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Article THE LIFE OF XIMENFS, ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO. ← Page 7 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Ximenfs, Archbishop Of Toledo.
verity , augmented his household , and enlarged his expences . Having since been called to the government of the kingdom , and recollecting how much mankind are struck with apparent grandeur , and of what consequence it is to the public weal , that the governed should respect their governors , he became honourable and splendid in his appearance , in conformity to his dignified situation . He afterwards wore robes of silkof the colour of his order ; but so shortthat the
, , poor habit of St . Francis was discovered under them , which , to remind him of his former condition , he occasionally sewed together himself . He wore no linen , and commonly slept on the hard ground , every morning tumbling his bed as if he had slept in it . He suffered no servant to assist at his going to bed or getting up . Following the custom of his predecessorshe was waited upon by youths of
dis-, tinction ; but he governed them by exact discipline ; and although he placed them under capable tutors , he frequently exacted from them an account of their occupations and exercises ; but especially of their progress in piety . At length he regulated his conduct so well , that complying with the respect exacted from and due to his dignity , he persevered in all the personal austerity his resolution engaged
him to practise . The same persons who had before condemned his humble and frugal manner of living , no sooner observed a change in his conduct , than they accused him of luxury and vanity ; and publicly affirmed that he had now accomplished his designs : having worn the disguise along time , he had thrown off the mask , and returned to his natural
inclination : the maxims of his first vocation he had soon forgotten : theambition he so carefully concealed , was buttoo evidently discovered to the world . The fathers of his own order , on account of some private animosities , were so far from defending , that they joined the first declaimers against his conduct . When Ximenes was elected Archbishop of Toledo , to assist him in his episcopal functionand maintain the spirit of religion and solitude
, in the midst of the cares and embarrassments of an extensive diocese , he chose several companions of his own order : by these it was supposed that he meant to place them in the most honourable situations in the church . Their wishes and their hopes were in full expectation ; the Archbishop esteemed them , and the Queen refused him nothing . Those with whom he had once lived on terms of
familiarity , expected all from his friendship . The possession of talents gave some reason to believe , that , in the distribution of favours , they should have the preference . Under the apprehension of being able to intrigue at court , by insinuating themselves into the favour of the great , however indifferently the Archbishop might take them by the hand ; others imagined that they should raise themselves without
much trouble . But the hopes of all fell to the ground : the Archbishop would not permit them to intermeddle with , nor ever commucated to them , public affairs : he suffered them not to go to court , nor would he allow them any intercourse with the courtiers . He often informed them that the air of the world was contagious , and that he had taken ecclesiastics into his house to make them secu-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Ximenfs, Archbishop Of Toledo.
verity , augmented his household , and enlarged his expences . Having since been called to the government of the kingdom , and recollecting how much mankind are struck with apparent grandeur , and of what consequence it is to the public weal , that the governed should respect their governors , he became honourable and splendid in his appearance , in conformity to his dignified situation . He afterwards wore robes of silkof the colour of his order ; but so shortthat the
, , poor habit of St . Francis was discovered under them , which , to remind him of his former condition , he occasionally sewed together himself . He wore no linen , and commonly slept on the hard ground , every morning tumbling his bed as if he had slept in it . He suffered no servant to assist at his going to bed or getting up . Following the custom of his predecessorshe was waited upon by youths of
dis-, tinction ; but he governed them by exact discipline ; and although he placed them under capable tutors , he frequently exacted from them an account of their occupations and exercises ; but especially of their progress in piety . At length he regulated his conduct so well , that complying with the respect exacted from and due to his dignity , he persevered in all the personal austerity his resolution engaged
him to practise . The same persons who had before condemned his humble and frugal manner of living , no sooner observed a change in his conduct , than they accused him of luxury and vanity ; and publicly affirmed that he had now accomplished his designs : having worn the disguise along time , he had thrown off the mask , and returned to his natural
inclination : the maxims of his first vocation he had soon forgotten : theambition he so carefully concealed , was buttoo evidently discovered to the world . The fathers of his own order , on account of some private animosities , were so far from defending , that they joined the first declaimers against his conduct . When Ximenes was elected Archbishop of Toledo , to assist him in his episcopal functionand maintain the spirit of religion and solitude
, in the midst of the cares and embarrassments of an extensive diocese , he chose several companions of his own order : by these it was supposed that he meant to place them in the most honourable situations in the church . Their wishes and their hopes were in full expectation ; the Archbishop esteemed them , and the Queen refused him nothing . Those with whom he had once lived on terms of
familiarity , expected all from his friendship . The possession of talents gave some reason to believe , that , in the distribution of favours , they should have the preference . Under the apprehension of being able to intrigue at court , by insinuating themselves into the favour of the great , however indifferently the Archbishop might take them by the hand ; others imagined that they should raise themselves without
much trouble . But the hopes of all fell to the ground : the Archbishop would not permit them to intermeddle with , nor ever commucated to them , public affairs : he suffered them not to go to court , nor would he allow them any intercourse with the courtiers . He often informed them that the air of the world was contagious , and that he had taken ecclesiastics into his house to make them secu-