Delayed payments and money bound for Gdańsk

Warsaw, 20 April 1685. Yesterday I received your letter of the 12th. I had a long discussion with the younger Saskiewicz. He will not pay here for Robercet and Killams. He says that, if you will not wait for payment until the Lublin Tribunal, he will return all the belts received from you. He claims he agreed to take them only on account of those fabrics [quantity passage uncertain] and arranged this with you. I replied [passage illegible], also raising his obligation and the amount of fabric received. I do not know what to do. I tried others, including his brother, who says most goods bought from you remain unsold. Please instruct me at the next opportunity. Of the belts from Kraków, he will not keep the silver and gold ones, and will accept the others at no more than 15 and 20 [currency sign]. I wrote to Kraków: Robert orders that, if he refuses 16 florins for one kind and 20 and 24 for the other, I should take them back and try to sell them to another merchant. For now I leave them with him pending further instructions and shall seek other buyers. He promises to settle his obligation as soon as possible. Today I am to collect 12½ [amount notation unclear] Bm from him for Wast’s account. [Passage about the settlement with Wast unread.] I cannot get more good coin from Wast; he says he must return the rest in [illegible]. Good coin is exceedingly scarce now, but in three weeks, when the barge[?] returns from Gdańsk, there will be enough. I have around 1300 Bm ready; with today’s payment this should total 2500. I intend to send it to Forbes in Gdańsk through Carmichael, who is expected at any moment. [Further travel detail and the 17th of the month are incomplete.] The Scot Mathland left in company with Got[r…] Beck a day or two before them. Gardin also left [travel details unread]. I delivered your letter to Thomas Cuming and, as instructed, explained the urgent need for money for Gdańsk. He replied that he cannot pay anything here: the goods remain unpacked because the passage is closed and they cannot be transported to the fair. He has wine here. I said that, if he will not pay now, I may be instructed to remain a week or two after Easter; could I then be certain of payment? He answered: “I will not assure you, but if I can, I will do it.” I therefore doubt I shall obtain anything from him here. Thomas Gordon of Lublin was here but left before your letter arrived. Today I sent it to him with my own. I expect, if not payment, at least a reply at the next opportunity. As for Turkish goods, saffian leather has fallen in price. [Unread informant] said what previously cost 170 florins is now available at 163. One man has yellow Sockawsky [working name], which he sells at 130; it is said to be very fine goods. [Further prices partly unread.] I also checked saffian prices at Wrocław: [passage with previous price of 40 Bm and current price incomplete]. Very few goods of any kind sell here, which affects prices. I have sold no silk except red [detail unread] to Samuel Naftalowicz’s brother; it sells at 60 florins. [Passage about velvet and taffeta unread.] I also interested myself in Simervall’s matter. Wast stated a cost of 14 [currency sign] and 2 for the stamp and requested this sum. Not having it then, I shall give it to him next week, God willing. There is no Sejm news; I hear they do nothing but quarrel and no constitutions have yet been issued. I have Robert’s letter to the regiment’s quartermaster. I sought him several times but cannot find him. I also have a letter to the grand marshal and another to his treasurer. The latter I delivered personally yesterday; he promised his best efforts. The grand marshal [uncertain passage] tells me to wait and return after the holidays; he will then settle the matter in my presence. I send my duty and respects, commending you and your affairs to the Almighty. Alex. Huison.

