Letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William] Lesley, 1668-02-01

Letter from [Alexander Winster] to [William] Lesley, 1668-02-01

Scotland

Mission reports

Franciscans

Retirement missionaries

Scottish colleges

Partial copy of a letter from the prefect of the Scottish mission [Alexander Winster], to its procurator in Rome, William Lesley. He expresses gratitude for PF sending help for the Highlands, and having promised a house where the missionaries can retire. He states that this house should not be in Dieppe or in any other harbour, since in these places the missionaries will be too well known. The two missionaries [Mark and Francis MacDonnell?] who were sent to help Bianchi [Francis White] have suffered much misfortune; they were shipwrecked but miraculously survived, then they both fell ill and would not have lived, had they not been helped by a fellow Franciscan [possibly John Smith - see APF SOCG 308, 360v-362v (database item 359)]. They arrived at the border of Scotland with no means whatsoever to continue their journey. The prefect felt the need to help them, without any order from PF, considering that they had come to help the mission. He writes about the great need for help, not only in the Highlands, but everywhere in Scotland, and deplores the fact that for years no priests have come from the Scottish Colleges and monasteries to help the Scottish mission. The letter dated 1 February 1668.

Additional comments

[Alexander Winster]

APF SOCG 308, 347r-348v

1668-02-01

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

351

Origin: [Scotland]

Destination: Rome