Holy Week in Spain [pp. 840-854]

8OL Y WEEK IN SPA IN.
the long gallery leading from their apartments to the chapel.
In front walked one of the king's own servants; after him the
gentiles- hombres de casa y boca, the mayor domos de semnzna-so
called because each one is a week at a time on duty at the
palace-and the grandees of Spain. Then came the king, queen,
and infantas. The king wore his gala uniform of captain-general, with the orders of the Golden Fleece, the collar of Charles
III., and Grand Cross of San Fernando. The queen and infantas were richly dressed, and wore white mantillas. Immediately after them came the camarera-mistress of the robes in
England-the mayor domo mayor (lord high chamberlain), damas and chamberlains in attendance, aides-de-camp, and the
colonels of the halberdiers and horse guards to-day "on guard"
at the palace. Last of all came the band of the halberdiers,
playing a march. The gallery was hung with splendid tapestry,
and lined on both sides with halberdiers, dressed in snow-white
breeches, black gaiters, and red-faced uniforms, with halberds
presented as their majesties passed.
At the door of the chapel the royal cort?ge was met by the
Cardinal-Archbishop of Toledo, the Patriarch of the Indies, and
chaplains of honor. A raised dais, with a crimson velvet canopy,
richly embroidered with the royal crown and arms of Spain in
gold relief, stood a little below the altar, at the left. On it
were two arm-chairs, or thrones, covered in crimson and gold
like the canopy, for the king and queen; and a little to one
side, facing the altar, two cushions for them to kneel upon.
On the right of the dais were chairs for the king's sisters, the
infantas, and two rows of velvet- covered benches for the camarera, damas, grandees, etc., etc. On the other side, facing the
days, sat the mayor domos de semana, whose duty on this occasion was to serve the cruets, etc., during Mass. These functionaries only serve Mass when either a cardinal or a bishop officiates, which always is the case at capillas publicas. At each end
of the bench upon which the mayor domos sat stood two halberdiers presenting arms. They were relieved by others every
quarter of an hour. The Cardinal-Archbishop of Toledo and
the Pope's nuncio sat nearer to the altar, in front of the vma)or
domos, and at the end of the chapel, facing the altar, a benchful of chaplains of honor, in their crimson silk robes and long
trains. While the High Mass was being chanted, the Patriarch
of the Indies stood at the foot of the dais, and repeated aloud
for their majesties the words of the ordinary. A chaplain of
honor did the same for the infantas.
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[Mar.