Warsaw A° 1685 d. 20 aprilis. Sir, yours of d. 12 past yesterday I received. With the youngest Saskiewicz I have had large conference; with conforme the payment for the Robercet et Killams, but will not condescend to pay for them here in other wayes. He sayes if you will not have discretione to [nieczytelne] your money for them till Tribunall of Lublin, then he will give bak all the belts he had from you, for only in respect of the Killams et Robercet which he should have been to of each sort he condescended till take the belts; this it hes made unto your self. I did shew him that if he wold doe that it wold be finne till all merchandise [odczyt niepewny]; as also concerning his obligation that he did not get so many Robercet & Killams. I did with [nieczytelne] at length answer him, as formerly I did wret unto you. I know not what till doe therein. I have tryed besyd others and besyd his Brother; he shewes that he hes the most part of them all unsold which he coft from yourself. Let me have your orders with the next occasione. As for the belts he had from Cracow those with silver & gold he will be no more keep; the other sorts he will not have them dearer as @15# and20#. I did wret to Cracow in this particular. Mr Robert his order is, if he will not give for the on[e] sort f16 and for the other f20:24, that I should receiv them bak againe from him and strive for to sell them to some other merchand. I let them remaine yet besyd him till your farther orders, and in the mean time I shall make further Inquirie if anie other will by them. As for the money which comes according to his obligation he promiseth payment so soone as possible. This day I am to receive from him 12½ [odczyt kwoty niepewny] Bm to Mr Wast his account; and this Mr Wast gives me for [nieczytelne]. I can have no more good money from Mr Wast; he shewes he will be forced till give me bak the rest in [nieczytelne] againe. Good money is exceeding scant here at present, but within 3 weeks at the Shut comes bak from Dantzig there will be of it enough. I have redie the mater of 13 hundr Bm; with that 12½ Bm I am for till receive this day will make f2500 together, the which I shall have in redines and direct the same unto Mr Forbes in Dantzig through Mr Carmichaele who hourly is expected here. He came d.17 of [nieczytelne]. Scots Mathland passed from heire in companie with Got[r…] Beck an day or two here befor them. Mr Gardin past hence also with [nieczytelne] of which he daylie is passing by heir. Your ltr to Thomas Cuming I did give off. I did desyre of him according to your orders therein of your great necessitie of money for till be sent for Dantzig; his answer is that he can give no money off heir, that the goods is all yet for the unpacking; the pass being stopt that they cannot transport their goods unto the fair. He hes wines here; I shew him if at present he wold not give off it may be I may have orders for to remaine here an week or two after Pasch and then if that I be sure for till get it; he answers I will not assure you but if I can I will doe it. So I doubt if [uszkodzenie] obtaine anie thing of him heir. Thomas Gordon from Lublin was heir but past from heire befor your ltr came; this day I have inclosed your ltr unto him and with one of mine own; what yet it wold [nieczytelne] I expect if not payment at lest his answer with the next occasione. Concerning Turkh goods, the Saffian is fallen. The [nieczytelne] I did heir shewing that which they payd for befor till f170, now they have it @f163; there is but on[e] heir which hes yellow Sockawsky, he sells it @f130, but it should be verie fine goods; much besyd can be had @f40: [niepewny ciąg cyfr]. Saffian at Wroclaw I did try besyd the primest… [fragment nieodczytany]. He shewes it was @f40 Bm but now it can be had for… Bm. Its verie litle goods of anie sort vended heir which makes the pryses of all kind… [nieczytelne]. Silk have sold non save only to Samuel Naftalowic brother red… [nieczytelne] it sold heir @f60. And velvet and taffeta for ordinary [nieczytelne]. Concerning Simervalls particular I interested my self amongst the rest therein, but when Mr Wast spoke to me [nieczytelne] he shewed 14# it stands and2# for the stampt, the which he desired of me; but having them not at present I will please give him off God willing the next week. Heer no news heire at present from the parliament; I hear they ar doing nothing now as flying together; they ar not given out anie Constitutions as yet. I have an ltr unto Regiment quarterm[aster] wret from Mr Robert, I have been severall times seeking but cannot find him. So also an ltr unto the great Marshall and an other unto his Podskarbey. The Podskarbey yesterday with mine own hand I did give off; he promised to doe his best therein. But the great Marshall [nieczytelne] he desyres me to detaine by my self and for till come after the holy time, he will give it off befor mee. My dutie and best respects being remembred unto you, so with your adoes I commit unto the Almightie. Rests Sir your humble and affectioned servant at command Alex. Huison.