altar, witnessed a singular representation, ending with
the flight of a white eagle, which, descending from
the vault, placed a crown on His Majesty's brows.
Charles then proceeded to the Alcazar, and a brilliant
display of fireworks and illuminations concluded the
day's rejoicings. ¹

Six weeks later Castiglione had the pleasure of
welcoming his friend Andrea Navagero, and rode out
to meet him with Don Diego, the son of Columbus
and Admiral of the Indies, when he reached Toledo
on June 11. The Venetian travellers had experienced
every kind of peril and hardship on their journey.
A terrible storm overtook the ship in which they
sailed to Barcelona, and while Navagero mused, as he
watched the waves, on the truth of the poet's line,
'Montes aquarum,' the frightened sailors fell on their
knees and made their confession to some friars on
board, a thing which they had never done during
forty years of life at sea! When at length they
reached land safely, the ambassador and his suite had
great difficulty in finding lodgings, and so scanty
was the accommodation in the different towns where
they stayed that it became necessary for the party
to divide and travel by different routes. Beds were
scarce and food and wine bad, while, to add to their
discomfort, the heat was intense, and the secretary,
Zuan Negro, complained loudly of the miseries
which he had to endure in this barbaric land. But
Navagero was deeply interested in the Spanish
churches and convents, and pronounced S. Girolamo
at Saragossa to be equal to the Certosa of Pavia.

During the next three years Navagero's companion-
ship was Castiglione's greatest joy and consolation,
and frequent allusions to Messer Baldassare are to

-274-