Letter from PF to the nuncio to France, Carlo Roberti de' Vittori, 1666-[11]-27, [Rome]
Mercedarians
Slaves (Christian)
Tunis
Tripoli
Letter from PF to the nuncio to France, Carlo Roberti de' Vittori. PF has come to the understanding that Gio' LeVacher [Jean Le Vacher] has returned to Paris, leaving Tunis (where he used to be vicar apostolic), and the poor slaves behind. As the Mercedarians and Trinitarians have also returned to their provinces, there are only a few slave priests left to administer the sacraments. PF is very upset about the fact that Le Vacher has left the mission so suddenly, and without giving any notice, or waiting for another priest to take his place. PF aks de' Vittori to order Le Vacher to return to Tunis. PF has always been satsified with Le Vacher and want him to return to his position. In the case that he refuses to return, CM Superior [René Alméras] should send another priest in his place as soon as possibile, in order not to leave the Catholics on their own.
Additional comments
This letter is known to be from the same date as APF Letter 51, 25v-26r (database item 851), which from another letter is known to be from 27 November, see: SOCG 254, 110r-v, 111v (database item 391).
PF
APF Lettere 51, 25v
1666-[11]-27
Adressed to Carlo Roberti de' Vittori
For the answer of Carlo Roberti de' Vittori, see: APF SOCG 254, 116r-117v (database item 392).
copy; unsigned
Italian
Letter
850
Origin: [Rome]
Destination: [Paris]
Letter from PF to the superior generals of the Trinitarians and the Mercedarians, 1670-11-10, Rome
Tunis
Mercedarians
Trinitarians
Copy of a letter from PF to the superior generals of the Trinitarians and Mercedarians, stating that members of these orders in Tunis and Algiers do not acknowledge the authority of the vicar apostolic [Jean Le Vacher] sent by the Holy See. The superiors are asked if they were informed about this, and by what authority their members have to work there. The letter dated 10 November 1670.
Additional comments
PF
APF LETTERE 55, 76v
1670-11-10
Addressed to the superior generals of the Trinitarians and the Mercedarians
Later, PF asks de Trinitarians again to call Da Serrano back, see: APF Lettere 57, 116v (database item 865).
Italian
Letter
602
Origin: Rome
Destination: unknown
PF minutes, 1670-11-10, Rome
Algiers
Mercedarians
Trinitarians
Ransom
Minutes of PF general meeting of 10 November 1670 discussing among other issues, a letter by Jean Le Vacher in which he asks for advice on how to deal with the regulars called "Del Riscatto," that come to Algiers to ransom slaves. They namely grant indulgences and absolve reserved cases, without showing him the patents that prove that they are allowed to do so. It is noted however, that he does not want to negatively influence the good work that they are doing. The cardinals decide to ask the superiors of the Mercedarians and Trinitarians for more information.
Additional comments
PF
APF ACTA 39, 197r, 203v-204r, issue 19
1670-11-10
Latin
Italian
Minutes
671
Origin: Rome
Destination:
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, [1670]
Algiers
CM petitions
Discalced Carmelites
Mercedarians
Trinitarians
Tunis
Petition on behalf of Gio' il Vacher [Jean Le Vacher]. There are priests of the Redemption Orders in Algiers and Tunis who grant indulgences, resolve reserved cases, say mass outside the chapels wherever they want, administer the sacraments, and preach according to the privileges that they claim to have, but which they refuse to show. On one hand Le Vacher does not want to stop them from the work they are doing, but on the other hand he also wants to fulfill the obligations that PF has given him. That is why he asks PF if he should ask them to show their privilges, or whether he should allow them to work as they already do. Summary on the back. According to the secretary of PF [Federico Baldeschi] there has been a similar case before, in which Discalced Carmelites worked in the Scottish mission under the authority of the Custodian of the Holy Land; it was decided that the priests had to show their patents. For the question whether they should receive the license or not, it was decided that they should be allowed to work as priests. PF decides to hear what the superiors of the Trinitarians and the Mercedarians have to say regarding the matter.
Date discussed: 1670-11-10
Additional comments
Date based on the date of the discussion of this document in PF.
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 424, 265r, 266v
[1670]
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 39, 197r, 203v-204r, issue 19 (database item 671).
