Letter 130. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, November 8, 1576

Postulants related to Garci Alvarez. Those sent hy Father Nicolas and Don Pablo, Business affairs. Letters.

Jesus be with your Reverence.

1HAVE not time to say all I want to you. The muleteer brought me your letter to-day: the longer your letters are, the better they please me. I have received so many to-day that I have not time enough for this and have been unable to read those from the sisters, to whom I beg you to remember me very affeñionately.

I had already told you that you must accept Garci Alvarez' sisters : I think my letter must have reached you by now. If they are so good, there is no cause for delay. I am sorry to hear that you are receiving nuns without dowries and that your situation does not improve. Endeavour at least to have the three hundred ducats in hand that you ought to pay poor Alonso Ruiz this year, for he has to provide food for himself and his flock of sheep atMalagon with them. I have even been trying to find some one who will assist him besides, and my own brother consents to help him. Indeed it seems to me a matter of conscience to repay Alonso Ruiz what you owe him as he has so very little to live on at Malagon.

Although Nicolas' postulant may not be very perfeól, I should not send her away. Remember me kindly to him and say that his cousin has called on me and sent me an alms.

I cannot decide about Pablo's daughter until I have re-read the letter, as I did not grasp its meaning. Why are you in such a hurry before her year of novitiate has expired? If they give you two thousand five hundred ducats besides what has to bepaid this year, you may well renounce what would come to her later on, for these inheritances are not for us and result in nothing. So accept no inheritance, but let Don Pablo undertake to pay the part of the sum which is to be spent on the house. Do not let the thought of accepting any inheritance pass through your mind but tell them that you cannot agree to it as you must possess no annuity. However, you need not write to me about the matter as you can judge best. I do not wish this dower or that of Beatriz to be lessened, but that they should both be given you together, for you will never be free from your troubles as long as you have to pay a certain sum every year, and instead of removing an evil you would doubtless lose a great deal in the end. I will write to Valladolid about the lay-sister' and let you know the answer at once,

I am well. To-day is November 8.

I shall send my letters to our Father addressed to you instead of to him, with two or three crosses on the cover — three are better than two or one. There are several letters in the parcel I am sending with this. Will you ask our Father not to write the address on his letters to me but to let you do it, and will you put the same sign on them. This is more deceptive and a better plan than my former one. God grant that you were telling the truth when you said you were well. Abide with Him. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus I have already told you that I sent your letters to my brother and that he was delighted with them. He is in good health; the Mother Prioress of St. Joseph's' is in her usual state.