Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

John Wilson1 to John Winthrop2

Wilson, John Winthrop, John

1628-02-03

To the Worshipfull his very good Frinde John Winthorpe, Esquire, at mr. Downings house in Peterborough Court these dd.

Good Sir, my very good respect to you.

The time is nowe come, wherein ther will be and is (as I suppose) great need of of your counsell and helpe, about mr. Howes3 sonnes wardship.4 that it may be so disposed of and settled as may be for the best good of the ward and of the estate, that no hungry catchpole may gett in, to fish there at his pleasure. We are somewhat afrayde still of Hedge, (lest some Frind may helpe him, for ther owne turne sake and aduantage.) but ther will be oath taken sufficient against his prodigall wastfullnes, and extreame pouertie. William5 Hasell6 (master Baylie nowe of Sudbury) hath found the office, and we make account that he is or shall be the Guardian. who (if any) is fitt yea most fitt for the purpose, for the great confidence Mr. Howe had in him. for his approued conscience, and fidelity, and loue to the ward. Singular wisedome and discretion for the managing of his affaires. I beseech you therfore to assist him (and to procure them, where ther shall be need of) your good Brother mr. Downinges assistance, that they may obtayne thinges at a Reasonable Rate, (they beinge dulie countable for any paynes, aduise, or frindship afforded to them). I need not stirre you vp in so good a Busines. you knowe who is the father of the fatherles and Rewarder of ther frindes. Howe glad would we be in the like case, that ours should meete with good Frendes. For my owne part (as mr. Howe was my very well beloued and esteemed good frind so) should I be very glad, to see a good Issue of the matter, and hartily thankefull, to the furtherers therof. But alas! what times are these! No man knowes what is his owne, or whither that he hath, be not kept for the enemies of god? and of our peace.

The good lord turne our hartes to him. and prepare vs to meete him, in true Repentance, and heare the Sighes and Teares of his people, (so many thousandes,) for Christs sake, what hope is left vs, but his mercie? The lord be with you. Your verie louinge Frind at command,

John Wilson. Febr. 3. 16287 n.s Sudburie. 1.

John Wilson (ca. 1590–1667), famous Puritan clergyman, scholar of Eton, scholar and fellow of King's College, Cambridge; teacher and pastor of the First Church, Boston, 1632–67.

W. 3. 1; 4 Collections , VII. 1–2.

“Mr. Robert Howe, Counselman, bearing the office of the Mayor, buried in the Churchyard. He lived very religiously, and died very much lamented by the inhabitants of the towne; being buried viii October, 1627.” First volume of the Register of All Saints Church, Sudbury, quoted by Charles Badham, The History and Antiquities of All Saints Church, Sudbury (London, 1852), 118. Robert Howe was bailiff of Sudbury, 1616–17, and mayor, 1621–22 and 1624–25. Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, Proceedings , XIII. (1909), 290, 291, 292.

On this wardship see supra, p. 38.

Before “William,” “Goodman” is cancelled.

Mentioned above, p. 38. Bailiff of Sudbury, 1627–28, and mayor, 1630–31 and 1639–40. Vincent Cocke is recorded as bailiff for 1628–29. Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, Proceedings , XIII. 292, 293, 294, 310. “The family of the Hasells was an influential one for several generations in the town, and many of the members were buried in All Saints' church, and others in S. Gregory's churchyard.” W. W. Hodson, ibid., VII. (1891), 32.

That the date is February 3, 1627–28, not 1628–29, is shown by the following evidences: (1) the date of Robert Howes' death (page 57, note 3); (2) the date “Hill: 3: Caroli,” i.e., January-February, 1627–28, in the charges in this case entered by Winthrop in his Notebook (supra, p. 38); (3) the mention of Hasell as bailiff of Sudbury, his term beginning in September or October, 1627, and ending at a like time in 1628.

Margaret Winthrop to John Winthrop1

Winthrop, Margaret Winthrop, John

1628-02-04

To my very loving Husband John Winthrop Esquire at Mr. Downinges. dd

Ca. February 4, 1627–28. 2 My most deare and loueinge Husband

I doe blesse and prayse god for the continuance of your health, and for the safe deliuery of my good sister Downinge,3 it was very welcom Nuse to us. I thanke the lord wee are all heare resonably well my pore Stephen is vp to day. Ame hath had a very sore Ague but is well againe. I hope the lorde will heare our prayers and be pleased to stay his hand in this visitasion which if he please to doe we shall haue great cause of thankfulnesse. but I desire in this and all other things to submit vnto his holy will, it is the lord let him doe what semeth good in his owne eyse. he will doe nothinge but that shall be for our good if we had harts to thust sic in him, and all shall be for the best what soeuer it shall please him to excersise vs with all. he wounds and he can heale. he hath neuer fayled to doe vs good, and now he will not shake vs of but continue the same god still that he hath bin heare to fore the lorde santify vnto 59vs what soeuer it shall please him to send vnto vs that we may be the better for it and furthered in our corce to heauen. I am sorye for the hard condishtion of Rochell. the lord helpe them and fite for them and then none shall preuayle against them or ouercome them, in vaine thay fite that fite against the lorde who is a myty god and will destroye all his enimyes and now my deare husband I haue nothinge but my dearest affections to send thee with many thankes for my sic kinde letters prayinge you to except a little for a great deale my will is good but that I want abilite how to show and expresse it to thee as I desire I pray remember me to my brothers and sisters and tel my brother Foones I thanke him for the thinges he sent, and so I bid my good husband farwell and commite him to god Your loueinge and obedient wife

Margaret Winthrope

I send vp a turkeye and 2 capons and a cheese the carier is payde

W. Au. 34; L. and L. , I. 281–282; Twichell, Puritan Love-Letters , 90–92.

Robert Charles Winthrop placed this letter a year later, no doubt because of the reference to the illness of Amy the servant (Vol. I. 413). Such a time, however, would be inconsistent with the reference to “the continuance of your health”; while the date is fixed pretty definitely by a baptismal entry in the Register of St. Bride's, Fleet Street: “3 Feb. 1627/8. Joshua sonn to Emmanuell Downing Gent: wyef Luce.” It is reasonable to assume that the birth was during the week preceding the Sunday baptism, and that Margaret's answer to her husband's letter was written not far from the succeeding Monday, February 4. The reference to La Rochelle is also decisive, since that town capitulated October 28, 1628, after a siege of fifteen months.

See the preceding note.