. She sent a message to the governor, begging him to grant her
permission, as she wished to see him. His Lordship sent a message to
her, to the effect that he would be very glad to see her, and that
she would be coming at a seasonable time. She came to the hall borne
on the shoulders of her men, accompanied by some of her ladies and by
her _casis_, who was coming with pale face. She alighted at the door
of his Lordship's hall. He went out to receive her, and with marked
indications of friendship and kindness led her to her seat, which was
a cushion of purple velvet; and his Lordship, seated in his own chair,
welcomed her through his interpreter, Alferez Mathias de Marmolexo. She
responded very courteously to the courtesies of the governor; for the
Moro woman is very intelligent, and of great capacity. She did not
speak directly to the interpreters, but through two of her men, one
of whom was the _casis_; and often he, without the queen speaking,
answered to what was proposed. The queen petitioned and entreated
the governor to desist from entering the stronghold, for the women,
being timid creatures, feared the soldiers greatly. And if his Lordship
was doing it to oblige her and the king her husband to descend, she
said that they would descend immediately, with all their people. Thus
did she entreat from him whom his Lordship represented; and I desired
that she should obtain this favor. His Lordship answered her that he
would do so very willingly; but that he had an express mandate for it
[_i.e._, to gain the fort] from his king, and that, if he did not
obey it, he would lose his head. "I do not wish," said Toambaloca
(for such is the name of the queen), "that the favor which I petition
be at so great a price and danger to your Lordship. Consequently,
will you kindly grant me three days? and in that time I, the king, and
our people will descend without fail." His Lordship thanked her anew,
and added that with this she obliged him to fulfil strictly what he
had promised her. "Indeed," said the queen, "I have no doubt of it;
for, being in the gaze of so many nations that your Lordship has to
conquer, it is clear that you must fulfil what you have promised
me; for your Lordship's actions toward me would be understood by
all to be those that you would have to perform toward all." This
terminated the discussion. His Lordship ordered a collation to be
spread for the queen and her ladies; and then his Lordship retired,
so that t