Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Ximenfs, Archbishop Of Toledo.
Iars . He gave them regulations , written by his own hand ; all of which tended to keep them in solitude , and cotiimancled their observance : so that these good fathers , findin ,., in the prelate ' s palace , a stricter retirement and a more frequent call to prayers , than in their own monasteries , and seeing beyond it ho appearance of fortune , looked upon the Archbishop as a man whose benevolence centered in himself ; totalldevoid-f consideration and a grateful
y , remembrance of his order .. When the superiors visited him , the intention of their founders made up his conversation : he recommended them to oppose laxity of discipline ; . to enforce , fiom their inferiors , dutiful obedience ; to keep up the spirit of prayer , application to lecture , aud regularity in the discharge of other devotional exercises . From this conduct , and unreserved silence on his own
affairs , they inferred his want of confidence in them ; and by his censures and reforms , the clay spent with him was very unpleasant . The Archbishop ' s severity was a cause of complaint ; and because of his influence with the Queen , the monks durst not openly attempt to declare their resentment ; they wrote to their genera ! at Rome , informing him that their order had lost all its reputation in Spain :
that Ximenes had left it but to dishonour them in the world : that instead of loving , as his brethren , he treated them as his slaves ; scholars were not suffered to appear , and the Queen ' s good intentions towards them were frustrated : —and many similar complaints were added . The general , iron visiting his monasteries , on account of
this intelligence , which had the air of importance , hastened into Spain . On his arrival at the different places , he heard still more ; and it was concluded in a conference held with the Archbishop ' s enemies , that to lessen him in the Queen ' s estimation , was the only way to get rid of him . He demanded an audience ; and , prejudiced by passion and a false zeal for his order , addressed the Princess in the following terms : — - That he had been struck withsurprise when he was informed of
. the choice she had made of Francis Ximenes for the archbish'pric of Toledo—a man devoid of birth , of learning , and virtue : that a mere official of Siguensa was not an object so far worthy of her Majesty ' s confidence , that to him mi ght be entrusted the roost important affairs of the kingdom : —a Queen of her enli ghtened understanding miht have easildiscovered the hypocrisy of this
mancong y , cealing itself under the veil of sanfiity ; that his change of conduct , from extreme austerity to scandalous relaxation , was an evident proof of his mental instability - . true piety is mild , affable , generous ; and not , like the passions of his breast , tinctured with brutality , ancl impatient of restraint . —His manner of conduct in procuring his dignities were the subterfuges of art . It is not the practice of good men to seek after
honours ; nor , when their services may be useful to the public , studiously to avoid them : ( hat p iety ancl justice demanded reparation of the wrong that her Majesty had done the church of Toledo ; and that it could be attended with no great difficulty to depose a man of no consequence , or to oblige him , by a voluntary resignation , to give up a charge , for which he was cor . scions of his own incapacity . [ TO _ : COKTIHC-ZB . J w . w . x > .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Life Of Ximenfs, Archbishop Of Toledo.
Iars . He gave them regulations , written by his own hand ; all of which tended to keep them in solitude , and cotiimancled their observance : so that these good fathers , findin ,., in the prelate ' s palace , a stricter retirement and a more frequent call to prayers , than in their own monasteries , and seeing beyond it ho appearance of fortune , looked upon the Archbishop as a man whose benevolence centered in himself ; totalldevoid-f consideration and a grateful
y , remembrance of his order .. When the superiors visited him , the intention of their founders made up his conversation : he recommended them to oppose laxity of discipline ; . to enforce , fiom their inferiors , dutiful obedience ; to keep up the spirit of prayer , application to lecture , aud regularity in the discharge of other devotional exercises . From this conduct , and unreserved silence on his own
affairs , they inferred his want of confidence in them ; and by his censures and reforms , the clay spent with him was very unpleasant . The Archbishop ' s severity was a cause of complaint ; and because of his influence with the Queen , the monks durst not openly attempt to declare their resentment ; they wrote to their genera ! at Rome , informing him that their order had lost all its reputation in Spain :
that Ximenes had left it but to dishonour them in the world : that instead of loving , as his brethren , he treated them as his slaves ; scholars were not suffered to appear , and the Queen ' s good intentions towards them were frustrated : —and many similar complaints were added . The general , iron visiting his monasteries , on account of
this intelligence , which had the air of importance , hastened into Spain . On his arrival at the different places , he heard still more ; and it was concluded in a conference held with the Archbishop ' s enemies , that to lessen him in the Queen ' s estimation , was the only way to get rid of him . He demanded an audience ; and , prejudiced by passion and a false zeal for his order , addressed the Princess in the following terms : — - That he had been struck withsurprise when he was informed of
. the choice she had made of Francis Ximenes for the archbish'pric of Toledo—a man devoid of birth , of learning , and virtue : that a mere official of Siguensa was not an object so far worthy of her Majesty ' s confidence , that to him mi ght be entrusted the roost important affairs of the kingdom : —a Queen of her enli ghtened understanding miht have easildiscovered the hypocrisy of this
mancong y , cealing itself under the veil of sanfiity ; that his change of conduct , from extreme austerity to scandalous relaxation , was an evident proof of his mental instability - . true piety is mild , affable , generous ; and not , like the passions of his breast , tinctured with brutality , ancl impatient of restraint . —His manner of conduct in procuring his dignities were the subterfuges of art . It is not the practice of good men to seek after
honours ; nor , when their services may be useful to the public , studiously to avoid them : ( hat p iety ancl justice demanded reparation of the wrong that her Majesty had done the church of Toledo ; and that it could be attended with no great difficulty to depose a man of no consequence , or to oblige him , by a voluntary resignation , to give up a charge , for which he was cor . scions of his own incapacity . [ TO _ : COKTIHC-ZB . J w . w . x > .