Arcana aulica, or, Walsingham's manual of prudential maxims for the states-man and courtier : to which is added Fragmenta regalia, or, Observations on Queen Elizabeth, her times and favorites / by Sir Robert Naunton.

CHAP. XIX.

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 not 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 In∣dustry and Prudence, to be Mastered; and that not onely by this means alone, of sharing with them, That very Thing we seek for: For sometimes it will suffice to per∣swade 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, than 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 manner of Living, un∣seasonable

Feasts, and Boasting, is Sedulously to be avoided; especially, by those who have risen from a mean Condition; unless the Pleasure of the Prince, or the Dignity of their Office, require it otherwise; for then a Becoming Magnificence will not be unfit, provided, That in these Expen∣ces, he lets the world see, he doth ra∣ther comply with the Pleasure of the Prince, Then follow his own Inclination. With this kind of Modesty and Prudence, the begin∣nings of Cardinal Ximenes were very For∣tunate, and Notable; for he was born of so Mean a Parentage, that it was doubtful whether he were a Gentleman, or no; al∣though 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 Friar, 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 Mendoza'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 Queen's 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 Splendour equal to his Dignity; nay, after that, he was Personally so Observant of his former manner of life, in this great Fortune, that no way else, but by the Pope's Express Command, 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 inferiour to those of the Crown.

But yet as this manner of Proceeding is in the Best 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 Angelus, 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 Emperour 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.