This is an account by a late 19th century historian.
The embalmed body, arrayed in pontifical robes of purple taffeta garnished with
gold and silver, rested in the chapel on a catafalque, covered with black gold-bordered
velvet, and surrounded with candles. The interior of the chapel was draped in black. The
head of the corpse reclined on a black velvet cushion, ornamented with gold and silver,
and bore on the brow a mitre. Close to it rose the guidon of the captain-general, a rank
held by the deceased in virtue of his office as viceroy. At the left shoulder rested the
pastoral staff, and in the right hand the archiepiscopal cross; at the feet were two royal
maces of gilt silver, and between them the prelate's hat.
For three days a constant stream of visitors appeared at the chapel to give a last look
at the beloved face, while friars and clergy held vigils, masses, and chants here as well
as at other temples. The bells tolled solemnly all the while, and nearly every person
exhibited some token of mourning, especially officials and men of means.
On the 25th a vast concourse gathered at the palace to escort the body to the cathedral
tomb. First marched the school children with white lighted tapers; then came thirty-eight
brotherhoods, according to age, with standards, crosses, and other paraphernalia; the
different monastic orders, closing with the Dominicans, to whom belonged the deceased,
followed by over four hundred members of the clergy, the prebendaries of the Chapter being
last. Then came the coffin, having at the feet the prelate's hat, and a cap with white
tassel, the insignia of a master of theology. Behind were borne the cross and guidon,
draped in black, between two kings-at-arms. On either side of the coffin strode the
viceregal guard, while halberdiers assisted in keeping back the crowd. Following the guard
came the deacons; the commercial court; the university representation, with sixty-four of
its graduated doctors bearing the insignia of the faculty; the municipality, preceded by
their mace-bearers; the audiencia, with three nephews of the deceased; the royal officers,
bearing a black standard with royal arms in gold; three companies of infantry in lines of
seven, with arms reversed, marching to the sound of four muffled drums and two fifes; the
maestre de sala of the viceroy, bearing aloft on a half-pike the arms of the deceased,
gilded on a black surface; the master of horse and chamberlain, leading a steed in deep
mourning with a long train; another gentleman of the court, on horseback, bore the guidon
of captain-general, with royal arms on crimson velvet. The procession closed with the
servants of the palace, led by the major-domo.
Between the palace and the cathedral five catafalques had been erected, to serve as
resting-places for the coffin as it was transferred to different bearers. The oidores bore
it from the chapel to the first station; then the cathedral chapter, the municipality, the
university corporation, and the commercial representatives carried it successively, the
oidores taking it from the last station into the cathedral, where it was placed in a lofty
position, amid a blaze of lights. As the alf6reces approached they lowered the standards,
and placed them at the foot of the coffin. On the left rested Guerra's coat of arms; on
the right were the cross and the guidon. After service the coffin was buried at a late
hour by the high altar, on the evangel side. It was a grand and glorious casting-forth.
During the novenary each religious order came to chant masses, assisted by ecclesiastic
and civil bodies. On March 7th the members of the procession marched in the same order as
before to the cathedral, where the vigil was chanted, and funeral oration delivered in
Latin. The following day the funeral sermon was preached by the dominican provincial.
