to the pleasure of God. The common people were content and were joyful in their degree, and in this king's days there was no venom that might then corrupt the earth with pestilence, and in the sea none outrageous tempests, and the land plenteous of all manner of fruits; and in the clergy nothing inordinate; and among the common people was no grudging. And the renomee and fame of this holy king S. Edward sprang so marvellously about to other nations, in such wise that all christian kings desired to have peace with him. The king of France, which was nigh of his kin, made with him a general peace, so that it might be said of him as it was said of Solomon: ’All the kings of the earth desired to see his face, and to hear his wisdom'; except only Denmark, which yet conspired against this realm of England. And what fell thereof, it shall be declared hereafter more openly; for this holy king Edward was ever full of meekness and of virtue, and never lifted up by vain glory, but ever he remembered the words of our Lord that saith: 'I have set thee prince of the people, but be not therefore lifted up in vain glory, but be thou among them as one of them.'
He was among his household men equal and familiar, among priests meek and debonair, to his people amiable and cheerful, to wretches and needy men full of compassion and large of almsgiving. He was also much devout in the service of God, and diligent to repair and re-edify churches that were destroyed by the Danes. And in judgment full discreet, considering no man's person, but only the weight of his cause, as well to the rich as to the poor;
