Letter – William Blackett to James Standsfield – 21 Apr 1676

      Newcastle 21 Aprill 1676

Honnored Sr

      I hope this will find you in good Health returned Home from your Progress . I doe not question but you would be so Curious as to goe & give Wanloch head a viszit tho I were not thair & doubtless you will as most men doe judge it hopefull but ear We can expeckt any good Care must be taken for Wood <na> & that suffecient for our Leds or the mine will not be worth looking after. Thairfor my Ld Carnwath must be looked for in time leest our Adversaries the Ld Hopton & others to hinder us, get it not from us, so you would doe well to Consult my Ld Queensberry & Hugh Wallace the Writter about that affaire & if please god do bless me I wilbe at Sanequar ag[ain]st Whitsontyde  which is at or about 14 or 15 May next, where if you doe not meat me I declare I wil come no more.

      I pd all our men off til 1 April & if I had not had mony besides your £40 they could not have been cleared. I found nothing but <Idlenes & Emrilation> amongst them Soe that I steered an other cours with them & let 4 of the men 80 fadam Deviding & Sincking on Pilton Grang & other 4 men <20> fadam at  the same Rake but called red grounds which I have to spare. I ordered John to set them on to drive the lavall below the hous to the old man's schaft who hath been but a Mear Fool in minerry if those men performe thair bargins at Pillon Grang etc they wil have a good som ame to reich if they have don agst Whitsontyd for I pay them 7 & 6 d a faddam. so praye faile not to send or bring along with you a good som of mony not only to pay the men thair wages but to stock the land I took of my Ld which lys for our Advantidg & it was requisit we should have it as I shall satisfie you at meeting besids we have the wood to pay for got of my Ld who I would not agre with til I spoke with you & I must also desier  of  you to send up to Wanlock head by the first  3 Carts with the following things - one with 30 stone of fine narrow flat iron & 1 barrel of hering, one with 30 stone of ordinary flat iron good mettel as <you> find must be, and 1 barrel of Herings, one with 30 ordinary Daels & 100 lb of Candels and if you please send John Curtice up <£12 stlg> to pay for bringing in of neccesarys for the Groves etc & send a note to me of all those things. praye faile not in sending these things for we shall want them if you leve out anything send 2 halfe barrels of herings for the 2 whole ones but then the more iron, which pray let be good mettell being to make hoops for tubs & chanes of so must be tough. Let me have a line from you in answer to this & that you wil meet me or we shall fall out.

      Vermuyden standing not to his part nor like to come I hope I may be more concerned in the Grove if not I shall not take the paines I have taken under a good & larg sallery for its Chargeable traveling thether & they know me most cursedly that road, Hors hire & Expences cost me last voidge tho I was sick & not able to eat or Drinck £10-2 & got nothing but rotten aile wors hay & oats.

      I should also Desier to know From you & the m[aste]r of the mint what you Intend to Doe about glenlyon & Eagel and When I may Expeckt my monys for my Disburs for you & him when I understand your Resolution I shal forbear & remaine as it is - I rest

      Wm Blackett



[annotated at foot:] April 21st 1676 Stockholm Mr. Wm Blackett anent takeing the grasse Rome of the Earls of Queensberry & to have a greater share in the Leade+works. Upon Vermuden not standing to his pt if not hee shall not take the paines hee hath under a good sallary