CATHOLIC GRANADA 71 



was carried so far that once, when the Arch- 

 bishop Carrillo de Alderete wished to visit the 

 chapel, attended by his canons, the chaplains 

 refused to admit them. The archbishop ac- 

 cordingly caused the disobliging priests to be 

 arrested, whereupon a long lawsuit ensued. The 

 chaplains had the right of passage across the 

 cathedral transept to the Puerta del Perdon, 

 which is the official or state entrance to the royal 

 mausoleum a privilege which seems to have 

 galled the canons to the quick. Strange that such 

 ludicrous bickerings should have arisen out of a 

 foundation which commemorates the grandest 

 and most epoch-making events in the national 

 history. Truly from the sublime to the ridiculous 

 there is but one step. 



THE CATHEDRAL 



The Cathedral of Granada was built adjoining 

 and connecting with the Chapel Royal and 

 sacristy or old mosque, between the years 1523 

 and 1561. Charles V. preferred the Gothic style, 

 but at last consented to the adoption of the 

 designs of Diego de Siloe. The church is described 

 by Ford as one of the finest examples of the Graeco- 

 Roman style, but the plan is distinctly Gothic, 

 nor can the edifice be said to deserve the descrip- 

 tion, " the most magnificent temple in Europe 

 after the Vatican." It is impressive in its severity 



