A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

John Winthrop’s Experiencia

February 1607

Deed, 1611

1 October 1611
Death of the Lady Mary, 16071
Winthrop, Adam (1548-1623)

1607-09

Of the manner of the death of the Lady Marye the Kinges Maiesties youngest daughter.

Suche was the manner of her deathe, as bred a kinde of admiration in al that were present to beholde it. For wheras the nue tuned Organs of her speeche by reason of her wearysome and teadious sicknes had bin soe greatly weakened, that for the space of 12 or 14 houres at the least ther was no sound of any worde hearde breaking from her lyps: yet when it sensibly appered that she should sone make a peaceable end of a troublesome lyfe, she sight out these wordes. I goe I goe. and when not long after ther was something minstred vnto her by those that attended her in the tyme of her sicknes: fastninge her eye vppon them with a Constant looke, againe she repeated, Awaye I goe. And yet a third tyme, almost immeadiately before she offered vp her selfe a sweete Virgin sacryfice vnto him that made her, faintly she 170cryed: I goe, I goe. The more strange did this appere to them that heard it, in that it was almost incredibly sic that so muche vigour should stil remayne in so weake a body, and wheras she had vsed many other woordes in the tyme of her extremitye: yet that nowe at last (as if directed by supernatural inspiration) shee did so aptly vtter theise, and none but theise.

This noble lady lyued 2 y. and blank monethes, and died the blank day of Sept. 1607 and was buryed in King Henry the 7 Chappel the 23 of the same monethe.

Indorsed: “September 1607 Lady Marys death”

1.

W. Au. 3a. In the hand of Adam Winthrop. The Lady Mary was born at Greenwich, April 8, 1605, “for Joy whereof the next day after the Cittizens of London made bonefiers through out London, and the bells continued ringing all the whole day.” She died September 16, 1607, at Stanwell, co. Middlesex, the seat of Thomas Knyvet, Lord Knyvet of Escrick, who, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Roland Hayward and widow of Richard Warren of Essex, had been charged with her nurture and education. John Stow, Annales, or Generall Chronicle of England, continued by Edmond Howes (London, 1615), 862, 892; Edmund Lodge, Illustrations of British History, Biography, and Manners, 2d ed. (London, 1838), III. 199–201, 204; D. N. B. , XXXI. 340.