Letter (number unidentified). To Father Gracian, Alcala, Palencia, March 12, 1581

A nun with melancholia. Proje of a foundation at Burgos. Father Angelo de Salazar.

... You must not vex the Prioress, who keeps her nuns at perfect peace and does not wish the sister to do them any harm. There are Many nuns with melancholia at Medina: none of our houses would like to receive this one, which is not surprising. However, the communities must help one another and she does not seem suited for a new foundation. I had thought of taking her to Burgos, not as a foundress but as being in disgrace, for, God willing, I wish to leave Inés de Jesus there as Prioress as she would far prefer that to going to Madrid, averse as she is to either plan. She would have the Subprioress from Valladolid for her Subptioress, which would please both of them very much; besides, they know the sister I mentioned very well and would be prident, though Inés de Jesus would be greatly pained by her condu@. For the love of God, will your Reverence consider without my having asked him, so as I said, your Reverence would appear to be angry with Don Francisco if you did not visit him.

Be sure to write to me, for you know how it comforts me. Send me a long letter and tell me how Macario has behaved, and be good enough to tear this up.

We have not bought a house but are still negotiating about it. I have taken two lay sisters with no permission but my patents as usual, for I did not wish to ask leave from one who would resign so soon. I thank God sincerely that he has been as kind as you say and has performed his duty so well.

To-day is March 12. Your Reverence’s servant, and dau ghter, and subject — (and oh, how willingly!) Teresa de Jesus.

Tam well except for my usual ailments. I cannot find Juliana’s letter which is all about her not wishing to return to the Incarnation as she thinks it would be going back from the right path. She declares that she wrote before saying that she wanted to return because she thought that I and the Prioress desired it. No attention need be paid to what she says.