Letter (number unidentified). To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Avila, December 10, iSll-

PRIORESS OF SEVILLE.

An 'Agnus Dei\ Return of the sisters from Paterna to Seville. The nuns of the Incarnation and the Caked friars, hnprisonment of St. John of the Cross and Fray Ger?nan. The house at Seville.

Jesus be with you, my daughter!

OH, what a long time it is since I read a letter from you, and how far away you seem! But even if you had been nearer I could not have written to you lately on account of all the disturbances, which will be told to you. I assure you that God does not leave me idle long.

Before I forget it, I want the Anues Dey fsicj set with pearls. You need never ask my permission for anything that pleases you, for it pleases me to see you happy. You are very welcome to keep it.

They say the province has revolted again, and I very much wish that as this struggle is going on, you would send at once for the nuns from Paterna; I am extremely anxious that you should. Our Father tells me he wrote to you to that effect by advice of the Archbishop. Obtain the permission from the latter before any one else persuades him to the contrary. The sisters remind me to ask you for a little caraila gum,' as it does me great good.

It must be pure; for charity's sake do not forget it. You could send it very carefully packed to Toledo, whence it would be forwarded here or give it to a messenger who comes here from Seville.

Be sure to do all you can as regards Paterna, for setting aside the sisters' welfare, it would be for your own peace of mind, for I do not know how they endured such suffering. My companion will give you the history of it.

Will your Reverence inform me whether you have paid for your house, whether you have any surplus money, and why you are in such a hurry to leave it. Explain it to me, for the Prior of las Cuevas has written on the matter.

You must know that the nuns of the Incarnation have been absolved after having (as you are aware) been excommunicated for two months. They were treated very harshly. The king told the Nuncio to order that they should be absolved. Tostado and his advisers sent the Prior of Toledo there. He absolved them, but to tell you of all his oppressions would be too long a tale. He left them in a harder case and more disconsolate than ever, solely because they wished me to be their prioress instead of the nun chosen by the Calced. The Mitigated have deprived them of the two Discalced confessors appointed by the Apostolic Commissary and the late Nuncio, taking them away by force like malefadors. I shall be very anxious until I see the two friars freed from these gentry, for I would rather they were among the Moors. It is said that on the day they were seized, the confessors were thrashed twice and ill treated in every possible way. Maldonado, Prior of Toledo, took Fray John of the Cross with him to present him to Tostado. The Prior of Avila, having taken Fray German to San Pablo de la Moraleja, told the nuns of his own party, on his return, that he had left the traitor in safe hands. It is said that when Fray German left, blood was flowing from his mouth.

The nuns were then, and are now, far more distressed by this than by all their own sufferings, severe as they are. Of your charity pray for them and for the two saintly captives who will have been imprisoned a week to-morrow. The nuns declare they are saints, and that during all the years they have been at the Incarnation, nothing has been seen in them unworthy of the Apostles themselves.

I do not know where the frenzy of these people will stop. May God in His mercy remedy the evil, of which He sees there is need !

I commend myself earnestly to Fray Gregorio, asking him to obtain prayers for help in all these troubles, for what these nuns are suffering is lamentable; indeed they are martyrs.

I am not writing to him, as I did so a short time ago: his letter went with yours. Give my kindest remembrances to my Gabriela and the rest. May God be with you all!

To-day is December lo, 1579- 1578. fsic.)

I cannot understand with what money you wish to buy another house; I do not even remember if you have paid for this one. I seem to recoiled: your saying that you had settled the rent. But supposing that person does not enter as a nun, she will certainly keep her fortune, especially if she arranges a marriage for her sister. Give me all the details for charity's sake. Your letters will travel safely by Father Padilla, (provided you entrust them to the Archbishop), or by our Father: they would come sooner than via Toledo.

Since you are so rich, do not forget to settle the debt you owe my brother. It would be a great help if you only gave him two hundred ducats, as nothing comes to him from the Indies and he pays a yearly rental of live hundred ducats for the property he purchased.

Tell me about the disturbance in the province and who has been made Vicar. Remember me to Father Evangelista and say that God is giving him good opportunities of becoming a saint. Let me know all about the health of yourself and the sisters: if you have not time, my Gabriela will write. Greet Beatriz and Senor Garci-Alvarez from me; I am very sorry about his illness. Give kind messages from me to the nuns and Father Nicolao. May God proted: you for me. Your servant,

Teresa de Jesus.

Take great care of your health: you know its importance. Perhaps you are going to live where you will be roasted alive. Remember that your present home has many conveniences and is newly built, and that I, in spite of all objed:ions, placed you in it, for certainly I desire your comfort. You know how people praised the house.'