WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 45 1 



and then the Viceroy, between the two Inquisitors, who on this day 

 outrank the Justices ; the Viceroy, as representing the person of His 

 Majesty, bulwark of the Church, accompanies them ; so when the 

 Inquisitors rode out on their mules, they had the Viceroy between 

 them. In this order they arrived at the stands ; the Viceroy took 

 his seat in the center on a brocaded cushion, with another at his feet, 

 the Inquisitors beside him ; then in order the Justices of the Circuit 

 Court ; on the last step, at the foot of the Tribunal, the Attorney and 

 his two escorts, holding the Standard of the Faith in their hands, 

 and the King's Master of the Horse with bared sword, royal symbol 

 to indicate defense of the Faith. From this row down were seated 

 the Calificadores (Censors) and Consultores (Counsellors) and the 

 Prelates of the religious orders. The uppermost seats on the right 

 hand of the Tribunal were occupied by the Chapter of the Church, 

 and the remainder by the University faculty ; on the rows to the left, 

 the members of the City Council and administration. 



[Chap. 32. Concluding the Description of the Auto-da-fe.] 



1289. On that same stand near the altar by the entrance to the 

 passageway they had put a desk with a rich covering, and on it a 

 small case handsomely decorated, containing the documents dealing 

 with those on whom penance was enjoined ; nearby were the Secre- 

 taries' seats, and in front of the Tribunal, with an aisle left in 

 between, the seats of the gentlemen and garrison captains. 



After they had taken their seats in the order described, one of the 

 Secretaries took his place in the pulpit by the entrance to the passage- 

 way, and read aloud the Edict of the Faith to the Viceroy and 

 nobility and all other ranks in the republic, for them to swear 

 allegiance to the Faith and to aid the Holy Office ; and all in a clear 

 loud voice said "Yes, I swear; Amen" and made the sign of the cross. 



Next they preached the sermon and at its end the auto began ; 

 the Secretary called out and designated the penitent by name, whose 

 case was to be considered ; the Warden went to the penitents' section 

 and called him ; his sponsors and he went down the passageway, at 

 the center of which was a high stand ; he stood there all the time 

 it took to have his case detailed ; the same procedure was followed 

 with all the rest, until they came to those last in order, those of persons 

 released to the secular arm ; they draw up the ordinance immediately, 

 giving notice of the penalty of the pyre ; the guilty persons are put 

 on packsaddles on beasts of burden, and with the town crier beside 

 them, proclaiming their infidelity, they reach the place of punishment, 



