Translation / modern text
Most esteemed Mr Forbes, my Lord and Benefactor!
I have so far been unable to reach any settlement with my late husband’s creditors. I see the situation worsening both for me and for them, so I have decided to appoint 16 April of this present year, 1692, as the date for them. I also notify you and ask you to come in person or authorise someone to collect the remaining merchandise. I am also ready to hand over the documents and membrany relating to the deceased’s debtors and belonging to his estate, doing so officially in accordance with the Tribunal’s decree.
Commending myself to your favour, I remain your well-disposed and humble servant,
Elżbieta Gordonowa.
Lublin, 29 March [1692].
Address: to Arthur Forbes in Lviv.
Original wording — transcription
Mnie wielce mosci Panie Forbess, a moy wielce mosci Panie y Dobrodzieiu.
Poniewasz tedy dotąd nie mogłam do żadney komplanacyi z nieboszczykowskiemi Ichmosciami Credytorami nieboszczyka małżonka moiego przyść, a widzę coraz gorzey dla mnie iako y dla nich, resolwowałem się tedy Ichmosciom czas naznaczyć, to iest d. 16 Aprilis roku teraźnieyszego 1692, gdzie y oraz WMM P to do wiadomości dawam, abyś WM moy mosci Pan chciał sam albo dać order swoy komu do pozostałego thowaru, y iako też y do debitorow nieboszczykowskich karty y membrany gotowam wydać, substancyey nieboszczykowskiey, to iest urzędownie podług dekretu Jaśnie Oświeconego Trybunału. Zatym się łasce WMM Pana zaleciwszy zostawaiem
WMM P y Dobrodzieia mego życzliwa y uniżona sługa
Elżbieta Gordonowa.
Data w Lublinie d. 29 Marcy.
[Adres:] Panu Panu Arthor Forbess […] im Lwowie.
Reading notes
All five pages of the unit were inspected; two separate letters, not copies. No earlier translations were found apart from metadata. The year 1692 follows explicitly from the date appointed in the body; the dating clause has only day and month. Komplanacja means an arrangement or settlement, not a complaint. Credytorowie are creditors and debitorowie are the deceased’s debtors: the distinction is preserved. Membrany is retained as a historical term for documents recording obligations, without imposing a modern category of security. The decree is mentioned but is not preserved as an enclosure in this PDF; the letter does not establish that the handover took place.