Digital SourcesAI-assisted archival digitisation project

132/1/739 · 739-005

Letter from John Murray to Arthur Forbes regarding fish and morocco leather boots

John Murray (signature: Johne murray) Mr Arthur Forbes, merchant in Lwów
15 February 1606 · Tarnów

John Murray writes from Tarnów to the Lwów merchant Arthur Forbes concerning an undelivered barrel of fish, which a carter unlawfully took to Kraków, and requests the purchase of two 'warninka' vessels. He also orders thirty pairs of red morocco leather boots, suggesting they be sent hidden in a fish barrel to avoid extra costs.

AI-assisted edition. Readings must be checked against the original.

Translation / modern text

[P. 10] Mr. Arthur Forbes: In the year 1606, on the 15th of February, in Tarnów Sir and most gracious friend, greetings. I have received your letter from Lwów and another from Kraków from Pat Forbes, in which you both write the same thing, that you are sending me a barrel of fish, which fish the carter Treszka took to Kraków and did not arrive to me with the letter; but if I knew him, I would teach him a lesson. Since things are as they are, I do not care for more fish in barrels, because [...] fish in four parts [...]; only if that Carnadin took my two 'warninka' vessels, I ask you most kindly to buy them for me – a 'warninka' for at most 20 [...]: one for my son-in-law, the other for myself. And whatever you spend, I will gratefully repay from your commission money. And give that man the fish to the city, so that no one knows to whom they belong; do not write anyone's name on them, only on [...] those 'warninka' vessels. I ask for your kindness towards that man, who is called Zazowski. And awaiting your reply, I commend you to God's gracious care. Sir, your most kind friend and servant, Johne Murray Postscript: I kindly ask you to buy me [...] 30 pairs of red morocco leather boots, if they are 5 [...] – at most 6, and send them with that Carnadin, who will come for the fish [...], and put them for him in a barrel, that is, a barrel after the fish [...] fish, and he will bring them to Tarnów without costs. Therefore, in haste, I remain your devoted friend, Johne Murray [P. 11, address:] To Mr. Arthur Forbes, merchant in Lwów

Original wording — transcription

[S. 10] Mr Arthur Forbes: A[nn]o 1606 d[ay] 15 febr[ruarij] In Tarnow S[i]r and werie looweng freind salut yor S[i]r from Ilwowa and ane oder from Krako from Pat forbes I haw resaewed wharin yea writ alyke, yeat ye send me ane fat of fish, which fish ye furman Treszka did talk to Croko and did not com to me w[i]t[h] the letter bot if I knew him I sould learne him mol seeng it be so I cair not for moe: fish in Barrels: becaus yt is noes fish in four pairts weg to feel onlie if yeis Carnadin will tak me two warninka yeon I pray yow most kindlie to by me them. the warninka at phw: 0/h 20 at the maist ye for my good sone ane oder for my self: and what you gib out I sall gib of to yor commiß money w[i]t[h] teanks. and gif yeis man ye fish into the Toun yt no man sall knaw to whom they belong, writ noo manes nam wpone them onlie wpon the grittyis of the warninkai I pray yow to be kind to theys man they call Zazowsky. and expecting yor answer I ond recommend yow to godis looein protection S[i]r yor weree wyssing freind and servant Johne murray P: S: I intreat yow kindlie to by me yhrait[?] yeys pyreist[?] can talk them wite to by 30 pair of reid saffiane boots. if they be at ps: 0/h 5 - at the maistolh: 6: and send ym w[i]t[h] yeis Carnadin yat will com for fysh to the findont[?] and to get him ym into ane barrell yt is ane fish barrell sew feid of fish and he will bring ym to Tarnowa w[i]t[h]out exspensis. so in haist I rest yur eall freind Johne murray [S. 11, adres:] For Mr Arthur forbes merchant In Leopol

Reading notes

[Polish; translation pending] List Johna Murraya z Tarnowa do Artura Forbesa we Lwowie. Dalszy ciąg sprawy z furmanem Treszką, który powiózł ryby do Krakowa; zamówienie dwóch warnianek (warninka/warnenka) oraz 30 par butów z czerwonego safianu (reid saffiane boots), które mają być ukryte i przetransportowane w beczce po rybach przez furmana/posłańca Zazowskiego. Ślady pieczęci lakowej.

Scope of the edition: Automatic reading (15.10.2026), unverified against the original by a human; illegible fragments marked [...].

ekstrakcja: 15.10.2026 10:46 · model: gemini-3.8-flash

Other letters in this unit

132/1/739 · 5 dokumentów

  1. Letter from John Murray to Arthur Forbes regarding the shipment of goods by wagon · 30 July 1605
  2. Letter from John Murray to Arthur Forbes regarding the recovery of a debt note · January 21, 1606
  3. Letter from John Murray to Arthur Forbes regarding settlements and delivery of goods · February 1, 1606
  4. Letter from John Murray to merchant Arthur Forbes regarding an undelivered shipment of fish · 11 February 1606
  5. Letter from John Murray to Arthur Forbes regarding fish and morocco leather boots (this letter) · 15 February 1606
Report a transcription error

Quote the passage and suggest a correction. Your report concerns this document.

Original scan

132/1/739 · preview starts at PDF page 10

If the preview does not load or is too small on your phone, open the PDF directly.