stones. After them followed the one-half of the Emperor's noblemen;
then cometh the Emperor's Majesty and the Metropolitan, after this
manner:-

First, there is a horse covered with white linen cloth down to the
ground, his ears being made long with the same cloth like to an
ass's ears. Upon this horse the Metropolitan sitteth sidelong, like
a woman; in his lap lieth a fair book, with a crucifix of
goldsmith's work upon the cover, which he holdeth fast with his left
hand; and in his right hand he has a cross of gold, with which cross
he ceaseth not to bless the people as he rideth.

There are, to the number of thirty, men who spread abroad their
garments before the horse, and as soon as the horse is passed over
any of them they take them up again and run before and spread them
again, so that the horse doth always go on some of them. They who
spread the garments are all priests' sons, and for their labours the
Emperor giveth unto them new garments.

One of the Emperor's noblemen leadeth the horse by the head, but the
Emperor himself, going on foot, leadeth the horse by the end of the
rein of his bridle with one of his hands, and in the other of his
hands he had a branch of a palm-tree; after this followed the rest
of the Emperor's noblemen and gentlemen, with a great number of
other people. In this order they went from one church to another
within the castle, about the distance of two flights' shot; and so
returned again to the Emperor's church, where they made an end of
their service; which being done, the Emperor's Majesty and certain
of his noblemen went to the Metropolitan's house to dinner, where of
delicate fishes and good drinks there was no lack.