Letter from [Alexander Winster] to William Lesley, 1664-03-28, Angus
Scotland
Mission reports
Scottish colleges
Copy of a letter from Alexander Winster, prefect of the Scottish mission, to its procurator in Rome, William Lesley. In the letter he: a) requests news about Thomas Lumsden for the third time, as he has not heard from Lumsden since he went to France; b) writes about the great need of missionaries (especially Irish missionaries who speak Gaelic), for the mission in the Highlands where there are between 3,000 and 4,000 Catholics; the letter notes that missionaries for the Lowlands are also needed; c) notes that Francis White and the schoolteacher [Alexander] Macalister are in great need and require help, and that he as prefect wants to receive precise orders on what to do to help them. He furthermore complains about the lack of help from the Scottish College in Paris; d) notes the mission itself is going well, but there are too many Catholics for the scarce amount of priests. Moreover, the king has instituted a tribunal to put order to the ecclesiastical situation, which causes fear among the people. He is said to be forwarding a letter from [Francis] White and one from the schoolteacher [Macalister]. Unsigned and dated the 28 March 1664. PF notes repeat the great need of help for Francis White described by the prefect, and add the possibility to accept earlier proposals of the archbishop of Armagh [Edmund O'Reilly] to send some of his Irish priests. The cardinals decide to provide for financial help for Francis White and to send the priests proposed by the archbishop of Armagh, after knowing from the procurator, however, how many should be sent and what characteristics they should have.
Date discussed 1664-06-30
Additional comments
The letter from Francis White to which the current letter refers might be APF SOCG 308, 54r-v (database item 315), which was written on 13 March 1664 and was discussed during the same PF meeting.
[Alexander Winster]
APF SOCG 308, 55r-57v, 58v
1664-03-28
Addressed to William Lesley
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see:PF ACTA 33, 91r, 101r.
Copy, unsigned and undated
Italian
Latin
Letter
316
Origin: Angus
Destination: [Rome]
Letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William Lesley], 1668-01
Scotland
Mission reports
Partial copy of a letter from the prefect of the Scottish mission [Alexander Winster], to its procurator in Rome, [William Lesley]. He writes about the fact that he has helped the two Irish Fathers [Mark and Francis MacDonnell?] who came to Scotland to help "Bianchi" [Francis White], and were in a miserable state: one of them is still ill and will probably never be able to go to the Highlands. They do not have any money or goods, so he lent them 22 scudi. Shortly after their arrival Giouanni Iruino [John Irvin] arrived with missionary patents from PF, but without any letter from any friend. It will be difficult to help all missionaries if they keep coming without any means of their own. He has paid the provisions of the missionaries out of the money from the marquis, and he will send the receipts as soon as he finds a safe opportunity. He asks the procurator to send his letters via a mister Hay in London, who will make sure they will be forwarded to Winster. He has also received the last letter from the procurator, in which Lesley informs him that PF has consented that he [Winster] may quit his task as prefect of the mission. Although he is very happy about the decision, he hopes that he has not done anything wrong to justify it.
Additional comments
[Alexander Winster]
APF SOCG 308, 345r-346r
1668-01
Addressed to [William Lesley]
This item belongs to a compilation of copies that were made at the same time. The compilation includes database items 351-359 and 368 (APF SOCG 308, 345r-362v). On f. 362v, which is the last page of the compilation, a notation reads: "Lettere venute da Scotia, 1668".
