Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/412

388 388 RISE OF XIMENES. PART in the human heart. His habits had been long 11. uf Ximenes. accommodated to the ascetic duties of the cloister, and his thoughts turned from the business of this world to that beyond the grave. However gratify- ing the distinguished honor conferred on him might be to his personal feelings, he might naturally hesitate to exchange the calm, sequestered way of life, to which he had voluntarily devoted himself, for the turmoil and vexations of the world. fchaiacieris- jg^t althouffh Ximcucs showed no craving for tic anecdotes ' o o power, it must be confessed he was by no means diffident in the use of it. One of the very first acts of his administration is too characteristic to be omitted. The government of Cazorla, the most considerable place in the gift of the archbishop of Toledo, had been intrusted by the grand cardinal to his younger brother, Don Pedro Hurtado de Mendoza. The friends of this nobleman applied to Ximenes to confirm the appointment, reminding him at the same time of his own obligations to the cardinal, and enforcing their petition by the rec- ommendation which they had obtained from the queen. This was not the way to approach Xim- enes, who was jealous of any improper influence over his own judgment, and, above all, of the too easy abuse of the royal favor. He was determined, in the outset, effectually to discourage all such ap- plications ; and he declared, that " the sovereigns might send him back to the cloister again, but that no personal considerations should ever operate with him in distributing the honors of the church." The applicants, nettled at this response, returned I