capital must ever be regarded as the centre for the order, contributions for it came even from afar, chiefly from the natives, in men and material.[1]
Cortés also gave substantial aid in different ways in promoting their benevolent aims, one of which was the care of poor and sick natives. To this end he had already erected a hospital, de la Purísima Concepcion, which still exists, a monument to his charitable devotion and a relic of the reëdification period.[2]
- ↑ Ixtlilxochitl relates that his royal namesake led the Tezcucan nobles in procession to carry stones, thus setting an example to the common people. Rel., 447. Humboldt, Essai Pol., i. 182, speaks of a splendid building, which is doubtful, since it was erected in great haste; and that Gante built it. In 1534 the site was abandoned, and a really fine convent erected on San Francisco street, so as to be near the Indians, to whom the friars had been sent. Vetancvrt, Chron., 31-2; Panes, in Monumentos Domin. Esp., MS., 62.
- ↑ The existence of the hospital at this date is shown by the Libro de Cabildo, MS., August 26, 1524, and, although no name is given, it must be that of Cortés, since the friars could not have erected one so soon after their arrival. The building is of interest as the only relic of the edifices erected by the first Spaniards, all others having either disappeared or undergone a complete change. Orozco y Berra, Mex. Not. Ciudad, 160. It stands in what used to be the Huitzillan quarter, and was most carefully constructed, the site granted comprising originally 128 varas east by west. By bull of April 16, 1529, the pope conferred on Cortés the perpetual patronage of this and other similar establishments to be founded by him, with the right to appropriate tithes and premices under certain conditions for their support. A bull of approximate date confers absolution on penitents who may attend there. All the privileges of the bulls were not approved by the king, however, and even the cathedral sought to dispute the right to tithes, which was confirmed to the hospital in 1653. A part of its revenue came from rents of buildings upon its ground. Cabrera, Escudo de Armas, 404, states that Cortés proposed it as a sepulchre for his family; but this applies to the convent which he intended to erect at Coyuhuacan, his favorite city. In 1663 a sacred Christ image fell to the hospital, by lot, and henceforth it assumed the name of Jesus that it still bears. Cortés planned several other institutions which were never erected for want of sufficient funds, and his descendants did not consider themselves bound to supply the money, though appealed to by Archbishop Manso and others; nevertheless they bestowed large gifts on the hospital and other establishments. Alaman, Disert., ii. 81-9, 2d app. 26-48, Orozco y Berra and Cabrera already quoted, and Ramirez, in notes to Prescott's Mexico, have given considerable attention to these and other points
to be a mere supposition, based on the fact that the friars had obtained a right to the cathedral ground, which they transferred to the bishops for a consideration of 40 pesos and the reservation of a pulpit and altar. The acts of the municipality, Libro de Cabildo, MS., May 2, 1525, January 31, 1529, and other dates, with observations of Father Pichardo, are conclusive in this respect. Alaman, Disert., ii. 142, indicates the house at present occupying the site. Orozco y Berra presents slightly different arguments. Mex. Mem., 102. While not wholly agreeing with these writers, Salazar admits in the main their views in his critical notes of Mex. en 1554, 213 et seq. 'Dove óggidi è il Convento grande di S. Francesco,' says Clavigero, hastily, Storia Mess., i. 272, and with total oblivion of the removal. Prescott and others fall partly into the error.
