Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2
1630-02-26
I blesse God our heauenly father we are all come safe to Maplested, where we finde all in health. I haue nothinge to write to thee, but an expression of my dearest and most faithfull Affection to thee, and my deare children and freindes with thee. Be comfortable and couragious my sweet wife: feare nothinge; I am assured the Lord is with vs, and wilbe with thee, thou shalt finde it in the needfull tyme. Cleaue to thy faithfull Lord and husband Christ Jesus into whose blessed arms I haue putt thee, to whose care I haue and doe commende thee and all thine, once againe I kisse and embrace my sweet wife, farewell. the Lord blesse thee and all thy company. Commend me to all and to all our good freindes and neighbours, and remember munday and frydaye betweene 5. and 6.2 Thy faithfull husband
W. 7 A. 36; Savage (1825), I. 365; (1853), I. 438;
L. and L.
, I. 380–381.
“There is something of poetical beauty, as well as of pious sentiment, in the agreement, which is more than once referred to as having been made between his wife and himself, that they would remember each other every Monday and Friday evening, between the hours of five and six, and 'meet in spirit before the Lord.' Shakspeare, not long before, had put the same thought into the mouth of Imogen."
L. and L.
, I. 377–378.