See for the anwer of PF to Jean Le Vacher: APF LETTERE 55, 73v (database item 597).
See for the letter of PF to the superiors of the Trinitarians and Mercedarians: APF LETTERE 55, 76v (database item 602).
copy; signed; undated
Italian
Latin
Petition
756
Origin: [Algiers]
Destination: Rome
PF Minutes, 1671-07-22, Rome
Algiers
Mercedarians
Trinitarians
Minutes of PF general congregation of 22 July 1671 discussing among other issues, the Trinitarians and Mercedarians who work in Algiers without a license from the apostolic vicar, Jean Le Vacher. PF secretary [Federico Baldeschi] contacted the two procurator generals of these orders; one responded stating that he did not know anything about such practices among the members of his order. Recently a new Father, Bartolomeo Da Serrano, has been sent to Algiers to work in the hospital. This is a problem, as he does not obey the authority of the vicar apostolic, and administers the sacraments without any legitimate base. Alfonso Velarde (the procurator general of the Mercedarians), insisted that the members of his order do not travel to Tunis, but only to Algiers, Tétouan and Maroc. They do not administer the sacraments in these places, even though they would have the power to do so. The procurator general of the Trinitarians, Domenico Jafurt, said that they received permission to administer the sacraments, and he sent a letter to the provincial superior in Castile for more information. PF decides that the secretary and (probably Cardinal Orsini) should decide to whom they should give the faculties, in accordance with the law.
Additional comments
PF
APF ACTA 41, 199r, 211v-212v
1671-07-22
For the letter of Jean Le Vacher, see: APF SOCG 429, 90r, 93v, 94v (database item 713).
For the petition of Domenico Jafurt, see: APF SOCG 429, 91r-92v (database item 714).
Latin
Italian
Minutes
715
Origin: Rome
Destination:
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF [1671]
Algiers
Trinitarians
Mercedarians
Jean Le Vacher reminds PF about the issue of Trinitarian and Mercedarian priests performing missionary activities on the basis of their privileges, but without appealing to him first. Bartolomeo Da Serrano is one of these Trinitarian priests who works in a Trinitarian hospital in Algiers. He administers the sacrements not only to the patients of the hospital but also to anybody else. Le Vacher asks what should be done about the situation.
1671-07-22
Additional comments
The decision in APF ACTA 41 199, 211r-212v (database item 715) is that the secretary and cardinal [Orsini] have to decide to whom they should give the faculties, according to the law.
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 429, 90r, 93v, 94v
[1671]
Adressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 41 199r,211r-212v.
See for the explanation of the procurator general of the Trinitarians: APF SOCG 429, 91r-92v (database item 714).
See for the earlier letter that Jean Le Vacher sent PF about Da Serrano: APF SOCG 289r-v, 293r (database item 740).
Not signed
Italian
Latin
Petition
713
Origin: [Algiers]
Destination: Rome
Letter from Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna, Francesco Gatta and Vincenzo Da Frascati to Jean Le Vacher, 1678-05-03, Tunis
Tunis
Capuchins
Mercedarians
Other religious orders
Ransom
Slave priests
Slaves (Christian)
Letter Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna, Francesco Gatta and Vincenzo Da Frascati to Jean Le Vacher. Three days ago they received a letter from Jean Le Vacher, in which he asked them to inform him about the scandals that have been taking place in the church of Tunis. They had previously informed him of the problems, and had followed Le Vacher's instructions, by trying to alter the habits of some slave priests. The most troublesome of them is Antonio Calendino, who claimed to be a priest but had no papers to back this up. He himself told the missionaries that he had been in prison for four years in Naples, after being condemned for murder. The missionaries wrote to the archbishop for more information about Calendino, but they never received an answer. They allowed him to administer the sacraments, as they were afraid that if they did not allow this, Calendino would expel the missionaries from the mission with help from his patron Ali Bei. The problems with him grew worse, as his patron (who has good ties with the ruling house) used him as jester, singing and playing the guitar, whilst receiving women in his house. He was walking around the bagnos causing problems and disturbing the mass. They could not do anything against him because they did not want to be forced to leave, which would have resulted in the misson being abandoned. Eventually he was ransomed after committing more scandalous acts, and sent on a boat to Livorno. After his departure, other Christians told the missionaries admitted truths about Calendino, that are so scandalous that they cannot be possibly true; however they will leave them for what they are.
