Report by [William Ballantyne] on Scottish mission [1654]
Scotland
Mission reports
Conversion
Capuchins
Jesuits
Report from the superior of the Scottish mission, William Ballantyne, to PF. It describes the importance of the mission, the political situation, and the relationship between Protestants and Catholics in the country. The report also lists all the missionaries and their activities: a) secular priests, Ioannes Smiteus [John Smith] and Jacobus Crittonius [James Crichton] who both work in Galloway, Nithsdale and Lauderdale (all in the south). [Joannes Valcherus] John Walker and Thomas Lumsdenus [Thomas Lumsden] work in the territories of the Huntly family; the report also states there are three Irish priests working in the Highlands and on the islands; b) regular priests, Roger Lindzaius [Roger Lindsay], a Capuchin who is already "in officio" for 45 years, and Father Primrosius [Primrose] who works in Lothian; and c) priests from the Society of Jesus, Father Hall, Father Maxuellius [Maxwell], Father Macbreccus [Macbreccus], Father George Lesleus [Lesley], Father Joannes Smiteus [John Smith], Father Grantius [Grant] and Father Andreas Lesleus [Andrew Lesley]. The superior then goes on explaining family ties of important Catholic families, and describing which members of these families have been (re)converted.
Additional comments
The document is not dated but a (PF) note on 324r states the year 1654.
[William Ballantyne]
APF SOCG 297,324r-331v
[1654]
Addressed to PF
Original, unsigned and undated
Latin
Report
302
Origin: unknown
Destination:
Report on subjects from the papal states enslaved in Barbary, [Rome]
Algiers
Ransom
Slaves (Christian)
Tunis
The letter begins with a list of 19 subjects from the papal states, that are slaves in Algiers. Because nobody is trying to free them, there are many subjects of the pope still in slavery in Tunis. They do not profit from the services of the orders of redemption. This could be solved easily by writing to the bishops of the four provinces of the papal states. They should ask them to elect the most capable persons to collect alms, that can contribute in the freeing of the subjects.
Additional comments
[PF]
APF SC Barbaria 1, 64r, 65r-v
no date
[Adressed to the pope]
unsigned
Italian
Report
875
Origin: [Rome]
Report on the controversy around the Trinitarians in Barbary, [Rome]
Algiers
Trinitarians
Tunis
The Trinitarian procurator states that his order always has mantained hospitals in Algiers, founded at their own expense. From the Holy See they received privileges to find churches and administer the sacraments. They had been doing this for 16 years, when Gio Levacher [Jean Le Vacher] the vicar apostolic, wanted to change the title of the Church of the Holy Trinity to S. Louis; he also wanted to change the name of S. John of Malta to S. Roch. Because the priests protested against this, Le Vacher decided to remove the cross that was painted on the main altar, and the arms of the king of Spain on the door outside. Moreover, he also wanted to take the Holy sacrament from the churches. They ask PF not to harass the Trinitarian priests, and not to change their privileges because of the following problems: a) the hospitals are in the bagnos whose doors close at midnight, and it might be that during the night one of the patients needs the viaticum; b) the slaves want to confess and receive the eucharist, before going to the houses of their masters; c) there are 10,000 slaves, and in the chapel of the vicar there is only room for 12 people; d) during the day when the vicar is not at home the viaticum might be needed; and e) there could occur an incident with the sacrament, when bringing it from the house of the vicar, to the hospital. The Trinitarian Fathers base their priviliges on a breve from Clemens VIII of 31 August 1596, of Paul V of 8 February 1608 and on a confirmation of Pope [Innocens XII] of 27 June 1693. The first two popes gave the priests faculties for ten years. From Paul V onwards however they are without an extention, and not contain the privilege for celebrating mass twice a day. The breve of the pope gives the priests some faculties, but limits them by stating that they may not be contrary to the Holy canonics, and to the decrees of the council of Trento; according to the council, they should be submitted to the jurisdiction of the vicar apostolic. Moreover, when Clemens VIII and Paul V granted the faculties, they added a clause that shows that they did not want to undermine the ordinary authority. PF secretary adds that on 9 September 1652 they decided that Gio' Leuacher [Jean Le Vacher] could submit everyone (priests or captives) to his authority, with the faculty to punish them if necessary, in order to remove the abuses from