eserved carefully by the fifteen or sixteen brothers, who
continued after the dispersion of the rest to inhabit the few
apartments, which, by their situation over the cloister, had escaped the
flames; and who were only finally compelled to evacuate their retreat on
the occasion of the general convent crusade of the late revolution. It
is an announcement of indulgences, of which the following is the opening
paragraph:--

"Indulgence and days of pardon to be gained by kissing the robe of the
brothers of San Francisco.

"All the faithful gain, for each time that they kiss the aforesaid holy
robe with devotion of heart, two thousand and seventy-five days of
Indulgence. Further than this, whosoever of the faithful shall kiss the
aforesaid holy robe devoutly, gains each time eight thousand one hundred
days of pardon. The which urges to the exercise of this devotion the
Princes, Kings, Emperors, Bishops, and highest dignitaries of the
Church, and the monks of other religious orders; and even those of the
same order gain the same, according to the doctrine of Lantusca, who
writes, 'Videant religiosi quantum thesaurum portent secum.' Since those
who with hearts filled with lowliness and love, bend the knees to kiss
the precious garment, which opens to so many souls the entrance to
Heaven, leading them aside from the paths of perdition, with trembling
and terror of the entire hosts of hell, are doubtless those who gain the
above-mentioned Indulgences, &c."

Cardinal Ximenes had assumed the habit of this monastery before his
nomination to the see of Toledo.

Among the numerous relics of the ancient prosperity of this ruinous
corner of Toledo, are seen the walls of the palace of Don Juan Hurtado
de Mendoza. To them were confided the secret murmurings of Charles the
Fifth's vexation, when, elated with his Italian successes--lord of the
greatest empire of Christendom, and flattered by the magnificent
hospitality of the Genoese, he only resorted hither to be bearded by his
Spanish vassals, and to hear his request for supplies unceremoniously
refused. Although monarch of nearly half Europe, and, better still, of
Mexico and Peru, that sovereign appears to have undergone the torments
of a constantly defective exchequer.

His armies were not numerous for such an empire, and yet they were
frequently in revolt for arrears of pay. Could at that time the inventor
of a constitution on the modern principle have presented himself to
Charle