WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 449 



city's nobility ; they followed the street leading to the corner by the 

 nunnery of La Concepcion, and from there down the Calle Derecha 

 (Straight Street) to the Plaza Mayor. The religious ©rders follow 

 in two choral groups, in order of age ; the Familiars of the Inquisition 

 pass to and fro in the procession, in gala attire, and with the wands 

 of justice in their hands, both this day and the next. The procession 

 closes with the Prior of the Dominican Order, the Vicar General at 

 that moment ; he was carrying a green cross, the insignia of the 

 Tribunal of our Holy Faith ; and he was accompanied by the Inquisi- 

 tors up to the point where they leave the chapel to come out on the 

 plaza which has been formed in front of it ; the friars chant in 

 melancholy accents the psalm which begins : "Domine, laudem mean 

 (sic) ne tacueris, etc." (Psalm 109.) 



In this order they mounted on the Tribunal stand, where, on an 

 altar which had been prepared, the insignia of our Redemption had 

 been set up and displayed, as if in triumph over the enemies of the 

 Lord who died upon it — the pageant of this day and the next fore- 

 shadowing the tremendous day of the Last Judgment. All the rest 

 of this day and the following night, Dominican monks furnished 

 guard, sentinels, and reverence for the Most Holy Cross ; and since 

 during the night people of the lower classes who wanted to get seats 

 and the guards slept on the stands, they said several Masses at dawn, 

 so that, it being the day of the Apostle, there should be no break 

 in the services ; and in order to avoid confusion the Familiars of the 

 Inquisition who stood at the entrances to the inclined approach to the 

 stands for the Tribunal and the penitents, were supplemented by four 

 distinguished gentlemen of the city, who, with canes in their hands, 

 helped to prevent the populace from entering and to hold the seats 

 for members of the nobility who came to their places with tickets 

 from the deputy Inquisitor. 



Chapter XXVIII 



Continuing the Description of the Auto-da-fe. 



1287. The Viceroy, Marques de Guadalcazar, was devoted and 

 thoughtful in regard to religion and the esteem due the Holy Office ; 

 accordingly, to give more prestige to the auto and also for the better 

 protection of the city and to avoid the disorders which are apt to 

 occur on such days, he ordered four companies of infantry from 

 the city garrison to come into the Plaza Mayor at 4 a.m. and form 

 a squadron, and likewise that a company of the garrison's light cavalry 

 and another of mounted field harquebussiers cover the flanks of the 

 30 



