A Freemasonry Trial in 18th Century Malta

FEATURE THE SUNDAY TIMES, FEBRUARY 1, 2004

APRIL 1776 witnessed the opening of a very particular inquiry by the Inquisitor for Malta of the time, Antonio Lante. So particular, in fact, that the only record of this inquiry is a long document, originally unpaginated and unindexed, that was not even filed in the Archives of the Inquisition, but was separately bound and placed, or rather misplaced, among other manuscripts in a different location, the Archives of St John's Cathedral, Valletta, until, in recent years, it was discreetly returned to the Archives of the Inquisition at Mdina.

A Free Mason warrant 

The proceedings were so sensitive that neither the Papal Secretary of State nor the Holy Office were informed through the usual channels, although it is clear that they had full knowledge of every detail which emerged from the trial which proved to be one of the most outstanding proceedings of the 18th century, a series of inquiries known as the Processi Lante. The trial began seven months after the "Rising of the Priests", ruthlessly put down by Grand Master Ximenes, and only five months after the election of his successor, Emanuel de Rohan. It became a full-scale investigation of Freemasonry in Malta, and established that members of the secret organisation were to be found in the highest social echelons of 18th century Malta. Several knights, mainly French, members of the Maltese nobility and even a number of canons of the Cathedral Chapter were involved.

The French-affiliated lodge was officially established in the "Isle de Malthe" on February 13, 1765 which corresponds to the year G.L. 5766 of the Masonic calendar. Two warrants were issued at Toulon by Beufier de la Lourie to the Knight de Lincel. The first made him a Freemason; the other empowered him to establish a lodge in Malta bearing the name "Perfect Harmony"; or, in the original version, parfait Harmonie. Whereas the first patent is relatively simple, the latter diploma is an extraordinary document. Beautifully coloured, the wording is framed by symbols of freemasonry including the star of David, a candelabra with seven candles, the sun, the compass, the balance, and a skull with crossed bones.

In 1730 the Balì of Brandenburg, Wolfgang Philip Guttenberg financed the building of a house at Msida to serve as a masonic lodge, and established a foundation for its maintenance and upkeep; however the official setting up of a lodge would appear to have been delayed by as a consequence of the publication, in 1738 and 1751, of two Papal Bulls1 condemning and penalising freemasonry. In fact, the first prosecutions took place in 1740 against a group of seven French knights who were affiliated to a French lodge, and finished with their banishment from Malta; a second spate of denunciations took place after the second bull was issued, and it would seem that a number of prominent Maltese discreetly left the Islands and settled elsewhere as a result.(2) No proof had however been encountered at the time indicating an officially affiliated, and actively recruiting lodge.

The opening of this particular can of worms started with the admission of Vincenzo Vella, the Grand Master's clock master, in 1775. This admission was spontaneous, and therefore ended with Vella's absolution, but also signalled the beginning of a series of inquiries, the most important of which involved Agostino Formosa de Fremeaux, a self-styled count, and a number of knights, Maltese nobles and personalities. In his deposition he claims to have recanted his Masonic beliefs after hearing a sermon of the Father-Counsellor of the Holy Office denouncing Freemasonry.

Formosa de Fremeaux recounted how in 1756 a certain Gaspare Maurin invited him to dinner, and how he met a knight called De Bufferant. When he returned home that evening, his clerk Gian Giuseppe Belgeret indicated that he knew about the encounter, and gave him a book entitled La Scians de Fremason Frai. After reading this book, Formosa de Fremeaux told Belgeret that he wanted to become a freemason, to which Belgeret replied, "it will only cost you a meal.

Formosa de Fremeaux was taken to a house in Msida and ushered into a dark room which was completely shuttered and illuminated by a black candle. Inside the room was a man sitting on a chair, whom the witness recognised as Giovanni Battista Dorell of Valletta, Baron of Marsa. He was to act as Formosa de Fremeaux's sponsor, referred to masonic terminology as 'il-fratello terrible'. He asked "What do you want?", to which Formosa de Fremeaux answered, "I wish to be admitted into the sect of freemasonry." The sponsor asked again whether he was sure, and left him alone to think about his decision carefully, in front of a table which was a covered with a black cloth, and on which was a glass full of water with a nail inside, a pen, an ink-well and paper. 

