Letter (number unidentified). To His Sacred, Imperial, and, Convent oí" the Incarnation, Avila. June 1 1, 1571

CATHOLIC MAJESTY, THE KING OUR

SEIGNEUR

SL Teresa informs King Philip II that the Carmelite Order is praying for him; she asks a favour.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit ever be with your Majesty! Amen.

1FEEL sure that your Majesty is aware that I persevere in recommending you to our Lord in my poor prayers. And although, considering what a wretched creature I am, it is rendering you but little service, yet I do you some good by inciting the Discalced nuns to pray for you, as I know that they serve God faithfully. The community in this convent intercede for your Majesty, for our Lady the Queen, and for the Prince, to whom may God grant a very long lite. Special prayer was offered on the day on which the oath of allegiance was tendered to his Royal Highness. As we shall persevere in our petitions, your Majesties will benefit by the growth of our Order. I therefore

' The autograph is kept in a reliquary in the Capuchin church, Jerez da la Frontera.

• The Queen, Doña Maria de Austria, was the fourth consort of Philip II. The prince, Don Fernando, was born in 1571 and declared heir-presumptive at the end of May, 1573, to which ceremony the Saint alludes. He died on October 18, 1578, to the deep grief of both king and people. Philip showed great Christian resignation by ordering that processions should be made in thanksgiving to God for having taken the child to His eternal kingdom during the age of innocence.

venture to beg your Majesty to support us upon certain points which the licentiate Juan de Padilla will notify to you. I leave the matter to him and ask your Majesty to credit his word. His zeal is such that I have entrusted the affair entirely to him, as if it became public, the objeót for which we are striving, which is solely for the honour and glory of God, would be defeated. May the divine Majesty preserve you for many years as the welfare of Christendom requires! In these days of trials and persecutions it is a great consolation that God should have provided for the Church such a valiant defender and aid as your Majesty.

From the Convent of the Incarnation, Avila. Your Majestv's unworthy servant and subject. Teresa de Jesus, Carmelite.