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filled all the chapel so that there was no stirring。

Amidst the amusement supplied to us by the poor Cardinal; I remarked
extreme satisfaction in the King and Queen at seeing this grand marriage
accomplished。  The ceremony finished; as it was not long; only the King;
the Queen; and; when necessary; the Prince and Princess kneeling; their
Catholic Majesties rose and withdrew towards the left corner of their
footcloth; talked together for a short time; after which the Queen
remained where she was; and the King advanced to me; I being where I had
been during all the ceremony。

The King did me the honour to say to me; 〃Monsieur; in every respect I am
so pleased with you; and particularly for the manner in which you have
acquitted yourself of your embassy; that I wish to give you some marks of
my esteem; of my satisfaction; of my friendship。  I make you Grandee of
Spain of the first class; you; and; at the same time; whichever of your
sons you may wish to have the same distinction; and your eldest son I
will make chevalier of the Toison d'Or。〃

I immediately embraced his knees; and I tried to testify to him my
gratitude and my extreme desire to render myself worthy of the favour he
deigned to spread upon me; by my attachment; my very humble services; and
my most profound respect。  Then I kissed his hand; turned and sent for
my; children; employing the moments which had elapsed before they came in
uttering fresh thanks。  As soon as my sons appeared; I called the younger
and told him; to embrace the knees of the King who overwhelmed us with
favours; and made him grandee of Spain with me。  He kissed the King's
hand in rising; the King saying he was very glad of what he had just
done。  I presented the elder to him afterwards; to thank him for the
Toison。  He simply bent very low and kissed the King's hand。  As soon as
this was at an end; the King went towards the Queen; and I followed him
with my children。  I bent very low before the Queen; thanked her; then
presented to her my children; the younger first; the elder afterwards。
The Queen received us with much goodness; said a thousand civil things;
then walked away with the King; followed by the Prince; having upon his
arm the Princess; whom we saluted in passing; and they returned to their
apartments。  I wished to follow them; but was carried away; as it were;
by the crowd which pressed eagerly around me to compliment me。  I was
very careful to reply in a fitting manner to each; and with the utmost
politeness; and though I but little expected these favours at this
moment; I found afterwards that all this numerous court was pleased with
me。

A short time after the celebration of the marriage between the Regent's
daughter and the Prince of the Asturias; the day came on which my eldest
son was to receive the Toison d'Or。  The Duc de Liria was to be his;
godfather; and it was he who conducted us to the place of ceremony。  His
carriage was drawn by four perfectly beautiful Neapolitan horses; but
these animals; which are often extremely fantastical; would not stir。
The whip was vigorously applied; resultsrearing; snorting; fury; the
carriage in danger of being upset。  Time was flying; I begged the Duc de
Liria; therefore; to get into my carriage; so that we might not keep the
King and the company waiting for us。  It was in vain I represented to him
that this function of godfather would in no way be affected by changing
his own coach for mine; since it would be by necessity。  He would not
listen to me。  The horses continued their game for a good half hour
before they consented to start。

All my cortege followed us; for I wished by this display to show the King
of Spain how highly I appreciated the honours of his Court。  On the way
the horses again commenced their pranks。  I again pressed the Duc de
Liria to change his coach; and he again refused。  Fortunately the pause
this time was much shorter than at first; but before we reached the end
of our journey there came a message to say that the King was waiting for
us。  At last we arrived; and as soon as the King was informed of it he
entered the room where the chapter of the order was assembled。  He
straightway sat himself down in an armchair; and while the rest of the
company were placing themselves in position; the Queen; the Princess of
the Asturias; and their suite; seated themselves as simple spectators at
the end of the room。

All the chapter having arranged themselves in order; the door in front of
the King; by which we had entered; was closed; my son remaining outside
with a number of the courtiers。  Then the King covered himself; and all
the chevaliers at the same time; in the midst of a silence; without sign;
which lasted as long as a little prayer。  After this; the King very
briefly proposed that the Vidame de Chartres should be received into the
order。  All the chevaliers uncovered themselves; made an inclination;
without rising; and covered themselves again。  After another silence; the
King called the Duc de Liria; who uncovered himself; and with a reverence
approached the King; by whom he was thus addressed: 〃Go and see if the
Vidame de Chartres is not somewhere about here。〃

