_The gouernor of Chincheo doth call the Spaniards
before him, and sheweth vnto them the ceremonies that
they must vse to have audience._
The same day that they came into the cittie (as aforesaide), was a good
while before night, with more desire to take rest, and ease themselues
of their iourney, and of the trauell they had in the streets, by reason
of the great number of people that came to see them, then to make any
visitation that night; but the Insuanto, or gouernor of the cittie, did
send, and commanded that forthwith they shoulde go vnto his house, for
that hee had great desire to see them, the which they did more for
necessitie of the time, then for any good will. They went forth from
their lodging on foote, whether it was for that the gouernor's house was
neere hande, or else per-adventure at his commandment, which they could
not well understande, but did as the captaine that guarded them did
commande. In the midst of the streete, wheras was no lesse number of
people then in the other wherby they entred into the citie, they met
with a loytia that came to entertain them with great maiestie, and had
carried before him manie banners, mase bearers, and tipstaves, and
others which carried settes or whips, which they did traile after them,
made fast vnto long stickes, which were the executioners, the which doo
go alwayes making of way, parting the people before the loytias, as you
haue hearde. The maiestie and company wherewith he came was so great,
that they verely did beleeue him to be the Insuanto: but being
certified, they vnderstoode that it was one of his counsailers that came
from the gouernor's home to his own house, which was in the same street
whereas hee met with them. This counsailor was carried in a chaire of
ivory, garnished with gold and with curtines of cloth of gold, and on
them the king's arms, which are certaine serpents knotted togither (as
hath beane tolde you). But when he came right against the Spaniards,
without any staying, he made a signe with his head, and commanded that
they should returne backe againe vnto his house, which was hard by; the
captains did straightways obey his commandment, and returned with them.
The counsailor entred into his house, which was verie faire; he had in
it a faire court, and therein a gallant fountaine and a garden. After
him entred the Spaniards all alone, the rest remained without in the
street at the loytia's commandment. He entertained them with verie good
words of semblance, and said in conclusion that they were welcome into
that kingdome, with many other wordes of curtesie: vnto the which they
answered with the same curtesie, with signes and by their interpreter
that they carried with them. This loytia commaunded a banquet to bee
brought foorth, and wine to drinke. He began first both to eate and
drinke. Then hee commanded to call in the captaine, vnto whome was
giuen the charge to beare them companie, and did chide with him verie
sharpely and seuerely, because he did carrie them on foote (they coulde
not vnderstande whether it were doone for a policie or of a trueth,
although the effectes wherewith hee did chide seemed of a trueth); hee
straightwayes commanded two rich chayres to bee brought foorth for to
carrie the fathers, and to giue vnto their companions horses; the which
being done he willed them to go and visite the gouernor, who did tary
their comming, and that another time at more leasure he would see and
visite them.
They followed their way all alongst the streete, which seemed vnto them
to be more fairer then the other wherein they entered, and of more
fairer houses and triumphant arkes; and also the shoppes that were on
the one side and on the other, to bee better furnished with richer
thinges then the others, in so ample sort, that what therewith, as also
the great number of people which they sawe, they were so amased, that
they were as people from themselues, thinking it to be a dreame. To
conclude, after they had gone a good while in that streete, delighting
their eies with newe thinges neuer seene of them before, they came into
a great place whereas were many souldiers in good order with their
hargabushes, pickes, and other armour in a redinesse, apparelled all in
a liuerie of silke with their ancients displayed. At the end of this
place was there a very faire and sumpteous pallace, the gate was wrought
of mason's worke of stone, very great and full of figures or personages,
and aboue it a great window with an iron grate al guilt; they were
carried within the gates, the souldiers and the people, which were
without number, remained without and coulde not be auoyded but with
great difficultie. When they were within the first court, there came
forth a man very well apparelled and of authoritie, and made signes with
his hande unto them that brought the Spaniards, that they should carrie
them into a hal that was vpon the right hand, the which was
straightwayes done. The hall was very great and faire, and at the end
ther of there was an altar, whereon was many idols, and all did differ
the one from the other in their fashion; the altar was rich and very
curiously trimmed with burning lampes; the aultar cloth was of cloth of
gold and the fruntlet of the same.
After a while that they had beene there whereas the idols were, there
came a seruant from the gouernor, and said vnto them in his behalfe,
that they should sende vnto him the interpreter, for that hee woulde
talke with him, and tell him some things that they ought to obserue if
they would haue any audience of him; they straightwayes commanded him to
go. And the gouernor said vnto him that hee should aduise the fathers
and the rest of his companions, that if they would talke and treate of
such businesse as they came for, that it must be done with the same
ceremonie and respect as the nobles of that prouince do vse to talke
with him, which is vppon their knees (as afterwards they did see manie
times vsed); if not that they shoulde depart vnto the house whereas they
were lodged, and there to tarrie the order that shoulde bee sent from
the vizroy of Aucheo. The Spaniards, when they hearde this message,
there was amongst them diuers iudgementes and opinions, striuing amongst
themselues a good while; but yet in conclusion, the religious fathers
whome the gouernour of the ilandes had ordeined and sent as principalles
in this matter, and whose iudgemente they shoulde followe, saide that
they ought to accept the condition, seeing that by no other meanes they
coulde not come vnto that they pretended, and not to leaue it off for
matters of small importance, for that therein they make no offence vnto
God, and it may bee a meane vnto the conuerting of that mightie
kingdome, whome the divell maketh reckoning to bee his owne, and not
nowe to leaue it off, but rather to procure all meanes that may be, as
they had began to do; and seeing that it is no offence vnto God, as
aforesaide, neither sent as ambassadors from the king of Spaine, I doo
not know to the contrarie, but that we may consent vnto the will of the
Insuant, and in especiall being a thing so commonly vsed in that
countrie. This opinion and iudgement was followed, although the
souldiers that were with them were of a contrarie opinion. So they sent
answere vnto the gouernor with the said interpreter, that they will
observe their accustomed ceremonies and will do all that he will
commande them according vnto the custome of the countrie: otherwise they
could not be permitted to intreat of such things, wherefore they came
thither from farre countries and with so great travell.