monastery named the brotherhood of charity, which had been founded in 1552[1], and the constitutions of which were directed to the same object. The union of these two bodies was denominated the fellowship of charity and compassion.
The virtuous Paredes was soon joined by two associates, Don Gonzalo Lopez, and Don Diego De Guzman, both of them of noble descent, and, which is still more, animated by the same spirit of humanity and religion. This pious triumvirate, impelled by the ardent desire of succouring their fellow creatures, and not by the infuriate ambition of governing them, drew up their code of constitutions, which having received the royal approbation, and that of the Sovereign Pontiff, the brotherhood took possession of the cathedral church, which became their monastery.
The objects of the primitive institution were multiplied, and extended to the relief of such indigent families as were ashamed to ask charity, to the healing of the sick, to the burial of the dead, to the education of orphans until a provision should be made for them, and to the necessity of accompanying criminals to the place of execution, and providing for the interment of their bodies. These precepts were faithfully complied with, to the full extent of their meaning and purport. The
- ↑ It may be observed, in a cursory way, that although, at the above time, the spirit of conquest was still very fervent among our ancestors, they already directed their attention to pious foundations, which they planted, not only with their money, but with their personal co-operation. The nations which are the most vehement in reproaching the conquest of the Americas, on the specious pretext of the cruelties by which it was accompanied, have scarcely done so much in times of profound tranquillity, and of their greatest splendour.
