Of the hospital which this brotherhood founded, and the Christian
and charitable exercises in which it was occupied.
This venerable brotherhood imagined that it was lukewarm and neglectful
in its love toward its neighbor, so long as it did not manifest it
in works proportionate to its greatness. On that account its charity
gave the first flights in the foundation and erection of a hospital
in which poor soldiers were to be treated. Inasmuch as there was no
other in whom to place the care of this so great need, this brotherhood
attended promptly to so fitting a relief, building it at the cost of
many pesos in 1596, supplying what was possible in so little time,
for the erection of said hospital. In fact, it was obtained with the
happiness which its memory should make famous three years after its
foundation. It gave its first attention to seeing that it was well
provided with beds, good food, and other things necessary for the
greatest relief of the sick, and secondly, by inquiring personally
and anxiously ascertaining the lodging of said sick soldiers, so
that they might immediately conduct them to the said hospital of
Santa Misericordia.
So Christian and punctual and careful in their material treatment
of the sick were they that this venerable brotherhood arranged for
three deputies of the financial board alternately and continuously to
live in the said hospital, for the better care and management of the
medicines, their prompt application, and the competent assistance
of physician and surgeon who treated the sick therein, as well as
the good administration and management which they were to have of
the many pesos which were spent for those pious ends; the seraphic
order of our father St. Francis [had charge] in the spiritual of the
care of their souls with exemplary zeal and love, by means of one
of its religious, a priest, who was maintained by this brotherhood,
and to whom it gave everything necessary.
Within three years after the foundation of this hospital, so much had
the idea of the charity with which the sick were treated, and the good
management which was observed in it, increased, that on December 3,
1597, his Excellency, Don Juan [i.e., Francisco] Tello, governor
and captain-general of these islands, sent to this financial board
(which was then at Santa Potenciana) Doctor Don Antonio de Morga, who
was an auditor of this royal Audiencia, and his lieutenant-governor
and captain-general, who afterwards merited promotion to the royal
Council of Castilla, to lay before the purveyor and deputies of the
brotherhood that it was quite apparent to all the members of this holy
confraternity that, in order that charity might be good it had to
commence by itself; and accordingly, since this financial board and
all its brothers were exercising the works of charity and mercy with
so great fervor as was well known, and since they knew the needs that
the hospital of the Spaniards, our brothers, was suffering, not so
much for lack of means as of management, wherefore, so great a number
of Spaniards died, and the wealth and means which his Majesty has given
it were not used to advantage: we should consider it fitting to include
that hospital with ours for the slaves, as was most suitable for us,
as it was of our own nation; and to manage it in the same manner as
ours of the Misericordia, so that the wealth and means which it had
should only be spent and laid out for the benefit of the sick, and
so that there might be order, concert, and relief, in order that by
this means the so many deaths that occurred daily therein, because of
the poor administration, order, and lack of relief, might be avoided;
and that if this financial board and the holy confraternity desired
to accept and to take charge of a matter of so great service to God,
our Sovereign, and of his Majesty, as taking under our charge the
management of the said hospital by way of charity, his Lordship, the
governor, would be prompt with all the power that he possessed and all
the means that he could use to withdraw this board from all individual
and general risk of giving account now or at any time of the wealth
and possessions of said hospital, which his Majesty had given it,
both as governor and as patron and manager. If necessary he would
transfer it and resign that office to this board, and would cause and
command that now and in no time should they be obliged to give account
of what his Majesty had given and assigned to the said hospital for
the support of the sick and the other expenses connected with it,
but that with it and all that it should have, we should proceed in
the same form and manner as with ours of Misericordia in accordance
with our rules. In regard to this, the governor would do all that was
necessary, and that his Lordship could do, for he was assured of the
great service that would be performed to God our Lord; also that the
conscience of his Majesty would be discharged; and that great gain
would come to the community and its citizens. Thus far the proposition.
On behalf of the board, reply was made that they would convoke
a general chapter of the brotherhood, in order to inform all the
brothers; and that they would hand in writing to the said doctor
whatever resulted in regard to this proposition, so that he might
inform the governor without any delay.
In the general chapter of the brotherhood, which was held December 6,
1597, it was resolved unanimously that the management of the said
hospital should be assumed by the board of the Santa Misericordia,
so that both Majesties might be served therein, provided that
the governor fulfilled the clauses and conditions which were set
forth in memorial on the part of the purveyor and deputies of
the brotherhood. On their presentation, the approval of them all
resulted. In accordance with and by virtue of an act and edict of the
superior government, transfer of the said hospital to the purveyor
and deputies of the Santa Misericordia became a reality, being given
before the alcalde-in-ordinary, Don Gaspar Osorio de Moya, and the
royal official judges, then Don Domingo Ortiz de Chagoya, accountant,
and Don Francisco de las Missas, factor. All the above was executed
January 3, 1598, and the board of the Santa Misericordia remained in
possession of the said hospital as will appear more at length from
the papers formed on this point.
This proposition in all its circumstances well shows the credit which
this venerable brotherhood had negotiated and gained, not only in the
estimation of the holy religious orders and the citizens of this city,
but also in the appreciation of the governor, Don Francisco Tello,
who transferred the royal hospital of the Spaniards with so great
satisfaction and confidence to the care and management of this board;
for his Lordship believed that by this measure, he was securing and
founding a new estate of relief, assistance, and aid for the sick
Spaniards of the said hospital, because of the kindness and good
management of so zealous and Christian brothers.