Translation / modern text
Mr Arthur Forbes. Lublin, 3 April 1685.
Sir and very worthy Friend, greetings! Since I intend either to go myself or to send my family [?] to Gdańsk, I ask you to send my handwritten document [“handwrett”; probably a written obligation] to Mr Forbes. Whatever results from this [the amount due], I shall gratefully pay you.
I ask for your continued kindness; [...] [a short clause read uncertainly: “past omissions concerning London”?]. I hope no reasonable person will judge that I have willingly remained in debt for so long. It is very well known what great losses I suffer through debts owed to me and that I cannot obtain satisfaction of them. You can learn of this from Mr Bell and Mr Thomson.
Nevertheless, I use all ordinary means and make strenuous efforts, with God’s assistance, to satisfy those to whom I have obligations [literally: “my people”]. That is all for now. I commend to your kindness the man who is
your much-obliged friend and servant, to the extent of his ability,
James Gregory.
Address on the reverse: to Mr Arthur Forbes, merchant, in Jarosław.
Later archival cover: Letter from the Scottish merchant James Gregory in Lublin to Arthur Forbes in Jarosław concerning financial and trading matters. Original. 3 April 1685. Fond 132, inventory 1, unit 451; one leaf.
Original wording — transcription
Mr Arthur Forbes. Lublin d. 3 Apryl An° 1685.
Sr and verie worthie frind, Salutt. Since I am inteded ether to goe or send my fomyl [family?] to Dantzig I requist you send my handwrett to Mr Forbes and what comes you shall be payed thankfully.
And for future favor I pray you; and bygon omiss[i]ons from London [odczyt i składnia krótkiej klauzuli niepewne]; and hope noe reasonable men will juge that I have willing remained so longe dew, for itt is verie well knowen what great loss I have of debts and can gett noe redress of them, which ye can be informed of Mr Bell and Mr Thomson.
Nevertheless I use all ordinar means and nealy [nearly?] heavie pains to content my People with the assistance of G[od; skrót zatarty]. This att present, recomending him in your favor, who is
Sr your most oblieged frind and servant to Power,
James Gregory.
[Adres na odwrocie:] To Mr Arthur Forbes, Merchant, In Jaroslaw.
[Późniejsza okładka archiwalna, s. 1, tekst ukraiński:] Лист шотландського купця Грегорі Джеймса із Любліна до Форбеса Артура у Ярослав, з фінансово-торговельних питань. Оригінал. [Datownik:] 3 квітня 1685. [Oznaczenia:] Фонд 132, Опис 1, Справа 451, 1 аркуш.
Reading notes
All three pages and the native image were read; one letter and its address. The original date is certain: 3 Apryl 1685. The sender signs James Gregory; Lublin and Jarosław are confirmed by the original. Fomyl was read as family, but [?] was retained; it was not replaced with “son”. Handwrett means a document in one’s own handwriting; the context suggests an obligation, but it has NOT been identified as a definite bill of exchange. The second Mr Forbes has no first name and has not automatically been identified with the recipient. “Bygon omissions from London” remains a local interpretive gap, not a confirmed financial transaction. The formula “recomending him ... who is” retains the third person of the original and may refer to the writer himself. In the context of debts, “my People” is rendered as people whose claims require satisfaction, with the literal meaning also supplied. No amounts or coin names are legible. G37 beneath the letter is a later mark, not a sum.