CHAPTER XVI
Of the great earthquakes of the year 1645, and the events that happened therein; losses of the house of the Misericordia in the works in its charge, and the adjustment of the losses of its investments, which were imposed on the houses demolished, in virtue of a general compromise.
[The first shock of the earthquake that occurs on November 30, 1645, is followed by many other shocks more or less severe. By the general appraisals made of the losses the Misericordia is declared in 1648 to have had 89,855 pesos invested in houses, of which only material worth 23,177 pesos, 2 tomins, 6 granos is saved, the loss thus being 66,677 pesos, 5 tomins, 6 granos. The brotherhood further loses 2,739 pesos, 6 tomins, 2 granos, for the tearing down of ruined walls, and spends 7,725 pesos, 2 tomins, 8 granos for the rebuilding of the ruined houses, the total loss thus amounting to 77,142 pesos, 6 tomins, 4 granos. Thus the final assets of the brotherhood on the old investment are 12,712 pesos, 1 tomin, 8 granos. However, the real value of the investment of the association amounts to 159,365 pesos more. A capital of 69,510 pesos which is invested in stockfarms and farming lands of the religious orders is fortunately saved. Between the years 1634–1660 the sum distributed by the Misericordia amounts to 220,770 pesos, 1 tomin; and between 1637–1651, 72,948 pesos, 7 tomins, 6 granos. After the earthquake the brotherhood rebuilds its church, college, and the hospitals for the natives, poor women, and slaves of the city. In addition, it gives 400 pesos toward the rebuilding of the cathedral; 300 pesos for repairs on the Franciscan convent; 100 pesos for repairs on the chapel of San Antonio of the tertiary branch of the said order located in the church of their convent; 150 pesos to Fray Christoval del Castillo, definitor of the Franciscan order (40 of them to be used for his support and that of the religious in his charge in the hospital for the natives, and 110 pesos for pious works and grave necessities, namely, aid in ransoming a Recollect religious who has been captured by the Joloans); 200 pesos to the father procurator of the Recollects; 200 pesos to Fray Juan de San Antonio, provincial of the said order; and lastly many alms to all the needy of the community.]
CHAPTER XVII
Of other new misfortunes which occurred in these islands from the year 646 to that of 673; loans given by the Board of Santa Misericordia to the royal treasury, and the great alms which it gave during that time; and the transfer of the hospital of the house to the religious of St. John of God.
[In the years 1637 and 1659 memorials are sent to Spain of the wretched condition of the islands, occasioned by frequent invasions, insurrections, repeated loss of ships, and exorbitant royal duties charged in Acapulco. The ships lost are the following: in 1646, the galleon “San Luis,” on the Cagayan coast, when coming from Nueva España, and the galleon “Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza” on the island of Negros, while returning from taking reenforcements to Ternate; in 1648, the ship “Buen Jesus” is burned on its return from Nueva España in Lampon, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, and the same year are lost the galleon “Nuestra Señora de Guia” in the river of Camboja where it is being refitted, and the galleon “San Antonio de Padua” in Mindoro with the reënforcements which it is taking to Ternate; October 21, 1649, the flagship “Encarnacion” on the coast of Bula, while returning from Nueva España; in 1651, the ship “San Joseph” on the island of Luban, while coming from Camboja, and the same year the galleon “San Diego” puts back, after leaving for Nueva España; in 1653, the galleon “San Diego” in Limbones, while returning from Nueva España; in 1655, the galleon “San Francisco Xavier,” in the bay of Boronga, while returning from Nueva España, with the loss of many people, a new galleon which has been built in Camboja at great expense, with the loss of many people; and two merchant ships with goods belonging to the citizens of Manila; in 1656, two ships after leaving for Nueva España, put back; in 1669, two ships put back, but leave in 1670, one of them being burned at Acapulco; and in 1672, the ship “San Thelmo” puts back. No reenforcements come from Nueva España in the years 1647, 1652, 1662, and 1663. In 1662, the commerce of Macao is lost because of the Portuguese revolt against Spain; and at that time the Portuguese seize a ship with 30,000 pesos which was intended for the purpose of war supplies for the Spanish monarchy, and much property belonging to the citizens of Manila. In 1647, a fleet of thirteen