Translation / modern text
[P. 2]
1
Jarosław, 23 June 1692
Mr. Arthur Forbes
Right Worshipful Sir and Respected Friend, greetings! I have received your letter and understood its contents. The money that Mr. Lowd left for exchange, namely 400 florins in shillings, I am sending to you with the bearer of this letter. I went to Józef Borochowicz, who told me that he will soon be in Lviv and will pay you those 500 florins there; as for what Mr. Lowd has laid out, I will gratefully repay you, God willing, upon my arrival in Lviv, which will be soon. Having nothing more to add, I remain,
Right Worshipful Sir, your most humble and obedient servant at your service
Wm Kramer [merchant's flourish]
[P. 3, address:]
To
Mr. Arthur Forbes, merchant
in
Lviv
May God guide
the bearer
by post under the sign [merchant's mark: F with crossbars]
Original wording — transcription
[S. 2]
1
Jaroslaw 23 Juny 1692
Mr Arthur Forbes
Sr and worthie Friend salut yours
recaved the contents understyod. monies that Mr Lowd left bij
to exchange and, namly fl 400 in shillings doo send you wt the bearer hereof. I
went to Joseff Borochowicz who told me he wold be shortly
in Lemberg et paye that fl 500 ther to you, what Mr Lowd lold [=laid?]
out for shall repay you wt thancks god will at my aryvel
to Lemberg which shall be shortly, having no more to ad
remains
Sr yor most humble et obedient
servant at command
Wm Kramer [parafa kupiecka]
[S. 3, adres:]
To
Mr Arthur Forbes Marchant
In
Lemberg
God convoy the
Bearer
wt a Post sub signo [gmerk kupiecki: F z poprzeczkami]
Reading notes
Letter from the Scottish merchant William Kramer, staying in Jarosław, to the merchant Arthur Forbes in Lviv. The language of the document is Early Modern English with Scottish orthographic features and Latin abbreviations ('et', 'sub signo'). The archival inventory contains an incorrect year ('16923' instead of 1692). The content concerns financial settlements (sending 400 florins in shillings via a messenger, the matter of a debt/payment of 500 florins by Józef Borochowicz, and the reimbursement of Mr. Lowd's expenses), and not—as the inventory register suggests—a confirmation of receipt of goods. On p. 3, there are traces of two wax seals and a merchant's mark in the address.