Letter from Antonio Di Seravezza to [the nuncio to France, Pietro Bargellini], 1669-12-01, Marseille

Letter from Antonio Di Seravezza to [the nuncio to France, Pietro Bargellini], 1669-12-01, Marseille

Conversion

Franciscans

Renegades

Seravezza case

Tunis

Letter from Antonio Di Serauezza to the nuncio to France, Pietro Bargellini. It has been four months since he left Tunis. He writes to inform the nuncio about the tyranny and cruelty of the consul [Jean Ambrozin], who has driven away two vicar apostolics because they asked him to give back the money that he took from the church. They hoped he would stop living a dishonest life, which not only shocked the Christians but also the Turks (as one can learn from the statements written by the merchants and slaves, that he had sent to the nuncio). He is afraid though that the nuncio has not received the letters, because he never got an answer. He sent his letters to the nuncio through Calaman (a merchant), and to Monsu del Ormo, who would give them to both the nuncio and the duchess of Agaglion, who would then inform the queen. As he did not receive any response, he decided to go to Monsu Prata, because he knew the consulate of Marseille. They told him that if he would go to Paris, Colbert would make sure that he would not get an audience, since he received letters from the consul in Tunis. The consul himself eventually got hold of the letters that the merchants wrote against him. He called all the merchants to the consulate and threathened to give them 500 lashes and enslave them, if they did not drop their charges against him. He would never be able to abuse his power and to remain in his position, if it were not for the protection of Colbert. In order for Di Seravezza to return to Tunis, he wants Antonio Crocet, a Minor Observant, commissary of Terra Santa and an agent of PF in Marseille, to make the consul pay back the money, and to remove him from the position. The consul also told other rennegades that when he was no longer consul, he was planning on converting. Monsu Prat informs all of this to Colbert, who defends himself by saying that he trusts the letters of the consul, which despite being very well written, are actually full of lies. The consul should work as chaplain (as all consuls used to do), and he should also pay back the goods he took. If he does not, then Prata should be forced  to pay it back. He writes that the answer to his letter should be adressed to Luigi Calaman.

Date discussed: 1670-11-10

Additional comments

The nuncio says in APF SOCG 424, 244r (database item 749), that he sent the original letter of Antonio Di Seravezza to PF.

Antonio Di Seravezza

APF SOCG 424, 247r-v

1669-12-01

Adressed to [Pietro Bargellini]

For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 39, 197r, 201r-202v (database item 669).
See for the letter of the nuncio to France, Pietro Bargellini, who sent this letter, adressed to him, to PF: APF SOCG 424, 244r (database item 749).
See for the statement that is mentioned in this letter made by the merchants in Mareilles for Antonio Di Seravezza and against the consul: APF SOCG 430, 247r-v (database item 733).

Original; signed

Italian

Letter

751

Origin: Marseille

Destination: [Paris]