Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza

==Early life==

==Early life==

Carvajal y Mendoza was born in [[Jaraicejo]], [[Spain]]. She was born into a family of wealth and royal lineage. Her father was Francisco de Carvajal, whose father was a respected theologian and enthusiast of the Jesuit order.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=18}} Carvajal's mother was Maria de Mendoza, who was a descendant of one of the most recognized families in Spain.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=17}} However, at the age of six, both of her parents died of illness, and she was placed under the care of her aunt Maria Chacon, who was a governess in Madrid.{{sfn|Rhodes|2000|p=1}} She would live with her aunt until the age of ten.

Carvajal y Mendoza was born in [[Jaraicejo]], [[Spain]]. She was born into a family of wealth and royal lineage. Her father was [[Francisco de Carvajal]], whose father was a respected theologian and enthusiast of the Jesuit order.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=18}} Carvajal's mother was Maria de Mendoza, who was a descendant of one of the most recognized families in Spain.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=17}} However, at the age of six, both of her parents died of illness, and she was placed under the care of her aunt Maria Chacon, who was a governess in Madrid.{{sfn|Rhodes|2000|p=1}} She would live with her aunt until the age of ten.

When her aunt died, Carvajal went to [[Pamplona]], where she was placed under the care of her uncle Francisco Hurtado a recognized diplomat and the First Marquis of Almazán. However, under his care, she felt as though she was in a prison. In one of the letters Carvajal wrote, she vividly depicts the penitential practices she was subject to.

When her aunt died, Carvajal went to [[Pamplona]], where she was placed under the care of her uncle Francisco Hurtado a recognized diplomat and the First Marquis of Almazán. However, under his care, she felt as though she was in a prison. In one of the letters Carvajal wrote, she vividly depicts the penitential practices she was subject to.

===Relationship with Magdalena de San Jeronimo===

===Relationship with Magdalena de San Jeronimo===

Records indicate that the majority of Carvaja's letters and conversations were with a woman who went by the religious name of Magdalena de San Jeronimo, although letters show her name affiliated with that of a nun such as ''monja'' or ''sor'' (in Spanish),{{sfn|Lagunas|2000|p=164}} it is believed that she was not involved in a religious order.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=50}} Their conversations largely dealt with the political situation of Catholics in England and Spain.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=201}} Although Carvajal and San Jeronimo had been great correspondents, as hostility grew against Catholics in England, San Jeronimo began to become skeptical of Carvajal's stay in England and pleaded her to return to Spain, which would create tension between the two. In one of her letters, Carvajal lists the reasons as to why she wants to stay in England even though San Jeronimo and others urge her to come back:

Records indicate that the majority of Carvaja's letters and conversations were with a woman who went by the [[religious name]] of Magdalena de San Jeronimo, although letters show her name affiliated with that of a nun such as ''monja'' or ''sor'' (in Spanish),{{sfn|Lagunas|2000|p=164}} it is believed that she was not involved in a religious order.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=50}} Their conversations largely dealt with the political situation of Catholics in England and Spain.{{sfn|Cruz|2014|p=201}} Although Carvajal and San Jeronimo had been great correspondents, as hostility grew against Catholics in England, San Jeronimo began to become skeptical of Carvajal's stay in England and pleaded her to return to Spain, which would create tension between the two. In one of her letters, Carvajal lists the reasons as to why she wants to stay in England even though San Jeronimo and others urge her to come back:

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