Letter – Robert Douglas to James Standsfield – 10 May 1683

Bee it known to all men by these psnts that it is Agreed and finally ended Betwixt these psnts following that Sir James Standsfeild of newmylnes and Rbt Douglas presently resideing at Douglas that is to say the sd Robert Douglas doeth hereby undertake and binds and obliges himselfe to grieve and oversiee all the workepeople presently imployed in and about the Leadeworks at Wanlockhead or that shall happen to be imployed their; and that hee shall faithfullie and honnestly  attend the said imployment and take notice of the severall workepeoples following there worke, and workeing the Levells duely and sufficiently, and doe and performe all and every other thing relating to the same and dressing the oare for the best advantage utillity and proffit according to his knowledge for the behoofe of the sd Sir James, and Keepe exact accompt of the workepeoples & <Steeins> and give up the same weekly to William Wilson, Stewart for the said workes to bee entred in his books; and in Caisse of any Disorders and  abuses comitted by any of the workepeople to aquent the sd William Wilson thereof; for the timely preventing of the same; and from tyme to tyme to advise wt the said William Wilson for easieing on and prosecuting the said worke from tyme to tyme in the most probable way to best advantage and to keep an accompt from Tyme to Tyme of the timber and other materialls  that shall cume to the sd works; and Carefully to oversee the workepeople in shaddering washing and buddling the oare – and every other thing as to the office of a greve and oversier doth appertaine and belong and give an accompt of all matters weekely at Least to the sd William Wilson to bee booked and ordered by him beginning his said imployment from the Fourteenth day of May instant <ant J avjq> fourescor and three years For the <…> cause I the above named Sir James Standsfeild on the other pt binde and oblige me and mine to pay unto the said Robert Douglas twelve shills scots <aye> and so long as hee shall remaine and continue imployed by mee in and about the said Leadeworkes for each working day, whereunto both the sd pties have agreed unto and subd the same at Wanlockhead the Tenth day of May <J avjq> fourscore and three Befor this witnisses Alexander Young merchnt in Ed[inbur]gh and Alexander Enslie servt to the sd Sir James and written theirof

Ja; Standsfield, Rot. Douglas, Alex Young wittnes, Alex Enslie witnes  [all sign]



[Annotated on cover:] May 10th 1683. Agremt twixt Sir Ja Standsfield & Robert Douglas to bee Grieve to the Leade-works at Wanlockhead