THE KING'S MIRROR 85 



on shipboard, whenever you sail on a trading voyage 

 and the ship is your own. (When you come to a market 

 town where you expect to tarry, seek lodgings from the< 

 innkeeper who is reputed the most discreet and the most 

 popular among both kingsmen and boroughmen^ Al- 

 ways buy good clothes and eat good fare if your means 

 permit; and never keep unruly or quarrelsome men as 

 attendants or messmates. Keep your temper calm \ V 

 though notto the point of suffering^ abuse or bringing 

 upon yourself the reproach of cowardice. Though 



sity may_force_ypu into strife, be not in a hurry to take 

 revenge; first make sure that your effort will succeed 

 and strike where it ought. Never display a heated tem- 

 per when you see that you are likely to fail, but be sure 

 to maintain your honor at some later time, unless your 

 opponent should offer a satisfactory atonement. 

 [If your wealth takes on rapid growth, divide it and / 

 invest it in a partnership trade in fields where you do V 

 not yourself travel ;Jbut be cautious in selecting partners. 4 

 CAlways let Almighty God, the holy Virgin Mary, and 9 

 the saint whom you have most frequently called upon I 

 to intercede for you be counted among your partners. j? 

 Watch with care over the property which the saints are \ 

 to share with you and always bring it faithfully to the ) ^ 

 place to which it was originally promised. 7 



If you have much capital invested in trade, divide it \ 

 into three parts: put one-third into partnerships with \ ^ 

 men who are permanently located in market boroughs, 

 are trustworthy, and are experienced in business. Place 

 the other two parts in various business ventures; for if 

 your capital is invested in different places, it is not likely 



