THE KING'S MIRROR 207 



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gatherings, casting dice for silver, lust after bribes, and / 

 all other evil covetousness; for these things are a great 

 disgrace to every kingsman in this world and his soul 

 will be in peril in the other world, if he is found guilty 

 of such vices. [Never j^etjlrunk, wherever you are; for 

 it may fall out at any time that you will be summoned 

 to hear a dispute or to supervise something, or that 

 you will have important business of your own to look 

 after. Now if such demands should come to a man while 

 he is drunk, he will be found wholly incompetent; 

 wherefore drunkenness should be avoided by everyone, 

 and most of all by kingsmen and others who wish to be 

 reputed as worthy men, for such are most frequently 

 called to hear suits at law and to other important duties.} 

 Moreover, they ought to set good examples for all, as 

 some may wish to learn decorum from their behavior. 



If you are a kingsman you must observe the same 

 prudence in your address and habits, and do not forget 

 this. You should frequently be seen in your lord's p i 

 presence/JEarly in the morning you must escort him to 7 

 church, if he observes that custom, as by right he ought V" 

 to do Jlisten attentively to the service while you are in-/ 

 the church, and call devoutly upon God for mercy. 

 When the king leaves the church, join him at once and 

 keep sufficiently near him to be in sight, so that he may 

 be able to call you for any purpose, if he should wish to 

 do so. But do not keep so close to him as to make him 

 feel annoyed by your presence, when he wishes to speak 

 with men whom he has called to converse with him, or 

 to discuss such matters as he wishes to keep secret. 

 Never show an interest in those affairs which you see 