The Duc de Liria made another reverence to the King; but none to the
chevaliers (who; nevertheless; were uncovered at the same time as he);
went away; the door was closed upon him; and the chevaliers covered
themselves again。  The reverences just made; and those I shall have
occasion to speak of in the course of my description; were the same as
are seen at the receptions of the chevaliers of the Saint…Esprit; and in
all grand ceremonies。

The Duc de Liria remained outside nearly a quarter of an hour; because it
is assumed that the new chevalier is ignorant of the proposition made for
him; and that it is only by chance he is found in the palace; time being
needed in order to look for him。  The Duc de Liria returned; and
immediately after the door was again closed; and he advanced to the King;
as before; saying that the Vidame de Chartres was in the other room。

Upon this the King ordered him to go and ask the Vidame if he wished to
accept the Order of the Toison d'Or; and be received into it; and
undertake to observe its statutes; its duties; its ceremonies; take its
oaths; promise to fulfil all the conditions submitted: to every one who
is admitted into it; and agree to conduct himself in everything like a
good; loyal; brave; and virtuous chevalier。  The Duc de Liria withdrew as
he had before withdrawn。  The door was again closed。  He returned after
having been absent a shorter time than at first。  The door was again
closed; and he approached the King as before; and announced to him the
consent and the thanks of the Vidame。  〃Very well;〃 replied the King。
〃Go seek him; and bring him here。〃

The Duc de Liria withdrew; as on the previous occasions; and immediately
returned; having my son on his left。  The door being open; anybody was at
liberty to enter; and see the ceremony。

The Duc de Liria conducted my son to the feet of the King; and then
seated himself in his place。  My son; in advancing; had lightly inclined
himself to the chevaliers; right and left; and; after having made in the
middle of the room a profound bow; knelt before the King; without
quitting his sword; and having his hat under his arm; and no gloves on。
The chevaliers; who had uncovered themselves at the entry of the Duc de
Liria; covered themselves when he sat down; and the Prince of the
Asturias acted precisely as they acted。

The King repeated to my son the same things; a little more lengthily;
that had been said to him by the Duc de Liria; and received his promise
upon each in succession。  Afterwards; an attendant; who was standing in
waiting behind the table; presented to the King; from between the table
and the chair; a large book; open; and in which was a long oath; that my
son repeated to the King; who had the book upon his knees; the oath in
French; and on loose paper; being in it。  This ceremony lasted rather a
long time: Afterwards; my son kissed the King's hand; and the King made
him rise and pass; without reverence; directly before the table; towards
the middle of which he knelt; his back to the Prince of the Asturias; his
face to the attendant; who showed him (the table being between them) what
to do。  There was upon this table a great crucifix of enamel upon a
stand; with a missal open at the Canon; the Gospel of Saint…John; and
forms; in French; of promises and oaths to be made; whilst putting the
hand now upon the Canon; now upon the Gospel。  The oath…making took up
some time; after which my son came back and knelt before the King again
as before。

Then; the Duc del Orco; grand ecuyer; and Valouse; premier ecuyer; who
have had the Toison since; and who were near me; went away; the Duke
first; Valouse behind him; carrying in his two hands; with marked care
and respect; the sword of the Grand Captain; Don Gonzalvo de Cordova; who
is never called otherwise。  They walked; with measured step; outside the
right…hand seats of the chevaliers; then entered the chapter; where the
Duc de Liria had entered with my son; marched inside the left…hand seats
of the chevaliers; without reverence; but the Duke inclining himself;
Valouse not doing so on account of the respect due to the sword; the
grandees did not incline themselves。

The Duke on arriving between the Prince of the Asturias and the King;
knelt; and Valouse knelt behind him。  Some moments after; the King made a
sign to them; Valouse drew the sword from its sheath which he put under
his arm; held the naked weapon by the middle of the blade; kissed the
hilt; and presented it to the King; who; without uncovering himself;
kissed the pommel; took the sword in both hands by the handle; held it
upright some moments; then held it with one hand; but almost immediately
with the other as well; and struck it three times upon each shoulder of
my son; alternately; saying to him; 〃By Saint…George and Saint…Andrew I
make you Chevalier。〃  And the weight of the sword was so great that the
blows did not fall lightly。  While the King was striking them; the grand
ecuyer and the premier remained in their pl

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