Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-03
&c H DIE N .
By Rev. Leonard Hills.

Lest any who read this article have forgotten
the pretty historical legend associated with the
above motto. I preface by recountfng in few
words the facts connected herewith.
The Hundred Years war, which began in 1885,
had been raging between England and France
some eight years when the famous battle of Crecy
was fought. Edward III. had been taking the
part of the cities of Flanders against their Count
"a vile and avaricious man. His queen (Phillipa
of Hainalt) hailed from there. Edwards three
(1) Edward called the Black Prince;
CD Lionel, and (3) John of Gaunt, called be-
cause he was born at Ghent, whence his parents
had come after the English victory at Sluys, in
1910. In 1916, when young Edward was 16 years
of age, his father took him to Crecy with great
army against Philip w of France The French
army much larger than the English, and in
addition to their own great forces Philip had
hired Genoese bowman to try and match the re-
nowned skill of the English archers, besides which
he had the help of the blind warrior king of Bo-
hemia, whose daughter had married Philips son.
Our king, Edward III. (of Windsor) wished the
honor of the day to belong to the Black Prince,
so he himself watched the battle from a wind
mill, whilst the Black Prince led his knights.
After fearful struggle the French were driven
back and put to flight, Philip riding away as
hard as possible lest he should fall prisoner to
the English victors. But on the field of slaughter
found the body of the brave, blind old King
of Bohemia, stretched between two Of his knights
who had tied their horse brides to his.
Our great English historian, William Camden
(1614), tells us, in recording this, that the old
kings badge was an ostrich feather with the
motto Ich Dten IL SerVe), which the Black Prince
took for his own and which has been the badge of
the Prince of Wales ever since.
Now while not able to vouch for the
truth of this part of the story to the manner
in which the badge first came into the possession
of the Black Prince certain it is that the three
ostrich feathers with the Ich Diem motto have
been from that date the badge of the eldest of
the reigning monarch. But it is neither the badge
itself the interesting legend concerning the
blind king of Bohemia that l particularly wish
to speak Of 1t is the truly Israelitish motto, Il
serve" that claims attention. To live truly
to this great yet simple watchword is to fulfil
all the royal law. Some of my young readers
may think it curious and perhaps somewhat
unsuitable motto for the heir to the Crown. But
if we look into Gods Word we shall find that the
greatest Person the world has ever known had
this same watchword-not motto, merely
heraldic device that might mean little nothing
but with Him it the attitude of all His life
See Luke xii. 27: 81 among you as he
that serveth." He whose greatness was unsearch
able (Psa1m. cxlv. 81 made Himself of no reputa
tion and took upon Him the form of servant
(Phil. H.. D. Now this great and wondrous les
son is directly taught us in nearly every book in
the Bible. Israel is Gods servant; we are Israel
1t is our duty, our privilege, and our glory to