Diaz de Mendoza were appointed
managers. The halls of the Audiencia and royal assembly were made ready
with the funereal adornments and other preparations significant of so
melancholy an occasion. At two in the afternoon the bells of all the
churches began to ring, in so sad and doleful tones that they filled
the air with sorrow, and the hearts of those who heard their plaints
with bitterness and grief, learning from the very bronze to grieve for
so considerable a loss. At that same time all the religious communities
assembled, with their crosses, priests, deacons, and subdeacons, clad
in their vestments, in the royal chapel of the garrison. That temple,
although small in size, has all the characteristics of a great one
in its beauty, elegance, and arrangement. There, architecture was
employed to the best effect, and genius was alert in erecting a royal
tomb and mausoleum proportionate to the grandeur and sovereign rank
of the person; and one not at all inferior to the one erected during
the funeral rites and pageant of our lady the queen, [2] by the
direction and advice of Doctor Don Diego Afan de Ribera, auditor of
this royal Audiencia, and auditor elect of that of the new kingdom
of Granada. The royal assembly entrusted the arrangements of that
solemnity to him. Each community in succession chanted its responsary,
with different choirs of musicians, so well trained that they could
vie with those of Europa. While that pious action was going on, the
ecclesiastical and secular cabildos were assembling, as well as the
tribunal of the royal official judges, the superiors of the orders,
the rectors of the two colleges--San Joseph, which is in charge
of the fathers of the Society of Jesus; and San Thomas, which is
ruled by the fathers of St. Dominic--and the members of the bureau
of the Santa Misericordia (as was determined and arranged two days
previously, the place of each being assigned) in the hall of the royal
Audiencia. There the managers assigned them their position, observing
toward each one the order of his seniority and precedence. They left
that place in the same order, to express their condolences to Don
Diego Faxardo, governor and captain-general of these islands, who
stood in the hall of the royal assembly. He was covered with mourning,
which well manifested his grief and represented very vividly in his
majestic appearance the royal person--in whose name he received the
condolences for the death of the royal s