Translation / modern text
[p. 2] The year 1692, the 22nd day of June, Kraków.
Honoured Sir,
I have received your letter by Mr. Robert, and am glad that you are in good health, wishing always to hear the like. I must confess that I am ashamed to write to you at this time, knowing in myself how much good time you were pleased out of your goodness—and not for any deservings of mine—to bestow upon me here. Yet, since such was your command, I make bold to write to you, begging that Your Honour would be pleased to pardon me that misspent time, wherein—as I confess—I have profited [learned] but little. But I promise by God's grace for the future—if it please God—that whenever you hear of me, you shall hear of my great amendment. Committing it all to God's direction, praying that He would give me grace and strength for the future, so that I may serve and please you in everything. Nothing more for the present, desiring only that God may turn everything for the best.
I am
Your humble servant
until death,
John Livingston
[p. 3, address:]
To Mr. Arthur Forbes, merchant in Lviv.
Original wording — transcription
[S. 2]
A[nn]o 1692 d[ie] 22 Juny Cracowia
Sir
I have Receved your letter from M[iste]r Robert and I am glad that you ar in good helth wising allways to hear the same. I most Confese am ashamed at thies time for to writ unto you knowing of may self so much and good time which you sir of your g[oo]d will not for the list of may deservings did bestow upon me hear but biens it was your Commands I am bold for to wriet unto you Praying you that your honer wold be Pleced to forgive me this spent time in which I confese I have not profited much. but I promies thore gods grace in time to Cum whim it shall plece god that you shall hear Conserning me that you shal hear of may great amendayment al this I lewe unto gods direction that he wold grant me grace and strenth in time to Cum to serve and plece you in all things no mor at present but wising that god wold [turne?] all to the best
I am
Your Humbel Servan[t]
til Dieth John Livingston
[Poniżej inną ręką / znak kupiecki lub rachunkowy:] L 27
[S. 3, adres:]
For
M[iste]r Arthur Forbes
Marchant
In
Lewow
thes
Reading notes
Discrepancy with the Ukrainian inventory description: the description states that the letter concerns the delivery of goods ("про доставку товарів"), whereas in reality it is of a personal-professional nature (an apology for tardiness/wasted time and a promise of amendment – the word "profited" is used metaphorically in the sense of making progress). The recipient Arthur Forbes and the sender John Livingston belonged to the Scottish merchant diaspora in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.