Arcana aulica, or, Walsingham's manual of prudential maxims for the states-man and the courtier

CHAP. 19.

Of Envy, how it is to be overcome.

NOw I must say something of Envy, which is so great an evil, that we have need of a strange felicity, and fortitude to

overcome it; which is not to be satiated with any thing, but the participation of that which it envies in another; for every one eager after its own advantage, desires to toyl in nothing but that, whence if nor, the whole, at least a great share of the honor, and emolument will redound unto himself. Yet although, I confess, it be very hard, yet this envy is nevertheless with industry and prudence, to be mastered; and that not one∣ly by this means alone, of sharing with them, that very thing we seek for: For sometimes it will suffice to perswade them that envy us, That the thing they desire, if it chance to light upon us, will turn much to their honor and profit. To which end, we must court them with friendship and familiarity; and though their envy to us be very palpable, yet must we express on our parts great Inclina∣tions and Affections towards them; profes∣sing, That we wish nothing more, then that their desires should succeed, and that we desire this very thing that we now pursue, for no other end so much, as that we may become capable to serve our friends, and principally themselves. In short, we must act our part so, as from the augmentation of our fortune, they may conceive hope of ad∣vancement to their own.

By those that desire to be free from envy, all pride, over-sumptuous maner of living, un∣seasonable

feasts, and boasting, is sedulously to be avoided; especially, by those who have risen from a mean condition; unless the plea∣sure of the Prince, or the dignity of their Office, require it otherwise; for then a be∣coming magnificence, will not be unfit, pro∣vided, That in these expences, he lets the world see, he doth rather comply with the pleasure of the Prince, then follow his own inclination. With this kinde of modesty and prudence, the beginnings of Cardinal Ximenes were very fortunate, and notable; for he was born of so mean a parentage, that it was doubtful, whether he were a Gentleman, or no; although his prosperous fortune found those afterwards, that would undertake to prove his Nobility. This Ximenes whilst the world went hard with him, became in his youth a Frier, whence soon after for his singular endowments, he was by the com∣mendation of Cardinal Mendoza, made confessor to Isabella, Queen of Castile, and not long after Archbishop of Toledo, (as I said once before) which Archbishoprick upon Medoza's death, Queen Isabella having ob∣tained of the Pope for Ximenes; he finding himself too weak for the envy it would draw upon him, refused to accept it; and was so stiff in his refusal, That he scarce suffered himself to be won to the acceptance of it, by all the Nobles of the Court, who one by one,

at the Queens direction, prest him to im∣brace it: And having accepted of it, he was fain to be so intreated over again, before he could be perswaded to live in a condition and splendor equal to his dignity; nay, after that, he was personally so observant of his for∣mer maner of life, in this great fortune, that no way else, but by the Popes express com∣mand, could he be induced to change it.

This modesty succeeded so well with him, that hereby he appeased and avoided that great envy, which must otherwise of necessi∣ty have oppressed him, being the possessor of a dignity gaped after, by all the Grandees of Spain, and of Revenue, scarce inferior to those of the Crown.

But yet as this maner of proceeding is in the East of our fortunes, an antidote against envy, so it little avails those who have once already carried themselves insolently and proudly; for the moderation of these men, is still looked upon as counterfeit: Of which thing, the Constantinopolitan History affords us an example in a Metropolitan, called Con∣stantine; who being banished from the Courts, both of Isacius Angelius, and Alexi∣us, the Emperors, returned afterwards with the Empress Euphrosine; pretending a great aversion from business, and a Courtiers life; to the end, he might be the more credited, and sought unto the more eagerly, he took

orders upon him: In short, he carried his business so craftily, That the Emperor him∣self causing him to be absolved from the oath of Priesthood, called him to Court; and trusted him with the management of his greatest affairs: Who presently, not content with his own advancement, introduced his two Brothers to wait upon the Emperor; and as it were, to stand Centinels for him, if at any time his business called him away: But because his former prosperity had dis∣covered the insolence of his nature, every body feared him still, although he now made show of great temper and moderation, which was the cause that he was again supplanted and removed from Court, without ever be∣ing restored more.