Burgtmaid had permission to help him over
the frontier; but instead of helping him over to Germany, she fled with him herself
to Wesara, and then to the Magy.

The Magy, who wished to please his sons of Frya, appointed her Mother of
Godaburgt, in Scandinavia; but she wished for more, and she told him that if he
could get Adela out of the way he might become master of the whole of Fryas land.
She said she hated Adela for having prevented her from being chosen Mother. If
he would promise her Texland, her messenger should serve as guide to his warriors.
All this was confessed by her messenger.

In spite of the loss of huge territories in the east, south and north, Fryas
land was still a formidable nation, one that the Magyars and the Finns could not
openly attack. Apollonia later gives us a description of the country when she
becomes a burgtmaid herself, but first the story of Adela continues. She was no
longer a burgtmaid but yielded considerable influence from her farm. A description
of this powerful influence, and its loss, has just been given concerning the old
king Liudgert at Dokhem where it was shown that popular appeal was essential regardless
of merit.

At the time of the harvest festival when everyone was merrymaking, the Magy
sent an assassin into Adelas house and killed her with a poisoned arrow. No assailant
survived the attack but this political opposition, this rallying focus was removed.
Adela was a seven-foot giant skilled in the use of arms. Her seven-foot sword
dispatched several of the assassins before the poison did its work.

Even with the help of the treacherous burgtmaid that he appointed to the foreign
post of Mother of Godaburgt in Sweden, the Magy failed to prevail at that time.
Fryas land did not fall from invasion but eventually they did fall by sedition
from within. The external influences and weakness of character described earlier
took its inevitable toll but not for several hundred years; a story yet to be
told. This was still the sixth century BC; the golden age of Greece was not yet
underway, Rome was about to throw out its kings and was considered part of the
Celtic empire and the sea-kings had many voyages to make.

But the seeds of a new age had been planted. Even so the Matriarchal Age would
have one more glorious era before falling to the age of male dominance and Christian
suppression.

Fifteen months after the last general assembly, at the festival of the harvest
month, everybody gave himself up to pleasure and merrymaking, and no one thought
of anything but diversion; but Wr-Alda wished to teach us that watchfulness should
never be relaxed. In the midst of the festivities the fog came and enveloped every
place in darkness. Cheerfulness melted away, but watchfulness did not take its
place. The coast-guard deserted their beacons, and no one was to be seen on any
of the paths.

When the fog rose, the sun scarcely appeared among the clouds; but the people
all came out shouting with joy, and the young folks went about singing to their
bagpipes, filling the air with their melody. But while every one was intoxicated
with pleasure, treachery had landed with its horses and riders. As usual, darkness
had favored the wicked, and they had slipped in through the paths of Lindas wood.

Before Adelas door twelve girls led twelve lambs and twelve boys led twelve
calves. A young Saxon bestrode a wild bull which he had caught and tamed. They
were decked with all kinds of flowers, and the girls dresses were fringed with
gold from the Rhine.

When Adela came out of her house, a shower of flowers fell on her head;
they all cheered loudly, and the fifes of the boys were heard over everything.
Poor Adela! poor people! how short will be your joy!

When the procession was out of sight, a troop of Magyar soldiers rushed
up to Adelas house. Her father and her husband were sitting on the steps. The
door was open, and within stood Adelbrost, her son. When he saw the danger of
his parents, he took his bow from the wall and shot the leader of the pirates,
who staggered and fell on the grass. The second and third met a similar fate.

In the meantime his parents had seized their weapons, and went slowly to
Jons house. They would soon have been taken, but Adela came. She had learned
in the burgt to use all kinds of weapons. She was seven feet high, and her sword
was the same length. She waved it three times over her head, and each time a knight
bit the earth. Reinforcements came, and the pirates were made prisoners; but too
late – an arrow had penetrated her bosom. The treacherous Magy had poisoned it,
and she died of it.

At the funeral of Adela, this elegy was spoken. It was the final tribute to
the Mother that was never elected. It gives us an insight into the life of this
highly regarded heroine of a forgotten culture.

Yes, departed friend, thousands are arrived, and more are coming. They wish
to hear the wisdom of Adela. Truly, she was a princess, for she had always been
the leader. O Sorrow, what good can you do!

