Honourabill and loving brother,
I wreat to yow at lenth, first with Hew Dinnisone shortlie efter I cam heir and expectit ane answer with him at his returne sensyne. I wreat at mair lenth the last weik with Magnus Cromertie showing how materis ar heir, and of the necessitie of your awin being heir or Rapnes, and what burding it is for me allone, yea intollerable inrespect of the chairge and of the tymes. I have bein throw the countrey speaking with the Dutches, and cam litle speid becaus they ar scairce of money. I returnit to Scalloway quhair I have bein this 12 dayis attending to resave the wodmell, and a part thairof is nocht come in as yit, the same nocht being readie. Now I must go north agane to end with some of the Dutches who ar readie to go away, and what difficultie is to travell in this countrie this tyme of yeir I have fund it since I cam, both for want of horssis and boatis, the people being fra home at thair fischingis. I mynd, God willing, to returne heir within 8 or 10 dayis to resave the rest of the wodmell. If George Maxwell be come fra Norway I hope ye will use diligence for dispatche of the wodmell. And the tyme of yeir for our own busines heir, and soa doing any thing to the castell is now quhill the dayis is somewhat long. The guidman of Hous showis me he hes ane kill of lyme burnt as Rapnes desyrit him. We expectit ane uther, bot it is nocht. I have sold some of this yeiris wodmell to Walter Cragie, who is going to Norway, for 4 dollours the pak, some in hand and some at his returne. Thomas Maxwell hes bein heir with twa loadingis of timber and boatis this yeir. He hes promeist to give up entrie and pay his customes at home, for he sayis that his master will give him something doun if ye tak courss with him. Ye will sie David McLellane his book of raitis thairanent. I long very much to sie yow, or at least to heir from yow of your weilfair with all our guid freindis, and for good newis from the south countrey, quhilk I beseik God of his mercie to send to his awin glorie and the good of them that fearis him. Swa my dewtie to your self, your bedfellow, and all our good freindis and my wyf also, and wishing yow all health and happines, I remain,
Your loving brother,
A. Smyth.

Scalloway bankis, the 27 of July 1640.