Letter fom the PF secretary Francesco Ingoli about the missions in Barbary [1646-1648]
Tripoli
Salé
Slaves (Christian)
Ransom
Unsigned and undated letter asking PF Secretary Ingoli to write a letter to Julien Guérin letting him know that: a) for the Salé mission, two Recollects from Paris have been nominated; and b) he should attend to the business of ransoming the Portuguese slaves, which he had promised to do on his own, according to a certain Father Pasquale [probably Pasquale Canto, prefect of the recollect mission in Barbary]. The letter also mentions that Father Pacifico [Franciscus Pacificus, recollect] wrote from Tripoli that the Bassa, and the said Portuguese slaves are eagerly awaiting Father Guérin, and so he should hurry and attend to the matter, because otherwise the Bassa can cause trouble to the priests of the mission under the pretext that Guérin had money from the king, and the relatives of the slaves. If Guérin cannot do it, he should respond with a statement showing his honesty in this matter, for the sake of all the priests of the mission. Once he does so, and if he would not like to stay in Tripoli, PF could "console" him by sending him on a mission elsewhere. The author of the letter suggests that Ingoli may write a similar letter to the Internuncio in Portugal, Mr. Battaglini, if he sees fit to do so.
Additional comments
Letter written sometime between 1646 and 1648.
APF SOCG 247, 30r,31v
[1646-1648]
Addressed to Francesco Ingoli
Original; unsigned; undated; Italian
Italian
Letter
127
Origin: [Rome]
Destination: unknown
Letter from Anna of Austria and Louis XIV to Henri Prat, 1648, Paris
Salé
Franciscans
Letter from the regent queen of France (Anne of Austria) and King Louis XIV to the French consul in Salé, requesting that he lend support to the Recollect missionaries sent there.
Additional comments
The month and day are not specified.
Louis XIV
Anne of Austria
APF SOCG 248, 2r-v, 17v
1648
Addressed to Henri Prat, French consul in Salé
Original; signed; French
French
Letter
165
Origin: Paris
Destination: [Salé]
Letter from CM Superior Vincent de Paul to, the nuncio to France, Nicolò Guidi di Bagno, bundled with a letter from Nicolò Guidi di Bagno to PF (1652-03-29, Paris)
Salé
Franciscans
Letter from Vincent de Paul expressing reservation to send missionaries to Salé because of the Recollects' wish to be reestablished in this mission; joined to an introduction letter from the nuncio to France.
Additional comments
Vincent de Paul
Nicolò Guidi di Bagno
APF SOCG 248, 4r-4v, 16v
Vincent de Paul letter published in P. Coste, ed., Saint Vincent de Paul: correspondance, entretiens, documents(Paris: 1920-25), vol. 4, doc. 1465; the nuncio letter was not published. See attached file for a transcription of the nuncio letter and a few slight discrepancies between Vincent de Paul's letter and the version published by Coste.
1652-03-07 (Vincent de Paul letter) and 1652-03-29 (Nicolo G. di Bagno letter)
Addressed to PF
Originals; signed; French and Italian
French
Italian
Letter
166
Origin: [Paris]
Destination: Rome
Letter from Francesco Gatta to PF, 1681-05-18, Tunis
Barbary (unspecified or several locations)
Algiers
Bizerte
Corsairs
Galleys
Salé
Slaves (Christian)
Tripoli
Tunis
Letter from Francesco Gatta to PF. Gatta has informed PF as well as Gio' Levascer [Jean Le Vacher] the vicar apostolic in Algiers, about the most important matters of the mission in Tunis. Le Vacher released Gatta from his side to go to Tunis. Some people from Messina who had enough of the Pascia tried to be favored by the grand vizier of Constantinople, in order to obtain Turkish troops for Sicily. Giuseppe Marchese was secretly connected with Mamet Agha (the Turkish ambassador in Tunis), to intermediate in the wars that divided the country. By means of this ambassador, he sent his message to Constantinople. From the returning ship, they received no other news except that it disembarked from Naples in the Romagna; there Giuseppe boarded a ship together with four of his children. Gatta hopes that the ambassadors of the Christian princes will be wise enough to stop him. When he was in Algiers, he came to understand that in Salé, there were many Christian slaves who were left without a priest, because of the pest. Likewise, in Tétouan there are 500 Christian slaves without a priest. When Gatta asked the vicar apostolic for permission to go to Tétouan, however it was not granted. Then, the prefect of Tripoli, Da Castel'vetrano [Girolamo Da Castelverrano] saw that in his decree, Salé was annexed to the mission of Tripoli. As the city is 1,700 Italian miles away by sea, it is impossibile to serve them from Tripoli. Because the city has been abandoned, he begged Da Castelverrano to either visit once every seven years, send two companions there (and two others for Tétouan), or to ask PF to provide these cities with missionaries. Da Castelverrano promised him that he would go himself, but because years have passed and nobody has visited, he decided to inform