The first public report

In 1601, Don Juan de Cardona, Viceroy of Navarre, ordered the erection of a report with a long commemorative registration . Little do we know of its shape, although it was possibly a triumphal arch, as some later manuscript sources attest. When the present basilica was erected, the stones containing the registration were embedded in the interior walls with the degree scroll de vetus inscriptio. Those ashlars are preserved today in the Cámara de Comptos de Navarra. The long text was collected by Father Alesón in volume V of the Annals of Navarre.

Its contents are as follows:

TO THE BLESSED IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, A NOBLEMAN FROM GUIPUZCOA, WHO AFTER RESISTING WITH EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE THE SIEGE OF THE FRENCH, WOUNDED IN BOTH LEGS DURING THE DEFENSE OF THIS FORTRESS, FELL MORIBUND, BUT RESTORED, PROVIDENTIALLY CARRIED OUT WORKS OF PENANCE, AND WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION OF ALMOST EVERYONE, BUT WITH THE DIVINE FINANCIAL AID , FOUNDED THE COMPANY OF JESUS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH.

AND BECAUSE FROM THESE RUINS CAME SUCH A B INCREASE TO CHRISTIAN PIETY, THE MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE JUAN CARDONA, VICEROY OF NAVARRA AND CAPTAIN GENERAL OF NAVARRA AND GUIPÚZCOA, FORMERLY ADMIRAL OF THE SICILIAN AND NAPLES SQUADRONS AND THEN OF THE ENTIRE ROYAL SQUADRON, AND GENERAL IN CHIEF OF THE ARMY, PEACE AND WAR COUNSELOR OF BOTH FELIPES AND CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OF THE LATTER, ONE OF THE THIRTEEN OF THE ORDER OF SANTIAGO AND COMMANDER OF TOTANA: MOVED BY HIS PIETY TOWARDS GOD AND THE BLESSED IGNATIUS AND AFFECTION FOR HIS COMPANIONS AND SONS; AND TO HONOR WITH A MONUMENT TO THE REGIONS UNDER HIS COMMAND, TO GUIPÚZCOA AS HIS SON AND TO NAVARRA AS HIS DEFENDER, HE SAW TO IT THAT THIS ARCH WAS ERECTED IN THE YEAR 1601 OF CHRIST, SECOND OF THE PONTIFF PAULO V AND EIGHTH OF THE REIGN OF FELIPE III, KING OF SPAIN, BEING THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF PAMPLONA THE MAGNIFICENT, MOST NOBLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS ANTONIO VENEGAS DE FIGUEROA.