Ximenes.—­From all you have said I understand that you gained great advantages for yourself in the course of your Ministry—­too great, indeed, for a good man to desire, or a wise man to accept.  But what did you do for your sovereign and for the State?  You make me no answer.  What I did is well known.  I was not content with forcing the arrogance of the Spanish nobility to stoop to my power, but used that power to free the people from their oppressions.  In you they respected the royal authority; I made them respect the majesty of the laws.  I also relieved my countrymen, the commons of Castile, from a most grievous burden, by an alteration in the method of collecting their taxes.  After the death of Isabella I preserved the tranquillity of Aragon and Castile by procuring the regency of the latter for Ferdinand, a wise and valiant prince, though he had not been my friend during the life of the queen.  And when after his decease I was raised to the regency by the general esteem and affection of the Castilians, I administered the government with great courage, firmness, and prudence; with the most perfect disinterestedness in regard to myself, and most zealous concern for the public.  I suppressed all the factions which threatened to disturb the peace of that kingdom in the minority and the absence of the young king; and prevented the discontents of the commons of Castile, too justly incensed against the Flemish Ministers, who governed their prince and rapaciously pillaged their country, from breaking out during my life into open rebellion, as they did, most unhappily, soon after my death.  These were my civil acts; but, to complete the renown of my administration, I added to it the palm of military glory.  At my own charges, and myself commanding the army, I conquered Oran from the Moors, and annexed it, with its territory, to the Spanish dominions.

Wolsey.—­My soul was as elevated and noble as yours, my understanding as strong, and more refined; but the difference of our conduct arose from the difference of our objects.  To raise your reputation and secure your power in Castile, by making that kingdom as happy and as great as you could, was your object.  Mine was to procure the Triple Crown for myself by the assistance of my sovereign and of the greatest foreign Powers.  Each of us took the means that were evidently most proper to the accomplishment of his ends.

Ximenes.—­Can you confess such a principle of your conduct without a blush?  But you will at least be ashamed that you failed in your purpose, and were the dupe of the Powers with whom you negotiated, after having dishonoured the character of your master in order to serve your own ambition.  I accomplished my desire with glory to my sovereign and advantage to my country.  Besides this difference, there was a great one in the methods by which we acquired our power.  We both owed it, indeed, to the favour of princes; but I gained Isabella’s by the opinion she had of my piety and integrity.  You gained Henry’s by a complaisance and course of life which were a reproach to your character and sacred orders.