A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

Margaret Winthrop to John Winthrop1
Winthrop, Margaret Winthrop, John

1628-05-01

To mr. J W at mr. Downinges London dd
Louinge and most deare Husband

now in this solytary and vncomfortable time of your longe absence, I haue no other meanes to shew my loue but in theese poore fruts of my pen, with which I am not able to expresse my loue as I desire. but I shall endeavor allwaies to make my duty knowne to you in some measure though not answearable to your deserts and loue. although it pleseth god to part vs for a time, I hope he will bringe vs together againe and so prouide that we may not be often asunder, if it may be for our good and his glory, and now I thinke longe to heare of thee and of your safe cominge to london. I will not looke for any longe letters this terme because I pitty your poore hande if I had it heare I woulde make more of it then euer I did. and bynde it vp very softly for feare of hurting it. but I dout not but you haue better helpes. I thanke god wee are all heare in health, onely little Sam. who hath bin very sick. but I hope he will doe well againne. I am glad I did not weane him for he will now take nothinge but the brest. thus it pleaseth the lord to excersise vs with one affliction after another in loue. lest wee should forget our selues and loue this world to much. and not set our affections on heauen wheare all true happynes is for euer. I thinke to right to thee the latter end of this weeke by mr. 392Brand, and so I will now rite the lesse. I receued a letter from my sonne John I pray tel him I thanke him hartyly for it and will take some other time to rite to him though I cannot now. Joseph Cole is come home, and thus with my mothers and my owne best loue to you and the rest of our frends I commit you to the lord and rest Your obedient Wife

Margaret Winthrop May. 1. 1628

I did receaue a speach of Sir John Elliott2 which I thinke mr. borros sent you I haue not sent it vp thinkinge you may meete with the same at London. Forth and Mary and the rest of our children remember thear duty to you and theare loue to theare brother John and all thear cosins

1.

W. 1. 36; L. and L. , I. 260–261; Twichell, 85–87.

2.

No speech by Eliot appears to have been printed at this time and it probably also circulated in manuscript. The reference may be to the Speaker’s address, mentioned supra, p. 360 .