448 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



[Chap. 30. Of the Manner in Which an Auto-da-fe Was Cele- 

 brated by the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition of Lima in Peru.] 



1284. On a stated day, and in particular in the city of Lima, it 

 was announced with trumpets, kettledrums, and flageolets, and with 

 the attendance of all the Familiars, Alguacil Mayor, Secretaries, and 

 other functionaries of this Holy Office, in front of the gate of the 

 Inquisition and Royal Apartments and at the point where the Lonja, 

 or Street of the Merchants, enters the Plaza Mayor, by the voice of 

 the town crier, for this date of December 21 ; and on that same day, 

 in all this district. 



1285. After the announcement, they began setting up the stands; 

 on account of their size and the very high price of lumber in this 

 city, they cost a large sum of money ; and so, for this and other 

 reasons, many years intervene between one public auto-da-fe and 

 another. These stands are put up in the Plaza Mayor in front of the 

 City Council building and at the same level as its corridors ; they 

 will be 18 feet high, and are divided into two sections, one backing 

 up against this Council building and for the Tribunal, and the other 

 opposite and of the same size but some 50 feet distant, with a passage- 

 way between them. Each of these stands is 100 feet across in front, 

 and runs back 40 feet, in total circumference, with balcony railings 

 in the center on 10 steps, which will have a frontage of over 40 feet. 

 The seats for the Tribunal were elevated and at a distance of some 

 6 feet at the sides they built 10 other steps, on the right and on the 

 left, arranged like half a hexagon and facing the Tribunal. This 

 was all covered with rich carpets and all the facade with rich tapestries 

 with a canopy in the center, and for insignia and shield the image 

 of a very devout crucifix. At one side of the entrance to the passage- 

 way was the pulpit ; the other stand which was built opposite for the 

 penitents, was of the same proportions as that for the Tribunal, but 

 with higher steps and frontage. 



1286. Below these they built two other sections and at the sides 

 between the ends of the two stands, they put up others, which were 

 occupied by the city's nobility, the ministers' wives, the city admin- 

 istration, and the gentlemen of the city ; these sections were suitably 

 decorated for such persons and for protection against the sun they 

 hung ships' sails from very high poles over the whole theater. 



On the eve of the day appointed, all the friars of all the orders 

 gathered in the Chapel of the Holy Offlce ; the procession set out 

 from there, with the Alguacil Mayor of the Holy Ofifice at its head. 

 He carried a standard of rich brocade, and was accompanied by the 



