Letter – William Blackett to James Standsfield – 13 May 1679

      Sanqar 13th May 1679

Honnored Sir,

      Yr letter I delivred my Ld who went for Edenbr yesterday <Thair> he <Could> he would speak with you as to all things but non wil cut for us in Elrock one stick altho the arestmt be over & <Lou..>. I got Liberty of my Ld for the pres[en]t to cut som more wood where we got the bo:trees from that the works might not Ly Idle & I doe beleave my Ld wil obliedg us to pay for all that wood as doubtles he will tel you when you meet and you doe not agre with his Lordship our work wilbe Ruined for want of wood & without his Leave & Kindness I cannot see where we shall get any, so pray come of with him as well as you can.

      I like not the method you have taken in parting the wood with my Ld Hopton. I would have you & he to fell trees together and pay each the half charge & then part by Horse Lods wch is the best way. I would not have you cut any this sap altho you might for the waest thair wilbe for want of a Chopper, wch when I hear you have agreed with my Ld I shall send one or 2 with the milwright so pray Let me here from you to Newcastle.

      I have taken a look upon the works & oredered Ed Lethard to work accordingly as we consulted for the most advantidge, but what should we be at more charge for if we be deprived of wood.

      I have agreed with the men I have at such rates as wil please you. I have turned off such as I thinck be mutinneers & have set as many to work as we need this year so pray set on no more. I have bid Lethard send you the note subscribed by the men. I wonder you would let the room to Tho. Errington for <600 th> & my Ld  <sue hes> we shall pay 1000 & Thos hath let it to other contry people so we must pay 400 for other's conveniency but non resarved for our selves so I have tould him my ¼  of the room I expeckt so he may take yr ¾  part if the gentleman pleased. I have bad pen & inck so cannot inlarg as I would. 

      resting yrs etc Wm Blackett. 



[The following section is in a different hand - possibly Edward Lethart’s, since he is named as one of the authors on the cover of the letter:]



Sr, pray suffer no more men to labor or any pickmen more for they are as many as we thinck can be supplyed with wood. Except Ed Lithart want a laborer or two. The execution is sarved but I heer a new arestmt is like to follow upon Elrock Wood, so pray put a period to the affaire & agre or we shall ruine our work. iff he desiers  the planting aboute the tennants houses you may grant that for I see non about any tennants hous. however doe what you thinck fitting & view <ear> you grant that to satisfy yrself I p<rae> my Ld wil have <no Lords> of the Sessions to determine what shall be for planting for the tennants if it be granted our bargin wil be but a poor bargin.



Agreed with the men as follows

Edward Lethard as Steward 25£ a year

Tho. Snowball as smith 14d a day



pickmen at 12d a day

Jno Berry/ Wm Baird/ Cha: <Jaycies>/ Jno <Jaycies>/ Humphra <Jaycies>/  Wm Hill – hath only washed, shaddered or knocked/ Jno Smedly/ Geo Taylor



pickmen 

Ra Baird at 10d a day/ Alx Hamilton at 10d a day/ Wm Vase at 9d a day/ Ja: Thompson at 9d a day/ Wm. Reay at 10d

13 Pickmen in all



labourers 

James Robinson 7d a day/ Alx aird 7d/ Jno browne 7d/ Wm Crage 7d/ archd fewler <1/2 s>/ Wm Wiese 7d/ Munge English 7d/ Geo Robson <1/2 s>/ Ja: Coeper 7d/ Geo Wait 7d/ Jno Mestal 7d/ Jno Jnoson 7d/ Jno Porlace 7d/ Wm <Mt.kal ½ s>/ Geo Wilson 6d



Washers & knockers

Wm Hill/ Joyce Smedly 10 d a day/ Eliza Taylor 5d a day/ <Ma: berne> 5d a day/ Sara Wmson 5d a day/ Ma: Millikin 5d a day



More Then these need not to be Imployed this year



[outer leaf:] For Sir James Standsfield Knight in Edenbrugh

[annotated:] Sanq May 13th 1679. Mr. William Blackett that he hath ordered Edward Lethard to worke according to his directions & that he hath turned of some Mutineers & sett as many to work as wee shall need this yeare and desires me to put on no more workmen &c then the 33 in the List on the other side <Fd> Edwards May 25 1679