Letter from [Mark and Francis] MacDonnell to [William] Lesley, 1668-03-10

Letter from [Mark and Francis] MacDonnell to [William] Lesley, 1668-03-10

Scotland

Franciscans

Conversion

Petitions for missionary patents

Copy of a letter from the Fathers MacDonnelli [Mark and Francis MacDonnell], sent from Edinburgh to [William] Lesley. They describe the difficulties they encountered during their journey, their shipwreck, their illness, and the loss of all their goods. One of the brothers is still ill [Mark], and will stay in Edinburgh until he recovers; the other brother [Francis] is going to the islands. Their troubles began in Paris, where they stayed until 4 August [1667] because their viaticum had not yet arrived, as Bonaventura MacDonnell would have noted. They now ask for a provision, as they do not have any money, and the superior of the mission cannot help them without borrowing money. They also ask if Lesley could procure missionary patents from PF for the Franciscan Giovanni Smitson [John Smith], who works on the border with England, and that he be placed under the authority of the superior of the Scottish mission; Smitson helped them with everything after their arrival in Newcastle. He has converted many and thinks it necessary to obtain missionary patents in order to conserve these people in their faith. The letter dated 10 March 1668.

Additional comments

[Mark and Francis] MacDonnell

APF SOCG 308, 360v-362v

1668-03-10

Addressed to William Lesley

This item belongs to a compilation of copies that were made at the same time. The compilation includes database items 351-359 and 368 (APF SOCG 308, 345r-362v). On f. 362v, which is the last page of the compilation, a notation reads: "Lettere venute da Scotia, 1668".

Italian

Letter

359

Origin: Scotland

Destination: [Rome]