Pagina 639 de 1118

Frederick, as archbishop, was careful to reserve for himself only

that which was barely necessary, of his time and his wealth: he

said, as all the world says, that the ecclesiastical revenues are

the patrimony of the poor; and we shall see how he put this maxim

in practice. He caused an estimate to be made of the sum

necessary for his expenses, and for those employed in his

service: finding it to be 600 sequins, he ordered that amount to

be taken from his patrimonial revenues for the supply of his

table. He exercised such minute economy with regard to himself,

that he did not relinquish any article of dress until it was

entirely worn out; but he joined to these habits of extreme

simplicity, an exquisite neatness, which was remarkable in this

age of luxury and uncleanliness. He did more: in order that

nothing should be lost from the fragments of his frugal table, he

assigned them to a hospital for the poor, and a servant came

every day to gather the remnants for that purpose.