The second scandal was on 17 October 1679 when Diego d'Avalos (a Mecedarian priest from Cagliari also known as Padre Diego), was called by a woman and entered her house. When the husband returned he tried to kill Diego with a pistol, but the priest escaped; the two met again and this time the husband shot Diego. Three or four hours later after having confessed, he died. Another priest was wounded in the hand during the altercation, for which mass had to be suspended for a month. As he wanted to better his live, the mass was eventually returned to him, and now he is living quietly and devoutly. The third scandal was when a Minim pirest Felice Da Marta, was playing cards. He did this so often that he neglected his priestly duties. Sometimes he was playing from the evening till morning, and many Christians complained about this. Felice was lucky and won 80 pezze da otto from Giuseppe Calibrò, a Sicilian slave of the Pasha. But later Felice was forced to pay the slave the money back. Because the priest was not the slave of an influential person it was easy to aprehend him, and to forbid him to ever play cards again; from that moment on, he did not play anymore.
The fourth scandal involved another priest, Carlo Vella Maltese Zocerlante, who was already ransomed but had not yet returned home. One day he was playing carts with a Greek, Constanino, who had also been ransomed. They had a fight about the game and blood was spilled. The Greek went to the missionaries to complain. The Greek was imprisoned by the Bey, who the next day called on the cities priests (both missionaries and slaves), and asked them if it was legal for a priest to play cards. The response given to the Bey, is that it is not legal, and even strongly prohibited. The Bey handed over the priest so that he could be punished. Whilst the Greek was enslaved again, they chained the priest inside his Bagno. They were warned however that the Greeks were trying to enforce the Bey to enslave Carlo again, hence why they put him on an English ship travelling to Livorno. Whilst these are the most imported things that happened, they are not completely sure about the exact dates, and the precise circumstances. They ask Le Vacher to not send any more slave priests to them, unless they are found to be exceptionally useful.
Date discussed: 1682-09-30
Additional comments
Judging by a later letter from Jean Le Vacher, this letter was originally sent to Jean Le Vacher, who then sent it (together with his own letter) to PF. See APF SOCG 498, f. 178r-179r (database item 807).
Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna
Francesco Gatta, Vincenzo Da Frascati
APF SOCG 498, 177r-v, 180r
1678-05-03
Adressed to Jean Le Vacher
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 51, 279r (not yet in this database).
Original: signed
Italian
French
Letter
806
Origin: Tunis
Destination: Algiers
Letter from Francesco Gatta to [PF pro-secretary, Edoardo Cibo] 1679-09-15, Tunis
Bizerte
Capuchins
Corsairs
Mercedarians
Ransom
Renegades
Slaves (Christian)
Slave priests
Tunis
Letter from Francesco Gatta to PF. It has been eight months since he warned PF about some the developments in the church of Tunis. The ship that brought this letter though was taken by Neapolitans and the letters were lost. He stated that the spiritual goings of the church were progressing well. There have also been a few heretics that converted to Catholicism. This success is the work of the Capuchin priest Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna, Vicenzo Da Frascati in Tunis, and Chrisostomo Da Genua in Bizerte. However, there are also people working against them, creating discord. Some clerics are doing things that are a disgrace for the Holy faith. One year ago, one Mercedarian Spanish priest was killed by a rennegade, because he found this priests at home with his wife. In this case a Sardinian priest was wounded. After this the Sardinian priest was suspended for some time, but has since now returned. There was another case of a priest from Calabria (who already returned in Christinianity), but was very impertinent whilst staying in Tunis. He bragged about having been an outlaw in the countryside, murders that he committed, and his years in jail in Napels. After a conflict with the provicar, the vicar of Algiers [Jean Le Vacher] decided that they had to make a report on the case. Eventually the provicar, Giuseppe Maria, was forced to make him leave, as he had threatened to convert to Islam. Another priest, De Minimi, used to play cards from early morning until late at night. He won 80 piastre from a Christian slave of the Bascia, who gave him 200 beatings with a cane. The priest gave the money back, however he was also canned and almost killed. While visiting Algiers, he saw that the vicar apostolic, Jean Le Vacher, had some problems with the slave priests as well; he was also French consul at the same time. It has been a few days since another priest, Father Zoccolante (who just ransomed himself), was playing cards with a Greek Catholic. They became involved in a fight, and were both beaten with a cane. The Greek slave brought the case before the Bey, who imprisoned the priest. All priests in the