solute sway. Let me ask you,
then, What were the acts of your reign?

_Wolsey_.--My acts were those of a very skilful courtier and able
politician. I managed a temper which nature had made the most difficult
to manage of any perhaps that ever existed, with such consummate address
that all its passions were rendered entirely subservient to my
inclinations. In foreign affairs I turned the arms of my master or
disposed of his friendship, whichever way my own interest happened to
direct. It was not with him, but with me, that treaties were made by the
Emperor or by France; and none were concluded during my Ministry that did
not contain some Article in my favour, besides secret assurances of
aiding my ambition or resentment, which were the real springs of all my
negotiations. At home I brought the pride of the English nobility, which
had resisted the greatest of the Plantagenets, to bow submissively to the
son of a butcher of Ipswich. And, as my power was royal, my state and
magnificence were suitable to it; my buildings, my furniture, my
household, my equipage, my liberalities, and my charities were above the
rank of a subject.

_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