Letters – Michael Blackett to Edmond Thaxter – 9 Aug 1679

Mr Edmond Thualster                                                      Newcastle aug the 9: 1679

Sir    

Though unknowne yet by the Recommendation of my grate friend Mr Jno. Launce of Marseilles makes bold to trouble you w[i]th these few lines, & the Concern (In short) is (Intending him (and please God some goods by the Herring fleet) that you would be pleased at y[ou]r leasure to advise me w[he]n you think they will be in readiness this year that I may have them in your hands, whereby you <might> Embrace the first opportunity, and though messieur Ferryers has formerly advised me that there is but one ship of theirs that goes to <sd> place In this yeare, yet being Informed to the Contrary and you Recommended unto me, I question not, but you Can get my goods ship’d upon as reasonable terms as they or any others, the Confirmation of wch from yr own hands would be very acceptable.  I sent last year a parcel of goods to Mr Giles Wakeman, wch were Reshipt accordingly, but one <Bell> your officer pretending not Entreed here to the full, upon a Composition <tooke> about foure pounds for a bribe (as we Call it) I have writt severall letters to Mr Wakeman about it, but Certainly the Instruem.ts are very scarce or he very pretious of a minutes time, for Cannot for my life procure one line from him, my Request is,  you would be pleased to discourse the business with Mr Wakeman and to know really whether it was the Bell, or his brother, and the wch it falls upon, to present my Humb[le] Service to him and let know unless he be Civill and Repay you the money upon my acct. I will Engadge it <shall> be worse for him, for have made it appear I Entered my goods, as Generally such are Entered in this place, and that before Mr <Dunster> who will shortly wait upon him, To be breife desire a perusall of my letters to Mr Wakeman, and you will understand the whole business, and in affording me your Answer you will very much oblige.           

MB