One cannot imagine the work of this venerable brotherhood during the time of those disasters in attending to and providing for all the necessities in the two hospitals of the Spaniards and of the native soldiers of the country; to the two infirmaries of poor women, and of wretched slaves; and to the two prisons of the court and the city, which were also dependent upon the assistance and relief which their charity negotiated for them: since it is certain that besides the personal work of the brothers, in those first years, for the above purposes alone, and for other pious ends, there was spent from the year 599 to that of 650 a sum of more than 540,446 pesos, 7 tomins, which it has been possible to verify in the short time that I have had for it, and other liquidations that will be set forth hereafter. But this was done with such accounts and checks on the parts of treasurer and almsgivers of this house that a strict monthly or annual residencia was taken from them by the purveyor and other deputies, the balances resulting either against or in favor punctually. Their revision was entrusted to the purveyor and secretary of the board and immediately they proceeded to the satisfaction of the said balances of all parties.
CHAPTER VI
Of the advantages and gains which resulted from the great alms which were given out by the house of Santa Misericordia for the common relief of spiritual and temporal needs.
[The brotherhood has had great influence in the increase and conservation of the Catholic faith, both spiritually and temporally. Many alms have been given to the religious orders that they might pursue their work, especially between the years 1600–1650, such alms being used for edifices of worship and other pious purposes. The prisons have been a special object of care to the brotherhood, for the prisoners of the two prisons in Manila have been looked after daily in regard to clothing and other matters; and an attorney has been paid to conduct their cases, in order that they might be concluded at the earliest possible moment. For this more than one thousand pesos has been spent annually. Alms have been given to widows to the amount of four, eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty, and twenty-four reals weekly; and the same is true of poor soldiers disabled in the royal service in the Philippines and vicinity, to whom alms are distributed weekly. The noble families who have been overtaken by adversity have also been aided, and that so tactfully that the asking of alms by them has cost no embarrassment. To them the weekly distribution has amounted to twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred and more pesos. The brotherhood has always been careful to inquire into the morals of those among whom its alms have been distributed, and evil morals have meant suspension from the alms-list, to which they have been readmitted on reforming. Brothers of the confraternity found to be leading an evil life have been expelled from membership until they have given assurances of reform. Especial care has been taken in relieving members who have fallen into misfortunes. Orphan girls whose fathers have died in the royal service in the wars have been sheltered, taught, supported, and, at marriage, given a dowry. From the organization of the brotherhood until 1634, more than three thousand orphan girls have been so aided.]
CHAPTER VII
Of other works of charity in which this venerable brotherhood was busied for the benefit of captive Spaniards and Portuguese, and the alms which it sent to Japon and other districts, and the devout exercises in which it busied itself with great profit.
[Silva’s expedition against the Dutch who attempt to raid the islands in 1609 and 1610, which ends in the defeat of the latter, April 24, 1610 (the leader of the Dutch being one Francisco Ubiter, who was with Oliver van Noordt in his battle with the Spaniards), is a great drain on the community. The loss of the ship “San Francisco” in Japan, which left Nueva España in July, 1609, means a great loss to the citizens, and gives the brotherhood much to do. Those wounded in Silva’s wars, up to the time of his death, April 19, 1616, both Spaniards and native soldiers, as well as some foreign ones who participated therein, become a special object of care to the brotherhood. Many Spanish and Portuguese captives are redeemed from the Dutch during this period. The charity of the brotherhood reaches even to Japan, where the Christians are being persecuted so unrelentingly at this time. Lastly, the bones of members of the brotherhood who have died and been buried in the islands of Mariveles and Fortuna, and in Playa Honda and other places are removed thence and buried in the Manila cathedral.]