BENEVOLENT ESTABLISHMENTS. 



179 



Being both of them animated by the same spirit of humanity, 

 they were desirous to make a useful appHcation of the means 

 which Providence had bestowed on them, without subjedling 

 their determination to the alterations of an indolent or cove- 

 tous executor. As a charitable gift loses much of its value, 

 when it is swayed by the impulse of terror, or by the weakness 

 of the contrary passion in the hour of death, they made their 

 testament when in the enjoyment of perfe6l health, in the 

 month of June 1654. 



The fifth clause of this instrument enafted the foundation of 

 the asylum or college in question, in which young girls, of 

 the description of those who, having been left destitute, from 

 their early infancy, through the cruelty or indigence of their 

 parents, are wont to be the vi6tims of their unprote6ted state, 

 were to be clothed, fed, and educated. To form from its 

 origin an establishment of such a nature, it was ordered in 

 the above, and in the subsequent clauses, that the licentiate 

 Garcia Martinez Cabeza, inquisitor of these realms, and, in 

 the case- of his demise or absence, the tribunal of the Holy 

 Office, should frame such laws and constitutions as might ap- 

 pear to be best adapted to its good government, advance- 

 ment, and preservation. Finally, the aforesaid tribunal was 

 nominated perpetual patron, with indeterminate powers tp 

 dispose at its pleasure both of the college and its govern- 

 ment. 



On the death, in August 1655, of Mateo Pastor, who sur- 

 vived his virtuous consort but a short time, and by virtue of 

 the above dispositions, the necessary measures were taken to 

 carry into efFe6l the testament of the deceased. The founda- 

 tion of the college received the approbation of the supreme au- 



A a 2 . thority 