Her garments of linen and wool she spun and wove herself. How could she
add to her beauty? Not with pearls, for her teeth were more white; not with gold,
for her dresses were more brilliant; not with precious stones, for her eyes, though
soft as those of a lamb, were so lustrous that you could scarcely look into them.
But why do I talk of beauty? Frya was certainly not more beautiful; yes, my friends,
Frya, who possessed seven perfections, of which each of her daughters inherited
one, or at most three.

But even if she had been ugly, she would still have been dear to us. Is
she warlike? Listen, my friend. Adela was the only daughter of our Grevetman.
She stood seven feet high. Her wisdom exceeded her stature, and her courage was
equal to both together. Here is an instance.

There was once a turf-ground on fire. Three children got upon yonder gravestone.
There was a furious wind. The people were all shouting, and the mother was helpless.
Then came Adela.

“What are you standing still here for?” she cried. “Try to help them, and
Wr-Alda will give you strength.” Then she ran to the Krylwood and got some elder
branches, of which she made a bridge. The others then came to assist her, and
the children were saved. The children bring flowers to the place every year.

There came once three Phoenician sailors, who began to ill-treat the children,
when Adela, having heard their screams, beat the scoundrels till they were insensible,
and then, to prove to them what miserable wretches they were, she tied them all
three to a spindle.

The foreign lords came to look after their people, and when they saw how
ridiculously they had been treated they were very angry, till they were told what
had happened. Upon that they bowed themselves before Adela, and kissed the hem
of her garment.

But come, distant living friend. The birds of the forest fled before the
numerous visitors. Come, friend, and you shall hear her wisdom. By the gravestone
of which mention has already been made her body is buried. Upon the stone the
following words are inscribed:

“Tread Softly, for Here Lies Adela”

Following the death of Adela, the story is briefly taken up by Adelbrost, son
of Apol and Adela, but he was not to live much longer in those troubled times.
After a short passage his sister, Apollonia, continues the book. Apol and Adela
had founded the Oera Linda family, a new surname that meant “over the lime trees”,
initially a reference to the location of their farm but soon to become a name
of distinction for their descendants.

The tragic circumstances of Adelas family generated a reaction against the
Magy that caused him much trouble for many years particularly after a citadel
named Lindasburgt was built in present day Norway, the heart of the Finns territory.
It was built by Apol, another brother, and was used in raids against the Magy.

Adelhirt, the youngest son of Adela, was fifty years of age when he was elected
a Grevetman, an elder or a leader of a city. It shows how the Friesland society
used men or women, old or young for positions that they could best serve in contrast
to the hereditary systems of privilege which nobles would impose in the coming
ages. Apollonia went to the maidens and by age thirty was chosen as burgtmaid
of Liudgaard. She found many portions of what was to become The Oera Linda Book
including the Book of Adelas Followers as well as adding valuable descriptions
of her times. She was a major contributor to the Book.

My name is Adelbrost, the son of Apol and Adela. I was elected by my people
as Grevetman over the Lindaoord. Therefore I will continue this book in the same
way as my mother has spoken it.

My name is Apollonia. Two-and-thirty-days after my mothers death, my brother
Adelbrost was found murdered on the wharf, his skull fractured and his limbs torn
asunder. My father, who lay ill, died of fright.

Then my younger brother, Apol, sailed from here to the west side of Scandinavia.
There he built a citadel named Lindasburgt, in order there to avenge our wrong.
Wr-Alda accorded him many years for that. He had five sons, who all caused fear
to Magy, and brought fame to my brother.

After the death of my mother and my brother, all the bravest of the land
joined together and made a covenant, called the Adelbond. In order to preserve
us from injury, they brought me and my youngest brother, Adelhirt, to the burgt,
myself to the maidens, and he to the warriors.

When I was thirty years old I was chosen as burgtmaid, and my brother at
fifty was chosen Grevetman. From mothers side my brother was the sixth, but from
fathers side the third. By right, therefore, his descendants could put “Oera
Linda” after their names, but they all wished to do it in honor of their mother.

In addition to this, there was given to us also a copy of “The Book of Adelas
Followers.” That gave me the most pleasure, because it came into the world by
my mothers wisdom. In the burgt I have found other writings also in praise of
my mother. All this I will write afterwards.