the city of Tunis. [Philippe Le Vacher] then on 28 June 1660 reported the scandals commited by many priests (both slaves and free), pretending not to be submitted to his authority. That is why the vicar in Algiers, got the same faculties as those in Tunis. This was not yet enough to settle the conflict against the Trinitarians. On 28 February 1673 it was necessary to forbid the priests for some time (in particular one of the administrators Bartolomeo Da Serrano), to use the sacraments without the license of the vicar. Eventually Bartolomeo was recalled from Algiers. On 11 September 1679 the Trinitarians complained that first of all, the vicar apostolic [Jean Le Vacher] took their coat of arms from the hospital. Secondly, he forbade them to keep the Holy sacrament and thirdly, he forced them to accept heretic patients in the hospitals. For the first it was decided that the vicar should not do this again. For the third it was decided that the heretic patients should be kept apart from the Catholics. For the second PF wanted to know why the vicar decided to forbid this. PF forbade the Trinitarians, administrators, or any other priests of this order, to stay or exercise jurisdiction in that city without the permission of the vicar apostolic. On 3 February 1688 it was written to the Trinitarian superiors and the nuncio to Spain, that whilst the vicar had suspended some priests, the Father Antonio d'Espinosa (administrator of the hospital), had given the Trinitarians permission to celebrate mass in his chapel, and administer the sacraments. One of the priests was questioned about this, and said that he was free and not dependent on anyone. He said that the priests had their own privileges and could do whatever they wanted. The new vicar apostolic, D. Lorenzo, reported the same complaints against the Trinitariansto PF. The order however kept persisting in their independency from the vicar. The vicar consequently asked for a decree, ordering that the Trinitarians would be subjected to his authority despite their privileges. On 11 May [1644?] it was decided to renew this decree. After this, the Trinitarians sent letters to PF complaining about the new decree.
Additional comments
The document says that Jean Le Vacher brought the scandals to PF on 28 June 1660. There is no such document of his to be found. There is however (on this date), a discussion of complaints by Philippe Le Vacher (Jean's brother) see: APF ACTA 29, 157r, 162v-163r, issue 8 (database item 476).
[PF]
APF SC Barbaria 1, 54r-58v
no date
unsigned
Italian
Latin
Report
874
Origin: [Rome]
Report from the mission of Scotland, [1668-1672]
Franciscans
Scotland
Scottish colleges
Report from the Scottish mission. Ibernese Scottish are referenced as the inhabitants of the Scottish mountains. All the natives of this area (and those adjacent), cannot be called either Catholic or Protestant. However within their minds they reject these heresies, that they are forced to listen to by the heretic priest. They are (in matters of the faith), ignorant, due to the lack of priests to instruct them. When a priest arrives on the islands, they call him 'crowned,' respecting and loving him way more than they would do with a Protestant priest. They still respect the old Catholic customs, and they baptize their children themselves when the Protestant ministers refuse to. There are no heretics among them, and they do not collaborate in the destruction of churches and altars. These island are without churches, as well as priests. To provide them with spiritual assistance, it has been proposed to give the title of prefect of the mission to the new archbishop of Armagh. The archbishop himself has shown to be in favor. He is willing to go there himself, in order to inform PF about the state of the mission in these lands. It will be important to raise the youth according to the Holy orders, therefore it will be necessary to instruct the rectors of the Scottish Colleges to admit a number of competent students from here. From the report by Winster (once the prefect of the mission), one comes to understand the following issues: a) next to the Atlantic Ocean [Mare Deucaledonio], there are the Hebrides, to the north there are the Orkney islands, and the Shetlands islands are closer to Norway. The biggest of these islands takes more than a days travel from the coast; b) the part in the North, is called the Highlands [Hijlans]. The cities are very far away from each other, and during the winter it is impossible to travel; c) the lands in the mountains are not very productive during the five or six months of winter. The sea areas however, have a great abundance of fish; d) the most northern parts have very little trade with the rest of the country. Therefore, the