Letter – Edward Willet – 20 Nov 1674

       Douer the 20th Novembr 1674

I have your honorable of the 2/11 th curr that is come the same daye that my mother arived heare she hath aquainted me of the kindnesse shee hath had the honnor to receve of your trust deserves more thanks than can possibly bee expressed  Ittt is my mothers owne expresson butt God willing she and I shall not lett slipp any good accasion to give all the  more we can of our gratitude to your favors, In answer to what you desier to know about corne I shall advise you that none is suferd to be shipped out att any port of Low Brittany & att haven de grace [Le Havre] or there aboute, itt is impossible to shippe out any corne because there is there such great quantities of poore people tha aprehends famine that if they should perceive any ship take in corne they would come as they have done seaeverall times by such troops of men and woomen that they would rather kil shipp mastr and marinners then to suffer them to load any corne, but we can heare at this place shipe out any quantity without hinderrance in payeing the custome dutys, and therefore if you have some designe to order for any quantity of corne from this cuntry yow mast think to have from this place, I have endeed recd some ships loaden with coles from Newcastle that I have sent back to that place with the load of Rye and is now about 3 or 4 months agoe butt corne was 30s per cno cheaper then it is now and I judge itt is also much resen in England so am not out of hopes, but yew may find some Incouredgmt to doe some thing in that trade and therefore to give yow all necessary advise yow shall know that wheat the best sorte houlds heare att 55 to 60 crownes is  now according to the goodnis I meane the verry best and rye: the very best & purest at 43 and 45C crownes per mow first  <pery> tho charges heare aboard (as by experience I find) is 10 11/W per mow of wheat & d 11/w per mow of rye , I supose you well know the deferance of our measure with yours, if not you may know tht our mow of the best wheat  doth weigh of our <vicounty> weight  near upon 3400 which is 34 £ per bushell of which you may consider for if you find incouridgement as I hope you will you will doe well to loose noe time to give the necesary ordrs, for hast your orders to newcastle is fright a good ship of 100 tunn or more which may be had at such rate wt the coles tht it shall bring hear will near upon gett <1d> fright of the <Toun> to carry it to what port you shall desire which I think is the best way for shipps are scarce heare they will have forty five shillings fright for every mow of corn wch as you see is considerable the price of Newcastle cole is hear at present at 420tt per 100 barrells wch is 6 challdr is all charges hear amounts to 132 per 100 barrells beside the fright by which you may see what good may be done on wt trade, as for lead the price tht you noate therr would be mony sooner lost then anything gotton, it holds now but at 108 £ pr tt noe demand which is what I have to enlarge soe hoping for your answer for the honour of your comands I humbly crave leave and remain yours in perfect good health <he> durst not yet undertake to write to you <..> son <..> French

Edward Willit



[added to side:] Memorad that 60 Mue makes 48 last at Newcastle