A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1

John Winthrop to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Winthrop, John Winthrop, John, Jr.

1623-10-03

To my beloued sonne John Winthrop at Trin: Colledge in Dublin Ireland DD Receyved November 14 1623
My welbeloued sonne,

I beseech our God and heavenly father throughe Christ to blesse thee and I humbly prayse his holy name, for his great mercie towardes thee hitherto, which is a great occasion of my reioicinge: for there is nothinge in this world that can be like cause of private comfort to me as to see the wellfare of my children, especially when I may have hope that they belonge to Christ, and increase his kingdome, and that I shall meet them in glorie to inioye them in Life eternall, when this shade of Life shalbe vanished. labour (my deare sonne) to have in high esteeme the favour of this God, whose blessinge is better than Life, and reachethe to eternitye; make him thy ioye, by trustinge in him with all thy heart, and nourish the peace of a pure conscience in an vndefiled bodye: I am gladd 289allso to heare that thou declinest the evill companye and manners of the place thou livest in, and followest thy studye with good fruit: goe on and God will still prosper thee, to fall back wilbe farre worse then never to have begunne, but I hope better of thee. your Grandmother and mother brothers and sister, are in healthe (I prayse God) how we doe all heere at London this bearer can tell you; your vncle Fones wishes well to you I would have you write him a lattine epistle at your leysure. you must be carefull to visite your Aunt, and helpe hir to be cheerfull in this tyme of your vnckles absence. Comend me heartyly to your Reverend Tutor: and think not of seeinge England till you may bringe a hood at your backe. It shall satisfie me in the meane tyme to heare of your wellfare, which I dayly pray for, and so I commend thee to the Lord and rest Thy lovinge father

John Winthrop London Octob: 3. 1623

I send 2 bookes by Richard one of them is for your Aunt the other for your selfe, read it ouer and againe and God giue a blessinge with it.

1.

W. 7A. 13; Savage (1825), I. 343–344; (1853), I. 412; L. and L. , I. 182–183.

Henry Winthrop to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Winthrop, Henry Winthrop, John, Jr.

1623-10-04

To his verie lovinge brother Mr. John Winthrop in Deblin in Ierlonde Deliver this.
Most loving brother

my hartie loue remembred vnto you and to my ant. I haue takinge occatione to write vnto yow to giue you to vnderstan that i ame in good helthe, as I hope yow are hauinge not hearde of yow of a longe time vntile my unckele2 came ouer and when I heard he wase com ouer I hoped I shold haue sene yow her and if it sholde haue bene I sholde haue bene verie glad for i doeth make longe to see yow and I doe desier yow that yow wold not be offended that I haue not write vnto you of a long time for i do not doute but youe know how it is with me that I haue dwelte with my cosen barfoot3 this daie: 5 monthes, and therefore my not riting vnto yow it is not for lacke of loue but of time and thus desiringe to here of your welfare and that you wold take the paines to rite vnto me sometimes that i mite here of your wellfare and thus thankinge 290yow for all your loue wich yow haue showed vnto me even frome our bearthe and thus committeinge yow to the protection of all mytie god I rest

Your louinge brother Henry Winthrop

desiring yow to pardone my brefe ritinge for it was not for wante of paper but of time

Ritene from london the 4 of october 1623

Indorsed by John Winthrop, Jr.: “Receyved November 14: 1623”

1.

W. 1. 9; 5 Collections , VIII. 178–179.

2.

Emmanuel Downing.

3.

Cf. p. 291, infra.