Chapter 4
Toledo, glorious capital of the empire under Carlos V, stood on the banks of the river Tago, its solid walls surrounded by vegetation. It was an important stopping place on the court's journey through the main cities of Spain to introduce the new queen to her subjects.
It was a real pageant and all of us were part of this colossal spectacle which was repeated, with very little variation, in each city on our route. In the centre of the procession was the queen, clad in scarlet velvet, carried on a canopied throne of exactly the same colour. Around her were ladies-in-waiting, musicians, page boys and an escort of two hundred men-at-arms in gold and red striped satin jackets, gold velvet stockings and feathered hats.
Each city competed to amaze with the most lavish reception: tri