Italian
Letter
368
Origin: [Scotland]
Destination: [Rome]
Letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William] Lesley, 1668-02-01
Scotland
Mission reports
Franciscans
Retirement missionaries
Scottish colleges
Partial copy of a letter from the prefect of the Scottish mission [Alexander Winster], to its procurator in Rome, William Lesley. He expresses gratitude for PF sending help for the Highlands, and having promised a house where the missionaries can retire. He states that this house should not be in Dieppe or in any other harbour, since in these places the missionaries will be too well known. The two missionaries [Mark and Francis MacDonnell?] who were sent to help Bianchi [Francis White] have suffered much misfortune; they were shipwrecked but miraculously survived, then they both fell ill and would not have lived, had they not been helped by a fellow Franciscan [possibly John Smith - see APF SOCG 308, 360v-362v (database item 359)]. They arrived at the border of Scotland with no means whatsoever to continue their journey. The prefect felt the need to help them, without any order from PF, considering that they had come to help the mission. He writes about the great need for help, not only in the Highlands, but everywhere in Scotland, and deplores the fact that for years no priests have come from the Scottish Colleges and monasteries to help the Scottish mission. The letter dated 1 February 1668.
Additional comments
[Alexander Winster]
APF SOCG 308, 347r-348v
1668-02-01
Addressed to William Lesley
This item belongs to a compilation of copies that were made at the same time. The compilation includes database items 351-359 and 368 (APF SOCG 308, 345r-362v). On f. 362v, which is the last page of the compilation, a notation reads: "Lettere venute da Scotia, 1668".
Italian
Letter
351
Origin: [Scotland]
Destination: Rome
Letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William Lesley], 1668-03-17
Scotland
Mission reports
Other secular missionaries
Copy of a letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William Lesley], the procurator of the Scottish mission. He writes that more than a month ago he wrote to PF about the long and difficult journey of Father Marco and Father Francesco MacDonnelli [Mark and Francis MacDonnell]. He has received them in his own house and provides them with everything they need until help from PF arrives, which, he writes, has to be soon otherwise their suffering will be too great. Giovanni Iruino [John Irvin] has also arrived, likewise without any means of subsistence. [Winster] writes that it is strange to see all these people coming, because he has not been informed by [William Lesley] or by anybody else about their arrival. Since they have PF patents, he will take care of them as best he can. [John Irvin] will soon go to the Highlands, but Father Marco is still too weak. [Winster] has heard about a certain Alessandro Iruino [Alexander Irvin] who is also on his way to Scotland, but it is so far only a rumor. He complains about not having heard from [William Lesley] in two years. Attached there is a letter from Irvin and from the MacDonnell Fathers. The letter dated 17 March 1668.
Additional comments
The author is probably Alexander Winster because he mentions a (signed) letter of his written a month before.
[Alexander Winster]
APF SOCG 308, 349r-350r
1668-03-17
Addressed to [William Lesley]
This item belongs to a compilation of copies that were made at the same time. The compilation includes database items 351-359 and 368 (APF SOCG 308, 345r-362v). On f. 362v, which is the last page of the compilation, a notation reads: "Lettere venute da Scotia, 1668".
Italian
Letter
352
Origin: [Scotland]
Destination: [Rome]
Letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William] Lesley, 1668-04-04
Scotland
Mission reports
Other secular missionaries
Copy of a letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William] Lesley. He states that he has written so much in his previous letters, that he has not much left to tell, until he receives a response; he has not received anything in two years. The attached letter to PF [which is not there anymore] should provide enough information. Winster wants to know whether Alessandro Iruino [Alexander Irvin] is to be counted among the missionaries, since he has no patent or recommandation. He complains about the need of money and the fact that the financial support always arrives too late. He furthermore writes that the Marquis of Huntly has gone to London, but will probably need to come back to Edinburgh. He also notes that all of his companions are doing well except for Marco Macdonel [Mark MacDonnell] who is still ill. He gave him the money he needed, as well as to Giovanni Irvino [John Iruin], and to the others in Edinburgh. The letter dated 4 April 1668.
Additional comments
[Alexander Winster]
APF SOCG 308, 351r-352r
1668-04-04
Addressed to [William] Lesley
This item belongs to a compilation of copies that were made at the same time. The compilation includes database items 351-359 and 368 (APF SOCG 308, 345r-362v). On f. 362v, which is the last page of the compilation, a note reads: "Lettere venute da Scotia, 1668".
Italian
Letter
353
Origin: [Scotland]
Destination: [Rome]