Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/378

354 354 THE ROYAL FAMILY, n. PART and principal nobility of Castile, the foreign ambas- sadors, and the delegates from Aragon. Among these latter were the magistrates of the principal cities, clothed in their municipal insignia and crim- son robes of office, who seem to have had quite as important parts assigned them by their democratic communities, in this and all similar pageants, as any of the nobility or gentry. The nuptials were followed by a brilliant succession of fetes, tourneys, tilts of reeds, and other warlike spectacles, in which the matchless chivalry of Spain poured into the lists to display their magnificence and prowess in the presence of their future queen. ^^ The chroni- cles of the day remark on the striking contrast, ex- hibited at these entertainments, between the gay and familiar manners of Margaret and her Flemish nobles, and the pomp and stately ceremonial of the Castilian court, to which, indeed, the Austrian princess, nurtured as she had been in a Parisian atmosphere, could never be wholly reconciled. ^° 19 That these were not mere las casas de Austria, Borgonia, y holiday sports, was proved by the Francia, sino con la gravedad, y melancholy death of Alonso de mesurada autoridad de los Eeyes Cardenas, son of the comendador y naciones de Espaila ! " of Leon, who lost his life in a The sixth volume of tlie Spanish tourney. Oviedo, Quincuagenas, Academy of History contains an MS., bat. 1, quinc. 2, dial. 1. inventory, taken from the archives 20 Carbajal, Anales, MS., aiio of Simancas, of the rich plate and 1497. — Mariana, Hist, de Espana, jewels, presented to the princess tom. ii. lib. 26, cap. 16. — Lanuza, Margaret on the day of her mar- Historias, lib. 1, cap. 8. — Abarca, riage. They are said to be "of Reyes de Aragon, tom. ii. fol. 330. such value and perfect workman- " Y aunque," says the last au- ship, that the like was never before thor, " a la princessa se le dexaron seen." (llust. II, pp. 338-342.) todos sus criados, estilos, y entre- Isabella had turned these baubles tenimientos, se la advirtio, que en to good account in the war of las ceremonias no havia de tratar Granada. She was too simple in a las personas Rcalcs, y Grandcs her taste to attach nr>uch value to con la familiaridad y Uaneza de luxury of apparel.