It was about a month after this that Mary passed from the Tower through the city of London in a grand triumphal procession to be crowned. The royal chariot, covered with cloth of golden tissue, was drawn by six horses most splendidly caparisoned. Elizabeth, who had aided her sister, so far as she could, in the struggle, was admitted to share the triumph. She had a carriage drawn by six horses too, with cloth and decorations of silver. They proceeded in this manner, attended and followed by a great cavalcade of nobles and soldiery, to Westminster Abbey, where Mary took her seat with great formality upon her father's throne. CHAPTER IV. THE SPANISH MATCH. 1553-1555 Queen Mary's character.--Bigotry and firmness.--Suitors for Queen Mary's hand.--Emperor Charles the Fifth.--Character of his son Philip.--The emperor proposes his son.--Mary pleased with the proposal.--Plans of the ministers.--The people alarmed.--Opposition to the match.--The emperor furnishes money.--The emperor's embassy.--Stipulations of the treaty of marriage.--Wyatt's rebellion.--Duke of Suffolk.--Wyatt advances toward London.--The queen retreats into the city.--Wyatt surrenders.--The Duke of Suffolk sent to the Tower.--Beheading of Lady Jane Grey.--Her heroic fortitude.--Death of Suffolk.--Imprisonment of Elizabeth.--Execution of Wyatt.--The wedding plan proceeds.--Hostility of the sailors.--Mary's fears and complainings.--Philip lands at Southampton.--Philip's proud and haughty demeanor.--The marriage ceremony.--Philip abandons Mary.--Her repinings.--Her death. When Queen Mary ascended the throne, she was a maiden lady not far from thirty-five years of age. She was cold, austere, and forbidding in her appearance and manners, though probably conscientious and honest in her convictions of duty. She was a very firm and decided Catholic, or, rather, she evinced a certain strict adherence to the principles of her religious faith, which we generally call firmness when it is exhibited by those whose opinions agree with our own, though we are very apt to name it bigotry in those who differ from us.