Letter (number unidentified). To Fray Ambrosio Mariano de San, Seville, May 9, 1576

BENITO, MADRID

The Saint reproaches htm with not writing. Description of the convent at Seville. Agitation amongst the Caked Friars. Father Gradan seeks refuge in Castile.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your Reverence !

OH, God help me, what a provoking character you have! I declare that I must be very virtuous to write to you, and the worst of it is that you are infecting my Father, the Licentiate Padilla, for, like you, he neither writes nor sends me any news of himself. God forgive you both ! However, I am so deeply indebted to Señor Padilla that, although he neglecfts me very much, I cannot negleól him, and therefore beg him to consider this letter as addressed to him.

When I consider what difficulties you have left me in and how forgetful you are of everything, I do not know what to think except: 'Cursed is the man that puts his trust in man'. But as we must return good for evil, I am writing to tell you that we took possession of the house on the feast of St. James, and that the friars were as quiet as the dead. Our Father had spoken to Navarro, who probably silenced them.

The sisters never cease thanking God for giving them such a home. May He be blessed for all things! Every one declares we bought it for a trifle and that it could not be purchased now for twenty thousand ducats; they say it is in one of the best situations in Seville. The good Prior of las Cuevas has been here twice and is delighted with the convent. Fray Bartolomé de Aguilar" called once before leaving: I wrote telling you that he was going to the Chapter. We have been very fortunate in securing such a dwelling. We are in great difficulties about the duties: I exped: we shall have to pay them all. My brother was to lend us the money; he looks after the workmen and saves me a great deal of trouble. It was the notary who made the mistake about the payment. Our Father is as pleased as the rest of them with the house. Father Soto/ who has just been here, dreams of great things and will not write to you because you do not write to me. The church is to be built where the porch stands and will be very pretty. Everything is exaitly as it should be.

I have said enough about the convent: now to speak of Tostado. A friar has been here who left him at Barcelona in March. This friar belongs to the house at Seville and brings a patent from founded in poverty near them, the nuns had to move in at midnight, 'thinking every shadow the}' saw was a friar'. {Found, xxv, 6.)

Tostado in which he is styled Vicar General of all Spain. Father Cota arrived yesterday: he is in hiding in Don Jeronimo's house, awaiting the arrival of Father Augustin Suarez who, they say, will be here to-day. My first two statements are certain as I saw the patent myself and I know Father Cota is here. People say it is no less certain about the Provincial, and report that he is to return to his charge, bringing with him a Motu proprio from the Pope containing all that the Calced could desire. Father Prior told me to-day that he knew it on reliable authority from a person in the confidence of the Calced.

It seems best for several reasons to his most illustrious Lordship the Archbishop, and his assistant and fiscal, that our Father should withdraw from Seville so that no notification should be made to him until we know what is decided by the Nuncio. Therefore our Father is going into Castile by a different route; he will not continue his Visitation on the way, nor has he any idea of visiting the Calced friars in the midst of all this disturbance. God forgive those who are hindering so great a good, although I feel assured that He will bring about a greater good by it! May His Majesty grant that its opponents may deserve to obtain pardon ! for I have no doubt that it will cause the Discalced to make great progress in

' Pedro de Cota, Prior of Cordova, who had gone to Rome to obtain the Motu proprio. See Letter to Father Gracian, beginning of Oct. 1575. ' The Provincial of Andalusia.

perfeilion and that God is ordaining all things for a higher end. Our Father has left Father Evangelista, Prior of Carmel,'' as Vicar-Provincial and he is here awaiting the blow, although I tell him that, as he is not at the head of the Reform, they vvill notify nothing to him. He shows courage and his assistant is quite ready to defend him if needful.

To-morrow the Prior and Subprior of los Remedios are going to Umbrete, as the Archbishop is there and has sent for them. If the Calced Fathers cannot prove that the Father Visitor's actions are invalid (and I do not think they can prove it) it will do much for us. May God dire(it all to His service and deliver your Reverence and my Father, the Licentiate Padilla, from the song of the siren." My brother wishes to be very kindly remembered to both of you.

I wish that you two were here for I think you would be delighted with our success. We entered the house three days before the proprietor and his wife left it, and are on the best of terms with them. Every one gives us plenty to eat and shows us great kindness. The late occupant tells us that there is no better house or site in Seville. I do not think we shall suffer from the heat here; the courtyard looks as though built of iced sugar. Every one can enter the convent at present as Mass will be said in a room until the church is built, so that people can explore the house. In the second courtyard, which is within the building, we have some good rooms that suit us better than those in the other convent.

The garden is charming, and the view from it beautiful; it has cost us no small amount of work but was worth the trouble, for I could never have imagined we should succeed so well.

The Mother Prioress" and all the sisters entreat for the prayers of your Reverence and my Father Padilla, and I ask the same of the Father Provincial, Frav Angel, who surprised me by arriving so soon at Madrid. God grant the Chapter may tend to His service as it surely must if all you tell me of is being done. God preserve you in spite of all your faults and make you a great saint! To-day is May 9.

Will your Reverence keep me informed of all that is happening, for our Father is not here and I have no other means of learning it. I do not wish you to leave Madrid until you know what turn things will take, yet I can assure you that I miss you very much here, for you understand affairs. We must all be very circumspect and prudent just

' ' Mary of St. Joseph (Salazar) a native of Toledo, was a young girl belonging to the household of Luisa de la Cerda when St. Teresa went there in 1562. The Saint's prophecy that she would become a nun was fulfilled when Mary entered at Malagon in 1570. St. Teresa took her to the foundations of Veas and Seville where she was made Prioress. During the troubles at Seville, she was deposed from the office and was re-instated later on. Of the numerous letters written to her by the holy Mother, sixty are extant. In 1585, she made a foundation at Lisbon where she suffered severely for upholding St. Teresa's Constitutions for the nuns. She was very anxious to help to introduce the Discalced Carmelites into France and was chosen as leader of the expedition by M. de Brétigny but was prevented by her superiors. She died in 1603 at Cuerva, like St. John of the Cross, in a community of which the superior was adverse to her. She left now. Remember me to Fray Vincente. May he have every blessing at his profession.

The unworthy servant of your Reverence,

Teresa de Jesus.

As our Father left secretly people say he must be hidden in our house. Oh, what falsehoods they tell here: it dazes one! I have just heard that the Visitor of the Fathers of the Cloth," as they call him here, is at Carmona and that several priories have submitted to him. In spite of that, remembering the past, I dread what he may have brought from Rome. Not that I am afraid of its harming us, for ultimately it will turn to our advantage. The Calced Fathers must have some grounds to rely on or they would not be rash enough to come here for they do not know that our Father has left but believe he is still in Seville.

Every one congratulates us warmly'" and the neighbours are very glad to have us. I should like to see the affair of the Discalced Fathers settled, for God will not bear for ever with the Mitigated. Such trials must have an end. . . .

behind her some valuable writings. ((Euvres, III, 376-8.)

' A name borne by the Carmelites since the General Chapter of

1524 which ordered them to wear garments of serge instead of the finer materials formerly in use. In the Leííers the term is only applied to the Mitigated.

' On their new convent.