A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

John Winthrop to Sir Robert Crane1
Winthrop, John Crane, Robert

1626-01-14

To the right worshipfull Sir Robert Crane knight at Burye St. Edmunds dd.
from London January 14. 1625–26. Right worthy Sir,

Since I parted from you, I heard of a motion made by a gentleman of our Countye for Electing Sir Robert Nanton the master of the wardes to be one of the knightes for our Countye, so as havinge Conference with my broth: Down: about it, we have thought fitt to moue your selfe and some others in it, I suppose there wilbe no exception against him, except for that he is a privie Counseller, which may easyly be removed by consideration of what he hathe formerly suffered for the Common-wealthe: and you well knowe of what vse the favour and helpe of suche an honorable person may be, in the Causes of our Countye especially for our Clothiers; as for his greatnesse that need not discourage them, for besides, that I knowe, he beares a speciall affection to our Countrye, (and would take it as the greatest honor that could befall him in this kinde, to have this testimonye of their love to him againe) I dare vndertake, for their readye accesse to him at tymes convenient;

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If you approve of this motion, I desire you would please to propounde it to the other gentlemen at Sessions, and if you thinke good to write to Ipswich or any other place about it, the master shalbe certified of your care and paines about it, who (I knowe) will take it verye kindly from you, and will be thankfull to you; for a meet person to be ioyned with him, I could wishe your selfe would take it vpon you,2 but if you like to refuse, some eminent and discreet person would be thought of; if it were one of the deputy Leiutenantes it were the better, and it might be of good vse if some of the gentlemen of the leiutenantie were moved for their assistance: If you please you may thinke of Sir Nath: Barnardiston tho he be out of the Countye.

Having diverse lettres to dispatche I cannot write to you as I desire, for news there is none certaine but of the putting of the coronation till maye and then to be performed privately: and of order taken with the Bishops to proceed with the Papists by Ecclesiasticall Censures: and so with remembrance of my humble service to you, I take leave and rest allwayes yours to be commanded

John Winthrop.
1.

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS. Tanner 72, fo. 69 v; W. S. Appleton, Memorials of the Cranes of Chilton (Cambridge, Mass., 1868), 75–76.

2.

Naunton and Crane were elected to represent Suffolk in the Parliament of 1625–26. Parliamentary Papers, 1878, LXII, pt. 1, 471.