Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 1
1623-11-11
I perceive my last weekes lettre was not come to your handes when yours was written, tho’ I doubt not but since it is, and therefore I will spare to write of any thinge in that: my mother (I prayse God) is well recovered and remembers hir love to you and to my good sister, and so dothe my wife, and we all are gladd of the continuance of your healthes and of all yours. If my Brother Downinge goe for Irelande so suddainly, I thinke I shall not see you this winter. I have assigned Haxall 2 trees which stande in the ditche waye between mr. Brande and you, we estimated them (being stubbed) at 2 lodes and 1/2 so that, what he hathe more than his allowance now must be abated at the next assignment (which he is well content with) if vpon sisinge by workmen they fall out to be more. In that fence, there be divers places, where it cannot be discerned that there hathe been any ditche or bancke, so as I have a purpose to meet mr. Brande there one day, and have it viewed and agreed vpon. I wrote you in my last that Peyton hall2 wilbe sould, it is now offered to any that will buye it, the rent is 300 li. per an. and his price is 6000 li.: but he must come downe a great deale, if he will sell it togither, which (I thinke) will make him in the ende to parcell it out, which yet he is not willinge to doe: I heare that it is all Soccage tenure (except 40 acres) it is good lande but very bare of wood and no royalty or other advantage 291belonginge to it, nor any building, and farre from Churche, which defects, I suppose, will discourage any great purchaser, and Sir David must needs sell, and that speedylye. Thus with my heartyest salutations to your selfe, my sister and all yours, I comend you to grace and blessing of our heavenly father, who keepe and guide vs in all our wayes, to feare and trust in him, so I rest your lovinge brother
I praye when you goe by Pouls buye me the book of the relation of the Blackfryars accident.3 and remember my Reseite of Hande.
you shall receive by Welles a Rundlett of our Sider, it wilbe fitt to drink by Christyde, and if you like it, you shall have more in Lent when I broache my hoggeshead.
Broache it not to lowe at first because the groundes are in it, you shall not need open it for there is mustardseed in it allreadye.
W. 1. 10;
L. and L.
, I. 201–202. “The address of this letter, and those of many others which precede and follow it seem to have been torn off for the sake of the paper; probably on this side of the ocean, owing to the scarcity of the commodity in New England in the early days of the Colony.”
L. and L.
, I. 201, note.
Peyton Hall was in Boxford and belonged to the Peyton family that removed to Isleham, co. Cambridge. Visitation of Cambridge (H. S., Pub.
, XLI), 3–5.
The book here referred to was entered at Stationers’ Hall, October 30, by Richard Whittaker, under the title of The fatall Vesper: or a Relacon of that which hapned vpon Sondaie last being the 26. of October in Blackfryers. London. Registers of the Company of Stationers (ed. Arber), IV. 106. Writing to Sir Dudley Carleton on November 8, John Chamberlain said the house which fell was next to the French Ambassador’s, and contained a number assembled to celebrate mass and hear Father Robert Drury, a famous Jesuit, preach. Ninety-five in all lost their lives. The priests would not call it a judgment, because people so dying escaped purgatory. “The barbarous multitude rather railed, and taunted the sufferers than helped them. The dead were buried in two pits behind the house, and black crosses erected, which were taken down by order of Council. A relation of the disaster was printed, but is called in. It is much talked of as happening on Nov. 5 [Gunpowder day], and at the first so solemn assembly of theirs heard of in England for 60 years. Our preachers speak of it temperately and charitably.” Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1623–1625, 108. Cf. M. H. S., Proc.
, XXV. 436.
1623-12-11
I receiued thy kinde and welcome Lettres, and doe heartyly blesse our mercifull God for his gratious prouidence ouer thee and all our familye: oh that we had heartes to loue him and trust in him as his kindnesse is towards vs: I am sory that I cannot returne to thee so soone as I made account, for comminge to Childerditch2 vpon saterday last, I found my Cosin Barfut very ill, and decayinge so fast as on mundaye morninge I could not leaue him, so stayinge with him about noone he comfortably and quietly gaue vp the Ghost: I sawe Gods proui292dence had brought me thither to be a stay and comfort to hir in that suddaine tryall when none of hir freinds were with hir; by this occasion it was Wensdaye night before I could gett
my brother Fones and my sister and my brother Downinge salute the and my mother.
Childerditch is a parish in the hundred of Chafford, co. Essex.