at their Flemish robes of bright red velvet,
lined with blue taffeta. And then came a number of the principal
persons of this city, encomenderos, and citizens thereof. In the
main plaza a squadron of Spanish infantry was drawn up by companies,
consisting of the citizens of the city. Thereafter the said governor
and captain-general, and the honorable auditors, and the officials
of the city, and other persons came out from the royal buildings and
went therefrom on horseback, with much music of clarions, flutes, and
other festive instruments. They went through the streets leading to the
said royal seal, which were hung and adorned with silks of all kinds,
until they arrived at the church of San Agustin; and having dismounted
they entered. Within the larger chapel was a seat of honor covered with
bright red velvet, and thereon a cushion of the same, embroidered with
gold; and on the cushion a coffer, adorned with red velvet and gold,
and locked. All knelt, and having heard a mass, which was said with
great solemnity and dignity, the said licentiate Christoval Telles
de Almazan said to the said lord governor and captain-general that
within the said coffer lay the royal seal, which had been delivered
to him by the viceroy of Nueva Espana to be brought to these islands,
as appeared by a testimonial thereof which he presented, together
with the key of the said coffer. Thereupon the said governor,
kneeling upon the ground, as were all the rest, took and opened the
said coffer, and drew from it the said royal seal. He commanded me,
the undersigned secretary, to read the royal decree and instruction
of his Majesty, wherein is ordered and directed the formality that
shall be observed in receiving the said royal seal. Having read this
in an intelligible voice, so that it was heard by all, the said lord
governor turned to the city officials, and other persons present; and,
with the royal seal in his hands, told them that that was the seal of
the arms of the king our lord, which represented, his royal person,
and which all must respect and obey with due reverence and veneration,
as they would their king and rightful lord. Having finished this,
the said lord governor put the said royal seal into the said coffer,
and locked it. He took in his hands the said coffer and carried it
out of the said church with all the people and the said cabildo,
carrying the said royal seal, which was covered with a pall of bright
red velvet with gilded bar