296 THE KING'S MIRROR 



temptations than my weakness can resist; let me not 



end my days in a sudden death; and do not call me out 



of this world before I shall have repented and rightly 



atoned for all my siris; and when the strivings of this 



world have ceased, let me rest eternally with Thee and 



Thy saints. And from my heart I pray Thee, O Lord, to 



give me a lawful heir begotten of my loins, whom it may 



please Thee in Thy mercy to set after my time in the 



C seat of honor where Thou hast placed me; End let my 



j high-seat never pass into the power of other dynasties, 



7 but only to such as shall spring from me, the son in- 



1 heriting from the father in every caseDAnd grant, O 



Lord, I pray Thee, that no branches that have sprung 



from me shall wither or decay; and let them not follow 



after foolish men into error and neglect, but give them 



insight and wisdom to understand and to know Thy 



sacred law, and power and a good purpose to love Thee 



and Thy commands. For Thou only art the true God, 



Who liveth and reigneth forever, world without end. 



Amen." * 



Now this prayer that you have just heard is one which 

 the king may offer up, if he wishes, with such other 

 psalms and prayers as he knows. And though he may 

 not always repeat this prayer, he should; nevertheless, 

 pray according to the plan that is outlined in this prayer. 

 And this I verily believe to be his duty every day, until 

 he has heard the hours and the mass, if he means to 

 observe what belongs to his dignity and to his official 

 duties. 



* This prayer is a translation of a Latin original which the author has incor- 

 porated and given in full. Both the original and the author's translation are 

 given in the manuscripts. 