Dutch ships enters the bay of Manila, where they demolish some of the fortifications, although they are finally driven off, retiring to the northward where they inflict much damage. The embassy of the Chinese pirate Cogsen under charge of Fray Victorio Risio, O.P., throws the city into a flutter, and new fortifications are pushed apace, a process which however, exhausts the treasury and the citizens. Sabiniano Manrrique de Lara writes to the brotherhood, under date of December 14, 1662, asking them to attend the octave ordered to be held in the cathedral after Christmas. The presidios of Ternate and Zamboanga are abandoned in view of the approaching trouble with the Chinese pirate. An earthquake that occurs August 20, 1658, proves more disastrous than that of 1645. Insurrections in several provinces in 1660 and 1661 are put down only after great expense, as is that of the Chinese in 1672. The brotherhood gives alms of more than ten thousand pesos in 1646 for the equipment of the fleet that is to oppose the Dutch; in 1650, a second loan of 13,740 pesos for the expenses of the treasury; another loan of 7,601 pesos, 4 tomins in 1653, to aid the expenses of the royal army; a fourth loan for the equipment of fleets and presidios; a fifth of 61,526 pesos, 2 tomins: a total of 169,099 pesos, 2 tomins. In addition to these loans, the brotherhood distributes alms to many sources, between the years 1651–1690, the total sum of 172,467 pesos, 7 tomins, 6 granos. May 31, 1656, the purveyor and deputies grant a transfer of the hospital and all its properties, etc., to the hospital Order of St. John of God, on the condition that the purveyor and deputies as patrons, may inspect the hospital once each year, and if they note any defect or neglect report the same to the prior in order that it may be remedied—a transfer made because of hard times. The brotherhood continues to aid the hospital with many alms, notwithstanding its own poverty.]
CHAPTER XVIII
Of the appreciation and esteem which the governors and captains-general, and the archbishops and bishops of this holy cathedral have had for the house of Santa Misericordia; and other particulars worthy of being read.
[Those governors, archbishops, and others who have signally aided the brotherhood in alms and other ways are the following: Luis Perez Dasmariñas, Francisco Tello, Archbishop Venavides, Archbishop Diego Basquez de Mercado, Governor Alonso Faxardo, Bishop Fray Pedro de Arce, Governor Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, Governor Diego Faxardo, Governor Sabiniano Manrrique de Lara. The latter writes a letter to the brotherhood under date of March 17, 1660, excusing himself from attending certain ceremonies because of stress of work, and makes provision for the running of the school of Santa Isabel. Governor Manuel de Leon y Saravia founds a fund of 50,000 pesos for the benefit of the entire community in 1677, an action that is imitated by Francisco Coloma, who leaves a principal of 4,000 pesos. Fray Felipe Pardo establishes another pious fund in 1689 of 13,000 pesos, and in a letter of March 21 of that year, asks the brotherhood to accept the same. Fray Andres Gonzales, bishop of Nueva Caceres, writes in an appreciative vein to the brotherhood, and also founds a pious fund. April 18, 1691, the dean of the cathedral also writes appreciatively to the Misericordia. The latter, on the occasion of the destructive earthquake of 1645, offers the use of its church to the cabildo of the cathedral as that edifice has been quite destroyed. November 26, 1652, the offer is accepted and a commission appointed by the dean to settle conditions with the brotherhood. These conditions relate to church service and procedure, both the cabildo and the Misericordia making certain concessions. The religious orders of Manila have at various times made mention of the Misericordia and its good work to his Majesty, and the same thing has been done by governors and archbishops. To these good reports, which are sent to his Majesty in 1693, are due the royal decrees of 1699 and 1708 by which the brotherhood is declared exempt from visit by the ordinary, archbishop, provisors during vacant see, or by any other ecclesiastical minister; as well as the papal concessions that are made it. Our author defends the exemption from visit against those who oppose it. Many honors have been heaped upon the brotherhood during royal religious ceremonies. Lastly, Governor Marquis de Torrecampo has shown honor and appreciation to the association, on many occasions, even naming a new ship which he had built “Santo Christo de la Misericordia,” in honor of a crucifix owned by the brotherhood.]
CHAPTER XIX
Satisfaction given by the Board of the Santa Misericordia to all this city, in answer to certain words of the opposing manifesto, which charge it with omission; proving that it could not, or ought not, immediately upon the death of Captain Manuel Lobo, fulfil the terms of his will, or distribute his wealth in accordance with his last wishes, until the time that it did do so by the direction of the learned opinion of the professors of the royal university of this city.
[The faithful administration of wills has ever been one of the chief glories of the brotherhood. The above-mentioned captain dies in the Marianas, September 8, 1709, leaving the board as his executor, and his mother as his heir. In this chapter the words of the manifesto charging the brotherhood with neglect in not settling up the will above mentioned in more than fifteen years, are cited; and then by means of arguments, letters and the opinion of the professors of the university, full answer is made to the charge, and the action of the brotherhood justified.]
CHAPTER XX
Of the present condition of the house of Santa Misericordia, after so many and so repented disasters; beginning of its new increases in the foundation of various funds at this time; the new misfortunes which succeeded from the year 700; and alms which the house gave during this time.
[The years of bad luck experienced by the brotherhood in the loss of money and the necessities of the times, when its expenses are increased disproportionally by the repair of its church, college, office, hospital, distribution of alms for rebuilding other edifices, and the remedy of other public necessities, at last turn by the foundation of certain pious funds. The first is founded by Manuel de Leon y Saravia, in 1677, and is for 50,000 pesos. In imitation of him ten more funds are established, which produce alms amounting to 170,956 pesos, 4 tomins up to the year 1700, which are distributed for the spiritual and temporal needs of the poor, and for other purposes.]
At this time the possessions of Pedro Quintero Nuñes and those of Licentiate Manuel Suares de Olivera, as well as the stockfarm of the royal alférez Joseph Correa, fell to the house of Santa Misericordia. They have been and are of great profit to the sick poor, and imprisoned, to some of the sacred orders, for the blessed souls of purgatory, and other pious purposes. It is a fact that up to the present time, they have produced in benefit to all the above, 105,258 pesos, 4 tomins, almost half of which was spent up to the year 700, which would be doubtless of great consolation and relief to the poverty and necessities of this community in times when even the citizens, ill-satisfied by the blows of the past disasters, were experiencing new outbreaks and losses in their wealth, by those which happened frequently to the galleons of this line, from their having to put back to port, and the embargo of the goods, which were embarked therein. For from the year 673 until that of 700, trade received signal injuries in the port of Acapulco, the merchandise of the trade being embargoed during the years 676 and 677, in revenge for having detained in this city at the advice of royal officials 330,000 pesos, which came in the year 675 from the citizens of Mexico in violation of royal decrees. In another decree of 678, obtained by the said citizens [of Mexico] by dint of very inaccurate reports, it was ordered that those of this city return said sum, increased by interest at the rate of twenty-five per cent. That shaving [escalfe] was made from the embargoed goods. From so notorious setbacks, other losses of greater consideration followed; and from the increase of excessive taxes which were imposed on those interested who took the galleon “San Antonio de Padua” to the port of Acapulco in the year 79, the citizens suffered very great setbacks. In the year 682 the ship “Santa Rosa” put back, and in 86, while attending to the preparation of the ship “Santo Niño” for Acapulco, news came that there was a squadron of eleven hostile ships among the islands. On that account the voyage was suspended and the ships were prepared to go out to oppose the said squadron and guard the galleon which was expected with the succor from Nueva España.
[Calamities are still in store for the Philippines. The “Santo Niño” leaves Cavite in 1687, but is forced to put back in order to winter at Bagatao, and returns to Cavite with its cargo half rotten. Reenforcements providentially come from Nueva España in 1688. In 1690, the almiranta while returning from Nueva España is lost in the Marianas, and although the people are saved, the cargo is partly lost. The galleon “Santo Christo de Burgos” is compelled to put back to Camarines to winter in 1692. Sailing once more in 1693, it is never again heard of. The “San Joseph” is lost three days out from port in the island of Luban, and many people are drowned. In 1696, as there is no galleon to send to Nueva España, a patache is bought for the trade, but the 74,000 pesos that it is compelled to pay in Acapulco for duties, is so great a tax on the citizens of Manila that but little is left for them. However, amid all these disasters, there is one bright ray, namely in the pious funds that are established in the brotherhood. From 1673–1700, these funds realized 227,724 pesos, 3 tomins, which are distributed among the poor and used for other purposes. Between the years 1690–1701, the sum of 44,425 pesos, 3 tomins is realized from investments and applied to pious ends.]
