Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1
1627-06-15
I receiued thy kinde lettre, the true Image of thy most louinge heart, breathinge out the faithfull desires of thy sweet sowle, towardes him that prizeth thee aboue all thinges in the world: and blessed be our good God and heauenly father, who of his rich mercye is pleased still to afforde vs matter of ioy and thankfullnesse in the good newes of each others wellfare, and of those which are neere and deare 356vnto us: our onely care must be how to be answearable in our thankfullnesse and walkinge worthy his great mercies. We continue all in health I prayse God: I had a lettre within these 2 dayes from my sonne Jo: who hath been out at sea in verye stormy weather, but is returned safe to Portesmouth: heer is no newes, the Duke is gone to Portesmouth2 and 2 or 3 Londoners comitted, about the Loane. Thus hoping in God that we shall meet on Teusdaye or Wensdaye next, I commende thee and all ours to the grace and blessings of the Lorde, and with my duty to my good mother, and all our louinge salutations to thy selfe, my blessinges to our children, and salutations to all our friendes, I kisse my sweet wife and rest Thine as his owne
The Repulse was at Portsmouth on June 11, on which day the King visited her. The Duke’s arrival is not shown in the records, but he signed an order at Portsmouth on the fifteenth and on the seventeenth the King held a council there, the Lords Admiral being present. The fleet sailed on its ill-fated expedition June 27 and what remained of ships and army returned to Portsmouth and Plymouth early in November. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1627–1628, 212, 217, 222, 231, 423, 431. The Expedition to the Isle of Rhe, a history of the attempt to relieve Rochelle, written by Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, was printed for the Philobiblon Society (London, 1860).
1627-08-22
after my hartye commendationes remembred to your sellfe and to my Ante and Cussenes, thes are to let you vnderstand of my wellfare when I parted with you you did wishe me to keepe the see and to learne experyence in maryneres affayres, in which affayres I haue implyed my studdye and industrye by which studdey and industery I haue attayned to much vnderstandinge and judgement in that bissynese which knowlige I doe purpose god willinge to keepe by me and not forgit but this 3 yeres I doe not purpose to macke muche vse of for I doe intend god willinge to staye here one this Iland caled the Barbathes2 in the west indyes and here I and my servantes to joine in plantinge of tobaccoe which 3573 yeres I hope wilbe very profitable to me for my Captine does offer me and otheres a 100 li. a yere apeece for our labores besides our seruantes sheres we are to haue the benyfit of theli. 10 for sertane goodes that I reseyued of them in the Indyes I praye bid them wellcom for they are my very good frendes and I haue bene much behoulldinge to them. Time will not suffer me to wright of the Cuntrey now but by my fatheres letteres you shall understand of it. Thus hopeinge that you doe remayne in hellthe you and youres craving your prayres I rest your lovinge Cosene
Vnkell I pray pay vnto Robert Dixson 12 s. more thenne the 3 li. 10 s. I pray paye it to them sellues in persone or ellse deliuer it all to mr. Sandes or Anete whoe haues my fatheres letteres
W. 1. 25; 5
Collections
, VIII. 179–180. This letter, Henry Winthrop’s subsequent letter of October 15 (infra, p. 361), and his father’s letter to him of January 30, 1628–29, are reprinted by N. Darnell Davis in his book The Cavaliers and Roundheads of Barbados (Georgetown, British Guiana, 1887), 32–36.
On the settlement of Barbados, see the works of Davis and Harlow named above, p. 338,