PF. If they decide to send two missionaries, then it would be best to imbark from Marseille. The people who go there however, must be willing to suffer a lot, considering the people there are more barbaric and wild. He also sends PF a list of all the cities and places with Christian slaves, and their distance from Tripoli. List with distances from Tripoli: a) in Tripoli in Barbary, live a little more than a thousand Christian slaves of various nations. From Tripoli to Tunis, the distance is 500 Italian miles, from Tunis to Utica (today Porto Farina), the distance is 24 Italian miles, and from Porto Farina to Bizerte, the distance is 26 Italian miles; b) in Tunis there are around 2,000 Christian slaves, and a few free Christians. In Porto Farina and Bizerte (that are part of the same mission), there are around 200 ships and galleys. In Caponegro there are around 40 free Christians amongst whom soldiers and merchants. From Bizerte to Algiers, the distance is 450 Italian miles. In Algiers there are around 5,000 Christian slaves, even though the size of the city is only a quarter of Tunis. There are however, 46 ships, two galleys, and two other small boats. From Algiers to Orano, the distance is 300 Italian miles, from Oran to Melilla, the distance is 100 Italian miles, from Mellila to Pignon, the distance is 60 Italian miles; c) the places of Oran, Melilla and Pignon are under the king of Spain. Except for soldiers there are farmers, free people, and they have their own parishes and chapels. From Pignon to Tétouan, the distance is 80 Italian miles; d) in Tétouan, a city of the Moors, there are 500 Christian slaves and no-one to administer the sacraments. From Tétouan to Ceuta, also a Spanish city, the distance is 20 Italian miles, and from Ceuta to Tanger, a place in the hands of the English, the distance is 30 Italian miles and from Tanger to Salé, the distance is 200 Italian miles; and e) Salé is a place of the Moors, in the kingdom of Fez, and there are around 500 Christians without priests. The priests stay in Fez and cannot travel around because the countryside is filled with robbers. From Tripoli to Salé is 1,790 miles over sea. He is not sure whether one could do this in a year because of the difficulties of travelling and the few possibilities of doing so.
Additional comments
Francesco Gatta
APF SC Barbaria 1, 502r-503r
1681-05-18
Adressed to [PF}
original; signed
Italian
Letter
899
Origin: Tunis
Destination: [Rome]
Letter from Girolamo Da CastelVerrano to, 23-03-1683, Tripoli
Salé
Slave priests
Tripoli
Letter from Girolamo Da CastelVerrano to an unknown person. In Tripoli, a missionary arrived with excellent behavior. The missionary Father with the orders of Da CastelVerrano, has not yet arrived; he is asking for them to be sent again. Tripoli has broken the peace with the French, and the consul has to stay in his house with two French slave priests. Da CastelVerrano would like to leave Salè, and asks at the same time for two missionaries to be sent; one to stay in Tripoli and the other to travel with him.
Additional comments
Girolamo Da CastelVerrano
APF SC Barbaria 2, 17r
1683-03-23
[Adressed to PF]
signed
Italian
Letter
904
Origin: Tripoli
Destination:
Letter from Jean Le Vacher to [the PF secretary,Francesco Ravizza], 1674-05-31, Algiers.
Algiers
Barbary (unspecified or several locations)
Capuchins
Conversion
Slave priests
Slaves (Christian)
Trinitarians
Tunis
Salé
Letter from Gio' Le Vacher [Jean Le Vacher] to PF. From the letter that PF has sent to him, Le Vacher understood that PF has been very surprised that he already paid Marcello Costa (who is going to be a missionary in Bizerte), the 30 scudi that was promised by PF. Because of the financial difficulties of Costa, Le Vacher did not only have to give him the money, but also clothes. Le Vacher does not think that Costa did any wrong by staying in Tunis for some time, since there was a great need of priests. There are many poor Christian Catholics in this city, while in Bizerte, there are mostly heretics or scismatics. Now that the two Capuchins sent by PF have arrived in Tunis, he will make sure that Costa will leave for Biserte. Le Vacher asks PF to refund the money to the superior of the CM house in Rome. Now, he will inform PF about the state of Christianity in these regions. They try to cultivate the word of God in as good as manner as possible, and because of the sacraments, most people remain true to the Holy Faith. Moreover, several German, Dutch and Swedish heretics have converted. However, it is true that they lose more souls than they win. Young people have converted in their greatest numbers, mostly because the Mercedarian priests from Spain and Portugal have not been visiting for two years. In Algiers there are 25 slave priests (regulars as well as seculars), who are all in need of help, due to their poverty. In Tetouan there are two priests, there is one at Fes, and at the moment there are none at Sale. When he finds someone to send there, he will inform PF.