CHAPTER XXI
Of the alms which the house of Santa Misericordia has distributed from the year 701 to that of 728; losses suffered by the funds in their charge during that time, and an account of other things.
[The brotherhood expends great sums between the years 1701–1728, for the sick, prisoners, beggars, souls in purgatory, support of orphan girls, and poor widows. The interest on annuities for that period amounts to 78,115 pesos, 6 tomins; returns from commerce, to 417,202 pesos, 5 tomins, 6 granos; while for the college is spent the sum of 86,136 pesos, and for divine worship, besides the masses said and some other things, 37,345 pesos, 4 tomins, 6 granos: a sum total of 618,799 pesos, 7 tomins. During this period occurs the loss of the ships “San Francisco Xavier” and “Santo Christo de Burgos,” in which the brotherhood was a heavy loser.]
CHAPTER XXII
In which are contained the indulgences and favors conceded by the supreme pontiffs to the brothers and sisters of Santa Misericordia of the city of Manila, which are copied from the original briefs, relics, with which it is enriched; with its authentic royal decree which exempts and preserves it from visits by the ecclesiastical ordinaries, in imitation of the royal house of Lizboa; the chaplaincies and becas of which it is patron, the number of brothers of which this venerable brotherhood is composed and those who serve this present year in the Board of Santa Misericordia; and the report of the alms which are given annually.
The purveyor and deputies who compose the illustrious Board of Santa Misericordia at present are as follows: General Don Benito Carrasco y Paniagua, purveyor (an office he has held three times previously); secretary-in-chief for the king our sovereign of this noble city and its deputation, with active voice and vote by privilege in its most noble ayuntamiento; secretary of the board, Captain Don Juan Baptista de Uriarte (author of this small work), regularly-appointed regidor for his Majesty of said noble ayuntamiento, who as ex-treasurer took charge of the office of secretary, in accordance with the rules, in the absence of Sargento-mayor Don Joseph Antonio Nuño de Villavicencio, general treasurer of the bulls of the Holy Crusade, accountant regulator, regularly-appointed regidor of this noble city and special notary of the Holy Office, as he has been promoted to the post of accountant, a royal official of the royal treasury; treasurer, General Don Miguel de Allanegui, accountant of accounts and results of the royal treasury of these islands, and familiar of the Holy Office; chapel-steward, General Don Joseph Verelo de Urbina; purse-steward and attorney-general, Captain Don Antonio de Olivarria; prison-steward, Sargento-mayor Don Joseph de Vega y Vic; steward of the plate, who looks after the gathering of alms, Captain Don Simon de Amechezurra; and deputies of the board, General Don Antonio Sanchez Zerdan, and the sargentos-mayor, Don Joseph Beltran de Salazar, regularly-appointed regidor for his Majesty of this noble city, Don Frutos Delgado, Don Antonio Lopez Perea, also senior regidor of the city, and Captains Don Domingo Allende and Don Sebastian de Arramburu.
[An act of May 22, 1728, orders a compilation to be made of the indulgences and other things, in order that the high estimation of the popes and sovereigns for the brotherhood may be apparent. Indulgences have been granted by Urban VIII, Clement XI (September 20, 1717), and Innocent XIII; and the latter has also approved the Institute of the brotherhood. The latter own various relics. One reliquary, bearing the papal arms, and conserved in an elaborate golden pyx which is deposited in a tabernacle on the altar of the assembly room of the brotherhood, contains a bit of the wood of the holy cross, a bit of the swaddling clothes in which the child Jesus was wrapped, a bit of a bone of St. Isabel the mother of John the Baptist, a bit of a bone of St. Ignatius Loyola, and a bit of a bone of St. Pasqual Baylon. Other relics are another bit of the wood of the cross, a bone of St. Felix, pope and martyr, a letter of St. Pedro Baptista, O.S.F., who was martyred in Japan, and a shinbone of St. Christina, virgin and martyr. In addition, the brotherhood bears the title of Apostolic syndic of the seraphic Order of St. Francis, and as such its brothers enjoy all the privileges and exemptions conceded to that order by apostolic bulls, and all of the indulgences, privileges, etc., for all the provinces of Nueva España subject to the obedience of the father commissary-general of the order. The royal decree of June 20, 1623, confirms the rules and regulations of the brotherhood. In consequence of this decree, the brotherhood presents a petition to the governor asking him as royal vice-patron to confirm the rules and regulations. This is done by special act on September 4, 1625 by Fernando de Silva. They have already been approved by Francisco Tello, and Gabriel de la Cruz, schoolmaster of the cathedral, January 24, 1597. The royal decree of September 7, 1699, inserted in the decree of June 11, 1708, grants exemption from government or religious visit. Notwithstanding this decree, the effort has been made without success to subject the brotherhood to visit. The closest of supervision has been exercised by the brothers themselves. All the documents mentioned above are given by our author.]
Chaplaincies with collation
There are twenty-nine chaplaincies with collation, of which the Board of Santa Misericordia is patron. They were founded by different benefactors, so that in accordance with the conditions and clauses which were provided in their foundations, the board appoints the chaplains who are to serve them. Such appointees taking the appointments which it sends to them (in which the obligation which falls to each one is made known to them) present themselves before the proper persons within the term which the holy Council of Trent prescribes, for the approval and collation of those chaplaincies. It is intimated to them at this time that they must inform the board promptly that they have fulfilled their so necessary obligation for the good government which is demanded in this. An account must be kept in a separate book of chaplaincies, in the form which is always usual.
Lay chaplaincies
The lay chaplaincies, of which the board is also patron, number ten. They are filled in accordance with the clauses of their foundation by the chaplains whom the board appoints to serve them; in whose despatch a different style is followed since they are lay.
Becas of collegiates
In the royal college of San Joseph of this city, Captain Diego Gonzalez de Arcos founded two becas with a capital of 4,000 pesos, making the Board of Santa Misericordia patron of them, with the condition that the sons of [men from] Estremadura, and especially those of Villa de Don Benito be preferred. Their vacancies are reported by the reverend father rector of the said college.
Number of brothers in this venerable brotherhood and other circumstances
The founders and brothers of this brotherhood, considering the work and business in which they had to employ themselves continually in fulfilment of the works of charity, prudently decided and decreed by a chapter of the ordinances that there should be 250 brothers for the due fulfilment of all the ordinances, in whom good report, sane conscience, honest life, fear of God, observance of His commandments, and prompt obedience to all that should be of service to God and to the brotherhood, and the relief of one’s neighbor had to be included. They declared that they should not be single, unless they had reached the age of thirty, but that being virtuous persons and of the said qualities, they might receive dispensation and be received as brothers if they were twenty-five years old or upward. But no one who was not an oldtime Christian, and no one who had any obligatory duties that could prevent him from serving in the brotherhood [could be a member]; neither could those who did not know how to read or to write. Among said 250 brothers would be always the management and government of the house, and the election of the officers, with obligation to serve God by those who should be elected and appointed by the purveyor and brothers of the board if there were no legitimate obstacle to prevent that. Before they should be admitted as brothers, the secretary of the house was to enter in the book of the brotherhood that its ordinances should be submitted to them, so that having seen and read them, they might determine whether they could fulfil them. And if they were questioned by the board in regard to them, and were found with a mind resolved to observe them and to serve according to the rules in the brotherhood, an oath was to be taken from them on the holy gospels in a missal before the purveyor and brothers of the board, to the effect that when they should hear the signal of the house, or the bells, with the sign that had been arranged for the summoning of the brothers, they should come to the house to perform the works of charity in accordance with the orders that they should receive from the purveyor and brothers of the board; and also if they were summoned in the name of the aforesaid and there was no legitimate obstacle. The above was to be a matter of conscience. They were also to swear to keep the secrets of the board and the rules, when they should be summoned by the board, and were obliged, notwithstanding their oath, to recite fourteen Pater Nosters and fourteen Ave Marias for the deceased brothers, and, having done that, they were to be received as brothers, and their names to be inscribed in the book of the brotherhood.
