[462] Stirling, Annals of the Artists of Spain, tom. i. p. 211.
[463] Stirling, Annals of the Artists of Spain, tom. i. p. 203.
[464] Dichos y Hechos de Phelipe II., p. 81.
[465] One of its historians, Father Francisco de los Santos, styles it on his title-page, "Unica Maravilla del Mundo."—Descripcion del Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de el Escorial (Madrid, 1698).
[466] Los Santos, Descripcion del Escorial, fol. 116.
[467] Siguença, Hist. de la Orden de San Geronimo, tom. iii. p. 862.
[468] The enthusiasm of Fray Alonso de San Geronimo carries him so far, that he does not hesitate to declare that the Almighty owes a debt of gratitude to Philip the Second for the dedication of so glorious a structure to the Christian worship! "Este Templo, Señor, deve á Filipo Segundo vuestra Grandeza; con que gratitud le estará mirando, en el Impireo, vuestra Divinidad!"
This language, so near akin to blasphemy, as it would be thought in our day, occurs in a panegyric delivered at the Escorial on the occasion of a solemn festival in honour of the hundredth anniversary of its foundation. A volume compiled by Fray Luis de Santa Maria is filled with a particular account of the ceremonies, under the title of "Octava sagradamente culta, celebrada en la Octava Maravilla," &c. (Madrid, 1664, folio).
[469] Florez, Reynas Catholicas, tom. ii. p. 905.
[470] Ibid. p. 908.