The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898; Volume 47, 1728-1759 / Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century

by Unknown

THE SANTA MISERICORDIA OF MANILA

CHAPTER I

Of the beginning of this venerable brotherhood of the city of Manila, in the year 1594

[The Santa Misericordia of Manila[1] was founded in imitation of the association of the same name which had been established in the city of Lisbon in August 1498 with the consent of the vacant see and of Queen Leonor, wife of Juan II. At the time of the foundation of the Manila branch, Clement VIII occupied the papal chair, and Luis Perez Dasmarifias was governor of Manila.]

CHAPTER II

Of the foundation of this venerable brotherhood, and the circumstances attending it

The foundation of this venerable brotherhood was April 16, 1594, the following being assembled and congregated in the church of the holy Society of Jesus of this city: his Excellency, Don Luis Perez das Mariñas, knight of the Order of Alcantara, governor and captain-general of these islands for the king our sovereign; the very reverend father, Fray Christoval de Salvatierra, of the Order of St. Dominic, governor of the bishopric for his Excellency, Don Fray Domingo de Salazar, its bishop, who at that time was in the kingdoms of Castilla; the venerable dean, Don Diego Basquez de Mercado; the judiciary and municipal body of this noble city; the master-of-camp of the royal army of these islands, Don Diego Ronquillo; and the majority of the nobility and citizens of the city. And they having been informed of the so holy end for which this venerable brotherhood and confraternity is instituted (in regard to which matter, a devout talk was given by the very reverend father rector of the college of the said Society of Jesus, Antonio Sedeño, who with the ardor of his spirit, informed them of the importance that the foundation of the venerable brotherhood, whose institution they were discussing for the spiritual and temporal welfare of their neighbors, would be in the time of their greatest calamities and miseries); in view of all of which, having conferred with mature deliberation and due reflection concerning the seriousness of the matter: they unanimously and harmoniously decided upon the foundation of so holy a brotherhood. From that time it was considered as established with the fixed resolution to begin the exercise of works of charity, in accordance with the rules which were made for the better government of the brotherhood, the original of which are conserved in the first book of records. Then immediately their Excellencies, the ecclesiastical and secular governors, who were present, each one for himself, in the part that pertained to him, confirmed all the abovesaid and affixed their signatures. It was agreed for the time being that this venerable brotherhood of our Lady of Charity should be established in the college of Santa Potenciana in this city.

The first brothers who composed the financial board [mesa] of this brotherhood, numbered thirteen: the purveyor Don Luis Perez das Mariñas, knight of the Order of Alcantara, governor and captain-general of these islands; its secretary, Don Estevan de Marquina; its treasurer, Don Juan de Esquerra; the deputies, Don Juan Ronquillo, Don Christoval de Azqueta, Don Antonio de Cañedo, Don Francisco de Poza, Don Diego del Castillo, Don Juan de Alzega, Don Juan Arseo, Don Hernando Nuñez de Peñalosa, Don Juan de la Lara, and Don Thomas de Machuca. Those gentlemen in the meeting held May 11, 1594, enacted that this venerable brotherhood should militate under the protection and favor of that of Lisboa, since that is the head of all the brotherhoods which are founded in the districts of España and of India, so that recognizing this brotherhood as its offspring, they might establish a mutual correspondence and a perpetual brotherhood, and, as faithful brothers aiding one another, obtain the chief end of their institute which is directed to the exercise of works of charity and mercy. On this matter, having written to the said venerable brotherhood, the latter responded without the least delay, congratulating it on having obtained in its foundation and brothers the limit of its desires, and despatched the rules of that house which were received by this brotherhood in 1596. And in order that they might be observed more fittingly and performed in accordance with the condition and state of the land, it was necessary to revise some of them, although only a few, but only after great thought and consideration by very learned persons. Those which today are in force were ordained January 14, 1597, in a meeting called for that effect. They were given to the press in 1606. At the same time this brotherhood succeeded in being admitted and recognized as an offspring by the brotherhood of the Misericordia of the city of Lisboa.

It is not outside the present matter to mention at this place, although briefly ... the governors and captains-general for the king our sovereign, who have been brothers and purveyors of the house of the Misericordia of this city, as well as the archbishops, ministers of the royal Audiencia, the venerable deans, masters-of-camp, and others, who will be named later, in the chronological order in which they became brothers. It is as follows.

[These names are as follows: Luis Perez das Mariñas; Doctor Antonio de Morga; Licentiate Christoval Telles de Almazan, auditor; Francisco Tello; Fray Miguel de Venavides, archbishop; Luis de Bracamonte, master-of-camp; Doctor Juan de Vibero, dean of the Manila cathedral; Doctor Diego Basquez de Mercado, dean, vicar-general, and archbishop; Miguel Garsetas, chanter and purveyor; Diego Ronquillo, master-of-camp and purveyor; Juan Juares Gallinato, master-of-camp; Doctor Juan Fernandez de Ledo, purveyor; Manuel de Madrid y Luna, auditor; Doctor Alvaro de Mesa y Luna, auditor; Juan de Balderrama, auditor; Alonzo de Campos, archdeacon; Alonso Faxardo, governor and purveyor; Mathias Flores Delgado, auditor; Geronimo de Legazpi, auditor; Antonio Alvarez de Castro, auditor; Sebastian Cavallero, royal fiscal; Doctor Alonso Zapata, schoolmaster; Alvaro Garcia de Ocampo, auditor; Doctor Francisco Samaniego, royal fiscal; Licentiate Juan de Volivar y Cruz, royal fiscal; Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, governor and purveyor; Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, governor and purveyor; Lorenso de Olazo, master-of-camp; Francisco Pasqual de Pano, auditor; Augustin de Cepeda, master-of-camp and purveyor; Thomas de Endaya, master-of-camp and purveyor; Francisco de Atienza y Vañes, master-of-camp; Doctor Diego Camacho y Avila, archbishop; Doctor Francisco Rayo Doria, dean, commissary of the Holy Crusade and purveyor; Doctor Domingo de Valencia, bishop of Nueva Cazeres and purveyor; Conde de Lizarraga, Martin de Ursua y Arismendi, governor and purveyor; Doctor Joseph de Torralva, auditor, governor, and purveyor; Doctor Phelipe de Molina, bishop of Nueva Cazeres; Doctor Manuel Antonio de Osio y Ocampo, dean, vicar-general, and commissary; Doctor Juan de la Fuente Yepez, schoolmaster; Marquez de Torre Campo, governor and purveyor.]

CHAPTER III

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.

CHAPTER IV

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.