Letter from Alexander Winster to [PF], 1672-08-13, Edinburgh

Letter from Alexander Winster to [PF], 1672-08-13, Edinburgh

Scotland

Scottish Catholics abroad

There are eight missionaries in Scotland. Three of them, Francisc' Blancus [Francis White], Francisc' Macdonell [Francis MacDonell], and Robert Monro work in the northern mountains of Scotland, and on the Hebrides. Six priests there would hardly be enough, since there are around 4,000 people. On the islands Morar and Bara everyone is Catholic, on Ovist (the biggest of the islands), there are around 700 Catholics; there is also one master in the school in Glengaria, Eug. Maccalester [Eugene Macalister]. They teach the youths from the northern countries English, because they usually only speak Gaelic; therefore they would need more teachers. They ask a annual pension of 300 scudi for Biancu [White] so that he can work as a teacher. David Burnet works in the county of Aberdeen and in Buchania and Joannes Irvinus [John Irvin] works in Marria and elsewhere in Aberdeen. Alexander Irvin works around Edinburgh and sometimes also goes to Tivedalia and the county of Traquair. Huntley has left his easy life in the Catholic world behind, to help them in their mission. Gilbert Gray is very useless for the mission and Winster hopes that he will be recalled. David Burnet has become the new prefect without any official authority after John Walker left. Walker is paralysed, and for three years he has tried to improve his health; he left London for France, and eventually travelled to Italy. 

Additional comments

Alexander Winster

APF SOCG 438, 234r-v

1672-08-13

Adressed to [PF]

Original; signed

Latin

Letter

765

Origin: Edinburgh

Destination: [Rome]