After some time Dorell reappeared, his sword drawn and for the third time, asked if Formosa de Fremeaux wanted to become a Freemason, and told him that candidates must prove themselves through many fearful trials and that he was still in time to change his mind. Formosa de Fremeaux confirmed that he was ready to pass all tests and dangers as long as the Society did not go against the Church, the Princes and the decencies of life. He was reassured that this was not the case.

Following instructions, Formosa de Fremeaux pledged his obedience, and was told to remove his sword, buckles and money, and put them in a bag, and to take off his shoe and hold it in his hand. He was then told to undress his waistcoat and roll up his sleeve, and was blindfolded and led towards the adjoining room.

The sponsor knocked three times; a voice from within said "Remarkable knocker in freemasonry", another voice added "Open and see who it is", a third ordered "Give the sign". Immediately Dorell said "I", someone inside replied "A", Dorell added "K", another replied "I", in unison they shouted "IAKIM". A person who was in the other room declared, "Our brother Dorell wants to introduce a profane, un profano." A table was thumped three times and two others responded with a further three knocks. Formosa de Fremeaux was then let in, and describes procedures in detail: "As soon as I entered the room I was greeted with shouts and fireworks were let off. I was taken before what I later realised was a throne and made to kneel. They made me swear on a book which the Grand Master of that society explained was "the Bible". I took an oath never to reveal anything to anyone. The Grand Master then went on about having to journey from the North to the South and all the other winds… My blindfold was removed and I noticed all those present had unsheathed their swords. This was the signal that they had accepted me as a freemason, and at the same time this was also a warning if I should ever reveal the secret. The function was over and they embraced me. Then, they read a book on the history of freemasonry starting with the building of Solomon's Temple. I remember a part which said that in order to pay the different tradesmen two columns had been erected, one of which was called IAKIM. (3)

"I noticed that in that room spread on the floor like a carpet there was a canvas on which was drawn the Temple of Solomon, three stars, the sun, an urn with two fires, a trowel, a square, and a pendulum. There were also three lit candles forming a triangle. Another three candles, also lit, were placed on the table of the Grand Master. The latter was wearing a large silk frill around his neck which was decorated with many silver symbols including a pendulum and a compass. All wore aprons of white wool.

"Following my inauguration we started to eat. The dinner was hosted at my expense. I also paid for a pair of gloves. After the meal all of us placed the palm of our hands under our necks, passed them over our chest and then over our foreheads. In accordance with Masonic ritual we remained seated in silence. Then we toasted the heads of the Scottish, German and French lodges, namely the Duke of Cumberland, the King of Prussia and the Duke of Clermont. All of us held empty glasses with which we made a circular movement under our necks. After we did this three times, we paid a small tribute for the poor. Following every toast and whilst beating our chest we shouted VIVAT, VIVAT, VIVAT. The Grand Master would always drink last. Finally we concluded the occasion by singing Masonic songs in French. Before departing I paid three luigito the treasurer."

The trial provided ample proof that at the time the Masonic movement was rampant in Malta and that the island was dotted with lodges. In fact three days after his initiation Formosa de Fremeaux was taken by a certain Giovanni Lombard to participate in a similar ceremony which took place one hour before midnight in a lodge at Casal Nuovo (Paola), sponsored by the Knight Crusyol. He testified that since 1764 the lodge to which he pertained was situated in the house of a certain Signor Oliver, and that Formosa de Fremeaux's houses in Valletta and in Zejtun were also used as lodges and to this end was decorated with masonic symbolism. They even served for the induction of new members, such as that of the Knight Guasconi, who came from Palermo specifically for this purpose.

