A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

265
The Lady Mildmay to Adam Winthrop1
Mildmay, Amy Winthrop, Adam (1548-1623)

1621-08-30

Lovinge Uncle,

my longe silence in not testifienge my thanckefulnes for your kinde letters, and those good bookes, which I then received from you, may give you iust cause to thincke mee unmyndfull of your love: and so all your kindnes bestowed on mee buried in forgetfulness. I doe no we with the acknowledginge of my faulte herein crave pardon; assuringe you, good uncle, that my illnesse, some good time before my deliverance, was the greate cause of my silence. God hath bin wonderfull mercifull unto mee, not onlie in givinge mee safe deliverance, but also in restoringe me to somme strengthe again: so as I have good hope to see you ere longe. Desiringe still the continuance of your good praiers for your nephew, my selfe and all ours: that God woulde more enlighten our hartes with the knowledge of his will, and give us more sinceritie in the performance of it. Thus good uncle with myne and Mr. Mildmaies love remembred unto your selfe and my Aunt, I committe you to God, and to the worde of his grace, Desiringe him to multiplie his favours uppon your selfe and familie; to whose protection I commende you, and will reste ever yours in all love,

Amy Mildmay. From Graces the xxxth of August, 1621.
1.

L. and L. , I. 44. Robert C. Winthrop found this and the three following letters “carefully copied into” a manuscript commonplace book of Adam Winthrop, which, unfortunately, cannot now be found.

Adam Winthrop to the Lady Mildmay1
Winthrop, Adam (1548-1623) Mildmay, Amy

1621

Most lovinge neece

most worthie to be loved and honored alwaies by mee —

I received pure honye, and not bare wordes in the letter which you sente unto mee. The sweetnes whereof dothe so delight mee, that I shall never forget the remembrance of your love therein expressed. I knowe not howe to value the price thereof beinge so effectuallie and lovinglie shewed: but to recompence it with the like (thoughe I gladely woulde) I finde my selfe not able. For you have ministered unto me a nue occasion to augment my desire to love you, and to admire those excellent giftes and graces of wisdome and learninge, which I nowe plainelie see to bee in you. Wherefore I thincke myselfe happie to inioye your love, and acknowledge it for a 266great blessinge that you vouchsafe to thincke me worthie of it. The which I doe faithfullie vowe by all meanes to preserve and maintaine so long as we live together in this transitory life.

Adam Winthrop.
1.

L. and L. , I. 45. See previous note.