What is the purpose of the Conde? Or Cofradia?

I have a couple of questions? I am familiar with the Conde of Hacienda San Mateo in Valparaiso, Zacatecas, Mexico back in the days of 1700's.

What was his purpose in regards to administration? Where there any Condes in Alta California at that time?

Now also I would like to know what are Cofradias?

Because in our village of Huejuquilla El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico there is a Cofradia which is now a ranch. When I browsed through archives of Huejuquilla, Jalisco, Mexico in the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints History Center, I browsed through a roll of microfilm for the year 1608 of the Cofradia of Huejuquilla.

In the Microfilm, I saw daily journals written by the Mayordomo Lazaro Medina during that time and also saw inventory lists from that time period which included items such as:

Corona De Plata
Vino
Velas De Barro
Pollos por los enfermos
Caldo de Chocolate

In that inventory list was a list of items with the cost for each and the monetary terms used were "Pesetas" "Tomines"

The Cofradia in the archives was titled as "La Cofradia De La Hermanidad."

And I read and read the journals written by the Mayordomo Lazaro Medina.

Very interesting, because he would describe, "Capitan Mayor," "Capitan Menor" and Capitanas and the names of the people with that title. But Capitanas? Women captains at that time?

He also described visits to the Cofradia by "El Dueno De Los Minas De Fresnillo."

And also he also mentioned visiting "Balparaiso" (Valparaiso).

That archive was interesting to read because of the year 1608. I had trouble understanding terminology, old spanish words and the writing was kind of hard to decipher.

But if any of you are research Huejuquilla, Jalisco, Mexico. Try looking up "Cofradia" You will find it listed in the Microfiche in the Huejuquilla section.

Today there is a Cofradia in Huejuquilla but it is just a ranch and it is also listed on the map of Huejuquilla, Jalisco, Mexico.