Letter 194. To Don Alvaro de Mendoza, Bishop of Falencia, Olmedo, Avila, September 6, 1577

Congratulations on the marriage of Doña Maria Sarmiento, the bishop's niece, daughter of Maria de Mendoza, to the Duke ofSesa, An alms for the convent,

Jesus be ever with your Lordship !

I WAS very glad to hear of Doña iMaria Sarmiento's marriage — in fafl, it was such good news that I hardly dared to credit it, so that I was dehghted to see it confirmed by your Lordship's letter. God be praised for doing me this favour, for I have been feeling very troubled and anxious about the matter lately and most desirous of seeing you relieved from such a responsibility. I'hey tell me that it was easily settled and that the match is a very good one. As for the rest, nothing is ever quite perfect; had the bridegroom been very young, the case would have been far worse. Wives, (especially when they are as lovable in every way as Doña Maria) are always better treated when their husbands are advanced in years. May our Lord grant that the marriage may be a very happy one! I do not know what news I could have received just now that would have delighted me so much.

1 was grieved to hear of our dear Doña Maria's illness. Please God, it may be less serious than usual! We are praying for her here with greater zeal than ever.

May our Lord reward you for your alms, which came when it was wanted, for there was no one to whom we could apply for help, although that did not trouble me much. In fa¿t, you gave it rather to Francisco de Salcedo than to us, for we always trust in God. He told me, the other day, that he wanted to send you a letter containing nothing but the words: — Lord, we have no bread !'' I would not allow it, as I am so desirous of seeing your Lordship free from debt that I would rather we should be in want than that your expenses should be increased. But since God has given you such charity, I hope that His Majesty will increase your revenues too. May He spare you to us for many years and take me afterwards to where I can enjoy your company!

Father Gracian is firmly resolved not to allow me to return to the Incarnation." As for me, though there could be nothing worse for our interest in the present state of affairs, I fear nothing but God. I am extremely glad to see that your Lordship is curbing your excessive generosity by denying yourself such an occasion of indulging it as the fair that is to be held. God grant you may persevere, and may He watch over vou more than over me ! To-day is September 6.

Your Lordship's unworthy servant and subjed:, Teresa de Jesus

Teresa kisses your Lordship's hands and is doing as you told her. She would verv much like to be going with you.

cxcv

Prefatory note

The new nuncio, Philip Sega, Bishop of Piacenza, arrived in Spain from Rome on August 30, already prejudiced against the Discalced. He reached Madrid, and Father Gracian resigned the office of Visitor into the nuncios hands as St. Teresa had repeatedly advised him, having from the first only held that post because he could not avoid it. {Letter to the General of the beginning of Feb. 1576). However, by order of the king, who consulted skilful lawyers on the subject. Father Gracian resumed that office. He then returned to Seville and was accused of the most atrocious crimes by two false brethren : Miguel de la Coluna and Baltasar de Jesus (Nieto). (See prefat. note to Letter cxlv.) Being badly received by the Caked friars. Father Gracian left Andalusia and returned to Castile. Tostado, relying on the protection of the nuncio, cited the Discalced to appear before him, but on St. Teresa's appealing to the king for help, {Letter oi Sept. 18, 1577), Philip compelled him to exhibit his patents. These, after a long judicial examination were condemned as invalid since they had not the royal approval. Tostado therefore desisted from making his visitation. In a letter to the Pope's secretary dated Oct. 16, 1578, Sega wrote : 'As I found it would be a difficult matter for Father Tostado to make a visitation in Castile, 1 persuaded him to go to Arragon, Catalonia, and Valencia for which he had the King's patents. Consequently Tostado relinquished his visitation in Castile and went away, to the general satisfaction of the province.' Matters did not become more peaceful after his departure : on the contrary, Juan Gutierrez, the newly elected provincial of

Castile, began hostilities. During October, irritated by the election of St. Teresa as prioress of the convent of the Incarnation, Avila, he excommunicated the fifty-five nuns who had voted for her and persecuted them during three months. He tore St. John of the Cross, confessor of that community, from the convent on the night of the third of December and imprisoned him- for eight months in the priory of the Calced at Toledo, treating him inhumanly. (A5fii Cap. Gen. i. p. 559. See also Introdu5f. to Found, p. xlv. and ch. xxvii.) As regards the calumnies against Father Gracian, Miguel de la Coluna recanted {Letter 197) and Baltasar de Jesus (Nieto) begged pardon of Father Gracian and sent copies of his retraction to the principal authorities. His future life made amends for the past. He died at Lisbon in 1589. He was probably the 'preacher' who had joined Tostado, having been a Calced Carmelite, famed for his sermons.