Letter (number unidentified). To Don Alvaro de Mendoza, Bishop of Avila, at Valladolid, Alba de Tormes, January or February, 1574

Mt'ssiigt's. Casilda de Padilla. The Bishofs friends.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit ever be with your Lordship!

THANK God your Lordship's health is good! May He preserve it as I ask of Him! It would be a comfort to me if I could write you a long letter, but the time is so short that I am averse even to beginning this. Mary Baptist' will tell you all about me, as I cannot write. As she gives me news of you, and, God be praised! it is the news I wish to hear, I can endure receiving none from you. I have sent you several letters, one of which I know for a certain reason has never reached you. I do not know what has become of the rest. I have only had one from you since I came here — no, I am mistaken — it was delivered to me at Salamanca.

I told the Duchess what you bade me say; she related the whole history to me and assured me that she had never thought that your Lordship had been concerned in the last affair. She certainly does not deserve to forfeit people's friendship.

I have not time to write to my dear Señora Dona Maria either; I kiss her hands again and again. But it seems to me that our Ladv knows how to defend her daughters better than her Ladyship understands how to protect her subjects, if it is true, as thev say, that she was silent in this case. God help the dear little angel! The way in which He assists her in the world is an unheard-of thing. I believe that it is in order to manifest this that He leaves her alone in the midst of such trials. I praise Him heartily for it.

Now, my Lord, that you have so many saints around you, you have learnt to recognise when a person is not a saint, and so vou forget me. Yet after all, I believe that when you are in heaven you will discover that you owe more to the sinner than to the saints!

I would rather congratulate my Señora, Doña Maria and the Countess on some other event than the marriage, but I was glad that it was arranged so quickly. God grant it may tend to His service and bring happiness to you and to my Señora, Doña Maria for many years! I kiss the hands of my señoras Doña Beatriz and the Duchess; may our Lord uphold you in His!

Your Lordship's unworthy servant and subjeit,

Teresa de Jesus.

Will you kindly send word whether the Father Visitor has granted me permission to stay a few days at St. Joseph's; the Prioress would give me your message.