_The gouernor doth banquet the Spaniards, and
afterwards make all thinges in a redinesse for to go
vnto Aucheo, whereas the vizroy tarieth their
comming._
The next day following the gouernor called a gentleman of his house vnto
him, and commanded him to go and visite the Spaniards, and to informe
himselfe of them if that they lacked any thing, as well in their
victuals as in their lodgings, and to know if they did require any thing
particular to themselues to aduise him therof, and he would furnish them
forthwith for the loue that hee bare vnto them, for their good
contractation, and for the great seruice that they had done vnto the
king in the businesse of Limahon. And also that he should in his name
inuite them for the next day folowing to dine with him in his house.
This gentleman went vnto them and accomplished his message, and the
Spaniards answered, kissing his hande for the great care hee had of
them, saying that they were furnished in all thinges aboundantly (as in
trueth they were), and how they were maruellously well lodged, cheered,
and lacked nothing, and that the great care hee had of them was
agreeable vnto the hope they had of his good presence and gentlenesse,
accepting the inuiting for the next day, the which was giuen them, and
accomplished in this forme following.
The next day when they went vnto the pallace, which was at dinner time,
they were caried into a hall that was below in the second court, whereas
were many chaires of velvet and tables that were painted with their
frontals before; they had no table clothes on them, for that they doo
not vse any in that countrie, as hath beene told you in the first part
of this historie, neither is it needfull for their manner of feeding. In
the first chaires they caused the friers to sit downe, euery one at a
table by himselfe, and each of them other sixe tables, placed in order,
compassing rounde like a circle; then were the Spanish souldiers set in
the same manner, and each of them had fiue tables, and next vnto them
the captaine of the guard belonging vnto the gouernor, and two other
captaines, and euerie one of them had three tables; for that it is the
custome of that countrie to make a difference in the qualitie of the
guests by the number of the tables. All these were placed in circle or
compasse (as aforesaide) that they might see one another. In the midest
betwixt them there was a round compasse whereas was represented a
comedie with much pastime, and indured all the dinner time, and a good
while after. There was also great store of verie good and excellent
musicke, accompanied with gallant voyces, also iesters, with puppets and
other thinges of great pastime, to drive the time away.
On the first table was set, to euery one of the guestes, little baskets
wrought with golde and siluer wyre, full of sweete meates made of sugar,
as marchpanes, castels, pitchers, pots, dishes, dogges, bulles,
elephants, and other things verie curious, and all guilt: besides this
there were many dishes full of flesh, as capons, hennes, geese, teales,
gamons of bacon, peeces of beef, and other sortes of flesh wherewith all
the tables were replenished, sauing that whereat they did sit to dine,
which was replenished with victuals that was dressed (for all the other
was rawe), and was of so great aboundance that there was at times more
than fiftie dishes, and they were serued with great curiositie. They had
wine of diuers sorts, and of that which they doo make in that countrie
of the palme tree, but of so great excellencie, that they founde no
lacke of that which was made of grapes. The dinner endured foure houres,
and according vnto the aboundance and diuersitie they had in victuals,
it might have indured eight houres, for it was in so good order that it
might haue beene giuen vnto any prince in the world.
Their seruants and slaues that they brought with them at the same time,
did dine in another hal nigh vnto the same, with so great abundance as
their masters. When dinner was done, the gouernor commanded the people
to come vnto him, with whom he did talke and comon with great friendship
and good conuersation, and would not consent that they shoulde kneele
downe, neither to bee bare headed. So after that hee had made vnto them
tokens of friendshippe, and detained them a while in demaunding of many
thinges, lastly he told them that there was an order come from the
vizroy of Aucheo, that they shuld go thither with great speede, so that
it did require that they shoulde depart the next day following, for the
which they were veri glad and ioyfull, for that they had great desire
the one to see the other; and againe with him they might treate and
comon touching their comming into that countrie, and for what intent,
and for all other things needful, for that he was a man fit for their
purpose, and one wellbeloved of the king. So hee tooke his leaue of vs
with great friendship and curtesie, who did surrender the same after our
custome, putting of our cappes, and making reuerence, for the which hee
made shewe that it greatly contented him.
At their going foorth out of the hall they found the captaine that did
dine with them, and with him many other gentlemen that tarried their
comming for to beare them company vnto their lodging; going before them
many seruants, that did carie the raw meate that was vpon the other
tables ouer and aboue that which they did eate on, the which was done
for great maiestie, and a ceremony verie much vsed in that kingdom, so
many times as they do make any banquet.
So when they came vnto their lodging they founde that the Insuanto had
sent them a very good present, in the which was for euery one of them
four peeces of silke, and counting chestes with other thinges, and
certaine painted mantels for the seruants and slaues. So after they had
taken their leaue of the captaines and gentlemen that did beare them
companie home, they beganne with great ioy to put all thinges in order
for their iourney the next day following.