l observed at the Court of Charles V.
The King being seated on his throne, the others present were accommodated
on benches extending along both sides of the audience chamber; to the
right of the King sat M. de Chievres, next to whom was the Admiral Don
Diego Columbus; then the Bishop of Darien and finally the licentiate,
Aguirre. On the left hand of the throne was seated the Grand Chancellor,
next to whom came the Bishop of Badajoz and so on with the others in their
order of precedence. Las Casas and the Franciscan stood at the foot of
the room, opposite the throne.

After a moment of silence following the seating of the Court, M. de
Chievres and the Grand Chancellor rose, advanced together, and mounting
the steps of the throne knelt before the King, to whom they spoke in
whispers as though receiving some secret instructions. Returning then to
their respective places and being again seated, the Chancellor said,
"Reverend Bishop, his Majesty commands that if you have anything to say
concerning the Indies you shall speak." The Bishop of Darien rose and
began with an eloquent exordium in the classical style customary in such
discourses at that time and which produced the best impression on his
hearers. He declared that he had long desired the honour of appearing in
the royal presence, and now that God had satisfied his wish, he recognised
that facies Priami digna erat imperio, which was a graceful reference to
the Imperial dignity to which the young monarch had recently been elected
in Germany. He asked, however, that as the matters he had to present to
his Majesty's attention were of a private nature, all those present who
were not members of the Council should be ordered to withdraw. The
Chancellor signed to him to be seated and again he and M. de Chievres
approached the throne with the same ceremonial and after having received
the royal commands, sotto voce, they returned to their places and the
Chancellor said, "Reverend Bishop, his Majesty commands that if you have
anything to say, you shall speak." The Bishop however repeated his demand
that all those not of the Council should withdraw, and a third time the
Chancellor and M. de Chievres went through the ceremony of receiving the
royal commands. Again the Chancellor, when he resumed his place, said,
"Reverend Bishop, his Majesty commands that if you have anything to say,
you shall speak, for all here present have been called to be of this
Council."

The Bishop