Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

311

Lucy Downing to John Winthrop, Jr.1

Downing, Lucy Winthrop, John, Jr.

1641-01-28

To her most honerd nephew Jhon Winthrop esq. this present Boston

Sir,

wee now expect you stay for 6 boyes; you are gone so longe. Indeed wee want your company very sensible: my lady Susan I hear is now deliverd,2 theerfore in poynt of good manners your wife may now presume to be eased of her load allso. If ocasion be for your longer stay I pray sir let georg know I expect him with this bearer Msr. Ruke: or the next conueniencie: allso my husband desiers to know if you will part with some hay that you haue wee are in much want ells. I pray your spediest answeer. I haue experimented the crocus this 2 nights and found much though not a totall fredom of payne theerby. I pray let me know if I may safly aply it to the mould of my head. I thank you much for your aduise, and I pray to my brother allso giue my many thanks and to all my seruis and best wishes is Yours

L. D. Jan. 28 or tuesday 1640/41

all our newes is out of eng: I hope you haue it before vs: wee haue put his grace of canterbury fast in the tower3 and if our St. Peter keeps the keyes his grace is like to coolle his shins ere he gets in this could weather; for we speak only of his confusion and vnpardonable sins.

W. 4. 11; 5 Collections , I. 30–31.

Lydia, daughter of John Humfrey and Susan Clinton (daughter of the Earl of Lincoln), was baptized April 25, 1641. Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, I (Salem, 1916), 456.

Laud was impeached of high treason on December 18, 1640, and was at once sequestered from Parliament by the House of Lords and committed to custody. He was not actually committed to the Tower until March 1, 1640/41. Gardiner, History of England, IX. 249, 297.

John Endecott to John Winthrop1

Endecott, John JW

1641-01-28

To the right Worshipfull and my worthie and much honoured Friend, John Winthrop Esqr. at Boston deliver

Deare Sir,

I called our towne together before your Lettre came seeing the spoile of timber which might serue for many good vses. And the towne agreed not to cutt any great tymber which is fitt for shipping planckes or knees etc. nor any for clapboard within twoe miles of the towne eury way, nor to fell any other timber but for their owne priuate vse.2 I think it were well if the 312Generall Court would make provision heerein. I pray you Sir if you heare any certaine newes by any Lettres concerninge the taking of Newcastle and Durham, and the winter parliament or any other newes out of England, that you will be pleased to let mee vnderstand of it. All the newes comes to your partes first.

I am told that you are sollicited in a busines concerninge the girle3 which was put to my keepinge and trust, whose estate was also committed to the trust of Mr. Hathorne and Mr. Batter. I have not bene made acquainted with it by you know whome, which if there had bene any such intendment I think it had bene but reason. But to let that passe, I pray you aduize not to stirre in it, for it will not be effected for reasons I shall shew you afterwards. The Lord in mercie keepe you and yours, to whose blessed guidance I committ you and rest. Yours truelie and heartily euer to commaund

Jo: Endecott 28 11 mo. 1640/41 1.

Original not located; 4 Collections , VI. 143.

Cf. Hugh Peter and Emmanuel Downing to John Winthrop, January 13, 1640/41 (pages 304–305, above). For earlier timber regulations adopted by Salem, see Essex Institute Historical Collections, Second Series, I, Part I (“Town Records of Salem”), 107–108.

Rebecca Cooper.