The knock at the door, which, by-the-by, must be single, and by no means loud--in fact, a tradesman’s knock in London--is answered with a _Who is there?_ To this question the stranger replies, “Peaceful people,” _Gente de paz_--and the door is opened without farther enquiries. Peasants and beggars call out at the door, “Hail, spotless Mary!” _Ave, Maria purisima!_ The answer, in that case, is given from within in the words _Sin pecado concebida_: “Conceived without sin.” This custom is a remnant of the fierce controversy, which existed about three hundred years ago, between the Franciscan and the Dominican friars, whether the Virgin Mary had or not been subject to the penal consequences of original sin. The Dominicans were not willing to grant any exemption; while the Franciscans contended for the propriety of such a privilege. The Spaniards, and especially the Sevillians, with their characteristic gallantry, stood for the honour of our Lady, and embraced the latter opinion so warmly, that they turned the watchword of their party into the form of address, which is still so prevalent in Andalusia. During the heat of the dispute, and before the Dominicans had been silenced by the authority of the Pope, the people of Seville began to assemble at various churches, and, sallying forth with an emblematical picture of the _sinless_ Mary, set upon a sort of standard surmounted by a cross, paraded the city in different directions, singing a hymn to the _Immaculate Conception_, and repeating aloud their beads or rosary. These processions have continued to our times, and constitute one of the nightly nuisances of this place. Though confined at present to the lower classes, those that join in them assume that characteristic importance and overbearing spirit, which attaches to the most insignificant religious associations in this country. Wherever one of these shabby processions presents itself to the public, it takes up the street from side to side, stopping the passengers, and expecting them to stand uncovered in all kinds of weather, till the standard is gone by. Their awkward and heavy banners are called, at Seville, _Sinpecados_, that is, “sinless,” from the theological opinion in support of which they were raised.