Letter – Edward Lethart to James Standsfield – 14 May 1679

Honourd Sr  I have by order of Mr William Blackett made out this last five weeks account which I here Inclose & send you amounting to in all £35-08-09 sterling. Mr Blackett hath payd his 1/4  pt  & your 3/4 part comes to £26-11-06 3/4 which if you please you may send me out by the bearer that I may make a clear pay because Mr Blackett hath altered the mens wages & turned some of them of & will have noe more to work til summer then 12 pickmen 15 labourers and 5 washers and knockers of oare. we shall stand need of more Labourers which I shall Indeavour to procure at as easy a rate as I can.



[The next section appears to have been written later]

Honoured Master I am to make you accquainted that he hath ordered me to turne of Thos Errington and Nichlast  Deblish and likewise he hath brought Georg Howard to 10d a day in regard he hath taken twoe pence of all the Pickmen's wages except Thos Snowball which he hath ordered to be smith, which I think is the fittest man to take charge of any thing when I am absent if your Honour think it . Likewise I understand by Charles Jay<ces> owne report your Honour is pleased to make him overseer about the works when I am any wayes busyed abroad about your Honours concernes wch neither Mr Blackett nor I think him capable to undergoe likewise the workpeople thinks very much that he should be any way concerned in that way for he hath soe many foolish conceits in his braine that he will doe nothing but stir up discord amongst them. Likewise as for his workmanship it is not as he report of himselfe <yet> what is your Honour's pleasure I shall fulfill to the very utmost of my power. Mr Blackett hath left me orders to cut of  Cushogle wood both for the work or building houses for the workpeople either and he saith that he hath noe desire to cutt any in Alwick wood as yett if god willing as soone as we gett wood in we shall fall to sink the shaft we are carrying on the low Levill as fast as we can thinking to gett  <…> it near to the Levill that comes downe the feild and soe to sett our shaft in the forehead that goes downe the feild and then to put downe a <turne> to the low levill wch will be a great deall less sharpe and convenienter for the work if we can gett them near together as I hope we shall soe desireing your Honour will be pleased to send me word by the bearer Tho: Snowball concerning every pticular that I shall doe and <with>  gods assistance I shall perform to my power I rest your Honour's very 

humble servant till death Edward Lethatt



[A note added at the bottom, in a different ink and possibly from a different hand:] 

The wood in the shaft & drift in the black hole end to be drawne for your present use in putting downe the shaft at Belton graine in caisse <you> finde noe hope of carrieing itt on.



[outer leaf:] His Most Honoured Master Sir James Standfeild Knight at his place in Edenbrough