Note A — Chapter XVI · Death of Maria de Padilla—Don Juan de Mañara
Reading edition
The Balax of the Red King was given by Don Pedro after the battle of Navarrete. This is the same “fair ruby, great as a racket ball,” which Queen Elizabeth showed to Melville, the ambassador of Mary Queen of Scots, and which he asked her to bestow on his mistress, which she refused, and it is the identical gem which adorned the centre of the royal crown of Queen Victoria.