Redbad and the Mothers Frisava
Left: Drawing of King Radboud (c. 680 – 719) by P. Winsemius, from: “Chronique ofte Historische geschiedenisse van Frieslandt”. Right: At the last moment, Radboud withdraws from his baptism. An embroidery that probably dates from the 16th century. Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radboud_%28koning%29. Public domain
Refrain:
Revere the mothers Frisava,
all folks of Frisian descent,
speak your oaths at her altar
to let your honor never bent.
At the end of the 7th century
and the beginning of the eight
in Friesland had supremacy
King Redbad, chief of state.
He proudly followed ancient ways,
his ancestors passed down,
just once he had a shorter phase
faced down a christian crown.
Refrain:
Revere the mothers Frisava,
all folks of Frisian descent,
speak your oaths at her altar
to let your honor never bent.
But at the time of his baptize,
he kindly asked the priest,
am I rejoined at my demise,
with kin who are deceased.
Oh No!, the priest said very clear
while you are near to God,
their heathen souls must remain here,
In heaven they are not.
Refrain:
Revere the mothers Frisava,
all folks of Frisian descent,
speak your oaths at her altar
to let your honor never bent.
I’m very sorry, Redbad said,
as heathen I will stay
united with my kin in dead,
else I would feel astray.
Refrain:
Revere the mothers Frisava,
all folks of Frisian descent,
speak your oaths at her altar
to let your honor never bent.
Probably from the 3rd century CE only a part of an inscription on a votive stone is legible. It says:
MATRIBUS FRISAVIS PATERNIS
This can be interpreted as:
to the divine mothers of the ancestors of the Frisiavones (Frisians?).
