Translation / modern text
[P. 2]
Sir,
I could not reply by the previous post to the letter you were pleased to write to me, because it was delivered to me only after the post had departed. I beg you to be convinced that no one can take a more sincere interest than I do in the happy delivery of my sister, about whom
[P. 4]
I was extremely worried until I learned of her arrival in Lviv, due to the state she was in. I am infinitely grateful to you for the sympathy you were pleased to show regarding all the misfortunes of our family, and for everything kind you deigned to write to me about them. I have told my husband and his father about this, who thank you very humbly and ask you to maintain these same sentiments. I hope, Sir, that the affinity
[P. 3]
that exists between us will contribute to maintaining them, especially since, knowing you as a man as upright as you are, I do not doubt the pain you feel seeing everything that is being done against our house and the way in which it has been treated. I will finish writing about a matter that only renews my worries, and I will stop for the moment by assuring you that no one can be with more sincerity than I,
Sir,
Your most humble
and most obedient sister
and servant
M. Sapieha
Warsaw, March 2, 1701
[P. 5]
I beg you to be so kind as to send me the small package you have for me from the Queen, by the same route by which you will deliver the parcel for the Chancellor's wife.
[P. 6, address:]
To His Excellency
The Voivode
of Ruthenia
in Lviv
Original wording — transcription
[S. 2]
Monsieur
Je ne pu faire responce le derniere ordinaire
a la lettre que vous m'aués fait l'honneur
de m'escrire parsquelle ne me fust rendue
qu'apres que la poste fust partie, je
vous prie monsieur d'estre persuadée
que l'on ne peut prendre plus de
part que j'ay fait a l'heureuse acou-
chement de ma soeur, de laquelle
[S. 4]
j'ay esté extremement inquiete jusque
que je l'ay sceu arrivée a Leopol a cause
de l'estat ou elle estoit, je vous suis
infiniment obligée monsieur de la
part que vous voulés bien prendre
a tout les malheur de nostre famille
et de tout ce que vous me mandés
d'obligent pour eux je l'ay dit a mon
mary et a monsieur son pere lesquelles
vous en remercie tres humblement et vous
demende la continuation de ces mesme
sentiment, j'espere monsieur que l'aliance
[S. 3]
qui est entre nous contribuera a les conserver
outre que vous connoissent aussi juste que vous
este je ne doute point de la peine que vous
aués a voir tout ce qu'on fait contre nostre
maison et la maniere dont l'on en a use, je
finis sur vne matiere qui ne fait que renouueller
mes chagrins, et me contenteray presentement
de vous assurer que l'on ne peut estre avec
plus de verité que je suis
Monsieur
Vostre tres humble
et tres obeisente soeur
&te servante
M Sapieha
a Varsovie ce 2 mars 1701
[S. 5]
je vous suplie monsieur d'avoir la
bonté de m'envoyer le petit paquet
que vous aués de la reyne pour
moy par la mesme voye que vous
ferés tenir celuy de madame la chanceliere
[S. 6, adres:]
A Son Excellence
Monsieur le Palatin
de Rusie
a Leopol
Reading notes
The correct order of the text in the bifolium is: p. 2 -> p. 4 (marked at the top in pencil '2') -> p. 3 (with the closing formula, signature, and date) -> p. 5 (postscript added on the fourth page of the sheet); p. 6 is a separate address leaf (envelope with the number '3'). The inventory incorrectly reads the initial 'M' as the name 'Marianna'; in reality, the author signing as 'soeur' (sister-in-law) is Maria Krystyna de Béthune Sapieżyna (wife of Aleksander Paweł Sapieha), the biological sister of Joanna Maria de Béthune Jabłonowska (wife of the recipient, Voivode of Ruthenia Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski), whose successful delivery in Lviv she writes about in the letter. The mentioned 'monsieur son pere' is the author's father-in-law, Grand Hetman of Lithuania Kazimierz Jan Sapieha (the letter refers to the misfortunes of the Sapieha house after the Battle of Olkieniki in 1700).
