[Illustration: FIG. 15.--_Bird's-eye view of the Monument (restored) of the Queen Inez of Castro, Abbey of Alcobaça, Portugal._] The scene must indeed have been a weird one. The sable costumes of the bishops and priests, the incense issuing from innumerable censers, the friars in their quaint garments, and the fantastically-attired members of the various hermandades, or brotherhoods--some of whom were dressed from head to foot entirely in scarlet, or blue, or black, or in white--with their countenances masked and their eyes glittering through small openings in their cowls; but above all, the spectre-like corpse of the Queen, on its car, and the grief-stricken King, who led the train--when seen by the flickering light of countless torches, with its solemn dirge music, passing through many a mile of open country in the midnight hours--was a vision so unreal that the chronicler describes it as "rather a phantasmagoria than a reality." In the magnificent abbey of Alcobaça the _requiem_ mass was sung, and the corpse finally laid to rest. The monument still exists, with the statue, with its royal diadem and mantle, lying thereon. The tomb of Don Pedro is placed foot to foot with that of Inez, so--the legend runs--that at the Judgment Day they may rise together and stand face to face. In 1810 the bodies of Don Pedro I. and Dona Inez de Castro were disturbed by the French, at the sack of Alcobaça. The skeleton of Inez was discovered to be in a singular state of preservation--the hair exceedingly long and glossy, and the head bound with a golden crown set with jewels of price. Singularly enough, this crown, although very valuable, was kicked about by the men as a toy and thrown behind the high altar, whence, as soon as the troops evacuated the monastery, it was carefully taken and laid aside by the Abbot. Shortly afterwards it again encircled the unhappy Queen's head, when, by order of the Duke of Wellington, the remains were once more replaced in the tomb, with military honours. [Illustration: FIG. 16.--_Funeral Service, in which are shown the Candelabra and Incense Vessels which were deposited in the coffin._--Drawing of the 14th Century--Collection of the Rev. Father COCHET.] [Illustration: FIG. 17.--_Angels praying over a Skull._--Bas-relief of 16th Century.] [Illustration: FIGS. 18 & 19.--_Death Criers_--_French costumes of 17th Century. The English dress was almost identical._--From a rare print in the collection of Mr. RICHARD DAVEY. Engraved expressly for this publication.]