A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Forth Winthrop to John Winthrop1
Winthrop, Forth Winthrop, John

1627

Most lovinge father

hauinge sich an occasion as the cominge doune of Tho: Archisdem my Chamber fellow and Sir Caly I thought good though 350in some hast to wright to you by reson of the sooddane iourny of these 2: I hope you are all in health as I am here (blessed be god allmighty) whome I humbly beecech to assist me most graciously by his holy sperrit, to run the waies of godlynesse and to shun the venomus and contagious vices of these outragious times, wherein I once was intangled, but hope by the good sperrit of god to fly them more and more, although by my selfe I am vtterly vnable, yet I will not ceasse to put vp my humble petitions and praiers to him that is the Keeper of Israell, and doe likewise desire your praiers for the same: My Tutor sent doune a letter to you a while scins by one Devurux2 whoe receiued it of Tho: Arkisden I not knowinge of it, now scinse this Devurux sent a note to Tho: Archisden that he had forgot the letter, and his oune letter, for belike he sent one to you: I would desire you to send word whether you haue receiued them or noe: for that Deuurux as I heare say doeth vse to take in hand the cariage of letters and opens them and not delivereth them: I suppose you haue heard of the news of our Colledge businesse about the alteringe of a statute of the library3 also that the Duke is about to make for the Vniversity,4 if not, these 2 Sir Caly and Tho: Ark: can certyfy you of them:

Thus with my humble duty remembred to yourselfe and my mother, and loue to the rest of my frends, allwaies desireing your praiers and blessinge in hast I rest: your dutifull and obedient sonne

F: Winthrop.

I would desire you to send me the shoes for which I wrote to you: I haue need of some clothes, for these are worne out: wherefore I would entreat you somtime when you shall see fit to send me vp some stuffe for to make me clothes, or other wise as you shall see most convenient:

1.

W. 1. 22; L. and L. , I. 231–232; 5 Collections , VIII. 190–191.

2.

Peter and Robert Devereux, brothers, of Rattlesden in Suffolk, were students in the University at this time. Venn, A. C. , II. 38; cf. 3 Collections , X. 148.

3.

This was the suspension of the statute of 1587 De mora sociorum, “which enacted that a Fellow should vacate his Fellowship when of the standing of D.D. (ten years from M.A.), or, if he actually took that degree, at the end of a year after doing so.” E. S. Shuckburgh, Emmanuel College (London, 1904), 24, 58–65.

4.

Chancellor of the University from 1626 to his death in 1628. Of his chancellorship Thomas Fuller says only, “This Duke gave the Beadles their old silver Staves, and bestowed better and bigger on the University, with the Kings, and his own Arms insculped thereon.” The History of the University of Cambridge (London, 1655), 164.