John, of Austria, 1547-1578; Spain -- History -- Philip II, 1556-1598
Cardinal Granvelle celebrated the Pontifical Mass, and at the end of it
D. John of Austria mounted to the chancel, and, kneeling in front of the
altar, received from the hands of Granvelle, first the baton and then
the standard, with these words, which the Cardinal said over three times
in Latin, Spanish and Italian: "Take, fortunate Prince, the insignia of
the true Word made flesh; take the living sign of the holy faith of
which this enterprise is the defender. He gives thee glorious victory
over the impious enemy, whose pride shall be humbled by thy hand." Then
a shout burst out in the church, and a thousand voices, with one accord,
cried "Amen! Amen."
Then a brilliant military procession was formed to carry the standard
from the church to the port; it was carried, furled, on the back of a
white horse, whose crimson velvet cloth dragged on the ground, led by
two captains who took it in turns. Behind came the Lord D. John,
carrying the baton of Generalissimo, followed by the brilliant suite,
all with drawn swords, as if ready to defend the insignia of the Holy
League. It was at length hoisted at the magnificent stern of the royal
galley at one o'clock. D. John himself directed this, and the fleet and
the port saluted him with a formidable salvo of artillery, muskets and
arquebuses, which lasted more than half an hour.
D. John then embraced Count Gentil de Saxatelo, who had brought the
baton and standard, and threw round his neck a golden chain worth 400
crowns.
CHAPTER VII
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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