The Thirteenth, Greatest of CenturiesWalsh, James J. (James Joseph)
History
The Thirteenth, Greatest of Centuries
Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)
Civilization, Medieval -- 13th century; Universities and colleges -- History
"Dear son," he writes in his Instruction, "if you come to reign, do
that which befits a king, that is, be so just as to deviate in
nothing from justice, whatever may befall you. If a poor man goes to
law with one who is rich, support the poor rather than the rich man
until you know the truth, and when the truth is known, do that which
is just. And if it happen that any man has a dispute with yourself,
maintain the cause of your adversary before the council so as not to
appear partial to your own cause, until the truth is known. Unless
you do this, those who are of the council may fear to speak against
you, and this ought not to be. . . . And if you find that you
possess anything unjustly acquired, either in your time or in that
of your predecessors, make restitution at once, however great its
value, either in land, money, or any other thing. . . . If the
matter is doubtful and you cannot find out the truth, follow the
advice of trusty men, and make such an agreement as may fully
deliver your soul and that of your predecessors. If you hear that
your predecessors have made restitution of anything, take great
trouble to discover if anything more should be restored, and if you
find that this is the case, restore it at once so as to deliver your
own soul and that of your predecessors."
"The education of his children, their future position and
well-being, engrossed the attention of the King as entirely, and
were subjects of as keen an interest, as if he had been a father
with no other task than the care of his children. After supper they
followed him to his apartment, where he made them sit around him for
a time whilst he instructed them in their duty; he then sent them to
bed. He would direct their attention particularly to the good and
bad actions of Princes. He used to visit them in their own apartment
when he had any leisure, inquire as to their progress, and like a
second Tobias, give them excellent instruction .... On Maundy
Thursday, he and his children used to wash the feet of a dozen poor
persons, give them large alms, and afterward wait upon them whilst
they dined. The King together with his son-in-law {295} King
Thibault, whom he loved and looked upon as his own son, carried the
first poor man to the hospital of Compiègne, and his two oldest
sons, Louis and Philippe, carried the second. They were accustomed
to act with him in all things, showing him great reverence, and he
desired that they and Thibault should also obey him implicitly in
everything that he commanded."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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