Letter from Alexander Macalister to PF, 1665-06-27, Achidrum
Scotland
Mission reports
Non-Catholic Christians
Conversion
Scottish schools
Letter from Alexander Macalister to PF in which he explains that last year (before his conversion to Catholicism), he had a school on the Isle of Skye, where he taught at least 70 children of Protestant parents. When he converted to Catholicism, a large part of his students followed suit, and he was expelled by the ministers when they discovered this. When he asked Francis White for help, the latter gave him 24 students. He has never asked for money from the people there. He also underlines the fact that Francis White greatly needs other missionaries to help him fulfill his tasks. The letter signed and dated 27 June 1665.
Date discussed, 1665-11-09
Additional comments
NB: We are not sure about the modern equivalent of the place name given in the letter (Achidrum).
Alexander Macalister
APF SOCG 308, 222r, 223v
1665-06-27
Addressed to PF
For a summary of this letter (as well as other letters from the same bundle) and the related decision, see: APF SOCG 308, 206r-208v, 231v (database item 331).
For the discussion of this letter, see: APF ACTA 34, 203r, 224v-227v (same information; not in this database).
Original, signed and dated
Italian
Latin
Letter
335
Origin: Achidrum
Destination: Rome
Letter from Alexander Macalister to William Lesley, 1665-06-14
Scotland
Mission reports
Conversion
Scottish schools
Letter from Alexander Macalister, schoolteacher in Scotland, to William Lesley, procurator of the Scottish mission in Rome. He writes that he has 24 pupils at the house of count MacDonnell in Glengarry. The students are from the following families: "Macdonaldi, Cameroni, Mackmartini, Fraserij, Scotti, Stuardi, Makiuerij" [MacDonnell, Cameron, MacMartin, Fraser, Scott, Stuart and MacIver]; all but one have converted to Catholicism. Macalister adds that he is in great need of books. Winster has promised to have the necessary books sent from London, but Macalister is afraid that they will be seized. Its noted that some children have had to learn how to read from ‘heretic’ books. Macalister first taught on the Isle of Skye, but when the ministers noticed that he was Catholic and was converting his students, they banned him from the island. He never received any money from anyone, until he received 60 scudi from the prefect [Alexander] Winster, sent by PF. The letter dated 14 June 1665.
Date discussed, 1665-11-09
Additional comments
Alexander Macalister
APF SOCG 308, 224r-225v
1665-06-14
Addressed to William Lesley
For a summary of this letter (as well as other letters from the same bundle) and the related decision, see: APF SOCG 308, 206r-208v, 231v (database item 331).
For the discussion of this letter, see: APF ACTA 34, 203r, 224v-227v (same information; not in this database).
Copy, unsigned, dated
Italian
Letter
336
Origin: [Scotland]
Destination: Rome