Annual alms given by the house of the Santa Misericordia of the city of Manila
Since we have to furl the sails to this discourse, because of the limits of time, and make an end to this small work in these last chapters, I thought it important to first make an extract (although with much labor) of all the alms and sums of pesos, produced by the funds which are administered by the house of Santa Misericordia, during the years when—all being complete, and no disaster of earthquakes coming upon them, or shipwrecks or other accidents, which depend on time—it distributes to the benefit of all this community. I was also moved to this interesting task by making charts of all the funds and their pious purposes, by having met in the first part of the life of the venerable and most reverend father master, Fray Simon de Roxas, a great servant of God and a member of the Order of the Santissima Trinidad de Redemptores [i.e., the Most Holy Trinity of Redeemers].[3] written during the year 670 by the very reverend father master, Fray Francisco de Arcos, preacher and theologue of his Majesty, and of the tribunals of his royal conscience, etc., in which he refers to a paragraph of a letter which Juan Baptista Labaña wrote during the voyage from Portugal of Don Phelipe III (of happy memory), in which he cited folio 16; and in the life of the said venerable father, a description of the alms which the royal house of Santa Misericordia of the court of Lisboa distributed in the year 619, and of those which regularly and annually it distributes in the pious ends which are contained in the said chapter, is found in book 8, chapter x, pp. 418–420. It states that those alms are about 30,000 ducados annually. Inasmuch as chapter xi of this work states that the alms distributed by this house of Santa Misericordia of the city of Manila amounted to about 70,000 pesos, I have determined to prove the said proposition part by part, passing over the circumstances which are found in the said chapter, and making a clear demonstration of their reality, without failing one jot in the truth, which is required in a matter of so great importance, and which has to yield in so great glory to the Spanish monarchy. It is a pity that in the circumstances of the present case, there should be many who opposed the truth as it did not issue so clear and apparent in all the books of the house which treat of this matter; and necessarily I am obliged to give it by imagining charts which are fitting and do not leave the least reason for doubt.
This having been granted, therefore, I assert that the alms and sums of pesos received by the holy cathedral church and the sacred orders of this city, the beaterios, confraternities, the venerable tertiary order, the house for sheltered women, the hospice of San Jacinto, the colleges (without including that of Santa Misericordia, St. John of God and its infirmary), the province of Camarines, and the Indians of Marinas Islands, amount to 25,520 pesos. In the alms given for masses, 5,777 pesos are also distributed as a suffrage for the blessed souls of purgatory; among the poor prisoners of this city, 2,691 pesos; as a benefit to the school of Santa Isabel, which belongs to the brotherhood, in the divine worship of its church, the salary of its chaplains, servants of the house, support, clothing and other things which are spent for the girl collegiates (the number of those at present are 58 inmates, rectress, and portress, 9 wards, and 6 slave women, who serve in it), and repairs of said school (in which alone this present year about 6,000 pesos have been spent), they give and apply 10,700 pesos; as dowries for the said girl collegiates and other orphan daughters of noble parents of this city, 16,000 pesos; for the relief of the necessities of poor Spaniards, widows, self-respecting poor, 6,936 pesos. Besides these sums 3,000 pesos are set aside for the benefit of the above-mentioned purposes which, with somewhat more, are produced by the sums at interest, and also 1,200 pesos which are yielded by the encomienda which his Majesty applied to the Board of Santa Misericordia in the provinces of the Ylocos and Leite. Therefore totaling up the eight items of pesos above applied, the amount is 71,824 pesos produced by the funds administered by this house, as is adjusted with the greatest exactness. One may see by the sums that result to the benefit of so many pious ends, the reality and truth of the said proposition, and consequently, the great succor of silver for the relief of the needs of its neighbor. Surely I believe that in this small work of rich treasures, an extraordinary splendor for the house must shine forth (with the new discovery of so abundant a mine, which has been buried in silence in the extensive field and space of 134 years); a prodigy which looks to Spain for the non-moderation of this great house of Misericordia in the most remote parts of the world. I believe that without injury to the greater (if it can be that there is another which exceeds it), it merited as panegyrist of its glories (although with more time) a nature suitable to its worth and greatness. Lastly placed in the royal crown of España, it will be one of the most precious stones which beautify that crown with its rich splendor, for the greater honor and glory of God our Lord.