missionaries have to bring their own wine and bread; e) there is no way to send or receive letters except through the capital; f) their language is Gaelic [Hibernese], therefore only people from that area are able to conduct the mission; g) originally there were bishoprics in Dunblane [Dumblanen'], Dunkeld [Dunchelden'], [Rossen'?], [Catanesien'], [Argatelien'], and the Orkney island [Orcaden'] also known as island churches; h) in the country of Glengarry, under the Count MacDonal, the Catholics are safe. They are also safe in the mountain areas under Euntlei [George Gordon, marquis of Huntely]; i) the most important Catholic is the Count of MacDonald. Thanks to his zeal the Catholic faith has been able to spread in this part of the country, and the same goes for Huntely. Officially Catholicism is forbidden, but the mountains and islands are so far out the centre, that one is able to practice; j) the missionaries are two franciscan priests, one named Marco [Mark MacDonnell] and the other Francesco Magdonalli [Francis MacDonnell], one secular priest Francesco Bianchi [Francis White], and a school master in Glengarry, called Eugenio Macalastrio [Eugene Macalister]. They often visit the mountain areas and the islands; k) it is hard to convince the parents to let their children study abroad; l) the school master is able to stay in Glengarry because they are protected by Lord MacDonnald. It would be hard to find another master, and Macalister is only able to survive there because he receives support from MacDonnald. There used to be a Irish missinary Duigen [Duiguin] but he recently retired; and m) there are more missinaries needed. Francis White offered to find some with the help of his brother, the vicar apostolic of Limerick. They should be paid 20 or 25 scudi. Only the natives are able to travel between the villages in winter, therefore one should recruit the missionaries from among them. Even the Irish missionaries tend to leave, and because the ground is not very fertile, there is not a great abundance of bread. It is hard for foreigners to adjust to this lifestyle, but the natives are used to it. In the mountains it is easier to practice the Catholic faith, and one can easily flee in the face of persecution. Nonetheless, many missionaries have decided to leave the country all together. The secular missionaries work very hard to aid the Catholics, but the secular ones often stay in their houses.
The reason why it is so difficult to find youths to send to the Colleges overseas is not because there is no-one suitable, but because the missionaries have difficulties making friends among the population of the mountain areas, who do not like those from the lowlands. As the missionaries visit most places only twice every seven years, they are very unlikely to convince the parents to allow them to travel. Its suggested that the natives of the mountain areas should be won over through gentleness, and not by force.
Additional comments
The report was probably written between 1668 and 1672, as it mentions that Winster had been prefect; he was prefect before 1668 and again after 1672.
[PF]
APF SOCG 421, 177r-184r, 185v
[1668-1672]
original
Italian
Report
911
Origin: [Rome]
Excerpt from la vie de Mr Nicolas Estienne Pretre de la Congregation de la Mission Martirisé dans l'isle de Madagascar en 1664, [1670 or later], [by Debras?]
Madagascar
Th
Additional comments
The copy itself must be of 1670 or later. The item it is copied from might be from 1664.
[Created by Debras?]
APF SC Africa 1, 31r-33v
[1670 or later]
copy; signed
Frech
Varia
Report
869
Origin:
Destination:
Report sent to PF [1639], Paris
Other religious orders
Capuchins
France (missions in)
Report on the "state of missions in the Province of Paris," with no particulars given (seems to refer to the Capuchins). Classification of types of missions. Folded inside the first folio there is another folio (same paper, same handwriting) on the mission in Canada, to which Father Hyacinth was appointed as superior; then a paragraph on the mission in England. A paragraph at the end says that the approval for the mission in the Province [of Paris?] expires this July and needs extending for another ten years. A separate folio with names of missionaries and other details is mentioned, but that folio is missing.
Date discussed 1639-07-18
Additional comments
In the middle there is a folded folio with a map of the Mediterranean basin and its surroundings, showing centers "taken" by the Province of Paris and the Province of Touraine, especially in the Middle East. The map (or at least the explanatory note accompanying it) seems unfinished.
APF SOCG 199, 333r-v, 338v
[1639]
Addressed to PF
Original; not signed
Latin
Report
66
Origin: Paris
Destination: Rome