_The entrie of the Spaniards into the cittie of
Aucheo, and how the vizroy did entertaine and receiue
them._
After they had travelled more then halfe a league in the suburbs of the
cittie of Aucheo, they met with a post that came from the vizroy, who
brought order that they should remaine in a house that was appointed for
them in the said suburbs, and there to be lodged for that night, for
that it was late and they could not come vnto the house appointed in the
cittie for them, or else peraduenture to giue content vnto many that had
great desire to see those strangers, for that they must passe thorough
the cittie, and better to bee seene in the day then in the night. So
soone as they were alighted, there came a gentleman to visite them, sent
from the vizroy to bidde them welcome, and to know howe they did with
their iourney, and also to see that they were well prouided for that
night of all things necessarie, and that in aboundance. After all the
which being done, he told them that the viceroy did verie much reioyce
of their comming; and for that it was late, and the cittie farre off, it
was his pleasure that they shoulde bee lodged that night in the suburbes
vntill the next day, then will he giue order that they may enter into
the cittie with the authoritie conuenient vnto their persons. After this
gentleman came other captaines to visite them, and brought with them
great store of conserues, wine, and fruit; which is a common custome
amongst them when that they go in the like visitation, and it is carried
by their seruants in little baskets very curiously wrought, or else in
barrels made of earth all guilt. Within two houres after their comming
thither, there came another messenger from the vizroy, with many men
laden with capons, hens, geese, teales, gamons of bacon, and conserues
of diuers sorts, and of great abundance, sufficient for one hundreth men
to sup that night and for their dinner the next day.
The next day in the morning very early, there came much people vnto
their lodging, sent by the vizroy, and brought with them two rich
chaires for to carrie the fathers in, and the curtines tied up that they
might the better be seene, and for their companions verie good horses,
sadled after the fashion which they doo vse. They forthwith made haste
for to depart, and although they made great speed, yet were they a good
houre and a halfe before they coulde come vnto the gates of the citie,
and seemed vnto them that they had trauelled two leagues in the
suburbes; the which was so well peopled, so faire houses, and many
shoppes full of merchandise, that if it had not beene told them, they
would not haue beleeued it to be the suburbes but the cittie it selfe.
Before they came vnto the gates, they passed a mightie riuer three
times, ouer bridges that were great and verie faire, and the riuer so
deepe that great shippes came vp the same, but their mastes stooping
downe to passe vnder the bridges. This cittie is the richest and the
best prouided that is in all the kingdome; it is the heade cittie of all
the prouince, verie rich and fertill, and manie townes belonging vnto
it, and but eight leagues from the sea, and hath mightie riuers wherein
great shippes come vp to it as aforesaide. At the enterie of the citie
they founde many gentlemen that were there at the gate tarrying their
comming, who after they had saluted the one the other after their
fashions, without anie staying they trauelled forwards on, thorough a
great and broad street that went directlie vnto the vizroy his pallace;
vpon both sides of the streete, from the gate forwards, was placed one
by another full of souldiers with their officers and ancient, euerie one
with his weapon in his hands, as pickes, hargabuses, swords and target,
all apparelled in one liverie of silke, and a bunch of fethers vppon
their crestes. They all stoode still and kept their places, and would
not consent that any should crosse the way in the streete, whereas they
went accompanied with the gentlemen.
They had no leasure to tell the souldiers; but they sawe that from the
gate vntil they came vnto the vizroye's pallace on both sides, which was
a good way, to be full of them, and all richly apparelled and of one
colour. The people that were at the windowes and in the streete, betwixt
the houses and the soldiers, were so great a number that it seemed to
bee doomes day, and that all the people in the worlde were there ioyned
together in that streete.
So when they came vnto the pallace, which was two houres after day, the
gentlemen that were their guides did cause the Spaniardes to enter into
a roome which was hard by, till such time as the gate was open, for that
it is open but once a day, and so continue no longer time then the
audience endureth, which is done by the uiceroy once euerie day, and
that is but a small time. But first before he doth enter into audience,
there is shot off foure peeces of artilerie, with a great noyse of
trompettes, drommes, and waites; and there is no day that passeth
without audience, as our people did see by experience so long as they
were there, and were likewise informed of others. The houre being come,
and the ceremony doone as aforesaide, the gates were opened, and there
was in the court many souldiers apparelled in the same liuerie that
those were of in the streete.
From the middest amongst them came forth a gentleman, who was, as it was
told them, the captaine of the garde of the viceroy, who came with great
grauitie and authoritie towards the place whereas our people were, and
after they had saluted the one the other, he made signes vnto them that
they should go towardes the gates of the pallace. When they were within
the first court, the which was great and wrought with mightie pillers,
there was a great number of souldiers, and many sergeants that entred
into an other great covrt, and mounted vp a paire of stayres that was on
the one side, whereas all the people were with great silence, sauing the
captaine of the garde, who went with our people till they came to the
gates of the hall whereas was the viceroy, at which gate he staied with
his head discouered, and made signes vnto ours that they should doo the
like, and to tarrie there till such time as hee had aduised the viceroy
of their comming, and he to command them to enter.