Juana?

[Scurravogue]

Hi

This is my first real post, so please tell me if I'm in the wrong area or whatever. I like reading history and I've started delving into old books in Spanish, partly to help me learn the language. My Spanish is very poor, but usually I can get the general idea. However, passages like this leave me baffled.

It's about a 17th Century general named Juan who died and left a legacy to the impoverished daughters of his village to help them marry:

"Dexó en ella, adonde se havia criado, una dotacion para casar las hijas de ellas; que se dé a cada una cien ducados, y á las que se llamaren Juanas doscientos."

I think it means that he gave 100 ducats to each but gave 200 to those who were called Juana? Or does it mean those who christened their daughters Juana? Any help would be appreciated.

Best wishes, Scurravogue (Ireland)

[wrholt]

He gave 200 to any of the daughters who happened to be named Juana, and 100 ducats to all of the daughters who were not named Juana, and not to the parents of each daughter.

[Scurravogue]

Gracias, wrholt. Appreciate your help.

[pjt33]

Beware that Spanish has changed a lot in the last 100 years, so you might learn a rather archaic form.

[Rusty]

Yeah, like 'llamaren'. The future subjunctive is all but dead.

[Scurravogue]

Thanks for that.