The Virgin of the Sagrario receives by far the greatest share of
devotion brought to the numerous shrines of this vast temple, even
greater than that offered at the high altar. More masses are performed
at her altar than at all the others added together. The aisles facing
her antechapel are constantly filled with a crowd of kneeling votaries.
She stands in the second enclosure, turning her back to the Ochavo. An
iron railing separates her apartment from the first chapel, which is
usually open to the aisles. She stands consequently in full view,
magnificently robed in a _fac simile_ imitation of her pearl dress, the
original being only worn on one or two occasions during the year.

The interior of the Capilla Mayor, is ornamented with several rows of
statues, and some handsome funereal monuments, forming together a sort
of transparent wall of sculpture on each of its sides. In the midst of a
series of mitred archbishops, and coroneted princes, the figure of a
peasant occupies one of the most conspicuous positions. It stands on the
left side, as you face the High Altar, and about twenty feet from the
pavement. This statue represents a celebrated historical personage.
Alonzo the Eighth, when penetrating across the Sierra Morena into
Andalucia, in search of the Moorish army under the King of Morocco,
Mahomed ben Jacob, was in danger of losing the fruit of his exertions,
in bringing together the forces of the Kings of Aragon and Navarre,
together with numerous other confederates. He had led the combined army
into a defile, in which he would have had to receive the attack of the
Moor at an insuperable disadvantage. The hostile forces occupied a
height called the Puerto del Miradal.

It was at the moment that retreat was the subject of deliberation, that
a peasant presented himself, and offered to guide the army out of the
pass. Having assured himself of the man's sincerity, Alonzo put himself
under his conduct, and was led to the summit of the mountain, where he
found himself on the border of an immense plain. This decided the great
victory of las Navas de Tolosa gained over the Moors on the 16th of
July, 1212. Alonzo ordered a statue of the peasant to be placed in this
cathedral. He is represented in a costume not unlike that of an ancient
Roman rustic, a sort of tunic reaching to the knees, and his face is
covered with a profuse beard.

The interior of the choir is the work of Felipe de Borgona, and
Berruguete; the lat