city (both missionaries and slaves), were consequently brought to him. First, he asked the group whether priests were allowed to play cards, and other things which he will not tell PF because he does not want to cause offence. Gatta told the Bey that it was prohibited, and that there are penalties in this life and the next. The king told Gatta to punish the priest, and Gatta made him the slave of the Bascia. The slave was brought to the Bascia, his clothes were taken away, and he was beaten. The priest was imprisoned in the bagno of the Dogana. When they warned him that the Bascia also wanted to enslave the priest, he was released and allowed to travel to Livorno on an English ship. It has been two days since he left. There has been a civil war in this country for three years between two brothers, and the whole area is divided into two parties. Whilst the troubles do not impede them to do their spiritual work, the only problem is travelling to other places. Every now and then, he does travel to these missions together with Vincenzo Da Frascati. They heard that the Capuchins in Tuscany might send new missionaries, and they will follow PF in every decision they make regarding this matter; they do ask PF to be cautious in sending new people to a war-torn area. /
Date discussed: 1680-04-08
Additional comments
Francesco Gatta
APF SOCG 478, 260r-261v, 263r
1679-09-15
[Adressed to PF]
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 50 98r, 112v-113v (database item 683).
Original: signed
Italian
Letter
804
Origin: Tunis
Destination: [Rome]
Letter from Vicenzo Da Frascati to [PF Secretary, Edoardo Cibo], 1679-09-16, Tunis
Capuchins
Conversion
Mercedarians
Ransom
Slaves (Christian)
Slave priests
Tunis
Letter from Vincenzo Da Frascati to PF. Since he returned to Rome, he wants to give PF some information on the state of the mission. They tried to keep all the Catholics in the church and convert others, however the Turks could not be converted. There were a few heretics that converted themselves to Catholicism, and also a few Christians that became Turks. Francesco Gatta (one of the missionaries), started a few annual spiritual events which turned out to be very fruitful. The reputation of the Christians is damaged by the scandalous behavior of the Christians, especially by the priest's. Da Frascati has been in Tunis for three years, in which there have been five slave priests who were all involved in a controversy. The first one was a Calabrese priest, he lost the trust of his superiors and started walking around in public with golden rings, and was spreading discord. At some point he ransomed himself and left for Christendom. The second one was a Spanish Mercedarian priest, he was not that bad, however he got killed at home by a woman with a gun. In this action, another Sardinian priest got wounded whilst trying to defend the Spanish priest. He is still at the mission and is behaving well. The fourth is a priest of the enemy, who was playing cards with a Christian slave. The priest won 80 piastre after which the slave was beaten with a cane. The last priest had also played cards, with a Catholic Greek. This caused a judicial case in which the vicar and the Bey of Tunis were also involved. Eventually the slave became a slave of the Bascia, and the priest returned to Christianity.
Date discussed: 1680-04-08
Additional comments
Vincenzo Da Frascati
APF SOCG 478, 259r-v
1679-09-16
[Adressed to PF]
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 50 98r, 112v-113v (database item 683).
Original; signed
Italian
Letter
803
Origin: Tunis
Destination: [Rome]
Letter from Jean Le Vacher to PF, 1681-05-29, Algiers
Algiers
Capuchins
Mercedarians
Slave priests
Slaves (Christian)
Letter from Jean Le Vacher to PF. The provicar of Tunis [Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna] gave Le Vacher some time ago a letter from PF dated 5 April 1680. In this letter PF asks him to inform them about the scandals committed by a Calabrian priest [Antonio Calandrino] and some other priests at the mission. He wrote directly to the provicar of Tunis asking for information about these cases, and the report he received in response, has been included in this letter. He also informs PF that at Tabarca and another place close to Capo Negro (which are both parts of the kingdom of Tunis), are inhabited by Genoese. In Tabarca there are only a few Augustinian priests, and at the other place, only a Trinitarian resides there, despite not receiving the permission of his superiors. Le Vacher does not know who grants these Augustinians and Trinitarian the authority to work as priests, and also whether or not they are subjected to the archbishop of Genoa; they claim that they are directly under the Holy See. He asks PF to clarify whether these two places are subjected to the vicariate of Tunis. He has also heard that the Mercedarian priests from Aragon will come in October to ransom slaves, and in April of the following year, will ransom those from the provinces of Castile and Andalusia. Le Vacher notes that due to his old age and his deteriorating health, the new priests will be of great assistance, as it is currently impossible for him to celebrate mass.
