Explore "A Knight of Spain" by Marjorie Bowen on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
On the 14th of August, 1571, a ceremony, unique in magnificence and symbolic of the most powerful combination of Christian powers since the days of the early Crusaders, was taking place in the church of Santa Chiara in Naples, the capital of the southern dependencies of Spain. For here was being celebrated the completion of the Holy League, at the formation of which the fierce little Pope, Pius V, had been labouring for many years.
Despite delays, obstacles, difficulties innumerable, Spain, Venice, Genoa, Savoy, and the Knights of Malta had now joined the league the Pope had formed against the Turk, and the other great Catholic powers, France, the Emperor, and Portugal had sent their good will, though poverty and internal strife forbade them to actively take part in the blessed enterprise.