the Provincial of the Barefooted Carmelites in Spain.  Doria was supported by Philip II and, to some extent, by Sixtus V. The proceedings of the Carmelite nuns were conducted from this point onwards with supreme ability.  Doctor Bernabe del Marmol was sent to Rome on a secret mission.  His object was to obtain the papal sanction for reforms which had been advocated by Saint Theresa herself.  Marmol succeeded to admiration.  His antagonists had no suspicion of his errand.  A papal brief, dated June 5, 1590, granted the desired sanction; and a second brief, dated June 27, appointed Teutonio de Braganza, Archbishop of Evora, and Luis de Leon to carry the first brief into effect.  Braganza was too busy to do the necessary work, and authorized Luis de Leon to act for him.  Luis de Leon begged the University of Salamanca to grant him some days’ leave to attend to the business.  This petition was rejected.  But the indomitable man went on.  Taken aback and irritated, Doria hastened to the Prado and easily induced Philip II[250] (who was, in fact, already won over to approval of Doria’s scheme) to obtain from the papal nuncio an order suspending the delegate’s instructions.  After a reasonable time had elapsed Luis de Leon returned to the charge, and called a meeting of those immediately concerned; the papal nuncio made no sign, as the King had not spoken to him again on the subject.  Meanwhile Doria, who was better informed as to what was afoot in Madrid than as to what was afoot in Rome, once more interviewed Philip II and urged him to stop Luis de Leon’s proceedings.  Philip took action.  As Luis de Leon’s supporters were filing into the room where they were to discuss the situation, they were approached by a member of the royal household who informed them that he had it in command from the King to bid them suspend the execution of the brief till fresh orders came from Rome.  Annoyed at this piece of fussiness, Luis de Leon is stated to have left the room, remarking:  ’No order of His Holiness can be carried out in Spain’[251].  This report, which comes down to us on the dubious authority of the Carmelite chronicler, Fray Francisco de Santa Maria, may, or may not, be correct.  The impetuous Luis de Leon was no doubt extremely capable of showing that he resented Philip II’s interference in church matters.  On the other hand, Santa Maria cannot have written with any personal knowledge of the facts, as he belonged to a much later generation.  Even had he been an exact contemporary,[252] Santa Maria’s statements would call for careful examination, for he does not appear to have had a critical intelligence, since he commits himself to two assertions, one of which is certainly false and the other—­intrinsically unlikely—­is without a shred of corroboration.  Santa Maria avers that Philip II showed his displeasure by forbidding the Augustinians of Castile to elect Luis de Leon as their Provincial.  It is on record, however, that Luis de Leon was elected Provincial of the Augustinians