Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4Note: you've followed an index reference to a note that, due to changes between the print and digital editions, may no longer be on page 9. Please look at all notes at the end of the document or documents on page 9.

John Winthrop to William Coddington, John Coggeshall, and William Colburn1

JW Coddington, William Coggeshall, John Colburn, William

1638-01-15

To my worthy friends and beloued brethren mr. Coddington, mr. Coxall and mr. Colburn

beloved Brethren,

I mett lately with the Remonstrance subscribed by yourselves with others I must confess I saw it once before, but had not then tyme to reade it advisedly, as now I have. I hope soon (by Gods assistance) to make it appear, what wrong hath been done to the Court yea and to the truth it self, by that rashe, unwarranted and seditious enterprise: In the mean tyme I thought fitt, to advertise you of some miscarriages therein: and though your Countenancing of others in the like practice leaves me small hope, that you will hearken to my counsel in this, yet in discharge of 9my duty and brotherly respect towards you, I have given this attempt, and shall leave the success to God.

1: In this you have broke the bounds of your calling, that you did publish such a writinge, when you were no members of the Court.

2: In that you tax the Court with iniustice.

3: In that you affirm that all the Acts of that maior part of that Court are voide, whereby you goe about, to overthrow the foundation of our Commonwealth and the peace thereof: by turning all our magistrates out of Office, and by nullifying all our Laws.

4. In that you invite the bodye of the people, to ioyn with you in your seditious attempt against the Court, and the Authority here established against the rule of the Apostle, who requires every soule to be subiect to the higher powers and every Christian man, to studye to be quiet, and to meddle with his own business.

I earnestly desire you, to consider seriously of these things: and if it please the Lord to open your eyes, to see your failings, it wilbe much ioy to me, and (I doubt not but) the Court wilbe very redy to pass them by, and accept of your submission, and it may be a meanes of a further and firmer reconciliation, which the Lord grant, and in his good tyme effect, so I rest your loving brother

J:W: XIth 15: 1637/38 2 1.

W. 1. 120; Savage (1825), 403–404; (1853), I. 483–484; L. and L. , II. 214–215. For Coddington, see D.A.B. ; Emily Coddington Williams, William Coddington of Rhode Island (Newport, R. I., 1941). For Coggeshall, see Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, I. 421. For Colburn, see ibid., 423.

The date of this letter arouses doubt as to whether Charles Francis Adams was correct in saying that it relates to the Remonstrance submitted to the Massachusetts General Court on behalf of John Wheelwright in March, 1636/37. Charles Francis Adams, Antinomianism in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1636–1638 (Prince Society, Boston, 1894), 135n.–136n. Winthrop invariably used the old-style calendar. This date, therefore, is January 15, 1637/38. It indeed seems strange that Winthrop, writing ten months after the appearance of the Remonstrance, could, in view of all that had transpired during that period, say that he had only recently had time to read the document carefully. This difficulty would not be wholly avoided if it were to be assumed that Winthrop had dated this letter according to the new-style calendar; but certainly the date November 15, 1637, is more plausible because of its proximity to the date of the trial of Mrs. Hutchinson. If one accepts an old-style date for the letter, it seems more reasonable to assume that Winthrop was referring to some document, now lost, occasioned by some later phase of the Antinomian controversy, during all of which all three addressees were openly aligned on the side of Wheelwright and Mrs. Hutchinson.

John Winthrop to John Winthrop, Jr.1

JW Winthrop, John, Jr.

1638-01-22

To his verye lovinge sonne Mr. John Winthrop at Ipswich deliver

My good sonne,

I received your Lettre, and doe heartyly reioyce and blesse the Lord for his mercifull providence towards vs all in deliuering your wife 10from so greate a danger. the Lord make us truly thankfull: and I hope it will teach my daughter and other woemen to take heed of puttinge pinnes in the mouth, which was never seasonable to be fedd with such morsells: I can write you no newes onely we had letters from Conectecott, where they were shutt vp with snowe aboue a month since: and we at Boston were almost readye to breake vp for want of wood, but that it pleased the Lorde to open the Bay (which was so frozen as men went ouer it in all places) and mitigate the rigor of the season blessed be his name: on fryday was fortnight a pinnace was cast away vpon Longe Iland by Natascott, and mr. Babbe and others which were in her came home upon the Ice: we have had one man frozen to death: and some others have lost their fingers and toes: 7 men were carried out to sea in a little rotten skiffe and kept there 24 houers without foode or fire, and at last gat to pullen point.

we have appointed the general Court the 12 of the 1 month. we shall expect you heere before the Court of Assistants. so with all hearty salutations from my self and your mother to your self and wife and little Betty and all our good friends with you I commende you to the blessing of the Lord and rest Your loving father

Jo: W: XIth 22: 1637/38

I send you herein the warrants for Ipswich and Newbury. commend me to your brother and sister Dudly.

W. 7A. 60; Savage (1825), 393–394; (1853), I. 472–473; L. and L. , II. 217–218.