Other locations are mentioned, but of most consequence is the specific reference to the Valletta palazzo of Camille de Rohan, Principe Balì.(4)
 
Prince Camille de Rohan was identified by most witnesses as one of the leading representatives of the Society. Maybe he was the senior freemason, the mysterious Grand Master who was never mentioned by name in the trial. The Balì exerted influence within and outside the Order of St John because he gave the impression that Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan was his uncle.

The Masonic trial was the last thing which the newly-elected Grand Master wanted. In addition to Agostino Formosa de Fremeaux, other witnesses - Angelo Parnis, Aloisio Putois, and Gaspare Gremaud - revealed the structure and membership of the "Craft", mentioning members by name, and leading to more denunciations by the members themselves. Knights, ecclesiastics and Maltese nobles who were patentees of the Inquisitor were revealed, implicated and identified as pertaining to this classless fraternity. What remains a mystery is the involvement, if any, of Grand Master de Rohan himself. The French influence is obvious, as many of the knights came from the langues of Provence, Auvergne and France, and the three most prominent Maltese persons involved belonged to ardently francophile families which staunchly supported De Rohan.

Giovanni Battista Dorell had been created Baron of Marsa by the Grand Master on March 10, 1776, less than one month before the trial was initiated, and two days after Diego's father Claudio Muscat Xiberras was created Marquis of Sciorp il-Hagin,or Xrobb l-Ghagin, the first title of nobility granted by Grand Master de Rohan. His sister Bettina Dorell was married to Diego Muscat Xiberras, who was also identified as a member of the Society.

Captain Fournier was the third prominent Maltese singled out by the numerous witnesses as one of the more active freemasons. His father Giorgio Fournier de Pausier had been awarded the title of Baron and then Count by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, with succession regulated according to the order of primogeniture. Grand Master de Rohan gave his consent for the registration of the title of Count in the Cancelleria on December 2, 1775, only four months before the start of the Masonic Trial.(5) Giorgio Fournier also enjoyed the protection of the Inquisitor's patent until the Freemasonic Trial. On May 27, 1776, only days after Agostino Formosa de Fremeaux had concluded his testimony, he approached the Inquisitor and asked to be relieved of his patent as he was going to travel to France.

By September 1776, Inquisitor Lante was convinced that his institution was under attack. It is obvious that this was a reaction to the Masonic Trial. Writing to the Holy Office in Rome, he states that "various persons among the most distinguished in Malta had renounced the patent of famigliare of the Tribunal".  The first to resign their privileged posts were the Muscat Xiberras, father and son, on the pretext that they had some form of supervisory duties related to provisions and by extension were in the service of the Order. Only three months before, Baron Bonici had been appointed to the Office of depositor of the Università and the Grand Master was insisting that he abandon the patronage of the Inquisition. In addition, both Baron Xara and Baron Sant had also elected to renounce their patents. The first alleged that he was too occupied while the latter indicated that he wanted to travel abroad. The Inquisitor was however aware that the sons of both Barons had been given some form of public office by the Government. 

Finally, Lante once again referred to Baron Fournier who apparently had not yet left Malta. He advised that should a request in the future be made for his reintegration within the structure of the Holy Office, he would suspend such as decision unless such an order came directly from Rome.6 It was obvious that Grand Master de Rohan was poaching all the prominent officials of the Inquisition. The intention was to isolate Inquisitor Lante from all the senior families of the island, devaluating the prestige of the Holy Office. An offensive on such a scale had never been undertaken before; embarrassed by the proceedings, the head of the Order was retaliating against the very structure of the Inquisition. A similar fate had been suffered by the Inquisition in Tuscany, following the arrest of another freemason, Tommaso Crudeli, in the 1730s; but nothing similar had ever happened in Malta.

