Letter (number unidentified). To An Unknown Person, Avila, about August 10, 1578

commenced, the powers of the Visitor would have ceased at the death of him who bestowed them. President Covarrubias, in his turn, told Father Gracian to continue his Visitation until it was completed. All were agreed upon this point.

When the present Nuncio arrived in Spain, he at once bade Father Gracian show him his authority and the Ad:s of all his Visits. The latter wished to retire from his post, but was told that this would annoy the king, who had requested him to make the Visitation. Father Gracian then called on the Archbishop and gave him an account of what had taken place. The latter remonstrated with him, told him that he had the courage of a fly, and that he ought to go to the king and lay the whole matter before him. When Father Gracian objedied on account of the Nuncio, the Archbishop replied that every one has the right of appeal to the superior and that this course must be followed.

The king ordered Father Gracian to return to his priory, saying he himself would examine into the matter. Some theologians (including even President Romero) whom I consulted at Avila, declare that, as the Nuncio had not shown the faculties giving him authority in the case, Father Gracian is not bound to discontinue his Visitation, for which opinion thev give several reasons.

The Nuncio had not then shown his faculties, nor has he done so vet, unless it has been within the last ten days, though I know for certain that the king requested b.im to disclose them.

Notwithstanding all these opinions, for about

• Don Quiroga, archbishop of Toledo.

nine months' Father Gracian did not use his powers even to sign a document, though he was aware that the Nuncio had declared, and even sworn, that he had not forbidden him to continue the Visitation. This can be vouched for by numerous witnesses, also that when asked by a friar to deprive Father Gracian of his commission as Visitor, the Nuncio replied that he had not the power.

At the end of nine months, the acftual President of the Royal Council, sent for Father Gracian and told him to resume the Visitation.' The latter beg-ged him urgently to withdraw the command, but the President replied that this was impossible, for it was the will of both God and of the king; that he (Pazos) was in his present office against his own wish, adding other reasons of the same kind. Father Gracian asked whether he should go to the Nuncio: this the President forbade, telling our Father to have recourse to himself if necessary. The Council then delivered to Father Gracian several royal mandates authorizing him to apply to the civil power wherever he might be.

It had always been believed, from what the Nuncio himself had said, that he had no authority over the religious Orders, for when the king was displeased at the way in which, without consulting him, he had treated Father Gracian on arriving in

' From August or September 1577, until May or June 1578.

Spain, the Nuncio has done nothing nnore until now. We therefore suppose that, since then, he must have received some very special powers from the Pope, on account of his present ad:ion: though, as far as we know, he has not shown those powers to the Royal Council or to any one else.

Father Gracian felt greatly perplexed, for, if he had had recourse to the Nuncio, instead of obeying the king, we should have lost favour with his Majesty, who is our patron, and who upholds our cause with the Pope, especially as we knew for certain that the Nuncio was endeavouring to appoint as Visitor Tostado, a father of the cloth' whom the General chose as his Vicar. Tostado undoubtedly came to Spain with the determination of carrying out the regulations of General Chapter by abolishing all our priories except two or three. No novices were to be received in these houses, and the friars were to be dressed in the same manner as the Calced. Father Gracian accepted the office of Visitor with great relucflance, solely with the object of defending the Reform.

It would be a very delicate matter for him to render up his powers together with the A(ls of the Visits relating to the faults of the Calced friars of Andalusia, because much of the information was given him under promise of secrecy. To reveal it would provoke the anger of all, and destroy the reputation of many religious. Nor did Father Gracian know whether the Nuncio was the superior appointed to treat of the affair, since the latter has never shown his authority.

That of Piacenza, held in 1575.

All this is true, and there are other fad:s which, were they revealed, would prove clearly that the Brief blames Father Gracian unjustly. He has done nothing without the advice of learned men; for, learned as he is himself, he never follows his own judgment. He declares that it is a novelty in Spain that a Nuncio should refuse to disclose his powers, former Nuncios always having shown them.

Will you kindly consider whether it would not be well to have clearly written copies made of this explanation and send them to several persons in Madrid.

Teresa de Jesus.