Letter (number unidentified). To Doña Juana de Ahumada, at Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, November, 1573

The Sainfs health. Affairs at the convent.

. . . I THANK our Lord that Señor Juan de Ovalle is better in spite of the weather: God grant his health may continue to improve ! My quartan ague persists, and the worst of it is that the pains of the last few winters have returned; they prevented my sleeping almost all last night. I expe(5l the doctors will bleed me again. God must have so willed lest my stay at the Incarnation should appear to have been the cause of all my illness. To tell the truth, this ailment came from there and has never entirely left me. Perhaps my health might have been better in your locality. Even at Salamanca the pain is less acute in many ways than it was at the Incarnation. But even were it as severe, I should be able to bear it better here.

Pedro de Vanda's affair is progressing, though rather slowly, I fear. When the licences are ready I shall go to insped: the workmen, who have not finished. God seems to wish to keep me at Salamanca, for no one in the house understands anything about work or business matters except myself. Yesterday we gave the habit to a very good postulant who I believe will bring us some money — indeed, a great deal — which will be a help to us. Thank God, she is made for our Order: she is the daughter of Martin de Avila Maldonado and Doña Yomar de Ledesma. It is very fortunate for us. She is highly pleased, as all the nuns are with her.

Will Señor Juan de Ovalle kindly take this letter as addressed to him; remember me most kindly to him and to my daughters. Doña Antonia, who has quite recovered from the quartan ague, sends her kind regards to you and to the Prioress, as I do to the sisters and the little one. I do not think I can write to them, nor have I anything to say except to beg them to pray for me. God grant that you may become a saint! May He repay you for your kindness in saying what was suitable I 1 was delighted to hear that Señor Juan de Ovalle's health had improved and that the little angels were well. . . .

■Yomar de Jesus (Ledesma), took the habit in November, 1573, was professed on November 13, 1574, and died next year. Her sister,