Of the condition and conveniences of this brotherhood in its beginning
Not a little admiration is caused upon beholding the weak foundations
upon which the providence of God erected so great a work for the
spiritual and temporal consolation of the poor and wretched people,
who suffered extreme necessities in this community. In the beginning
of its foundation, so scarce were the conveniences for obtaining
the desired fruit of its chief institution that scarcely did they
succeed in remedying the most urgent needs of their neighbors; but,
as it advanced on account of the liberal hand of God, it commenced,
as a father of charity, to scatter its gifts by means of worthy
benefactors of this house, the first who liberally ennobled and
enriched it being the said Don Luis Perez das Mariñas, with the
following concessions and alms.
1. The first concession which he conceded to this brotherhood was
three toneladas in the cargo of the ships which annually voyage to the
port of Acapulco in the kingdom of Nueva España, to bring the royal
situado belonging to these islands, the date of its bestowal being
April 30, 1594. It was confirmed by Don Francisco Tello, governor
and captain-general of these islands, January 24, 1597.
2. The second was of ten shops in the Alcayceria, the Parián of the
Sangleys, its date being August 29, 1595.
3. The third was of an encomienda of eight hundred tributes in the
valley of Ytuy, in whose conquest the said Don Luis was taking part,
its date being April 25, 1596.
4. The fourth was twenty-four young bulls which the said gentleman
applied from his Majesty's stockfarm as an alms for this venerable
brotherhood.
These concessions were the principal support of this venerable
brotherhood. After them followed some other alms, which in particular
demonstration of their especial purpose were made by the said gentleman
with the certain knowledge that by so good direction they would be
distributed without the slightest delay and proportionally to the
need of each person.
From that instant it appears that the providence of God pledged itself
in moving the hearts of men so that this so great work should take its
greatest increase by means of the plentiful bequests which were left
to this brotherhood, and funds which were frequently established as
an encouragement of the pious ends in which its charity was exercised,
committing their best alms and aids for the relief of the necessities
of the poor, both families and self-respecting persons, in the best
kind of bonds. The brotherhood obtained at the same time many trusts
which the faithful administration of wills gained for it, which were
in its charge, by the exact fulfilment which it gave to them. Therefrom
there resulted to this venerable brotherhood the well-known advantages
which immediately resulted to the benefit of the said poor, whose
needs and their relief were the only object of all its attention.