Date discussed: 1682-09-30
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 498, 178r-179r
1681-05-29
[Adressed to PF]
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 51, 279r, 296v-299r (not yet in this database).
See for the report of the missionaries in Tunis: APF SOCG 498, f. 177r-v, 180r (database item 806).
Original: signed
Italian
Letter
807
Origin: Algiers
Destination: [Rome]
PF minutes, 1681-09-30, Rome
Algiers
Capuchins
Mercedarians
Other religious orders
Renegades
Slave priests
Slaves (Christian)
Tunis
Minutes of PF General meeting of 30 September 1682 discussing amongst other issues, the case of Vincenzo Frascati and Francesco Gatta (which was dicussed during PF meeting of 8 April 1680). They are both missionaries in Tunis, and its believed that should there have not been so many public scandals concerning the areas local priests, they would have had better results with the Christian slaves. PF decided to write the vicar apostolic [Jean Le Vacher], to gain more information about the issue. The vicar apostolic offered PF his apologies for his delayed response, as it took more than a year for him to receive the letter. His response contained information from the Provicar [of Algiers, Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna], and two missionaries [Vincenzo Da Frascati and Francesco Gatta]. The first scandal was committed by Antonio Calendino, a slave from Coscenza. He acted as a clown and played the guitar with the Ciaia of his Turkish patron, and feasted with prostitutes. He threatened the missionaries to let him say mass, even though he did not have any papers proving that he was a priest. He also told the missionaries that he commited a murder in Napels and had been imprisoned for four years. Eventually he left for Livorno.
The second case was Diego D'Avolos, a Spanish Mercenarian, who was killed by a gunshot in a case involving the wife of a rennegade. During the same incident, another priest Giovanni Pelij was also hurt. He was not allowed to say mass for a month to punish him, and after this he has led a better life. The third case was caused by Felice da Marta, a Minim priest, who won 80 pezze from Giuseppe Calabro (a slave of the Pasca), who forced Felice to pay the money back. Afterwards it was easy to apprehend him, since he was no longer the slave of an influential person. The fourth priest to cause a scandal was Carlo della Maltese, a Franciscan. Whilst playing cards with a Greek they got into a fight, which caused blood to be shed. When the Bey found out, he had the Greek imprisoned and rounded up all the missionaries to ask them whether it was allowed for a priest to play cards. The missionaries informed him that it was not allowed, and insisted that it was absolutely forbidden. The Bey handed the priest over to the missionaries, and told them to punish him. The Greek was again enslaved, and due to the Greeks attempting to also enslave Felice, he was sent on a ship travelling to Livorno. Le Vacher also wrote that the small island of Tabarca and at another place called Caponegro (which were both part of the kingdom of Tunis) are inhabited by Genoese. In Tabarca there are some Augustinians, and in the other place a Trinitarian. Le Vacher does not know whether they were given permission to travel to these areas, and also if they have the authority to act as priests. He asks PF to clarify if these two places are subjected to his vicariate. Le Vacher concluded the letter, by informing PF of his happiness at the impending arrival of Mercedarian priests of Aragon and Andalusia.
Date discussed: 1681-09-30
Additional comments
PF
APF SOCG 498, 181r-182v, 184v
1681-09-30
For the letter of Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna, Vicenzo Da Frascati and Francesco Gatta, see: APF SOCG 498, 177r-v, 180r (database item 806).
For the letter of Jean Le Vacher, see: APF SOCG 498, 178r-179r (database item 807).
For the earlier PF meeting mentioned in this one, see: APF ACTA 50, 98r, 112v-113v, issue 27 (database item 683).
Italian
Latin
Minutes
808
Origin: [Rome]