On January 15, 1777 the son of Baron Fournier was in a tavern in Valletta. He was unaware that two knights had drawn their swords. The attack was vicious but he somehow managed to defend himself and, having escaped the assault, sought refuge in the countryside. The Inquisitor requested and was given an appointment with the Grand Master. During the audience De Rohan remarked that he would not contemplate any punishment for the knights as the young Fournier was one of the masons who participated in the "recent rebellion". De Rohan maintained that it was only natural for the knights to direct their exasperation against him. Not only, but De Rohan strongly advised that it would be better if the whole Fournier family left Malta to avoid more serious disorders. The Inquisitor replied that the son should not be blamed for the faults of the father, to which the Grand Master retorted that the whole family was under suspicion and it would be better if all departed, the sooner the better. It emerges that Baron Fournier had somehow realised that it had been unwise to ask the Inquisitor to relieve him of his patent and he must have made his peace with Lante. The latter was however at a loss, stating that as the Baron was again a patentee of the Inquisition, he wanted directions from Rome.(7)

The Secretary of State in Rome without any hesitation instructed Lante to abandon Baron Fournier. On receipt of this order the Inquisitor made one last attempt to try and persuade De Rohan to change his mind. The Grand Master was adamant and declared that "it was absolutely necessary that they left as otherwise the occurrence of new disturbances was imminent". The following morning the Inquisitor obeyed his superiors and informed Baron Fournier that his patent had been withdrawn. The ex-patentee, on the other hand, did not seem unduly disturbed and remarked that had it not been for several pending matters he and his children would have already left Malta. By letters dated May 12, 1777 the Inquisitor informed both the Holy Office and the Secretary of State that the task had been completed. As soon as the patent had been withdrawn, De Rohan eased the pressure. He had apparently achieved his aim as he allowed Fournier to continue to settle his interests without undue haste.(8)

A strange sequel to the general saga relates to the star witness of the trial, Agostino Formosa de Fremeaux. It does not appear that Formosa de Fremeaux, who in the trial had declined to style himself as Count, had suffered any serious consequences as a result of his masonic links; De Rohan personally recognised Formosa de Fremeaux as consul for Russia in 1786, for Belgium and Holland in 1790 and for Prussia in 1791.(9) This bogus Count remains an enigma.

Although he had been at the centre of one of the most damaging trials of the century, the self-confessed freemason embarked upon a political career that does not seem to have suffered from the connection, and which on the contrary survived the Napoleonic invasion, and continued to prosper under the French and the British. In the meantime, other prosecutions took place under Inquisitor Zondadari, Lante's successor; whereas Zondadari started off his tenure by imposing prison sentences on the Freemasons that came before him, after the fifth consecutive imprisonment, he mysteriously had a change of heart, and overnight started limiting his sentences to acts of contrition, involving confessions and Holy Communion.

Dr Attard Montalto, apart from being a commercial and criminal lawyer, a former minister and MP, graduated Master of Arts 
with Honours in History from the University of Malta. This article is an excerpt from material to be published in book form 
in the coming months. Dr Attard Montalto is a European Parliament Minister elected 12th June 2004.

References
1. In 1738 by Clement XII, In Emeniti,
and, in 1751 by Benedict XIV, Providas.
2. A.M. Broadley, The History of Freemasonry in the District of Malta from the year 1800 to the present time, p. 4.
3. In Hebrew jaqimmeans a setter-up.
4. AIM, Processo Lante 1776.
5. AOM 579, f. 344r.
6. AIM 96, f. 238r.
7. AIM 96, ff. 239v-241v.
8. AIM 96, f. 342r; 101, f. 5r.
9. AOM 6429, ff. 82v-83 v; A. Mifsud, I nostri consoli e le arti ed I Maestri,
Archivium Melitense,
Vol. III, No 2, p. 68.
A freemasonry trial 
in 18th century Malta
by John Attard Montalto
THE WARRANT issued in Toulon in 1765 by Beufier de la Lourie to the Knight de Lincel to establish a masonic lodge in Malta by the
name of “Perfect Harmony”
THE ceremony of the initiation of a freemason described by
Agostino Formosa de Fremeaux