Letter – William Blackett to James Standsfield – 18 Nov 1675

      Leed Hill 18th 9ber 1675

Sr James Standsfield

      Worthy freind I stayed at Edenbr in Expecktation of yr Coming home till I was ashamed to look upon the street & since I was frustrated of seeing you I thought fit to send this unto you to bid you welcom to Newmils were I hope you are arrived in good health.

      Sr: the  M[aste]r of the mint and I parted to my Judgment Good freinds but no mony so that I was forced to leave my man to deliver you som letters with the Glenlyon acct in wch you will see I put nothing downe but my Expences wch Is not so much as I am sure you would have allowed me iff you had been at Edenbr but the acct for this year is Closed & I shall remaine thair by not doubting but yr £25 resting to me on that acct you wil doe me good when I call for it & I hope & Rely thair upon that you wil get me the £40 of the master he is resting to me on that acct for which I left my boy to see & pay severall persons, so I rely of that Mo[ney] to be procured by yr means as also forty od pound the Laird of Glenlyon wants for his part I am bravely used on al hands as you brought me on pray bring me off.

      and now for Eagels works for my owne part I could not get to them to pay thees men neather had I money so to doe. I left Will Boston my man to get of you & the M[aste]r £25 [...] to pay thees men wch if you doe not, & that spedily, it wilbe a great discredit to me among the men. & no less preiudice to us all, Soe good Sr see that also Efecated, & when don you shall have accots sent you of this years Charge off thes <…ris>

      I came hether the 26th present & yesterday I took advice of all the works, wch on al mens opinion, thats workmen hier is very hopefull, & tho very wet & trubled with Water yet I hope ear I dye to get Dry mony out of them. I had a Consultation with the bearrer & rest of our workmen as concerning keeping men at work & we al thinck it requisit to keep 8 or 10 men at work al winter - & they to work at the hopefullest & best places for iff we keep not the work goeing what we have don wilbe drowned in the winter & so we are to begin anew & loss what we have don so I hope you will Concor with me & them as to this being so much for our advantage. the bearer will informe you more pticular as to the premisses he wil be <.eging> but put <...> to me. he is indeed a very Ingenious fellow & one whom we must Countenance tho not with to much mo[ney] but now & then with a glas and a good word. I have given him the book of accts to keep til I returne, you wil see I am out £ [blank] and we thinck £50 more wil drive on the work al winter til last of febr & longer so I have given him a bil upon you for £50  - wch makes yr four fifths £100 in all & my share you wil see is more then my part but I vallew not it when I have to doe with Sr James <alone thees &me> we leave here must haive 30 or 40 s app[iec]e in hand to but themselfs provisions for fear of being storme fast wch is as likely as may be in the highlands iff you wil let me have one fifth of your four fifths of these mines I shal furnish Jno with this £50 but <ytt> I feare you wil not doe Sr pray waite upon my Ld Queensberry who hath don us al the kindness Imaginable both in furnishing us with wood & otherways as I returne for Scotland I wil meet you at Sanquar and thair let us pay my Ld for his wood with a great deal of thanks & agst that time I doubt not but we shal have occation for a larger quantetye. in the mean time beg the continuance of his favores & to let our men have stil wt they may want.-one thing let me tel you & thats wt the bearer I believe will assure you that before we bring this work into a going work etc it wil cost upwards of £500 iff not  £600 & then I thinck it wilbe a work for our time.

      If you brought the sword & belt I desireed you buy me at London pray let Wm Boston have to bring me but charge him to keep both dry & wel wrapt up.

      I have not further to Inlarge but to Desier you despach the bearer with al haest to the work againe for he can be ill spared. I expect to here from you & remaine 

      Sr yr Humble Sarvt  

      Wm Blackett.



PS pray assure the m[aste]r & Eagel that altho £50 I was to have salliry that I wil place no more to accot. than my faer charges & for a hors that dyed in the sarvice.



[outer leaf:] For Sr James Standsfeild ,knight, Edinburgh, per John Curties.

[annotated:] Nov 18th 1675 Stockholm, Wm Blackett