Some erudite person will say what Apelles said to a painter who had painted the picture of Queen Elena richly decked in finery, jewels, gold, and precious stones:  “Since thou didst not know how to paint her beautiful, thou didst paint her rich.”  But I adhere to and declare the truth, and I even curtail in this relation what I might say of it.  Although I confess that this relation has not been designedly embellished, it is written rich in truth (which is the greatest beauty and splendor that can be given a history), with which its defects will be supplied, since there is nothing in this life that can be said not to possess some defect.

The gentlemen who were to take part in the play made their entrance in the above manner with great dexterity.  They paraded through both sides of the square, couple by couple, in excellent order.

After the entrance, they changed horses; the places were assigned in divisions of fours, and they took their spears.  They engaged in a well-concerted play, one division against another, two and two.  From that post went out another division against the one that was advancing.  It lasted more than an hour, with great gallantry, without any misfortune or disaster happening, until from the plaza the deputies entered their midst and separated them.  At that juncture a fiery bull was let out.  The gentlemen made very skilful movements against this bull with their rejons, and against others that were run, until the sun’s light retired to illuminate the antipodes; and the gentlemen and ladies left the square, and the balconies and galleries [miradors], to return to reoccupy them on another occasion one week thereafter, when the same canas matches were played, and bulls were run for four days in succession. [14] At this second canas match, Don Fernando Galindo, a gentleman of Ecija, and at present infantry captain in this camp, entered instead of Don Diego Maldonado.  On this occasion, the governor had another livery of blue cloth and silver, entirely covered with ornaments.  The entrance was made as on the first day, and the play was in the same manner—­thereby causing general rejoicing because the game had been so skilfully played, and has been so few times seen in this city.

LETTER FROM FERNANDO DE SILVA TO FELIPE IV

Sire: 

I advised your Majesty that I left Capulco April 6.  That is one of the latest dates on which the ships have set sail, and we were fearful lest we would not make the coasts of these islands, as the weather was contrary—­although one can reach them in a voyage of three months, which is the usual duration.  When we started, the wind was so light that my fear increased because we did not sail one hundred leguas in thirteen days.  During that time I found that my almiranta was sailing very slowly, so that I was obliged to resolve, in order not to risk everything, to leave it, with a goodly supply of food for a longer