who administer the sacraments
and care for the welfare of the souls of the patients. In addition,
the Confraternity has made up for the lack of a hospital for slaves
by setting apart some rooms where slaves go to be cared for, and are
attended to with special care of both their bodies and their souls.

2. The principal matter to which the Confraternity gave its attention
from the first was the succor of needy persons who committed themselves
to its protection--as widows, married persons, orphans, cripples,
and deserted persons of good life. To them the Confraternity give
what is necessary for their daily support. This matter is attended to
once a week by two brethren who give them aid in their own houses,
within and without the walls of the city, doing the work with all
the secrecy in the world. Upon this are spent weekly sixty or seventy
pesos, more or less, according to the amount of contributions received.

3. The Confraternity has always attended to the support of the poor
in the prison. A brother is assigned to this duty, who causes food
for the poor prisoners to be prepared daily at his own house, and
takes care to have it sent to them with great regularity. He also
provides the said prison with water sufficient for the prisoners,
which is their greatest want. [38] Thus they alleviate the misery
of the prisoners. The said prison is always attended by one of the
brethren of high station, that he may attend to the care and prompt
decision of the cases of poor prisoners.

4. This Confraternity attends to providing a shelter for the daughters
of poor conquistadors and colonists, and for other women whom they
consider thus in need; and has placed them in a seminary in this city,
supporting them there until they enter the married state, and then
it gives them assistance according to their rank.

5. The Confraternity takes great care to place orphan boys where
they may be cared for, and to protect them. Those who desire to
give themselves to exercises of virtue and learning it places in a
college of the Society of Jesus, paying for each one a hundred pesos
for his board.

6. The Confraternity also aids with clothing, which it collects from
charitable persons, which the said brethren give to both men and
women, who would suffer greatly without this assistance and care,
from lack of clothes. Many women would not go to mass for lack of
cloaks and other things needed, if this alms were not given them.

7. It gives aid