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SC Barbaria 1, 308r-309v
1674-05-31
[Adressed to Francesco Ravizza]
copy; signed
Italian
Letter
884
Origin: Algiers
Destination: Rome
Letter from PF to Jean Le Vacher, 1671-05-02, [Rome]
Barbary (unspecified or several locations)
Slaves (Christian)
Salé
Letter from PF to Jean Le Vacher. The letter is in response to a letter that Gio' Levacher [Jean Le Vacher] previously sent to PF, asking for a priest for the slaves of Tetouan, Salé and the other cities of the Dey Stafilet. PF gives him permission to send a priest to these regions.
Additional comments
PF
APF Lettere 57, 31v
1671-05-02
Adressed to Jean Le Vacher
copy; unsigned
Italian
Letter
856
Origin: [Rome]
Destination: [Algiers]
Petition on behalf of CM Superior Vincent de Paul to PF [1651-1652]
Salé
Petition on behalf of Vincent de Paul to send CM missionaries to Salé. It mentions that the consul of Salé had for many years solicited Vincent de Paul for the matter, and that only now has he (Vincent de Paul) found it possible to respond to this request. If PF finds it desirable, Vincent de Paul can recommend a few of his priests for this mission, with the approval of the nuncio.
Date discussed 1652-01-05 (see P. Coste, ed., Saint Vincent de Paul: correspondance, entretiens, documents (Paris: 1920-25), vol. 4, no. 1443, fn. 3).
Additional comments
Probably written and presented by the superior of the CM house in Rome.
Vincent de Paul
APF SOCG 248, 35r, 42v
Only the petition itself was published in P. Coste, ed., Saint Vincent de Paul: correspondance, entretiens, documents(Paris: 1920-25), vol. 4, doc. 1443. The attached file below includes the summary written on 42v for PF's internal purposes.
[1651-1652]
Addressed to PF
See for the discussion of this petition: APF ACTA 21, 1r, 6r-7r, issue 21, (database item 534).
Original; not signed; Italian
Italian
Petition
167
Origin: [France]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1671]
Barbary (unspecified or several locations)
Algiers
Petitions for faculties
Salé
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Algiers, to PF. He asks: a) that PF either send missionaries to Tetouan, Salé, Fez, and Morocco, or give him the faculties to do so; and b) whether as vicar apostolic of Algiers and Tunis, or as vicar general, he also has the authority over the surrounding areas where there are many Christians, especially in the Bastion [de France]. If this is not the case, he asks for the needed faculties. At the meeting of 27 April 1671 the cardinals agree to give him the requested faculties to appoint missionaries for the other cities. With regard to the second issue they decide that the secretary should check whether it is the case, and that if not, the needed faculties should be requested [at the Holy Office].
Date discussed 1671-04-27
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 427, 238r, 239r, 240v, 241v
[1671]
Addressed to PF
Italian
Latin
Petition
651
Origin: [Algiers]
Destination: Rome
PF minutes, 1652-01-15, Rome
Salé
Petitions for missionary patents
CM petitions
Petitions for faculties
Minutes of PF general meeting of 15 January 1652 discussing among other issues, a petition on behalf of Vincent de Paul to send CM missionaries to Salé; the consul of Salé has frequently solicited Vincent de Paul for the matter. The cardinals decide to consent to the proposal, and order the nuncio to France (together with Vincent de Paul), to choose the candidates. The nuncio should report the qualities of the priests to Rome, and state who will be appointed prefect among them.
Additional comments
PF
APF ACTA 21, 1r, 6r-7r, issue 21
1652-01-15
For the petition, see: APF SOCG 248, 35r, 42v (database item 167).
Latin
Minutes
534
Origin: Rome
Destination:
PF minutes, 1652-05-06, Rome
Salé
Petitions for faculties
Minutes of PF general meeting of 6 May 1652 discussing among other issues, a letter by the nuncio to France in which he reports Vincent de Paul's request to start a mission in Salé. The cardinals agree to the request, and to give Vincent de Paul the faculties to start this mission; this is granted on the condition that the prefect and missionaries will be chosen with the consent of the nuncio, and that their names will be referred to PF.
Additional comments
PF
APF ACTA 21, 47r, 51r-v, issue 15
1652-05-06
Latin
Minutes
538
Origin: Rome
Destination:
PF minutes, 1683-09-06, Rome
Tripoli
Other secular missionaries
Salé
Minutes of PF general meeting of 6 September 1683 discussing among other issues, a letter from the prefect of the Tripoli mission. He writes that he left the mission out of fear that the Turks would do to him what they did to Jean Le Vacher, (Le Vacher was killed in Algiers as he was bound to a canon that was fired). The prefect asks for permission to go to Salé, and for a letter of recommendation to be sent to the consul there. The cardinals however decide that he should go back to his province, and that his faculties should be revoked.
Additional comments
PF
APF ACTA 53, 168r, 171r-v, issue 10
1683-09-06
Latin
Italian
Minutes
685
Origin: Rome
Destination: