Letter (number unidentified). To Father Gracian, Malagon, towards the end of the year 1579

Four fragments of letters relating to the convents.

... I assure your Paternity, (and for love of God never forget it, unless you wish to see our convents ruined) that as the price of everything is steadily rising, a community requires an income of about three hundred thousand maravdis to keep it from poverty. If, with the sum to be given it, people believe that the house has an income of its own, no doubt the nuns will die of hunger. . .

... 1 wish to state that, by my will, houses founded in poverty should not have an income, for I know, and have learnt by experience, that in all such cases, if the nuns are faithful to God, they will always possess the greatest liberty oi spirit. But if they are unfaithful, let them die out, for there are enough relaxed convents already. . .

. . . God forgive those who have opposed the making of new foundations, which was the remedy for all the evils. Until our convents are solidly established, there cannot fail to be many drawbacks, but His Majesty will put all things right. Meanwhile, your Paternity must be very cautious about admitting postulants unless there is urgent need of them and they would be of great help to the community. The welfare of our houses consists entirely in their not having too many religious to support. Unless we are very prudent on this point, we shall find ourselves in inextricable difficulties. . . ... It would be far better not to make foundations than to receive people suffering from melancholia who ruin the house they enter. . . .

"' St. Teresa had a horror of melancholy and often used to exclaim: Dios me libre de Santos encapotados:' — ' God deliver me from sour-faced saints!'