A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

254
John Winthrop to Margaret Winthrop1
Winthrop, John Winthrop, Margaret

1620

To my verye lovinge wife Mrs. Winthrop at muche maplested in Essex dd
1620 My sweet wife,

I beseeche our good God to blesse thee euer, I am gladd to heare of thy welfare, and doe thinke very longe to see thee, but I must now staye vntill a convenient tyme, tomorrow Mr. Sandes preachethe with vs, and if I should be from home I knowe not howe some would take it, but my purpose was to have come to thee in the afternoone, till I considered that you would not be conveniently lodged by reason of thy brother Arth: sickness (although for my parte any would content me) so as I thinke fitter to come, on Wensdaye morninge, and so to goe dine at Dines hall2 and home in the afternoone, for I must of necessitye be at home vpon thursdaye, because I must meet Mr. Gurdon at Boxford in the morninge, and after dinner my sister Luce must ride to Mrs. Bacons. I praye God send vs a comfortable meetinge, and a prosperous iournye, which he will surely doe, if we depende on him, with resolution, to be stirred vp by his benefits to love and serve him better. O what great cause have we to love him aboue thousandes whose portion in all good thinges is farre inferiour to ours, althoughe this alone were sufficient to enforce vs to love him with all our heartes, that he hathe redeemed vs from hell, and appointed vs to eternall happinesse, when we were as deeply vnder the curse as the most reprobate. Let our prayer be (my good wife) that he would quicken vp the faithe, and feelinge of these things in vs, that at length we might come to take as muche delight in the meditation and excercise of heavenly thinges as the most covetous earthlinge dothe in his landes and goodes.

Thy lovinge husband JoWinthrop

Till we meet, farewell my sweet wife. If I should not fetche thee vntill thou dides write to me for that ende, I mervaile how longe thou wouldst stay there.

Father mother etc comend their love to thee and all the rest remember my dutye and love, as thou knowest etc. my mother hathe been ill at ease ever since thou wentest, but is now better, I prayse God

1.

W. 1. 4; L. and L. , I. 161–162.

2.

Dynes Hall, the principal manor of Great Maplestead, then the seat of Sir John Deane, a son of Lady Tyndal by her first husband. Morant, Essex, II. 278.