CRACKDOWN ON MISSIONARIES
[RAMEAUX, François-Alexis.]
Edictum pro regis Hou-kuanensis adversus Europaeum Mou (idest adversus RR.DD. Rameaux).
[China], [1840–1] 道光卄年.
Manuscript in Chinese on printed decorative paper, three leaves pasted together (c. 250 x 370 mm), written to rectos only in black ink; with an accompanying envelope bearing decorative design blocked in red and with manuscript note ‘Edit contre Mgr Rameaux 1841’; tears to envelope; very good.
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Edictum pro regis Hou-kuanensis adversus Europaeum Mou (idest adversus RR.DD. Rameaux).
A letter sent by the Department of Justice to the Hubei provincial government to request an arrest warrant for the French missionary François-Alexis Rameaux (1802–1845). This is most likely a copy, being written on decorated paper as used in private exchanges, especially between lower and higher ranking officials. The letter notes that when Peng Tingxiang 彭廷相 of Nanzhang County in Hubei and French missionary Jean-Gabriel Perboyre (1802–1840) were arrested for promoting Christianity, they confessed to being abetted by Rameaux. Their confession made the local government believe that Rameaux might still be promoting Christianity in the area, leading them to request the warrant.
In the early 1830s Rameaux went to the Zhejiang and Jiangxi areas to promote Christianity with other French missionaries including Bernard-Vincent Laribe, Jean-Henri Baldus, and Perboyre. Rameaux served as the Vicar Apostolic of Zhejiang and Jiangxi and Titular Bishop of Myrina. Perboyre was sent to China in 1835, first doing missionary work in Henan and then in Hubei. He was arrested in 1839 during a renewed round of persecutions, his whereabouts having been revealed by a catechumen. After several trials and tortures Perboyre was executed the following year. He was canonized by John Paul II in 1996.