[1] The translation of the title-page of this book is as follows: “Manifesto and historical summary of the foundation of the venerable brotherhood of the Santa Misericordia of the city of Manila, the hospital, house, and girls’ school and church of Santa Ysabel; with the accommodations and advantages for the common public welfare, particularly of these islands; the alms, succors, and dowries for the holy religious orders, and hospitals, orphan girls, widows, those in prison, and other needy persons. Satisfaction of the charitable and indefatigable task, disinterested and noble method of procedure, faithful management without interruption or any diminution in the works of charity, and the administration of the pious foundations under their charge. Favors and protection which it merited and obtained from our Catholic Monarchs. Recommendation, concessions, indulgences, and relics with which the supreme pontiffs have honored and enriched it. All compiled and extracted from the books, bulls, decrees, and other authentic instruments which are kept in their archives, by commission and order of the purveyor and deputies who comprise the present board, by Captain Don Juan Baptista de Uriarte, regidor of this most noble city, and its procurator-general, and former treasurer and present secretary of said venerable brotherhood. Printed in the college and university of Santo Thomas, with the necessary licenses, by Juan Correa. The year 1728.” The narrative is preceded by an introduction; a statement by the author to the purveyor and deputies of the financial board of the Santa Misericordia, to the effect that he has completed his task of compilation, dated June 28, 1728; thanks of the purveyor and deputies to the author, and expression of intention to print the work, dated June 30, 1728; decree to be sent to Fray Juan de Arrechedera, O.P., commissary of the Holy Office, dated June 30, 1728; approbation of latter, July 8, 1728; government license, July 9, 1728; table of chapters; note to reader.
Torrubia gives the following figures for the work accomplished by the Misericordia from its foundation (in 1594) up to 1730. “This house has endowed twenty-three thousand orphan girls, the daughters of Spaniards; it has spent in their maintenance five hundred and eight thousand, nine hundred and sixteen pesos. It has supplied to our Catholic monarch in pressing emergencies four hundred and forty-nine thousand, four hundred and eighteen pesos. It has expended in Divine worship one hundred and fifty-five thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four pesos; and it has given in alms four million, one hundred and thirteen thousand, two hundred and seven pesos. This statement of expenditures is accurate, and is drawn from the original books of the said house. In the life of the venerable Fray Simon de Roxas, book 8, fol. 418, it is mentioned as unprecedented that the Misericordia of Lisboa in one year gave in alms thirty thousand ducados; but that of Manila gives every year seventy-one thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four pesos.” [↑]
[2] See other letters from Corcuera to the Misericordia, dated in 1637 and 1639 respectively, in our VOL. XXIX, pp. 172–174. [↑]
[3] The Order of the Holy Trinity was founded primarily by St. John of Matha, a native of Provence who was ordained to the priesthood. On the occasion of his first mass, he determined to devote himself to the redemption of Christian captives from the Mahometans. Retiring for a season of prayer to the cell of the aged French hermit, St. Felix of Valois, the latter approved the plan, and in 1197, they both went to Rome where they obtained the approbation of Pope Innocent III for the erection of a new order. The pope ordered the bishop of Paris and the abbot of St. Victor to draw up the rules for the order, which received papal sanction in 1198. A white habit with a red and blue cross on the breast was assigned as a distinctive dress. It received a new confirmation and additional privileges by a papal bull of 1209. The French monarch Philippe Auguste authorized the existence of the order in his kingdoms, and Gauthier III, lord of Châtillon, granted them land for a convent. Later as the order increased, the latter, seconded by the king, granted them Cerfroid, near Grandlieu, on the borders of Valois, which became the chief house of the order. The two saints founded many houses in France. Many Christian slaves were ransomed in Morocco and Spain. It was a fundamental rule of the order that at least one-third of its revenues should be set aside for the redemption of captives. It was estimated in the seventeenth century that since its foundation the order had ransomed 30,720 Christian captives. At one time there were as many as two hundred and fifty houses. See Baring Gould’s Lives of the Saints, ii, pp. 226–230; and Addis and Arnold’s Catholic Dictionary, p. 810. [↑]