virgin were carried with
great pomp to the metropolitan church and placed in the middle of the
choir in a shrine made of gold and enamel and ornamented with precious
stones.

The chapter kept a record of the miracles wrought by the blessed
Orberosia.

Draco the Great, who had never ceased to defend and exalt the Christian
faith, died fulfilled with the most pious sentiments and bequeathed his
great possessions to the Church.

III. QUEEN CRUCHA

Terrible disorders followed the death of Draco the Great. That prince's
successors have often been accused of weakness, and it is true that none
of them followed, even from afar, the example of their valiant ancestor.

His son, Chum, who was lame, failed to increase the territory of the
Penguins. Bolo, the son of Chum, was assassinated by the palace guards
at the age of nine, just as he was ascending the throne. His brother
Gun succeeded him. He was only seven years old and allowed himself to be
governed by his mother, Queen Crucha.

Crucha was beautiful, learned, and intelligent; but she was unable to
curb her own passions.

These are the terms in which the venerable Talpa expresses himself in
his chronicle regarding that illustrious queen:

"In beauty of face and symmetry of figure Queen Crucha yields neither
to Semiramis of Babylon nor to Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons; nor to
Salome, the daughter of Herodias. But she offers in her person certain
singularities that will appear beautiful or uncomely according to the
contradictory opinions of men and the varying judgments of the world.
She has on her forehead two small horns which she conceals in the
abundant folds of her golden hair; one of her eyes is blue and one is
black; her neck is bent towards the left side; and, like Alexander
of Macedon, she has six fingers on her right hand, and a stain like a
little monkey's head upon her skin.

"Her gait is majestic and her manner affable. She is magnificent in her
expenses, but she is not always able to rule desire by reason.

"One day, having noticed in the palace stables, a young groom of great
beauty, she immediately fell violently in love with him, and entrusted
to him the command of her armies. What one must praise unreservedly
in this great queen is the abundance of gifts that she makes to the
churches, monasteries, and chapels in her kingdom, and especially to
the holy house of Beargarden, where, by the grace of the Lord, I made my
profession in my four