Letter (number unidentified). To Father Gracian, Alcala, Valladolid, July 18, 1579

Godoy the lawyer and his daughter. ProjeSf of a foundation of friars at Valladolid. A message for Eliseus.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your

Paternity, my Father.

GODOY, the lawyer, has been to see me since I last wrote to you. He seems to me an excellent man. We fully discussed the subje6t of his daughter. Thank God, a community of Bernardines

(who liveatValderas, I think), are wilUng to receive her, so we arranged that when I go to Alba I am to investigate the matter and if I still consider her unsuited to us he will take her to the other convent. I was delighted at the news, for I regretted her dismissal, yet from what has been told me, I think it best for her to leave at once, lest she should lose the opportunity that offers. Her father behaves like a Christian. For the last few days he has been suffering from tertian fever : though it is a mild form, it is painful. Will your Paternity pray for him.

You must know that the Abbot here is a great friend of the Bishop of Palencia. I have had an interview with him and we are on good terms. There is already another provisor. If God gives us the funds, we can certainly get permission to found at San Alejo's.' The prioress is ill: she came to see me and keeps firmly to her purpose. Being in danger of death, she had named Godoy the lawyer as her executor and signed all the documents relating to the matter. May God dired: the projed:, as He has the power to do, and as I heartily desire!

My dear Sister Maria de San Jose is well and is loved by the whole community : she is a little saint, as is Casilda. All the sisters, particularly the Mother Prioress, beg for your prayers. My health is fairly good; Valladolid suits me. I shall do my best to start soon as 1 am anxious about Salamanca, but my stay will be prolonged until next month.

I must tell you about a temptation concerning Eliseus that I had yesterday which still besets me. It seems to me that he is careless sometimes about telling the whole truth regarding certain matters. Though I know that it is in things of little moment, yet I should like him to be very careful on the point. Will your Paternity, for charity's sake, insist upon the matter, for I do not think that absolute perfediion can exist without such care. — See how I interfere in such matters as though I had no other work! Will your Paternity be careful to pray for me, as I stand in great need of it. And now, abide with Him, for I have written to other people and I am tired. To-day is July 1 8. Your Paternity's unworthy servant, Teresa de Jesus.

Remember me to the Father Redtor and to Fray Bartolome. I beg you for the love of God to let me know how your health is during this heat.

ccxc

Prefatory note.

On June 28, Fray Angel de Salazar had issued a patent stating that by order of the Nuncio he had examined the process drawn up against Mary of St. Joseph by Fray Diego de Cardenas, and having found that the charges were groundless, in accordance with the wish of the Seignory, he now replaced her in the office of prioress, commanding her to accept it at once under pain of excommunication. Father Gracian.