THE GRANDEES OF SPAIN.

West Coast Times, Issue 12346, 30 October 1902, Page 4

THE GRANDEES OF SPAIN.

" The ceremony of head covering was recently performed by a number of Spanish peers the Madrid correspondent or 'The Times '), who thereby passed to the rank of grandees of Spain. The ceremony, interesting on account of its antiquity and its historical signification is, like many Spanish customs, remarkable for its extreme simplicity. The peers who took part in it were tbe Counr. of Cabra, the Count of Plasencia, the Marquis oE Rafal, the Marquis of Malferit, the Marquis of Benumeji, the Count del Real, the Marquis of Hoycs, the Marquis de la Cenia, the Count of Bilbao, the Marquis of Viana, and the Marquis of Tovar, who were each attended by a grandee as their sponsor. When they had made the three customary reverences to the Throne, the Queen Regent, in the Kjng's name, bade them 'Cover your heads aud speak.' The speeches which followed, justifying (he right of each peer to the honour he was receiving, were for the most part interesting excursions into the past history of Spain. The first, which was also the most brief— lhat of the Count of Cabra— may serve as an example. — 4 Senora, if noblesse obliges me to receive the honor of covering my head 'in the presence of your Majesty, I come here obliged by the merits and virtues of my forefathers, and with the desire at least to imitate them, although to do so in reality may, unfortunately, be impossible. I ?m called Osoria, Borbon, Ponce de L3on, Carrillo de Albornoz, Hurtado de Mendoza, Fernandez de Cordova, Guzman, Manrique de Lara, Silva, Rojas, Alvarez de Toledo, and by other names as well so illustrious that, were it possible to forget them, one would have £o forget with them the history of Spain. Piety, heroic valor, wisdom, statesmanship— in all these my forefathers have offered examples for imitation; and though it be not permitted to me to reach such ' heights except in admiration, in my love and loyalty 10 my country and my King I am worthy o£ them.' The other new grandees were far more precise, not to say discursive, in relating the histories of their familie?, and one — tbe Count of PJasencia — devot: ed almost thewhole of his disconrse to an ancient grievance — that Philip II had. cut off the head of one of his ancestors by mistake— un f unesto error.' 1

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