Page:Impressions of Spain in 1866.djvu/34

20 representing this battle remains over the arch of the church. She then took them to the choir, which is very rich in carving, and contains the tombs of the founders, Alonso and Leonora, and also of a number of Infantas, whose royal bodies are placed in richly carved Gothic sepulchres, rest- ing on lions, on each side of the choir. In the church is a curious hammered iron gilt pulpit, in which St. Vincent de Ferrer preached. Here St. Ferdinand and Alonso XI. knighted them- selves, and here our own king, Edward I., received the honour of knighthood at the hands of Alonso el Sabio.

The church is a curious jumble of dififerent dates of architecture ; but there is a beautiM tower and doorway, some very interesting old monuments, and a fine double rose-window. The cloisters are very beautifiil, with round-headed arches, grouped piUars, and Norman capitals. The lady abbess then ordered one of the priests of the convent to take her English visitors to see their hospital, called ^Del Rey,' the walk to which firom the convent is through pleasant fields like English meadows. It is admirably managed and nursed by the nuns. Each patient has a bed in a recess, which makes, as it were, a little private room for each, and this is lined with ^ azulejos,' or coloured