The Problem of Confinement: An Aspect of Poor Relief in Eighteenth-Century Spain
1971; Duke University Press; Volume: 51; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1215/00182168-51.1.1
ISSN1527-1900
Autores Tópico(s)Historical Studies in Latin America
ResumoIN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY SPAIN few problems disturbed government authorities and educated opinion more than presence of mendicants, vagabonds and idle poor in virtually every city and town of realm. The persistent importunities of beggars shocked and irritated sensibilities of both Spaniards and foreign visitors who rarely neglected an opportunity to lament evil social and moral effects of mendicity. Joseph Townsend, travelling through Spain during 1780's, noted with considerable disgust the multitude of beggars infesting every street in Malaga and observed that in Alicante the city swarmed all day with beggars and all night with prostitutes and thieves.' Further to north, in Castilian city of Burgos, loud quest of beggars for alms penetrated into confines of cathedral itself and upset order and decorum of services.2 Complaints were also heard against more serious depredations of groups of vagabonds wandering through countryside in search of charity. The Bishop of Barcelona, Jose Climent, appealed to state for action against murris, beggars who moved through Catalan countryside and terrorized rural clergy into donations of alms. An episcopal colleague of Climent, Felipe Bertran of Salamanca, similarly denounced vexations, larcenies and robberies carried out in nearby country districts by itinerant mendicants who did not scruple from assaulting parish priests reluctant to contribute alms.3
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