Letter 384. To Dona Maria Henriquez, Duchess of Alba, Avila, the beginning of November, 1581

The Saint begs to be allowed to retain the copy of ‘The Life’ for a short time. She asks the Duchess not to hinder Father Gracian’s making a copy of the Constitutions.

JESUS! May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your Excellency. HE favour you have rendered me by returning the book cannot be expressed. 1 kiss your hands repeatedly, and will keep my word as you ask of me, [although, as I am not sure whether it would travel safely on your long journey, if you consent, I will keep it here until yourreturn to Alba. If you insist upon having the volume at once, will your Grace let the Prioress know that you do not agree to what I ask, (I might rather say, entreat) of you. She will send me word to that effect, but if I do not hear from her I shall understand that you wish to show me that kindness. May our Lord bring your Grace home in the perfect health which I and all your subjects in our convents ask for you! I have indeed a sacrifice to offer His Majesty,] for He knows how I feel your leaving without my having the consolation of kissing your hands. May He be for ever blessed for willing that I should have so little happiness on earth. May His will be fulfilled in all things, for I well know that I deserve no better fate! If only I could see you, I could bear the trial better in spite of my grief at witnessing your troubles, than is possible now that I am unable even to kiss your hands. . . 3

I understand that the Duke’s health is bad: may God restore it to his Grace as I daily ask of Him, and may He also preserve your Excellency to us for many years, or at least for more years than my life lasts. The news of your cold prevented my thoroughly enjoying the letter you were kind enough to write me. I beg of you not to do me any favour again that costs me so dear. It would be more than I deserve were you to ask the secretary to write me a few lines. This boon I do beg of your Excellency so that I may hear occasionally about your health and that of Sefiior Don Fadrique. May our Lord grant that his Lordship and the Duchess may keep well, for though perhaps they have forgotten me, I do not forget my duty to them and all dear to you in my poor prayers.

The Father Provincial gives me good hopes of success in the Salamanca affairs, which consoles me greatly, as it does to hear of your Excellency’s kindness in inviting him to accompany you, There