Letter from Richard Murray to Ather Forbes regarding debt repayment

[P. 2] Mr. Ather Forbes Opatów, April 28, 1687 Noble Sir and most Esteemed Friend, Kind greetings. Having full intention upon my return from Bardejov to arrive and visit Your Grace personally and to deliver to you or to your order that which I owe, just as during the embassy, I am ashamed to offer further excuses; I dare only to fervently ask that you might forgive me this unexpected failure, committed so involuntarily for reasons which I know, and which are also known to Your Grace. Not doubting your grace, Sir, I remain certain that you will not wish in the future to count this as a reason to withdraw your favor, hoping, Sir, that you will deem me capable of anything in which I could serve you, should you deign to honor me with your summons, to which I am and shall remain at your service. As for that which I have in Bardejov, at present I could not yet receive it, and this is because the Emperor issued orders, demanding from all holding any public offices under him, both in the army and others, that they support him with money for the equipping of his army and the provisioning of his cities; being thus forced to wait 6 weeks, I had to agree to this. And now, because of the current troubles of Mr. Gidiel before the tribunal, I can with difficulty arrive in Rzeszów at this moment, but I have given Jo[hn] Murray strict instructions that, with heartfelt thanks, he should deliver the remainder of that debt to your order before he leaves there. I hope, Sir, that you will accept this without offense, in good faith; the current times are so difficult that, contrary to the expectations of many, they drive one into trouble, which I myself painfully experience, having also unpaid debts, and yet for the future it does not befit me to press. Trusting in the grace of Your Grace that you will forgive me this my unexpected failure, I shall according to my strength always strive to serve and reciprocate, not failing to ask that you might deign to keep me in your memory and grace; and so I remain according to my strength, Sir, Your most humble servant at your command, R. Murray [P. 3, address:] To Mr. Ather Forbes, merchant in Rzeszów

[S. 2] Mr Ather fforbes opattowa 28 Aprile 1687 Sir and worie Much Respected ffrind yindlie [kindlie] sallüt howeing bein fyllie intended at my returon bak from bardieow to hew come and wised your wortyie self and delaywered to yow six or ordors yt [that] I hew dew as wallie at ye mision time of yt I am ashamed to meak my oune apollodrie forder onlie prosume to yearnestlye intreat yt would pardone me six in tyis my un expected transgratione and as unwielenglie by may reasone yt I know and all six knowen to your wortyie self and I not douboeing of your wortyie favor remaine asowred yt would not six in foutour imput yt to be yt reason of widdraweing your favor towardes me houpeing in yt six yt will think me capabell of in any thing yt in I calne serw yow yt would honer me to call att cond I am and shall remaine, six yt I & I hew in bardiewa at present I could not hew it yet yt was yt becaus ye Emperior had gewen out bondes dezhiring all who hete any publey offies under him als weill in ye armie as any oyer to assiest him wedis momye, to ryzt out his armie and to prowied his tounes so thuis being fowrwshe intwaited, to wait 6 weikes I behowed to condensend, and now by reason of mr gideoll his present trubell toy ye tribunhall I cand hardlie come at present for Rosowa bot howeing fyllie ordered Jo: Murray wth hertie thankes to render to your orders yt remnant of yt debet befor he come from thens houpeing six yt will wtout beeing offended except of foy walle yt present times is so stronges yt abov exp ectatione meakey many betrangres of yt I doe allso find yt smert of howeing also debet standeing out and yet I mot for foutour times not to be instant, and houpeing six of your wortyie fawor yt would pardone me in tyis my unonpected transgratione I shall ewer endowour till pour to serw and reqwiet not omiteng six to intreat yt would ewer restrow me into your wortyie fawor and so I rest ewer tell pour Sir your worie hombell serwant att cond R: Murray [S. 3, adres:] To Mr Ather fforbes merchant In Rosowa