Honor and blessings attend this truly Christian king, who submitted all his actions to the Heaven-descended sentiment of Duty,--who began a long and illustrious reign by renouncing and restoring conquests of his predecessor, saying to those about him, whose souls did not ascend to his heights, "I know that the predecessors of the King of England lost altogether by right the conquest which I hold; and the land which I give him I do not give because I am bound to him or his heirs, _but to put love between my children and his children, who are cousins-german_; and it seems to me that what I thus give I employ to good purpose."[46] Honor to him who never by force or cunning grasped what was not his own,--who sought no advantage from the turmoil and dissension of his neighbors,--who, first of Christian princes, rebuked the Spirit of War, saying to those who would have him profit by the strifes of others, "Blessed are the peacemakers,"[47]--who, by an immortal ordinance, abolished Trial by Battle throughout his dominions,--who extended equal justice to all, whether his own people or his neighbors, and in the extremity of his last illness, before the walls of Tunis, under a burning African sun, among the bequests of his spirit, enjoined on his son and successor, "in maintaining justice, to be inflexible and loyal, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left."[48] [46] Guizot, Hist. de la Civilisation en France, Leçon 14, Vol. IV. p. 151. [47] "_Benoist soient tuit li apaiseur._"--Joinville, p. 143. [48] Sismondi, Hist. des Français, Part. IV. ch. 12, Tom. VIII. p. 196. * * * * *