Letter from Jean Le Vacher to the PF secretary [Mario Alberizzi], 1666-04-23, Tunis

Letter from Jean Le Vacher to the PF secretary [Mario Alberizzi], 1666-04-23, Tunis

Tunis

Slaves (Christian & Muslim)

Ransom

Renegades

Letter from Jean Le Vacher to Mario Alberizzi, in which he explains what happened with the sum of 1,000 pezze that is in the possession of PF, and also claimed by "some Maltese in Rome." He writes that this sum was given by the late Dey to Giuseppe Guevara, a renegade, for the purpose of ransoming a slave in Messina (Sicily). Shortly after he received this money, Guevara fled together with Francesco Guevara, Serafino and Vicenzo Piccinini, their families and some other renegades, and they went to Rome. On hearing this, the Dey called all priests and the most important Christian slaves, and ordered them to write to the pope that his money should be given back to him; the Dey threatened to otherwise have it paid by the free and enslaved Christians in Tunis. The pope ordered that this money be held for the Dey, who continued to claim it up until his death; after his death the Divan took over his claim. Le Vacher advises not to give the money to anyone without a clear receipt, in case the Tunisian authorities attempt to extract it from the local Christians, be they free or enslaved. Le Vacher also mentions that Francesco Guevara threatened him many times in order to force him to write to PF in support of Guevara's request for money. Le Vacher advises to spend part of it for the redemption of Vincenzo Piccinini, a brother of Giuseppe Guevara who is abused, because he helped the Guevara brothers escape. The letter dated 23 April 1666.

Additional comments

Jean Le Vacher

APF SOCG 254, 137r-138r

1666-04-23

Addressed to PF

This is a response to a letter from Jean Le Vacher to PF, see: APF Lettere 51, 17r (database item 845).

Italian

Letter

396

Origin: Tunis

Destination: [Rome]