Note 205 — BOOK IV I ISABEL OF BOURBON

Father Florez and other ecclesiastical writers give many instances of her liberality in contributing to pious works, and in Reinas Catolicas there is an account of Isabel’s action at the time (in 1624), that a ‘heretic had outraged the Most Holy Sacrament in this my convent of St. Philip.’ In addition to the services of atonement for the outrage in all the churches, ‘the royal family made such an atonement as never was seen, as befitted an insult to the greatest of the mysteries. The corridors of the palace were adorned with all the valuable and beautiful possessions of the crown, and a separate altar was erected in the name of each royal personage. That of the Queen attracted the attention of all beholders for the taste it exhibited, and the immense value of the jewels that adorned it belonging to her Majesty. The value of these jewels was computed at three million and a half’ (of reals).