Letter 326. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Seville, Segovia, July 4, 1580

Announcement of Lorenzo's death. Sister Beatriz and Father Garct- Alvarez. The Moriscos. Project of a foundation in Portugal. JESUS! May the Holy Ghost be with your Reverence, — my Mother.

UR Lord does not seem to wish me to be long without suffering. You must know that He has been pleased to take to Himself His give nothing at all as give the bills of exchan ge you send to pay your debt of four hundred ducats, for, as concerns Toledo at least, they will not settle their account yet, and God grant it may be paid some time! I have asked that community to see about doing so. I have written to Father Nicolas asking him to forward me the papers concernin g the money owing from Valladolid, because directly I have set things in order at Avila, I expect to be sent to make the foundation at Palencia, as I am to start from here.

I will see if anything can be done, but whoever is made guardian of the children will do more than we can to claim their money. Your Reverence must consider what you can manage towards the payment. Ifa good postulant should present herself, it would not be a bad plan to take her to help you to settle this debt and to compensate for your aid towards our negotiations in Rome. May God dire@ it all! .

I was afraid we were about to suffer a sad loss through the death of the holy Prior of las Cuevas. Tam very glad they are allowing him to rest. Will your Reverence send a message tellin ghim so. Give my kind wishes and sincere con gratulations to him and Father Rodrigo Alvarez: tell the latter that his letter about the ‘advantages of sufferings came just at the right moment and that God seems to work miracles by him while he lives —then what will it be when he dies?

A miracle it would be, indeed, if that poor little creature had returned to her senses, as you say. The

May God console this poor Pablo‘; he must be a good man since so many trials are sent him!

Do you think it is a small advantage to be able to see the ships sail by from your convent windows? We envy you here for it is a great incentive to praise our Lord. I assure you that your nuns will praise Him less if ever they are deprived of it.

People say that the Moriscos® of the country are plotting to take Seville by assault. Then there is a good prospe@ of your being made martyrs. Ascertain the truth about it and let the Mother Subprioress write to us about it. I am glad her who has returned from the Kin gs city’ and whether Diego Lopez de Zufiga is alive or dead. If he is dead, let a certificate be made of his decease, signed in the presence of a lawyer, and forwarded to me by the safest means. If possible, let two or three Witnesses testify to the document, for if Diego Lopez is no longer living, some houses at Salamanca can be purchased for the nuns immediately, as in the case of his death the matter has been settled between his heirs and myself. It is the saddest thin g in the world that the sisters there should suffer as they do: Icannot think how it is that they have not all died.

Diego Lopez de Zufiga is a gentleman of Salamanca who has been dwelling for many years in the King’s city. Ifhe is still livin g, your Reverence must let me know when the fleet leaves Spain, so that I may send him certain documents. Remember, the affair is most important and requires great tact. As he was more than seventy-five years old and very infirm, he is probably in heaven.

You can write to me viz Madrid, addressing your letters to Dofia Juana Dantisco, Father Gracian’s mother. I will manage to answer you without delay. God grant this may not be lost. May His Majesty have you in His keeping for me and make you all that I wish !

To-day is July 4. The servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus, ’ Lima,