Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/454

426 REGENCY OF XIMENES, PART II. Parallel with Richelieu. demeanor was grave, his carriage firm and erect ; he was tall in stature, and his whole presence com- manding. His constitution, naturally robust, was impaired by his severe austerities and severer cares ; and, in the latter years of his life, was so delicate as to be extremely sensible to the vicissitudes and in- clemency of the weather. ^° I have noticed the resemblance which Ximenes bore to the great French minister. Cardinal Riche- lieu. It was, after all, however, more in the cir- cumstances of situation, than in their characters ; though the most prominent traits of these were not dissimilar. ^^ Both, though bred ecclesiastics, reached the highest honors of the state, and, in- deed, may be said to have directed the destinies of their countries. ^^ Richelieu's authority, however. 40 Robles, Vida de Ximenez, cap. 18. — Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. 218. 41 A little treatise has been de- voted to this very subject, entitled " Parallele du Card. Ximenes et du Card. Richelieu, par Mons. TAbbe Richard; ^Trevoux, 1705." 222 pp. 12mo. The author, with a candor rare indeed, where national vanity is interested, strikes the bal- ance without hesitation in favor of the foreigner Ximenes. 42 The catalogue of the various offices of Ximenes occupies near half a page of Quintanilla. At the time of his death, the chief ones that he filled were, those of arch- bishop of Toledo, and consequently primate of Spain, grand chancellor of Castile, cardinal of the Roman church, inquisitor-general of Cas- tile, and regent. Notice of Gnlindez de Carbajal. Dr. Lorenzo Galindez de Carba- jal, one of the best authorities for transactions in the latter part of our History, was born of a respectable family, at Placencia, in 1472. Little is gathered of his early life, but that he was studious in his habits, devoting himself assiduously to the acquisition of the civil and canon law. He filled the chair of profes- sor in this department, at Salaman- ca, for several years. His great at- tainments, and respectable character recommended him to the notice of the Catholic queen, who gave him a place in the royal council. In this capacity, he was constantly at the court, where he seems to have maintained himself in the esteem of his royal mistress, and of Ferdi-