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[English Translation] Know then that it is ordered to all the Centenaries of the parishes, who keep track and enumerate the value of the goods of each one, who consequently know the poverty, or wealth of the houses, to take care of the widows, wards, old people, poor and crippled, who have no parents who have means to withdraw, feed and clothe them, because if they have means to do so, they are charged with it, and if they are refused, they are rigorously chastised, as impious and uncharitable people. The Apostle teaches us that he who does not take care of his family is worse than an Ethnic and infidel who has denied the faith: But if they have no support, we advise how much it is necessary to feed and maintain them, equalizing this sum both on nobles and on ignoble in proportion to the goods, as we do with public funds, which is placed in the hands of the Centurion, to distribute it and account for it at the end of the year, in front of all the inhabitants of the parish in the presence of those to whom the money will have been delivered. In this way there is no poor person, because if someone does not want to work after having been admonished three times, they put their hand on his collar to be sent to the capital city of the Province, and from there to the |
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